RTHK: Ivana Trump died from 'blunt impact injuries' Ivana Trump, the first wife of the former US president, died of "blunt impact injuries" to the torso in an accident, New York's chief medical examiner said on Friday. The statement did not specify the circumstances, but US media reported that police had been investigating whether the 73-year-old died falling down the stairs at her Manhattan home. A spokesperson for the New York Police Department told AFP in an emailed statement Thursday that officers responded to a call at Ivana Trump's address on the Upper East Side, and found her "unconscious and unresponsive." She was pronounced dead at the scene, and the statement added that "there does not appear to be any criminality." Donald Trump announced her death on Thursday, calling her a "wonderful, beautiful, and amazing woman, who led a great and inspirational life." He said her "pride and joy" were the couple's three children, Donald Jr, Ivanka and Eric Trump. Ivana Trump, a model who grew up under communist rule in the former Czechoslovakia, married Donald Trump, then a budding real estate developer, in 1977. Their first child, Donald Jr., was born later that year. Ivanka was born in 1981 and Eric followed in 1984. Throughout the '80s, the Trumps were one of New York's highest-profile couples, their extravagant lifestyle exemplifying the flashy excesses of the decade. Their power and celebrity grew as Donald Trump's property business soared, with Ivana Trump taking on number of key roles in the business. Their high-profile split, rumoured to have been caused in part by Donald Trump's affair with actress Marla Maples, provided juicy content for New York's tabloids. Donald Trump and Ivana Trump divorced in the early '90s and in 1993 the future president married Maples. Ivana Trump went on to enjoy a successful business career of her own, developing clothing, jewelry and beauty products and penning a number of books. She was married four times in her life, once before her marriage to Donald Trump and twice after. On Friday, a US justice official said depositions of Donald Trump, Donald Jr and Ivanka in New York's civil probe into alleged fraud at his family business had been postponed following her death. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2022-07-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. More test kits distributed in Hong Kong to trace COVID-19 through sewage surveillance Xinhua) 13:10, July 16, 2022 HONG KONG, July 15 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said on Friday that it will distribute 275,000 COVID-19 rapid antigen test (RAT) kits as part of a follow-up on the recent detection of the COVID-19 virus in sewage samples. The test kits will be distributed to residents, cleaning workers and property management staff working in the areas with positive sewage testing results showing relatively high viral loads in order to help identify infected persons. The HKSAR government also urged RAT kit users to report any positive results for COVID-19 via the government's online platform. A total of 176,674 people in Hong Kong have taken a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccines, official data showed Friday. Since the start of a mass inoculation program in February last year, over 6.75 million people, or 92.8 percent of the eligible population in Hong Kong, have taken at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccines, while nearly 6.49 million, or 89.1 percent of the eligible population, have taken two doses. As of Friday, 65.7 percent of the eligible people in Hong Kong have taken their booster doses. On Friday, Hong Kong registered 3,358 confirmed locally transmitted cases of COVID-19 and 216 imported cases, official data showed. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji) 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. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close 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. GRANEGVILLE - Idaho County Dispatch received a Thursday call requesting a welfare check on a Grangeville resident. According to the Idaho County Sheriff's Office, the caller had been attempting to contacting the man, as his dog had been found along the South Fork of the Clearwater River two days prior. The dogs tags were from Grangeville City and attempts had been made to contact the owner off the tags with no results and the person caring for the dog was becoming concerned. The Grangeville Police Department checked the residence in Grangeville belonging to the owner and noticed the gate was open and one vehicle was missing. As an exact location was not known, Idaho County Posse members responded to the area of the South Fork to begin looking for the vehicle. About one-mile up Silver Leggett Road off Highway 14, posse members located a red Jeep Wrangler that was about 20-30 feet off the road down an embankment. The driver of the vehicle was located below the vehicle and had passed away. The person was identified as 75-year-old Albert Nork, of Grangeville. At the request of his sister, if you were a close friend of Alberts, please call the Sheriffs Office and leave your contact information. The Idaho County Sheriff's Office thanked the Idaho County Posse and the Grangeville City Police for their assistance and sent their thoughts and prayers to Mr. Norks family. THIS ARTICLE WAS FUNDED AND PAID FOR BY THE PATREONS OF BLACKLISTED NEWS. BECOME A MONTHLY SUBSCRIBER TO HELP US CONTINUE OUR INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM. Apparently to commemorate Pride Month, the US government in May announced a policy to effectively starve the children in their public schools unless the schools agree to trans them. Nothing screams "liberal and loving" like withholding federal lunch money for public schools until they trans the kids: "The U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announced today that it will interpret the prohibition on discrimination based on sex found in Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to include discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity As a result, state and local agencies, program operators and sponsors that receive funds from FNS must investigate allegations of discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation. " Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Deputy Under Secretary Stacy Dean reiterated the framing as a necessary step to protect "human rights." Ironically, Dean claims "no one should be denied access to nutritious food simply because of who they are or how they identify." Yet USDA now, as official policy, will deny food to non-compliant school districts that don't organize their entire institutions around 'accommodating" "trans" students. Behind the bureaucratic word-salad talking points, the threat is clear. The "program operators and sponsors that receive funds from FNS" referenced in the above press release include public schools that feed kids at or below the poverty line. USDA ships a billion+ pounds of food to public schools every year a huge tonnage that impoverished children and their parents have grown dependent on. The federal separation of powers, as meticulously crafted in the US Constitution, has failed to curtail the social engineering LGBTQ+ program. All three branches of the federal government have gotten in on the action. The recent executive policy via the USDA comes from a 2020 Supreme Court legal interpretation of Title IX of federal anti-discrimination laws. The ruling which dissenting Justice Samuel Alito described as "legislation" through the court, an unconstitutional function mandated the inclusion of the fluid concept of "gender identity" in the definition of biological "sex." What that means practically is that, because discrimination based on sex is federally illegal, discrimination based on "gender identity" which is not bounded by scientific reality is also now illegal. "Anti-trans" "discrimination" is increasingly taken to mean resistance to pumping pre-teens full of irreversible puberty blockers on a child's (or parent's) whim. Biden's degenerate assistant secretary of health, Dr. Rachel Levine (formerly Richard Levine), explains: Biden's Assistant Secretary for Health, Rachel Levine, says reassignment surgery and puberty blockers for KIDS is lifesaving, medically necessary, age appropriate, and a critical tool pic.twitter.com/OwSOA3cjj8 RNC Research (@RNCResearch) June 24, 2022 So, when Billy (or Billy's parents) decide he's Sally a non-falsifiable claim -- the school will be forced to comply with such a decree or face legal blowback. --------------- The assault on children's healthy psychological development is multi-pronged. The federal top-down bureaucratic approach is merely one facet of the attack by sea, land, and air. Teachers' unions also exert immense ideological influence inside schools. Consider New Business Item 41 adopted at the 2022 National Education Association's national convention: "The NEA will publicize our continuing commitment to LGBT youth and all young peoples right to learn about and develop their own sexual orientation and gender identity." Instead of fixing failing math proficiency or flagging literacy rates (due in large part to COVID-19 lockdowns supported by the NEA itself), job #1 is facilitating children's gender identity confusion and ultimate "transition." This masked banshee army is itself the product of indoctrination in government-funded university education departments. Registered Democrats in university positions outnumber registered Republicans 10 to 1. In a large-scale sample of nearly 9,000 professors scattered across the United States including red states 39% of institutions had no republicans. 72% of the institutions employed so few republican professors as to render the number statistically insignificant. This is the result: It's a straight, industrial-scale pipeline of newly indoctrinated SJW cult member college graduates from university classrooms into teaching roles themselves in primary school classrooms. In turn, they beget the next generation of confused pansexuals, and so on ad infinitum until some immovable force ends the cycle. Trans non-binary elementary teacher says 3 year olds are old enough to learn about gender identity, sexual orientation, and pronouns. These are the people teaching your kids. pic.twitter.com/fylE9jCQrF Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) April 10, 2022 What's more, the American Federation of Teachers, another powerful teachers' union with 1.7 million members, goes beyond anti-discrimination laws, demanding hiring quotas for LGBTQ+++ "minority" instructors: We see the process of effectuating a diverse faculty and staff as an essential element in achieving a greater measure of economic and social justice in AmericaThis can be done by conducting an inventory to assess the condition of diversity on campus, discussing these conditions with leaders and members, and designating a group of people to coordinate the union's efforts in this area." -------------- The trans-rights-for-school-lunch coercion is a microcosm of the essential problem with federal so-called "welfare" social programs. The funding always comes, without fail, with strings attached, dangled at the government's whim over the heads of recipients. The threat of withholding funding serves as a stick to force the schools into compliance with whatever social engineering program de jour. Most Americans aren't ideologically opposed to mutual aid or the idea of a community cooperating to ensure its kids can eat decent food. Unfortunately, those objectives are not shared by the federal government, nor is that the purpose of federal government welfare. Rather, the intent is to create dependency and then to leverage that dependency, once firmly established, to pursue its own social engineering purposes in this case, transing children. Centralized bureaucratic power is the disease; localization is the cure. Until American communities wean themselves from the federal teat and re-establish local control for local benefit, they will continue to fall victim to such social engineering pet projects. This includes "anti-racism" initiatives, "LGBTQ+ inclusion", or medical mandates such as forced COVID-19 injections as preconditions for schools and other publicly-funded institutions to remain fiscally solvent. Ben Bartee is an independent Bangkok-based American journalist with opposable thumbs. Follow his stuff via Armageddon Prose and/or Substack, Patreon, Gab, and Twitter. Bitcoin public address: 14gU3aHBXkNq8bDqmibfnubV7kSJqfx5LX Former White House physician Ronny Jackson says that Joe Biden wont finish his term because his mind is too far gone. Jackson, who served on the White House medical team in the mid-2000s and served as personal physician to both Barack Obama and Donald Trump, made the remarks on Twitter. Biden wont finish his term. EVERYONE knows hes unfit for the job. His mind is too far gone. This cant go on any longer. He needs to RESIGN! tweeted Jackson. Biden wont finish his term. EVERYONE knows he's unfit for the job. His mind is too far gone. This can't go on any longer. He needs to RESIGN! Ronny Jackson (@RonnyJacksonTX) July 14, 2022 The former physician, who is now a Texas Congressman, made the comments after it was revealed that Barack Obama had sent Jackson an email chastising him for questioning Bidens cognitive ability. I have to express my disappointment at the cheap shot you took at Joe Biden via Twitter, Obama wrote, adding, It was unprofessional and beneath the office that you once held. It was also disrespectful to me and the many friends you had in our administration. You were the personal physician to the President of the United States as well as an admiral in the U.S. Navy, Obama noted, asserting I expect better, and I hope upon reflection that you will expect more of yourself in the future. Jackson responded to the email further during an appearance on Sean Hannitys Fox News show. Still dont have anything to say in response to President Obamas letter, except, I told you so! Biden's cognitive decline has been on full display for YEARS. I won't sit quietly and let Biden destroy our Republic. His mind is gone. He SHOULD NOT be our President! pic.twitter.com/jQ7p4ueTTQ Ronny Jackson (@RonnyJacksonTX) July 14, 2022 He pointed out the sheer hypocrisy of the left constantly questioning Donald Trumps cognitive abilities, despite him easily passing a test, while attacking anyone who dared express doubt about Bidens obvious cognitive decline. Jackson also revealed that he was upset by Obamas email, but then was told by Dan Bongino, Ronny, you dont owe this guy a damn thing, pointing out that Obama did nothing to defend Jackson when he was being attacked politically. Hannity suggested Jackson demand an apology from Obama given the overwhelming evidence that he has huge cognitive problems and even early onset dementia. Jackson said he notes how every day Biden shows further signs of cognitive decline, asserting, He needs a serious cognitive assessment and if hes not willing to do it, I will administer the test to him, I will do itthis man is getting worse and hes an embarrassment. The former physician drew attention to yet another awkward incident during Bidens visit to Israel when he appeared to be confused about what do to and later made an absurd verbal gaffe about the Holocaust. He is not inspiring confidence in anyone and its a dangerous time to have a commander in chief and a head of state like this man right now, Jackson concluded. As we document in the video below, Bidens condition appears to be worsening and its becoming quite sad that he is still being forced to appear on the world stage, with Democrats now starting to panic about 2024. Follow on Twitter: Follow @PrisonPlanet Brand new merch now available! Get it at https://www.pjwshop.com/ ALERT! In the age of mass Silicon Valley censorship It is crucial that we stay in touch. I need you to sign up for my free newsletter here. Support my sponsor Turbo Force a supercharged boost of clean energy without the comedown. Get early access, exclusive content and behinds the scenes stuff by following me on Locals. Perhaps the biggest lie peddled by the global development mafia is that they have our consent to destroy nature and community. In truth nearly every step they take in their crazed quest for profit and control meets with opposition. People dont want to see green fields near where they live turned into supermarkets or industrial estates. People dont want to see a motorway tear through the woodland where they walk their dog every morning. People dont want to see the countryside around them scarred and polluted by the toxic infrastructure of fracking. Because the financial interests behind these projects have all the power that money can buy, they usually manage to get official permission to go ahead despite public hostility. But what happens when people refuse to back down, when they fight to protect the land from the mafias machineries? It is at this point that the money-nexus has to deploy its most important weapon: the power and violence of the state. Some useful analysis of how it does this can be found in a new academic book called Enforcing Ecocide: Power, Policing and Planetary Militarization, edited by Alexander Dunlap and Andrea Brock. One chapter looks at the High Speed 2 (HS2) rail scheme in England, described as the largest and most expensive post-war development in the UK (1) and currently Europes largest infrastructure project. Write authors Andrea Brock and Jan Goodey: Framed by the UK government as environmentally beneficial and contributing to economic growth, it is strongly resisted by campaigners and residents along its proposed route. They criticise the project for negatively affecting 108 ancient woodlands, destroying irreplaceable nature reserves, ecosystems, chalk aquifers, and waterways, as well as for the lack of economic benefits, and the huge costs for taxpayers. (2) The spiralling cost has seen parts of the original plan abandoned, but this nature-wrecking project will still funnel billions and billions of pounds from the public purse into private pockets which is, of course, the whole point of development schemes. The authors explain: Resistance along the route takes various shapes and forms from legal challenges, lobbying, demonstrations, to direct action, including the continuous occupation and setup of protest camps along the proposed HS2 pathway to disrupt and slow down its development. (3) They examine in detail the policing and corporate-state collusion used against this resistance, analysing the techniques and technologies of control as well as the violence of repression. And they say this kind of public-private political policing in fact uses counterinsurgency techniques (4) first drawn up to impose and maintain the British empire itself a global-scale development bonanza for the financial vermin who have long lurked in the sewers of the City of London. Its a style of warfare that makes use of intelligence networks, psychological operations, media manipulation, and security provision, including social development that seeks to maintain governmental legitimacy. (5) The authors look, for instance, at the activities of the High Court Enforcement (HCE) Group which, despite its official-sounding name, is in fact a private company subcontracted by HS2 Ltd. It combats protest by employing people sometimes described as violence workers, that is to say former cops, bouncers or security guards. Brock and Goodey note: The company currently faces legal proceedings following the injuries of a number of protesters in a spate of separate incidents. (6) They also describe the way that corporate injunctions (originally introduced in 1999, supposedly to combat stalking) are used not only to deter protest but also to stop people monitoring the developers illegal activities, such as the removal of nesting birds and badgers from ancient woodland. (7) Data collection and surveillance also form part of the public-private repression. Write the authors: In 2016 it was uncovered in the Sunday Express that an internal HS2 Ltd. document stated that the company was looking to gather information on the sexual orientation, sex lives, mental health, criminal records, and political views of protesters, complainants and litigants including those seeking compensation or objecting to the project, as part of the companys Privacy Notice. The information could be volunteered freely but it could also be aggregated from doctors, the taxman, lawyers, the courts, security companies and credit agencies; third parties including healthcare, social and welfare advisers or practitioners, HM Revenue and Customs, law enforcement and security agencies and bodies, and relatives, guardians or other persons associated with the individual. This illustrates the involvement of different parts of the (welfare) state in policing dissent. (8) They also quote people who have been shocked by the heavy policing. Said one resident: This is the first time in my life that Ive felt Im in a police state. I was scared, intimidated. At one point it was suggested I couldnt leave the area, or I may be arrested. I was struggling to believe this was the UK. (9) This policing includes harassment, verbal abuse, intimidation and, of course, physical coercion. (10) Cops have broken protesters fingers with their boots; a bailiff left someone unable to move after he stamped on their head; other campaigners have had their noses broken or lost consciousness after being choke-held high up in tree canopies. (11) One supporter of the protests describes being attacked by the National Eviction Team (NET), owned by the aforementioned HCE Group, while trying to leave a site. Eventually someone opened the car, punched me in the face at least three times and broke my jaw Im still in shock. Ive seen the NET hurt my friends before, but I never expected to get attacked outside of a protest. (12) The victim needed hospital treatment after this brutal state-sanctioned assault. The authors comment: Occasionally, incidents of violence especially when recorded by campaigners make it into the media, with accusations against security forces and bailiffs for severely injuring activists, including causing head injuries and choking campaigners. Yet, they rarely lead to prosecutions or convictions, and usually remain without consequences. (13) The authors say that their evidence illustrates that the view of the police as protector of public safety was only ever a liberal myth. (14) They add: Rather than protecting the right to protest, police collaborate with corporate security services to further limit this right and to facilitate HS2 development, while ignoring assaults on protesters and wildlife crimes. (15) We could go further and say that the state for which the police supposedly work is itself nothing but a tool for the global financial mafia. This mafia uses the state to launch endless phases of development of its own wealth! and it also uses the state to violently crush anyone who dares get in the way of its high-speed/high-greed destruction of our world and our lives. John Bolton admitted to CNN that he helped plan coups detat abroad, including Venezuela. Fulton Armstrong a former senior US intelligence official who Bolton tried to oust responds. In a live interview with CNN, former senior US official John Bolton admitted that he has helped plan coups detat in a number of foreign countries, including Venezuela. Fulton Armstrong, a former senior US intelligence official, has a unique perspective on Boltons coup confession. In 2002, Bolton unsuccessfully tried to have Armstrong removed from his post after the US intelligence community refused to back Boltons allegations of an advanced Cuban biological weapons program. Armstrong joins Aaron Mate to discuss his personal experience with Bolton and perspective on the legacy of US-backed coup plots, from Venezuela to Haiti, that Bolton candidly admitted to. Guest: Fulton Armstrong. Former National Intelligence Officer for Latin America the U.S. Intelligence Communitys most senior analyst. Also a former CIA analyst and senior staffer on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Currently a Lecturer at American Universitys School of International Service. Aaron Mate is a journalist and producer. He hosts Pushback with Aaron Mate on The Grayzone. In 2019, Mate was awarded the Izzy Award (named after I.F. Stone) for outstanding achievement in independent media for his coverage of Russiagate in The Nation magazine. Previously, he was a host/producer for The Real News and Democracy Now!. Anastasia Diamond allegedly downloaded dozens of sexual videos of prepubescent boys Brice Williams, a drag queen who goes by the stage name of Anastasia Diamond, has been charged with 25 counts of possessing child pornography. Williams was previously honored for his work with LGBT youth and more controversially, was filmed performing a drag show for minors. Williams was charged in June with 25 counts of child pornography and 18 counts of criminal use of a communications facility. According to Penn Live, Williams downloaded at least 49 photos and 25 videos of naked prepubescent boys, and court documents state that the videos showed boys performing sex acts on each other, sometimes with an adult male involved. Williams admitted to police that he had viewed child porn since 2014, beginning on messaging apps and progressing to sharing files with likeminded men on cloud storage apps, court documents state. Before his arrest, Williams, from Pennsylvania, was a celebrated LGBT activist. The accused did HIV awareness and prevention work with GLO Harrisburg, a center that provides a safe space for minority LGBT youth. The LGBT Center of Central PA gave Williams its Rising Star Award in 2021, although posts celebrating the drag queen have since been deleted from the organizations website and social media pages. I feel as though this is so important because I know there are little kids like me who are queer [and] who are black who are still not able to look up to anyone, Williams told PennLive last year. So thats the reason why I got into this line of work. I wanted to make ... a big impact for folks in my community. Williams courted controversy even before his arrest. An undated video shared by the Libs of TikTok Twitter account showed Williams performing for a group of children, apparently in a gay bar. Such performances have become highly contentious in the US. Video surfaced last month of a drag queen clad only in panties leading a young girl around a bar in Miami, prompting calls for legal action. Footage from another child-friendly drag show at a Texas gay bar last month went viral after children were seen waving dollar bills at performers and joining the queens on stage beneath a sign reading its not gonna lick itself. Meanwhile in Washington, DC, footage showing children and toddlers marching in a Pride parade behind a topless man with breasts caused outrage online. The above incidents led conservative protesters to picket gay bars and accuse the performers of grooming children, and prompted Republican lawmakers in multiple states to introduce legislation banning such events. Under Pennsylvania law, possessing child pornography is a second-degree felony, with each count carrying a maximum prison term of ten years, while criminal use of a communication facility carries a maximum sentence of seven years. The following article originally appeared as part of The Dissenter Newsletter. Support independent journalism and become a monthly subscriber. A federal jury in New York convicted former CIA employee Joshua Schulte of violating the Espionage Act when he allegedly released materials on the CIAs hacking capabilities to WikiLeaks. This was the second trial against Schulte. In March 2020, his first trial ended in a mistrial on several Espionage Act charges, but he was found guilty of contempt of court and lying to the FBI. Unlike the first trial, Schulte represented himself and argued his case. He again maintained he was not the source of the leaks published by WikiLeaks. The jury deliberated for nearly three days before announcing a verdict. Judge Jesse M. Furman in the Southern District of New York did not schedule a sentencing date because there are other charges pending against Schulte. Known as the Vault 7 materials, WikiLeaks began releasing documents on March 7, 2017. They came from what WikiLeaks described as an isolated, high-security network situated inside the CIAs Center for Cyber Intelligence. Documents revealed how the CIA could target iPhones, Androids, and Samsung TVs and convert the devices microphones into bugs used to spy on targeted persons. Malware was also developed to infect Microsoft Windows users, and the CIA was hoarding security vulnerabilities in software and hardware that they could use for their covert operations instead of notifying companies that users were at risk of being hacked. It was one of the largest leaks of information in the history of CIA and a huge embarrassment for then-CIA Director Mike Pompeo, who responded by labeling WikiLeaks a non-state hostile intelligence agency and developing secret war plans against the media organization that included kidnapping or even killing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. The US government has charged Assange with violating the Espionage Act, and the UK government authorized his extradition in June. Assistant US Attorney Michael D. Lockard asserted that on April 20, 2016, Schulte stole the entirety of the CIAs highly sensitive cyber intelligence capabilities. This occurred just days after the CIA locked the defendant out of the secure restricted vault-like location on the network. Shortly after stealing this extraordinarily sensitive intelligence information, the defendant transmitted those backups to WikiLeaks, knowing full well that WikiLeaks would put it up on the internet, Lockard argued. In the weeks following this break-in, the defendant took every step he would need to take in order to transmit those files to WikiLeaks. He downloaded a program that WikiLeaks itself recommends to leakers to use to send stolen data. The program Schulte downloaded was Tor, and it is a widely used privacy tool that was supported through funds from the US State Department. He also downloaded Tails, which can be used to make a computer forget websites, files, passwords, and devices and Wi-Fi networks. Lockard said, [WikiLeaks] tell[s] you to use Tails as an operating system that allows you to hide all of your activity. But like Tor, Tails can be used by anyone who cares about their privacy in an age of digital surveillance. Lockard cast Schulte as a disgruntled employee and insisted he was known at the CIA for filing false complaints, bragging about his access to the classified computer network, and defying his supervisors. The defendant would like to think of himself as a bad ass, but in fact, he is a ticking time bomb, a nuclear bomb, one that was ready to explode at any perceived provocation or disrespect, Lockard declared. And in April and May of 2016, the defendant, the so-called nuclear option, set out to lay waste to the CIAs cyber program, to prove his superiority, and to punish the people who he believed had wronged him. In carrying out that revenge, he caused enormous damage to this countrys national security. But US prosecutors never presented any forensic evidence to specifically tie Schulte to the publication of the CIA hacking materials on WikiLeaks. Schulte acted very confident during his closing argument. He insisted that Lockard was worried about the lack of evidence because he had told the jury the lack of evidence is not evidence of innocence. Hes worried there was no forensic artifact of a log-in to the Confluence server [the server that allowed employees to share information], Schulte stated. Hes worried there was no forensic artifact of a copy command. And hes worried there was no forensic artifact of the transmission to WikiLeaks. And finally, hes worried there was no forensic artifact of any communication at all between me and WikiLeaks. He should be worried because that is reasonable doubt. As Schulte put it, the CIA had no idea that its crown jewels were stolen until the material appeared on WikiLeaks. The CIA was under pressureI will say tremendous pressureto find out what was leaked, how it was leaked, and who leaked it. They wanted to hold someone responsible for the leak, and so they began immediately an investigation, an investigation that focused on me. Schulte left the CIA on bad terms in November 2016. According to Schulte, The lead FBI agent admitted that they had not even interviewed a single CIA witness. They had not even finished seizing the DevLAN network [which stored all the source code for hacking tools], let alone actually reviewed it. They had not conducted any investigation at all, and yet I was already the target of their investigation. Then, within a week, the FBI concocted an impossible theory that the WikiLeaks crime occurred on March 7, 2016, because it was precisely a year before the leaks. That was a day when many other people were at a manager offsite, and I was left alone in the office with no one to see what I was doing. And so the FBI argued I must have stolen the CIAs files, Schulte added. Frank Stedman, who worked with Schulte, described why he was known as the nuclear option. It had nothing to do with someone prone to leaking classified information. He said Schulte did not care about the process for raising complaints. He would not play nice. If there was, like, a project or something that we didnt want to do or we thought was a bad idea, the joke was that we could bring him into the meeting and he would tell the customer to their face that they were stupid, that their idea was stupid, that we werent going to do it, Stedman testified. It came out in testimony during both trials that at one point Schulte expressed views against leaking and suggested that NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden was a traitor who deserved to be executed. Prosecutors attempted to stop Schulte from insisting that there was information from the Vault 7 materials, which was already publicly available. So the government had not taken steps to protect it, and he could not be guilty of violating the Espionage Act. Judge Furman allowed the argument. There was scant coverage of both trials from the US news media. Matthew Russell Lee, who publishes to an independent site called Inner City Press, covered the trialsand all hearings in between. Schulte was designated for special administrative measures, or SAMs, by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and Lee successfully won the unsealing of records related to Schultes civil complaint against the US government for cruel and inhuman treatment in Metropolitan Correctional Center New York. (The prison shut down as a result of deteriorating conditions in August 2021.) Attorney General Merrick Garland has continued to impose the restrictive conditions against Schulte, which prohibit any communications with journalists, require an FBI agent to monitor limited communications with immediate family, and ban him from talking with any inmates. While at MCC New York, Schulte complained, SAMs inmates are locked in concrete boxes the size of parking spaces with purposefully obstructed views of outside. The cages are filthy and infested with rodents, rodent droppings, cockroaches, and mold. There is no heating or air conditioning in the cages. There is no functioning plumbing. The lights burn brightly 24 hours per day, and the inmates are denied outside recreation, normal commissary, normal visitation, access to books and legal material, medical care, and dental care. Schulte is now confined at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. He has several child pornography charges pending against him that stem from the FBI raid on his Manhattan apartment on March 15, 2017. MSNBC regular Malcolm Nance, who has spent 36+ years in US intelligence, told Zerlina Maxwell on Wednesday night that around 30% of the country are white extremists and they're part of an "insurgency" that "we may have to fight." WATCH: From Breitbart: "Here is the United States to characterize that to understand what kind of terrorism we might be dealing with, you have to label it as white extremism because we have 30% of the population of the United States who no longer believe in the democratic norms that we established in the founding of the country. Let's just be honest about that. The January 6 uprising was an attempt to overthrow American democracy. And we have now learned from the hearing that Donald Trump intended to go there to march down to the well of the House of Representatives and essentially be crowned as a king," [Nance said.] Anchor Zerlina Maxwell asked, "You call what is happening an insurgency. We have heard that term in foreign wars recently in Iraq. Talk about why you apply the term insurgency to what you see here as a persistent and ongoing threat of domestic extremists?" Nance said, "I was reading their forums. I was reading their own intelligence about what they intended to do. It was pretty clear at that point that they were going to try to either overthrow the government or they were going to settle in for a long-term series of destabilizing actions using a political party, the Republican party, as their political base and then using violence, threat of violent extremism as a way to manifest change in the street. So remove politics from the halls of power and change politics through violence on the street. This is called an insurgency. The insurrection that happened on January 6 that was one event. An insurgency is a chain of events. It's common knowledge. A year and a half ago, when I was calling this an insurgency, people were saying, that's crazy, this isn't an insurgency, this isn't like Iraq, it's not like Libya, it's not like Syria. Well, it is. And it's well on its way. It's closer to the beginnings of the Irish Republican Army. You know Irish Republicanism, where now the Republican Party is Sinn Fein, and it's just a matter of seeing who comes up as the original Irish Republicans in this story and starts carrying out acts of violence to affect change. So we are well on our way to a multi-year campaign that we are already two years into this campaign where we may have to fight them. The 'they' in my title and the 'they' in my title is those who want to kill Americans are your neighbors." Here we have a US intelligence analyst, who has admitted previously to torturing hundreds of people on behalf of the DC regime, suggesting that white Americans who voted for Trump are part of a terrorist "insurgency" that needs to be put down with force and he's preparing MSNBC viewers to fight (and presumably kill) their neighbors. DHS head Alejandro Mayorkas expressed similar views last year when he said that "extremist" white Americans support the Taliban and are poised to carry out terror attacks at any moment. The FBI has been manufacturing fake terror plots to bolster this narrative and the media has been using fake data to hype the phony threat. Back in April, Nance went over to western Ukraine to show his support for the Azov Battalion and joined the Ukrainian military's foreign legion. He claimed he was fighting on the "frontlines." He came back late last month and released his new book two weeks later. The description for his new book, "They Want to Kill Americans: The Militias, Terrorists, and Deranged Ideology of the Trump Insurgency," says extremist white Americans, "who benefit from the ultimate privilege -- being white," are "a generational terror threat greater than either al-Qaeda or the Islamic State." "America is primed for a possible explosive wave of terrorist attacks and armed confrontations that aim to bring about a Donald Trump led dictatorship," the description continues. Nance is an intelligence asset working to prop up a false narrative to bolster the DC regime's new Domestic War on Terror. Follow InformationLiberation on Twitter, Facebook, Gab, Minds and Telegram. Transgender Admiral Rachel Levine of Heath and Human Services together with "pup play" fetishist Sam Brinton of the Department of Energy served as America's representatives at the French Ambassador's residence on Bastille Day. "Week 4 On The Job," Brinton said in a post on Instagram, "Champagne and Celebration with the French Ambassador in his residence for Bastille Day. (But also the amazing opportunity to connect with one of the only other transgender government officials, Admiral Levine - not gonna lie, it felt great to commiserate with a fellow trans person facing the hate.)" The Biden regime appointed Brinton as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition in the Office of Nuclear Energy for the Department of Energy earlier this year and stood by him after photos surfaced showing he likes having gay sex with men dressed like dogs in leather chaps. Woof! We should all sleep better knowing our country's nuclear energy is in psychologically & mentally stable hands.https://t.co/c8MjIQM9MA Jim Jatras (@JimJatras) July 16, 2022 Not wanting to take an experimental jab is grounds for being fired for the Biden regime but being into gay bestiality and dressing up as a woman is just fine. The adults are back in the room! Follow InformationLiberation on Twitter, Facebook, Gab, Minds and Telegram. The IIIT-Basar was in the news recently as students protested for seven days against the poor facilities including poor quality food served to the students. DC File Image ADILABAD: Nearly 500 students of IIIT-Basar fell sick after having lunch in the mess in Nirmal district on Friday afternoon due to alleged food poisoning. Girls students are more among those who were affected. According to sources, nearly 100 students were admitted to the hospital on the Basar campus while other students were treated in their hostels. Students who complained of severe stomach aches after having food at the mess were shifted in an ambulance and cars of the teaching faculty to Nizamabad for better treatment. It is learnt that management of the mess served egg fried rice to the students on Friday. The eggs used in preparing egg-fried rice were allegedly rotten. Contaminated water used in preparing the food and unhygienic conditions could also be reasons for the food poisoning. Students who had lunch at E-1 and E-2 mess were the victims of food poisoning. The IIIT-Basar was in the news recently as students protested for seven days against the poor facilities including poor quality food served to the students. It may be recalled that the students of IIIT-Basar alleged he got a fried cockroach and frog in food in separate incidents in the past. One student of IIIT-Basar who actively participated in the recent agitation said hygienic and good quality food was one of their 12 demands. The students were also demanding a change of the mess contractor. Sources said minister for education Sabita Indra Reddy called the recently appointed director and inquired about the incident and asked the IIIT-Basar authorities to provide better treatment to the students who fell sick and conduct an inquiry into the incident. Health minister T. Harish Rao responded to the incident and asked the medical authorities to send medical teams to IIIT-Basar to provide better medical treatment to the affected students and monitor their health. Meanwhile, BJP state president Bandi Sanjay demanded that the state government send medical teams to provide better treatment to the students who fell sick and alleged that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao was acting with vengeance on the IIIT-Basar students from the beginning. He condemned the negligent attitude of the state government towards students for playing with their lives. When the Brandon Chamber of Commerce held its annual executive changeover ceremony earlier this year, the organization unintentionally hit a major milestone. The chamber has had women as president before most recently Cathy Snelgrove in 2019-20, and Tami-Rae Rourke in 2017-18 but for the first time ever, the roles of president (Tanya LaBuick), vice-president (Jaime Pugh) and secretary-treasurer (Lois Ruston) are all held by women at the same time. A chamber member came up to LaBuick at that ceremony and asked if it was the first time that had ever happened. After some reflection, they realized it was. Chelsea Kemp/The Brandon Sun Vice-president Jaime Pugh (left), president Tanya LaBuick and secretary-treasurer Lois Ruston pose for a photo Tuesday at the Brandon Chamber of Commerce. LaBuick is a partner at both CW2 Construction and Design, and Guardian Fencing. Shes also founder of LaBuick & Co., and served as the chambers vice-president last year. Ive been a lifelong volunteer, so Ive sat on many boards, she said. Ive also worked internationally on massive, massive projects like the Olympics and Super Bowl, things like that. I bring lots of different viewpoints about how the world works. Pugh is a Brandon University graduate and partner at the local MNP office. She said she gained plenty of experience in management prior to working at MNP, which taught her about human resources and business needs. File For the first time in the history of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce, its executive team is comprised of all women. Working with MNP, Ive had the opportunity to learn to help business of all sizes hearing what keeps them up at night has helped me grow as an accountant. Ruston, former executive director of Westman Immigrant Services, is general manager at R&M Homes. Ive been in Brandon for over 20 years, Ruston said. I have a lot of experience in the non-profit realm and have recently entered the private sector, but Ive served on a lot of boards. File Former Brandon Chamber of Commerce president Cathy Snelgrove said the chambers appointment of its first all-female executive team is a testament to how hard women have pushed to be in leadership positions. Because the chamber cycles through its top executive positions with the secretary-treasurer becoming vice-president the year after, and the vice-president becoming president the year after that, it also means that for the first time the chamber will have three women consecutively occupy its top role by 2025. In the boardroom of the chambers downtown headquarters, portraits of past presidents line the walls. The organization has been around for 139 years and the vast majority of those portraits are men. Once these next three terms are up, the addition of LaBuick, Pugh and Rustons photos will make it clear there was an effort to buck that trend. Not only is this a local milestone, but its reflective of a larger situation among the provinces chamber organizations. File Rural Manitoba Economic Development Corporation chief executive officer Margot Cathcart said she hopes people will eventually stop qualifying their praise for women in business by saying someone is a great female leader and just acknowledge that theyre a great leader, period. According to the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, the umbrella organization that connects all the local chambers in the province, four out of seven of the larger-scale provincial chambers are led by women. Additionally, 47 out of 63 chambers of commerce in Manitoba have identified women as their primary representative. In Brandon, 10 out of 14 chamber of commerce directors are women as well, with Courtney Baxter (Westman Communications Group), Samantha Falloon (Myphone), Jennifer Ludwig (Super Thrifty), Meredyth Leech (Leech Group), Tilda Fortier (Greenstone Building Projects), Andrea Epp (Epp Law Office) and Laurie Brugger (Century 21 Westman) comprising the rest of the boards female presence. In an interview with the Brandon chambers executive team earlier this week, they said that seeking a leadership role wasnt necessarily the intention when they decided to run for the organizations board of directors, but it started to seem like a logical step as time passed. I think the boards recruitment strategy was to get more women on the board, have some better representation and diversity in place, LaBuick said. That was a plan some years ago, but the succession of Jaime and Lois came organically. The board voted each of them into their positions. Pugh said joining the board fueled her desire to see Brandon progress and grow. For me, when I joined [the board], it was more about finding out about what the chamber is doing, Pugh said. Once you get on it, you realize everything that can be done. LaBuick said the all-female executive represents the strong presence of women in Brandons business community, and thats something shes proud of. It provides local women in business with strong role models, she added. With a clear succession plan in place, the trio said they intend to create a long-term plan for the chamber over the next three years. Since the previous years president stays on the board of directors in an advisory role, the end of one womans term doesnt mean her voice wont continue to be heard. A year is so short for each president, Ruston said. Everyone has their focus and wants to make their mark, but were looking to spread it over the three years where we work together and have a plan we can deliver over the longer term. One of their goals is to make Brandon and its business community harder to ignore. We are a substantial contributor to the province and the economy, LaBuick said. Were the second-biggest city in Manitoba, not just a small city, Pugh added. We want to be known as that. A potential challenge for the next few chamber executives will be dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and its disastrous impact on businesses and the economy. Sitting at the boardroom table in the chamber building, LaBuick knocked on wood before saying that she believes were through the worst of it. Were probably not sure what all those lessons will be, she said of moving on from the pandemic. The [provincial] government did prove they can act quickly, so I think well look to them to continue to act quickly on things like immigration and other issues were facing. Ruston said the pandemic showed local businesses what the chamber could do for them and led to membership increasing as a result. Thats an important message going forward, she said. The chamber is an important resource in good times, and in struggles. Its shown us that we need to be flexible and collaborate when we need to. Later this year, the City of Brandon will elect a new mayor as incumbent Rick Chrest is retiring from politics. Next year, Manitoba is due for its next provincial election. If polling keeps trending in the same direction, it could mean that there will be a new party and a new premier in power. Establishing relationships can be difficult, but the new chamber executives believe its an opportunity to start off on the right foot with these people and groups and get on the same page when it comes to growing the city. The trio said that, in their month and a bit since being sworn in, theyve found plenty of former chamber directors, current members and past presidents including previous incumbent Barry Cooper have been eager to provide advice should they require it. Former chamber president Cathy Snelgrove told the Sun she was very excited to see the organizations first all-female executive team. Women are playing a bigger and bigger role in business in general and I think its great when we get to see a full female executive because I think it really demonstrates inclusiveness and how far weve pushed to be represented, said Snelgrove, who has been a senior partner at local consultancy firm Siere for the last 15 years. When we can see people like us going on and doing things, it gives all of us hope. When young girls or other women see women in leadership roles, it gives them something to aspire to. It encourages them to have a belief that they can do anything. Snelgrove said she knows that message can sound cliche, but its a message thats needed to inspire the next generation. She cant recall if anyone told her specifically during her year as chamber president that it was meaningful to see a woman in the position, but she remembers the impact that women in leadership roles have had on her during her career in business. For example, she said former chamber president Tami-Rae Rourke encouraged her to run for the organizations board of directors. That pass it along mentality is key to promote diversity of thought. Speaking by phone from Montreal, Rural Manitoba Economic Development Corporation chief executive director Margot Cathcart said she hadnt realized that the all-female executive was a milestone. If it doesnt cross peoples minds when theres an all-male leadership group, it shouldnt be a concern when women are in charge. Whats important is that we have a strong leadership group, she said. I think its impressive that were seeing that kind of leadership coming out of Brandon. Because its important for women to see other women in leadership positions, Cathcart said she believes the business community has a responsibility to help mentor the next generation of leaders. Theres an incredible, rich fabric of leadership coming from women globally, she said. But you still see those little nuanced messages like, Oh, heres a great female leader. No, shes a fantastic leader. I think we need to start moving away from some of those messages and recognize great leadership no matter what gender, ethnicity or different perspectives people have. When it comes to women starting their own businesses and getting involved in entrepreneurial activities, Alanna Keefe of the Womens Enterprise Centre of Manitoba said the pandemic saw many women leaving the workforce and going into business. Whether youre male or female, choosing passion and doing something for you is, I think, more commonplace than it has ever been, said Keefe, who is the centres director of operations and stakeholder engagement. According to Statistics Canada, 18.2 per cent of private sector businesses were majority-owned by women in the first quarter of this fiscal year. The federal governments Women Entrepreneurship Strategy estimates that advancing gender equality could add up to $150 billion to the countrys gross domestic product. The centres job is to help women in Manitoba start or grow their businesses through advice, financing and training. The finance part, Keefe said, is especially important because women typically have a harder time accessing loans or credit through traditional banking institutions. Though she doesnt know the circumstances that led to Pugh, Ruston and LaBuick being appointed to the executive at the same time, she said she believes it was because they were the right people for the positions at the right time and not because someone wanted the novelty of having three women in the roles at once. Is it coincidental, or is it intentional? Keefe asked. I want to believe this was a conscious bias towards women in leadership roles and not the unconscious bias that often accompanies gender roles. cslark@brandonsun.com Twitter: @ColinSlark A new provincial party is promising to put grassroots Manitobans at the centre of government and bring disengaged voters back into the political fold. Keystone Party of Manitoba leader Kevin Friesen officially launched the right-wing, populist party Friday morning at Vimy Ridge Memorial Park in Winnipeg, with 30-40 supporters in attendance. We used to be called friendly Manitoba. But our government has literally turned some of us on each other, Friesen said during a keynote address under the mid-morning sun. So you ask how we bring Manitobans back together? Well, we start by letting families make decisions at the family level. We start by giving communities back their right to govern. We start by respecting our forefathers and what they fought for and what they established in the Canadian Bill of Rights (and) the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. MIKAELA MCKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSParty leader Kevin Friesen announced the launch of the Keystone Party Friday. The Manitou-area grain farmer said Keystone differs from establishment political organizations, as constituency associations will have full authority to select candidates to represent them in the upcoming general election next year. It will be you, the grassroots of Manitoba, that will find them. They will be your local business owners, your local farmers, your local school teachers or perhaps a local police officer, he said. Its up to you thats something you probably havent heard from a government official in a long, long time. Party policy on immigration, climate change reconciliation and a range of other issues have yet to be decided as constituency associations will determine where they stand before bringing positions forward to voters for consideration, Friesen said. Some of us were willing to be flexible when it came to lockdowns and mandates but some werent, some thought it was OK to force a medical decision on them for very personal choices, but let me be clear: the Keystone party is not OK with dictating those choices for Manitobans. Kevin Friesen However, the fledgling political party has published its principles, which include the freedom and rights of people as the keystone of democratic society; protection of Manitobas sovereignty and resistance against federal intrusion; conformity between policies and the charter and other guiding documents; the authority of parents over their childrens education; and a small government with balanced budgets. Friesens speech leaned heavily on the division and anger sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic response, including business shutdowns, masks and vaccination requirements. He said supporters will have to release their inner genius to free residents from the monstrous societal divide, with the party providing the right environment to remove barriers that have suppressed their freedoms. Some of us were willing to be flexible when it came to lockdowns and mandates but some werent, some thought it was OK to force a medical decision on them for very personal choices, but let me be clear: the Keystone party is not OK with dictating those choices for Manitobans, Friesen said. We do not want to grow this with a grassroot that is only a quack grass or only a brome grass. We need all of different people from Manitoba. Kevin Friesen Later, he insisted the party is not singularly focused on pandemic-related grievances. People are going to say this party started because of COVID restrictions, Friesen said. It just isnt what happened. The movement started before. Asked whether he is concerned about extremist elements latching on and turning potential voters off, Friesen said he expects to receive support from a wide cross-section of Manitobans and people with fringe beliefs will not see themselves reflected in party principles. People who have never voted and disaffected New Democratic, Liberal and Progressive Conservative supporters would all be comfortable in the Keystone party, he argued. We do not want to grow this with a grassroot that is only a quack grass or only a brome grass. We need all of different people from Manitoba. Lockport resident Patricia Paradoski said she has voted for the PCs in the past but will be putting her support behind Keystone. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Supporter Patricia Paradoski said she has voted for the PCs in the past but will be putting her support behind Keystone. Theyre not representative of the average Canadian, she said of the Tories and other establishment parties. Especially with these COVID vaccinations: totally against human rights, totally against the constitution and they just dont seem to care. Premier Heather Stefanson expressed no concern over the possible threat to her vote share Friday. I have no control over what they do as individuals, the Tory leader told reporters. They have every right to do what they want to do, and thats whats so great about our country, is that people have the right to set up those parties. She said her focus remains on tackling the surgical and diagnostic procedure backlog and growing the economy. MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Premier Heather Stefanson: They have every right to do what they want to do. Friesen wants to see a full slate of candidates run in the next election, which must be held on or before Oct. 3, 2023, and hopes to gain official party status (four seats) in the legislative assembly. The party started accepting memberships Friday morning. The Turtle Mountain resident said he will run in that electoral division, if the local association determines hes the right person for the job. If they can find someone better than me, Im more than willing to step down and let that man or woman take over that constituency, he said. danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca South Molle, also owned by a Chinese investment group, sits idle too, too expensive to restore after Cyclone Debbie in 2017. Gina Rinehart had been looking at the long-rotting Great Keppel, off Rockhampton which once sold itself as a great place to get wrecked, complete with pictures of scantily clad beauties on banana boats as a tourism venture, but has recently backed off. Up to 10 once-thriving Queensland resorts are now ghost islands. Cost is one of the problems. Affordable flights to Fiji and Bali left Australian islands struggling to compete, given their much higher wages bill and huge insurance costs, which get bigger after every cyclone. Owners or leaseholders also have responsibilities to the environment and the local communities, which dont come cheap, either. I dont know whether the proponents [of island resorts] fully understand that, says Amanda Camm, the Queensland MP for the Whitsundays who lobbied for a Queensland parliamentary inquiry into the future of island resorts. Gina Rinehart toyed with the idea of buying Great Keppel. The inquiry revealed deep community concerns about resort owners living up to their social responsibility. Some locals say they have lost access to the islands. Others are concerned about foreign ownership. One former national park ranger made a submission in which he argued big resorts were no longer sustainable. Guests expect an ever-higher standard of accommodation. Many islands are quite a trek from the airport, which puts visitors off. And the environmental impact of providing power, water and sanitation for so many tourists is hard to justify, and has begun to bother the tourists themselves. The assumption made by many is that if Gina [Rinehart] doesnt make [tourism] stack up, it doesnt stack up, says Camm. Returning some islands to national park with public facilities is a conversation that has to be had, she says. Theres certainly assets in the Whitsundays that are in rack and ruin and are causing major impacts to the quality of the national environment and habitats. Ive always advocated for the use it or lose it approach. For those who would prefer a secluded getaway to the risk and effort of running a resort, an entry-level island is not financially out-of-reach for a Sydney property owner. At $1 million, the 20-hectare Poole Island in the Whitsundays is more than half a million dollars cheaper than the citys median price. It comes with an airstrip, two rustic houses, and a handmade rock swimming pool. Richard Vanhoff, who specialises in selling private islands, says Poole was bought a few years ago by a Sydney businessman who never actually visited, due mostly to COVID-19 restrictions, and who has now put it on the market with the same price tag. [Before that] it was owned for 40-odd years by a doctor from Melbourne, who since passed away, he said. Its a great island. It needs a lot of work. Buying an island didnt stack up for Gina Rinehart, but Mike and Annie Cannon-Brookes have a history of buying property with environmental aims in mind. At less than $400,000, Worthington Island off Gladstone is even cheaper. It comes with an orchard, rain tanks and a quad bike. Sweers Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria is on sale for $4 million, and has basic accommodation and rich fishing. At the fancier end of the scale theres Pumpkin Island in the Great Keppel group, which has five self-contained guest cottages, excellent snorkelling and easily accessible coral reefs. Vanhoff says billionaires usually buy off-market, but he has plenty of not-quite-so-rich clients, too. I do have some people in the million dollar mark who are looking for the ultimate getaway with two or three friends, wanting to turn the island into a place of refuge and fishing, he says. It doesnt have to be the Rineharts or Cannon-Brookeses, theres a lot of successful small business people who are keen to have that alternative lifestyle when they require it. Masks have again been recommended in all indoor settings and for children in schools next week following a national cabinet meeting between the prime minister and premiers on Saturday. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the state was in the midst of a third COVID-19 wave that was expected to last until the end of August nationally. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is again urging Queenslanders to wear masks indoors, including on public transport and in schools. Credit:Dan Peled - Getty Queensland, which recorded 22 COVID-related deaths in the 24 hours to Saturday morning, has an estimated 46,000 active cases. Of those, more than 920 patients are in hospital, including 14 in ICU. Palaszczuk described the national cabinet meeting which was due to be held later in the year but was brought forward to next week, then held on Saturday as very important. Opinion Opinion New Englanders may have a sceptical view of pleasure, but those they do allow themselves such as the famous lobster rolls are hard to argue with. Contingency plans for the worst-case scenarios could include a code brown declaration, a measure used to relieve short-term emergency pressures on hospitals. Dr Roderick McRae, president of the Victorian branch of the Australian Medical Association. Credit:Joe Armao The Victorian government said it had no intention of reintroducing a code brown, after the declaration was made for almost a month in January. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had been advised the BA.4 and BA.5 wave was expected to peak in August, as he announced the $750 leave payment would be available to casual workers who needed to isolate, until the end of September. Before the national cabinet meeting, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet suggested states and territories could revise mandatory isolation periods for COVID-positive people from seven days to five, or even less, once the current surge has passed. Ultimately, we have to get to a point where if you are sick you stay at home and if you are not sick, you can go to work, he told news.com.au. In the UK, where former prime minister Boris Johnson scrapped mandatory self-isolation rules in January [although the National Health Service continues to advise people to isolate for five days], cases have soared. The UKs Office for National Statistics estimated 3.5 million people had COVID in the week to July 6, or about one in 18 people. More than 198,000 people have died with the virus in the UK. After the cabinet meeting, Albanese dead-batted the issue of revising isolation periods. He said Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly had advised that now was not the time to change isolation advice. But that is something that will continue to be monitored and will come from the health experts, the prime minister said. Doherty Institute director Professor Sharon Lewin said while there were compromises involved in every approach, modelling showed people excreted the Omicron virus for a median eight days. When you let people out of isolation at seven days, theres going to be a few people who are still positive, she said. So if youve made it earlier, therell be even more people that are positive. Professor Sharon Lewin. Credit:Arsineh Houspian While case numbers are going up, I would think it would not be a great idea to reduce the isolation period. Im not really sure what benefit it would give. Victorian Tourism Minister Steve Dimopoulos said the states current restrictions were minimal but were prudent and sensible to help keep Victoria open. Loading Going to work sick was just not acceptable any more, he said. We know the risk that that holds to the entire community, let alone your office in your immediate work community. For us, the principle of staying at home when youre sick is fundamentally important any measure that allows people, [and] incentivises people, to stay home when theyre sick is a measure that is worth putting on the table and worth supporting. Premier Daniel Andrews returned early from leave to attend national cabinet, posting on Twitter that the high number of cases underscored the importance of people being able to isolate when they tested positive. Professor Catherine Bennett, chair of epidemiology at Deakin University, said she would like to see more data about how long people remained infectious before isolation periods were shortened. She said it was hard to say how long people should stay isolated because there were many variables around when people test positive. Some people might test straight away; others might take a week, she said. It would be good if this was evidence based. No one is looking at how far people are into an infection before they start isolation. She said if rules were altered to allow people out of isolation earlier, then people could be required to test and wear masks in the first few days they were in the community. London: Netflixs Emmy-award winning drama The Crown may have saved the monarchy in Australia ahead of a possible new referendum, opposition frontbencher Andrew Hastie said. Speaking in London to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age at an event hosted by think tank Henry Jackson Society, Hastie said he would argue the case against change, if Labor pressed ahead with a second referendum on Australia becoming a republic. Opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie. Credit:James Brickwood Im a monarchist, Im not someone whos out and proud and making the case every day, but certainly I see the benefits of our system, if we were ever going to change it I would want a good reason to do so, he said. He said he was not sure if support for a republic had grown since the question was last asked in 1999, when it was rejected by the Australian people, following campaigns led by now former Liberal prime ministers Tony Abbott for the monarchists and Malcolm Turnbull for the republicans. KAKINADA: More than 300 cattle including cows and bullocks were washed away in the floods in the Godavari between Kovvuru and Rajamahendravaram on Saturday. A temple priest Ramakrishna Prabhu of Kovvuru has been running a goshala in an islet for the past 40 years. Due to heavy floodwaters, many of the cows, bullocks and other cattle were washed away in the river. Kovvur RDO Mallibabu, along with a National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) team, police and other officials rushed to the spot, but they could trace only one cow at the goshala. A team is conducting a rescue operation. In another incident, a deer which was washed away to the river bank from an island near Rajamahendravaram Rural mandal, was mauled and killed by stray dogs. Meanwhile, officials rescued 1,500 sheep and 20 shepherds from flood waters for the past three days. According to officials, some shepherds were rearing cattle in the island village of Pulasallanka in the Godavari in Kadiam mandal of East Godavari district. They used to come out of the island to the banks during August, sensing floods. But, this year, the river flooded in July itself. With the rising floodwaters, shepherd families belonging to Gopalapuram, Annadevarapet, Gajjaram and other villages of Kovvur revenue division limits urged the authorities to rescue them. The officials rescued the sheep by using boats. The officials said nearly 200 cows and buffaloes were still in the island village and they were finding it difficult to bring them to the banks. However, Kadiam mandal tahsildar Sujatha said efforts were being made to rescue the sheep. Even buttoned-up employers are learning to let loose. Citigroup has deemed Fridays Zoom-free, while accounting giant KPMG promises no-camera Fridays and lets employees clock out for the weekend at 3pm in summer. We want to make sure people are getting a break so they can recharge their batteries, said Paul Knopp, chief executive of KPMG US. Were giving them a lot more agency about how they work - and where they work. A trend to work from home to achieve a better work-life balance has been expanded by the coronavirus pandemic. Some start-ups and tech firms have begun doing away with Fridays altogether. Crowdfunding platform Kickstarter and online consignment shop ThredUp are among a small but growing number of firms moving to a four-day workweek that runs from Monday to Thursday. Executives at Bolt, a checkout technology company in San Francisco, began experimenting with no-work Fridays last northern summer and quickly realised theyd hit a winning formula. Employees were more productive than before, and came back to work on Mondays with new enthusiasm. In January, it switched to a four-day workweek for good. There was no hesitation. Everybody was like, Sign me up, said Angela Bagley, the companys head of employee experience. And it was amazing. We kept getting the job done. Managers were onboard, people kept hitting their goals. And they come back on Mondays energised and more engaged. But for other companies, finding the right balance has been trickier. Employers recognise that its tougher to get people to come back in, so theyre asking, What can we do? said Julie Schweber, an adviser at the Society of Human Resource Management. The answer is basically: if you feed them, they will come. Food trucks, special catered events, ice cream socials, thats whats popular right now. Experts argue that when people do go in to work, they want a real social connection. Credit:iStock Online Optimism, a digital marketing firm with offices in New Orleans, Atlanta and Washington has a Friday routine of free lunches and free-flowing happy hours beginning at 4pm sharp. The only rule: no shots. Although the company has dropped all requirements for in-office work, as many as 80 per cent of its 25 employees show up on days when theres free food, said chief executive Flynn Zaiger. Honestly, the best socialising happens on Friday, he said. Why not have a beer or two? If people are going to be a little less productive one day of the week, Id rather it be Friday than Monday. Those shifting norms are rippling across the economy and reshaping business patterns for commercial real estate firms, carpark operators and the many eateries that cater to workers during the week. The drop-off in office work, particularly on Fridays, has led coffee shops to reduce their hours, delis to rethink staffing and bars like Pats Tap in Minneapolis to kick off happy hour earlier than ever at 2pm. Since theyre not at the office, people come in early to pluck away at their laptops while they sip a cocktail or two, said General Manager Dave Robinson. By 4.30 or 5 on Fridays, were completely full. But lunchtime haunts that once saw large crowds on Fridays say theyre struggling. The drop-off has been particularly stark at Mannys Cafeteria & Delicatessen in Chicago. Business on Fridays is down 30 per cent from pre-pandemic levels. Its painful, owner Dan Raskin said. Before the pandemic, Friday was the busiest day of the week - people would have an easier day at work and go out with their friends for lunch - but now its one of the slowest. Thats also the case at LAZ Parking, which operates more than 3000 car parks nationwide. Demand on Mondays and Fridays is much lower - by about 20 per cent - than it is midweek, said Leo Villafana, the companys vice president for the Mid-Atlantic region. Wednesdays are the busiest days, though even when people do come in, they tend to stay for shorter periods. Loading The desire to work from home on Fridays is just about universal, said Johnny Taylor, chief executive of the Society for Human Resource Management, an industry lobby group. When you ask employees when they want to work from home, everyone wants Fridays, he said. Taylor began toying with hybrid schedules in 2015, long before the pandemic forced businesses of all kinds to adapt. But his early experiments with remote Fridays were a disaster. Employees ignored their work and began winding down after lunch on Thursday. Productivity fell off a cliff. But now, as the pandemic enters year three, norms have changed. People are more accustomed to teleworking, Taylor said. He now allows remote work on both Mondays and Fridays. Loading Fridays from home have become institutionalised, he said. Theres really no turning back. As employers confront this new reality, theyre looking for more adaptable offices with more communal spaces and gathering areas instead of traditional cubicles. Think more comfy couches, coffee bars, libraries and patio work spaces. What people dont want is to work remotely, together, in the office, said Lenny Beaudoin, global head of workplace and design at commercial real estate services firm CBRE. Why make the trip if Im just logging onto Zoom, like I do at home? Its up to organisations to have better conversations and choreograph their schedules. It cant be haphazard. Perhaps most important - even more so than free food - Beaudoin said, is the prospect of interacting with colleagues. To that end, some firms are developing apps that offer employees a quick snapshot of who will be in the office on any given day, along with planned events and other perks, so they can decide whether getting dressed and making the commute is worthwhile. Just like nobody likes to eat in an empty restaurant, nobody wants to go to an empty office, he said. When people do come in to work, they want a real social connection. Thats proven to be the case at MasterControl, a software firm in Salt Lake City, where employees have reconfigured their weekly rhythm to account for end-of-week slowdowns. The companys fitness groups, including its running and biking clubs, have moved Friday gatherings to earlier in the week. Most meetings and training sessions are now on Mondays and Tuesdays, when the largest share of employees are in the office. Just like nobody likes to eat in an empty restaurant, nobody wants to go to an empty office. Lenny Beaudoin, CBRE Friday, the turnout is definitely much lower - you can see that just by coming into the office and looking around, said Alicia Garcia, the companys chief culture officer. Were finding that people really appreciate that flexibility. There are about 50 employees - out of 1500 - at Overstocks Utah headquarters on any given day. On Fridays, though? Hardly anybody. The online retailer discourages meetings of any kind on Friday. Most corporate employees opt to work longer days during the week so they can take every other Friday off. But even for those who dont, the last day of the workweek has become a much-needed respite from never-ending meetings and messages, said chief executive Jonathan Johnson. Fridays are the emptiest days, said Johnson, who also works from home that day. The office is open if people want to come but we dont push it. Johnson limits himself to one Zoom meeting on Fridays, then catches up on emails, writes a weekly letter to the companys board and plans out the coming week. After the took serious note of mis-selling of courses to parents by firms including BYJU's and its group companies, self-regulatory organisation India Consortium (IEC) on Saturday said it is committed to protecting consumer interest and has resolved 100 per cent complaints received till June. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs pulled up firms during a meeting with them and IEC, according to sources, and aggressive misselling of courses to parents was the key concern. The IEC, which comes under the aegis of the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and has created a two-tier grievance redressal mechanism, said that it has resolved all complaints received until June 2022 complaints received in July were going through active screening for faster resolutions. "The edtech sector is extremely dynamic in nature and therefore, to address the rising challenges, what IEC is proactively doing will certainly propel a stronger ecosystem in the coming times," said retd SC judge and chairperson of Independent Grievance Redressal Board (IGRB), Dr B.S. Chauhan. The IEC also said that each member company has appointed a dedicated grievance officer internally to address and assess the problem and offer remedial action accordingly. The IEC-member are also registering at the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) for streamlining the resolution process, it added. "Edtech as a strong community has been far more responsible and prompt than our traditional counterpart in managing consumer complaints and grievances," said Mayank Kumar, UpGrad Co-founder and MD and Chair at IEC. The recent reports have said that as per the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) data, 33 per cent of complaints are filed against the education sector. However, the official statement by ASCI also states that 6 per cent of the total complaints received are against the edtech while the remaining 94 per cent are filed against the traditional education system, according to the IEC. Earlier this month, the warned edtech against unfair trade practices. In a meeting with the IEC, Consumer Affairs Secretary, Rohit Kumar Singh, said that if self-regulation does not curb unfair trade practices, then stringent guidelines would be formulated for ensuring transparency. The meeting was attended by representatives of the IAMAI, along with IEC member companies including upGrad, BYJU'S, Unacademy, Vedantu, Great Learning, WhiteHat Jr, and Sunstone. The IEC comprises edtech startups and represents 95 per cent of the Indian learner community. During the meeting, issues pertaining to unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements for the Indian edtech sector figured prominently. --IANS na/shb/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The firm associated with former Mumbai police commissioner Sanjay Pandey has seen a declining revenue since it was said to be engaged in illegal phone-tapping. The highest revenue iSec Services recorded over the last decade was Rs 4.6 crore in 2012-13. India should be allowed to export foodgrains from its public stockholding to countries facing a hunger crisis, something which is in contravention of current World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, Union Finance Minister said on Friday. India should be allowed to export foodgrains from its public stockholding to countries facing a hunger crisis, something which is in contravention of current World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, Union Finance Minister said on Friday. Sitharaman was speaking on the sidelines of the meeting of G-20 finance ministers and central bank governors (FMCBG) in Bali, Indonesia. Read more Hiring takes off in India's as air traffic revives A simple, straightforward advertisement appeared in newspapers this week. It read, Alliance Air invites applications for various posts, with various posts highlighted in bold. Before that, last month, a call from Jet Airways inviting cabin crew applications brought in over 700 CVs in five hours flat, the airlines CEO Sanjiv Kapoor tweeted. And on July 2 when another airline, Air India, held job interviews, the cabin crew of IndiGo skipped work en masse to participate. Read more Phone-tapping at NSE: Mumbai ex-top cop's firm saw biz dip in recent years The firm associated with former Mumbai police commissioner Sanjay Pandey has seen a declining revenue since it was said to be engaged in illegal phone-tapping. The highest revenue iSec Services recorded over the last decade was Rs 4.6 crore in 2012-13. The 2020-21 revenue of Rs 1.6 crore was a 66 per cent drop from then; the firms profit was Rs 64 lakh. This is 53 per cent lower than the Rs 1.35-crore profit in 2011-12, the highest over the last 10 years. Read more One year of startup listings: Exuberance tapers as firms lose grip on gains On July 16, 2021, Zomatos Rs 9,375-crore initial public offering (IPO) garnered over 30 times subscription, laying to rest the debate on whether the Indian public markets were ready for share sales by loss-making firms with no clear visibility on when they would turn profitable. Any doubters left were silenced by a 66 per cent surge in Zomatos stock price on its listing day. This opened the gates for more start-up IPOs. Within months, marquee new-age such as Nykaa, Policy Bazaar, and Paytm rolled out their IPOs, underpinned by easy liquidity conditions thanks to the post-pandemic stimulus measures. Read more Can maintain dominant mkt share, improve growth in profitable segments? PSU giant Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has released some key data points. Its embedded value (EV) for 2021-22 has worked out to be Rs 5.41 trillion, which is marginally above Rs 5.39 trillion as projected in September 2021, though the Street had been expecting a higher number. Read more BA.5 Omicron subvariant 4 times more vaccine-resistant, says study The BA.5 Omicron subvariant, now the dominant coronavirus strain in the US, is four times more resistant to Covid-19 vaccines, according to a new study published in Nature. The study found the variant is four times more resistant to messenger RNA vaccines than earlier strains of Omicron, which include Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines, Xinhua agency reported. Read more The Municipal Corporation of has ordered a probe into the wall collapse incident in the Alipur area and suspended a junior engineer and an assistant engineer, a senior official said on Saturday. Five people were killed and nine injured after the wall of an under-construction godown collapsed in outer Delhi's Alipur area on Friday. "A probe has been ordered into the incident and action has been taken. A junior engineer and an assistant engineer have been placed under suspension, pending inquiry," a senior official said. The inquiry was ordered on Friday on the orders of the municipal commissioner, he said, adding the action has been initiated after taking "serious cognisance of the unfortunate incident" in Bakoli village. Police on Friday said a case has been registered and two people have been arrested. (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 has started pre-training for youths intending to join the armed forces under the Agnipath scheme in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, officials said on Saturday. Agnipath pre-training programme is being conducted by Ace of Spades Gunners in the Mendhar area of the district for a duration of 10 days to train the youths of remote and far-flung areas for recruitment in the armed forces, they said. A large number of youths from surrounding villages of the Mendhar are attending the training, the officials said. The programme included physical training classes, 1,6000-metre running, push-ups, crunches, and other exercises, they said. Classes are also being conducted to prepare the Agniveer aspirants for the written examination, they added. Information on the features of the scheme including eligibility criteria, financial benefits, terms and conditions, special-age relaxation for the first recruitment and opportunities post-termination of four years contractual period is also being shared with the youths, the officials 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 Naharlagun district administration in has asked all the hotels and restaurants in the state to remove the word 'beef' from their signboards or else fine of Rs 2,000 would be imposed and their trade licence would be cancelled. Youth Congress on Friday protested the decision of the district administration and requested it to revoke the order. Naharlagun's Executive Magistrate Tamo Dada said in a notification that the district administration of Itanagar Capital Region believes in the secular spirit of Indian Constitution but such open display of the word 'beef' on the signboards of hotels and restaurants may hurt the sentiments of some sections of the community and may create animosity between the different groups. "Therefore, so as to maintain peace in the community and to continue the spirit of secularism and brotherhood within the community, I hereby direct all such hotels and restaurants, who have written the word on their signboards, to remove such word by July 18," the notification said. "Failing which, a fine of Rs 2,000 and cancellation of such trading licence will be initiated," it added. Reacting to the district administration's order, the Youth Congress requested it to revoke the same. State Youth Congress President Tarh Johny in a letter to the Executive Magistrate said that citizens of have been consuming since time immemorial but the issue has never hurt the sentiments of anyone from any community. "In fact, your sudden and surprising order has created restlessness in the minds of different groups of people in the state, especially in the capital region. The word secularism has nothing to do with the word written in signboards. Rather, the order you have passed has created chaos in the minds of different people," the Youth Congress leader said. The youth Congress urged the magistrate to withdraw the order "to avoid any kind of communal or religious conflicts in the coming days". --IANS sc/arm (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 Government of India is all set to bring in legislation to regulate the Registration of Press and Periodicals Bill, 2019, which will include the Digital News Media industry for the first time. Through this, the Cabinet proposes to bring digital news portals at par with newspapers. Lok Sabha Secretariat, on Friday, released a list of Bills deemed to be introduced and passed in the upcoming Monsoon Session of . Among them, the most crucial is The Press Registration Periodicals Bill, 2022. The Bill seeks to replace the Press and Registration of Books (PRB) Act, 1867 which covers the ambit of newspapers and printing presses in India. According to government sources, the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to approve this Bill soon. The idea, when first mooted, drew a lot of criticism with assumptions that this Bill would try to curtail the Freedom of Speech and Expression on . Detail consultations have already been held with various stakeholders regarding the Bill. As of now, there is no such process to register digital news portals like newspapers but this Bill proposes to register them with the Press Registrar General, the equivalent of the prevalent Registrar of Newspapers in India. Digital news publishers have to apply for registration within 90 days of the law coming into effect, which is being proposed. This is the first time that in India will have regulations. If the Bill is cleared, will be regulated by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said the booster dose drive was important in the fight against COVID-19 as the residual effect of the pandemic will have a 'tapering effect'. The booster dose drive called 'Ghar Ghar Dastak' (Knock at every door) for the next 75 days starting from Saturday has been planned by the Centre to commemorate the 75 years of India's independence, he said. "The residual effect of the COVID-19 will not go immediately. It will have a tapering effect. Hence, we have to take all precautions," Bommai said while launching the booster dose campaign for the next 75 days for people above 18 years. If the country takes the right steps at the right time, the pandemic can be brought under control, the Chief Minister said, adding that the World Health Organisation and the Government of India have insisted upon it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has led the nation from the front in the fight against the pandemic and started the drive. On behalf of Karnataka, I express my gratitude to him, Bommai said. The Chief Minister pointed out that the Centre has saved the state from a major financial burden by giving the vaccine free of cost. He appealed to doctors and health workers to make sure that in the next 75 days no family should be left behind in getting the booster dose. "We have to vaccinate people in a mission mode to achieve the target," Bomma told the doctors and paramedics present on the occasion. He also appreciated the medical fraternity and health workers for their role in achieving 100 per cent coverage of first and second dose of COVID-19 vaccines to the eligible population of . Frontline workers risked their lives, went amidst the infected persons, cured them and also ensured 100 per cent vaccine coverage. This shows their leadership quality, the Chief Minister said. Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar was also present during the event. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As many as 24 new bills will be introduced in the upcoming monsoon session of the Parliament, including Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2022. "The Bill seeks to replace the Press and Registration of Books (PRB) Act, 1867 by decriminalisation of the existing Act, keeping the procedures of the extant Act simple from the view point of medium/small publishers and uphold the values of Press Freedom". The Bill may see stiff opposition as it is said that this bill is being brought to control the small publishers and digital media. The Opposition has already alleged that the government is trying to stifle voice of dissent in the country. Another important bill is Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which seeks to provide regulatory framework for Carbon Trading in India, to encourage penetration of renewables in energy mix, and effective implementation and enforcement of the Energy Conservation Act. Four other bills have been referred to the standing committee: Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021; Anti-Maritime Piracy Bill, 2019; Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, 2019; and Anti-Doping Bill, 2021. The one bill which has been introduced in Lok Sabha but not sent to standing committee is Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022. The Congress has raised the issue of "unparliamentary" words and Jairam Ramesh had said: "Clarification from @ombirlakota about unparliamentary words doesn't mean much. In all discussions, media seems to have overlooked that they can't report on these comments in their dispatches. Also, print media will have to think twice before using these words in their articles." --IANS miz/kvd (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 court directed the Telangana state legal services authority (TSLSA) to coordinate with the agencies concerned to ensure strict compliance with orders to ensure the welfare of workers. (DC) Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Saturday directed government agencies to ensure proper working conditions for migrant workers at brick kilns, in compliance with the law, to check instances of labour exploitation. Further, the court directed the Telangana state legal services authority (TSLSA) to coordinate with the agencies concerned to ensure strict compliance with orders to ensure the welfare of workers. The directions were issued by the division bench of the High Court, comprising Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice Surepalli Nanda, while dealing with a suo motu PIL on the circumstances of workers at brick kilns. The court based its orders on a field survey undertaken by the member-secretary of the TSLSA and a subsequent report filed on workers' grievances. The court also directed the TSLSA, mandal legal services committees, law students, paralegals and village legal aids to inform about labour laws and welfare programmes for the migrant workers through posters, pamphlets, brochures, print and electronic media. The court said this would help officials keep a track of workers, as well as check the activities of illegal contractors and their agents. The court said that toll-free helplines must also be made available to the workers, to connect with medical, health, labour, education, rural water supply, ICDS, and the district supply officer through a single line. It is necessary to enhance the cooperation between the labour, revenue, and police departments so that it is simpler for the authorities to act deterrently and book unlicensed contractors and brick kiln operators for statutory offences, the court noted. Day 1 of the free boosters for all adults saw an almost 95 per cent jump with over 1.49 mn precaution shots administered across all cohorts including healthcare and frontline workers compared to 766,786 precaution doses administered the day before. India had administered 2 million doses of vaccines till 7 pm across all age groups on Friday, and the share of precaution doses were high at 74.5 per cent. Around 1.16 million doses were administered among the 18-59 years age group on Friday. According to data shared by the Union Health Ministry, July 15 saw a sharp spike in precaution doses among the 45-59 years cohort from 113,061 doses on July 14 to 498,618 doses on July 15, indicating an almost 5-fold jump. The 18-44 years cohort also saw a 2.7-times jump to 662,192 precaution doses administered on Friday. The long queues before the government vaccination centers were an indication earlier in the day that demand for precaution shots were on the rise after the government announced the 75-day free boosters for all campaign. Maharashtras capital city Mumbai saw an enthusiastic response too despite the rains. On a day when the citys schools were shut on account of heavy rains, there were queues outside vaccination centers in Dadar. People would take this opportunity to get their precaution dose ahead of the Ganpati festivities. Since it's free now, many would not hesitate to come out. We expect a better turnout during the weekend. Around 104 government CVCs were functional today, an official at the Mumbai civic body told Business Standard on Friday. The offtake of booster shots has been quite slow so far - data shows that only around 1 per cent of the eligible adults in this age group, excluding healthcare and frontline workers, have taken their third paid shot at private vaccination centres. Indias precaution dose coverage for all, including senior citizens, healthcare and frontline workers, was around 8 per cent of the eligible population of 640 million as of July 13 (estimated considering a six-month gap between the second dose and the precautionary dose). States have started collecting data on their requirements. State Immunisation officer of Maharashtra, Sachin Desai said that they have asked all districts to compile the demand for additional doses to run these 75-day long free boosters for all adults campaign. We will share this data with the Centre as soon as it is compiled. We will need more vaccines soon, Desai said. The Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba chaired a meeting on Friday morning with the chief secretaries of all states to discuss the 75-day free precaution dose campaign. As of Friday evening states have 95 mn doses lying with them. Meanwhile, anticipating rising demand for shots, the Union Health Ministry has asked global vaccine alliance GAVI to supply 50 mn of the allocated 100 mn doses of Covishield to India under the COVAX facility free of cost. The Delhi Commission for Women on Saturday issued notice to in a matter of alleged rape and attempt to murder of a 15-year-old girl. DCW said it received a complaint about rape and attempt to murder of a 15-year-old girl. The father of the girl informed the Commission that he is a daily wage labourer and lives in Delhi along with his family. He informed that his 15-year-old daughter used to work in a shoe factory. The complainant alleged that one day a contractor of the shoe factory took his daughter to his house on the pretext of his wife's illness and raped the girl. He also alleged that on Jul 5, 2022, the accused forcibly made his daughter drink acid. The girl is presently admitted to a hospital in a very critical condition. DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal took cognizance of the matter and has issued notice to . The Commission has sought the details of the FIR registered and the accused arrested in the matter. The Commission asked to immediately record the survivor's statement before the magistrate in the hospital itself as the girl is admitted in the hospital in a very critical condition. DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal stated, "We have received a very serious complaint of rape and attempt to murder of a 15-year-old girl. The girl was allegedly forcibly made to drink acid. Our team is constantly monitoring the condition of the girl and providing all possible assistance to the girl and her family. Survivor's statement should be recorded before the magistrate at the earliest and FIR should be filed and arrests made immediately in the case. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The anganwadi workers' union is slated to meet Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on Saturday to demand the reinstatement of its workers, the body has said. The LG agreed to meet the State and Helpers Union (DSAWHU), after workers whose services were terminated staged a protest outside his residence on Wednesday, the union officials said. Earlier, the members of the union had gathered at the Raj Niwas Marg with banners and raised slogans against the LG and the government, demanding a hike in their pay and reinstatement of terminated workers and helpers. DSAWHU has claimed that 884 have been issued termination notices and 11,942 given show-cause notices by the government for participating in a 39-day . (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 World Health Organization on Saturday called for greater efforts in the South-East Asia Region to revive routine immunization rates to pre-Covid times, stressing that despite concerted efforts by countries, challenges and gaps persist. "Commendably the region has administered 3 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to date, since January 2021 when the first dose of vaccine was administered in the South-East Asia Region. "As we focus on further scaling up COVID-19 vaccination coverage, we must also do all we can to ensure no child is deprived of life-saving vaccines offered under routine immunization services," said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director South-East Asia. Many counties have demonstrated that routine immunization can be maintained or scaled up along with COVID-19 vaccination, she said on a statement. "This speaks for a very committed health work force which has to manage both considerable challenges." Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand maintained high vaccination rates over 95 per cent DTP3 coverage throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Bhutan witnessed a slight decline in 2020 but surpassed its pre-pandemic coverage of 97 per cent to record 98 per cent DTP3 coverage in 2021, it said. Globally, DTP3 (third dose of vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) in one-year old children, is a proxy indicator for immunization coverage, it said. Nepal substantially revived routine immunization coverage for DTP3 from 84 per cent in 2020 to 91 per cent in 2021. These six countries have also achieved high COVID-19 vaccination coverage, the statement said. Routine immunization coverage declines witnessed in 2020 in India and Timor-Leste seem to have stabilized in 2021 indicating programme recoveries as well, it said. In 2021, India provided close to 2 billion doses of COVID-19 and other childhood vaccines taken together, over five times more vaccines administered in the country during the year than in 2020, the statement said. All countries in the South-East Asia Region focused on routine immunization while prioritizing essential services during the pandemic and concerted efforts continue to be made to scale-up vaccination coverage, with a focus on identifying and vaccinating 'missed children', the world health body said. Efforts for measles and rubella elimination, a flagship priority in the Region, continued during the pandemic. Nepal substantially increased the coverage for second dose of measles and rubella vaccine from 76 per cent in 2019 to 87 per cent in 2021. Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka maintained their respective coverage rates throughout the pandemic, the statement said. To revitalize routine immunization coverage following the COVID-19 pandemic, convened a South-East Asia Regional Working Group on Immunization in March this year focusing on programme intensification, it said. Strengthening catch-up campaigns, tracking unvaccinated and under vaccinated children, combining COVID-19 vaccination with routine immunization, training of health workers and addressing concerns of communities, were stressed, the statement said. However, concerns and challenges remain, it added. "WHO is cognizant of the efforts and is supporting Member States improve routine immunization coverage. With stepped up efforts in recent months, we hope to see a speedy scale-up of DTP3 coverage to the pre-pandemic level of 91 per cent in 2019 from 82 per cent in 2021 and second dose measles and rubella vaccine coverage to beyond 83 per cent in 2019 from 78 per cent in 2021," the Regional Director said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister on Friday said the state government is working towards the "decriminalisation" of some outdated related to industries. "It is a policy to decriminalise the that are outdated and not in use. On those lines, we will be decriminalising the which are related to industries," he said while addressing the Annual General Meeting of State Industries Association in Panaji. Thirteen laws related to different sectors have already been decriminalised, while 40-50 more would be done in the future cabinet meetings, he said, adding that some of these laws are related to the industries. "At the same time, amendment to the existing Acts has to be done," he said appealing the business class to suggest the required amendment which will help in 'Ease of Doing Business'. Sawant said the state government is ready to take all the amendments necessary to help in 'Ease of Doing Business'. The chief minister also castigated the state-run Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) for not being financially autonomous. He said the IDC manages industrial estates, sells the plots to the industries, but is still is not "financially autonomous". Sawant said that the newly-inducted board of the IDC has assured the government to be financially independent. The chief minister also assured the industries that the issues related to water and power supply to these units would be solved in the next six months to one year. "How will the industry grow without basic infrastructure? We need to give the support to the industry. Economic growth of the state is dependent on the industrial growth," 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.) has declared this year's Assam floods, probably one of the worst in the state's history, as a "severe natural calamity", Chief Minister said here on Saturday. The Union government is providing funds to mitigate the hardships being faced by the affected people, he said, adding that the will bear 90 per cent of the expenses for relief and rehabilitation. Addressing a press conference after launching a scheme to provide a one-time payment of Rs 1,000 to students who have lost their textbooks in the deluge, he said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured to provide "whatever is required to mitigate hardships of people and rebuild infrastructure". Assam has witnessed two waves of floods since April 6, with the second having been devastating, affecting 90 lakh people or one-third of the state's population, while 195 people have lost their lives and 37 people are still missing. "We had not witnessed a flood of this magnitude. Our priority was to evacuate affected people to relief camps, ensure their safety, provide medical aid and help them return home after the water receded. The task was challenging," he said. Over 98,500 people were evacuated, while 7,42, 250 people were displaced and had taken shelter in relief camps, Sarma said. "For the first time, the state government has taken a step to provide a one-time aid of Rs 3,800 per family as 'utensils grant' to those who have returned home. Around 1,89,752 families have been identified and the amount has been transferred to all but 35,000 families whose bank details are yet to be processed," he said. The state government has also decided to provide Rs 1,000 as one-time grant to each student inmate of relief camps and 1,01,537 of them have been identified. "An amount of Rs 10.10 crore has been disbursed from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for the purpose and with today's launch, the students will receive the amount in their bank accounts," he said. In addition to this, the Education Department will provide free textbooks to those students who have lost their books in the floods, Sarma said. The state government has also provided a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each to the next of kin of those who have died in the floods this year. The ongoing assessment of damaged houses will continue till July 20, following which verification will be conducted by ministers and secretaries concerned who will be on the field from July 20 to 30, he said. As per available data, 3,03,930 houses have been damaged, including 25,670 fully and 2,78,260 partially, with Cachar district having the highest number of 1,75,618 damaged houses. The compensation was expected to be given by August 16 and an amount of Rs 400 crore would be disbursed for the purpose, he said. "We are also trying to include a new category for providing compensation to those whose houses have been completely washed away which will be given from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund," he said. The assessment and rebuilding of damaged infrastructure such as embankments, roads, bridges, schools, government buildings and anganwadi centres will be done in August. "An estimated Rs 1,000 crore may be required for the purpose for which we expect to get the approval by September," he said. "The situation is challenging but we have dealt with it in an organised manner. We have not involved any middlemen but the amount is being transferred directly to the beneficiaries," Sarma said. Asked if floods should be declared a ' problem', the chief minister said that some social organisations have put forth such a demand but the has already declared as a "severe natural calamity" and the state government is receiving necessary funds to deal with the situation. Asked whether a permanent solution to floods in the state is possible, he said that no scientist has so far said that the annual occurrence can be completely stopped but they "talk about mitigating or minimising or managing the flood". "The government is always trying to solve the problem but no permanent solution has been proposed yet," 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.) The Centre did not prepare enough to provide people alternatives and shift manufacturing units to green options before banning single-use plastic and the curb cannot be imposed forcibly, Delhi Environment Minister has said. He also claimed the Union government did not even call a meeting of state environment ministers before the ban came into force. "I think it (announcement of the ban) lacked preparation. Stakeholders should have been told about alternatives and the government's support (provided) to help them shift to the green options... I think these issues should have been resolved before announcing the ban," Rai told PTI in an interview. The minister said raw materials for alternatives to single-use plastic items attract high GST, which makes the product unviable for people. "The GST rate on green alternatives and their raw material should have been slashed before the implementation of the ban... The central government was required to prepare a proper mechanism. The curb cannot be enforced forcibly," he said. Besides drafting laws, the governments in states and at the Centre need to work on options available if they want to stop plastic pollution, the minister said. "Our government organised a three-day fair at the Thyagraj Stadium to promote alternatives to single-use plastic items. We got to know that units manufacturing such items are willing to shift to alternatives, but it takes long (around a year) to obtain necessary permissions. "Till then, the machinery and the factory will be rendered useless. What will happen to the labour during the waiting period?" he asked. Such units require permission from the Central Pollution Control Board. The application needs to be submitted with a report from the Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering which tests compostable plastic. The institute takes around six months to conduct the tests and there is a waiting period of over six months on average. Rai had recently written to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, requesting him to authorise more laboratories to test compostable products. To spread awareness about the ban on single-use plastic items, the Delhi government will impart training to the members of eco-clubs in the capital. The training programme will be conducted on July 19 in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme. There are around 2,000 eco-clubs in Delhi. In a bid to reduce plastic pollution, India has banned 19 single-use plastic items, including earbuds, plastic sticks for balloons, flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (thermocol), plates, cups, glasses, forks, spoons, knives, straws, trays, wrapping or packaging films around sweets boxes, invitation cards, cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners of less than 100 microns and stirrers. Plastic carry bags of thickness less than 75 microns are also prohibited under the Plastic Waste Management Rules. Their thickness will have to be increased to 120 microns from December 31. Plastic wrapping material less than 50 microns in thickness and plastic sachets used for selling and storing tobacco, pan masala and gutkha are also not allowed. Delhi generates 1,060 tonnes of plastic waste per day. Single-use plastic is estimated to be 5.6 per cent (or 56 kg per metric tonnes) of the total solid waste in the capital. Rai had on Tuesday written a letter to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, requesting her to slash GST rates on alternatives to SUP items and their raw material to help their penetration in the market. Representatives of units manufacturing green alternatives said that jute and canvas attract a GST rate of 5 per cent and 18 per cent respectively. Products made of recycled newspaper attract an 8 per cent GST, a representative of the Narela Plastic Welfare Association said. While plastic products are subject to an import charge of 10 percent to 20 percent, bio-plastic attracts an importation rate of more than 40 percent, Rai 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 Income Tax Department on Friday said it had carried out a search and seizure operation on July 7 on a and based group, engaged in the business of hospitality, marble, lights trading and real estate. The official said that a total of 18 premises across Delhi, and Daman were covered during the search action. "During the course of the search operation, a large number of incriminating evidence in the form of hard copy documents and digital data have been found and seized. These evidence indicate that the group has parked its undisclosed money abroad in certain low tax jurisdictions. The group, through Malaysia based web of companies, has finally invested the funds in its hospitality business in India. It is estimated that quantum of such funds exceeds Rs 40 crore," the official said. The official further said that evidence gathered indicates that the group has invested in a few companies abroad, which were incorporated specially for commodity trading. The net worth of one such company including its profits earned were not disclosed by the group in its ITRs for the relevant period. Further, it was detected that the promoter of the group had invested in an immovable property in foreign jurisdiction which was not disclosed in his Income tax return. Besides these, certain offshore entities, set up for commodity trading, have been identified, which have also not been declared. The search action also revealed that the group was involved in out-of-books cash sales in its India operations. In its trading business of marble and lights, seized evidence indicate unaccounted cash sales to the extent of 50 to 70 per cent of the total sales. Undisclosed excess stock of Rs 30 crore has also been found. In its hospitality business, unaccounted sales have been detected more specifically in banquet division. So far, undeclared jewellery valued at Rs 2.5 crore has been seized. --IANS atk/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.) Underlining India's concerns over the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, India's permanent mission to the UN, Pratik Mathur said that India supports all the diplomatic efforts to end the conflict through talks between Ukraine and Russian federation as it has resulted in the loss of numerous lives. "We support all diplomatic efforts to end the conflict including through talks between Ukraine and the Russian federation. It is in our collective interest to work constructively both inside the United Nations and outside towards seeking an early resolution to this conflict," said Pratik Mathur, at the UNSC Arria-formula meeting in Ukraine on Friday. Speaking on the conflict further, he said that India has been consistently calling for a complete cessation of all hostilities since the beginning of the war in Ukraine while he advocated the part of dialogue and diplomacy. With millions becoming homeless and forced to take shelter in neighboring countries, we believe that no solution can arrive at the cost of innocent lives, he said. On the Cultural front, he mentioned how cultural heritage represents the historical record and understanding of the entire spirit of the people and the civilization in terms of values, actions, works, institutions, monuments, and sites. To protect our cultural heritage is to also protect our common values, he added while addressing the delegations at UNSC on Friday. This statement also refers to the recent update of Kyiv as it suspended its envoy to New Delhi, along with several other countries. More than four and half months since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, civilians have suffered from explosions and missile strikes, particularly in eastern cities including Donetsk, Sloviansk, Makiivka, Oleksandrivka, and Yasynuvata, but also in southern parts of oblasts, in Odessa and Mykolaiv. According to OCHA's latest humanitarian update, while east Ukraine accounts for most of the active warfare, more missile attacks and casualties were reported in the last week in several other regions. These include eastern Kharkiv and western Khmelnytskyi oblasts, where civilians and civilian infrastructure have been impacted heavily. Last week, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that India has taken the "right course" on the Ukraine conflict and the most urgent issue is to prevent hostilities from escalating to a level where they only do harm. (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 16th round of Corps Commander-level talks between India and China will be held on Sunday at Chushul-Moldo on the Indian side in Ladakh, sources said. The meeting will be held in continuation with the discussion of the disengagement from friction points along the Line of Control (LAC) in the region. "In continuation with the talks on disengagement along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, the 16th round of talks will be held on the Indian side at Chushul-Moldo Meeting Point on July 17," the source added. In addition to the focus on disengagement at Patrolling Point 15 in the Gogra-Hot Springs area, the effort would also be to discuss disengagement from Demchok and Depsang, which have been sticking points in the last few rounds of talks, the source added. The 15th round of the China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting was also held at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side earlier this year on March 11. Since the last round of talks, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has visited India in March while he and Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar met last week on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' meeting in Bali, where they discussed the situation with regard to the LAC. --IANS avr/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.) HYDERABAD: The Telangana Retired Engineers Association (TREA) on Friday called for several mitigation measures to prevent a recurrence of submergence of Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme pump houses and to keep the Kadam dam safe from any future heavy flood event that could yet again allow River Godavari to rampage through the projects. TREA, in a statement after a meeting of its members, said that the pumping stations of the Kaleshwaram projects will require protection walls around them to prevent river water from entering them in the future. It said the flood banks at the Annaram barrage, part of the Kaleshwaram project, must be raised, and the government should acquire land that submerges every time the river is in flood. The Association further said that there was a need to study the backwater effect arising from the confluence of Godavari and Pranahita rivers. The flooding this time was a result of this effect, the Association general secretary M. Shayam Prasad Reddy told Deccan Chronicle. He said though the project planners had taken into account the 1986 floods of Godavari, the impact of the water from the Pranahita river joining the Godavari during heavy rain events, and the consequent rise in backwater levels were not taken into account as such an event had not occurred in the past. With respect to the near threat to the Kadam dam, the Association said the project requires additional discharge capability on its left flank. It may be recalled that though the water was let out of the left canal of the dam, the canal had breached as the water allowed to go through the canal was around 900 cusecs, compared to the normal discharge that would see between 400 and 450 cusecs of water run the canal. It also said the government must immediately take up the construction of the proposed Kuptee reservoir which could act as a balancing reservoir in the event of heavy inflows coming to Kadam. The meeting was attended among others by TREA president G. Damodar Reddy, members Venkat Rama Rao, Ananta Ramulu, Chandramouli, MV Ranga Reddy, Tanneer Venkatesham, and Ziauddin, all senior retired engineers. If and were to fight a war in the near future, faces the prospect of losing the war within ten days. could take and with a minimum loss of life, and there is very little that could do about it, says military expert and best-selling author Pravin Sawhney. This is because the is preparing for the wrong war, says Sawhney in his eye-opening and disquieting book, 'The Last War: How AI Will Shape India's Final Showdown With China' (Aleph), as he explains in great detail how this alarming scenario could play out. China's war with India will be reminiscent of the 1991 Gulf War during which the US military's battle networks connecting sensors to shooters and guided munitions with support from space assets had induced shock and awe in militaries worldwide. Similarly, China's war with India will stun the world with the use of artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, multi-domain operations, imaginative war concepts, and collaboration between humans and intelligent robots, Sawhney writes. has been preparing for this since the 2017 Doklam crisis after which it permanently augmented its troops across the Line of Actual Control - leading to a stand-off that has continued for two years without any tangible signs of resolution. The author argues that China's superpower status will only grow and the 'capabilities lag' between the two countries will expand. And if there is outright war, the will be no match for China's AI-backed war machines. In such a war, traditional conventional forces will be at a huge disadvantage, nuclear weapons will have no role to play, and the valour of individual soldiers will be of no consequence. India is honing its strengths to fight a war in the three physical domains of land, air, and the sea, whereas the PLA is working on becoming the overwhelmingly superior force in seven domains - air, land, sea (including deep-sea warfare), outer space, cyber space, the electromagnetic spectrum, and near space (aka the hypersonic domain). The PLA's disruption technologies will overwhelm India within the first seventy-two hours of hostilities commencing, and will lead to the quick end of India's resistance, the author writes, as the primary battleground will not be on land but in cyberspace and the electromagnetic spectrum. 'The Last War' explains why it's critical that India works to prevent such a war ever taking place. It should avoid focusing on joint combat with the US, whose power in the region is weakening. Instead, India should seek to make peace with China and Pakistan, its main adversaries at the moment, while simultaneously working to enhance its military and technological strengths in areas that it hasn't focused its resources on. Only then will the country's borders be firmly secure, and the region's future peace and prosperity be assured, the author maintains. Sawhney is editor of the FORCE news magazine on national security and defence since August 2003. The author of three books - "Dragon On Our Doorstep: Managing China Through Military Power" (co-authored with Ghazala Wahab), "The Defence Makeover: 10 Myths That Shape India's Image", and "Operation Parakram: The War Unfinished" - he has been visiting fellow at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, United Kingdom and visiting scholar at the Cooperative Monitoring Center, United States. After thirteen years of commissioned service in the Indian Army, he worked with Times of India and Indian Express - and with the UK-based Jane's International Defence Review. --IANS vm/arm (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.) Ahead of the Sri Lankan Parliament meeting for electing the new President of Sri Lanka, the Indian High commissioner Gopal Baglay called on the parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Saturday and said that India will continue to be "supportive of democracy, stability and economic recovery in Sri Lanka". Taking to Twitter, the Indian High Commissioner to said, "High Commissioner called on Hon'ble Speaker today morning. Appreciated Parliament's role in upholding democracy and Constitutional framework, especially at this crucial juncture. Conveyed that India will continue to be supportive of democracy, stability and economic recovery in ." Earlier, on Friday, Sri Lanka's main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa announced that he will contest the Presidential elections. Taking to Twitter, Sajith Premadasa wrote, "I am contesting to be the President. The electorate is confined to 225 MPs with the GR (Gotabaya Rajapaksa) coalition dominating the numbers. Even though it is an uphill struggle, I am convinced that truth will prevail." As the Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has resigned from office, in accordance with the Constitution, the Parliament will meet next week and take steps to elect a new President, read a special statement by acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe. This comes as faces its worst since independence with food and fuel shortages. Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Supreme Court has issued an interim order that prevented former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa from leaving the country without the court's permission until July 28. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday was sworn in as the interim President after Parliament Speaker Abeywardena accepted the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Gotabaya Rajapaksa submitted his resignation letter Thursday after arriving in Singapore, officially vacating the post of President. Parliament Speaker Abeywardena told ANI, "Yes, the resignation (of President) has been accepted, the legal process will follow... Members will be invited tomorrow (to elect a President)." Rajapaksa who flew from the Maldives arrived in Singapore on board a Saudia Airlines flight on Thursday evening, media reports 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.) Following instructions from Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, the has withdrawn the ban it had put on and videography in any government offices across the state. The Chief Minister took the decision after reviewing the decision of banning and videography. He issued orders for its withdrawal with immediate effect. On Friday, the State government had issued the ban orders after the State Government Employees Association submitted a petition for the ban. Reportedly, the association had alleged before the government that some employees were being harassed by certain people by shooting photos and videos inside government premises. (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 the wake of the first case of monkeypox being reported in the country, the government has made LNJP Hospital the nodal centre for management of the rare viral infection, with starting of training of the doctors there, a senior official said on Saturday. The city government-run hospital has been the nerve centre of Delhi's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic since its outbreak here in March 2020. "India has reported the first case of monkeypox in Kerala. We are on alert and LNJP Hospital has been made the nodal centre for management of monkeypox cases if anything happens in future," the senior official said. There is need to be "vigilant, but no need to panic," he said. India reported its first case of monkeypox on Thursday, with a Keralite who returned from the UAE testing positive for it. The incident has prompted the Centre to put together a high-level multi-disciplinary team to collaborate with the state health authorities in instituting public health measures. LNJP Hospital in has 2,000 beds and is the largest facility under the city government. "We have started training doctors and SOPs (standard operating procedures) being laid down for management of monkeypox, even though the experience of managing COVID-19 would surely help our team, as wearing of PPE kits and mask and other protocols are essentially same for this viral disease too," the official, who is also a senior doctor, said. Sources said the authorities will also plan setting up of isolation facilities for confirmed and suspected cases, sources said. As of now, eight patients admitted, and all of them are stable, the official said, when asked about number of people with the infection admitted in the LNJP. Management of monkeypox would be similar to the way the hospital team managed the COVID pandemic, he added. Before being reported in India, several cases of monkeypox were reported from Britain, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the US. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), monkeypox is a viral zoonosis (a virus transmitted to humans from animals) with symptoms similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients, although it is clinically less severe. With the eradication of smallpox in 1980 and subsequent cessation of smallpox vaccination, monkeypox has emerged as the most important orthopoxvirus for public health. Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958 in monkeys kept for research. The first human case of monkeypox was recorded in 1970. The disease occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa and is occasionally exported to other regions. According to the WHO, monkeypox typically presents itself with fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes and may lead to a range of medical complications. Country's first case of monkeypox in Kerala was confirmed through the testing of the samples of the symptomatic person at the Institute of Virology, Pune, state's Health Minister Veena George recently said. It was reported on a day when the Centre had asked states to ensure screening and testing of all suspect cases at points of entry and in the community as part of India's preparedness against the infection All measures have been taken to prevent the spread of the infection, the minister had said, adding there was no cause for concern. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in a statement, too had said there was no cause for concern presently and said just like the spread of COVID-19 was checked, monkeypox too can be contained. In a recent advisory that came amid rise in such cases globally, the centre asked the states and Union territories to identify hospitals and ensure adequate human resources and logistic support to manage any suspected or confirmed monkeypox case. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Live news updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the 296-km-long Bundelkhand Expressway, which passes through seven districts of Uttar Pradesh and has been constructed at a cost of around Rs 14,850 crore. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed Modi by offering him a local 'Bundeli' stole at the inauguration ceremony at Kaitheri village in Orai tehsil of Jalaun district. Modi had laid the foundation stone for the construction of the expressway on February 29, 2020 and it has been completed in about 28 months. Sri Lanka's ruling party has said they would nominate interim President to the presidency when the Parliament elects a new President on July 20. Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) General Secretary, Sagara Kariyawasam said on Friday in a statement that the SLPP would nominate Wickremesinghe and support him in the vote. The third Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting began on Friday in Indonesia's Bali resort island, with the finance leaders seeking ways to tackle global economic threats impacted by the ongoing Russia- conflict. Union Law Minister on Saturday said regional and should be promoted in proceedings at lower and high courts, while arguments and judgments in the Supreme Court can happen in . The minister also around 70 redundant laws will be repealed during the Monsoon Session of Parliament starting Monday. The minister said no mother tongue should be considered inferior to and asserted he does not subscribe to the view that a lawyer should get more respect, cases or fees only because he speaks more in . He also said there should be good coordination between the government and the judiciary so that justice is delivered expeditiously. No court should be only for the privileged and the doors of justice should be open for all equally, he said at the inaugural session of the 18th All India Legal Services Authority in Jaipur where he also delved on the languages used in court proceedings. "Arguments and judgments in the Supreme Court happen in English. But our vision is that in high courts and lower courts, regional and need to be given priority," the minister said, delivering his address in Hindi. He said there are lawyers who cannot effectively argue in English, and as such when a common speaking language is used in proceedings, it can resolve many problems. "If I have a problem speaking in English, I should have the liberty to speak my mother tongue. I am not in favour that those who speak more in English should get more respect, more cases or more fees. I am against it. "We are born with our mother tongue and grew up with it. We should not consider our mother tongue inferior to English," he said. The minister also expressed concern over rising pendency in courts, saying their count is going to be around five crore. He said the target should be to clear two crore cases in two years. "There should be good coordination between the government and the judiciary so that there is no delay in achieving the objective of delivering justice to people," he said. "The first question I receive wherever I go is what steps the government is taking to ensure that pendency comes down. This is a challenge and this meeting is a good occasion to discuss it," he said. He said those who are resourceful and rich hire high-paid advocates who charge Rs 10-15 lakh for one hearing but the common man cannot afford them. The minister said that any reason which keeps a common man away from the court is a matter of concern. On redundant laws, he said any such legislation that works as a burden in the life of common people must be removed. Around 1,486 redundant laws have been removed from the statute book so far, and 1,824 more identified, he said. "I am committed to removing close to 71 different acts and appropriation acts from the statute book of the parliament," he said, adding, that officers impose unnecessary legal provisions on people due to which the common man suffers. (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 Saturday cautioned people against what he called a "revari (sweet) culture" under which votes were sought by promising freebies and said this could be "very dangerous" for development of the country. Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the 296-km here, Modi hit out at previous dispensations in Uttar Pradesh for the lack of connectivity and said the "double-engine" government now was ensuring major transformation of the state with fast-improving connectivity. He said the distance from Chitrakoot to Delhi by the has been reduced by three-four hours, but its benefit is much more than that. "This expressway will not only give speed to the vehicles, but will also accelerate the industrial progress of the entire Bundelkhand," he said. The prime minister cautioned people, especially the youth, against the "revari culture" and said it could be "very dangerous" for the country's development. 'Revari' is a popular sweet specially in north India. Under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's leadership, Uttar Pradesh is seeing major transformation with better law and order and fast-improving connectivity, Modi said, and asked people to recall the state of law and order and connectivity in Uttar Pradesh earlier. He hailed the work being done by the "double engine" government in Uttar Pradesh. BJP leaders use the term "double engine" to refer to the party being in power at the Centre as well as in a state. Modi said the path of development on which the country is moving has two aspects at its core -- 'iraada aur maryada' (intent and honour). "We are not only creating new facilities for the present but are also building the future of the country," he said. The passes through seven districts of Uttar Pradesh and has been constructed at a cost of around Rs 14,850 crore. Adityanath welcomed Modi by offering him a local 'Bundeli' stole at the inauguration ceremony at Kaitheri village in Orai tehsil of Jalaun district. Modi had laid the foundation stone for the construction of the expressway on February 29, 2020 and it has been completed in about 28 months. (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 Saturday inaugurated the 296-km-long Bundelkhand Expressway, which passes through seven districts of and has been constructed at a cost of around Rs 14,850 crore. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed Modi by offering him a local 'Bundeli' stole at the inauguration ceremony at Kaitheri village in Orai tehsil of Jalaun district. Modi had laid the foundation stone for the construction of the expressway on February 29, 2020 and it has been completed in about 28 months. It extends from NH-35 at Gonda village near Bharatkoop in Chitrakoot district to near Kudrail village in Etawah district, where it merges with the Agra-Lucknow Expressway. The four-lane expressway, which can be later expanded into six lanes, passes through seven districts -- Chitrakoot, Banda, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Auraiya and Etawah. Besides improving connectivity in the region, the government expects the to give a major boost to economic development and create thousands of jobs for the local people. Work on creating an industrial corridor in Banda and Jalaun districts, next to the Expressway has already been started. (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 will support opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha in the Presidential Poll, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said after a political advisory committee (PAC) meeting of the party on Saturday. Sinha is in fray for the top constitutional post of the country with Droupadi Murmu, the candidate chosen by the BJP-led Democratic Alliance. "We respect Droupadi Murmu but the will support the opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha," Singh said. The meeting was attended by convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, Punjab MP Raghav Chadha, MLA Atishi, and other members of the PAC. Voting for the Presidential poll will take place on Monday. The AAP is the only non-BJP, non-Congress outfit having governments in two states -- Delhi and Punjab. It has 10 Rajya Sabha MPs from the two states including three from Delhi. Also, the party has a total 156 MLAs including 92 in Punjab, 62 in Delhi and two in Goa. (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 joint nominee of non-BJP parties for the presidential polls, Yashwant Sinha, has arrived in Jharkhand's capital Ranchi to muster support of legislators and parliamentarians over his candidature. He is scheduled to attend a meeting of legislators on Saturday, and then address a press conference. Earlier this week, Sinha met AICC's in-charge Avinash Pande and Thakur in Delhi and discussed strategies for the upcoming election on July 18. According to sources, he is also expected to meet JMM Executive President and Chief Minister Hemant Soren during the day. The JMM, which runs a coalition government with the and RJD, has pledged its support to NDA presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu. The party had initially backed Sinha, only to change its decision later after receiving flak from the tribal community to which both Soren and Murmu belong. In the 81-member assembly, the ruling JMM-Congress-RJD alliance has a combined strength of 48 MLAs. The BJP has 26 legislators, including Babulal Marandi, the former JVM-P chief who joined the saffron camp after the 2019 assembly elections. The saffron party also has 11 Lok Sabha and three Rajya Sabha MPs. The JMM, the Congress and the All Students Union (AJSU) have one parliamentarian each in the Lower House. The ruling JMM has two MPs in Rajya Sabha and the Congress has one. (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.) Jagdeep Dhankhar who has emerged as the 'front-runner', is a Jat leader from Rajasthan and was a Lok Sabha MP from Jhunjhunu. (PTI) New Delhi: The BJP parliamentary board is scheduled to meet over this weekend to decide the partys vice-presidential candidate. The race for the coveted post is mainly between two state governors West Bengals Jagdeep Dhankhar and Keralas Arif Mohammed Khan. Lurking somewhere in the shadows is former Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. Sources claimed Dhankhar emerged a frontrunner, but close on his heels is the Kerala governor. The victory of the NDA candidate is a foregone conclusion as the ruling alliance has a clear majority in the electoral college. After the BJP fixes on a name, it is likely to reach out to the Opposition parties and its allies to seek a consensus. The voting to elect Indias 16th vice-president will be held on August 6 as the tenure of incumbent M. Venkaiah Naidu ends on August 10. The results will be announced the same day (August 6), while the new V-P will be sworn in on August 11. The last day to file nominations is July 19. Besides these three figures, two Sikh leaders are also said to be in the reckoning former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh and Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri. While sources say the BJP is zeroing on Dhankhar and Khan, the Opposition is still in a dilemma on selecting a joint candidate. Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has called a meeting of the Opposition to discuss the vice-presidential polls on July 17. Dhankhar, who has emerged as the front-runner, is a Jat leader from Rajasthan and was a Lok Sabha MP from Jhunjhunu. He was named West Bengal governor in 2019. Since taking office, there has been a running feud between him and chief minister Mamata Banerjee. However, eyebrows were raised after a recent meeting of Ms Banerjee and Mr Dhankhar in Darjeeling. The other guest present was Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. While Ms Banerjee said it was a courtesy call, sources said it was to seek her support for both the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the NDA. The presidential election will be held on Monday, July 18. While Droupadi Murmu is the NDAs candidate, the Opposition has fielded Union minister Yashwant Sinha for the top post. Speculation has been rife in BJP circles of late about Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khan being the NDAs vice-presidential post. With Ms Murmu, a tribal leader, as President, and Khan, a Muslim, as vice-president, the BJP is hoping to tick all the right boxes. At a time when the Opposition parties are trying to paint Modi 2.0 as aggressively high on the Hindutva agenda, making a Muslim as vice-president will be sending a positive signal to the community, a party leader said. Khan, who was appointed Kerala governor in 2019 was the civil aviation minister in the then V.P. Singh government in the 1990s. Mr Khan, who was earlier in the Congress, had quit the party over the Muslim Personal Law Bill that was brought in by the Rajiv Gandhi government after the Supreme Courts Shah Bano ruling in the 1980s. He joined the BJP in 2004. The other Muslim face, whose name has been there for quite some time, is that of former minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. When the BJP didnt renominate Mr Naqvi for his Rajya Sabha seat, even party insiders were somewhat taken aback. However, sources close to him then started talking about a higher role for Mr Naqvi. The 64-year-old leader was recently sent to campaign for the Lok Sabha byelection in Rampur, a Muslim-dominated constituency in Uttar Pradesh, that the BJP succeeded in wresting from the Samajwadi Party. While some believe Mr Naqvi has been left out in the cold, others in the BJP continue to root for him. Cooperation Minister on Saturday urged Agricultural and Rural Development Banks (ARDBs) to extend more long-term loans to the agriculture sector, including for irrigation and other infrastructure. The government is building a database on cooperatives for expansion of this sector, which is important for boosting farm growth and doubling farmers' income, he added. Farmers' income cannot be raised without improving the farm sector, especially irrigation, he pointed out, and asked to focus on providing loans for increasing irrigated land in the country. The minister further said India, which has 49.4 crore acres of arable land, highest after the US, has potential to feed the whole world if the entire arable land is irrigated. Currently, about 50 per cent of the arable land in the country is monsoon dependent. Addressing a conference here, Shah said Agricultural and Rural Development Banks have been functioning in the country under different names in the last nine decades. Most of them operated as land mortgage banks and were first to grant long-term finance to farmers way back in 1924. With the conversion of these banks into ARDBs, farmers' dependence on monsoon got reduced. Slowly, long-term financing evolved, he said. "If we look back and see the last 90 years' journey of long-term financing through cooperatives and how it has percolated down, if you see the data, it has not grown," Shah observed. "Especially in agriculture financing, be it long or short term, it is paralysed in many parts of the country. In many places, activities are done well but in some states it is not. We need to revive them," he said. Shah, however, stated that there are many hurdles in providing long-term financing to the agriculture sector. Time has come to overcome those hurdles with cooperative spirit and achieve agriculture growth, he asserted. The minister further said ARDBs have financed more than 3 lakh tractors so far, but the target should be 8 crore tractors. Similarly, about 5.2 lakh farmers have been provided with medium and long-term finance through cooperatives, but the target should be reaching more farmers. ARDBs should undertake reforms to facilitate farmers seeking long-term finance, Shah said, and cautioned not to focus only on "bank specific reforms" but the entire sector. He also said long-term financing to the farm sector should be more than the short-term loans and asked NABARD to set up an extension wing to facilitate the same. Not just financing, the minister said, ARDBs should focus on other cooperative activities like setting up of agri infrastructure such as irrigation, horticulture, poultry, fishery, lift irrigation and other areas. "We should not run banks alone, but work towards objectives for which were set up," he said, and asked ARDBs to adopt the Amul model to scale up services towards the farming community. To overcome the challenges of small farm holdings, the minister asked cooperative banks to think how to operate such small farm fields with a cooperative spirit. For expansion of the cooperative sector, the minister said the government is building a database of cooperatives which will help frame policies and programmes. "We don't have a database of cooperatives at present. We don't know how many cooperatives are working in the field of fishery and we don't know which areas are deprived of primary agriculture cooperative societies (PACs). We have started working on the data and will benefit in a big way," he said. The expansion cannot be undertaken if one does not know where it is to be done, he added. The minister also outlined recent measures taken in the cooperative sector, including digitalisation of PACs, procurement by cooperatives through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), and a draft proposal sent to states for amendment of bylaws of PACs. The cooperative sector can strengthen itself and for that it needs to revive with a cooperative spirit. Only then can it contribute towards achieving a USD 5 trillion economy, he added. Shah also gave away outstanding performance awards to four State Cooperative Agricultural and Rural Development Banks (SCARDBs) located in Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat and West Bengal. Four oldest ARDBs were also felicitated for their ceaseless service to the rural sector for 90 years. Moinul Hassan, chairman of West Bengal Agricultural Cooperative and Rural Development -- one of the four oldest ARDBs -- said the problem of human resources, lack of computerisation and old mindset are some of the hurdles faced by cooperative banks in long-term financing. Besides, NABARD does not perform its role adequately to facilitate long-term financing, he claimed. Union Minister of State for Cooperation B L Verma, Cooperation Secretary Gyanesh Kumar, Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Banks Federation Chairman Dollarrai V Kotecha, and Cooperative Union of India and IFFCO President Dileep Sanghani were also present at the event. (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.) Parliament's Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, headed by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, on July 19 (Tuesday) will examine the working of the Information Technology Act 2020. The officials from the Ministry of Information and Technology are likely to appear before this Committee. The notice that has been sent out to the members of the committee reads, "Briefing by the representatives of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on the subject 'Review of functioning of Information Technology Act, 2000." Officials from the Ministry who are likely to appear before the committee include the MEITY Secretary among other senior officials. The committee will be discussing this crucial issue at a time when Twitter has moved court against the government, and it is once again reiterated demands to remove insufficient IT laws and clearance of new IT Rules. There has been increasing demand for bringing stringent rules to ensure net neutrality, data privacy, and algorithmic accountability of social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. As per sources Twitter went to court questioning the arbitrary request by the Ministry for information and technology to remove certain posts from the microblogging site. "Twitter Inc., being an 'Intermediary' as defined under section 2(1)(w) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 is expected to follow the laws of India while operating in India and the repeated violations, and non-compliance of Directions issued by the designated officer appointed under section 69A of the has necessitated initiating appropriate proceedings under the IT Act, 2000," the Ministry had said in its notice to the social media giant. The Indian government in the notice further reiterated that it was essential for Twitter to comply with the intermediary rules. "MeitY grants Twitter Inc. one last opportunity to comply with all directions issued under section 69A of the IT Act, by 4th July, 2022. If Twitter Inc. continues to be in violation of these Directions and therefore the IT Act, significant consequences under the shall prevail, including loss of immunity as available to you being an intermediary under sub-section (1) of section 79 of the AND liable to punishment to offences as prescribed in the IT Act 2000," Indian government's notice to Twitter Further stated. "All government policies, laws and rules are focussed on ensuring that every Indian Digital Nagrik always has an open, safe and trusted, accountable internet. These policy objectives and obligation to comply always with Indian law form the boundary conditions for all intermediaries operating in India," according to government sources. "Indian Internet and the Digital Nagrik welcome every Global and Indian intermediary/platform to offer their service/product in India but with clear expectations of their conduct to be in compliance with the aforementioned boundary conditions," the sources further added. Twitter, an intermediary under the IT act has been repeatedly in violation of directions issued under the IT act and today they were issued a notice after several efforts of seeking compliance. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lanka's Parliament met in a brief special session on Saturday to announce the vacancy in the presidency following the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who has fled the country after a popular uprising against him for mishandling the country's . Rajapaksa, who fled to the Maldives on Wednesday and then landed in Singapore on Thursday, formally resigned on Friday, capping off a chaotic 72 hours in the crisis-hit nation that saw protesters storm many iconic buildings, including the President and the Prime Minister's residences here. During the 13-minute special session, Dhammika Dassanayake, Secretary General of Parliament, announced the vacancy for the post of president. Former president Rajapaksa's resignation letter was read during the session. According to section 4 of the presidential elections (special provisions) Act No 2 of 1981 the parliament should be convened within three days after the vacancy occurs," Janakantha de Silva, Parliament's director of communications, said earlier. Meanwhile, the main Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa has officially declared his intention to contest the vote to be held on July 20. I am contesting to be the president." "Even though it is an uphill struggle, I am convinced that truth will prevail," he said in a statement. The 225-member Parliament is dominated by Gotabaya Rajapaksa's ruling Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party. The ruling SLPP which officially announced its backing of Ranil Wickremesinghe, the acting president, found some resistance to its decision from within. Its chair GL Peiris said the party should not vote for anyone other than its own member. He said the party must back Dullas Alahapperuma, a breakaway SLPP candidate who has already put himself forward to the vote. The party is to meet on Saturday to make the final decision. For the first time since 1978, will elect the crisis-hit country's next president through a secret vote by the MPs and not through a popular mandate, following the resignation of who was ousted by a popular uprising against him. Never in the history of the presidency since 1978, Parliament had voted to elect a president. Presidential elections in 1982, 1988, 1994, 1999, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2019 had elected them by popular vote. The only previous occasion when the presidency became vacant mid-term was in 1993 when president Ranasinghe Premadasa was assassinated. DB Wijetunga was unanimously endorsed by Parliament to run the balance of Premadasa's term. The new president will serve the remaining tenure of Gotabaya till November 2024. The front runner in next week's race would be Wickremesinghe. The 73-year-old became prime minister from nowhere in May when he assumed the job to handle the unprecedented . His United National Party (UNP) was routed in the 2020 parliamentary election. Wickremesinghe for the first time failed to win a seat since 1977. He made it to Parliament in late 2021 through the party's only seat allocated on the basis of a cumulative national vote. Unpopular he may be and hated for his pro-Western policies and ways, he still enjoys acceptance as a thinker and strategist whose vision is futuristic. With the island nation facing its worst since independence, he has wider acceptance as the one with the capacity to steer the island through turbulence. A man who always wanted to become president, Wickremesinghe had lost two presidential elections in 1999 and 2005. Without parliamentary numbers of his own, Wickremesinghe would be entirely dependent on the ruling Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) member vote. Not a foregone conclusion of their support as the SLPP stays ideologically opposed to him. Premadasa, 55, for long the understudy of Wickremesinghe was the one who turned the tables on his former leader. His newly formed SJB ousted the grand old party of Wickremesinghe from all its bastions to emerge as the main opposition in 2020. Ironically it was his failure to step in to fill the power vacuum in mid-May which made way for Wickremesinghe to become Prime Minister from nowhere. He only stands an outside chance as most ruling SLPP members are unlikely to back him. Unlike Wickremesinghe though he starts the race with 50 votes minimum. Alahapperuma, 63, is from the breakaway group of the ruling SLPP. The ex-Cabinet Minister of Information and Mass Media and former newspaper columnist is being seen as a left-leaning political ideologue. Held ministerial positions since 2005 and enjoys the reputation of having a clean public life. His task too would be uphill given his position as a breakaway member. Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, 71, the Army commander who won the military conflict with the LTTE which fought the Army in its bid to set up a separate Tamil homeland in the north and east regions, could be a potential candidate. Fonseka enjoys support among the Sinhala Buddhist majority. He comes out as the only politician who was not opposed by the wider group of protesters who engineered Rajapaksa's downfall. He would however only come into the race if his leader Premadasa opted out of the contest. (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 massive rise in water-level in Godavari river at Bhadrachalam town in started declining on Saturday, though it was still well above the danger-mark, forcing most of the flood-hit people to stay at relief camps. About 26,000 people in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district were evacuated to safer places at 4 PM today though some of them were shifted to their relatives' homes, official sources said. The level in Godavari at Bhadrachalam reached a record 71.30 ft in the early hours, following in the catchment areas, and it receded to 67.70 ft at 9 PM, they said. The third warning level is 53 ft. Some of the flood-hit people held a protest at Bhadrachalam, demanding that the bund at the river be extended to prevent flooding of their residential localities. As part of relief effots, the State government requisitioned the help of Army personnel on Friday and also appointed special officers to oversee the flood-relief activities. Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan would visit flood-affected areas in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district on July 17. Despite her scheduled visit to attend President Ram Nath Kovind farewell dinner in New Delhi today, the Governor spoke to the President and apprised him of the flood-situation in the State. She also informed about the urgency in visiting the flood-affected areas in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district, a Raj Bhavan press release said. Meanwhile, Chief Minister would undertake an aerial survey and also visit the rain and flood-hit areas in Bhadradri-Kothagudem and Mulugu districts on Sunday. Rao reached Warangal this evening and held a meeting with Ministers, local MLAs and officials.. He discussed the situation at Eturu Nagaram and other flood-hit areas in the Warangal region, an official release said. He would undertake an aerial survey from Warangal to Bhadrachalam on Sunday. He would visit Bhadrachalam town and review the relief measures with officials. He would take up aerial survey at Eturu Nagaram region (in Mulugu district) and also review flood-relief measures there, it said. Rao would continue his visit of flood-affected areas in the State on Monday. State Health Minister T Harish Rao held a meeting today with officials and doctors and directed them to set up health camps in the flood-hit villages as part of measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. lashed for about seven days, up to Friday this week, causing inundation of low-lying areas and damage to agriculture crops and others. More than 10 people died in various rain-related incidents like collapse of walls and electrocution by Wednesday last. (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.) Wholesale and retail grain markets in the city remained closed on Saturday due to a protest by traders against the Council's decision to levy a 5 per cent on pre-packed and labelled food items. Wholesale grain markets at Narela, Bawana and other parts of the city wore a deserted look due to the market bandh called by traders. Many retail grain markets in the city were also closed. Delhi Grain Merchant Association President Naresh Kumar Gupta said that this is for the first time when non-branded food items are being brought under the and claimed that the decision was not in favour of the general public and traders. We are against this decision. To protest against the move, we have decided to observe a bandh on Saturday. All shops dealing with grains are shut. We have requested Finance Minister to keep food items out of the GST net. This decision should be rolled back, Gupta told PTI. He said that Saturday's strike was a symbolic one-day protest and any call on future strategy will be taken later. The GST Council, the highest decision-making body on the levy of Goods and Services Tax, last month accepted most of the recommendations of a group of ministers from states on withdrawing exemptions with a view to rationalising the levy. It was decided in the meeting that pre-packed and labelled meat (except frozen), fish, curd, paneer, honey, dried leguminous vegetables, dried makhana, wheat and other cereals, wheat or meslin flour, jaggery, puffed rice (muri), all goods and organic manure and coir pith compost will not be exempted from GST and will now attract a 5 per cent tax. Meanwhile, traders in the APMC market at Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra also observed a bandh. In Jammu, traders held a protest march against the GST Council's decision to levy GST on cereals, grains and other pre-packed and labelled food items. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day ahead of the start of the Parliament's Monsoon session, the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has given a call for a campaign on against privatisation of government banks, a top union official said. All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) General Secretary C.H.Venkatachalam also said a protest will be held before the Parliament on July 21 and a strike call will be given based on the developments during the session. The monsoon session of the Parliament begins on July 18 and one of the Bills that may be brought is to enable privatisation of the . "The campaign by the bankers will begin on Sunday, the morning of July 17. During these days, campaigning through social media is also important apart from our traditional campaigning mode," Venkatachalam told IANS. He had told the union members to tweet in English and also in the regional languages to reach a large number of people. For a long time, it has been said time has come to merge the to have about five big . Recently, in a paper, Poonam Gupta of National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) and Arvind Panagariya of Columbia University had advocated privatisation of all barring the State Bank of India (SBI). They had said, to start with two banks with better asset quality and higher returns be privatised and set them as an example for disinvestment by the government in its other banks. --IANS vj/vd (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The merger with Housing Development Corporation will enable the bank to tap the huge opportunity in the housing market with its strong distribution network and lower cost of funds, chairman said on Saturday. Speaking at the banks annual general meeting, the chairman said, Housing is going to be a huge growth opportunity and one of the key drivers of Indias GDP over the next decade. With the advantage of lower cost of funds and the strong distribution network that we have built, among several other factors, there is huge merit in seizing this opportunity. A large and more stable balance sheet because of the merger will enable to step up exposures and facilitate higher credit growth in the economy, Chakraborty added. We have made necessary applications to various authorities. The Board is closely monitoring the merger process for approval of various aspects of the merger, as required by the legal process, he told the shareholders. The HDFC- merger, announced in April, will take 18 months to close, according to the company. Earlier in July, the private lender said it has received regulator Reserve bank of India's approval for the proposed amalgamation. The stock exchanges have also communicated their no objection. ALSO READ: HDFC Bank's Q1 net profit rises 19% to Rs 9,195.99 cr, NII grows 14.5% The chairman said HDFC Bank added over 9 million new customers during the last year, taking the banks customer base to just over 70 million. In spite of the challenges in the operating environment, the bank opened 734 new branches over the last year. As we endeavour that an increasing number of under-served areas have access to a bank, we are also conscious of the evolving needs of the modern consumer and are catering to future branches being equipped to be phygital (physical plus digital) relationship centres," he said, adding that the company had tied up with over 15,000 business correspondents primarily from the common service centres to ensure that financial services are delivered in the last mile. This pace of growth also means we will add necessary manpower to cater to our growing customer base of over 70 million, he said. Acknowledging that there are customer grievances at times, Chakraborty said the bank has a very sound system in place for addressing customer complaints. We continue to invest in our technology capability creation and have significantly strengthened our ability to serve our customers better, he said. The bank has identified retail assets, commercial and rural banking, corporate banking, government and institutional banking, wealth management, and payments as growth engines. The private sector lender also proposes to harness the strong growth visible in semi-urban and rural areas of the country. We do not see priority sector lending as a mere regulatory requirement, but as a profitable product(s) offering, the chairman added. Eighty-four people are known to have died from the that has struck Spain, the Carlos III Health Institute, which reports to the Spanish Health Ministry, said. All the deaths, which were reported on July 10-12, could be attributed to the scorching heat exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in large parts of the country. Temperatures even rose above 45 degrees Celsius in the south and southwest of the country. The is predicted to continue into next week, and the is feared to rise, Xinhua news agency reported. This is the second major heat wave of the year in . The first one lasted from June 11 until June 20 and claimed the lives of 829 people nationwide, the Health Ministry added on Friday. Back then, temperatures peaked at 44.5 degrees Celsius. The authorities recommend that people drink plenty of water, refrain from excessive exercise and stay indoors as much as possible. --IANS int/khz/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As plans to become a global manufacturing hub, a contract manufacturer of major Chinese smartphones here has said that while it becomes an "inevitable trend" for smartphone and other tech players to set up manufacturing bases outside China, the process is "not a transfer, but rather a copy of China's supply chain". DBG Technology Co is a contract manufacturer for major Chinese smartphone brands including Xiaomi, Honor and Huawei Technologies Co, reports South Morning Post. Xu Yusheng, board secretary of DBG, said that the key incentive for setting up manufacturing capabilities in countries such as and is a reduction in tariffs. "'Made in Vietnam' is never a replacement for 'Made in China', but an extension of that," Xu was quoted as saying in the report. He said that despite Covid-19 related disruption, China's remains "irreplaceable". "The comprehensiveness of China's (smartphone) supply chain, which is at the core of its significance, was made possible after two decades of development," Xu said. "We can easily get our hands on all the components, the testing equipment and everything else needed to make something from scratch, within one hour's drive of our Huizhou factory. There's no other place like this outside of China," he emphasised. Xiaomi recently decided to tap as its latest production base. The move "drew public attention as it followed similar moves by major global smartphone makers to move parts of their from to Southeast Asia in search of lower costs and more stable production output", the report said. Apple moved some of its iPad production from to last month owing to Covid lockdowns. Apple shipped nearly 1 million 'make-in-India' iPhones in in the first quarter of 2022, a massive jump of 50 per cent (year-on-year) in iPhone shipments from within the country. The tech giant is also manufacturing iPhone 13, along with other models, in the country. India, which aims to become a global semiconductor hub in coming years, is also set to pump $30 billion into its technology sector to achieve independence on chips so that it isn't "held hostage" to global suppliers. As India renewed its thrust on local manufacturing of electronics under the production-linked incentive scheme (PLI), Apple and Samsung alone were expected to manufacture/assemble smartphones worth around $5 billion in the financial year 2021-22. --IANS na/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.) Chinese leader Xi Jinping, on a visit this week to the Xinjiang region where his government is widely accused of oppressing predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities, showed no signs of backing off policies that have come under harsh criticism from the US and many European countries. Xi stressed the full and faithful implementation of his ruling Communist Party's approach in the region, highlighting social stability and lasting security as the overarching goals, the official Xinhua News Agency said Friday. Under his leadership, authorities have carried out a sweeping crackdown on Xinjiang's and Kazakh communities following an outburst of deadly separatist violence. While no exact figure has been released, analysts say hundreds of thousands and likely a million or more people have been detained over time. Critics have described the crackdown that placed thousands in prison-like indoctrination camps as cultural genocide. The US and have placed officials responsible under visa bans for their part in extralegal detentions, separation of families and incarcerating people for studying abroad or having foreign contacts. Xi, on what was described as an "inspection tour" from Tuesday to Friday, said that enhanced efforts should be made to uphold the principle that Islam in must be Chinese in orientation, Xinhua said. While the needs of religious believers should be ensured, they should be united closely to the Communist Party and the government, the official news agency quoted him as saying. He called for educating and guiding people of all ethnic groups to strengthen their identification with the Chinese nation, culture and Communist Party. The Chinese leader called Xinjiang a "core area and a hub" in China's programme of building ports, railways and power stations connecting it to economies reaching from Central Asia to Eastern Europe. The US has blocked some imports of cotton and other products from the region over reports of forced labour. Xi met with leaders of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, a supra-governmental body that operates its own courts, schools and health system under a military system imposed on the region after the Communist Party took power in in 1949. Xi "learned about the history of the XPCC in cultivating and guarding the frontier areas," Xinhua reported. Xinjiang borders Russia, Afghanistan and volatile Central Asia, which has sought to draw within its orbit through economic incentives and security alliances. (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.) HYDERABAD: Congress MP and TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy demanded that the state government immediately release fee reimbursement dues of Rs 3,270 crore pertaining to nearly 12 lakh students in state. Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan on Friday, Uttam Kumar Reddy alleged that TRS government had ruined the entire education sector in Telangana ever since it came to power in 2014. There were dues of Rs 828 crore in 2020-21 while not a single rupee was released for the academic years 2021-22 and 2022-23. He said the state government owed Rs 3,270 crore to private colleges towards the fee reimbursement of over 12 lakh students of nearly 3,600 junior, engineering, degree, pharmacy and other professional and non-professional colleges. Students are neither getting scholarship nor tuition fee for the last two years. Many SC, ST and Minority students are unable to pursue higher studies. With the state government not clearing fee reimbursement dues, managements are unable to run their institutions. Consequently, about 20-30 per cent students have already dropped out from higher studies, he said. Uttam Kumar Reddy said the delay in the release of fee reimbursement was also increasing unemployment in the education sector. Private colleges had nearly 1.25 lakh employees, including faculty members. Lakhs of others were getting indirect employment. At least 30,000 people were losing their livelihood every year due to non-release of fee reimbursement by the TRS government, Uttam Kumar Reddy said. He said the state government did not release the entire Rs 3,497 crore which it announced would spend in the first phase of 'Mana Ooru, Mana Badi' to upgrade 9,123 out of over 26,000 schools. He said only administrative sanction was accorded for the amount, but it was reportedly not approved by the finance department. Of the 538 sanctioned posts of mandal education officers (MEO), only 20 were filled. Similarly, of 33 districts, there were district education officers (DEOs) for only 10 districts. Thousands of other posts including principal, headmaster, attender, etc., were still vacant, he said. The Congress MP accused the Chandrashekar Rao government of not giving prominence to the education sector. He said the spending on the education sector was brought down from 10.80 per cent of the total budget in 2014-15 to just 6.24 per cent in 2022-23. According to an RBI report, Telangana was at the bottom of the list of 29 states in terms of spending on education, he added. Stating that the Congress was all set to return to power in the next Assembly elections, Uttam Kumar Reddy said the Congress government would restore the old system of fee reimbursement and scholarship. TPCC disciplinary committee chairman G. Chinna Reddy, working president J. Geetha Reddy, senior vice president Zafar Javeed, official spokespersons Sudhir Reddy and D. Bhaskar Reddy, and Telangana State Private Educational Institutions Association president G. Satish were also present at the meeting. The European Commission has adopted a proposal for a seventh package of measures that will ban the importation of Russian . The proposal adopted on Friday is part of a new set of measures that are intended to improve the implementation and effectiveness of the EU's six earlier packages of sanctions against Russia. In a statement, the Commission said the proposal will be discussed by the member states in the EU Council next week before it is adopted, Xinhua news agency reported. The proposal was issued jointly by the Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs. Dabbed the "maintenance and alignment" package, it clarifies earlier provisions to strengthen legal certainty for operators and enforcement by the member states. Among others, it proposes to tighten dual-use and advanced technology export controls. It also aims to further align the EU's sanctions with those of its allies and partners, especially the G7 countries. "...We are proposing today to tighten our hard-hitting EU sanctions against the Kremlin, enforce them more effectively and extend them until January 2023. Moscow must continue to pay a high price for its aggression," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a statement. The EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Josep Borrell, added: "The EU's sanctions are tough and hard-hitting. We continue to target those close to Putin and the Kremlin." He said he will also propose to expand the EU's list of sanctioned individuals and entities, who are subject to assets freezes and their ability to travel is curtailed. The Commission stressed that EU sanctions do not target in any way the trade in agricultural products between third countries and Russia. The next review of EU sanctions is scheduled at the end of January 2023. --IANS int/khz/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) South African President on Friday said he will not get intimidated or bullied into submission', even as the opposition party Economic Freedom Fighters announced that it would seek his in Parliament. Ramaphosa, 69, has been under pressure in recent times over theft of foreign currency in his farm, frequent power outages across the country, surge in crime rates and rising fuel prices. I will not be intimidated, distracted, nor bullied into submission, Ramaphosa said on Friday in his address at the closure of the centenary conference of the South African Communist Party (SACP). There have been calls for Ramaphosa to step down after he allegedly failed to report to police the theft of a huge amounts of foreign currency were allegedly stolen from his farm. On Thursday, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said during a media briefing that it was planning to approach other parties as well as the ANC to support its motion of no-confidence against Ramaphosa. We are not just looking for an ordinary motion of no-confidence; we are calling for an . Cyril must leave with nothing because he has violated the people of South Africa, said EFF leader Julius Malema, who started the party some years ago after being ousted from the ANC, where he was the leader of the Youth League. Ramaphosa made no reference to this in his address, but did share some details around the alleged non-disclosure of the theft. The allegations contained in the complaint are serious, and it is only correct that they be thoroughly investigated and that the due legal process be allowed to take its course without interference. As we emerge from the era of state capture, we must be firm on the principle that no person, not a single person is above the law, and everyone, regardless of the position that they occupy, must be held accountable for their actions, Ramaphosa said. I have pledged my full cooperation to the investigation process that is under way. I am prepared to be accountable. I opted of my own volition to appear before the Integrity Commission (of the ANC), he added. Ramaphosa said the meeting was supposed to have been held last week, but the date did not suit everyone involved. We will finalise another date in days to come and I will go before the Integrity Commission. I will not allow these allegations to deter me from what needs to be done to help rebuild our economy. I will not allow this to deter me, to discourage me from the work that I have to do. For as long as I am still privileged to be the president of the Republic, I will do my work. I will work alongside all leaders and cadres of our movement and together with our Alliance partners, to end factionalism, patronage and corruption, Ramaphosa said. As an alliance, we will never succumb to the manipulation and the disinformation abuse of office, to the undermining of democratic institutions, or to the threat of violence or insurrections. In the battles that must be fought against poverty, inequality, violence, crime greed, those who perpetrate violence against women, (and) corruption, we will not submit. Nor will we relent nor will we ever, ever give in, the president added. Ramaphosa was referring to issues such as attacks on the independence of the judiciary and the widespread looting and violence in two provinces exactly a year ago that saw 354 people being killed and damages amounting to billions of rands to infrastructure. The president had to call in the army after several days when police inaction failed to quell the violence, allegedly because of internal squabbling between senior officials. (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.) Tesla CEO Elon Musk's legal team has reportedly asked the court to push back the trial by early 2023, saying that the case requires "forensic review and analysis" of a deep pool of data. While terminating his $44 billion takeover deal, Musk argued that the Parag Agrawal-headed micro-blogging platform is hiding the true number of fake/spam accounts on its platform. In a new court filing first reported by Bloomberg, Musk's lawyers have said that officials are unfairly pushing for a "warp speed" trial. Twitter's legal team said in the Delaware Court of Chancery that they will need just a four-day trial to prove that Musk is wrong on his decision to cancel the deal. Twitter requested the court that the trial be expedited with a start date as soon as September. However, Musk's legal team replied that it will need time till early 2023 to start the trial. Musk's legal team is aiming for a February 13, 2023 trial date. "Twitter's sudden request for warp speed after two months of foot-dragging and obfuscation is its latest tactic to shroud the truth about spam accounts long enough to railroad defendants into closing," Musk's legal team wrote. Last week, Musk officially pulled out of his $44 billion agreement to purchase the microblogging site. In a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Musk's team claimed he is terminating the deal because Twitter was in "material breach" of their agreement and had made "false and misleading" statements during negotiations, like the actual number of fake accounts. Agrawal-led platform has claimed that it is suspending nearly 1 million spam accounts a day. --IANS na/shb/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) and the agreed on Friday to strengthen cooperation in the fields of 5G networks, cybersecurity, space exploration, and public health, Al Arabiya News reported.The agreements were made on the sidelines of US President Joe Biden's first state visit to the kingdom, where he met with top Saudi officials to review the kingdom's defensive needs and the importance of global energy security. In a statement after the meetings, Biden welcomed Saudi Arabia's fresh signing of the NASA-led Artemis Accords, an outer space exploration treaty, saying the "reaffirms its commitment to the responsible, peaceful, and sustainable exploration and use of outer space."The US president praised the role the kingdom played in supporting the UN cease-fire efforts in Yemen. The visit in is the last destination of Biden's first Middle East tour as the US president. The diplomatic tour, which started on Wednesday and is expected to end on Saturday, also covers Israel and the West Bank. Biden will also attend a joint summit on Saturday with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as the king of Jordan, the president of Egypt, and the prime minister of Iraq. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lanka's ruling party has said they would nominate interim President to the presidency when the Parliament elects a new President on July 20. Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) General Secretary, Sagara Kariyawasam said on Friday in a statement that the SLPP would nominate Wickremesinghe and support him in the vote. Sri Lanka's Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena earlier in the day said that a new President would be elected through the Parliament on July 20 following the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Xinhua news agency reported. On Friday, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe was sworn in as interim President till the election on July 20. Earlier in the day, Abeywardena said he has received the resignation letter of President Rajapaksa, and from this point forth the President has legally resigned from his legal duties and responsibilities. "Under these circumstances, the constitutional procedure of appointing a new President will now be activated. Until this constitutional procedure is over, according to the constitution the Prime Minister will function in the capacity of the President overseeing functions, duties, and powers of the office of the President," the Speaker told a media briefing. Abeywardena added that Parliament will convene on July 16 and he requested all legislators to attend parliamentary sessions on that day. He requested maximum cooperation for the democratic process of electing a new President and government from all party leaders, state officials, and security forces, and made a special appeal to the citizens of to create a peaceful environment that would allow all lawmakers to attend Parliament freely. Under such an environment, with the help of all responsible, the Speaker said he intends to conclude the process of electing a new President within a short period of seven days. has been in the middle of a severe economic turmoil for months, which has led to a shortage of basic supplies such as food, gas and fuel. --IANs int/khz/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The has alleged that Jai Ram Thakur-led government in had paid Rs 396 crore "extra" payment "beyond the scope of agreement" to a private company in a power project. The chairperson of 'chargesheet' Committee Rajesh Dharmani told PTI that this and several other financial irregularities would be included in the 'chargesheet' being issued by the state against the government in in September, a few months before the Assembly elections scheduled to be held later this year. However, Dharmani refused to divulge details regarding the "over and above payment" to the private company stating that the details would be included in the 'chargesheet' to be issued within the next two months. The former Ghumarwin Congress MLA further blamed the Thakur government for not using the public money in a prudent way on various projects. The government could have saved at least Rs 3,000 crores if it had spent prudently, he added. He said paper leak for recruiting police constables, undue delay in announcing results for appointing panchayat secretaries and junior office assistants, unpreparedness during second wave of COVID-19, high rate purchasing during covid, alleged backdoor appointments of supporters in government jobs, irregularities in the purchase of water pipes by the Jal Shakti Department and unfulfilled promises made in BJP manifesto would also be the part of the Congress 'chargesheet'. The five-member state Congress Chargesheet Committee- having Ashish Butail, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal and Budhi Singh Thakur as its members- is giving final touches to the 'chargesheet' which will be issued for the electors of the state so that they may judiciously make up their mind before casting their votes in the coming Assembly elections, he added. Alleging unpreparedness of the state government during the second wave of coronavirus, Dharmani said a number of valuable lives were lost during the pandemic due to "mismanagement in properly handling the COVID-19". Dharmani alleged a number of ventilators remained unused as experts were not available to operate them. In some hospitals equipments were available but medical staff was not there and vice versa in other hospitals due to which the people of the hill state suffered a lot, he alleged. Besides, the ruling BJP had to remove its then state president in a case pertaining to high rate purchasing during covid, he added. Notably, BJP president Rajeev Bindal had resigned from his post in May, 2020, saying he was doing so to ensure a proper investigation into an alleged corruption case. In a resignation letter sent to BJP president J P Nadda, Bindal had stated that he was tendering his resignation on high moral grounds as some people were dragging the party's name in the alleged corruption by the state health director. Dharmani also blamed the Thakur government for not getting any special package from the central government despite being double engine governments of BJP at the Center and the state, and JP Nadda from Himachal Pradesh as national chief of the saffron party. Regarding paper leak, Dharmani said the written test for recruitment of 1,334 constables in the state Police was held on March 27 but it was cancelled by Chief Minister Thakur on May 6 amid reports of paper leak. On May 17, the chief minister announced to handover the case to Central Bureau of Investigation but it has not been handed over to CBI till date to "save police officials" and a special investigating team of the state police, constituted on May 6, continues to probe the case, 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.) Hitting out at (SP) president for supporting opposition candidate in the July 18 presidential election, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak sought his response on Friday over an old statement of Sinha calling SP patriarch Yadav an ISI agent. On the other hand, the SP described both the deputy chief ministers as "pracharjeevi" (propagandist) and asked them about the role of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its leaders during the country's freedom movement. Maurya and Pathak shared an old newspaper clipping on Twitter that featured Sinha's statement referring to SP founder Yadav as an agent of Pakistani spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Maurya shared the clipping from an English newspaper, titled "Mulayam is an ISI agent", in which the allegation was made by Sinha. Maurya shared the same article and tweeted: "SP president Akhilesh Yadav, what will you say about the statement made by the person you are supporting for the post of president on Yadav!" Hours later, Pathak shared the news clipping on the microblogging website and wrote: "By supporting the person who called Mulayam Singh Yadav an ISI agent, has once again presented the 'sanskar' of the SP before the state." Responding to these tweets, the SP, from its official Twitter handle, wrote: "Pracharjeevi Deputy Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, tell us what was the role of your leaders and party in the freedom movement of the country?" Voting for the presidential election will be held on Monday. The preparations for voting in the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly are being finalised and the state's main opposition SP's ally Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) has announced its support to Droupadi Murmu, the candidate of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The SBSP has six MLAs in Uttar Pradesh. Akhilesh Yadav's uncle and Pragatisheel (Lohia) president Shivpal Singh Yadav, who is also an SP MLA, has already announced his support for Murmu. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A parliamentary board meeting is underway here to pick the party's candidate for the vice presidential poll. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior Union ministers Amit Shah, and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, besides chief JP Nadda are among those attending the meeting. In 2017, the party had named the then Cabinet minister M Venkaiah Naidu, a former president and veteran parliamentarian, as its vice president candidate. BJP's parliamentary board meeting underway at party headquarters in Delhi PM Narendra Modi, BJP chief JP Nadda, Union Ministers Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Rajnath Singh, BJP General Secretary BL Santosh & Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, present in the meeting pic.twitter.com/vJQGOI4CwW ANI (@ANI) July 16, 2022 Naidu had won the election comfortably to occupy the second highest constitutional post of the country. Naidu's current term ends on August 10. The BJP is again in a strong position to ensure the victory of its candidate. The electoral college for picking the next vice president, who is also the ex-officio Rajya Sabha chairperson, comprises members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Out of Parliament's current strength of 780, the BJP alone has 394 MPs, more than the majority mark of 390. (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 Centre did not prepare enough to provide people alternatives and shift manufacturing units to green options before banning single-use and the curbs cannot be imposed forcibly, Delhi Environment Minister has said. He also claimed the union government did not even call a meeting of state environment ministers before the ban came into force. "I think it (announcement of the ban) lacked preparation. Stakeholders should have been told about alternatives and the government's support to help them shift to the green options... I think these issues should have been resolved before announcing the ban," Rai told PTI in an interview. The minister said raw materials for alternatives to single-use items attract high GST, which makes the product unviable for people. "The GST rate on green alternatives and their raw material should have been slashed before the implementation of the ban... The was required to prepare a proper mechanism. The curbs cannot be enforced forcibly," 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 on Saturday alleged that the charges levelled by the Gujarat police against late party leader were part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "systematic strategy to absolve himself of any responsibility for the communal carnage" of 2002. The Congress' rebuttal came a day after the Gujarat police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) submitted an affidavit in a court in Ahmedabad stating that arrested activist was part of a "larger conspiracy" carried out at the behest of with the political objective of "dismissal or destabilisation of the elected government in Gujarat by hook or by crook". In a statement, General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said the party "categorically refutes the mischievous charges manufactured" against the late . "This is part of the prime minister's systematic strategy to absolve himself of any responsibility for the communal carnage unleashed when he was chief minister of Gujarat in 2002," he said. Patel's daughter Mumtaz reacted sharply to the allegations, saying her father's name still holds weight to be used for "political conspiracies" to malign the Opposition. "So their campaign for Gujarat election has begun by dragging Ahmed Patel's name in conspiracy theories. They did it before election when he was alive & are still doing it when he is no more," she tweeted. "Why during UPA years @TeestaSetalvad was not rewarded & made Rajya Sabha member and why the Centre uptil 2020 did not prosecute my father for hatching such a big conspiracy?" she said in another tweet which was retweeted by her brother Faisal Patel from his verified Twitter handle. Ramesh alleged that it was Modi's unwillingness and incapacity to control the 2002 Gujarat "carnage" that had led the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to remind the chief minister of his 'raj dharma'. The prime minister's "political vendetta machine" clearly does not even spare the departed who were his political adversaries, the general secretary said. "This SIT is dancing to the tune of its political master and will sit wherever it is told to. We know how an earlier SIT chief was rewarded with a diplomatic assignment after he had given a 'clean chit' to the chief minister," Ramesh said. He alleged giving judgment through the press, in an ongoing judicial process, through "puppet investigative agencies who trumpet wild allegations as supposed findings", has been the hallmark of the Modi-Shah duo's tactics for years. "This is nothing but another example of the same with the added object of vilifying a deceased person since he is unable and unavailable to refute such brazen lies," Ramesh alleged. In a press conference, BJP's spokesperson Sambit Patra claimed that Ahmed Patel, who was Sonia Gandhi's political adviser, was just the medium through which she acted to destabilise the BJP government in the state and damage Prime Minister Modi's political career. Hitting back at the BJP, Congress' media department head Pawan Khera said whenever elections approach, the BJP, PM Modi and "his ecosystem" put forward "new theories" and even drag names of Muslim leaders. "In the last assembly polls, Prime Minister Modi's ecosystem suddenly came up with talk of conspiracy against Modi at a dinner in Jangpura in which ex-army chief Gen Deepak Kapoor, former prime minister Manmohan Singh as well as many noted personalities were present. "They said Pakistan was also involved," Khera said at a press conference at AICC headquarters in Delhi. "Now again, the Gujarat elections are coming, so they have again started. Whenever Gujarat polls come, sometimes they start talking about Ansari, or Ahmed Patel," he said. Setalvad, along with former Director General of Police (DGP) R B Sreekumar and former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, was arrested by the city crime branch for allegedly fabricating evidence to implicate innocent persons in the 2002 riots cases, under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 468 (forgery) and 194 (giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction for capital offence), among other offences. Citing the statements of a witness, the SIT, while opposing Setalvad's bail plea, told the court on Friday that the conspiracy was carried out at the behest of late Ahmed Patel. At Patel's behest, Setalvad received Rs 30 lakh following the post-Godhra riots in 2002 after meeting him on two occasions. Meetings were also held at Patel's residence in New Delhi, where Setalvad and Bhatt met the Congress leader "four months after the riots in a clandestine manner", it said. Setalvad used to meet the leaders of a "prominent national party in power at that time in Delhi to implicate names of senior leaders of the BJP government in riot cases", the SIT further claimed. In several meetings held with political leaders after the riots, it was discussed by the accused person "with leaders of a prominent national party in power at the time to implicate senior leaders of the BJP government of Gujarat in these riots cases." The record shows that "top Congress leaders of Gujarat'' were in constant touch with Bhatt during the period in consideration. Bhatt was "holding personal meetings with senior Congress leaders as well," it said. It cited another witness to claim that in 2006 Setalvad had asked a Congress leader why the party was giving "chance to only Shabana and Javed" and not making her a member of the Rajya Sabha. (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.) While India has been distracting itself with cynical battles over identity, religion, accentuated hate speech, proscribing freedom of speech and expression and playing cynical state government toppling games, there is a new world order underpinned by new alliances that is evolving. The contours of this order are portentous for the strategic interests of India. For, the centre point of this unfolding paradigm is China. Before President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion of Ukraine he signed an agreement with China in Beijing on the 5th of February, 2022, entitled Joint Statement of the Russian Federation and the Peoples Republic of China on the International Relations Entering a New Era and the Global Sustainable Development. Grandiose in both its breadth and sweep, it makes no bones about the fact that both Russia and China seek to challenge the existing status quo aggressively. The following text in the document says it all: Some actors representing but the minority on the international scale continue to advocate unilateral approaches to addressing international issues and resort to force; they interfere in the internal affairs of other States, infringing their legitimate rights and interests, and incite contradictions, differences and confrontation, thus hampering the development and progress of mankind, against the opposition from the international community. The transgressions into Ukraine de-horse what may be the final outcome were or are really designed to undercut if not upend the European security construct underpinned by the US. If the Russians succeed nobody would be happier than the Chinese because then a vulnerable Europe may have to look towards China as the outside balancer. However, the reverse seems to have happened so far in the past four-and-a-half months with Europe looking more consolidated than ever before against Russia. However, Putin has ominously warned he has just started out. China may still end up having the last laugh. And yet the China-Russia axis is not the only one that should worry New Delhi. From North Korea to Iran encompassing China and Pakistan, a contiguous physical mass of nuclear weapon States three de-facto and one de-jure (if one was to give credence to non-Western sources) has emerged whose interests and those of India are just not aligned. Notwithstanding whatever outreach India may have made towards Iran, the fact remains that Irans adversarial relationship with the US and Indias congruence with both the United States and Israel produces a fundamental dissonance in the Indo-Iranian relationship how much ever India may want to paper it over by underlining civilisational ties. The 25-year strategic partnership between China and Iran signed in the March of 2021 only further adds to this discomfiture. It is no coincidence that while this agreement between China and Iran was in the final stages of negotiation India was outed from the Chabahar-Zaidan railway link project in the November of 2020. If Iran leans decisively in the Chinese direction given that India has no relationship with DPR Korea worth the name and China is in illegal occupation of Indian territory since April 2020 while with Pakistan the unfinished business of Partition stretches back 70 years, how does India deal with this bloc of nuclear weapon States stretching from the far east to the west across the Asian heartland? That China is at the heart of this new axis of cooperation is evidenced not only by the encouragement it is providing to the North Korea-Iran relationship but also the assistance it is ostensibly providing to upgrade North Koreas conventional and unconventional capacities as exhibited by North Korea during its 75th anniversary military parade in October of 2020. A report by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution of Baden-Wurttemberg, a province in Germany, in June 2020, detailed the cooperation between North Korea, Pakistan and China on nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons programmes. It underscored: They aim to complete existing arsenals, perfect the range, deployability and effectiveness of their weapons and develop new weapons systems. They are trying to obtain the necessary products and relevant knowhow through illegal procurement efforts in Germany. In order to circumvent existing export restrictions and embargoes, risk states must constantly develop and optimise their procurement methods. To conceal the actual end user, they can procure goods in Germany and Europe with the help of specially established cover companies and, in particular, transport dual-use goods to risk states. Typical bypass countries include Turkey and China. Why this should worry India is primarily because Iran has not only been able to create a huge influence in the Shia Crescent in the Greater Middle East where India has significant energy interests, but moreover the synergy between these four powers has a direct bearing on Indias security given that with Afghanistan now under de-facto Pakistani control through the Taliban a friendly Iran provides a comfort level of strategic depth that Pakistan has always aspired for. If Russia and Turkey at some later stage do also become a part of this loose arrangement provided that Turkey and Russia are able to find a modus vivendi in their quest for influence in the caucuses and given that they were on the opposite side of the conflict in Syria, this new paradigm from Murmansk to the Straits of Bosporus can emerge as a formidable bloc. Except for Russia, the others, DPR Korea, China, Pakistan, Iran and even Turkey have either an antagonistic or at best a very formal relationship with India. If one is tuned into the buzz in the international strategic community, the United States and China have also been concurrently holding quiet consultations about the emerging scheme of things. The US wants to keep China engaged so that it does not get completely consumed by the orbit that Russia and China are striving to create. Some form of spheres of interest conversations are an obvious corollary if not intrinsic to such confabulations. Were the US-China conversations to fructify into some tentative understanding, how would this play out qua the QUAD, AUKUS and other arrangements that the US has now crated or has been trying to create in the Indo-Pacific theatre stretching back two decades now if not to the end of the Second World War? Does India even have its eye on the ball given that the world around it is swivelling at a dizzying pace? The battle between Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) and (OPS) is far from over as both have now embarked on a spree to "expel" each other's supporters since July 11 general council meeting in which EPS who was elected as the party's interim general secretary expelled OPS, who in turn announced that he was expelling the former from the party. EPS, who apparently seized AIADMK's control, has now expelled 21 OPS supporters from the party. The former chief minister has sacked 39 OPS supporters so far for alleged "anti-party activities" after OPS was stripped as AIADMK's coordinator and expelled from the party. Former minister Natarajan, ex MLA Syed Khan, R T Ramachandran, and Selvaraj are also caught up in the crossfire. The two sons of OPS -- O P Ravindhranath and V P Jayapradeep have also been expelled. A total of 16 resolutions were passed in the crucial AIADMK General Council meeting held on July 11 including doing away with the dual leadership structure in the party by terminating the posts of coordinator and joint-coordinator. After the demise of Jayalalithaa in 2016, the party has been following a dual-leadership formula with EPS as co-coordinator and OPS as coordinator. The clamour has been growing louder for a single leader in the party since the district secretary meeting on June 14 this year. A special resolution was also passed to sack OPS, JCD Prabhakar, Vaithilingam, and Manoj Pandian. The post of General Secretary has been revived, for which primary members of the party will vote for in fresh elections that will be held within four months.However, OPS too responded with a similar approach and so far sacked 66 AIADMK members including EPS, Jeyakumar, Udhayakumar and Munusamy. "General Council's decision to expel me is not valid... We will take legal action according to the law. They don't have the right to remove me," OPS had said. Earlier on Wednesday, EPS-led AIADMK appointed KP Munusamy and Natham Vishwanathan as deputy general secretaries. The party appointed Ponnaiyan as secretary for International MGR Forum and SP Velumani is appointed as Headquarters Secretary. Further, Sellur Raju, Shanmugam, Dhanapal, Rajendra Balaji, Kadambur Raju and six others were appointed as organizing secretaries for the party. Sellur Raju has said the party's door is open for people who broke away from AIADMK. "Those who left AIADMK (O Panneerselvam) should talk to the General Secretary (Edappadi Palaniswami) and rejoin the party. AIADMK's door is open for you. The leaders who broke away from AIADMK must change their minds. The party can grow only if the majority goes behind them. Edappadi Palaniswami is a leader whom people and party workers like," he said. EPS will hold a meeting with party MLAs on July 17, according to the sources. The meeting will be held at the residence of EPS on Chennai's Greenways Road. In its last bid to stop the General Council meeting, OPS had approached the Madras High Court to stop the meeting. However, the Madras HC rejected the plea and allowed the meeting. Following the meeting, OPS wrote to the Election Commission urging it not to act upon the resolutions to bring changes in the by-laws of the party as the entire process is illegal and unlawful and without the authorisation of the Co-ordinator and Join Co-ordinator. He said that the process of convening the illegal general council meeting, resolutions passed, appointments and amendments is "clearly a void" as per the bylaws of the party and the provisions of the Representation of People Act, 1951. Meanwhile, VK Sasikala, who has a close aide of party leader Jayalalithaa, also reacted to recent developments and said that AIADMK's strong structure has collapsed. "I consider the AIADMK general council meeting held on July 11 to be a meeting that can be done for personal interest. The general council meeting was definitely invalid because such events should not be held when the case filed by me in the High Court is pending," she said. "Our AIADMK strong structure has collapsed because of a few betrayals and manipulation. AIADMK General Council was valid only till December 2016. Post that all are just functionary meetings. As long as I'm there, no one can expropriate or destroy AIADMK. I know how to unite the party," she said. Following the violence on July 11, AIADMK party headquarters in Chennai was sealed by the revenue department. "To avoid further law and order issues, either they or their advocates should be present before the RDO office on July 25 to decide the control over party headquarter," Chennai Police said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Nepal prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' will meet president J P Nadda at the party headquarters here on Sunday. The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) chairman is on a visit to India on Nadda's invitation, the said on Saturday. External Affairs Minister and the BJP's foreign affairs department in-charge Vijay Chauthaiwale will also be present at the meeting, it said. During the meeting, various ways to enhance party-to-party interaction will be discussed, the said. The ruling party has launched the "Know BJP" initiative as part of its overseas outreach. Under this initiative, the party presents information on its historical journey, ideology, structure and ongoing activities. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Speaker and (SAD) leader Nirmal Singh Kahlon passed away in his sleep early Saturday. He was 79. He was the Rural Development and Panchayat Minister from 1997 to 2002 and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 2007 to 2012. Kahlon was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Amritsar, where he breathed his last. SAD leaders -- Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal -- Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann expressed grief over death of Kahlon. In 2011, he was acquitted in a case pertaining to the recruitment scam registered by the Vigilance Bureau in June 2002. --IANS vg/shb/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rajasthan Chief Minister Saturday deprecated attacks on justices over their observations against suspended BJP spokesperson for her remarks on Prophet Mohammad, saying an "issue" was created when the two judges expressed their views. He was referring to the observations made by a bench of Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice Surya Kant which had on July 1 rebuked Sharma for her "disturbing" remarks against the Prophet Mohammad. The bench had said Sharma's remarks led to unfortunate incidents and ignited emotions across the country. Gehlot said on Sunday the judges had expressed their views about the condition in the country but an "issue" was created. "Recently Justice Pardiwala and Justice Surya Kant had said something. It is our duty to respect the judiciary. 116 people were made to stand (against the judges), including former high court and Supreme Court judges, bureaucracy, and officers. Don't know who they were? How it was managed and who managed it and an issue was created in the country," Gehlot said. He was addressing the inaugural session of the 18th All India Legal Services Authority in Jaipur, attended by Chief Justice of India N V Ramana, other judges of the Supreme Court and those from different high courts. Gehlot's mention of "116 people" was probably a reference to a group of former judges and bureaucrats who earlier this month had demanded that the SC recall its observations against Nupur Sharma, alleging the court crossed the "Laxman Rekha" while making comments. The group, comprising 15 high court judges, 77 ex-all India services officers and 25 veterans (a total of 117), had alleged that the "unfortunate" comments are not in sync with the judicial ethos and have sent "shockwaves" in the country and outside. Gehlot also said post-retirement concerns were "affecting" the functioning of judges. Judges and bureaucrats, he said, should work to serve the country rather than be concerned about their post-retirement ambitions. In the context, he mentioned the nomination of former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi as a Rajya Sabha MP, saying he was one of the four SC judges who had said, at an unprecedented press conference in Delhi in 2018, that democracy is in danger in the country. He then become the chief justice and later a parliamentarian, Gehlot said. If someone becomes a chief minister, an MLA, an MP or a judge and gets a chance to serve the country then he should be proud doing it, he said. "Life is not of 1000 years. Whatever time you have got, we should work to serve the country. But, if we are worried about what we have to become and what we can become after retirement...if this will worry judges, bureaucrats then how will things work," Gehlot said. He also expressed concern over hefty fees being charged by some lawyers in the country and asked the judges to devise a solution so that a common man can seek justice in courts. "Don't know what is happening in the country. Some advocates are charging Rs 50 lakh, Rs 80 lakh, Rs 1 crore. Any poor man cannot reach the Supreme Court. It is said that judges also give decisions seeing the face of the advocates then what should a common man do? It is said that if a particular advocate is fighting the case, then judge saab will be impressed. We need to think over it," he said. The chief minister also said the situation in the country is worrisome as elected governments are being "toppled through horse-trading". "State governments are being overthrown. Goa, Manipur, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra. This 'Tamasha' is going on. Is there democracy? If elected governments are overthrown by horse-trading then," he said. He then went to mention the crisis his government faced last year due to a rebellion led by his then deputy Sachin Pilot. Gehlot has since said BJP leader and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat was also behind the attempt to topple the Congress government. "I don't know how my government survived. I would not have been standing before you today. You would have met some other chief minister today. It was a matter of touch-and-go," Gehlot said. He urged Union Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju, who was also at the programme, to convey his message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the nation to appeal for peace, harmony and brotherhood. "There is an environment of tension and violence in the country. Democracy rests on tolerance. People listen to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and that is why people vote for him. Shouldn't the Prime Minister address the nation and say that unity and brotherhood has to be maintained? He has to say 'I will not accept violence at any cost'. I believe the Law Minister can convince him. He (the PM) does not listen to us," said Gehlot. He said if the prime minister, chief ministers, MPs, MLAs, ministers and judges do not deviate from the oath they are administered then things will work. "We go left and right even after taking an oath. That's why you see balance getting disturbed," 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.) West Bengal Chief Minister has convened a meeting with party MPs on July 21 to discuss the party's strategy for the upcoming Parliament session and the vice presidential election. The poll to elect the vice president of the country is scheduled to be held on August 6. "This is to inform everyone that has called an important meeting of all AITC Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs to discuss the party's plan of action regarding the upcoming Parliament session and vice presidential election," a party statement said. The meeting will be held on the evening of July 21 at her Kalighat residence in south Kolkata. (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 Democratic Alliance (NDA) has selected West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar as its candidate for the post of vice president of India, chief Jagat Prakash Nadda announced on Saturday. The 71-year-old was appointed as governor by President Ram Nath Kovind on July 30, 2019. parliamentary board meeting was underway earlier in evening to pick the party's candidate for the vice presidential poll. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, besides chief JP Nadda were among those attending the meeting. Lauding the governor, PM Modi said Dhankhar always worked for the well-being of farmers, youth, women and the marginalised. In a series of tweets, he said, "Kisan Putra Jagdeep Dhankhar Ji is known for his humility. He brings with him an illustrious legal, legislative and gubernatorial career. He has always worked for the well-being of farmers, youth, women and the marginalised. Glad that he will be our VP candidate." Dhankhar has excellent knowledge of our Constitution and he is also well-versed with legislative affairs, the PM added. "I am sure that he will be an outstanding Chair in the Rajya Sabha and guide the proceedings of the House with the aim of furthering progress," he said. Prior to his present role as the governor, Dhankhar has been a noted lawyer and was instrumental in getting OBC status for Jats in Rajasthan. He also used to walk 4-5 kms to a government school when he was in class 6, has been a cricketer and also a keen student of spirituality and meditation, according to various official accounts. His nomination means that the presiding officers of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will be from Rajasthan, among the only two states currently ruled by governments, which incidently goes to polls next year. Born in an agrarian household in a remote village in Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu district, he completed his school education from Sainik School, Chittorgarh. After finishing his graduation in Physics, he pursued LLB from the University of Rajasthan and has practiced in both the Rajasthan High Court and the Supreme Court of India. After being elected as MP from Jhunjhunu in the 1989 Lok Sabha elections, he served as a Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs in 1990. In 1993, he was elected to the Rajasthan assembly from the Kishangarh constituency in Ajmer district. Delhi Chief Minister Saturday said his government's schemes for free education, and were not "freebies" but efforts to lay the foundation for making India the number one country in the world. He said and health services will be free for all in the country if, by God's will, he is in a position to do so. His remarks came after Prime Minister earlier in the day cautioned people against what he called was a "revadi culture" of offering freebies for winning votes. Without naming anyone, Kejriwal said, "I will tell you who is distributing 'Revadis' and giving freebies. This waiving of friends' loans worth thousands of crores and getting contracts worth thousands of crores from foreign tours for friends are giving freebies." The prime minister used 'revadi', a popular north Indian sweet often distributed during festivals, as a metaphor for freebies being promised by various parties in their attempts to win power and said the people, especially the youth should guard against this. "Through Farishtey scheme we saved 13,000 lives with timely free treatment to injured people in accidents. Ask their families, if Kejriwal is distributing "Revadis" or doing a virtuous thing," the Delhi chief minister told a press conference. He said two kinds of -- one of honesty and the other of corruption -- were being practised in the country today. A sound foundation for making India the number one country in the world needs to be laid by giving good and health services to all, 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.) As the countdown for the ensuing begins, all the three major political parties in Odisha Saturday held parleys and asked the MLAs not to leave the state capital before casting their votes. was the first party which held a meeting of its MLAs at the Assembly premises. OPCC president Sarat Pattnayak, who returned from New Delhi on the day, was present at the meeting presided over by Legislature Party leader Narasingha Mishra. Pattnaik informed the party's decision at the meeting. He announced that former MLA Ganeswar Behera and sitting MLA Santosh Singh Saluja are appointed as the as the party's agents for the presidential poll. All our MLAs will vote for Sinha in the ensuing Presidential elections, voting for which will be held at the state assembly on Monday, Pattnayak said. The ruling also held its legislature party meeting attended by 110 MLAs. Chief Minister presided over the meeting held at the assembly premises. Including the Speaker, the has 112 MLAs while two of other MLAs have been expelled from the regional outfit. One of the expelled MLA Pradeep Panigrahi has announced his support for NDA candidate Droupadi Murmu, the NDA's candidate for the Presidential poll. Another expelled MLA Prasant Jagdev is in jail and he is likely to come for taking part in election on Monday, sources said. The state's lone Independent MLA Makaranda Muduli from Rayagada has also announced his support for Murmu. Presiding over the meeting, Patnaik said the has been a proposer for Murmu as she is the daughter of Odisha in the fray for the country's topmost position. He asked all the party MLAs to vote for Murmu and ensure that not a single vote become invalid. This apart, sources said, the BJD has also asked its MLAs not to leave the state capital till voting is completed on Monday. The MLAs were told to write one in numerical near name of Murmu as the first preference. The senior leaders demonstrated before the new members on how to cast votes in the . The MLAs also held a separate meeting at the party office here which was attended by 21 members of the party's 22 lawmakers. Leader of Opposition P K Naik was absent in the meeting as he is hospitalized due to post COVID-19 complication. The saffron party cautioned all its MLAs to cast their votes in favour of Murmu without any fault. The party also warned the MLAs to ensure that not a single vote become invalid in the process. All our MLAs will remain present in Bhubaneswar while all MPs have left for Delhi to cast votes in Parliament, a senior leader said adding that Murmu will have better prospect to win the 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.) The Opposition's candidate for the next week's Presidential election, Yashwant Sinha, has cancelled his visit to scheduled on Saturday in the wake of the announcing support for the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) nominee . "Sinha's visit to Mumbai, where he was scheduled to meet and address the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) legislators, has been cancelled," an NCP leader said. The visit has been cancelled because president Uddhav Thackeray has announced his party's support to Murmu, he added. On Tuesday, Thackeray had announced that his party would support Murmu, saying that this is the first occasion wherein a tribal woman is getting the opportunity to become the President. He had said that several party leaders, especially from the tribal community like MLC Aamshya Padvi, former MLA Nirmala Gavit, and Eklavya Sanghtana's Shivajirao Dhavale had urged him to back Murmu, although there was no pressure on him. The has 19 MPs in Lok Sabha, including 18 from . It has three MPs in Rajya Sabha, 55 MLAs, although 40 of these legislators have sided with the faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The Sena headed the MVA government also comprising the NCP and Congress. However, it collapsed on June 29 following a rebellion by Shinde. The Congress has 44 MLAs and one Lok Sabha and three Rajya Sabha members, while the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has 53 legislators, 4 Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members each. Polls to elect the next president will be held on July 18. The race for the Rashtrapati Bhavan will be between Murmu and Sinha. After getting the support of some regional parties like BJD, YSR-CP, BSP, AIADMK, TDP, JDS, Shiromani Akali Dal and Shiv Sena, the vote share of Murmu has already crossed 60 per cent. It was around 50 per cent at the time of her nomination. Murmu had visited on Thursday as part of her poll campaign, and met the BJP MLAs and MPs from as well as the legislators of its allies including the Shiv Sena faction led by Shinde. (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 Uddhav Thackeray-led has sacked former minister Vijay Shivtare for "anti-party activities". The sacking of Shivtare, who had represented the Purandar constituency in the Pune district, was announced in the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana'. Talking to reporters in Pune after his expulsion, Shivtare said the faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister is the "real" and he will follow Shinde. He blamed for the present situation in and said the Shiv Sena MP is suffering from "schizophrenia" and "hallucinating". "I have expressed multiple times that I am following the footsteps of Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray. We are carrying the legacy of thoughts of Balasaheb. This is the real Shiv Sena. Though the party has axed me today, wherever will go, I will follow him," Shivtare added. Referring to the last month's rebellion by Shinde and 39 Shiv Sena MLAs, Shivtare claimed no one in Shiv Sena was happy over the decision to join hands with Congress in 2019 (after polls when Maha Vikas Aghadi was formed). "The party upholding Balasaheb Thackeray's Hindutva was the real Shiv Sena," said Shivtare, who had served as a minister in the erstwhile Devendra Fadnavis-led government (2014-19). Balasaheb Thackeray had said that he would wrap up Sena rather than go with Congress, he said. Shivtare said he holds Sena chief in high esteem but the "undercurrent of resentment" in the Sena over the allying with Congress cannot be ignored. Shivtare alleged that "pushed" the party towards the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). "A simple arithmetic is that when two regional parties come together, one of them will suffer. Raut doesn't seem to know even this basic math of votes. It is not known whether his (Raut's) loyalty is for Pawar or Thackeray," he said. Shivtare said Raut was suffering from "schizophrenia" and lives in dreams and also hallucinates. He does not have the decision-making ability due to which the Sena lost the Uttar Pradesh elections. "Raut strongly convinces people with his thoughts. He had also dreamt of leading the nation from Delhi. He always misguided the party leadership. He is responsible for the current Sena fiasco. He made the Sena surrender its pride before Sharad Pawar," Shivtare alleged. He cited the example of the Kolhapur north Assembly bypoll held earlier this year to claim that Shiv Sena's voter base was affected as the Congress candidate won by defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by a margin of over 18,000 votes. The Congress candidate was fielded by the MVA of which the Sena is the main constituent. In that bypoll, the Congress candidate bagged 96,000 votes, 5,000 more than the votes polled in the 2019 Assembly elections. In 2019, Congress had polled 91,000 votes while Shiv Sena had about 45,000. "The development projects in our constituency were either shifted or halted by the MVA. Despite informing the then CM Uddhav Thackeray, no action was taken, which was most unfortunate," Shivtare claimed. He also said he would welcome the reunion in the event of the factions led by Shinde and Thackeray coming together. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chinese envoy calls for fundamental adjustment of mandate of UN Haiti mission Xinhua) 13:55, July 16, 2022 UNITED NATIONS, July 15 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Friday called for a strategic assessment and fundamental adjustment of the mandate of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). Haiti has been one of the most complicated and protracted challenges on the Security Council's agenda. UN's engagement in Haiti dates back to the early 1990s. However, 30 years later Haiti is hardly in any better shape. On the contrary, it is caught in a more severe crisis, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations. Last October, thanks to an initiative of China and some other council members, the Security Council requested the UN secretary-general to conduct an assessment of the mandate of BINUH in light of the actual conditions in Haiti, which shall serve as reference for the council to strengthen the mandate in a targeted manner, he said. Over the past nine months, Haiti's state institutions have been paralyzed across the board. Most of the country has fallen into a security vacuum. Gang violence has become more rampant. And the economic and humanitarian situations have been in free fall. This fully demonstrates that the strategic assessment and fundamental adjustment of the mandate of BINUH are imperative, he added. Just as the council members were in consultations over the draft resolution, gang clashes broke out near the capital city of Port-au-Prince and the situation has worsened to an appalling state, Zhang said in an explanation of vote after the Security Council adopted a resolution to renew BINUH's mandate. China, while fully taking into account the recommendations in the secretary-general's assessment report, the strong aspirations of the Haitian people, and the concerns of Haiti's neighbors and countries in the region, has put forward specific reasonable and feasible proposals on advancing the political process, stepping up police capacity-building, combating illicit flows of weapons and finance, and strengthening port and border management, among others, he said. "We welcome the fact that the draft resolution has taken up many of China's proposals...While the resolution just adopted certainly still has room for improvement, it is nevertheless on the whole a right step in the right direction," said Zhang. This resolution sets clear expectations on the Haitian authorities and leaders of political parties. It sends clear warnings to the gangs that the Security Council is closely following their actions. It also confers on BINUH a stronger mandate, he noted. Haiti itself is not a producer of weapons. Yet the weapons possessed by the gangs far out-compete those of the national police in quantity and quality. This indicates that the illicit trafficking and proliferation of weapons are a source of ever-escalating gang violence, Zhang said. Countries, while supporting Haiti in beefing up its own security capabilities, should also act in coordination and unity by banning the participation of their citizens in the trafficking of weapons to Haiti, and preventing their territories from being used for such purposes. This is a necessary step in effectively containing the violent activities of gangs and the minimum requirement in showing solidarity with the Haitian people, he said. Regrettably, the resolution has failed to provide for this in the strongest terms. China hopes that this would not send a wrong message to the gangs, urging all countries to effectively strengthen arms export control. China will also work with relevant countries in continuing to push for greater Security Council efforts in this direction, he said. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji) A still from the Welsh National Operas 'Migrations' which depicts the experience of Indian doctors working in the NHS featuring Natasha Agarwal as Neera and Jamal Andreas as Jai. (Credit: Craig Fuller) British Deputy PM Dominic Raab recently criticised Opposition MP Angela Rayner for attending an opera performance, suggesting that for a working-class woman an interest in the arts was misplaced. To those of his toffee-nosed ilk, the common man should undoubtedly concern themselves solely with eking out a living. Many of the great unwashed however rushed to Angelas defence, to point out that the arts, every single branch, high or low, was for EVERYONE. It was ironic that this public debate over the place of the art in our lives was unfolding in Britain the very week I took a bowto wholehearted applause on the vast stage of Cardiffs iconic Wales Millennium centre, for having co-written Welsh National Operas grand operatic production, Migrations. No better proof of the democratic nature of the arts could have been found than our 200-strong, gloriously diverse, cast, crew, and creatives with whom I took the curtain call, collectively basking in the audiences appreciation of the magnificent show wed put up. Six different stories from six excellent writers (as described by The Times in their glowing review) formed the bedrock for this dazzling production by a versatile cast, crew, orchestra, choirs, conductors, composers, directors, and more, coming together like never before in an opera of this magnitude. The newspapers concurred too, hailing it as a remarkable achievement and a testament to the power of multicultural collaboration. Yet, by the lights of Dominic Raab, should any of us be creating art? Like many in our extensive team, I didnt come to opera by birthright or social connections. A veteran journalist and author, I was invited to write a libretto by the Welsh National Opera, because the comedy, colour and rhythm of my writing struck a chord with them. A surprise and an honour, especially being that rare South Asian to have received such an offer, I experienced both excitement and trepidation. But then I realised it was as much my heritage as any other. Hadnt I grown up with the sumptuous musical dramas of Indian cinema? Werent the stories I had to tell from my background a fitting subject for opera? Life is art and art is life. But people tend to forget that, compartmentalising art as a privileged, even frivolous, activity, that has no place in a competitively money-spinning modern world. Time and again were told that the arts and humanities are a niche interest, or a pipe dream. Never a career, if even a hobby. Global disinvestment in the arts in schools and higher education has been accruing steadily. In India, weve grown up with inexplicable prejudice against, and contempt for, training and careers in the arts. How often did your parents remind you that you would have to swot sciences and maths to the exclusion of all else, to gain entry to the hallowed halls (aka cutthroat corridors) of engineering and management? Werent we interminably interrogated by aunties; and uncles on whether wed qualify for science, or, at the very least, commerce? Followed by their inevitable disappointment, and often, derision, when we admitted to studying arts instead, sometimes by choice goodness, mental problems acche nishchoy! In the pandemic, former British chancellor Rishi Sunak ran a series of ads in the media advising people to turn away from creative work and retrain for practical jobs, even though the creative industries bring 10 billion a year into British coffers. But jobs in the arts are often the worst paid, and therefore, valued less in our get-rich-quick world because so little money can be made from them. A recent British report about university degrees that lead to the lowest paid employment listed film, fine arts, and English literature amongst them. And in India of course, the matrimonial ads will leave you in no doubt that you arent cut out for marriage either if you arent a science graduate! Yet, the arts and sciences arent combatants. When born of creative minds, they are complementary. The kind of science that benefits humanity and the planet, and not pointless exercises in aggrandisement like the space race, is closely allied to the arts that enlighten, unify society, and enhance well being. They both save lives. As so many credible yet ignored scientific studies have proven repeatedly, we are healthier, happier people for our enjoyment of the fruits of each, and our world is the better for it. The wisest of men, Leonardo Da Vinci knew this: To develop a complete mind: Study the science of art; Study the art of science Realise that everything connects to everything else. The operatic story Ive written is a similar fusing of their strengths: a musical theatre tribute to 1960s Indian NHS doctors. Wasnt it both arts and sciences that kept us alive in the pandemic? If the vaccinations slowed the deadly march of Covid, it was the persuasive communication that accompanied it, in the media, in campaigns, by word of mouth, that brought millions around the world into vaccination centres to take it, saving not just themselves but those around them in the process. In lockdown as well, our anxiety, isolation, frustration, and grief, were made bearable by our continued access to books, music, good television, and even theatre, which ingenuously found its feet quickly; streaming rather than staging their performances for the interim. Together, they got us through the darkest days in recent years. Considering the damage done to our planet and its denizens by big business, greed, and the enshrining of money and materialism at the heart of our existence, what we all need now are lives of creative enlightenment. Tech giant is likely changing how it releases significant versions of Windows again, which could mean the company may release Windows 12 in 2024. is shifting back to a three-year release cycle for Windows, which means the next major version of Windows is now due in 2024. It is another big change to how develops Windows, reports The Verge. The company initially moved away from its three-year cycle with the release of Windows 10 in 2015, prioritising the idea of Windows as a service. Instead of a significant release of features every three years in a new Windows release, Windows 10 was updated twice a year with big new features. For years, many Windows watchers thought Windows 10 would be the last big bang release of Windows after a Microsoft employee described Windows 10 as "the last version of Windows," citing Windows Central, the report said. The tech giant never dismissed those comments and instead said at the time they were "reflective of the way Windows will be delivered as a service bringing new innovations and updates in an ongoing manner". That changed with Windows 11 last year, and Microsoft moved to an annual update cadence for both 10 and 11. Alongside the next version of Windows in 2024, Microsoft still has plans to keep Windows 11 fresh in the years ahead. The software maker has been moving away from its original promise of big annual updates for Windows 11 in recent months, preferring to ship major features once they are ready. The next major update, 22H2, is currently expected to arrive in September or October after it was finalised recently by Microsoft. --IANS vc/shb/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China beat Japan 3-0 in the mens final of the 2022 Asian Volleyball Confederation Cup to claim the crown for the second time in a decade. The Chinese team went into the final unbeaten throughout the tournament in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, and maintained a clean sweep over their East Asian neighbor. The Chinese mens team first became AVC champions in 2012 Aug 15, 2022 07:38 PM Elections in Congo Getty Images Ruling party wins nearly 110 seats out of 151, according to provisional results KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - The Republic of Congo's ruling party is leading in the first round of legislative elections held last Sunday, the government said Friday. The Congolese Labor Party (PCT) of President Denis Sassou Nguesso won nearly 110 seats out of 151, according to provisional results published by the territorial administration minister. Parties allied with the PCT won 12 seats, while opposition parties won eight, results showed. More than 2,000 candidates competed for 151 assembly seats. With 101 lawmakers, the PCT holds the majority of lawmakers in the outgoing assembly. Nguesso has ruled for 37 years. James Tasamba/AA South Africa xenophobic attacks Getty Images Migrants face discrimination for allegedly committing crime, taking jobs from locals JOHANNESBURG (AA) - UN human rights experts Friday condemned reports of escalating violence targeting foreign nationals in South Africa and called for greater accountability. The experts said in a statement that xenophobia has increased due to vigilant movements such as Operation Dudula which has been mobilizing against migrants. The vigilante group has held several protests and anti-immigrant campaigns in townships against the alleged influx of illegal immigrants. Their target is mainly migrants from African states and South Asia. Operation Dudula has forcefully shut down several small retail businesses belonging to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers operating in townships. The government has condemned the activities of the group but they continue to operate. The special rapporteurs warned that the ongoing xenophobic mobilization in South Africa is broader and deeper, and has become the central campaign strategy for some political parties. Some believe that migrants, especially those from neighboring countries, are living illegally in South Africa. They accuse them of committing crimes, talking away jobs meant for locals and crowding social service amenities, among other charges. For years, South Africa has witnessed incidents of violent anti-immigrant attacks. But the worst was in May 2008, when at least 62 people were killed and hundreds injured in cross-country riots that saw mobs target the homes of migrants. At least 100,000 people were displaced as a result of the violence. The UN experts fear growing mobilization by vigilante groups and politicians could ignite new anti-immigrant violence. Without urgent action from the government of South Africa to curb the scapegoating of migrants and refugees, and the widespread violence and intimidation against these groups, we are deeply concerned that the country is on the precipice of explosive violence, the group warned. The government has frequently condemned violence targeting migrants but incidents continue, despite legislation against hate, crime and racism. 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of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Photo: The Canadian Press Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Francois-Philippe Champagne participates in an announcement, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Thursday, June 16, 2022. The House of Commons committee on industry and technology will hold a meeting today to discuss the recent Rogers outage.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang The House of Commons industry committee agreed Friday to study the massive Rogers outage that left millions of Canadians in a communications blackout for more than 15 hours last week. MPs on the committee agreed unanimously during a special meeting to probe what happened. The July 8 outage affected Rogers mobile and internet users, knocked out ATMs, shut down the Interac payments system and prevented calls to 911 services in some Canadian cities. The committee will hold at least two meetings by the end of the month and invite officials from Rogers, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Committee and Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne to testify. It wants answers about the cause of the outage, its impact and best practices to avoid future outages and to better communicate with the public during such emergencies. In an email, a Rogers spokesperson confirmed company executives will attend the hearings. "We will work collaboratively with the members on the standing committee on industry, science, and technology to provide details on the cause of the outage and the actions we are taking to enhance the reliability of each of our networks moving forward, including through formal mutual support agreements," the spokesperson said. Laurie Bouchard, a spokesperson for Champagne, said his office was aware of the invitation and that they "will continue to collaborate with the committee." In an email, a spokesperson for the CRTC said they would respond to an invitation from the committee "in a timely fashion." Champagne has called the outage "unacceptable" and directed the countrys major telecom companies to reach agreements on emergency roaming, assisting each other during outages and a communication protocol to better inform Canadians during emergencies. He gave them 60 days to reach a deal. The CRTC is also investigating the outage. Photo: Madison Erhardt Every day, approximately 20 to 30 displaced Ukrainians are arriving in B.C. fleeing war and seeking a safe place to shelter. Their journeys have seen them face trauma and horrors, but also hope as they are welcomed to a new community. Unfortunately, even though more Ukrainians are arriving, there are very limited housing opportunities for those in need. Through a partnership with the Government of British Columbia, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, and Affiliation of Multicultural Societies & Service Agencies of BC (AMSSA), United Way British Columbia (UWBC) has been supporting settlement agencies with welcoming Ukrainians to the province, providing necessities, and finding housing. Having a safe place to call your own, to rest and not having to worry about moving is vital to arriving Ukrainians to find the space and security they need to heal with their trauma and integrate into their new communities, said project coordinator Olena. We have matched 233 displaced Ukrainians with hosts providing accessible free accommodation so far but we have so many more waiting in hotels right now for long-term housing. We have seen a significant decrease in housing offers coming from communities and now Ukrainians are facing a real challenge finding available accommodation, especially as many short-term opportunities are also ending. UWBCs housing program places safety and security as a top priority. Applications are rigorously vetted to ensure the most suitable matches based on the individual and family needs of arriving Ukrainians. All types of housing are needed, from rooms to suites, and both short and long-term accommodations. The most important factor is that it is safe. To help British Columbians learn more about what kind of housing is needed and how they can help, UWBC is holding an Information Session on Monday, July 18. Perhaps a person is leaving for the summer and has an apartment or house available or has an extra room for someone who needs short-term accommodation. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to supporting displaced Ukrainians arriving in our province. For more information on the session email: [email protected]. To volunteer and help Ukrainians, visit www.ivolunteer.ca. To contribute to United for Ukraine, visit: https://donate.uwbc.ca/. For support and resources, visit www.bc211.ca. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at the Group of Twenty (G20) summit in Bali, interacted with Padma Shri recipient Indonesian artist Wayan Dibia, who is known for his works on exploring epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata. Dibia, a respected artist and scholar of performing arts from Bali, has created more than 150 new works on dance and dance dramas, mostly exploring Ramayana and Mahabharata. "[email protected] interacts with Mr I Wayan Dibia, respected artist and scholar of performing arts from Bali, during her visit to Indonesia. He has created more than 150 new works on dance and dance dramas, mostly exploring Ramayana and Mahabharata," the Office of Nirmala Sitharaman said in a tweet on July 14. Wayan Dibia, who is Bali's most influential Kecak Dancer and Scholar - a traditional Indonesian art form depicting chapters of the Ramayana was recognized with Padma Shri 2021 for his contribution to arts. "Mr Dibia was conferred with Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2021 for his contribution in the field of arts," it added. Dibia, who hails from a family of artists, began learning Balinese dance and music when he was eight years old, and has studied various forms of classical Balinese dance and drama from different masters on the island. From 1970 onwards, Dibia started to experiment with elements of traditional Balinese performing arts to create new works for contemporary audiences. The Indonesian artist has choreographed numerous new dances and dramas. Moreover, his innovative oeuvre have gained high recognition and has been featured in many important events and art festivals in Indonesia and overseas. (ANI) 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. Circuit Court Judge Thomas W. Graham officially retired recently after serving four terms on the bench. "l was elected the hard way," said Judge Graham. "When I say that, I mean I had to defeat an opponent in a primary and then defeat the incumbent in the general election. Not very many judges have to go through that gauntlet." Judge Graham was elected in 1990 to the Twelfth Judicial District Circuit Court, which covers Bledsoe, Franklin, Grundy, Marion, Rhea and Sequatchie counties. "It was very humbling," said Judge Graham. "We have a six county area that we cover, so I had to visit a lot of courthouses, and go to a lot of meetings and a lot of suppers, a lot of church gatherings, a little bit of everything." In fact, he advises any candidate seeking a judicial vacancy to do the same. "If you really want it, you've got to get up early and go everywhere you can go," said Judge Graham. "l went to factories, courthouses, city halls and homes. So, that's what I told the ones who have asked me. If you work hard enough, you can get elected." Judge Graham said becoming a judge is something he felt strongly about early on in his career. "l think probably deep down, I always thought that would be a good thing for me to do," said Judge Graham. "I always had plenty of opinions. That's a place where at least some of your opinions may have real force and effect. I think most judges think they can probably contribute something towards justice more directly if they are on the bench, so that's what I did." Judge Graham said having a hand in justice is pretty self-fulfilling. "It's something that not everybody gets a chance to participate in," said Judge Graham. "Every day, you're making decisions that affect peoples' lives in great ways and small ways. That's what I like about it, really, just having a hand in trying to correct wrongs. Usually, that's what the court system is there for, to correct wrongs or solve disputes in a way that's fair to the parties and the rule of law." As any judge will tell you, there are certain cases that are more memorable than others. For example, Judge Graham heard Tennessee's first DNA case. "lt was about a fellow who abducted a woman from a convenience stand, sexually assaulted and killed her in the woods in Grundy County," said Judge Graham. "The most important proof was DNA. Collection of DNA was an early science then. They didn't have the kind of probabilities that they do now. I think the probability in this case, based on what they had, was about 1 in 15,000 people could have matched the defendant's profile." Another memorable trial was held during the time the Tennessee Supreme Court adopted Comparative Fault. "The opinion came down during a trial I had and we used that opinion to instruct the jury," said Judge Graham. "I'm not 100% sure if I made the very first decision under the newly adopted doctrine of Comparative Fault in Tennessee, but it had to be one of the first." However, he was the first and only judge, so far, to bring "Court TV" to Marion County's Jasper, Tenn. courthouse. "l got a call from 'Court TV,"' said Judge Graham. "At the time, that was the only court tv program out there and they wanted to cover a murder case that I had ordered to be retried. Of course, I didn't think there was anything all that exciting about that case but they did. They asked if they could come up and put it on "Court TV." I said yes because I felt like whatever was going on in my court was open for the whole world to see." So, their crew came from New York City and set up a control room in a small space next to the courtroom. The trial, which lasted just three days, turned out to be more interesting than Judge Graham had anticipated. "We had a retired police officer who was acting as the court officer in that trial and the issue came up about how semi-automatic pistols worked," said Judge Graham. "l didn't know this at the time, but our court officer thought he would show the big city folks in the control room how it works. During a break, he was back there with all these technicians who are broadcasting all over the world with this trial. He shows them how his revolver works. He opens the cylinder and all of the bullets fall out all over the floor. It was just like Barney Fife (from The Andy Griffith Show). I'm sure they thought, 'What in the world are we doing here?"' The case was also interesting because of the attorneys involved. "Johnny Cochran was one of the play-by-play people during that trial and a couple of other big name lawyers," said Judge Graham. "We're down here in Jasper, Tenn. It was exciting, and the case ultimately ended up really the way I thought it should have with the defendant being convicted of a lesser offense." Coincidentally, the last day of the trial fell on election day. Both Judge Graham and the district attorney were on the ballot. "We both got elected," said Judge Graham. "Still the process of elections was working at the same time the court was working." Judge Graham's celebrity status continued when Judge Perry, who sat on the bench with Judge Graham, called to tell him he saw him on "Court TV." Judge Graham even received a special letter from now deceased University of Tennessee law professor and beloved attorney, Donald Paine. "Don Paine wrote the book on Tennessee evidence and everybody has great respect for him," said Judge Graham. "He wrote me a letter saying he was so proud of Tennessee lawyers and they looked so good during "Court TV." He just wanted to compliment all of us on how we handled the trial. I thought, that's truly high praise." Judge Graham also appreciates the support he's received from his fellow judges over the years, especially when something controversial happened, such as the time a religious group asked county commissions in his district to post the Ten Commandments in the courthouses and courtrooms. "We didn't know about this, it just happened and I showed up one morning to see the Ten Commandments right behind me on the bench," said Judge Graham. "l took it down immediately and it sort of astonished some of the deputies there. Somebody who maybe didn't wish me well reported me to the local tv stations, so they all got in on that. It was a front page story in the Chattanooga Times. It was extremely clear that you could not in any way promote religion in a courtroom. That's for another place. All my fellow judges fully backed me on the removal and it worked out fine. It was concerning at the time. I believe in separation of church and state. It's hard to take a position against the Ten Commandments, but it was the right thing to do and I'm glad I did it. It can be quite lonely sometimes on the bench. Support from your colleagues is important." Over the past 28 years, Judge Graham, now retired Judge Perry, retiring Judge Smith and Chancellor Stewart supported each other. It's time for the "old hands," as Judge Graham calls them, to pass the torch. "We now have Chancellor Melissa Willis," said Judge Graham. "She is a great person and quite competent. We are supporting her in everything she wants to do as we have done for Judge Angel. Although Judge Graham is officially retired, he is remaining on the bench on a special designation through the end of August to cover cases until his successor takes over Sept. 1. "l haven't focused on retirement yet," said Judge Graham. "Right now, I have four grandsons. One is a senior in high school and the other three are under six years old. Because of the ages I'm sure I will be spending considerable time with the three youngest grandsons." Judge Graham is also looking forward to doing yard work, something he really enjoys. "As far as other things, I'll just have to wait that out," said Judge Graham. "1 used to enjoy model trains, but I don't really anticipate picking that up again. My fine motor ability and my vision might make it more difficult to really do much of that, but it is a hobby I always thought I would do after retirement." Whether or not model trains are in his future remains to be seen. One thing that is for certain is his time on the bench was enjoyable. "l had a very positive experience," said Judge Graham. "I much more enjoyed the 32 years on the bench than the 17 preceding years as a practicing lawyer. I have enjoyed the privilege of being a judge and working with the other members of the bar and bench." Prior to being elected to the bench in 1990, Judge Graham held a private law practice, from 1976-1990.He also served as the Director for Legal Services, County Technical Advisory Service, University of Tennessee, from 1973-1976; County Attorney for Marion County, from 1977-1990; and City Attorney for the City of South Pittsburg, from 1985-1990. Judge Graham received his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University, in 1968, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee, in 1973, where he was President of the Student Bar Association and a two term member of the Dean's Advisory Council. He also received the 1971 Outstanding Appellate Team Award, along with future Judge John W. Rollins. He is a recipient of the Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow Award; Outstanding Service Award, South Pittsburg Rotary Club; and the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster for service in Vietnam. Judge Graham is a Past Member, Tennessee Bar Association House of Delegates; Member, South Pittsburg Rotary Club; Member, Post 62 American Legion; Member, Post 6362 V.F.W.; Past President, Marion County Chamber of Commerce; Past President, South Pittsburg Rotary Club; Chairman, Academic Awards Committee, South Pittsburg High School; Past Chairman, Community Re-investment Committee of National Cornbread Festival; and Past Chairman, Board of Trustees of Holly Avenue United Methodist Church. Amidst Chattanoogas recent gang-related mass shootings, Democratic District Attorney candidate John Brooks said gangs in Chattanooga have been around for 20 plus years and they are not going anywhere. I would focus on violent crimes, said Mr. Brooks. Gangs commit violent crimes against each other and that's what I would focus on. Mr. Brooks told Chattanooga Civitan Club members on Friday morning that gangs begin recruiting at the middle school level. He said they will use the recruits to sell drugs because it is harder to prosecute them at a criminal level. Mr. Brooks made remarks about his campaign, Neal Pinkston, and changes he would make as a district attorney if he defeats Republican Coty Wamp on Aug. 4. District attorney is one of the most critical positions in this county, said Mr. Brooks. The best way to help this county is to run for office. He said he plans to prioritize cases where children are hurt, violent crimes and burglaries. He said he thinks marijuana should be legal and citizens should prepare for it to be. And in reference to Roe v. Wade, he said he believes women should have the right to their own bodies. Mr. Brooks said under DA Pinkston, attorney would get used to not coming into the office. But if he were district attorney, everyone would work till 5:30. General Pinkston didnt come to the office and it's hard to make demands of your employees when you dont do it yourself, said Mr. Brooks. And since Im a widower, I wont be able to hire my wife. Mr. Brooks addressed the delays in getting cases to trial. He said there is no reason to go five years on any case and defense attorneys or the DAs office, could be to blame. I can honestly say Ive never lied as a politician and sometimes that's got me in trouble, said Mr. Brooks. If I say Im going to do something, I will. Chattanooga Police were called to a residence at 2500 O'Rear Street Friday at 5:40 p.m. where the victim said a man, Bryan King, had pointed a gun at her. The victim said King was owed money by an occupant of the home but was told to come back another time to get the money. King was said to have become angry, pointed the gun at the victim, then left the scene. A description of King and his car was given to police. A short time later, East Ridge Police located and detained him. Chattanooga Police responded and arrested King for aggravated assault in connection with the O'Rear Street incident. Chattanooga Police responded to an aggravated kidnapping involving a barricaded gunman Friday at 8:15 p.m. at 2100 Chestnut. Police were called to a residence by multiple callers saying a woman had just been drug into an apartment. Police arrived on the scene and found signs of a struggle. After multiple attempts to get a response at the residence, police were finally able to make contact with the victim. Police were advised that the suspect, Christopher Walton, 45, forced his way into the victim's apartment while she wasn't home. When the victim arrived home, the suspect grabbed her, assaulted her, and pulled her into the residence, locking the door behind them. Witnesses who saw and heard the commotion called police. Police found Walton inside the residence along with weapons alleged to have been used in the assault. Walton was arrested and charged with aggravated kidnapping, false imprisonment, aggravated domestic assault, aggravated burglary, interference with emergency calls, weapon law violations, and drug charges. Chattanooga Police responded to a large street fight with shots fired at 4100 Fagan Friday at 9:04 p.m. Police arrived to a chaotic scene with multiple people leaving the area and others retreating to the residence. Police made contact with two victims. One said a gunman threatened them by flashing a gun. The second told police they'd been struck with a gun. Police eventually made contact with two suspects inside the home, one of which had a domestic relationship with one of the victims. Police found a firearm believed to have been used in the incident. Both men, Robert Blocker, 42, and Martemius Smith, 23, were arrested. One was charged with domestic aggravated assault. The other was charged with aggravated assault. Chattanooga Police responded to a carjacking at 1200 E. 34th Street Friday at 11:15 p.m. The victim told police he was sitting in his sister's car listening to music when he was approached by the suspect. The suspect presented a gun and made the victim get out of the vehicle. The suspect then fled the scene in the vehicle at a high rate of speed. The suspect was described as a thin white male, in his 20s, wearing a black hoodie and jeans. Police are currently looking for the suspect and the vehicle. Chattanooga Police ask anyone with any information regarding this incident to call 643-5100 or submit a tip via the Atlas One App (formerly the CPD Mobile App). You can remain anonymous. No amount of information is too small or insignificant. Chattanooga Police responded to a single vehicle accident with injuries at 1900 Suck Creek Road Saturday at 1:30 a.m. Police arrived at the scene of the crash and found the vehicle on fire in a ditch, wires and a utility pole down. The three occupants of the vehicle were already out awaiting emergency services. Police were advised the vehicle was driving behind another when it suddenly swerved to avoid a collision. The driver lost control of the vehicle, hit the pole, and landed on its side in the ditch. EMS treated all occupants at the scene for minor injuries. The driver, Anthony Warrick, 24, was subsequently arrested and charged with DUI, failure to exercise due care, and reckless driving. The situation in District 5 schools is alarming and District 5 deserves better representation. First, the current school board member apparently supports dismantling public education. On June 24, 2020 the District 5 board member shared on her personal social media thoughts dismantling public education. "Until we dismantle public education, we're only funneling Black children through systems that won't work!" Has she succeeded in dismantling District 5? You decide: District 5 Graduation Rates: The average graduation rate in Tennessee schools is 90 percent. Both high schools in Ms. Jones' district have suffered an unprecedented decline over the past eight years. Brainerd High School's graduation rates have declined 5.23 percent, bringing them down to 84.40 percent and Tyner Academy has declined 9.4 percent bringing the score down to 74.87 percent. District 5 Math Scores: Overall math proficiency rates for the state of Tennessee hover somewhere around 39 percent. In District 5, the math literacy score at Barger Elementary is 22 percent, Woodmore Elementary is 12 percent and Brainerd High School is 3 percent. Three percent? District 5 Reading Scores: Only 17 percent of Barger Elementary students read on grade level. Twelve percent of Woodmore Elementary reads on grade level. Seven percent of the students at Brainerd High School are reading on grade level. Now let's talk about facilities. Last year, we all heard the students from Tyner Academy advocate for themselves in an attempt to get something done about the facilities at Tyner Academy. The school has mold, asbestos, ceiling tiles are falling in, and the roof leaks when it rains. One student said "When I walk the halls, it feels as if they placed kids in an abandoned prison with posters to make it look like a school." It took a student walk out where another student said Tyner looks like "a crack house on Broad Street" to get the board to move on the issue. Where was the current District 5 board member from 2014-2021? Was she relentlessly advocating for Tyner? Did she even show up to the student walk out to stand with them? Additionally, the District 5 board member has exhibited unruly and intimidating behavior towards citizens. Last year, at the end of a board meeting, she screamed and pointed at a parent saying, "I ain't gotta go nowhere, this is my board room, I'm on the board here, you can leave!" "Talk to yo momma like that 'cause you ain't mine and I said that and you can record it and take it wherever you wanna take it." Finally, the District 5 school board member was recently appointed by Mayor Tim Kelly as the Early Learning Administrator Early Learning for the city of Chattanooga where she earns $137,917. Is it really in Hamilton County's best interest to have another member of the county school board also serving in a position on city government? I met Charles Paty at a school board meet and greet last year. I shook his hand and looked him in the eye. He is emotionally stable, he demonstrates compassion and empathy and he is a proven leader. According to his website he is ready to be a unifying voice for all citizens of District 5. He grew up in District 5, attended public schools in District 5 and graduated from Brainerd High School. Building a positive school culture starts with leadership. I believe Attorney Charles Paty is ready to roll up his sleeves and stand in the gap for District 5. He will work together with parents, teachers and the citizens of Hamilton County to create strategies that will improve our schools. I urge everyone in District 5 to vote for Attorney Charles Paty in this August's election. Robert Day Some Russians have requested to be taken off the sanctions list due to legal reasons and how they were applied, which the EU is trying to consider, according to Bloomberg. The outlet cited how the imposition of these penalties should be reconsidered in light of the ongoing Ukrainian conflict. Bloc Reconsiders Lifting US-Directed Sanctions According to the news site, some 40 Russians have requested to be removed from the sanctions list, with approximately 30 taking the case to court and ten others asking the EU authorities directly, reported RT. Unknown numbers of these individuals may prevail in their efforts, as EU attorneys have explicitly admitted that some of the restrictions were enforced on poor legal grounds. According to reports, the legal staff of the European Council warned EU ambassadors on Wednesday that some of the allegations made by sanctioned Russians may be valid. The evidence supporting the limits imposed on those persons was either inadequate, too old, or blatantly untrue. But the number of Russians whose sanctions might be eased is a minuscule part of those singled out by the EU in recent months. The bloc has singled out hundreds of well-known Russians, including top government officials, business moguls, and members of their families, for their alleged involvement in the current hostilities ever since hostilities between Russia and Ukraine began. Consequences of Unfettered Sanctions According to the outlet, some of the consequences of unfettered sanctions have led to Moscow could be shutting the gas tap. Read Also: Vladimir Putin Net Worth 2022: Does Anyone Know Russian President's Hidden Wealth? Even if some individuals are off the hook via removing sanctions and legal reasons, there remain more economical and personal penalties associated with the Russian Federation that has been penalized illegal by the US and its satellites too many times. Last Wednesday, the outlet remarked the EU is readying measures to deal with a total gas shut-off from Moscow. Stockpiling, targeting supplies at specific sectors, and limiting public use are some of the actions being investigated, noted Mass News. Plans are outlined in a draft copy obtained by the paper that urges quick, coordinated action at the EU level to ease worries that Russia would totally stop supplying gas to the continent. European Commission stated in the document that the bloc could not afford to wait any longer to take action to decrease the potential of an unexpected disruption. It should be reminded that the policy is not final because changes may be made by next week. Contents of the document said that the natural gas supplies provided by Gazprom, a major Russian energy provider, have hit dangerous levels. It is less than 30% from the usual of 2016 to 2021, and the danger of Moscow cutting off the gas imports altogether. An ideal gas reserve is 80% to keep the bloc running on a third of the supply needed, but less will become a deadly consequence. The bloc will prioritize supply networks and significant industries if there is a cutoff, promoting less use through market-based alternatives to save energy. The EU is considering removing sanctions on some Russian individuals due to legal reasons and how these penalties have affected the bloc's gas supply issues more than ever. Related Article: EU Energy Crunch: German City Planners Consider Emergency Warm-Up Spaces for Gas Shortages @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Queen Elizabeth just celebrated her Platinum Jubilee in June, and the festivities cost over $30 million. Taxpayers arent happy about the frivolously expensive ceremony. Heres what we know about the celebration and what taxpayers say about it. Queen Elizabeth II | Kirsty OConnor/AFP via Getty Images Queen Elizabeths Platinum Jubilee was a 4-day celebration 96-year-old Queen Elizabeth II was just honored with a Platinum Jubilee, a four-day celebration observing the 70th anniversary of the Queens accession. The lavish ceremony ran from Thursday, June 2, through Sunday, June 5. The United Kingdoms Spring bank holiday, which typically falls on the last Monday of May, was moved to June 2 and combined with an extra bank holiday on June 3 to create a four-day weekend for the festivities. The event marked the first time any British monarch had celebrated a platinum jubilee. Other Commonwealth nations and territories, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Cayman Islands, and Papua New Guinea, also honored the momentous occasion. Many Commonwealth countries issued commemorative coins and stamps, and beacons were lit in the capital cities of every Commonwealth nation for the first time. Trees were also planted in the Queens honor in many locations. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle notably returned to the UK for the celebration, along with their two children, Archie and Lilibet. It was the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs first public appearance in the UK since 2019. Harry previously told Oprah (via Marie Claire) that, although the UK is [his] home, he and Markle had to leave due to a lack of support and lack of understanding from the royal family. But it is widely believed that Harry has a soft spot for his grandmother, so he returned to honor Queen Elizabeth, despite the family rift. A snapshot of a truly remarkable day for Her Majesty The Queens Birthday Parade, on the occasion of her Platinum Jubilee. Wherever you watched Trooping the Colour from, we hope you enjoyed this special occasion. #PlatinumJubilee #HM70 pic.twitter.com/TFhPV4vX3t The Royal Parks (@theroyalparks) June 2, 2022 Queen Elizabeths Platinum Jubilee cost about $30 million The four-day weekend celebrating the Queens Platinum Jubilee started on Thursday with a military parade of more than 1,400 soldiers, 400 musicians, and 200 horses. A cathedral service was held on Friday, and a party at Buckingham Palace took place on Saturday. The festivities concluded on Sunday with a 15 million pageant carnival featuring celebrity performers. In 2021, Chancellor Rishi Sunak and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS), both responsible for hosting the event, said the government would set aside 28 million (equivalent to over $33 million) for the celebration. In March, that number was stated again in the House of Commons committee report (per Fortune). The over $30 million cost has drawn criticism from UK taxpayers. Some are outraged at the frivolous expense in a country still recovering from the global pandemic, facing a cost of living crisis, and involved in the war in Ukraine. Its important to note that the sum of 28 million did not distinguish between amounts funded by taxpayer dollars versus partner organizations. For example, the DCMS claimed that the 15 million pageant finale was paid for by independent fundraising, not taxpayer money. Was the Platinum Jubilee value for money? At least 30M of taxpayers' money was spent on the celebrations, with the government helping to fund the Queen's Birthday Parade and the Platinum Party. But as many struggle with the cost of living, was it money well spent?#JeremyVine pic.twitter.com/etMLGkWVJN Jeremy Vine On 5 (@JeremyVineOn5) June 6, 2022 Taxpayers are furious about the cost of Queen Elizabeths Platinum Jubilee amid an economic crisis Many taxpayers in the UK are still furious about the cost of the Queens Platinum Jubilee. They sounded off on social media and didnt hold anything back. The amount of money being spent on lavish celebrations for the Queens Jubilee is not only nauseating but also in extremely poor taste considering the conditions that many are suffering in during this cost of living crisis, one person tweeted. It cannot be justified. Another person seemingly compared Queen Elizabeth to Marie Antoinette by tweeting, The Queens jubilee is going to cost us 15 million pound[s]. At a time of a national cost of living crisis, this [is] a massive #LetThemEatCake moment. Google how that turned out for the elites. And one person simply tweeted, Im sorry, the Queens jubilee cost 28 million?!? F*** the monarchy. RELATED: Body Language Expert Says Prince Harry Is Still Deeply in Love With Meghan Markle, Despite Royal Rift The Royal Family Will Need Prince Harry to Return as a Royal Once Queen Elizabeth Dies, Biographer Says: He Was an Asset Prince Harry and Meghan Markle recently traveled to the U.K. for the first time in years to celebrate the Queens Jubilee. One expert believes that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will have to return to the U.K. more permanently after Queen Elizabeth dies. Heres what the expert said and what Prince Harry has revealed about his rift with the royal family. Prince Harry | Victoria Jones/AFP via Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle recently returned to the U.K. for Queen Elizabeths Platinum Jubilee Prince Harry and Meghan Markle recently took their two children, Archie and Lilibet, to the U.K. to celebrate Queen Elizabeths Platinum Jubilee. It was the couples first public appearance there since 2019. One expert opined that the Duke of Sussexs behavior after the visit indicated he was feeling homesick for the U.K. In his first public outing since the Queens Jubilee, Harry spent June 10 playing polo at the Cancha de Estrellas Polo Club in Santa Barbara, California. He seems homesick to me, suggested royal author Duncan Larcombe (via Express). Harrys suddenly playing polo again and drinking with his new friends all things he used to enjoy doing in the U.K. Prince Harry has spent less than 2% of his time in UK since Megxit 'sonic boom'https://t.co/7FJW4X3NrH pic.twitter.com/8D4gnuWejL Daily Express (@Daily_Express) July 11, 2022 Royals expert thinks the royal family will need Prince Harry back in the U.K. after Queen Elizabeth dies Although Prince Harry and Meghan Markle decided to make their home in the U.S. after their marriage, one expert thinks the couple will need to return to the U.K. on a more permanent basis after Queen Elizabeth dies. Royal biographer Tina Brown believes that the pressure on Prince Charles, Prince William, and Duchess Kate will be too great, and the royal family will be too thin. I think there is a great effort to try to make everybody focus on the heir, Charles, and William and Kate. But there is a lot of pressure on that, Brown said on the Guardians Today In Focus podcast. The author added, I do think at a certain point they are going to need Harry back, particularly probably after the Queen dies, because he was an asset. Two days after Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan's shattering interview with Oprah Winfrey, Buckingham Palace issued a four-sentence response, saying their accusations of racism and lack of support are taken "very seriously" and will be addressed by the royal family "privately." pic.twitter.com/rLkzb0WP7l USA TODAY (@USATODAY) March 9, 2021 The Duke of Sussex said he left his home country due to a lack of support from the royal family Expert Tina Brown may think that Prince Harry will have to return to the U.K. following Queen Elizabeths death, but the Duke of Sussex himself hasnt given any indication that he plans to move back to his home country. Prince Harry previously told Oprah that while the U.K. is [his] home, he had to leave due to a lack of support and lack of understanding from the royal family (per Marie Claire). There have been rumors that Prince Harrys relationship with Meghan Markle created tension with his older brother, Prince William. According to veteran royal reporter Katie Nicholl, the brothers had a falling out around Christmas 2018 when Harry told William he wasnt embracing Meghan as part of the royal family. Harry felt William wasnt rolling out the red carpet for Meghan and told him so, said Nicholls source (per Cosmopolitan). They had a bit of a fallout, which was only resolved when Charles stepped in and asked William to make an effort. RELATED: Body Language Expert Says Prince Harry and Meghan Markles Subtle Move in Public Gives a Major Hint About Their Relationship Season 4 of Seeking Sister Wife has barely begun, and theres already plenty of drama to last the whole season. Dannielle and Garrick Merrifield have been on the prowl for a third sister wife, given their second is currently stuck in Brazil. Their efforts led them to one Lea Newton, but many fans dont buy that Lea was really into Garrick Merrifield and his plural lifestyle. Heres the lowdown. Garrick Merrifield said his wife Dannielle pushed for another sister wife In Season 3, Dannielle and Garrick Merrifield decided to divorce to make room for a sister wife. The Merrifields joined Seeking Sister Wives in Season 3, seeking to expand their marriage and family. The pair had been in a monogamous relationship for a decade. When they joined the series, Garrick stated that God guided him to lead a plural marriage lifestyle, so the search began. Roberta, whom the couple refers to as Bert, has been stuck in Brazil due to her mothers illness, preventing the couple from uniting with their new addition. However, it seems the Merrifields were not big on patience and long-distance relationships as they began hunting for another woman to add to their plural marriage while waiting for Bert. According to the Merrifield patriarch, the idea to introduce another woman into their life was all Dannielles. He said, Dannielle approached me and said, Hey I think maybe God wants us to have another wife. I was shocked. Dannielle explained that she came up with the idea so that the two women wouldnt feel alone when their husband was spending time with any of the women at any given time. Seeking Sister Wife fans dont buy that Lea Newton was into Garrick Garrick and Dannielle Merrifield court Lea on Seeking Sister Wife | TLC via Youtube After agreeing that a new sister wife would do them good, Dannielle and Garrick took a trip to California during their anniversary to meet a woman they had been courting. Garrick and Lea met online and had an instant connection. Garrick, Dannielle, and Lea began talking. During one episode, they went to pick Lea up from the airport and spend some quality time together. Garrick gushed about his choice, calling Lea very pretty. While the throuple tried to prove its an ideal match, fans arent buying any of it. A fan on Reddit recently posted on the platform asking why Lea was a candidate for the Colorado couple, given that she isnt religious. The Merrifields cited religion as the motivation for seeking Lea out, and its understandable why the fan would think Lea may not be the right fit. Garrick needs to be honest. He is not the least bit interested in this woman, Lea. He is not attracted to her. He only wants Bert. Period. He doesnt even want Danielle. #seekingsisterwife Thai (@Thaieese) June 28, 2022 The post gained traction with several Seeking Sister Wife fans mainly condemning Garrick and pointing out that he and Lea seemed to have no chemistry. One user said, Garrick isnt genuinely religious either, IMHO. He uses religion to justify being a disgusting human being. Another questioned their chemistry, saying, I dont see any chemistry between Lea and Garrick. Have they even like hugged? Another said, I feel like TLC was lazy with finding a cast member. Shes neither religious nor into the Merrifields. Seeking Sister Wife fans think Lea Newton was a prop I still think she's a paid actress filling in because Roberta can't be there #seekingsisterwife https://t.co/GIZHBJ3nUg Lala Foxx (@lalafoxxfoxx) June 28, 2022 As fans continue to doubt Lea and Garricks relationship, others feel TLC hired the new woman to keep the Merrifields storyline going. Now that Bert is stuck in Brazil, fans think the show has nothing to go on regarding the couple. Giving them Lea was a way to keep them on. One fan asked on the platform, Does anyone think Lea was maybe hired by TLC to create a storyline until whatever is going on with Bert gets sorted out? The whole thing is weird. Another user said, She [Lea] is just there to keep them on TV and to get a check. RELATED: Seeking Sister Wife: Lea Calls Dannielle the Gatekeeper of Sex With Garrick 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 More than a pretty face: 7 reactions to the death of fmr. President Donald Trumps ex-wife Ivana Trump Tributes praising her skills as a mother, businesswoman and socialite who was more than a pretty face, followed the sudden death of former President Donald Trumps first wife, Ivana Trump, at her home in New York City Thursday. The New York City police who are still investigating the death of the 73-year-old Czech-American icon, suggest she might have fallen down the stairs at her townhouse on the Upper East Side, according to The New York Times. Ivana Trump married the former president in 1977 and divorced him in 1990, partly due to his affair with actress Marla Maples, who later became his wife. Their union produced three children, Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump. While she was remembered for many things, Ivana Trump, who was considered a charming socialite, was credited by many for her role in transforming the former president into a real estate mogul. Often described as detail-obsessed and a workaholic, she worked alongside her husband on several of his early signature projects, like the development of Trump Tower in Manhattan and the Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City, N.J., Clay Risen wrote for The New York Times. She was the vice president for interior design for his company, the Trump Organization, and managed one of his most prized properties, the Plaza Hotel, all while raising their three children. Many from the Trump family circle have been publicly sharing condolences since Thursday, including former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany who noted on Twitter: My family and I send all of our love and prayers to President Trump @IvankaTrump@DonaldJTrumpJr@EricTrump and the entire Trump family for the loss of Ivana Trump. Thinking of you all during this very difficult time. Here are seven more reactions to the passing of Ivana Trump. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next Archie Battersbee can be removed from life support over parents' objections, judge rules The parents of 12-year-old Archie Battersbee are again seeking permission to appeal after a high court judge ruled Friday that a London hospital can remove the boy's life support against the parents' wishes. In a judgment handed down in the High Court of Justice Family Division, Justice Anthony Hayden ruled that it is in the child's "best interests" for the life support to be removed. The boy was found unconscious with a ligature around his neck on April 7 and suffered a "catastrophic hypoxic ischaemic brain injury." Archie's parents, Hollie Dance and Paul Battersbee, appeared in court Monday after being granted permission to appeal an initial ruling last month to allow the hospital to discontinue his care. "Where, as here, the treatment is futile, it compromises Archie's dignity, deprives him of his autonomy, and becomes wholly inimical to his welfare," Hayden wrote in his ruling. "It serves only to protract his death, whilst being unable to prolong his life." "Having come to this conclusion, there emerges the prospect of an end to Archie's life, which reverberates more closely with the way he lived in the past." Hayden wrote that "arrangements" can be made that will afford Battersbee the opportunity "to die in peaceful circumstances and in the embrace of the family he loved." According to a Friday statement from the Christian Legal Centre, which is representing the family, the parents are seeking permission to appeal. "This ruling is a crushing blow to Archie and his family. With all due respect to Mr. Justice Hayden, it is not in Archie's best interests to die," Battersbee's mother said in a statement following the ruling. Dance contends that "planned death" is another name for euthanasia. "The 'planned' removal of the ventilator is definitely the worst thing that may happen from my point of view. I cannot see how this is in any way dignified," Dance asserted. "We disagree with the idea of dignity in death. Enforcing it on us and hastening his death for that purpose is profoundly cruel," she continued. "It is for God to decide what should happen to Archie, including if, when and how he should die." The mother said she "cannot betray" her son as long as he is "fighting for his life." During her testimony, Dance said she once spoke with her son about whether he would want life support removed if he were ever in such a situation. Battersbee reportedly said he wouldn't care if he was on life support as long as he was with his mother. When asked by Hayden if his son would want his care to continue, Paul Battersbee testified that his son is a "proper mummies boy, and he would not want to leave her." In her witness statement, Dance said that a do-not-resuscitate order has been placed on her son without the family's consent. CLC Chief Executive Andrea Williams called the ruling another "devastating blow" and argues that Battersebee's case proves that "systematic reform is needed to protect the vulnerable and their families in end-of-life matters." In a separate decision handed down in the Family Division of the High Court last month, Justice Emma Arbuthnot ruled that medical professionals at Royal London Hospital could remove Archie Battersbee's life support. Arbuthnot wrote that Battersbee is likely dead "on the balance of probabilities." She permitted the parents to appeal the decision. "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," her opinion reads. 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." Mobs attack Christians homes, businesses after church's legal recognition Outraged over the newly received formal legal recognition of a church in Egypt, Muslims in large crowds attacked and damaged the homes, shops and vehicles of many area Coptic Christians, according to a persecution watchdog. The U.S.-based group, International Christian Concern, reported this week that Muslim mobs vandalized properties of Christians surrounding the Church of Michael the Archangel. In the June 23 violence, Muslim mobs hurled rocks through the windows of homes and set fire to buildings and vehicles despite the presence of security personnel deployed in the area to protect the church, ICC said. The local Christians had been waiting for years for the legal approval of the church, which was originally built in 2003. Throughout the process, Muslims in the area have rejected the legitimacy of the new church, asserting that the construction or restoration of a church contradicts Islamic law. The Conditions of Omar, thought to have been written by Caliph Omar I, is one Islamic text that they refer to. The text dictates that no churches should ever be built or repaired, and that Christians must make do with pre-existing churches only, ICC said. The Committee for the Legalization of Unlicensed Churches, which was formed in January 2017 comprising the ministers of justice, parliamentary affairs, and local development and housing, as well as representatives of local authorities and Christian communities, has legalized more than 1,600 churches in the Muslim-majority country. However, opposition to churches by local Muslims remains. The Copts, who make up about 10% of Egypts population, are the descendants of a long line of ancient Egyptians who later converted to Christianity in the early first century, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. According to the persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA, Egypt is among the 20 worst persecutors of Christians in the world. Incidents of Christian persecution in Egypt vary from Christian women being harassed while walking in the street to Christian communities being driven out of their homes by extremist mobs, the group says on its website, adding that Christians are typically treated as second-class citizens. Egypts government speaks positively about the Egyptian Christian community. Still, the lack of serious law enforcement and the unwillingness of local authorities to protect Christians leave them vulnerable to all kinds of attacks, especially in Upper Egypt, it explains. Due to the dictatorial nature of the regime, neither church leaders nor other Christians are in a position to speak out against these practices. Churches and Christian nongovernmental organizations are restricted in their ability to build new churches or run social services, it adds. The difficulties come both from state restrictions, as well as from communal hostility and mob violence. Homegrown evil and spiritual revival There is evil abroad in the land, and its a cancer to our society. Any naive belief in the inherent goodness of man was shattered on July 4th, 2022 in Highland Park, Illinois. What would possess and thats exactly the right word a young man with his whole life ahead of him to take to the roof of a building and systematically shoot off about 60 bullets, killing many and wounding dozens? He shot fellow Americans enjoying an Independence Day parade. As far as we know, he killed total strangers. From what has been coming out, this young man apparently came from a terribly dysfunctional home. For example, Fox News tells of one incident where the police were called to the confessed shooters home in September 2019 because he had reportedly threatened to kill everyone. The police then confiscated his collection of knives. In his End of Day Report, Gary Bauer wrote of the shooter: Hes just another sad example of the people we have increasingly seen in the streets of America. The anarchists owned the streets in the summer of 2020. Their goal is to tear down, destroy and intimidate. And they desperately want to see America burn. He made videos with violent themes, such as Toy Soldier. In this video he is seen rapping in a classroom, and one of his lines is F- this world. Marca.com writes of this video: Images of a heavily armed shooter entering a school and opening fire are cut between scenes of him battling police outside. The shooter is seen lying in a pool of blood in the final scene. I read some interesting reactions on the Highland Park massacre from acquaintances, commenting back and forth through a private email chain. One person wrote of the shooter: A monster ... To be so callous and disregarding of human life as to shoot children and elderly alike at a small-town parade and obviously choosing the 4th of July was no coincidence. We have a violent culture plus we're teaching the next generation to hate America and its founding what can we expect from such a deadly combination? He went on to mention how Chicagoland, including Highland Park, has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. Another person responded: Im not going to get into a debate about guns but do feel we need stricter purchasing guidelines A 22 year old with recorded violent music and videos and/or an 18 year old (as in Uvalde) should not be able to just purchase an AR-15 type rifle without some serious background check. Someone else said in the email chain: Whats scary, too, is the attention this guy is getting. News coverage was non-stop pretty much all day, every station. Just must wonder about the next unhinged maniac out there who wants to be famous. I refuse to mention his name. Some want to blame this whole evil act on guns. But there were guns from the beginning of this country through the present. Yet there wasnt this same kind of rampant immorality. George Washington said that religion and morality are indispensable supports to our political prosperity and to human happiness. John Adams observed: Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. One of the reasons the founders thought the knowledge of God was so important was because they believed what the Bible says that He will one day hold us all accountable. That view impacts how we live. But our cultural elites today say that God has no place in the public arena. In the 1960s and 70s, the Supreme Court systematically stripped God away from the public square. For example, in a case in 1980, they said that the Ten Commandments posted in schools are supposedly unconstitutional. They said that if they were hanging in the classroom, the children might read them, meditate on them, venerate them, and obey them. Imagine Thou shalt not kill was supposedly an unconstitutional message for our young people. We are reaping what weve sown. That Supreme Court case, by the way, was decided long before school shootings became common. After the recent massacre, William Bennett, the former Secretary of Education in the Reagan Administration, commented that we need more exorcisms in our country to drive out the evil existing in the hearts of some of these sick fellow Americans. I remember when Bennett once told me in a media interview: Does anybody really have a worry that the United States is becoming overly pious? That our young people have dedicated too much of their lives to prayer, that teenagers in this country are preoccupied with thoughts of eternity? What America needs so desperately is a true revival of the soul, lest the moral cancer of godlessness overpower us. Lets pray for America, before its too late. Fossils prove that early native inhabitants of North America have DNA links that hail from ancient southern China. The genome of the fossils from the Late Pleistocene in southern China showed that this unknown hominin could be ascendants of Native Americans, based on the study. Ancient Chinese DNA Bing Su, one of the researchers, describes ancient DNA as a valuable tool. Despite their remarkable morphological traits, it suggests the Red Deer Cave people were modern humans rather than an archaic species like Neanderthals or Denisovans, citing Phys. Org. The genomes of these fossils were compared to those of humans from all across the world by the influence of ancient southern China hominins. Science Daily reported that the bones belonged to an individual with DNA linked to early native Inhabitants of North America with East Asian ancestors. When paired with previous research findings, the researchers hypothesized that tens of thousands of years ago, some southern East Asian people traveled north along the coastline of present-day eastern China, across Japan, and into Siberia. The Red Deer Cave These people crossed the Bering Strait dividing Asia and North America, and were the first to live in the New World. It took thirty years after archeologists in China had discovered bones in the Maludong or Red Deer Cave. The cave is found in southern China's Yunnan Province. Read Also: Ancient Oceans Not Susceptible to Climate Change; Human Activities Have Done Many Damages Carbon dating revealed that the fossils date back to the Late Pleistocene epoch, approximately 14,000 years ago, when modern humans had spread throughout the globe, per New Scientist. Researchers discovered a hominin skull cap in the cave with characteristics of both modern and ancient humans. The head, for example, appeared to be smaller than that of contemporary humans, and the brain seemed smaller than that of Neanderthals. As a result, some anthropologists thought the skull belonged to a previously undiscovered archaic human species or to a society that was a mix of the two. In 2018, Bing Su of the Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and his colleagues successfully extracted ancient DNA from the skull in collaboration with archaeologist Xueping Ji of Yunnan Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology. He asserts that some early people who first lived in southeastern Asia eventually migrated to the north. He described it as comprehension of early human movement. The team's next step is to sequence more ancient human DNA using fossils from southern East Asia, particularly those that predate the Red Deer Cave people. Su went on to say that the data will not only help us build a complete picture of how our ancestors migrated, but it will also reveal important details about how humans change their physical appearance over time by adjusting to local environments, such as variations in skin color in response to changes in sunlight exposure. These early native inhabitants from North America, whose DNA links to ancient southern China, reveal how humanity migrated, which led to modern man. Related Article: Carbon Dating of Hominin Fossils Found in South Africa Reveals Human Ancestors Are a Million Years Older @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 8-year-old boy paralyzed in Highland Park shooting in 'critical' condition, family asks for prayers The family of an 8-year-old boy shot in a mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, is asking for prayers and support after the childs condition deteriorated Tuesday, requiring him to undergo a complex surgery. Seven people were killed in the shooting during the Fourth of July parade, and as many as 24 other spectators were hospitalized after sustaining serious and critical injuries. A day after police apprehended 21-year-old Robert "Bobby" E. Crimo III as a "person of interest" in the shooting, he was charged with seven counts of first-degree murder. Authorities said the suspect used a high-powered rifle to commit the mass shooting from the rooftop of a business. As The Daily Beast reported, Cooper Roberts was attending the Fourth of July parade with his twin brother, mother and father when the shooting occurred. A bullet severed the child's spinal cord, leaving him paralyzed below the waist. His condition was upgraded to "serious" over the weekend, and he was taken off the ventilator. The child briefly gained the ability to speak before he became critical again on Tuesday, with one of his lungs collapsing and an infection bringing on a fever. He was forced to undergo another surgery, his seventh operation since the shooting. Coopers situation is now critical. He just went into a risky extensive, and lengthy surgery to try to again repair his esophagus, Anthony Liozzi, a spokesperson for the family, wrote in a Tuesday Facebook post. His fever is spiking due to an infection, and one of his lungs has partially collapsed. Please, any and all prayers are very much needed today. Liozzi posted a follow-up a few hours later, explaining that Cooper made it through a five-hour surgery and doctors had located a leak in his esophagus. The spokesperson assured people that the boy is with us and still fighting. All your prayers are working. Please keep praying. Long road ahead and still very fluid situation, but the little guy made it! he wrote. In another update, Liozzi wrote that Cooper still has fluid in his lungs which is being treated with medication. He added that the boy is stable and getting plenty of rest. Coopers mother, Keely Roberts, was shot in the leg and foot but recovered. A Sunday statement posted by Zion Elementary School District, the boys school, said Cooper is in a great deal of pain physically and emotionally. The family wishes to acknowledge and thank the many, many people emergency medics, police, fire department, nurses, and doctors at both hospitals who did extraordinary things to save Coopers life, the statement reads. It was a true miracle. And to thank from the bottom of their hearts the thousands who have prayed, sent gifts, supported the family in myriad ways, and donated to the Go Fund Me campaign for Coopers long-term care. A GoFundMe for the family raised over $1.5 million as of Thursday. We know their medical bills will be significant, as will the treatments, therapy, and all of the equipment, devices, and adaptations to their home, the GoFundMe description reads. Please continue to keep the Roberts family in your thoughts and prayers. Any help you can provide is deeply appreciated. At a subsequent press conference after the shooting, Chris Covelli with the Lake County Sheriff's Office said more than 100 law enforcement officers were called to the parade scene to locate the shooter. He said it appears that the shooter targeted spectators at random. According to Covelli, the parade was "three-quarters of the way through" when the suspect began shooting. "Very random, very intentional, and a very sad day." Are Southern Baptists ready for a world that despises Christians? Aaron Renns penetrating analysis of American evangelicalism in his First Things article triggered much thought. As a respected writer and thinker, Renn uses the framework of three worlds (positive, neutral, negative) with evangelicals swimming against a relentless secular rip current. Evangelicals are not only losing standing in the public arena while struggling against an increasingly hostile culture. Renn says, Today there is a culture war within evangelicalism itself. Id like to apply Renns diagnosis to the Southern Baptist Convention. Renn points to three worlds, or moments in time, that formed Christians views and attitudes. Living in the positive world (Pre-1994) Society at large retains a mostly positive view of Christianity. To be known as a good, churchgoing man remains part of being an upstanding citizen. Publicly being a Christian is a status-enhancer. Christian moral norms are the basic moral norms of society and violating them can bring negative consequences. Renn states that evangelicals created two main strategies in relating to the secular world in the positive era. First, the culture war strategy recalls Jerry Falwells Moral Majority and the so-called New Right movement in the 1970s, in part as a response to the sexual revolution and the moral deterioration of the country. This movement aligned with the Republican party as Ronald Reagan became president in 1981. The Christian Coalition and other smaller culture warrior groups chose the GOP as their political home. Renn dubs the second strategy during this era seeker sensitivity. Seeker-sensitive new congregations like Bill Hybels Willow Creek Church and Rick Warrens Saddleback Church grew to Megachurch status and launched church planting movements focused on reaching the unchurched and irreligious. The SBC in the positive world The SBC saw its highwater mark year for baptisms in 1972. A best-ever 445,725 persons made professions of faith and baptized. (More recent baptismal numbers are disheartening: 246,442 in 2018; 235,743 in 2019; and 123,150 in 2020.) America was still experiencing a spiritual awakening during the Jesus Movement in the late 1960s to mid-70s. In 1971, Pastor John Bisagno led First Baptist Houston in a city-wide evangelistic campaign with over 4,000 professions of faith. That church baptized over 1,600 new believers, becoming the first SBC congregation to baptize more than 1,000 persons in a year. Many SBC congregations taught evangelism courses and had an outreach night each week. The SBC Home Mission Board (HMB) was a well-oiled mission machine with leaders knowing that the Southern Baptist cooperative spirit thrived on trust. HMB leaders respected the historic autonomy of the local church, the local Baptist association, the state convention, and national entities. The Board didnt use its control of funds to demand leverage over churches. Strategizing to help Southern Baptists become the most ethnically diverse American denomination, HMB leaders worked with the Christian Life Commission, now the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) to adopt a resolution that apologized, lamented, and repudiated historic acts of evil such as slavery from which we continue to reap a bitter harvest. The resolution continued: We apologize to all African-Americans for condoning and/or perpetuating individual and systemic racism in our lifetime; and we genuinely repent of racism of which we have been guilty, whether consciously (Psalm 19:13) or unconsciously (Lev. 4:27). The resolution was adopted in 1995, the 150th Anniversary of the SBC. Abortion rose to the battlefront during this era. Sadly, the Christian Life Commission leaders had a pro-choice stand in the 70s. That began to change with conservative culture warriors pushing a pro-life stand with the 1984 resolution in Kansas Citys Annual Meeting sealing SBCs firm stand on abortion by calling it a national sin and saving the mothers physical life as the only exemption. The SBC conservative resurgence was already 5 years old at this point. But society continued to change, and the environment for Southern Baptists with it. Soon they entered a new era, as Renn describes it. Slipping into neutral world (1994-2014) Society takes a neutral stance toward Christianity. Christianity no longer has privileged status but is not disfavored. Being publicly known as a Christian has neither a positive nor a negative impact on ones social status. Christianity is a valid option within a pluralistic public square. Christian moral norms retain some residual effect. Renn offers cultural engagement as evangelicals strategy of reaching secular America in this new era. These cultural engagers resisted a combative stance while adopting a positive missional approach in a pluralistic public square. Pastor Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church (NYC) hammered out a well-known cultural engagement strategy using apologetics with a friendly tone and tenor. Renn doubts this strategy will work today because the negative world is a hostile environment and takes no prisoners. Tough choices are increasingly before us, offense is unavoidable, and sides will need to be taken on very important issues, says Renn. James R. Wood agrees that Kellers approach of being winsome in a culture that is transitioning to hostile creates self-doubt as evangelicals continually face pushback and attacks. He says, If winsomeness is met with hostility, it is easy to wonder, Are we in the wrong? Thus, the slide toward secular cultures reasoning is greased. The SBC in the neutral world The SBC started strong in the Neutral World. It chalked up 1,781 church plants and new affiliates in 2004. But momentum was diminishing. The SBC recorded only 857 in 2020. Conservative pastors like Jim Henry, Jack Graham, Bobby Welch, Johnny Hunt were some of the SBC presidents in this era. Fred Luter became the first African-American pastor elected as SBC president in 2012 and the celebration in the Convention Hall was exuberant. However, the world at large offered reasons for anxiety. In Renns terms, a new environment now prevailed. Negative world (2014-Present) Society has come to have a negative view of Christianity. Being known as a Christian is a negative, particularly in the elite domains of society. Christian morality is expressly repudiated and seen as a threat to the public good and the new public order. Subscribing to Christian moral views or violating the secular moral order brings negative consequences. Renn pulls no punches as he says, Despite ample evidence that America has now entered the negative world, no evangelical strategic approaches to it have emerged. American evangelicals are still largely living in the lost positive and neutral worlds. Renn indicates that we are in a denial of reality unwilling to accept our status among secular society. Renn states that Trump and wokeness are the two polarizers for evangelicals as 80 percent of evangelicals voted for Donald Trump but a much smaller share of the elite evangelical leadership class became the religious equivalent of the Never Trump movement. Russell Moore became the most well-known Never Trumper in the SBC, with similar fallout in the evangelical world resulting in an elite-base split similar to that roiling the Republican party. Renn speaks of culture warriors becoming fiercely hostile toward evangelical establishment elites, perceiving them to be the cause for theological drift while declaring their own culture war against other evangelicals rather that the secular world. Renn thinks that culture warriors may survive while those who look to accommodate the culture will wane in the Negative world. Culture warriors may become smaller in number while pushed back from public and cultural influence, but their historic tenacity, finding the right future leaders, and acquiring new skills and sensibilities will help them grapple with future challenges until brighter days and bigger platforms come. The SBC in the negative world era SBC establishment elites have already lost all our LifeWay bookstores. They have greatly reduced our International and North American missionary forces. Gone forever are our beautiful family-oriented Glorieta and Ridgecrest Conference Centers. They have reduced a once thriving cooperative spirit among many state conventions and associations in non-Southern states, while putting all our remaining eggs in the church planting basket with far less focus on training existing SBC congregations in communicating the Gospel to secular people in ways they can hear, understand, and respond to Jesus. Total Cooperative Program (CP) giving through SBC churches in 2008 was $548.2M. The 2008 total has never been reached again with a 16.90 decrease over the next 12 years. 2021 saw a 0.52 percent uptick from the previous year with $457,928,996. Creative and positive ways are used to show greater than before CP giving but it is not close to the 2008 numbers. Now embroiled in a Convention-wide sex abuse scandal and crisis with the possibility of becoming uninsurable as a Convention due to the Executive Committees vote to waive attorney-client privilege puts our historic method of funding missionaries in peril. However, with the Supreme Court overturning the 50-year-old Roe v. Wade decision, Southern Baptist culture warriors caught a glorious gust of wind in their sails. Thousands are realizing, that if we had followed the leadership of our condescending establishment elites, the Supreme Court would now be packed with Hillarys progressive picks and Roe still in place. It is astonishing to observe those who cannot seem to celebrate this victory. Renn closes on a positive note after saying, Evangelicalism is in flux, and its future as a coherent movement is in doubt. He believes we can and will adapt to changing times and again thrive in the negative world. Originally published on The Stream. UNC excavation crew in Galilee region of Israel uncover first known depictions of biblical heroines An excavation team in Israel has discovered the first known depiction of two biblical heroines from the Old Testament. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill professor Jodi Magness led a team of students and specialists to Israels Lower Galilee region, where a decadelong effort has been underway, unearthing nearly 1,600-year-old mosaics in an ancient Jewish synagogue at Huqoq. Following a pause due the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, the Huqoq Excavation Project focused its 10th season on the southwest part of the synagogue, which researchers believe was built in the late fourth to early fifth century C.E. The synagogues floor is decorated with a large mosaic panel that is divided into three horizontal strips, or registers, each telling a story from the book of Judges, according to Magness. The dig led by project director Magness and assistant director Dennis Mizzi of the University of Malta unearthed a large mosaic panel depicting the events of Chapter four of Judges, where the prophetess and judge Deborah and military commander Barak lead the Israelites in victory over the Canaanites, led by the general Sisera. According to the Bible, Sisera fled to the tent of Jael, a Kenite woman, who ended up slaying the general by driving a tent peg through his temple while he slept. Part of the mosaic unearthed at Huqoq depicts Barak equipped with a shield and Deborah gazing at him from under a palm tree. The middle register is only fractionally preserved, while the lowest register shows Sisera bleeding and dead as he lay on the ground. Deborah is one of only five women described as a prophet in the Old Testament and is the only female judge mentioned in the Bible. Magness told The Christian Post that the depiction of Deborah and Jale is remarkable, particularly due to where it was discovered. We will need some time to fully explore and understand the significance of this find, but the obvious importance is the depiction of two female heroines in a prominent place in an ancient synagogue, said Magness. Another new find at Huqoq is a fragment inside a wreath containing a Hebrew inscription flanked by panels with two vases that hold sprouting vines, according to Magness. The vines form the shape of the medallion that frames four animals a hare, a fox, a leopard and a wild boar eating clusters of grapes. Over the digs last 10 seasons, several more mosaics have been uncovered, including: panels depicting Samson and the foxes from Judges 15:4; Samson carrying the gate of Gaza on his shoulders (Judges 16:3); another panel depicting a man leading an animal on a rope accompanied by an inscription reading a small child shall lead them (Isaiah 11:6); and what researchers believe is the first non-biblical story ever found on an ancient synagogue, possibly in reference to a legendary meeting between Alexander the Great and the Jewish high priest. Magness said the discovery of two additional scenes with Samson taken from Judges seems to be more than coincidence," but that more time is needed to study and consider the reasons behind the selection of these scenes by the synagogue congregation. Other biblical mosaics recovered from the nave, or main hall, of the synagogue include panels depicting Noahs Ark, the parting of the Red Sea, and the building of the Tower of Babel. The synagogue itself was rebuilt during the 14th century (known as the Mamluk period), possibly in conjunction with the rise in the number of pilgrims making their way to the Tomb of Habakkuk, which is located nearby, and appears to be the first Mamluk period synagogue ever discovered in Israel, making it no less important than the earlier building, said Magness. Crews have since removed the mosaics from the site for conservation. Excavations are scheduled to resume next summer, according to the group. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate While theres still a month left of summer vacation, United Way of Western Connecticut Southern Litchfield County is getting ready to help students in kindergarten through 12th grade start the school year on strong footing. Theyre doing this through United Ways 31st annual Back-to-School Campaign. Through this program, students who qualify receive a new bookbag filled with homework supplies such as notebooks, folders, pens, pencils, colored pencils, and rulers. Since the programs inception in 1991, Katy Francis, the community impact coordinator for United Ways Southern Litchfield County chapter, said the motivation for the campaign is that children that start their schools with a positive outlook will do better particularly the younger children. As part of the campaign, Francis said she sends the list of school supplies past campaign donors, who then purchase supplies for distribution. She added monetary donations help supplement what she doesnt receive from donors. While donors get the engine started, said Francis, a New Milford resident. Our volunteers are what make it work I could never do this on my own. These are local people helping their neighbors. From school-aged children to local community members, Francis said the volunteers at this campaign are great. On distribution day, she said volunteers sort all the items out and create an assembly line to pack the supplies into the backpacks. As parents arrive, theyre checked off the list of names before picking up the supplies and signing for their gift cards. Its become a very efficient process for us, Francis said. United Way employs this program to help families that fall under ALICE, a United Way acronym that refers to individuals and families that are asset limited, income constrained and employed. Francis explained these are hardworking, productive members of society and they need a little help. Every year, she said United Way is able to determine who is eligible for the program through the ALICE report, which shows household income, number of children and other criteria. This gives the families that cant afford to do more than the basic necessities a little bit of a break, Francis said of the Back to School Campaign, and the supplies are great. The children love it. Francis mentioned United Way used to ask parents to provide the organization with their childrens favorite character and clothing size, and then United Way volunteers would go clothes shopping for the children. Around the campaigns sixth or seventh year of operation, Francissaid United Way began providing parents with gift cards. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Francis said United Way gave parents a $50 grocery store gift card and a $50 department store gift card; this year, she said theyll go back to department store gift cards so families can buy new clothes for their children. To distribute the items, Campaign volunteers organize a drive-up event held at the John Pettibone Community Center, 2 Pickett District Road in New Milford. Last years Back-to-School Campaign helped 260 local children, and Francis said she is looking forward to this years distribution, scheduled to be held at the John Pettibone Community Center on Aug. 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Donations of items or funds can be made up to Aug. 12. Items the United Way is looking include Walmart gift cards, ballpoint pens, No. 2 pencils, colored pencils, composition and spiral notebooks, crayons, two-pocket folders and highlighters. To donate, contactFrancis at katy.francis@uwwesternct.org or at 860-354-8800. To donate online or by mail, visit United Way of Western Connecticuts website at www.uwwesternct.org/backtoschool or mail to P.O. Box 29, New Milford, CT 06776. United Way of Western Connecticut encompasses seven communities, including New Milford, Kent, Sherman, Washington, Roxbury and Bridgewater. A man with an ax who held a woman hostage inside a Hall County home in Georgia for four hours was shot by police Saturday morning. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Randy Berry, 34, was taken to the hospital for his injuries and charged with felony terrorist threats, false imprisonment, obstruction and reckless conduct. A woman with a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy sought emergency care at the University of Michigan Hospital after a doctor in her home state worried that the presence of a fetal heartbeat meant treating her might run afoul of new restrictions on abortion. At one Kansas City, Mo., hospital, administrators temporarily required "pharmacist approval" before dispensing medications used to stop postpartum hemorrhages, because they can also be also used for abortions. And in Wisconsin, a woman bled for more than 10 days from an incomplete miscarriage after emergency room staff would not remove the fetal tissue amid a confusing legal landscape that has roiled obstetric care. In the three weeks of turmoil since the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion, many physicians and patients have been navigating a new reality in which the standard of care for incomplete miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies and other common complications is being scrutinized, delayed - even denied - jeopardizing maternal health, according to the accounts of doctors in multiple states where new laws have gone into effect. While state abortion bans typically carve out exceptions when a woman's life is endangered, the laws can be murky, prompting some obstetricians to consult lawyers and hospital ethics committees on decisions around routine care. "People are running scared," said Mae Winchester, a specialist in maternal-fetal medicine in Ohio who, days after the state's new restrictions went into effect, sought legal advice before she performed an abortion on a pregnant woman with a uterine infection. "There's a lot of unknowns still left out there." The need to intervene in a pregnancy with the same medication or surgical procedure used in elective abortions is not unusual. As many as 30% of pregnancies end in miscarriage, the spontaneous demise of a fetus, commonly because of chromosomal abnormalities. The methods of managing a miscarriage are the same as for abortion, using a combination of drugs - mifepristone and misoprostol - or a brief surgery known as dilation and curettage, or D&C, to dilate the cervix and scrape tissue from the uterus. Left untreated, some miscarriages resolve naturally; others lead to complications such as infection or profuse bleeding. "It's important for people to realize early pregnancy failure is common," said Rashmi Kudesia, a fertility specialist in Houston. Doctors in Texas - where since last September abortion has been illegal after the detection of fetal cardiac activity, around six weeks of pregnancy - report that pharmacists have begun questioning patients about miscarriage medications, suspecting they may be used instead for abortions. "It is traumatizing to stand in a pharmacy and have to tell them publicly that you are having a miscarriage, that there is not a heartbeat," Kudesia said. Carley Zeal, an OB/GYN in southern Wisconsin and a fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health, said she recently treated a woman at risk of infection after a miscarriage. Zeal said providers at another hospital had wrestled with what services they could perform - with an 1849 law banning almost all abortions back in effect - and ultimately refused to remove the fetal tissue from the patient's uterus. "It really delayed her care," Zeal said. "I saw her a week and a half later with an ongoing miscarriage and bleeding, increasing the risk of severe bleeding as well as infections." Zeal gave the patient abortion medication to expel the fetal tissue. Some doctors are feeling pressure to seek second opinions in their treatment of ectopic pregnancies, which account for between 1% and 2% of pregnancies and are never viable. Zeal said another physician in her practice contacted her the week after the Supreme Court decision as she treated a patient with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. "She knew exactly what she had to do because [the woman] was bleeding and was clearly going to die if nothing was done," Zeal said. "But she wasn't sure what she needed to document to be sure she wouldn't be charged with a felony." Some lawyers have advised physicians in her practice to get two additional doctors to sign off that a patient's life is indeed in danger; other lawyers say no additional signature is needed. To protect herself from criminal prosecution, Zeal's colleague Elana Wistrom turned to an emergency room physician who treated the patient and a radiologist who reviewed the ultrasound showing the rupture - a process that took more than an hour. "It turned my attention away from the bedside of the critical-care patient toward documentation," Wistrom said. Ectopic pregnancies - when the fetus implants outside the uterus, usually in one of the fallopian tubes and sometimes on the ovaries or in the cervix - don't always show up on scans. They can be terminated with an injection of the drug methotrexate, which stops the cells from growing, or through surgery. If the procedure is delayed, the tube may rupture, causing sudden and life-threatening blood loss. Many state laws with new restrictions on abortion make exceptions for ectopics, but uncertainties can arise if a fetus implants on Caesarean scar tissue on the uterus wall or if it cannot be located. Patricia Nahn, another OB/GYN in Zeal's practice, said she recently had a patient displaying signs of an ectopic pregnancy, including abdominal pain. But because this was not a clear-cut case in which an ultrasound showed the fetus developing outside the uterus, Nahn faced the potential of terminating a fetus that was in the uterus and violating Wisconsin's abortion ban. Instead of prescribing medication to terminate the pregnancy in the safest manner, as she would have done before last month's ruling, Nahn said, she was forced to perform a riskier invasive surgical procedure to confirm the location of the ectopic pregnancy before ending it. "If you had just waited and done nothing because you were afraid, she could have died," Nahn said. Antiabortion groups such as Live Action and LifeNews.com say that overturning Roe does not stop doctors from treating ectopic pregnancies or miscarriages. "Those procedures would remain legal and would not be considered abortion," said Eric Scheidler, executive director of the nonprofit Pro-life Action League. "No physician can claim not to know that." In South Carolina, where state lawmakers are considering new restrictions on abortions in a July special session, state Rep. John R. McCravy III (R-Greenwood) supports a ban with no exceptions for rape or incest. But he said that he favors exceptions to save the life of the mother and that concerns about limiting care for ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages are overblown. "To use a word used often by the left, it's disinformation," McCravy said. "It's never been a pro-life tenet to constrain the doctors when it comes to medical emergencies." New abortion bans oversimplify the reality of obstetric care, physicians say, placing a binary on what is a continuous spectrum of increasing risk. Pregnancy puts huge stress on a patient's body, sometimes exacerbating existing health problems such as diabetes or hypertension until they become life threatening. "With a patient with heart disease, at what point in her pregnancy is she going to die?" said David Hackney, a specialist in high-risk pregnancies in Ohio. "You don't want to reach that point, where things are that clear." Lisa Harris, associate chair of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Michigan, said doctors are discussing creating a national registry of cases ranging from ectopic pregnancy to cancer and heart disease in which "people may not get what is currently standard of care in counseling or treatment." Stories of dangerously delayed care, promoted on Twitter and other online forums, are often hard to verify. And many of the two dozen doctors interviewed by The Post about their experiences since the Supreme Court overturned the right to abortion were hesitant to describe details of individual cases for fear of running afoul of lawyers and hospital administrators, violating patient privacy, or prompting a criminal investigation. In the current political climate, some physicians say antiabortion colleagues are on the lookout for any decision that they believe could contravene new laws. "Right now, there are risks of exaggeration and possibly even misinformation from many different quarters," said Leslie Francis, a professor of law and an expert in medical ethics at the University of Utah, who is concerned about a lack of data on the impact of the new laws. Delaying treatment for an ectopic pregnancy is so dangerous it would amount to malpractice, said Pamela Parker, an OB/GYN in Texas's Rio Grande Valley, who has decided to practice in Arizona because of Texas's restrictions and the overturning of Roe. Rachel Hicks, 26, knows from personal experience and as a medical student in Indianapolis how important swift action is. During an April emergency room visit, she discovered she had an ectopic pregnancy that had ruptured and was bleeding into her abdominal cavity. Within two hours, she was in surgery to remove the fetal tissue and the fallopian tube where the pregnancy had implanted. "Had I waited another day or slept through the night, I could have bled out in my body and I wouldn't have known it," said Hicks, a fourth-year medical student who aspires to be a surgeon. With Roe overturned, she wonders how that night would have gone differently under more restrictive laws. Indiana lawmakers are considering new restrictions on abortion in a special session in late July. At least one legislator has floated a total ban with no exceptions to save the patient's life. Hicks worries that doctors may not have been so quick to terminate her doomed pregnancy if they had had to scrutinize whether such care would violate the law. Then there are the complex but not uncommon cases when a patient's water breaks early, putting the fetus - no longer sustained by ample amniotic fluid - at risk of severe developmental problems and the mother at heightened risk of sepsis. Some of those pregnancies result in live births; in others, the patient goes into preterm labor. In many cases, doctors terminate the pregnancy, particularly if the patient develops an infection. A few days after Ohio's abortion ban took effect last month, Winchester, the maternal-fetal medicine specialist, treated a patient whose water had broken at 19 weeks. The woman hoped to continue the pregnancy despite the increased risks to her fetus and herself. But a day later, she spiked a fever, and had an elevated heart rate and high white blood cell count - all signs of infection. Winchester checked with her lawyer, then performed an abortion. "She was dying. It was very black and white," Winchester said. Although Ohio's abortion ban makes an exception to save a patient's life, Winchester considered a pregnant woman she treated last year who had a malignant tumor on her cervix that threatened her life, but not imminently. The woman had two children in high school who begged her to terminate the pregnancy and get treatment for the cancer. "They wanted her to see them graduate," said Winchester, who performed an abortion on the woman. "That's something I don't know if I would be allowed to do here in Ohio anymore." Ohio's law makes exceptions for many conditions such as ruptured membranes and preeclampsia. But others such as cancer are less clear, according to Justin Lappen, head of maternal-fetal medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. "Not all patients with the same conditions have the same risk," Lappen said. Major health systems like the Cleveland Clinic have been able to harness resources quickly to advise doctors, Lappen said, unlike practitioners in private practices or small, rural hospitals. Aubrey Shumway, who grew up in deeply conservative Utah, where an 18-week abortion ban is in place while a state law banning most abortions is challenged in court, worries that treatment for miscarriages may change. The 35-year-old Provo resident and her husband have been trying to start a family since the summer of 2019 and enlisted the help of a reproductive endocrinologist. In February, they were elated to find out she was four weeks pregnant. But two weeks later, she experienced irregular bleeding. By Week 9, medical professionals confirmed that the fetus had no heartbeat and she would miscarry. Shumway chose to remove the fetal tissue via surgery. As she prepares to meet with her fertility specialists again this month, she feels uncertain of her options if another pregnancy fails. She wonders if her doctors would err on the side of caution and avoid procedures and medication also used for abortions. "It concerns me greatly," Shumway said. "Regardless of how you feel, this also affects people like me who want to have children . . . but want also to be safe, to be protected, to be cared for medically." Other women are planning ahead in an effort to avoid situations where they may be denied abortions. Kelly Walters, 37, who developed preeclampsia in two of her four pregnancies, said she was so rattled by the abortion ban in Missouri, where she lives, that she is now preparing to have a hysterectomy. "I was told I absolutely can't get pregnant again," said Walters, who has residual damage from strokes caused by the preeclampsia. "I don't think I could survive it." Connecticut, like many states, has tried to capture more tax revenue from online sales since the U.S. Supreme Court opened the door in 2018. But the state auditors recently noted Connecticuts tax department never implemented a 2019 legislative directive designed to rake in an extra $30 million from internet transactions. While some lawmakers arent ready to abandon it, getting to that savings could be politically tricky. It all hinges on whether Connecticut wants to overhaul its sales tax system. Its likely theres a lot of money being left on the table, House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, D-East Hartford, said Friday. On my street alone, not a day goes by when I dont hear the trucks, whether it be UPS or FedEx or Amazon delivering packages, said Sen. John Fonfara, D-Hartford. You see the activity every day. The Supreme Court recognized that activity in June 2018 when it upheld a South Dakota law that allowed it to collect taxes from out-of-state businesses that sell to South Dakota residents. Prior to the ruling, states only could tax sellers with a physical presence such as a store or a warehouse within their borders. Many states quickly responded with laws redefining which businesses must collect and remit sales tax. Connecticut requires out-of-state merchants to collect and remit sales tax if they make at least 200 transactions per year involving Connecticut residents and have at least $100,000 in gross sales to residents here. But many businesses, particularly smaller ones, still dont comply with these new tax rules, and Connecticut and other states struggle to enforce their laws. Twenty-four states formed the Streamlined Sales Tax Project to share information about online transactions and enhance collections. Connecticut isnt a member, but the 2019 legislature tried to see if the state could reap some of the benefits from this collaborative approach. It specifically directed the Department of Revenue Services to develop a list of certified service providers who could help increase out-of-state business compliance with Connecticuts sales tax laws. These providers are agents certified by the multi-state coalition to help online businesses perform many of their sales tax functions, particularly collecting taxes and remitting them to the correct state. Connecticut legislators even assumed $30 million of additional revenue would be collected annually starting in the 2020-21 fiscal year because of this initiative. Sales tax receipts from all sources totaled about $4.8 billion last fiscal year, according to the states Consensus Revenue Report. But the states Auditors of Public Accounts, John Geragosian and Clark Chapin, noted in a recent report that the tax department never prepared this list or reported back to the legislature by February 2020 as originally instructed. In a written response to the auditors, the tax department wrote that it must be noted for record purposes that the DRS has not been contacted by the General Assembly with regard to said public act. So why was the issue dropped? Mark Boughton didnt become commissioner of revenue services until December 2020, well after the February deadline. But Boughton told the CT Mirror that legislators didnt realize Connecticut must make a larger commitment if it wants to piggyback on the multi-state effort to collect more sales tax receipts from the online arena. If the state wants to use the projects certified service providers to collect more sales tax, it likely would have to join the coalition. The Streamlined Sales Tax Project members must have a simple system of sales tax rates and exemptions. Member states are allowed one general rate for most items, and a second rate generally lower for food and drugs. Connecticut has a hodge-podge system that includes a base sales tax rate of 6.35%; a luxury rate of 7.75% on high-priced jewelry and motor vehicles; a 1% surcharge on restaurant meals; a 2.99% rate on certain boats and boat motors; and dozens of exemptions. Connecticut not only exempts food, medicine, much clothing and other items commonly exempted in other states, it also waives sales tax on other goods and services that critics have called non-essential. These include amusement and recreation services, electrology services and winter boat storage. Gov. Ned Lamont and the 2019 legislature eliminated a modest number of sales tax exemptions but only after a heated debate. Boughton said his department always stands ready to work with the legislature if members want to revisit this issue when the regular 2023 session starts in January. But the ball is in lawmakers court. Im intrigued by a streamlined sales tax system, Boughton added, but I understand the political landmines that exist in doing that. Many of Connecticuts brick-and-mortar stores have added websites in recent years to compete with online-only businesses, said Tim Phelan, executive director of the Connecticut Retail Merchants Association. Still, Connecticut merchants of all kinds largely comply with sales tax remittance laws, Phelan said, adding that out-of-state sellers who flout those rules continue to hold an unfair advantage. We support any effort to make sure those taxes are collected, he said. MEXICO CITY - Mexican Marines on Friday captured fugitive drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, a top target of U.S. law enforcement who was convicted in the 1985 killing of a DEA agent, an event that transformed the American government's war on narcotics traffickers, according to Mexican authorities. Caro Quintero, 69, is considered one of the architects of the kidnapping, torture and murder of DEA agent Enrique Camarena in Mexico. The co-founder of the Guadalajara Cartel had served 28 years of a 40-year prison sentence for that killing and other crimes when he was suddenly released before dawn on Aug. 9, 2013, on orders of a judge citing administrative reasons. Since then, Caro Quintero's recapture has been an obsession for the DEA and a top priority for successive U.S. administrations. In 2020, then-attorney general William P. Barr urged Mexico's government to track down the drug chief in a reciprocal gesture as the Trump administration dropped narcotics charges against former defense minister Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda and sent him back to Mexico, according to several officials. But Caro Quintero repeatedly escaped as agents closed in. "There are hundreds of [DEA] agents that went to Mexico to defend the national security of this country, but also to bring RCQ to justice," said Terry Cole, a retired DEA agent who served in Mexico. After Caro Quintero was released in 2013, Mexico issued a new arrest warrant for him. American authorities had offered a $20 million award for information leading to Caro Quintero's arrest, and he was on the FBI and DEA lists of most wanted fugitives. His detention Friday came days after President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador met President Biden at the White House. Mexico has recently sharply stepped up its anti-drug efforts, particularly against producers of the deadly opioid fentanyl. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland expressed thanks to the Mexican government on Friday, saying the arrest was "the culmination of tireless work by DEA and their Mexican partners." He added that American authorities would seek Caro Quintero's immediate extradition. He faces cocaine-trafficking charges in New York, where he would likely be tried, officials said. "There is no hiding place for anyone who kidnaps, tortures, and murders American law enforcement," Garland said. Mexican Marine special forces, aided by U.S. intelligence, captured the drug lord in Choix municipality in Sonora state, according to Mexican officials and two former U.S. officials privy to the details. One, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss operational information, said Caro Quintero had been traveling with a small group of bodyguards and was in a wooded area. He was sniffed out by a dog named Max working with the Marines, according to a statement from the Mexican Navy. Hours after the capture, a Mexican military helicopter crashed near Los Mochis, Sinaloa, in an apparent accident, killing 14 Marines, according to Mexican and U.S. officials. The newspaper Reforma, citing unidentified Navy sources, reported that the Marines had helped in the hunt for Caro Quintero. Camarena, a U.S. Marine and police officer before he joined the DEA, was kidnapped on Feb. 7, 1985, in Guadalajara, an important drug-trafficking hub, shocking the U.S. government and prompting a massive manhunt. U.S. customs agents choked off traffic on the Mexican border to press for action in the case. The DEA angrily alleged that corrupt Mexican police helped Caro Quintero secretly fly out of the country. A month after the abduction, the bodies of the U.S. drug agent and his pilot were found in shallow graves in the state of Michoacan. The killings were attributed to Caro Quintero, a major marijuana producer, and two other drug kingpins - Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo and Ernesto "Don Neto" Fonseca. Caro Quintero was subsequently captured in Costa Rica and extradited to Mexico. All three men were convicted in the slayings. Camarena's murder had far-reaching consequences: It led to the dissolution of Mexico's corruption-plagued federal police force and an expanded role for the DEA. "His sacrifice bolstered the department's budget, its personnel and its political standing," Benjamin T. Smith wrote in "The Dope," a history of the Mexican drug trade. "By the late 1980s, it spearheaded America's increasing focus on international counternarcotics." The Camarena killing and the homicide investigation was chronicled in the Netflix series "Narcos Mexico." U.S.-Mexican drug cooperation deteriorated after Lopez Obrador, a longtime leftist, took office in 2018 vowing to end the "war on drugs" and lure young people away from trafficking with social programs. He was a staunch critic of the kingpin strategy employed by his predecessors to go after leaders of drug cartels. Relations deteriorated further in 2020, when U.S. officials acting on a DEA request arrested Cienfuegos at the Los Angeles Airport and accused the former defense minister of drug trafficking. Mexico retaliated by limiting the ability of DEA agents to work in the country. Lately, however, there has been a pronounced uptick in Mexican busts of fentanyl and methamphetamine labs. This week, in a meeting in Washington, Biden and Lopez Obrador agreed to set up a fentanyl task force. Synthetic drugs have become a growing crisis in the United States, where more than 100,000 people overdosed last year, largely due to the rising use of fentanyl. It was not clear whether the timing of the arrest of Caro Quintero was related to the White House meeting. Caro Quintero was once nicknamed the "Godfather" of Mexican drug trafficking. The Sinaloa native co-founded the Guadalajara cartel, a network that dominated the shipment of drugs to the United States in the 1980s and was among the first to team up with major Colombian cocaine dealers. Since his release in 2013, Caro Quintero has maintained a low profile but is thought to be involved in fentanyl trafficking. He is believed to have been operating in the area of Caborca, in Sonora state. - - - The Washington Post's Gabriela Martinez and Alejandra Ibarra Chaoul contributed to this report. Chinese space defense is going one step ahead of the US with the development of an AI-powered orbital carrier capable of determining how to react in offense and defense. According to the SCMP, the mobile space platform will have numerous CubeSats that are only 1 kilo each; each unit will move as a single unit or swarm to protect Beijing's space assets. Artificial Intelligence Capabilities Chinese scientists, on the other hand, highlighted that AI would be required to identify when and when to launch the CubeSats to defend against enemy satellites, reported EurAsian Times. Human brains will not enable space battle; instead, AI will provide the edge for the orbital environment. The space platform will be used for in-orbit refueling and maintenance. The researchers noted in a report published on June 25 in Chinese Space Science and Technology that discovering the most effective approach for AI to operate an orbital carrier will have "great commercial and military importance." Beijing said in December 2021 that two SpaceX Starlink satellites got perilously close to its planned space station in two instances. It has raised fears that the frequency of these aggressive encounters will grow shortly. According to a June 16 article from Space News, such encounters occur increasingly frequently. Furthermore, it claimed American and Chinese satellites were playing cat and mouse in space. Now, Beijing wants a Chinese space defense to take down Starlink satellites, like an AI-powered orbital carrier. Read Also: Indian, Japanese Next Generation Fighters To Challenge the J-20 Mighty Dragon in the Indo-Pacific Designing Next-Generation AI Developers claim that any planned and ongoing attack in space may be defended against using an orbital platform loaded with CubeSats. They recommended employing AI to find answers to some of the most important mission planning concerns, such as the direction of orbit transfer, the timing of CubeSat releases, and the timing of satellite collisions. Using the multi-round greedy search strategy, they may instruct four orbiting platforms to analyze nine hostile objects in less than a day. A high-precision orbit model was compared to one of the most used optimization techniques, a hybrid encoding genetic algorithm. The AI finds the best solution to solve the problems via all parameters. This tactic was discovered to be more successful than traditional optimization methods. AI may then provide people with a variety of possibilities. The researchers further asserted that they would inject randomization into the search process to overcome the greedy algorithm's drawbacks and deliver globally optimal results. Recently, a different team of Chinese scientists asserted that they had developed artificial intelligence (AI) that could track satellites using tricks like deception. China intends to orbit all 138 satellites in the Jilin-1 constellation in 2025. By incorporating AI onboard, these satellites would be better able to continuously monitor the globe and withstand anti-satellite missile attacks from the US and its allies. It is possible to interpret China's plans to build artificial military intelligence (AI) into commercial satellites as a proliferation strategy to strengthen its space-based ISR capabilities. Developing this crucial Chinese space defense via developing an AI-powered orbital carrier using CubeSat is far ahead of the US; it makes the Pentagon shudder. Related Article: Chinese Researchers Develop AI System Capable of Hunting Satellites Through Deceptive Strategies @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Elon Musk responded formally on Friday to Twitter's lawsuit against him, saying the court should reject Twitter's request for a short trial in the next two months and arguing the case will be more complicated and technical than Twitter makes it out to be. Twitter sued Musk on Tuesday to force him to complete his acquisition of the company after he said last week that he was terminating the deal. Musk has argued he has a right to leave the deal because the company didn't give him enough information to figure out if its estimates about the number of spam bots on the platform are accurate. A spokesperson for Twitter declined to comment. Musk's filing accuses Twitter of dragging its feet on giving him the data he wanted on bots and then asking for "warp speed" when it came to setting a trial date. Twitter argued in its lawsuit that Musk has been acting in bad faith and every day that the uncertainty around the acquisition hangs over them, the more damage is done to the company. The tone of Musk's response is similarly fiery, offering a preview of the heated legal wrangling that is to come. The billionaire had already tweeted about Twitter's lawsuit, responding on Wednesday to a tweet about how it was ironic that the company's management was accusing Musk of acting in bad faith but still wanted him to own the company with two laughing emoji. Twitter's position is that the case is straightforward: Musk agreed to buy it, and now he's backing out of his commitments after his financial position weakened as part of a global sell-off in tech stocks. Musk asserts that the case should revolve around Twitter's statements about how many bots it thinks are on its platform, which he believes are incorrect, though he hasn't provided evidence of that claim. "The core dispute over false and spam accounts is fundamental to Twitter's value," Musk's lawyers wrote in the filing. "It is also extremely fact and expert intensive, requiring substantial time for discovery." Musk's filing details a May 6 meeting he had with Twitter's chief executive officer and chief financial officer where they discussed how the company calculates its estimates for how many bots on the platform. The process, which Musk says is based on human reviewers looking at a small percentage of accounts, was much less rigorous than he had expected, the filing says. "Musk was stunned to discover that Twitter's process for identifying spam accounts relied on human reviewers," Musk's lawyers write. "Musk quickly understood that management did not have a handle on the bot and spam issue." That's when Musk began sending more requests for user data so that he could run his own analysis, but Twitter was slow in giving him that data and he ultimately concluded he would not get everything he needed to run his analysis, leading him to say he was terminating the deal. In its complaint, Twitter alleges Musk wasn't actually that interested in understanding the bot issue, and instead send escalating requests for data to construct a pretext that Twitter wasn't giving him the data he needed. Twitter's per-share price rose 4% Friday to $37.74. That's still significantly below the $54.20 Musk had initially agreed to pay, showing that Wall Street doesn't believe the deal will close according to the original agreement. The court will hold a hearing Tuesday to address Twitter's request for an expedited trial. The following are being sought on arrest warrants, according to various sheriffs departments. The addresses listed are the last known addresses provided by the warrants and may be outdated. Rose T. Egan, 27, of 1042 E. Morton Ave. is being sought on a warrant accusing her of failing to appear in court on a domestic battery charge. She is a white female standing 5 foot 4 and weighing 120 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes. Jesse C. Dupre, 41, of 815 Hardin Ave. is being sought on a warrant accusing him of violating probation on a forgery charge. He is a white male standing 6 foot 1 and weighing 170 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes. Morgan County Sheriff ARRESTS, CITATIONS Robert W. Crafton, 24, of 133 W. Fourth St., Versailles, was booked into the Morgan County jail at 1:35 p.m. Thursday on a charge of criminal sexual abuse by force. Tabbetha H. Hare, 22, of 2155 Whitlock Road, Murrayville, was booked into the Morgan County jail at 9:59 p.m. Thursday on a domestic battery charge. She was accused of hitting a family member with a vacuum cleaner. Jacksonville Police ARRESTS, CITATIONS Megan E. Rogers, 35, of 19632 Chandlerville Road, Virginia, was booked into the Morgan County jail at 1:11 a.m. Friday on charges of manufacture or delivery of methamphetamine or an analog, possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of adult-use cannabis by a driver and theft. She was accused of being in the parking lot of Walmart, 1941 W. Morton Ave., at 9:39 p.m. Thursday in a vehicle that was reported stolen in Cass County and having drugs in her possession. Bobbie J. Ransom, 41, of 847 Hardin Ave. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 6:17 p.m. Thursday on charges of driving under the influence and driving while license is revoked or suspended. Marcus Tiberson, 24, of 703 W. Beecher Ave. was arrested at 6:45 p.m. Thursday in the 700 block of West Beecher Avenue on a Morgan County warrant accusing him of delivery of a controlled substance. Compiled by David C.L. Bauer ALTON The United Way of Greater St. Louis is celebrating its100-year anniversary of helping the community. United Way of Alton merged with United Way of Greater St. Louis in the early 2000s. Serving on the board of United Ways Southwest Illinois Division, Tom Berry has been a longtime volunteer for this division that oversees United Ways efforts in Madison County; his grandfather was campaign chair for United Way of Alton in the 1960s and his father was instrumental in the merger. United Way of Greater St. Louis President/CEO Michelle Tucker said 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, Tucker said. 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 to offer a simple, unified approach for supporting multiple nonprofits. In its first annual campaign, businesses and residents raised $1.1 million for 40 local charities. Today, it supports more than 160 groups in 16 counties in Illinois and Missouri, raising more than $67 million last year. Tucker said that over its100-year history the local United Way has raised and invested nearly $3 billion into hundreds of groups 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. Tucker said United Way is even more committed to helping people with critical wraparound services that support five priorities: essential needs, youth success, jobs and financial security, health and wellbeing and crisis response. She said United Way's experience and strong partnerships position it to advance how people 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, she 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, United Way is encouraging people to visit HelpingPeople.org and share their hopes for the region over 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, Tucker noted. 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. 1933: What is now known as the Volunteer Center launches led by two women. The center now connects more than 20,000 residents annually with groups and causes seeking volunteers. 1942: United Way raises more than $5 million in one year. 1955: St. Louis city officials and 43 companies introduce payroll deductions for employees to donate to the United Fund. Today donors include more than 90,000 people at more than 1,000 companies. 1975: The group changes its name to the United Way of Greater St. Louis. 1978: United Way of St. Clair merges with United Way of Greater St. Louis, followed by additional affiliate mergers. 1987: United Way forms the de Tocqueville Society honoring supporters who give $10,000 or more annually. The group now numbers , more than 8,000 through six leadership groups. 1993: United Way raises and invests $1.8 million for victims of the Great Flood of 1993. 1994: Charmaine Chapman becomes the first African American and first woman president and chief executive officer. Her legacy lives on 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 introduces online giving software for corporate campaigns. 2007: United Way 2-1-1 launches enabling people to find help through a mobile app, text service and online chat. The service now aids more than 120,000 each year. 2018: United Way introduces its custom strategies, launching new ways for companies to partner to meet their corporate social responsibility goals. 2020: United Way releases a comprehensive, region-wide Community Needs Assessment and community investment strategy to align funding decisions with identified needs. For more information, contact 314-421-0700 or visit www.HelpingPeople.org. Alex Jones, Austin-based founder of the far-right conspiracy-driven media company Infowars, failed to show up Friday for a hearing in the latest ongoing defamation lawsuit brought by Sandy Hook parents against Jones. Friday's was the only pre-trial hearing in a lawsuit brought by Sandy Hook parents Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, whose six-year-old son Jesse was killed by the Sandy Hook gunman. Their case was originally filed in 2018. Since then, Jones has "intentionally disobeyed the courts order by refusing to hand over documents in compliance with the discovery process, Judge Guerra Gamble wrote in a court order last year. Attorneys for Heslin and Lewis say Jones' no-show in an Austin court on Friday is just the latest example of the right-wing provocateur's ongoing "lack of respect for the discovery process." In fact, Jones "abused the discovery process so much," according to Bill Ogden, one of Heslin and Lewis' attorneys, that the court issued a default ruling in favor of the plaintiffs months ago. This means that Heslin's and Lewis' legal team "just have to prove the damages at this point, because he abused the discovery process so much," Ogden said. In most civil court proceedings, plaintiffs' attorneys have to prove that what their client claims happened actually occurred, also called "liability"; and that their clients suffered consequences because of what happened, also called "damages." The families' attorneys will only now have to show that Jones' conspiracy-peddling caused the damages during the upcoming jury trial, Ogden explained. A Connecticut judge also defaulted Jones without trial on the issue of liability in November 2021 for failing to comply with the discovery process in another Sandy Hook defamation case. Jones legal team did not respond to requests for comment in time for publication. Soon after a gunman killed 19 students and six teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, Jones began spreading the lie that the shooting was faked by the government and that grieving parents were actually "crisis actors." Jones' followers doxxed and harassed parents of victims for years afterwards. Sandy Hook parents have since filed a series of defamation lawsuits against Jones in Connecticut and Texas; he has paid out millions in damages and court sanctions after losing those cases. Heslin's and Lewis' case was also delayed when Jones filed for bankruptcy in Texas court in April; the bankruptcy case was dismissed last month after attorneys for Sandy Hook families accused Jones of trying to shield his assets from courts as juries in the Sandy Hook cases are set to decide how much Jones owes the families in damages later this year. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller likely turned a few heads Friday with the publication of an editorial calling for state leaders to "lead or get out of the way" on legislation expanding medical marijuana use. Titled "Standing Up For Compassionate Use," Miller's article states his line of thinking on the drug once designated as universally illegal in the United States has evolved over the years. In Texas, medical marijuana is only legally available in low THC dosages to patients suffering from a short list of diseases including some forms of cancer and intractable epilepsy. "It is our overall state policy on cannabis that I will focus on today as I share my thoughts with my fellow Texans," Miller wrote. "In a free society, government should only make something illegal for a powerful reason or set of facts. The freedom of the people to make their own choices and decisions is a fundamental principal of a true democracy." Miller likened past pushes to criminalize the drug to those seen against alcohol during Prohibition. "The history of cannabis prohibition reflects the failed alcohol prohibition of the 1920s. Complete with gangs, corruption, and widespread violence against the lives and liberties of American citizens," Miller wrote. The commissioner went on to characterize the history of anti-marijuana leglislation as "anti-American in its origins" and rooted in racism. "As I look back, I believe that cannabis prohibition came from a place of fear, not from medical science or the analysis of social harm," Miller wrote. "Sadly, the roots of this came from a history of racism, classism, and a large central government with an authoritarian desire to control others." The commissioner notes his ongoing work with Texas hemp growers and recent efforts made by other states with conservative populations to soften restraints on the selling and use of medical and commercial marijuana. Miller also called on the governor and other Texas lawmakers to make medical marijuana legislation a priority in their next session. "It is my goal next year to expand access to the compassionate use of cannabis products in Texas so that every Texan with a medical need has access to these medicines," Miller stated. "It is time for all of us, including the Governor, members of the Texas Legislature and others to come together and set aside our political differences to have an honest conversation about cannabis." In October 2021, the Texas Department of State Health added Delta 8 cannabis productsa semi-legal, marijuana analog sold at head shops across the stateto the state's official list of controlled substances. The changes caused a temporary freeze in sales of the drug, but lawsuits from retailers have since been granted a temporary injunction allowing them to continue selling the product. As of now, the Texas Supreme Court has refused to hear a DHS request calling for a reinstatement of the ban. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Even as he highlighted a number of new areas of cooperation aimed at revamping US-Saudi ties, President Joe Biden told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Friday that he believed the Crown Prince was responsible for the 2018 assassination of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The sessions in Jeddah appeared to broadly support the strategy for resetting US relations with the kingdom after years of strained communication following Khashoggi's killing. Biden Says He Raised Khashoggi's Killing at Meeting With Saudi's MBS The US President's private conversations with the de facto ruler of the country, who had previously pledged to declare Saudi Arabia a "pariah," attracted more attention than the formal discussions and declarations of policy. Human rights organizations, Democrats, and the editor of the Washington Post all harshly condemned the president for fist bumping the Crown Prince at their first meeting in person. The Saudi government swiftly spread those pictures of Biden with the Crown Prince, commonly known as MBS, on Saudi state TV and Twitter, CNN reported. Since diplomacy with the kingdom and other partners in the Middle East was viewed as one of the few paths he could take to lessen the pain at the pump, Biden traveled to Jeddah in search of solutions to one of his top political issues back home-high gas prices. Just over a year after the US declassified an intelligence assessment claiming the Crown Prince personally ordered Khashoggi's assassination, critics said the fist bump confirmed bin Salman on the international stage. Because it "projected a degree of closeness and comfort that offers to MBS the unjustified redemption he has been desperately seeking," Washington Post publisher Fred Ryan called Biden's fist bump "shameful." It was also a startling act from a president who had promised to "make them pay the price" by making Saudi Arabia "the pariah that they are" on the global stage during the campaign. Per WION, US intelligence authorities think that Prince Mohammed oversaw the operation that resulted in the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi from the Washington Post. "He basically stated that he was not personally responsible for it, whereas I indicated that I thought he was," Biden remarked in reference to the Crown Prince's reaction. When Khashoggi was killed and suspected human rights violations occurred in Saudi Arabia three years ago, Biden threatened to make the country a pariah state. Now, Biden has arrived in the same nation focusing on oil, human rights, Iran, and Israel. Read Also: US Inflation 2022: Demands, Long Lines Increase in Food Banks as Lawmakers Try to Dial Back Sky-High Commodity Prices Khashoggi's Fiancee Reacts Over Biden-MBS Fist Bomb Prince Mohammed gave Biden a fist bump, as shown on official television Al-Ekhbariya footage. After that, the US President was led into Al-Salam palace. Among other things, they talked about energy throughout the meeting. In the upcoming weeks, he stated that he anticipated "further steps" from Saudi Arabia in the oil sector. Khashoggi's fiancee said that following the meeting, Biden gave the Saudi crown prince authority to kill other people. "Is this the accountability you promised for my murder? The blood of MBS's next victim is on your hands," Hatice Cengiz wrote to Biden. The visit to the monarchy, according to Rep. Ilhan Omar, "sends the wrong message to everyone who cares about human rights." By agreeing on flights and Red Sea islands before the visit, Israel and Saudi Arabia significantly improved their relationship. The president reiterated US support for "two states for two peoples" while in the West Bank before leaving for Jeddah. He did admit, though, that the "ground is not ripe" for resuming Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, as per The Independent. Related Article: Joe Biden Fires Back at Reporter Over 2024 Presidential Run Question: "They Want Me To Run" @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Canada is the only country to have three cities in the top ten Three Canadian cities made the top 10 of the Global Livability Index 2022 Canada is the only country to have three cities in the top ten Three Canadian cities made the top 10 of the Global Livability Index 2022 Canada is the only country to have three cities in the top ten Three Canadian cities made the top 10 of the Global Livability Index 2022 Canada is the only country to have three cities in the top ten Edana Robitaille Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Three Canadian cities have made the top ten in the list of the worlds most livable cities in the Global Livability Index 2022. This year Calgary, Alberta tied with Zurich for third place. It outranked Zurich in education and infrastructure but fell short in culture and environment. Vienna claimed the top spot overall and Copenhagen took second place. Vancouver placed in the fifth spot and Toronto, Canadas largest and most populous city, made it into eighth place. This is an increase in ranking over 2021 where COVID-19 pandemic restrictions caused these cities to slip in the rankings. In 2021, Toronto was in the 20th position. Damascus, Tripoli, and Lagos came in last this year due to unsafe living conditions and a high threat of terrorism. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration The study is conducted by the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU). The EIU has been analyzing and monitoring the impact of global development on populations and cities for over 70 years. Each year they release a report that ranks livability of cities worldwide, based on several factors such as stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. The 2022 report included 172 cities, an increase of 33 cities over the 2021 report. The overall scores for all cities this year were higher as the general livability around the globe has seen improvement in some areas. As more people are vaccinated against COVID-19, scores in culture and environment saw a drastic improvement over 2021 and are at nearly pre-pandemic levels. There were also higher scores for healthcare as the pressure caused by the pandemic on global medical systems began to ease. However, the scores for stability have dropped on average. Canada seen as safe and stable Canada was the only country with three cities in the top ten, indicating that the standard of living in Canada is generally quite high. Because of this, Canada is often seen as a desirable country for immigrants. Canada consistently ranks as one of the most stable and tolerant nations in the world. In fact, a recent study by the Canadian Bureau for International Education ranked Canadas stability as the number one deciding factor for international students. Canada aims to welcome over 450,000 new permanent residents each year by 2024. To reach this goal, Canada offers over 100 immigration pathways for those who wish to become permanent residents. Becoming a permanent resident Express Entry The most prominent immigration pathway to permanent residence is through the Express Entry application management system. The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) are Express Entry programs through which eligible candidates are given a score using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) and ranked against each other. The first step for a candidate is to self-evaluate if you are eligible for one of these programs. Eligible candidates may then create a profile with Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to get their CRS score. A CRS score is based on criteria such as work experience, language skills and education along with other human capital factors. The higher a CRS is, the more likely it is that a candidate will receive an invitation to apply (ITA) from IRCC. Provincial Nominee Programs Skilled immigrants may also apply directly to a province through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). All Canadian provinces, except Quebec and Nunavut, have PNPs that work in alignment with IRCC. These programs allow provincial governments to select candidates that they feel will be a good fit in the province. Quebec Quebec selects immigrants according to its own criteria and procedures. If you are selected for immigration by Quebec, you and your accompanying family will receive a Certificat de selection du Quebec (CSQ). Those who receive a CSQ may then apply to IRCC for permanent residence. Other options In addition to these programs, Canada has temporary foreign worker programs, student visas and temporary resident (visitor) visas for those who would like to visit and experience Canada before deciding to apply for permanent residency. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options. Sorry, no valid subscriptions were found for this Publication. Please select from an option below to start a subscription. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 24 Hour Access Chinese President Xi Jinping made a rare visit to Xinjiang after imposing a crackdown in the region which comes as Beijing is facing scrutiny for the alleged genocide of the Uyghur minority in the region. The official's trip amounted to a proclamation of success in his years-long effort to quell ethnic resistance in the country despite international condemnation. The Chinese president's four-day visit to Xinjiang, which ended Friday, focused on projecting that the region had become united and stable under his leadership. Xi's Visit to Xinjiang Xi's last visit to the region was in 2014, where he imposed drastic policies, including widespread arrests, surveillance, indoctrination, and labor transfers, to press Uyghuys and other largely Muslim ethnic groups, to identify as members of one Chinese nation loyal to the Communist Party. "Every ethnic group in Xinjiang is an inseparable member of the great family of Chinese nationhood," Xi said while visiting the heavily Uyghur neighborhood of Urumqi, which is also the regional capital of Xinjiang. Xi's published remarks did not mention eradicating "extremism" and "separatism," which officials have long cited as the rationale for the party's severe policies in the region. The Chinese president added that "we must particularly treasure the excellent conditions of stability and unity" in the region, as per the Boston Globe. The president's remarks come as internationally, the United States has banned cotton imports from Xinjiang over concerns about the use of forced labor. However, Chinese authorities have continued to deny any mistreatment of the Uyghur minority in the region. Read Also: China Threatens Retaliation Against US, UK, and Australia for Boycotting at 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics A photograph of the visit showed Xi, who was not wearing a mask, surrounded by smiling and clapping residents, many of whom appeared to be Uyghurs wearing ethnic costumes and Muslim prayer caps. According to Reuters, the Chinese president urged Xinjiang officials to listen to their people so as to win their hearts and keep them united. Xi also stressed that security measures aimed at maintaining social stability should become a regular thing in the region. Cultural Genocide Xi was also cited as saying Islamic practices must conform to Chinese sensibilities and that Xinjiang must groom a team of "politically reliable" religious representatives. The region had been the scene of sporadic anti-government and anti-Han Chinese violence before a crackdown that the United Nations said in 2018 had put one million Uyghurs into "massive internment camps" set up for political indoctrination. Chinese officials initially denied the existence of any camps, but later said that they had set up "vocational training centers" with dormitories where people can "voluntarily" check themselves in to learn about the law, Chinese language, and vocational skills. They added that in 2019, all trainees had "graduated." Under Xi's administration, Chinese authorities have carried out a sweeping crackdown on the region's Uyghur and Kazakh communities. These were described by critics as cultural genocide of the minorities. Xi called Xinjiang a "core area and a hub" in China's program of building ports, railways, and power stations connecting it to economies reaching from Central Asia to Eastern Europe. The Chinese president also met with leaders of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, a supra-governmental body that operates its own courts, schools, and health system, the Associated Press reported. Related Article: US Passes Import Ban on Chinese Uyghur Region To Step Up Pressure on China Over Human Rights Violations @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. At the recent performance in Prague by actor Johnny Depp, Camille Vasquez, 37, was seen gazing affectionately at her boyfriend, a British man named Edward Owen. For the past three months, Johnny Depp and Jeff Beck have been performing songs from their new album '18,' on tour around Europe. Before pulling Owen in for a hug, Johnny Depp was seen laughing and joking with the star lawyer's boyfriend backstage. Camille Vasquez Introduces Boyfriend to Johnny Depp Additionally, Johnny Depp observes the fan recording and makes sure to smile and wave to his thousands of fans. This follows Johnny Depp's recent victory in a well-publicized defamation case against his ex-wife Amber Heard, as per Express. Heard was ordered to pay the actor $10 million in civil damages and $5 million in punitive damages after it was determined by the court that her 2018 op-ed in the Washington Post did in fact defame her ex-husband. Per NY Post, a fellow concertgoer captured video of the pair's meeting before it was uploaded on Instagram and quickly went viral. In the video, Camille Vasquez is seen enthusiastically presenting Johnny Depp to her boyfriend, a 38-year-old British businessman. As she grins and converses with the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' actor, the brunette beauty can be seen placing a loving hand on her boyfriend's back. Given their provocative actions throughout the defamation trial, Johnny Depp and Camille Vasquez's supporters, including Joe Rogan, had hoped the actor and the lawyer would begin dating. But even if this latest video will dash those expectations, it shows that the two are still incredibly devoted to one another. The video was posted on Depp-related Instagram pages, and several commentators expressed their admiration for Vasquez. Read Also: Britney Spears Conservatorship: Pop Star's Father Jamie Ordered To Appear in Court, Produce Surveillance Documents Johnny Depp-Amber Heard Feud Vasquez, who was promoted to partner at the legal firm Brown Rudnick following her tough cross-examination of Heard during the defamation trial, is presently seen vacationing with Owen in Europe, appearing to be enjoying a break from her job. A video of Vasquez comforting Depp in court during the trial pleased admirers on social media. The attorney previously explained the circumstance and only just disclosed it once more. Depp has been accused of using scathing songs to criticize his ex while performing on stage with the British musician Jeff Beck; the two collaborated on the album '18.' At a recent round of gigs in the UK, Depp joined Beck on stage to perform renditions of songs by Dennis Wilson, Marvin Gaye, Jimi Hendrix, and Killing Joke. Following the jury's judgment, Heard had filed a request to have Depp's verdict overturned or to have a mistrial declared. Her attorneys alleged a number of reasons for the decision being invalid, including an apparent case of mistaken identity with one of the jurors. The 'Aquaman' actress was ordered to pay the money after Judge Penney Azcarate dismissed all of the allegations on Wednesday. Heard previously stated that she would do this, and she still has the option to appeal the judgment to the Virginia Court of Appeals, according to Daily Mail. Related Article: Judge Denies Amber Heard's Appeal for Re-Trial Against Johnny Depp Following Ex-Husband's Defamation Win @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Polls show that Americans worries about crime and violence are at the highest levels since 2016. ConsumerAffairs used data from the FBI and U.S. Census Bureau to rank the safest large cities (more than 250,000 people), medium-size cities (100,000 to 250,000) and small cities (50,000 to 100,000) based on crime levels, certain economic indicators and police officers per capita. Gilbert, Arizona, about 20 miles southeast of Phoenix, is the safest city with a minimum population of 250,000 in the U.S., joining three other suburbs of the countrys fastest-growing city in the top 10, according to a new study by ConsumerAffairs. Here are some of our other main takeaways from the data: Four cities in Arizona all suburbs of Phoenix rank in the top 10 safest large cities. They include Gilbert (first), Chandler (third), Scottsdale (seventh) and Mesa (10th). Naperville, Illinois, a Chicago suburb, is the safest midsize city. Texas is the only state with multiple cities in the top 10 safest midsize cities. Tinley Park, Illinois, also a suburb of Chicago, is the safest small city, and it has the highest score of all cities in our rankings. Three other Chicago suburbs Schaumburg, Arlington Heights and Palatine are part of the top 10 safest small cities. The top 10 safest small cities all have higher final safety scores than any large or midsize city. Methodology For our rankings, we scored each city based on crime, economic indicators that have correlations with crime, and the number of police officers per 100,000 people, using data from the FBI and U.S. Census Bureau. The economic indicators include high school graduation rate, unemployment (see definition below) and income inequality. Property crime and violent crime rates together make up 50% of the score, followed by economic indicators (40%) and police officers per 100,000 people (10%). Safest large cities in the U.S. 1. Gilbert, Arizona Of the 10 safest large cities in America, only Gilbert ranks in the top five for lowest violent crime (third) and property crime (second) rates. In 2020, there were only 40 robberies and 150 motor vehicle thefts in the city both the lowest in the country among big cities. The city also ranks in the top 10 for economic indicators, including first in income equality. 2. Virginia Beach, Virginia Virginia Beach has the second-lowest violent crime rate of all large cities, and it ranks in the top 10 for all economic indicators. Violent crime there has been steadily decreasing over the past 50 years, according to the city. Virginia Beach is the largest city in one of the safest states in the U.S. 3. Chandler, Arizona Chandlers violent crime rate is the sixth-lowest among large cities, and it has the best unemployment score among all the places in the top 10. Chandler is just a few miles southwest of Gilbert, which has the top spot on our list. 4. Plano, Texas Located about 20 miles north of Dallas, Plano has the fourth-lowest violent crime rate among large cities. It also ranks in the top 10 for high school graduation rate. 5. Madison, Wisconsin Madison is the only large Midwestern city to make the top 10 safest list. Wisconsins capital ranks in the top 10 for low violent crime rates, high school graduation and low unemployment rates. 6. Henderson, Nevada Henderson, on the southern rim of the Las Vegas Valley, has the seventh-lowest violent crime rate and sixth-lowest property crime rate of big cities in the U.S. Four of the top 10 safest large cities are in Greater Phoenix. 7. Scottsdale, Arizona About 96.3% of Scottsdale residents over 18 have graduated high school the highest rate of any large city in the country. Scottsdale also has the fifth-lowest violent crime rate. 8. Irvine, California Irvines violent crime rate in 2020 51.2 per 100,000 people is the lowest of any large city in the U.S. 2020 was the 16th consecutive year Irvine had the lowest per-capita violent crime rate among cities with a population of at least 250,000, according to the city. It's also second in high school graduation rate and ninth in property crime rate. 9. Jersey City, New Jersey Jersey City, across the Hudson River from lower Manhattan, is the only Northeastern city in the top 10 safest large cities. Its also the only city in this list to rank in the top 10 in number of police officers, with 381.7 per 100,000 people, which is seventh in the country among large cities. 10. Mesa, Arizona Mesa is the fourth city in the Valley of the Sun in the top 10 safest large cities. It ranks 15th in both violent crime and property crime rates, and 12th in income inequality. Next 10: Raleigh, North Carolina; Chula Vista, California; San Diego, California; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Lexington, Kentucky; San Jose, California; Arlington, Texas; Reno, Nevada; Austin, Texas; Columbus, Ohio Safest large cities, ranked Property crimes/100,000 Violent crimes/100,000 Unemployment rate# High school graduation rate^ Income inequality (Gini coefficient)* Police officers/100,000 Final score Gilbert, Arizona 1,081.5 109.4 17% 95.7% 0.383 111.3 5.53 Virginia Beach, Virginia 1,517.8 98.7 16.9% 93.8% 0.43 165 4.71 Chandler, Arizona 1,860.9 205.6 16.1% 93.3% 0.431 120.4 3.88 Plano, Texas 1,649 155.4 18.2% 93.4% 0.449 130.7 3.67 Madison, Wisconsin 2,784.5 320.5 16.2% 96.1% 0.459 192.2 3.05 Henderson, Nevada 1,433.9 207.9 21.6% 93% 0.455 141.1 2.95 Scottsdale, Arizona 1,888.2 178.7 19.1% 96.3% 0.504 144.1 2.89 Irvine, California 1,501.3 51.2 24.3% 96.2% 0.474 73.4 2.84 Jersey City, New Jersey 1,500 443.3 19.4% 88.6% 0.507 381.7 2.27 Mesa, Arizona 1,850.5 371.7 19.7% 89.4% 0.438 157 2.21 #Unemployment rate is the percentage of people ages 20 to 64 who are not in the labor force. ^High school graduation rate is the percentage of people 18 and over who have graduated high school. *Income inequality is measured by the Gini coefficient, which ranges from 0 to 1, with 0 indicating perfect equality (everyone has equal share) and 1 indicating perfect inequality (one person receives all income). Safest midsize cities in the U.S. 1. Naperville, Illinois Naperville, a Chicago suburb located about 30 miles west of the Windy City, is the safest midsize city in America by our rankings. It has the lowest property crime rate in the country and the third-lowest violent crime rate. 2. Carmel, Indiana The northern Indianapolis suburb of Carmel finishes just behind Naperville, even though it has the lowest violent crime rate of any midsize city in the country (49.5 per 100,000 people). Carmel also ranks fourth in lowest property crime rate and fourth in high school graduation rate. 3. Pearland, Texas Pearland, a 20-minute drive from downtown Houston, isn't just one of the safest midsize cities in America; its also one of the fastest-growing. It has the ninth-lowest violent crime rate and ranks eighth in income inequality. 4. Cary, North Carolina Cary is in the Research Triangle of North Carolina, just a short distance from Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. It has the fourth-lowest violent crime rate of all medium-size cities and the 12th-best high school graduation rate. 5. Allen, Texas The northern Dallas suburb of Allen has the eighth-best violent crime and property crime rates of similar-size cities in the U.S. In 2020, it had the lowest number of motor vehicle thefts (55) of any city in the top 10. Three of the safest midsize cities Pearland, League City and Meridian are also among the fastest-growing in the U.S. 6. League City, Texas League City, about 25 miles southeast of Houston, ranks 11th in both violent crime rate and income inequality. 7. Meridian, Idaho Meridian is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country and one of its appeals is safety. The property crime rate is the sixth-lowest of any city with between 100,000 and 250,000 people. 8. Lees Summit, Missouri Only one medium-size city in our top 10 had zero murders in 2020, according to FBI data: Lees Summit. The Kansas City suburb also has low unemployment and a high rate of high school graduation. It does, however, rank lowest on this list for property crime, with 2,048 property crimes per 100,000 people. 9. Olathe, Kansas Olathe makes for two consecutive Kansas City suburbs on our safest midsize cities list. It doesnt make the top 25 in violent crime rate (60th) or property crime rate (26th), but in 2020 it had the third-best unemployment score and ranked fifth for low income inequality. 10. Centennial, Colorado Centennial, part of the Denver metropolitan area, ranks 18th in violent crime and sixth in high school graduation rate. Next 10: Frisco, Texas; Coral Springs, Florida; Round Rock, Texas; McKinney, Texas; Alexandria, Virginia; Overland Park, Kansas; Sugar Land, Texas; Miramar, Florida; Simi Valley, California; West Jordan, Utah Safest midsize cities, ranked Property crimes/100,000 Violent crimes/100,000 Unemployment rate# High school graduation rate^ Income inequality (Gini coefficient)* Police officers/100,000 Final score Naperville, Illinois 166.3 66.4 16.6% 96.4% 0.424 116.7 5.93 Carmel, Indiana 587.8 49.5 14.6% 96.5% 0.452 124.2 5.73 Pearland, Texas 1,427.3 99.1 16.5% 94.9% 0.382 138 5.49 Cary, North Carolina 949.9 66.5 16.1% 95.8% 0.417 99.7 5.45 Allen, Texas 920.4 97 18.3% 95.3% 0.390 133.1 5.44 League City, Texas 1,350.9 114.9 16.3% 95.3% 0.386 105 5.33 Meridian, Idaho 849 159.4 15.1% 96.1% 0.418 104 5.33 Lees Summit, Missouri 2,048.5 128.7 13% 96.5% 0.408 139.6 5.32 Olathe, Kansas 1,371.7 249.6 12.6% 93.4% 0.378 129.4 5.29 Centennial, Colorado 1,775.1 128.5 16% 96.5% 0.405 127.6 5.04 #Unemployment rate is the percentage of people ages 20 to 64 who are not in the labor force. ^High school graduation rate is the percentage of people 18 and over who have graduated high school. *Income inequality is measured by the Gini coefficient, which ranges from 0 to 1, with 0 indicating perfect equality (everyone has equal share) and 1 indicating perfect inequality (one person receives all income). Safest small cities in the U.S. 1. Tinley Park, Illinois The southwest Chicago suburb of Tinley Park has the highest safety score of any city with at least 50,000 people in the U.S., according to our formula. It ranks fifth in property crime and 18th in violent crime. Tinley Park is one of four Chicago-area communities on the list of safest small cities. 2. Apex, North Carolina Apex is the second community in North Carolinas Research Triangle to make a safest cities list. It has the sixth-lowest violent crime rate of small cities and ranks in the top 25 in education and unemployment. 3. Flower Mound, Texas Flower Mound, in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, has the 11th-lowest violent crime rate and 26th-lowest property crime rate, and it ranks 23rd in income inequality. 4. Schaumburg, Illinois Schaumburg is one of the safest small cities in the U.S. in large part because of its low property crime rate, which is eighth-best among similar-size cities. Its violent crime ranking, at 49th, is relatively low, but the Chicago suburb didnt record a single murder in 2020. 5. Royal Oak, Michigan Royal Oak, about 14 miles north of Detroit, ranks in the top 30 in property crime, violent crime, high school graduation and employment rates. Four Chicago suburbs, including three northwestern suburbs, are on the list of safest small cities. 6. Arlington Heights, Illinois The Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights has the fourth-lowest property crime rate and 12th-lowest violent crime rate of small American cities. 7. Palatine, Illinois Three northwestern Chicago suburbs made the list of the safest small cities in the U.S. Of all three, Palatine has the lowest rate of violent crime (eighth in the country) and property crime (first). However, it ranks far below the other two in high school graduation rate. 8. Wylie, Texas Wylie has the least income inequality of all small American cities, making it the second Dallas-area community on this list. It's also in the top 35 for low property crime, violent crime and unemployment. 9. OFallon, Missouri The St. Louis-area city of OFallon has higher violent and property crime levels than others in the top 10, but its 21st-best in income inequality and 36th-best in unemployment. 10. Herriman, Utah Herriman, about 25 miles south of Salt Lake City, is the only Western city to make this list. It ranks third for low income inequality, 16th in violent crime rate and 21st in high school graduation rate. Next 10: Noblesville, Indiana; Parker, Colorado; Mansfield, Texas; Ankeny, Iowa; Bowie, Maryland; Weymouth, Massachusetts; Waltham, Massachusetts; Maple Grove, Minnesota; Bolingbrook, Illinois; Pflugerville, Texas Safest small cities, ranked Property crimes/100,000 Violent crimes/100,000 Unemployment rate* High school graduation rate^ Income inequality (Gini coefficient)* Police officers/100,000 Final score Tinley Park, Illinois 102.4 68.3 14.3% 95.6% 0.404 142.6 6.68 Apex, North Carolina 1,121.6 48.1 13.7% 96.6% 0.382 152.4 6.65 Flower Mound, Texas 682.3 55.6 16.1% 96.3% 0.3764 118.7 6.39 Schaumburg, Illinois 188.4 107.2 15% 95.1% 0.402 148.5 6.35 Royal Oak, Michigan 675.6 70.6 13.8% 96.3% 0.418 131.1 6.21 Arlington Heights, Illinois 99.1 57.6 15.2% 96% 0.43 135.2 6.2 Palatine, Illinois 41.6 49 13.3% 90.7% 0.432 157.4 6.03 Wylie, Texas 688.6 75.3 14.5% 91% 0.328 117.5 5.98 OFallon, Missouri 1,140.5 121.5 14.6% 95.1% 0.374 125 5.97 Herriman, Utah 879 65.7 16.4% 96.7% 0.332 65.7 5.95 *Unemployment rate is the percentage of people ages 20 to 64 who are not in the labor force. ^High school graduation rate is the percentage of people 18 and over who have graduated high school. *Income inequality is measured by the Gini coefficient, which ranges from 0 to 1, with 0 indicating perfect equality (everyone has equal share) and 1 indicating perfect inequality (one person receives all income). Bottom line Whether youre deciding where to put down roots with a family, weighing job offers in different places or figuring out the best location to retire, safety is a major consideration. Our rankings can help you find cities with low crime rates, as well as economic conditions associated with low crime and strong law enforcement presence. Regardless of where you live, we recommend taking steps to protect yourself, your family and your property, like installing an alarm system and insuring your home and car against theft and vandalism. Methodology We ranked cities for safety based on three factors, with each assigned a specific weight. Crime (50%), including violent crime (two-thirds of crime score) and property crime (one-third) rates per 100,000 people (50%), including violent crime (two-thirds of crime score) and property crime (one-third) rates per 100,000 people Economic indicators (40%), including rate of high school graduation among people over 18 (one-third of economic indicators score); unemployment rate (one-third), defined as the percentage of people ages 20 to 64 who are working; and income equality, using the Gini coefficient (one-third) (40%), including rate of high school graduation among people over 18 (one-third of economic indicators score); unemployment rate (one-third), defined as the percentage of people ages 20 to 64 who are working; and income equality, using the Gini coefficient (one-third) Police officers per 100,000 people (10%) We calculated a z-score for each factor using the population-weighted mean and standard deviation. Z-scores were limited to a range of -2 to 2. The final score (using the weights shown above) is scaled to a range of -10 to 10. The formula used to calculate the final score: 0.5 * ((property crime z-score * ) + (violent crime z-score * )) + 0.4 * ((rate of high school graduation z-score * ) + (unemployment rate z-score * ) + income inequality z-score * )) + 0.1 * (police officers per 100,000 people z-score) = Pre-final score * 5 = final score For the purposes of this article, we defined big cities as those with populations above 250,000, medium cities as those with 100,000 to 250,000 people and small cities as those with 50,000 to 100,000 people. We collected crime data from the FBIs Uniform Crime Reporting Program using the law enforcement agencys Crime Data Explorer. Data from all states is from 2020 (the most recent annual release), except for Hawaii, Maryland and Pennsylvania (2019) and Alabama (2018), which did not have completely reported 2020 data. Economic indicators and police officer data come from the U.S. Census Bureau and its American Community Survey (2016 to 2020) five-year data release. We chose the three economic indicators based on research showing relationships between each factor and crime. See the sources section for links to these studies. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned of an imminent threat of the monkeypox outbreak due to a shortage of vaccine supply as the virus continues to catch the country off guard. Over the past month, the number of people infected with monkeypox in New York City has jumped more than 30 fold, from 10 to 336. The figure is expected to underscore the incidence rate, considering that many cases in the region have gone undiagnosed. Monkeypox Vaccine Shortage During that period, Mayor Eric Adams was busy with celebrating Pride, holding a party at Gracie mansion, and reminding the world just how deeply New York embraces the L.G.B.T.Q. community. This comes as many other parts of the country seem bent on a regression to the pre-Stonewall era. Adams said that in New York, residents were happy to say that they were gay, without fearing for their lives. However, the lack of public information about monkeypox, along with the difficulties around access to the vaccine, have shown how the professed love and support coming from the left can feel rhetorical, as per the New York Times. This week, monkeypox cases in the United States have risen to more than 1,400 and federal officials reported on Friday that they expect the number to continue to rise amid expanded testing, continued community transmission, and a current shortage of vaccines. Read Also: Monkeypox Cases Raise Fears as Outbreak Spreads | Doctors Reveal Best Ways To Avoid Infection, Protect Yourself The update by federal officials comes as they face growing criticism over their handling of the outbreak, and experts fear that it may already be too late to contain the infection. Overall, the multinational monkeypox outbreak has totaled nearly 13,000 cases, with the largest outbreaks in Spain, Germany, and the UK. According to Ars Technica, the director of the CDC, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, said that they anticipate an increase in monkeypox cases in the coming weeks. She laid out three reasons why health experts were expecting an upcoming rise. Virus Outbreak First, the agency just recently streamlined the reporting process for states, which first began reporting cases in May. Second, there is often a three-week incubation period between exposures and symptoms, and officials expect to start seeing the cases from transmission events early in the U.S. outbreak. Third, the CDC has expanded testing capacity recently, adding some commonly used commercial labs, such as Labcorp and Quest Diagnostics. The expansion of testing capacity boosted maximum tests from 6,000 per week to 70,000. It also made it easier for clinicians to order tests and will likely speed up the turnaround for results. The tests involve a swab of the painful lesions that are characteristics of the disease, as Walensky said there are no approved tests that can confirm orthopox another way. Currently, the outbreak is affecting gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. Out of 700 patients who provided demographic information, the vast majority identified as men who have sex with other men, said Walensky. The tens of thousands of confirmed cases worldwide have been reported across 55 countries, CNBC reported. Related Article: Monkeypox Vaccine | Release Date, US Distribution, and Everything You Need to Know @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Government of India has given asylum to 62,000 Sri Lankan refugees and about 100,000 Tibetans If the police arrest the UNHCR card holders who are not harmful to the country and the prosecution takes them as offenders, and the judiciary sends them to the Correctional Homes, then it is the direct attack to the Criminal Justice Administration, alleged Roy. In fact, said Roy, They have the right to seek and enjoy asylum in other countries and live a life free from persecution and such right flows from Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Denying them of such right is violation of the principles enshrined under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948. He added, As per Article 3 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1984 to which India is a signatory, the law enforcing agency is obligated not to forcibly repatriate them to Myanmar. India has signed the UN resolution, though not ratified it yet. Noted Roy, We must remember that the Government of India has allowed 62,000 Sri Lankan refugees and about 100,000 Tibetans to get asylum in this country. Some bloggers from Bangladesh, some stateless people also live here peacefully who came from Myanmar, Afghanistan, even from Africa. Asking the NHRC to ensure that the authorities must make a through enquiry on the situation of the victims and prosecution registered against the victims should be withdrawn immediately, Roy said, UNHCR office in India must intervene in connection with this case and take proper action in this regard. At the same time, Roy said, UNHCR office in Delhi should provide Saydul Amin a UNHCR card, insisting, The child victim should be kept in a shelter home instead of the correctional home. In an unusual incident, three Rohingyas, including a child, have been arrested by cops as if they were criminals and sent to judicial custody after being produced before the court, despite the fact that they possess United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) card.Bringing this to light, a senior West Bengal-based activist said that the three entered India without any valid documents to save their lives from persecution by the Myanmar government.Making a complaint to the National Human Rights Commission chairman, Kirity Roy, who is national convenor, Programme Against Custodial Torture and Impunity ((PACTI), and secretary, Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), said, the three were arrested on May 28, 2022 at around 8.25 pm by cops belonging to the Mekhliganj Police Station, Cooch Behar district.Roy said, police personnel interrogated them and came to the fact that they are Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar and entered India without valid documents through the India- Bangladesh border.They were arrested under section 14A of the Foreigners Act and produced before the Mekhliganj Chief Judicial Magistrates court and were sent to police remand for two days, he saaid, adding, on May 31, 2022 they were produced before the Mekhliganj Chief Judicial Magistrate court and upon magistrates order they were sent to the judicial custody at Jalpaigudi Central Correctional Home.As for child, Saydul Amin, aged 11, said Roy, he was detained in the police lock up and later sent to the Jalpaiguri Central Correctional Home, noting, Section 10 and 11 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act depicts that a child can never be kept in a police lock up or regular jail.Giving details of the accused, Roy said, Mohammad Sadiq, 26, belongs to village Fakira Bazar; Police Station Balibazar, District Atkub, Mayanmar, and is possession of UNHCR card No 305-14C00288, and the other person, Shamsul Alam, 61, also belonging to the same village, has the UNHCR card No 305-17C02182. The child, also from the same village, does not have a UNHCR card.According to Roy, The prosecution was registered against them merely on the allegation that they entered into India without any valid document, but the law enforcement agency bound by the law did not consider that the fact that those persons belong to Rohingya Muslim community, which is an oppressed ethnic minority community in Myanmar.Pointing out that the UNHCR India office is situated in New Delhi, and its work is known to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, Roy said, UNHCR issued cards to these Rohingya people along with other refugees. The UNHCR card confirms a persons need for international protection.What is ironical, said Roy, is that police in its complaint has mentioned that they seized two UNHCR cards from the arrested persons, wondering whether, during the time of their arrest, the concerned police officials contact the UNHCR office in India or the Ministry of Home Affairs. Xi stresses implementing Party's policies on Xinjiang, highlights stability, security Xinhua) 14:14, July 16, 2022 Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits Xinjiang University in the city of Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) URUMQI, July 15 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has stressed efforts to fully and faithfully implement the policies of the Communist Party of China (CPC) for the governance of Xinjiang in the new era, highlighting social stability and lasting security as the overarching goal. Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during his inspection tour in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from Tuesday to Friday. Xi called for developing Xinjiang into a region that is united, harmonious, prosperous and culturally advanced, with healthy ecosystems and people living and working in contentment. During the inspection tour, Xi went to Urumqi, capital city of the region, and the cities of Shihezi and Turpan, visiting a university, an international land port area, a residential community, museums, a village, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), among other sites. While visiting Xinjiang University on Tuesday afternoon, Xi learned about its history and development, and its efforts in nurturing talent and promoting exchanges among different ethnic groups. Xi also listened to a briefing by students who had conducted a field study. Xi said that, as a unified multi-ethnic country, China boasts harmonious relationships between its diverse, interwoven ethnic groups. He said that all ethnic groups enjoy equality, unity and progress under the socialist system, stressing that the Party's theories and policies concerning ethnic groups are sound and have produced the desired effect. He called for promoting research on the basic issues of the community for the Chinese nation. Xi said that, in nurturing talent, it is essential to foster virtue. He asked the university to highlight its advantages and unique features, foster a high-caliber team of teachers, and improve its research and innovation capabilities. While visiting the Urumqi International Land Port Area, Xi noted that Xinjiang has morphed from a relatively enclosed hinterland into the forefront of opening up, as the country is promoting the expansion of opening up, the development of the western regions, and the joint building of the Belt and Road. Xi stressed advancing the building of the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt and incorporating Xinjiang's regional opening-up strategy into the country's overall plan of westward opening up. Xi highlighted the importance of innovating the system for an open economy, boosting the building of large opening-up corridors, better utilizing both domestic and international markets and resources, and actively serving and integrating into the new pattern of development. He also called for upholding the dynamic zero-COVID policy, asking for targeted COVID-19 response that is convenient to the people. On Wednesday morning, Xi visited the residential community of Guyuanxiang in the Tianshan District in Urumqi, in which people from ethnic-minority groups account for more than 95 percent of the total residents. The education of fine traditional Chinese culture for young people at an early age will help lay a solid foundation for carrying on the fine traditional Chinese culture, Xi said after watching a performance by children. Ethnic unity is the lifeline of all ethnic groups in the country, and all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are inseparable members of the big family of the Chinese nation, Xi said while visiting the home of a local resident, calling for cherishing the stability and unity that have already been achieved. Xi urged efforts to make full use of the primary role of community-level Party organizations to ensure that all ethnic groups are like brothers and sisters who help each other. Xi visited the Museum of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and watched a show of the Kirgiz ethnic minority epic Manas at the museum. Chinese civilization is extensive and profound, and has a long history stretching back to antiquity, Xi said, demanding efforts to better preserve and pass on the intangible cultural heritage, and to carry forward the fine traditional cultures of all ethnic groups. Visiting the city of Shihezi on Wednesday afternoon, Xi hailed the XPCC's indelible contributions to promoting Xinjiang's development, ethnic unity, social stability and border security. The XPCC enjoys a high degree of agricultural mechanization and good conditions for large-scale agricultural production and industrialized operation, said Xi, urging the XPCC to play a greater role in ensuring the country's food security and the supply of important agricultural products. Xi demanded strengthening agricultural science and technology and equipment support to develop competitive agricultural products and industries in light of local conditions, and promoting the green and efficient development of agriculture and animal husbandry. Calling the XPCC's strategic status "irreplaceable," Xi expressed his hope that the XPCC will give full play to its role as a stabilizer for securing border areas, a melting pot for bringing people of all ethnic groups together, and a demonstration area for advanced productive forces and culture. Touring the city of Turpan on Thursday, Xi visited Grape Valley, a local village, and the Jiaohe Ruins. He stressed efforts to strike a proper balance between economic and social development and eco-environmental protection, consolidate and build on the achievements in poverty elimination, make solid progress on rural revitalization, and strengthen the preservation and use of cultural heritage. On Friday morning, Xi heard work reports from the regional Party committee, the regional government, and the XPCC, and acknowledged the progress in Xinjiang. The people's support is the most important factor in maintaining long-term stability in Xinjiang, Xi said, urging measures to ensure that stability is maintained in accordance with the law and on a regular basis. Xi stressed fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, promoting exchanges, interactions and integration among different ethnic groups, and helping them remain closely united like the seeds of a pomegranate that stick together. Xi pointed out the need to improve governance capacity of religious affairs and realize the healthy development of religions. Enhanced efforts should be made to uphold the principle that Islam in China must be Chinese in orientation, and to adapt religions to socialist society, he said. The normal religious needs of religious believers should be ensured and they should be united closely around the Party and the government, Xi added. Stressing the importance of cultural identity, Xi called for educating and guiding people of all ethnic groups to strengthen their identification with the motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the CPC and socialism with Chinese characteristics. The achievements of development should better benefit people's well-being and rally people's support, Xi said, calling for efforts to speed up high-quality development of the region's economy, further create employment opportunities and improve the long-term mechanism for sustainable development in the rural areas. He urged Xinjiang to step up anti-pollution efforts and hold firm to the redlines for ecological conservation. He also called on Xinjiang to further open up and advance the development of the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt. Party authorities must exercise full and rigorous self-governance, Xi said, adding that the region should optimize the structures of leadership bodies and give full play to the roles of ethnic cadres. Xi urged the XPCC to play a bigger role in realizing the overarching goals of Xinjiang, and advance its integrated development with the civil sectors. He also called for more efforts in pairing-up aid to Xinjiang. Before the Friday meeting, Xi met with representatives of current and retired officials at different levels in the region, leading officials of the XPCC and officials of relevant departments, and representatives of different ethnic groups and sectors, cadres working on aiding programs, law-enforcement officers, and patriots of religious circles. On Friday morning, Xi also met with military officers and troops stationed in the region. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits Xinjiang University in the city of Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits Xinjiang University in the city of Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, speaks with teachers and students while visiting Xinjiang University in the city of Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the Urumqi International Land Port Area in the city of Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, speaks with staff members and others while visiting the Urumqi International Land Port Area in the city of Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the community of Guyuanxiang in the Tianshan District in the city of Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 13, 2022. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the community of Guyuanxiang in the Tianshan District in the city of Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 13, 2022. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the community of Guyuanxiang in the Tianshan District in the city of Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 13, 2022. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, speaks with people of various ethnic groups while visiting the community of Guyuanxiang in the Tianshan District in the city of Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 13, 2022. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the community of Guyuanxiang in the Tianshan District in the city of Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 13, 2022. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, waves to people of various ethnic groups while visiting the community of Guyuanxiang in the Tianshan District in the city of Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 13, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, waves to people of various ethnic groups while visiting the community of Guyuanxiang in the Tianshan District in the city of Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 13, 2022. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, waves to people of various ethnic groups while visiting the community of Guyuanxiang in the Tianshan District in the city of Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 13, 2022. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, speaks with the performers of the Manas, which has been inscribed as an intangible cultural heritage, while visiting the Museum of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the city of Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 13, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the Museum of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the city of Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 13, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, poses for photos with the performers of the Manas, which has been inscribed as an intangible cultural heritage, while visiting the Museum of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the city of Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 13, 2022. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a resident's home at the community of Guyuanxiang in the Tianshan District in the city of Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 13, 2022. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits an agricultural products processing company in a local village of Turpan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 14, 2022. Xi made an inspection tour in Xinjiang from Tuesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks to tourists while visiting the Jiaohe Ruins in Turpan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 14, 2022. Xi made an inspection tour in Xinjiang from Tuesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks to villagers in a local village of Turpan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 14, 2022. Xi made an inspection tour in Xinjiang from Tuesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a police office in a local village of Turpan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 14, 2022. Xi made an inspection tour in Xinjiang from Tuesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects a local village in Turpan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 14, 2022. Xi made an inspection tour in Xinjiang from Tuesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits an infirmary in a local village of Turpan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 14, 2022. Xi made an inspection tour in Xinjiang from Tuesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with tourists while visiting Grape Valley in Turpan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 14, 2022. Xi made an inspection tour in Xinjiang from Tuesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits Grape Valley in Turpan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 14, 2022. Xi made an inspection tour in Xinjiang from Tuesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with tourists while visiting Grape Valley in Turpan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 14, 2022. Xi made an inspection tour in Xinjiang from Tuesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets with military officers and troops stationed in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 15, 2022. Xi made an inspection tour in Xinjiang from Tuesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Li Gang) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks to the officials and people of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 13, 2022. Xi made an inspection tour in Xinjiang from Tuesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects a flat peach plantation of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 13, 2022. Xi made an inspection tour in Xinjiang from Tuesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects a cotton planting base of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 13, 2022. Xi made an inspection tour in Xinjiang from Tuesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects a cotton planting base of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 13, 2022. Xi made an inspection tour in Xinjiang from Tuesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets with representatives of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) while visiting the reclamation museum of the XPCC in Shihezi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 13, 2022. Xi made an inspection tour in Xinjiang from Tuesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji) According to two persons with knowledge of the incident, a little-known member of the Donald Trump campaign took lists of fake electors to Capitol Hill in an effort to send them to Vice President Mike Pence on January 6, 2021. Two separate sources who spoke to POLITICO revealed that Mike Roman, then-director of Trump's of Election Day operations for 2020, sent those fake elector certificates, which were signed by Trump fans in Michigan and Wisconsin, to the chief of staff of Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.). Georgia DA Considers Trump's Testimony According to these persons, Kelly was a Trump ally in the campaign to rig the 2020 election, and his top aide at the time got the materials from Roman before appointing a colleague to distribute copies on Capitol Hill. Roman has not previously been mentioned in relation to the endeavor to send those elector slates to Pence. The former researcher for the Trump White House and former staffer to the right-wing Koch network, who was subpoenaed in February by the Jan. 6 select committee, did not reply to any of our many requests for comment for this article. A continuing subplot in the select panel's inquiry into the Capitol attack intended to disrupt that day is the origin of the fake elector lists, which never reached Pence until he oversaw certification of Joe Biden's victory on January 6. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) claimed that Kelly, who has previously denied any involvement by his office in their dissemination, was the source of the fake elector lists after the committee disclosed the role of a key assistant to Johnson in the incident during a hearing last month. Meanwile, the discovery that two pro-Trump state senators and the head of the state Republican Party received letters from an Atlanta prosecutor warning them they could be indicted into election meddling by the former president Donald J. Trump and his associates in Georgia. Per NY Times, Fani T. Willis, the prosecutor for Fulton County, has already subpoenaed seven of Trump's advisers, among them Rudolph W. Giuliani and Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, as part of an investigation into efforts to rig Trump's 2020 election loss in Georgia, and she is now considering whether to subpoena Trump himself and request his testimony before a grand jury. Read Also: Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Denies Role in Jamal Khashoggi Killing; Joe Biden Laugh at Issues Over Fist-Bump With MBS Georgia Republicans Subpoenaed The selection of a slate of pro-Trump electors in the weeks following the election and MTrump's now-famous call to Brad Raffensperger, the Georgia secretary of state, asking him to "find" nearly 12,000 votes that would reverse his loss there are among the potential crimes being investigated by the special grand jury. The new information highlights how quickly Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' investigation is moving along and what significant choices prosecutors may have to make as they continue to look into Trump and his associates' attempts to rig the Georgia election. The Associated Press was informed by Jeff DiSantis, a spokesperson for Willis, that Willis is thinking about compelling Trump to appear before a special grand jury. Such a request would almost probably result in a court battle right away, possibly including Trump's protections from self-incrimination under the constitution. According to a source familiar with the situation who insisted on anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation, some persons who had been subpoenaed afterwards received so-called target letters. The person who confirmed the issuance of the target letters would not identify any of the recipients. Prosecutors typically send such letters to inform people they have been investigating that they have amassed evidence against them and that they are in danger of being charged criminally. The letters were sent to senior Georgia Republicans who were engaged in submitting an alternative slate of electors that claimed Trump had won the state, according to Randy Evans, a Georgia lawyer who served as Trump's ambassador to Luxembourg. Evans claimed to be a Republican who first backed Willis' probe because he thinks openness is a good thing. However, he was unhappy to discover the claim that supporting an alternative slate of electors constituted a crime. Related Article: Donald Trump Lashes Out at Elon Musk, Says Tesla CEO Could "Beg for Help on His Knees" in Oval Office Meeting @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Jessica Rosenworcel, chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), wants to raise the agency's internet speed threshold from 3Mbps to 20Mbps for uploads and from 25Mbps to 100Mbps for downloads. Additional 75Mbps to download and 17 Mbps to Upload The 25Mbps broadband standard set by the FCC looked fast in 2015, but the organization's current leadership thinks it's time to increase that standard. Rosenworcel proposed for the minimum requirements for broadband to be changed to 100 Mbps for downloads and 20 Mbps for uploads, according to Engadget. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act's requirements for building new networks, among other pieces of evidence, were cited by the chair as supporting the hike. Although the FCC had earlier proposed a specific initiative to improve rural speeds, this would change the definition of broadband regardless of where users resided in the nation. The 25/3Mbps Metric Under the leadership of then-Chairman Tom Wheeler, the commission adopted the current 25/3Mbps download-upload speed in January 2015. Former Chairman Ajit Pai, who led the commission for four years, never revised it. Pai determined that 25Mbps download and 3Mbps upload speeds were still sufficient for home Internet users in January 2021, as per Ars Technica. According to Rosenworcel, the 25/3 standard is out-of-date and hides the number of low-income and rural internet users being "left behind and left offline." Read More: Washer-Dryer Combo Is NOT Always a Good Choice - Here Are the Things You Should Consider Before Buying One 1Gbps Download and 500Mbps Upload Speed in the Future Rosenworcel also desired a gradual increase in the minimum speed. In the future, she suggested establishing a far higher requirement of 1Gbps down and 500Mbps up. The leader added further criteria, such as adoption rates, price, availability, and equitable access, to determine the "reasonable and timely" expansion of broadband, Engadget reported. What Are the Requirements for the Proposed 75/17 Mbps Metric Get Approved It's uncertain if the standards will improve. Engadget and Ars Technica mentioned that co-commissioners received the proposed Notice of Inquiry from Rosenworcel. Due to the Senate's continued delay over Biden candidate Gigi Sohn, the proposal still needs to be voted on by the commission, which currently has two Democrats and two Republicans in a deadlock. Perhaps not thrilled either are telecoms. Comcast just increased the speed of its $10 Essentials tier to 50Mbps downstream last year; in order to meet the 100Mbps minimum in some places, let alone a potential 1Gbps threshold, it and other carriers may need to invest in better networks. Ars Technica said that according to U.S. law, the FCC is required to determine annually whether advanced telecommunications capability is being deployed to all Americans in a "reasonable and timely fashion" and to take immediate action to accelerate deployment and promote competition if current deployment is not "reasonable and timely." It was easier for Pai to give the telecom sector and FCC passing scores in the yearly reports by maintaining the 25/3Mbps requirement for residential Internet access. Related Article: What Can I Do To Increase My Internet Speed? This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Decades before the now infamous witch trials took place in Salem, Mass., women were being tried, convicted and executed for witchcraft in Connecticut. Women, and sometimes the men to whom they were associated, were hanged, drowned or chased out of state. Now, nearly 400 years later, a small group is trying to see the names of those accused witches cleared. Mercy Disborough of Fairfield, for example, was subjected to the water test in 1692 and later executed. Describing the water test, the state Office of Legislative Research explained in 2006 that Suspected witches were sometimes dropped into a body of water to determine if they possessed evil spirits. The theory behind the so-called ducking test was that if the person sank she was innocent but if she floated she was guilty because the pure water cast out her evil spirit. Many accused witches and their husbands were hanged, including Rebecca and Nathaniel Greensmith, both executed in Hartford in 1662, and goodwives Bassett and Knapp, both of Fairfield, in 1651 and 1653 respectively. In 1647, Alse Young became the first person on record in Connecticut to be tried and executed for witchcraft, in Windsor. All told, there were 46 known people accused of witchcraft in Connecticut, 33 of them women. Now Youngs descendant is part of a small group trying to get the people accused of witchcraft exonerated. A change.org petition has been signed by 593 people, as of Friday afternoon. They were unjustly murdered, said Sherry Kuiper, who lives in Virginia. Even though that happened 375-ish years ago for my ancestor, its still important that we recognize that. Young was actually exonerated by the town of Windsor a few years ago but Beth Caruso, who has written two books on Connecticuts witch trials, said that resolution was a little bit mild. Theres no apology, theres no specific exoneration, she said. Its just a recognition of yeah, these things happened. Even when an accused witch did not get executed, there were dire consequences, as with Goodie Ayres and her husband, tried in 1662, in Hartford. They were the beginnings of the Hartford witch panic, Beth Caruso said. They were let out of jail in the middle of the night, and they fled to Rhode Island having to leave behind their property, their child. Caruso said that even though the Ayers and other accused witches survived, they bore the stigma of the accusation forever. The ones that survived, they suffered in other ways, she said. Loss of relationships, property, good standing in the community, or just the stain of witchcraft for years if they stayed in a community. In one case, a woman was accused after an 8-year-old child with a fever blamed her neighbor for the illness. There are many reasons why they might be accused, Caruso said. They might have committed a crime in the past. They might be related to somebody or be friends with somebody who had been accused before. They might have been blamed for something like the flu epidemic. It might seem simple to exonerate people who died nearly 400 years ago for a crime that is no longer on the books, but it may be harder than expected. There was an attempt in 2008 that made it to the state legislature but it was never passed. The governor does not have the power to exonerate, Mary-Louise Bingham said, and the state parole board cant posthumously pardon someone. We need to change that law, maybe. But if thats what it takes, Im determined to do it. One problem is a lack of records. The Salem witch trials were meticulously documented, but much of the documentation describing witch trials in Connecticut have not survived. There are a few surviving documents. The diaries of Samuel Wyllys, former secretary of the state, contain transcripts of six cases, but they are some of the few pieces of evidence that remain. The difficulty is what rankles Kuiper. Why is it so hard for the state of Connecticut to stand up and just say We recognize that these women and men were unjustly tried and unjustly accused? she asked. We need to rectify wrongs, no matter how old they are. Stuart Westmorland / Getty Images NORWICH A dolphin was spotted in the Thames River in Norwich on Thursday, according to Mystic Aquarium staff members. The aquarium received reports of the mammal that morning. The aquarium reached out to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which advised Mystic to monitor it, an animal rescue technician with the aquarium said in a Facebook video. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, officials in Connecticut and elsewhere spoke proudly of following the science of making decisions based less on what was easy or convenient and more on what would protect the most people from a spreading pathogen. But more than two years into the crisis, some experts in virology, epidemiology and medical ethics say the opposite has happened, that top officials have made decisions primarily based on political expedience, with little regard for the science. That, they say, has left Connecticut and the United States ill-prepared to deal with the new, highly infectious subvariants now spreading through the population. Among other concerns, experts point to a loss of funding for genomic surveillance, making it difficult to track the emergence of new variants; the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions five-day isolation guideline, which they describe as having limited scientific basis; and the insistence that one is fully vaccinated after two vaccine doses, despite evidence of waning immunity. Some also question whether public officials in Connecticut have effectively conveyed the risk of COVID-19 at the current phase of the pandemic and how best to curb its spread. Politics got in the way of public health, said Nathan Grubaugh, a professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health, who tracks COVID-19 in Connecticut. We see this happen over and over again, on local levels, state levels and at the federal level. With COVID-19 still spreading in large numbers but most residents hardly seeming to notice, the gap between how medical experts see the pandemic and how state officials and the general public treat it has rarely been larger. Whereas epidemiologists say masks remain valuable in curbing spread and indoor public spaces are still risky, most residents have long since ditched their face coverings while happily crowding into bars and concert venues. Whereas immunologists say higher vaccination rates are necessary to curb future waves, Connecticuts vaccine push has largely stalled, with low uptake rates for newly eligible groups. And whereas physicians warn that COVID spread can be highly dangerous, with serious costs for individuals and communities, top public officials say theyre focused primarily on hospitalization figures. Last month, Connecticut announced it would no longer report COVID-19 numbers daily, reflecting the view of state officials that the disease no longer poses a singular risk and can be treated, more or less, like just another virus. Asked this week whether Connecticut continued to follow the science around COVID-19, Max Reiss, a spokesperson for Gov. Ned Lamont, said 2022 is a completely different world from 2020, citing the states relatively high vaccination rate and the availability of masks, tests and treatments. I dont think theres one definition of following the science, Reiss said. We have therapies today, we have vaccines today, masks are readily available today. Reiss said that while the state will continue to provide the tools to fight the pandemic, behavior is very much up to the individual now. But as the BA.4 and BA.5 variants cause spikes in transmission nationwide including in Connecticut, where cases, positivity rates and hospitalizations are all trending upward some experts wonder whether society has moved on too quickly, whether officials have made decisions for the right reasons, and whether the current pandemic fatigue is likely to carry over to future threats, beginning with monkeypox. We dont know how to message clearly, said Art Caplan a Ridgefield native and founder of the bioethics department at New York University. Or were messaging in a way that tamps down anxiety and results in our being poorly protected and in unnecessary illness. Containing spread vs. limiting hospitalizations At the heart of current debates around how to confront COVID spread lies a fundamental question: Amid the spread of highly contagious variants, are cases still preventable (and worth preventing), or is it time to think about the pandemic strictly in terms of serious illness? Many public officials seem to have decided on the latter approach. As recently as Tuesday, Lamont replied to a question posed on Twitter about N95 masks for people who cant afford them by saying, erroneously, that we are currently seeing infection rates rise, but not hospitalizations. (COVID-19 hospitalizations are currently at their highest level in more than a month, state numbers show, though they remain far lower than during the worst phases of the pandemic.) In an interview Thursday, Dr. Manisha Juthani, the states public health commissioner, said the Department of Public Health was primarily pursuing a harm reduction strategy. I would not say that we have given up on prevention of transmission of the virus, said Juthani, who was previously an infectious disease specialist at Yale New Haven Health. However, we know the virus is unfortunately here to stay. Under this increasingly popular reasoning, young and relatively healthy people can feel comfortable taking greater risks, while older people and those with underlying conditions might choose to take more precautions. There is still a high rate of community-level transmission, but hospitalization rates have been low, Dr. David Banach, hospital epidemiologist at UConn Health, said last week. Who were seeing hospitalized are generally people with high-risk conditions. So I think everyone is making their own risk calculation. Other experts, however, arent ready to treat COVID infection as inevitable. They note that letting the disease spread wildly increases the chances it will find its way to elderly and disabled people who remain at high risk, and that the disease will mutate further as infections spread and immunity wanes. They also cite the risk of long COVID, which now affects one in 13 American adults, according to the Census Bureaus Household Pulse Survey. Do we need to be thinking about the pandemic differently? I think thats what a lot of us are struggling with, Grubaugh said. There is going to be a point where we stop caring about infections so much and were going to care mostly about those cases of severe disease. But are we there yet? Not really. To Grubaugh, current policy sends mixed messages about whats important. If cases no longer matter, then why are people still required to quarantine when theyre infected? If cases still do matter, why arent officials taking more significant steps to curb them? If we are just concerned about disease, if were only tracking hospitalizations now, and deaths, then why is there an isolation at all? he asked. As Caplan sees it, the shift away from a focus on cases has represented a capitulation to COVIDs spread and the severe illness and death that comes with it. Part of the response to COVID has been to preserve the health care system, and when that factor diminished, then battling illness or the threat of future challenges diminished too, Caplan said. COVID became a third-rail issue that many of the public didnt want to talk about anymore. Precautions fall away When CT Insider recently asked four infectious disease experts about what COVID precautions they continue to take, all said they try to avoid crowded indoor spaces, and three of the four said they regularly wear masks in public. With young children at home, I continue to mask in public, indoor places, Dr. Scott Roberts, associate medical director for infection prevention at Yale New Haven Hospital, said. I do take my mask off outside, and I think there is a much lower risk of transmission outside. But for indoor events I continue to mask. And yet visit any restaurant, grocery store or shopping center in the state, and masks are scarce at best. Face coverings are not mandated in any Connecticut town or city, and few businesses require them for patrons. Even health care settings are no longer required by the state to mandate masks, though most still do anyway. It hasnt helped, some experts say, that the CDC and other federal agencies have provided often confusing, sometimes contradictory guidance. Currently, the CDCs COVID-19 community levels map lists each Connecticut county as having low or medium amounts of risk, while the same agencys community transmission map lists the entire state as having substantial or high transmission. Meanwhile, the CDCs announcement late last year that people with COVID-19 need to quarantine for only five days before resuming activity was met with raised eyebrows from many experts, some of whom saw the agency as caving to public pressure. Connecticut officials have often looked to CDC guidance in setting their own COVID-19 policies. As the CDC itself has led factors beyond following the science seep into its decision-making, so has the state. [The CDC] has always been sort of behind the curve, and theyve always been sort of meek in their pronouncements, said Dr. Howard Forman, a professor of public health policy at the Yale School of Medicine. I think its a hard job that the CDC has, but I am disappointed in our overall federal public health effort. Meanwhile, officials at various levels of government have often deferred decisions to those below them. The federal government has allowed states to set their own policies. In Connecticut, the state has passed off masking rules to municipalities. In turn, those municipalities have then told individual residents to make their own decisions. In Connecticut, they punted on a lot of issues to allow every school system has to decide for themselves if theyre going to wear masks, instead of taking it on themselves, Grubaugh said. Often the more difficult decisions are left for [officials] at a smaller and smaller scale. Over the last six months, as the final Connecticut municipalities have shed their mask mandates, state officials have encouraged residents to make their own decisions about masking and other precautions. Juthani, for example, has said that she makes a personal judgment about when to wear a mask and that others would have to do the same. When we talk about our toolbox have an arsenal of things that we have to combat COVID-19 masks is one of them, she said Thursday. Yet with residents left to make their own decisions about masking with limited guidance from public officials, the result has been relatively little masking at all, regardless of what experts say is best, and regardless of what might be necessary to protect vulnerable people from a rapidly spreading disease. Nobodys wearing a mask, Caplan said, and we have no idea how to message to them to get them to put one on. Playing politics At some point during the pandemic, even the leaders who initially prided themselves on prudence and caution began to make concessions, first to economic considerations and eventually to what they perceived as popular opinion. In Connecticut, Lamont and Juthani have often spoken of the need to consider not only which guidance people should follow but also what guidance they will follow. Forman, from the Yale School of Medicine, said these considerations are understandable, even inevitable, in pandemic response. Its not enough to say, [Lamont] should have done this, this and this if there wouldve been an enormous backlash that wouldve resulted in the [legislature] removing the emergency order earlier or something, Forman said. Theres a real political calculation that goes on here, and I think he figured out how to balance it properly. At various points during the pandemic, Lamont faced criticism from Republicans, including current GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowksi, over what they considered heavy-handed COVID restrictions. Now, as Lamont prepares to face Stefanowski in November, the governor may not want to risk reigniting the issue. [Lamont] is running against a man who is clearly going to make COVID restrictions a central point in his campaign, Forman said. I have no doubt that as we get closer to Election Day, Stefanowski is looking to pounce on him if the governor does anything that riles up the public. For Carlin, this explanation isnt particularly satisfying. As he sees it, pandemic decision-making has often seemed reactive to criticism, rather than proactive. This has been the case at the federal level, Caplan said, and has trickled down to states like Connecticut. Since the thing started, it has been a series of ill-thought-through decisions, and this is both Trump and Biden, with more attention to the politics than public health, leaving us in a situation where were causing potential long-term harm, he said, putting the vulnerable at risk in the name of, I think, very immoral choice to give up. Now, as monkeypox spreads through the United States, including in Connecticut, Caplan wonders whether COVID fatigue is influencing Americans to take the new threat less seriously than they should. Meanwhile, COVID continues to infect tens of thousands of people, hospitalize hundreds and kill dozens, all while most of society collectively shrugs. The virus isnt exhausted, Caplan said, but we are. Russia's space agency now has a new director general. Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently dismissed now-former Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin with Yuri Borisov due to undisclosed reasons but seems to be a part of Putin's efforts to shake up the country's leadership, per Ars Technica. Rogozin has served as Roscosmos' director general for quite some time, with him starting his service in the space agency in 2011, and has been its chief for almost four years and two months, per Space.com. Dmitry Rogozin Ousting Details Putin mentioned in his decree that he was dismissing Rogozin from his post as Director General of the Roscosmos State Space Corporation, but did not provide any reason why he was being ousted. Furthermore, Putin mentioned that the decree that announces Rogozin's ousting was to come into force from the date of its signing - July 15. After some time on the same day, Putin released another decree that he was appointing Yury Ivanovich Borisov as Director General to fill in the role left by Rogozin. Just like his predecessor's ousting decree, Borisov's appointment decree became effective on the same day. Rogozin's dismissal follows the many inflammatory statements he made toward the US and the West during his tenure as Roscosmos Director General in the first few months of Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine. You may remember that he made threat after threat to the US about Roscosmos leaving the ISS due to the economic sanctions placed by the West against Russia. He did eventually make good on his threats, with Roscosmos leaving the ISS in early May, ending 53 years of cooperation between the two world superpowers in space. Read More: 'Stranger Things' Actor Noah Schnapp Confirms Will Byers Theory - Will It Come Out in Season 5 of the Netflix Series? Recently, Rogozin mentioned that Roscosmos would be utilizing Russia's parts of the space station to carry out tasks it considers "essential and valuable." These tasks may have included having Russian cosmonauts using flags in anti-Ukraine propaganda while posing for pictures inside the ISS. Although Putin nor the Kremlin didn't disclose their reason to dismiss Rogozin, it is possible it is part of Putin's efforts to shake up leadership in Russia following his declaration of the "special military operation" in Ukraine. Despite the dismissal, Russian media believes that Rogozin is still within Putin's good graces and that he could be appointed to a new position or office at a job to oversee Moscow-controlled territories in eastern and southern Ukraine, per Euro News. Latvia-based new outlet Meduza is also of the same mind, saying that Rogozin can now be reassigned as chief of staff for Putin or even as an administrator overseeing Russian-controlled territories in Ukraine. Borisov's Resume And Qualifications The Russian government's official website states that Borisov, 65, has a military background and a Ph.D. in Engineering courtesy of his time as a doctoral student at Lomonosov Moscow State University. He was an officer of the Soviet and later Russian Armed Forces during the early days of his career and was eventually assigned to Russia's defense ministry to serve as either their head or their head's deputy. Reuters mentioned in its article that he oversaw military and space affairs, including the production of weapons and equipment. Related Article: ISS Dodges Debris of the Soviet-Era Cosmos 1408 Satellite HARTFORD The ringleader of a group that distributed large amounts of heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine in Bridgeport was sentenced to 25 years in prison Friday, according to federal prosecutors. U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery said Antonio Small, also known as Tone and Bert, 30, formerly of Naugatuck, led an organization based out of the west side of the city. Small and his associates used a home on Poplar Street to store, process and package these narcotics. Law enforcement started investigating the group in the summer of 2017 and discovered the group included Small, Louie McDowell, Christian Rodriguez, Evan Sheffield, Anthony Small and others, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Smalls group also was involved in violence. Law enforcement found, through listening to intercepted calls, that Small kept a firearm at the home and he was looking to retaliate against someone he believed had wronged him, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. On Oct. 31, 2018, one of Smalls close associates was shot and killed near the Poplar Street home. A woman who was close by was also killed in the incident, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Additionally, one of Smalls co-conspirators was chased by police in his car while possessing drugs. During the chase, the co-conspirator killed another driver and maimed two pedestrians, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Small has been convicted of felonies. He was on state probation while leading the group, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Law enforcement arrested Small on Nov. 6, 2018. He has been detained since. On Jan. 24, 2020, Small pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, more than one kilogram of heroin and a quantity of cocaine base, or crack. U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford sentenced Small to 25 years in prison Friday followed by five years of supervised release. McDowell, Rodriguez, Sheffield and Anthony Small also have pleaded guilty. McDowell, Rodriguez and Sheffield have been sentenced. Anthony Small awaits sentencing. STRATFORD The Stratford Police Department is seeking federal funding to hire a full-time social worker to help with mental health-related calls and to expand crisis intervention training. Stratford Town Council voted unanimously this week to submit a grant application to the U.S. Department of Justice for more than $351,000. The grant, which does not require matching funds from the town, will allow the department to hire a clinical social worker on a full-time basis and cover the cost of crisis intervention training for six sergeants, according to town documents. Capt. Frank Eannotti, a spokesperson for the Stratford Police Department, said the social worker will help police by connecting people suffering from mental illness or substance-use disorders to local treatment specialists and case managers. A social worker gives us a little bit more immediate attention to residents or anybody in town who might need some assistance that is outside of the realm of law enforcement, Eannotti said. In addition to helping officers engage with people in crisis, Eannotti said the full-time social worker could also help reduce mental health-related calls for service and free up police resources. Stratford has recently seen an increased demand for social workers. Tamara Trojanowski, the director of community and senior services, told Hearst Connecticut Media last fall that residents of every age are seeking aid. Health Director Andrea Boissevain predicted the program will be an incredible asset for the town. She said a social worker working with police would ensure that vulnerable people do not fall through the gaps. When a police visit is done, the social worker can then help connect that person with other agencies, she said. For instance, if the living conditions are horrendous, then the health department can come in or maybe the building department can come in. If the grant is approved, the police department will contract with a behavioral health services company to provide a licensed social worker, Eannotti said. The program is modeled after an initiative in Stamford that uses federal funds to embed social workers within the police force. In Stamford, the department partnered with counseling nonprofit Recovery Network of Services. Eannotti said the crisis intervention training teaches officers how to properly engage with subjects who might have special needs or who are experiencing a mental health crisis. The course, he said, takes about 40 hours to complete. Eannotti said he expects to learn if the grant is approved or rejected by late summer or early fall. If the funding is awarded, he said the department will then need to get the social worker up to speed on police policies before sending them out into the field. It's gonna be a process, Eannotti said. It's not something that's going to happen overnight, obviously. But we're hopeful that we will obtain the funding. And once we do, then we will initiate the program and start building upon it. richard.chumney@hearstmediact.com BRIDGEPORT Previously heralded by local leaders as more than a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the city with thousands of jobs and more than a billion dollars in direct investment, the Park City Wind renewable energy projects construction phase has suffered a setback due to a local zoning change. As reported recently, despite an announcement in May 2021 that Park City Wind had leased some East End harborfront property from the Bridgeport/Port Jefferson ferry company as a temporary staging area for its offshore wind farm, that deal is not finalized. The exact reasons were at the time not made clear. But this week representatives with the ferry company and Avangrid Renewables, owner of Park City Wind, acknowledged a municipally-approved zoning change to the formers 18-acre Seaview Avenue land dubbed Barnum Landing complicated the situation. Craig Gilvarg, Avangrids communications director, confirmed that recent zoning changes promulgated by Zone Bridgeport preclude Avangrids plans to establish an offshore wind staging area at the Barnum Landing site. We were absolutely surprised, Fred Hall, the ferry companys general manager, admitted in an interview, adding, It certainly narrows the focus of what we can do. Bridgeport Economic Development Director Tom Gills department over the past couple of years spearheaded Zone Bridgeport, an overhaul of the citys zoning regulations and map resulting from the updating of Bridgeports 10-year master plan. There was first lots of public outreach, with the recommended changes finalized last year by the mayoral-appointed zoning commission and implemented Jan. 1. But despite Park City Winds plans for Barnum Landing being public knowledge, the zoning there still got altered to emphasize attractive retail, commercial and civic uses, nixing Avangrids temporary, industrial-use staging area. Gill said this week the zoning alteration to the ferry company's Seaview Avenue land is completely compatible with that entitys long-stated and long-delayed plan to relocate its operation from the South End and build a new East End ferry terminal and tourist destination. Thats still the project wed like to see, Gill said, adding, We are working with Avangrid. We want to see that (Park City Wind) coming into the port, also. But with no ground-breaking on the new terminal planned for the immediate future, the ferry company in the meantime had intended to lease those 18 acres to Avangrid to help build Park City Wind, rather than let the site lay dormant. Gill said city officials have been told by Avangrid representatives that the staging area issue could be resolved. We remain committed to making Bridgeport a centerpiece of the Park City Wind project while delivering significant economic benefits to the state, Gilvarg said. The ferry company and Park City Wind had also intended to include space at the formers new East End terminal for a permanent operations and maintenance facility for the wind farm. Gill said that use would still be permitted because the activities would be indoors, with Park City Wind workers picking up materials to install out on the water at the wind farm. Its not a boat yard, Gill explained. You wont see them repairing things. ... Picture it almost as if youre going to an auto supply store to pick up parts for your car. Hall said he remains optimistic about that aspect of the ferrys partnership with Park City Wind. We expect to continue the relationship with Avangrid, Hall said. Still, the loss of Park City Winds first choice of staging area seems at odds with the previous warm welcome city and state officials gave the project and its partnership with the ferry company. City Councilman Scott Burns, a proponent of environmental conservation and the green economy, said this week after learning of the zoning issue, Did the one hand know what the other was doing? In November 2019, for example, Ganim co-signed a letter with a handful of other Park City Wind supporters, published by Hearst Connecticut Media, that called the project a once-in-a-generation opportunity. And the May 2021 press release from Park City Wind announcing the lease for the Seaview Avenue site contained quotes of praise from Gov. Ned Lamont, his economic development commissioner, David Lehman, and Ganim. Todays announcement is an important step forward in the states broader plans to capitalize on offshore wind energys vast economic opportunity, Lehman had said. It will bring jobs and additional economic vibrancy to the citys waterfront. And the mayor said at the time, Park City Wind will also offer immediate labor opportunities for our work force as they employ men and women in the construction trade at their Barnum Landing location. I would hate to see us lose Park City Wind, Burns said this week. In a statement to Hearst Connecticut Media, Ganim said, I am committed to helping Park City Wind just like any other business that is coming to Bridgeport and will continue to work with Avangrid. Lamonts office deferred questions on the zoning/staging area matter to Lehmans department. Jim Watson, a spokesperson for the state economic development office, wrote in an email, The department has been apprised of these developments and continues to work with Park City Wind to help them with this important project. Besides Burns, other Bridgeport officials who have previously hailed the Park City Wind project were concerned when told by Hearst Connecticut this week about the zoning change and did not understand why it happened. You would think a major employer like that, the city would bend over backwards to accommodate or work with them, said state Rep. Christopher Rosario, D-Bridgeport. Is the city looking for alternative sites? And state Sen. Dennis Bradley, D-Bridgeport, another co-signer with the mayor of that aforementioned November 2019 letter, argued if the Ganim administration wanted to it could seek to amend the new zoning along Seaview Avenue to allow Park City Winds temporary staging area. People want to see were serious, when we make a commitment in Bridgeport well see it through, Bradley said. Meanwhile Ralph Ford, an East End political leader, said that neighborhood is more interested in seeing the ferry company break ground on its new terminal. Ford added he has had doubts that Park City Wind will happen. Were more than happy to have the ferry move and do a nice little mini-mall, maybe even some waterfront apartments, Ford said. To me that would be a better use of the land. Twitter will no longer wait for a long time to take Elon Musk to court. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO's latest Twitter acquisition is on its way to legal court this July 19. Twitter is suing Musk because of his filing to pull back on his $44 billion acquisition deal. According to Reuters, the first hearing for the lawsuits filed by Twitter will take place on July 19 at 11 a.m. Eastern time, as set by the chancellor of the Delaware Court of Chancery, Kathaleen McCormick. During the course of the 90-minute hearing, a judge will listen to arguments concerning Twitter's desire for a trial to take place in September. Twitter vs. Musk's Delaware Trial Twitter initiated legal action by filing a complaint with the Chancery Court in the state of Delaware, alleging that the billionaire unlawfully breached his agreement to purchase the platform. Recently, Musk has refrained from commenting about his trial and his desire to breach his Twitter acquisition pursuit. However, based on his previous remarks, it seems like the billionaire claims that the social media company has not complied with his requests for information regarding bot and spam activity on the platform. Adding that the company is concealing relevant information in order to ensure that the acquisition would be successful. According to Twitter's lawsuit filing, "Twitter brings this action to enjoin Musk from further breaches; to compel Musk to fulfill his legal obligations; and to compel consummation of the merger upon satisfaction of the few outstanding conditions." The social media company did not release any further comments after that. However, the company's board chairman, Bret Taylor, tweeted a statement about it. Taylor tweeted, "Twitter has filed a lawsuit in the Delaware Court of Chancery to hold Elon Musk accountable to his contractual obligations." Twitter has filed a lawsuit in the Delaware Court of Chancery to hold Elon Musk accountable to his contractual obligations. Bret Taylor (@btaylor) July 12, 2022 Read Also: Apple M1 Chip Has a Security Flaw That is Unpatchable Twitter's Acquisition Elon Musk, CEO and founder of Tesla and SpaceX, started his journey with Twitter after he acquired up to 9.2% of stock from the social media company on April 5. He was then asked if he wanted a seat on the board, but he later declined. He then ventured to offer the company to buy its remaining stocks, all for $44 billion. Musk made the announcement that he was willing to purchase Twitter for $54.20 per share. Less than two weeks later, Twitter accepted his proposal to purchase the company. According to Engadget, the verdict in Twitter's lawsuit will have far-reaching repercussions no matter what happens, even if the potential for a class action lawsuit is never realized. In the event that the court rules in favor of Twitter, it has the potential to compel Musk to either carry through with the purchase or pay the breakup expenses associated with the agreement. Twitter's Spam and Bot Accounts Twitter's current CEO, Parag Agrawal, published a few statements about the bots and spam accounts on the platform during the height of Musk's complaints about it. First, let me state the obvious: spam harms the experience for real people on Twitter, and therefore can harm our business. As such, we are strongly incentivized to detect and remove as much spam as we possibly can, every single day. Anyone who suggests otherwise is just wrong. Parag Agrawal (@paraga) May 16, 2022 Agrawal proceeds to thoroughly explain that spam is not just binary. The most sophisticated spam campaigns involve a blend of humans and automation that is carefully coordinated. They also compromise legitimate accounts and then utilize those compromised accounts to further their campaign. That being said, they are clever and difficult to detect. Combating spam is an extremely dynamic endeavor. Their objectives and their strategies are always changing-frequently in reaction to the work that Twitter does. It is not possible to construct a set of rules to identify spam today in the belief that they will continue to be effective tomorrow. The CEO said that the company investigates and terminates over half a million spam accounts every day, the vast majority of which occur before anyone even notices them on Twitter. In addition, each week they lock millions of accounts that we have reason to believe may be used for spam. He added that the challenge in combating this is that there are spam looking accounts on the platform that are actually used and created by real humans. On the other hand, there are also a plethora of accounts on Twitter that look real on the surface but are definitely harmful spam accounts. In the end, the Twitter CEO stated, "We shared an overview of the estimation process with Elon a week ago and look forward to continuing the conversation with him." There are LOTS of details that are very important underneath this high-level description. We shared an overview of the estimation process with Elon a week ago and look forward to continuing the conversation with him, and all of you. Parag Agrawal (@paraga) May 16, 2022 The majority of the reasoning and speculation surfacing on the internet might or might not be true. Since Musk is still silent despite the vastness of what is at stake in this acquisition. Related Article: Elon Musk Is Not Moving Twitter's Acquisition Forward Without the Exact Number of Bots Amazon unveiled a plan to use drones to deliver packages to consumers in Lockeford, California, last month. After that, hundreds of people expressed interest in having their Amazon orders delivered by drone; the company is now collaborating with each of them to make this a reality. Amazon announced Friday that it is reaching out to residents in College Station, Texas, so they too will be able to get drone deliveries later this year. What Is Amazon Prime Air Delivery Amazon's blog last month said the company has "created a sophisticated and industry-leading sense-and-avoid system that will enable operations without visual observers and allow our drone to operate at greater distances while safely and reliably avoiding other aircraft, people, pets, and obstacles." In Amazon's perspective, what distinguishes them from competitors who are also striving to enter the drone delivery business is their drones' capacity to detect and avoid aircraft and other impediments. The e-commerce giant claimed that their drones could carry packages weighing up to five pounds in less than one hour, as per CNBC report. According to Amazon, Prime Air drones have a top speed of 50 mph and a top height of 400 feet. Amazon also said their drones fly to a predetermined delivery area, land in the customers' backyards, and then hover at a safe altitude. According to Amazon, the device releases the package, regains altitude, and then descends to the base. Read More: The Side Effects of Tax Debt - and What TaxRise Can Do to Help As previously reported, the sense-and-avoid system on Amazon Prime Air was designed with two main use cases in mind: first, to assure safety while in transit, and second, to ensure safety when the aircraft approaches the ground. The drones must be able to distinguish between stationary and moving impediments when flying to the delivery destination. The algorithms used by Prime Air to detect objects utilize a wide range of different technologies. Even in situations where it is challenging for people to perceive moving objects on the horizon, such as other aircraft, it can do so with the aid of this mechanism. The drones can also autonomously adjust their route if they spot any possible risks, and they are equipped to do so as well. The company also disclosed that since beginning its Amazon Prime Air projects, their team has created, tested, and analyzed a significant number of drones-over twenty prototypes at this point-through development, construction, and evaluation. The Verge noted that prior to announcing plans to start customer delivery testing, reports centered on the challenges Amazon was encountering, such as complaints the program was being hurried along and several drone crashes. Amazon Prime Air Delivery Will be Deployed to California and Texas Amazon announced that Texas A&M University, which is located in College Station, will assist with the drone deployment. CNBC said thousands of daily items will be available for free drone delivery to customers in Lockeford and College Station. Related Article: Amazon is Nearing the Public Launch of the First Prime Air Drone Deliveries TikTok's global security chief is set to step down from his post over growing concerns that non-U.S. employees have accessed the short video platform's U.S. user data. The embattled TikTok executive, Roland Cloutier, will be given a new advisory role, particularly on the business impact of TikTok's security and trust programs. TikTok's head of security risk, vendor and client assurance, Kim Albarella, will replace Cloutier as the chief of the company's worldwide security teams on an interim basis. Global Chief Steppimg Down 'Part of TikTok's Evolving Approach,' Says CEO TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew admitted in a memo to TikTok staff that Cloutier's stepping down was "Part of our evolving approach " to lessen concerns about user data securityin the US, whule emphasizing the creation of a new department to manage US user data for TikTok. He adds that the move was an important for its data protection practices, while changing the scope of the global chief security officer role. Cloutier will take on his new role effective September 2, Shou added. A TikTok spokesperson said in a Wall Street Journal report that Cloutier wasn't managing the new team overseeing US user data. That department reports to Chew directly.The spokesperson clarified that Cloutier's departure was not borne out of U.S. lawmakers and regulators' concerns over US data security and that the move had been ongoing for around two months. Read Also: TikTok Ban Update: US Commerce Department Issued Further Delay In June, a BuzzFeed News exclusive claimed that engineers at TikTok's parent company ByteDance in China accessed non-public data on US TikTok users on several occasions between September 2021 and January 2022. TikTok said it has since stored all US users' data on U.S.-based Oracle cloud servers located and that it was removing private data from its servers. In a letter to a group of Republican senators this month, Chew wrote that TikTok is focused on eradicating any doubt about its handling of US user data. The report came as U.S. officials have aired concerns for years that TikTok might allow China's authoritarian government to access to the data the company gathers from users in the U,S, and other countries. U.S. Lawmakers, Regulators Express Concerns Over US Data Access By Chinese Engineers In response to the report, numerous lawmakers, particularly Republican senators, have written to TikTok to air their concerns concern about the company's policies on data access. TikTok responded to the letter by admitting that some China-based employees have access to data but thare to robust cybersceurity controlsand authorization approvals that are managed by a US-based security team. The company also assured the senators by noting that it's working on a program called "Project Texas" to strengthen data security for U.S.-based users. Project Texas was created to help not only build "trust with users and key stakeholders by improving our systems and controls, but also to make substantive progress toward compliance with the final agreement with the U.S. government that will fully protect user data and U.S. national security interests,. Related Article: FCC Commissioner Wants TikTok Removed From App Stores Due to National Security Concerns After days of mudslinging on all fronts, finally the chance to hear the leadership candidates speak for themselves. In the green room beforehand, pre-debate drinks and nibbles. Temperatures rising, both real and metaphorical. It started off relatively amicably, Kemi Badenoch in sunshine yellow, Rishi tie-less, Liz Truss in a pair of killer heels, Penny Mordaunt elegant and groomed, Tom Tugendhat gently flirtatious. The nagging question in my mind: have Tom and Colin Firth ever been seen in the same room together? Fair to say the audience was not a natural Tory one. The first question 'why should the public trust any of you?' was harsh and straight to the point. Truss first out of the blocks: she's delivered what she said she would deliver, so there. Putin, Brexit, Northern Ireland Protocol, focus on the economy. Solid, if slightly wooden. Penny Mordaunt was unequivocal in distancing herself from Johnson's government: 'I have spoken truth to power' The compliments weren't exactly flying, but no one seemed to want to address the elephant in the room: that this is turning into a dirty old fight A winner? Too early to tell. But Mordaunt failed to make the splash she might have hoped for Tom (bashful smile, friendly specs) was more relaxed and more accepting of the problem of trust. His Unique Selling Point and he knows it is that he has always been critical of the current administration, and he was keen to play that advantage, pointing out that it's always easy to criticise one's enemies, much harder to criticise friends. Are you serving the interests of the people, or your own career? Quite. Rishi, ever the slick professional, was the first to address the questioner directly. The first rule of TV debates: win the trust and the engagement of the audience. He tried to give Boris Johnson the benefit of the doubt, he explained, but in the end the trust ran out. On the other hand, he wasn't going to walk away from the Government's achievements. In other words, I shall have my cake and eat it. Kemi Badenoch seemed a little less self-assured. 'We haven't exactly covered ourselves in glory,' she said, adding that as a minister, however, she was not afraid to take collective responsibility for mistakes made. Penny Mordaunt was unequivocal in distancing herself: 'I have spoken truth to power.' So far, so predictable. Addressing the question of blue-on-blue attacks between the candidates, things began to get a little more complicated. Viewers might have been slightly astonished to learn that, far from loathing each other's guts, the panel all trusted each other. Best of friends, really. The compliments weren't exactly flying, but no one seemed to want to address the elephant in the room: that this is turning into a dirty old fight. Apart from Kemi: 'Is Boris Johnson honest?' asked Krishnan Guru-Murthy. 'Sometimes,' she replied, to gentle laughter from the audience. Mordaunt showed her skill as a politician, by answering with a yes, which clearly meant no. It was quickly becoming apparent that this wasn't so much an examination of the relative merits of the candidates, more a punishment beating for the mistakes of the Johnson premiership. So much of the fire from Guru-Murthy was directed at the person absent here that is to say Boris. They ploughed on nonetheless. About halfway through, they began to put a bit of ground between each other. Sunak's delivery was slick, but his main pitch remains his record in government which in the context of Partygate remains problematic. Mordaunt, so far the bookies' favourite, was nevertheless defensive on the question of trans issues. Both Truss and Badenoch challenged her hard on this, all but calling her a liar. Tugendhat was the first to elicit any sort of positive response from the audience, receiving a faint round of applause for his line about the NHS, and later for being the only one who voted against the hated national insurance rise. This seemed to embolden him: he became more confident as the minutes wore on. In fact, if the audience had any kind of favourite, it seemed to be him. He spoke to them as people, not voters, and sounded like a man with the right kind of motives. Badenoch too made some headway, despite an annoying and persistent cough. Straight and to the point, relatable both. By contrast, Mordaunt seemed a little defensive, as did Truss. Sunak was, despite everything, impressive. Experience does count in politics, even if it's not always a 100 per cent positive record. He certainly seemed to have the best grasp of detail overall. A winner? Too early to tell. But Mordaunt failed to make the splash she might have hoped for. For the avoidance of doubt: The Mail believes this Tory leadership contest should not be happening. In our view Boris Johnson was and remains the best choice for Prime Minister, and his political assassination shames the tawdry plotters who wielded the knives. The charge sheet against him was largely trivial and grossly exaggerated by his enemies, choreographed by his malicious former aide Dominic Cummings. If his MPs had a fraction of the courage their leader showed over Ukraine, he could easily have weathered the storm of confected outrage and continued his mission to make this country a better place. Instead they suffered a fit of collective hysteria, defenestrating their best electoral asset. A herd of lemmings would have shown a better sense of self-preservation. In our view Boris Johnson was and remains the best choice for Prime Minister, and his political assassination shames the tawdry plotters who wielded the knives On Wednesday, as the pretenders were scrabbling for his crown, he showed why we will miss him so much. In a stellar Commons performance, he made his opponents look small and irrelevant defusing their puny attacks with his customary wit and flair. Meanwhile, having shown appalling misjudgment in rejecting Boris, Tory MPs are looking just as clueless in their search for his successor. An astonishing number have plumped for Penny Mordaunt, with no indication that she would be remotely up to the job. Indeed evidence is mounting to the contrary. In a devastating critique, her former boss and Brexit champion Lord Frost said he had been forced to replace her because she lacked grasp and application. Now it emerges she left an earlier job as head of PR at Kensington and Chelsea Council amid claims of incompetence. There were already concerns over her support for trans rights extremists and external regulation of the Press. Tory MPs should take a long, hard look at her record before convincing themselves shes capable of running the country. An astonishing number have plumped for Penny Mordaunt, with no indication that she would be remotely up to the job. Indeed evidence is mounting to the contrary Not all is gloom, however. In Kemi Badenoch, the contest has thrown up a star of the future. Clever, down to earth and engaging, she would make a brilliant addition to the next Cabinet. For the top job, her inexperience counts against her. This paper believes two candidates stand head and shoulders above the rest both having proved their credentials at the highest level of government. Rishi Sunak was an excellent Chancellor and will always be admired for the way he guided the economy through Covid. Some of his more recent decisions have infuriated traditional Conservatives, especially raising national insurance a kamikaze decision which the Mail campaigned hard against. On his watch, we now have the highest tax burden since the 1940s. And many will never forgive him for sliding the stiletto into his leaders back. The other candidate of proven ability in a range of Cabinet posts is Liz Truss. As she showed in last nights debate, shes not as polished a public performer as some others. However, call us old-fashioned but at this paper we value substance over style. In that department, she has consistently shown her mettle. She has negotiated trade deals around the world, stood up to the EU over Northern Ireland and has been unfailingly resolute on Ukraine. Today she unveils imaginative plans to ease the financial burden on hard-pressed families and carers with targeted tax cuts. Along with pledges to reverse the National Insurance rise, hold down corporation tax and scrap some green levies, she offers true Tory solutions to real-world problems. Not only is she the candidate with the most impressive CV, but also the one who most embodies the Conservative principles of aspiration, family values and low taxes. To exclude her from the final ballot would be an unforgivable breach of trust. I am beginning to loathe the new smugocracy of people driving or riding electric vehicles. I cannot stand the way that they are so pleased with themselves, and expect the rest of us to love them. It is of course a good thing that people have begun to grasp that the petrol or diesel-driven motor car is the most ridiculous form of transport ever devised. These ugly lumps of metal, glass and rubber wreck the health of their users, spreading back problems and heart disease. Even after a century of road safety measures, they still kill and maim far too many people and always will. A worrying number of their drivers are obviously drunk or drugged. They pump filth and noise into the air. They make the roads unusable by children on foot or on bicycles. They cause handsome cities to be wrecked to make way for them and they poison and scar the countryside. They make us depend on horrible despots, who sit on top of the oil reserves of the world. I am beginning to loathe the new smugocracy of people driving or riding electric vehicles. I cannot stand the way that they are so pleased with themselves, and expect the rest of us to love them And they are economically mad. People borrow money to buy these depreciating assets. And, having paid a fortune for them, they then leave them by the side of the road or in some hideous car park for 23 hours out of every 24. But almost none of these problems is solved by switching to electric power. Yes, electric cars are quieter, but that only makes them more dangerous as people have come to link noise with speed. Otherwise, they continue to cause great clouds of pollution except that it now comes from power stations instead of out of exhaust pipes. As for the metal needed for their batteries, I have seen with my own eyes the horrible conditions in which this is grubbed out of the African earth by half-starved children, and I cannot see how anyone who uses such machines can have a clear conscience, or claim to be good. Anyway, they dont work. Charging them is an almost impossible task, and if they ever become truly common, our creaking power grid will collapse under the strain. As for e-scooters, now about to be fully licensed, it terrifies me to watch such a huge mistake being made As for electric bicycles, I am astonished that there is so little protest against these incredibly dangerous unlicensed motorbikes, as heavy as sin and regularly ridden at way above the supposed 15mph speed limit. I can see why an 80-year-old might need a bit of assistance pedalling uphill. But these things are used by fit young people, who could perfectly well propel themselves. After 40 years of campaigning for cycle lanes segregated from motor vehicles, it pains me to see these things belting along such lanes. I can see why an 80-year-old might need a bit of assistance pedalling uphill. But these things are used by fit young people, who could perfectly well propel themselves, writes Peter Hitchens (pictured) As for e-scooters, now about to be fully licensed, it terrifies me to watch such a huge mistake being made. And the pain is made worse by the self-satisfied expressions on the faces of their riders, so often clad in head-to-toe black as they zoom along a pavement near you. Many will either kill themselves or somebody else, as these wobbly toys are inherently unsafe for their riders and the public. I suspect the Department for Transport hopes that, if they become common, it will provide an excuse to cut bus services. I can think of no other reason why they have fallen so completely for such a bad idea. I have seen plenty of foolish fads before, but never one as daft as this. The visit by President Biden to Saudi Arabia utterly destroys months of Western propaganda against Russia. We have been invited to think that our hostility towards President Putin was based on our lofty moral disapproval of his regime, its murders of the Kremlins enemies, its repressive character and its aggression abroad. But the Saudi ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (MBS), was found to have approved the grisly murder and dismemberment, using bone saws, of dissident Jamal Khashoggi. His country is a blood-splattered despotism that recently (just before a visit by our Mr Johnson) executed 81 people. Saudi Arabia I put this mildly does not have independent juries, free media or an opposition. It is a political slum. And it has launched a horrible aggression in Yemen, in which Western nations have helped to arm, train and equip its forces. Mr Biden used to say he wanted to turn Saudi Arabia into a pariah. But now, in an embarrassing paradox, his pseudo-moral posturing over Russia has forced him to toady to the Saudis. He needs them to sell more oil because we wont buy it from Russia. This is how it goes. There are no real principles in such things. During the Second World War, the US was far friendlier to the Kremlin than it needed to be, blatantly sucking up to Stalin, while snubbing Churchill. It even put up for years with Stalins refusal to join the war against Imperial Japan. So you may be sure that Washingtons policy in Ukraine is nothing to do with democracy, freedom or anything like that. And worries must be growing in the White House and the Pentagon about the war. It is not going very well. Moscows control over gas and oil is hurting many European countries. So is its blockade of Ukraines wheat exports. Serious rationing of heat and power are on the cards. The Wests military machine turns out not to be as good as it thought. Russia, with its enormous Cold War reserves of shells, may even be able to outgun us, as we have closed many of our arms factories. Nato nations darent get directly involved as this could widen the war and even lead to a nuclear exchange. If Mr Biden can meet the grisly MBS now (even if he tries hard not to seem too friendly), then dont rule out the possibility of him meeting Putin too, in time. And then all the bombast about evil regimes, appeasement and the rest will be set on one side. I suppose someone will ask me why I have not written about the Tory leadership contest. Well, why should I? While I have no time for Johnson, it was always obvious that his enemies had no credible alternative to him. Yet they continued with their suicide plan anyway, and it will end with Keir Starmer in Downing Street. If you ask me who is my favourite among the candidates, I will ask you in return: What is your favourite disease? How I revived a BBC classic Some months ago I wrote here about the mysterious disappearance of a classic BBC serial, a dramatisation of Jean-Paul Sartres Roads To Freedom. The production was an extraordinary showcase of British acting talent, including the much-missed Alison Fiske, Rosemary Leach, Georgia Brown, Daniel Massey and Michael Bryant, at the height of their powers. Yet for reasons never explained, it has not been seen since 1977. Now (I like to think partly because of my efforts) it will be shown on BBC4, starting at 10pm on Wednesday, July 27. To comment on Peter Hitchens click here A social media user has gone viral thanks to her uncanny impressions of TV personalities. Ruby Waghorn, from London, has built up a 60,000-strong TikTok following with her hilarious videos gently mocking the stars of Love Island, Made In Chelsea, Celebs Go Dating and Strictly Come Dancing. The 24-year-old, who also has 16,000 Instagram followers, started sharing her impressions on Instagram in September 2019 and now regularly racks up thousands of likes. Ruby Waghorn, from London, has built up a 60,000-strong TikTok following with her hilarious videos gently mocking the stars of Love Island, Made In Chelsea, Celebs Go Dating and Strictly Come Dancing. Pictured, a recent impression of Gemma from Love Island In each video she takes on a different star, micking their accent and manerisms in a fictionalised scene from the show. Her standout impressions include Love Island's Gemma Owen and Antigoni Buxton, Made in Chelsea's Olivia Bentley and Strictly's Tess Daley. They have become so popular that she was even featured on an episode of Love Island: Aftersun with Laura Whitmore. Fans commented on how 'spot-on' Ruby's impressions are of current Love Island castmates Gemma and Paige. One said: 'Can we talk about how Paige is so accurate.' The 24-year-old, who also has 16,000 Instagram followers, started sharing her impressions on Instagram in September 2019 and now regularly racks up thousands of likes. Pictured, Ruby doing one of her recent Love Island impressions (left) and Strictly Come Dancing last yea Ruby's standout impressions include Love Island's Gemma Owen and Antigoni Buxton, Made in Chelsea's Olivia Bentley and Strictly's Tess Daley. Pictured, a selection of her popular clips Another posted: 'Your Paige impression will always be the best.' A third wrote: 'Paige and gemma oooomgg.' To add to the authenticity, Ruby even includes the classic Love Island phrases such as 'pull for a chat', 'at the end of the day' and 'my type on paper'. On her dramatic Made In Chelsea saga, Ruby even found herself getting praise from the stars themselves. Ruby's videos have become so popular that she was even featured on an episode of Love Island: Aftersun with Laura Whitmore, pictured Heart throb Miles Nazaire commented: 'Omg this is brilliant!!!' while fans said how amazing she was. Ruby has also taken part in fundraisers and charity stage shows. Her first few videos include impressions of female characters in Wildchild, Killing Eve and the older Love Island series. A student who was given a 50 per cent chance of survival after a stroke at 17 has finished her degree and is determined to enter the medical field to help others. Izzy Hirst, of Hull, collapsed in the hallway at home in December 2017 and was rushed to hospital where doctors found a blood clot in her brain. It is thought the clot was a rare complication of an undiagnosed case of ulcerative colitis, a condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed. Izzy believes the ulcerative colitis had been dormant but was exacerbated by the stress of being caught up in the Manchester Arena terror attack seven months before her stroke. Bright future: Izzy Hirst, far right, was given a 50 per cent chance of survival after a stroke at 17. She has finished her degree and is determined to enter the medical field to help others. Pictured: Izzy with her sister Bex, father Richard, and mother Gill Izzy Hirst collapsed in the hallway at home in December 2017 and was rushed to hospital where doctors found a blood clot in her brain. Pictured, Izzy in hospital after the stroke This in turn led to the stroke that paralysed the right side of Izzy's body. She was given just a 50 per cent chance of survival and her loved ones did not know whether she would make it through. She underwent physiotherapy and it took her three months of hard work to be able to walk on her own. Now Izzy has graduated from university, passed her driving test, and is embracing her independence. She said: 'It is hard because you know you can walk and you know what your brain is asking your leg to do and you usually don't think twice about it. 'You're spending a lot of time every day trying to do this thing you've taken for granted for 17 years. She continued: '[Driving] is one of the best feelings because I lost a lot of independence with the stroke and that was a big thing that I wanted to get back. 'I was always relying on other people to take me places, hospital appointments and stuff like that. It's just another chunk of independence I've got back.' Izzy's loved ones did not know whether she would make it through but Izzy, pictured, underwent intensive physiotherapy and within three months was able to walk on her own. She has recently passed her driving test and is now embracing her independence WHAT IS ULCERATIVE COLITIS? WHAT IS ULCERATIVE COLITIS? Ulcerative colitis is a long-term condition, where the colon (the bowel) and rectum become inflamed. It affects around one in every 420 people living in the UK. Small ulcers can develop on the colon's lining, and can bleed and produce pus. Symptoms include recurring diarrhoea, which may contain blood, mucus or pus, abdominal pain and needing to empty your bowels frequently. People may also experience fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss. WHAT CAUSES ULCERATIVE COLITIS? Ulcerative colitis is thought to be an autoimmune condition which means the immune system - the body's defence against infection - goes wrong and attacks healthy tissue. The most popular theory is that the immune system mistakes harmless bacteria inside the colon for a threat and attacks the tissues of the colon, causing it to become inflamed. Exactly what causes the immune system to behave in this way is unclear. Most experts think it's a combination of genetic and environmental factors. (Information via NHS) Advertisement On May 22, 2017, Izzy, her mother Gill, and her best friend, were among the concert-goers caught up when a suicide bomber detonated a device at an Ariana Grande gig in Manchester. They were on the other side of the arena when the bomb was detonated. She said: 'You heard the bomb and it's like the whole stadium went quiet, it was really eerie. In my memory it felt like that silence went on for a while but in reality, it was probably a few seconds. I heard people screaming from the opposite side of the stadium and everyone just started running. 'I answered the phone to my dad and it's just one of those moments that you think will never happen and I couldn't hear him because there were too many people but I screamed down the phone 'I love you, tell everyone we love them and we're okay' because we didn't know what was going to happen. We just wanted him to know that we loved him.' Although it is likely that Izzy had undiagnosed ulcerative colitis before the terror attack, she had no symptoms of the illness. Izzy has graduated with a first class degree in biomedicine and is starting her masters in physician associate studies in September However she started getting mild symptoms after the attack, which worsened when she returned to Wolfreton School & Sixth Form College in September. It is unclear whether the Manchester experience led to her illness but Izzy believes the stress worsened her dormant ulcerative colitis and caused a flare up. Ulcerative colitis is a long-term condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed. The immune system mistakes good bacteria in the colon for an infection. This leads to healthy cells being attacked by the body. One uncommon complication is cerebral venous sinus thrombosis which is a type of blood clot that Izzy had in the brain and caused the stroke. After the stroke, Izzy took nine months out of education before returning to finish her studies. Five years on, Izzy has now achieved a first-class degree in biomedicine at Hull University and is starting a masters in physician associate studies at Hull York Medical School in September. Izzy also won an award for her dissertation which explored the link between cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and ulcerative colitis. She said: 'I've wanted to do medicine since the age of 11, I think as soon as I knew doctors were a thing. I'm not sure why, I think maybe it's because I had members of my family who were ill growing up and I saw the care the doctors gave which influenced me. 'When you're a patient, you're seen by so many different people and people stick in your mind for different reasons. It makes you realise how vulnerable you are as a patient. I have knowledge of that and I can help someone in that position because I've been in that position.' Izzy's mother Gill, 52, added: 'With a bleed on the brain in Izzy's case, you can be sat up talking one minute and then gone the next. It can be as quick as that. As a parent it was the hardest time in my life. 'She's a formidable force. She's always been a go-getter and a high achiever. I think because she's got that tenacity to strive forward and it stood her in good stead when all of this happened to her. She's a glass half full kind of girl. She never stops.' A UK job seeker has revealed the worst rejection letter they have ever received, reading out the 'patronising' missive in a TikTok video. The letter, which told the recipient that their job application had not been successful, boasted the line 'every great success story ends with a failure'. It also listed some of the most surprising rejections in throughout history, including Hollywood heavyweight Steven Spielberg being rejected from film school, and Albert Einstein failing to get a job as a children's maths tutor. The letter writers revealed that they too had experienced their fair share of failure in the past, and said that while the applicant would not be joining the company now, 'who knows what the future holds?'. UK TikTok user Tamsyn performed a 'dramatic reading' of the rejection letter, describing the missive as 'patronising' According to Tamsyn, the letter (pictured) sent prompted a 'fiery rage', due its 'patronising' tone and wording @pur_purblock thanks for patronising me into a rage that can only be desrcibed as firey original sound - Tamsyn Fox Creator Tamsyn, @pur_purblock, shared the video with online, doing a 'dramatic reading' of the note. The worst rejection letter ever Hello Tamsyn, We'll cut to the chase; your application wasn't successful. And who knows, maybe we've made a big mistake. Albert Einstein couldn't under job as a math tutor for kids, and Spielberg got rejected from film school. Crazy, right? The guess the point is, every great success story begins with with little failure. We've had our fair share of failure too. Even though you won't be joining us just yet, who knows what the future holds? Perhaps you'll prove us wrong. We certainly hope so. Stay hungry. Stay foolish. Advertisement In the clip, which has received more than 155,000 views, Tamsyn said the wording and tone prompted a 'fiery rage'. And many commentators agreed that the letter would have irritated them too, with some saying they would not want to work for the company that sent it. The caption accompanying the clip reads: 'Thanks for patronising me into a rage that can only be described as "fiery".' In the video, Tamsyn says: 'Hi, this is a dramatic reading of the worst rejection letter I have ever received. 'Hello Tamsyn, we'll cut to the chase. 'Your application wasn't successful. 'And who knows, maybe we've made a big mistake. 'Albert Einstein couldn't under job as a math tutor for kids, and Spielberg got rejected from film school. 'Crazy, right? The guess the point is, every great success story begins with with little failure. 'We've had our fair share of failure too. 'Even though you won't be joining us just yet, who knows what the future holds? 'Perhaps you'll prove us wrong. We certainly hope so. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.' Many of the people who responded in the comments section agreed that they would not like to be the recipient of the letter. The overwhelming majority of respondents in the video's comment section seemed to agree that they too would not appreciate receiving such a letter One wrote: 'I'd rather be unemployed for the rest of my life than ever work for that company.' Another added: 'Urgh they sound like they do team building exercises and family bbqs.' A third TikTok user added: 'I guess they're trying to be quirky and cool in their rejections and completely missed the mark.' And a further commentator said: 'I just need to know how this company decided that this was not the worst idea imaginable.' Racegoers at Newbury's Super Sprint Saturday were snapped wearing daring frocks with cutouts, plunging necklines, and high hemlines as they battled to stay cool amid the heat. Temperatures at the Berkshire racecourse were predicted to reach around 30C today, amid the UK's heatwave. Despite dressing for the heat, some revellers were even seen taking off their shoes and downing drinks as they tried to avoid overheating under the blazing sun. The day's events, which saw some six races, as well as a performance by Craig David, went ahead despite the high temperatures. Racegoers at Newbury today opted for daring frocks with high hemlines and cutouts, in a bid to stay cool amid the UK's heatwave Despite dressing for the heat, some revellers were seen removing their shoes and downing drinks as they tried to avoid over heating One guest opted for a black dress featuring a low scoop neck and a thigh high split for the hot day out Daring: open-toed strappy sandals and mini dresses were the order of the day for these guests, who seemed unfazed by the high temperatures Cheers! Meanwhile, others seemed to be positively enjoying the heat, as they donned summer frocks and sunglasses, and clutched cool pints of beer Refreshing pints: these women were seen carrying pints of beer as the sun continued to beat down on the racecourse throughout the afternoon This racegoer discarded her shoes, took to the shade, and sipped on a cool drink amid the blazing heat Super Sprint Saturday was established in 1991, and this year represents its 31st outing. The day's events, which saw some six races, as well as a performance by Craig David, went ahead despite the hot weather. Despite the hot temperatures, crowds gathered to watch the day's racing action, which included some six races Aerial shots of the ground today shows people gathering in large groups to watch the action, undeterred by the heatwave Racing action kicked off at 1:15pm today, with the the bet365 EBF Novice Stakes, which was won by Hectic ridden by PJ Dobbs. The second race, the Steventon Stakes at 1:50pm, saw Grocer Jack, ridden by Tom Marquand, clinching first place. Meanwhile, the 2:25pm Highclere Castle Gin Cup Stakes saw Reshoun, ridden by Jim Crowley, victorious. Minzaal, ridden by Jim Crowley, won the Hackwood Stakes at 3:00pm, and Eddie's Boy, ridden by Hollie Doyle, won the Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes at 3:30pm. The final race, the Lifetime In Racing Award Winner British EBF Premier Fillies' Handicap, was won by Morgan Fairy ridden by Hollie Doyle. Pat Dobbs riding Hectic win the bet365 EBF Novice Stakes at Newbury Racecourse today Tom Marquand riding Grocer Jack win The bet365 Stakes (aka the Steventon Stakes) at Newbury Racecourse Jim Crowley riding Reshoun win The Highclere Castle Gin Cup Stakes at Newbury Racecourse during today's Super Sprint Saturday Minzaal ridden by Jim Crowley (centre) on their way to winning the bet365 Hackwood Stakes at Newbury racecourse today Eddie's Boy ridden by Hollie Doyle on their way to winning the Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes Morgan Fairy ridden by Hollie Doyle (right) on their way to winning the Lifetime In Racing Award Winner British EBF Premier Fillies' Handicap today Feeling foggy headed? Confused? Exhausted? As temperatures soar, many of us find we're suddenly inept at tasks we normally find easy. And with the UK hotter than the Caribbean this weekend, scientists are saying it is time we started to take the effect of heat on our brains more seriously. 'Heatwaves have a significant impact on mental health,' Dr Laurence Wainwright, an expert in environmental health from the University of Oxford, says. 'Key areas of the brain especially those responsible for cognitive tasks are impaired by heat stress.' With the UK hotter than the Caribbean this weekend, scientists are saying it is time we started to take the effect of heat on our brains more seriously. (Above, people on Brighton beach in East Sussex on Friday) Dr Wainwright also warns of the increased risk of depressive symptoms, anxiety and, disturbingly, violent attacks during periods of extreme heat. And Professor Trevor Harley, a psychologist from the University of Dundee, who is an expert on the behavioural effects of weather, says: 'When the external temperature rises above 25C, the brain struggles to compute complex tasks. More worrying is the increased risk of suicide and self-harm.' So what about is it about the hot weather that sends our brains into meltdown? WHY CONCENTRATION GOES OUT OF THE WINDOW A wealth of research shows that key brain functions including those involved in memory, learning and concentration perform less well in the heat. In the summer of 2018, researchers at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts where temperatures hit highs of more than 36C carried out tests on two groups of students, one studying in an air-conditioned building, the other not. Those without air conditioning performed ten to 15 per cent worse in measures of attention, working memory and the speed they could process information. Other studies, looking at work productivity in American and Japanese offices, have found that concentration lags when the outdoor temperature peaks. But why? 'The core body temperature is regulated strictly by the hypothalamus in the centre of the brain,' explains Dr Eileen Neumann, a neuroscientist from the University of Zurich. A wealth of research shows that key brain functions including those involved in memory, learning and concentration perform less well in the heat. (Pictured: Families enjoy cooling down in the sea at Bournemouth Beach on Saturday) 'If it detects a rise in skin temperature, it sends signals to other systems in the body to take action to keep core temperature stable. 'This includes triggering feelings of thirst and directing blood flow towards the skin surface, to stop the organs from overheating. 'These processes use up a lot of energy, nutrients and blood flow reserving far less for complex brain functions, such as memory and concentration.' She adds: 'The brain is also particularly sensitive to dehydration even the slightest lack of fluid can affect the quality of signals sent between brain cells.' One Israeli study found that when temperatures are above 30C, just one morning without adequate water can affect performance on a host of cognitive tests. In extreme cases, heatstroke occurs. This is a medical emergency that happens when the hypothalamus fails to stop the body overheating and brain cells can begin to die. 'This can happen after about 30 minutes in temperatures from 30C to 40C without adequate hydration particularly in those who have underlying health conditions,' says Dr Neumann. 'Roughly one fifth of people who have suffered heatstroke have some form of long-term neurological damage.' THE HEAT CAN TRIGGER FEARS AND DEPRESSION What of the claims that heatwaves may trigger mental health conditions, or make existing ones much worse? In 2020, a large-scale analysis of more than 50 studies, involving 1.9 million mental health patients across the globe, concluded that for every 1C rise in temperature, the risk of developing psychiatric illness, such as depression and anxiety, increases by 0.9 per cent. The scientists did not only compare climates across nations, but also examined the effect of mini-heatwaves in colder European climates, including the UK. What's more, doctors in the US have reported seeing a significant increase in visits to emergency departments for anxiety, stress disorders and mood problems on days when the temperature is higher than average. And in Mexico, a monthly rise of less than 1C has been linked to a 2.1 per cent rise in suicides, according to research by scientists at Stanford University. So what's going on? Some scientists say it is all down to irritability caused by problems sleeping: increased sunlight in the summer months disrupts our sleep-wake cycle, increasing the risk of insomnia. Experts are keen to warn those taking psychiatric medication of potentially dangerous risks to physical health in hot climates. (Above, a matrix sign over the A19 road towards Teesside displays an extreme weather advisory as the UK braces for the heatwave) But far more intriguing is the idea that hot weather has a direct effect on the brain itself. Hot weather disrupts levels of the compound serotonin, which is integral to stabilising mood and regulating sleep. While studies show that levels of the hormone tend to be higher when the weather is very warm, this doesn't mean that it makes us happier. Brain scans carried out by researchers at the University of Copenhagen identified a rise in proteins that collect excess serotonin, and deactivate it. This results in a reduction in active serotonin, creating a risk of low or unstable moods. 'We know that even the smallest fluctuation in active levels can have a significant effect on mood,' says Prof Harley. SPARKS CAN FLY WHEN TEMPERATURES SOAR Psychologists have long pondered why the number of violent crimes committed appears to rocket during heatwaves. 'Evidence shows us that even just an increase of 1C to 2C in average monthly temperatures can lead to a five to ten per cent spike in assaults,' says Dr Wainwright. There are some obvious theories: people are more likely to drink alcohol in hot weather, or get easily angered by others because they feel uncomfortable in the heat. But Prof Harley says the answer also lies with a change in our brain chemistry. He explains that extreme heat sparks a surge in cortisol the stress hormone released as part of the hypothalamus's attempt to control body temperature. Its surge triggers the 'fight or flight response' the body's natural reaction to threats that causes a racing heartbeat and increased blood flow to the legs and arms, to prepare us for an attack. But studies show a flood of cortisol makes us more likely to engage in impulsive and aggressive behaviours. This may also interact with disrupted serotonin to increase the risk of other symptoms, such as anxious thoughts and low mood, says Dr Harley. One Israeli study found that when temperatures are above 30C, just one morning without adequate water can affect performance on a host of cognitive tests. (Above, Bournemouth Beach on Saturday) THOSE ON MENTAL HEALTH MEDS SHOULD TAKE CARE Experts are keen to warn those taking psychiatric medication of potentially dangerous risks to physical health in hot climates. Some medications, such as clozapine and olanzapine, which are given to treat symptoms of schizophrenia and psychosis, as well as bipolar and dementia, have a direct effect on the hypothalamus. As a result they can stop the brain being able to effectively tell when we're too hot. Those taking these drugs may be less able to tell when they are thirsty, putting patients at greater risk of dehydration. Prof Harley says: 'We should think of sun safety not just as essential for protecting the skin, but also our mental health. 'The same rules apply for the brain: drink plenty of water, and stay out of the midday sun.' Monkeypox cases could spiral by the end of the year and reach children, for whom the virus can be deadly if efforts to vaccinate against it are not improved, experts have warned. While 50,000 vaccine doses are on order, public health experts say four times this number will be needed to halt the spread. In the UK, there have already been more than 1,850 cases of the disease, which causes painful blisters across the body, and numbers are believed to be doubling every 15 days. These have predominantly been seen in gay men. Dr Deborah Birx, the former head of the US Covid task force, told The Mail on Sunday that all gay men in London under the age of 50 should be vaccinated as well as women who visit gay bars. 'If you're at a gay bar and you're dancing, then there is a risk of infection,' she said. Monkeypox cases could spiral by the end of the year and reach children, for whom the virus can be deadly if efforts to vaccinate against it are not improved, experts have warned The virus is passed on through close physical contact, such as sex, but also kissing and hugging. Vaccines can provide effective protection, but doctors have criticised the slow rollout of the jabs to Britons most at risk and claim the UK does not have not enough doses to stop the virus from spreading into the wider population. There are particular worries that monkeypox could reach children, who are more likely to suffer severe illness as a result. On Thursday, the UK Health Security Agency confirmed that a London school sent reception classes home until the end of term after a child came into contact with a monkeypox case. According to a letter sent to parents, officials advised parents to avoid hugging their children, or any other very close contact, for two weeks. The children will now be offered the vaccine. Dr Deborah Birx (pictured), the former head of the US Covid task force, told The Mail on Sunday that all gay men in London under the age of 50 should be vaccinated as well as women who visit gay bars. 'If you're at a gay bar and you're dancing, then there is a risk of infection,' she said There are two vaccines that can protect against the virus. One, created by a small Danish company, specifically protects against monkeypox. But the decades-old smallpox vaccine also works, because the two viruses are so similar. The majority of over-50s are thought already to have good immunity to monkeypox because they would have received a compulsory smallpox jab in the 1970s and 1980s. The Mail on Sunday understands the UK has 30,000 vaccines a combination of the two types and sexual health clinics last week began inviting some gay men to receive the jab. However, experts say at least 200,000 doses of the jab are needed to prevent monkeypox spreading and reaching children, and spreading among them and other vulnerable groups such as pregnant women. This figure is based on the number of men eligible for HIV-preventative drugs those who have on average two or more male partners every six months, and as such are at most risk of catching monkeypox. If health officials are able to vaccinate this group, experts believe the disease could be effectively controlled. Examples of the monkeypox rash, which can appear anywhere on the body. In the UK, there have already been more than 1,850 cases of the disease, which causes painful blisters, and numbers are believed to be doubling every 15 days. These have predominantly been seen in gay men Official estimates suggest there are 100,000 men eligible for these drugs in the UK, 70,000 of whom are in London, where the majority of monkeypox cases have already been seen. As with Covid, two jabs are required for the vaccine to have full effect, meaning that, at present, the UK cannot vaccinate all eligible Britons. 'Health officials have told us the current strategy is to get hold of 50,000 doses of the vaccine, but since we need to give out two doses, that means only 25,000 people will get them and that's not nearly enough,' says Dr Claire Dewsnap, president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV. 'Currently monkeypox is just affecting this sub-group of Britons, but if cases keep rising it won't stay that way. When it eventually breaks out into the wider population, we'll need a lot more vaccines than we can feasibly get our hands on.' Experts also believe there are many cases going undiagnosed, following a study last week from the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belgium, which showed transmission of the virus may occur without symptoms. More than ten per cent of Britons infected have been hospitalised, though this has predominantly been for pain management, as the blisters can be debilitating, making activities such as eating and going to the toilet excruciating. In people with weaker immune systems, like children, the disease can be deadly. In June, World Health Organisation director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was concerned that sustained transmission of monkeypox would lead to the virus establishing itself in the community and could infect 'high-risk groups including children, the immunocompromised and pregnant women'. Liz O'Riordan (above): 'Women like me are generally advised by their doctors that HRT is off the table, for good reason: because it can increase the risk of the breast cancer coming back' It was a startling claim: hormone replacement therapy, or HRT as it's more commonly known, is mostly safe for women who have had breast cancer. That was the opinion of influential GP and campaigner Dr Louise Newson, appearing earlier this month on ITV's This Morning. She'd been asked by presenter Phillip Schofield whether patients who had survived the disease, and were suffering menopausal symptoms, could take the hormone treatment for relief. Dr Newson, who runs a private clinic specialising in menopause treatment, seemed to suggest that yes, we could, despite what many of us have been told. I say 'we', because I have had breast cancer. Twice, in fact. My cancer treatment included surgery, radiotherapy, chemo and other drugs and sent me crashing into a fairly hellish early menopause at the age of 40. So Dr Newson's statement understandably caught my attention. It also made me intensely uneasy. My cancer, like three-quarters of all breast cancers, was hormone-sensitive, fuelled by the female sex hormone oestrogen. The good news is that, today, these are among the most treatable tumours. There are very effective drugs, such as tamoxifen and letrozole, that block the hormones reaching the cancer, and this stops it growing. The tablets are usually given after surgery and chemotherapy to stop the disease coming back. I was on tamoxifen initially, but when my cancer came back in 2019 I needed a more definitive solution: my ovaries were surgically removed as part of my treatment, and I was switched to letrozole. This means I have no oestrogen in my body, which gives me the best possible chance of surviving. For the past three years, I've been clear of cancer. The downside has been what's called a medical menopause. And it was grim. My night sweats were so bad I often woke up thinking I had wet myself, and restful sleep became a thing of the past. It was a startling claim: hormone replacement therapy, or HRT as it's more commonly known, is mostly safe for women who have had breast cancer. That was the opinion of influential GP and campaigner Dr Louise Newson (pictured), appearing earlier this month on ITV's This Morning Riding my bike was unbearably painful. Oestrogen helps to maintain the delicate tissues of the labia and vagina, and without it the skin can become dry and prone to tearing. I discovered this the hard way. Then there was the loss of libido. I was newly married, and it had a dramatic impact on my sex life. The problems went on for years. I would dearly have loved it if HRT had been an option and still would, as I live with menopausal symptoms to this day. Yet women like me are generally advised by their doctors that it's off the table, for good reason: because it can increase the risk of the breast cancer coming back. You see, HRT works by topping up levels of oestrogen. This is a fantastic treatment if an otherwise healthy woman is suffering symptoms due to falling oestrogen levels during the menopause. But you can see why breast cancer patients with oestrogen-driven tumours, like me, might be told to avoid it. Dr Newson, however, had a very different take. 'We haven't got good evidence to say it's safe [or] dangerous. Most of the studies done suggest that it's either neutral or safe,' she said on This Morning, adding with a smile: 'Oestrogen used to be a treatment for breast cancer.' So could she be right? Are women with breast cancer needlessly avoiding HRT when in fact they could safely benefit from it? Before I answer, I should explain that my interest isn't simply personal, but also professional. As well as being a breast cancer patient, I used to be a breast cancer surgeon. I was forced to retire a few years back, aged 45, as the operation to remove my breast and lymph nodes affected the way my shoulder moved, meaning I could no longer operate safely. While undergoing treatment, I began blogging about my experiences and later co-wrote a book, The Complete Guide To Breast Cancer. Today, my focus is on sharing evidence-based information to help those in similar situations to me. And I've known for a while that there is a small but growing number of doctors who believe, like Dr Newson, that HRT can be taken by many women with breast cancer. They share their views on social media and at conferences, and also have the ear of politicians: Dr Newson has been a key figure at campaigning events alongside MP Carolyn Harris, attended by celebrities including Penny Lancaster, Patsy Kensit and Davina McCall. They've done a lot of good in getting people including men talking about the menopause, getting menopause education put on the National Curriculum and encouraging changes in workplaces to better support women suffering symptoms. Their aim, just like mine, is to empower women. They say the menopause shouldn't be taboo, and that no one should be ashamed to discuss changes in their bodies. I couldn't agree more. When it comes to their comments on how cancer doctors discuss the impact of medical menopause with patients or lack thereof I also concur. When I was a surgeon, before my diagnosis, I'd tell patients that tamoxifen might cause 'a few hot flushes' or 'a bit of vaginal dryness', and that was that. In hindsight, this was woefully inadequate. Women deserve better. But on the matter of whether breast cancer patients like me can safely take HRT, I think Dr Newson and her colleagues have got the message wrong. In an information booklet aimed at patients with breast cancer, available on the website balance-menopause.com, she and fellow menopause specialist GPs Dr Melanie Martins and Dr Jenni McCracken write: 'It is likely that you have been told that you cannot take HRT [but] there is a lack of good quality research in this area and the risks for those who have had breast cancer taking HRT are unknown. 'Some studies have shown that taking HRT after breast cancer can even be beneficial.' It's vital to recognise that this is not a mainstream medical view. Earlier this year the British Menopause Society, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Society for Endocrinology put out a consensus statement, aimed at improving menopause treatment. Part of the reason for this was to try to dispel fears still held by some doctors that HRT can cause breast cancer if taken by healthy women. While older research suggested there was a danger, more recent analysis suggests that in fact the benefits of a couple of years of HRT, if needed to control severe menopausal symptoms, are huge and the risk of breast cancer almost nil. Yes, there are studies that suggest that HRT is safe after breast cancer, but I have concerns about these. One is that they followed women for only between six months and a couple of years and we know breast cancer can come back decades later But the statement also makes clear that if a woman has had breast cancer, she should not be given HRT except in 'exceptional cases', where symptoms are severe and all other approaches to control them have failed. This is, it says, because the risk of breast cancer recurrence with HRT is higher in women with all kinds of breast cancer, whether it is hormone-sensitive, like mine, or not. Just this year an analysis of four large trials concluded that HRT significantly increased the risk of breast cancer recurrence. 'Alternative interventions to mitigate menopause-related symptoms should be proposed,' the authors concluded. Yes, there are also studies that suggest that HRT is safe after breast cancer, but I have concerns about these. One is that they followed women for only between six months and a couple of years and we know breast cancer can come back decades later. I spoke with Dr Newson on The Mail on Sunday's Medical Minefield podcast this week about all this, and she rightly said more research is needed. But women with breast cancer who are considering HRT must be told about the potential risks and uncertainties. We put this to Dr Newson, and she agreed. My other worry and I'm far from alone in the medical community in this is that the benefits of HRT are being over-sold. At present, HRT is only prescribed to treat menopause symptoms, and in some instances to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. There are alternatives to HRT that can help. Certain antidepressants, blood pressure tablets and painkillers like gabapentin can treat hot flushes There's been a lot of talk about it preventing conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and dementia. But the evidence simply isn't there. Some studies have showed promise, but others have proved contradictory. Aside from being misleading, overstating the case for HRT just results in worry for women with breast cancer who will probably have been told by their oncologists, rightly, that the drug is risky, so don't want to take it. I asked my social media followers for their views on the subject, and received a torrent of responses: 'I feel frightened when I read these claims pressured to take a risk, otherwise I'll be sick anyway,' summed up one. Another responded: 'It's very hard to know what to do when listening to a GP on This Morning saying HRT is safe for women like me with breast cancer, as my oncologist says that I absolutely cannot have it. My head is scrambled with all this.' Many just gave single words. Frightened, robbed, angry, vulnerable, disadvantaged, conflicted, sad, helpless it went on and on. And what of the claim that HRT is safe because oestrogen was once used to treat breast cancer? Well, it's true: oestrogen was once offered to women with advanced breast cancer. The treatment slowed disease progression in a small number of post-menopausal women, but the side effects were unpleasant. Loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting were a problem. It triggered heavy vaginal bleeding and incontinence, and also heart failure in an unlucky few. And then, in the late 1970s, tamoxifen came along. It had a similar effect in this patient group, but without the side effects, so became the go-to treatment. It's a fact Male HRT, or testosterone therapy, is becoming more popular in Britain, with prescriptions for men over 40 doubling in 20 years. Advertisement Later, the drug, which works by blocking oestrogen in breast tissue, was found to have powerful benefits in women with earlier stage breast cancer. It cuts the risk of relapse by roughly 50 per cent and improves overall survival by 30 per cent. Importantly, you can't conflate early use of oestrogen as a life-extending cancer therapy with HRT. They are two completely different things. And it would be disingenuous to imply that it was proof that HRT is safe for women with breast cancer. Don't get me wrong; I'm not saying that women with breast cancer who are suffering dreadful menopause symptoms have to 'put up with it'. There are alternatives to HRT that can help. Certain antidepressants, blood pressure tablets and painkillers like gabapentin can treat hot flushes. Vaginal oestrogen, which comes in various forms, can help with sexual discomfort and does not increase the risk of the cancer coming back. Some women may have such a low risk of recurrence that their cancer team decide it's safe for them to stop taking tamoxifen, or to take a break from it, to see if that helps. I tried acupuncture and hypnotherapy, which have all been shown to help, along with regular exercise and cutting down on alcohol. We know that exercise alone can reduce the risk of breast cancer relapse dramatically, and will also protect against heart disease, osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes and so on. In a statement Dr Newson said: 'Some studies have shown an increased risk of breast cancer recurrence related to HRT, but not greater mortality. 'Other studies have shown benefit or no risk or benefit. None of these studies have been robust and well designed studies so all results are not possible to interpret properly. 'Some women describe their menopausal symptoms as worse than having cancer. They are keen to take HRT to have a better quality of life, and are fully aware of potential risks. 'As a doctor, I can't in good conscience deny them of this treatment. It's about choice and that is the most important thing for women.' On this last point, again, we see eye to eye. I completely understand that there will be breast cancer patients who are severely affected by the menopause, and may wish to take their chances. But everyone needs to understand that the narrative that HRT is mostly safe for women with breast cancer goes against expert medical opinion. I wish it were otherwise, but it's a fact. The galaxy will soon be further explored for the years to come. The discovery of 40,000 ring galaxies was made possible by a novel process called "cyborg". Scientists will make the announcement at this week's National Astronomy Meeting that 40,000 ring galaxies were discovered thanks to the collaborative efforts of both human and machine intelligence. The new research will be presented by the collaboration of both the Galaxy Zoo and Dr. Mike Walmsley of the University of Manchester. He will describe how this cyborg method measured the shapes of millions of galaxies. Galaxy AI Algorithm Called Zoobot Galaxy measurements were used to formulate a new AI algorithm called Zoobot, an algorithm that could be used as an assistant on discovering the galaxies in space. Using the data collected by Galaxy Zoo volunteers over the course of ten years, Dr. Walmsley created a brand new artificial intelligence algorithm that he dubbed Zoobot. According to the PHYS Organization, Galaxies have a tumultuous existence. The colors and orbits of billions of stars are changed as a result of collisions with other galaxies and bursts of energy from supermassive black holes. These events leave behind tell-tale markers on the Galaxy Zoo website. The Galaxy Zoo websites house a scientific initiative created by normal citizens gathering volunteers that collects data on stars whose orbits have been disrupted as a result of bursts of energy from supermassive black holes and galactic collisions. Not only is the algorithm, which has been endearingly termed "Zoobot," capable of accurately predicting what the volunteers will say, but it can also understand where it might be wrong. It is possible that it will take human volunteers several lifetimes to sort through the overwhelming amount of data that has been accumulated. Here is where the intelligence of machines comes into play. The help of machine learning in collaboration with human design helps advance science so much further. Zoobot makes use of machine learning, which essentially means that it is trained repeatedly on a data set until it is able to perform the necessary function at incredibly high speeds. Dr. Walmsley stated, "with Zoobot, humans and machines are collaborating to push the science of astronomy forward. We're helping other astronomers solve questions we never thought to ask." Read Also: China Embarks on an Asteroid-Deflecting Mission - What About NASA? Discovering 40,000 Ring Galaxies Dr. Walmsley was able to find 40,000 rare ring-shaped galaxies, which is six times more than the total number of ring galaxies that were previously known. This was made possible by the Zoobot AI. It takes billions of years for the rare galaxy type to form, and they are eventually wiped out by collisions with other galaxies, which are relatively common. Therefore, the massive new dataset will assist scientists in their investigation of how the evolution of these isolated galaxies occurs. According to Interesting Engineering, in the not too distant future, the work that has been done on Zoobot and other machine learning astronomical solutions will assist researchers in organizing and analyzing massive amounts of data. Dr. Brooke Simmons, Galaxy Zoo Deputy Principal Investigator added that "Galaxy Zoo turns 15 years old this week, and we are still innovating." Because of the work that Dr. Walmsley is leading, it will be possible for a new generation of breakthroughs to be made using upcoming large-scale surveys of the galaxy. The field of astronomy already makes significant use of machine learning in a variety of contexts. Zoobot was created to be easily reprogrammed for use in a variety of different scientific endeavors. The new AI algorithm will help shape a new behavior scientifically as it can now be used to discover and answer questions that have been wondered for numerous years in the past. Related Article: Life on Mars? NASA Discovers Abundant Water Source In The Red Planet Overcoming obstacles to deals and floats in current uncertain times is a huge challenge. Latest quarterly results from the big beasts of Wall Street showing disappearing earnings from investment banking are a case in point. On top of that, Chinese growth fell in the second quarter, Italy is fracturing confidence in the eurozone and Sri Lanka has opened a window to struggles in the developing world. Amid all of this the scheduled split and IPO of Haleon on Monday, the healthcare arm of pharma GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), is a pivotal event. It marks the end of a delicate four-year reorganisation by chief executive Emma Walmsley, designed to focus GSK as a vaccine and pharma innovator. World-class?: In spite of the Covid setback GSK remains ahead of its rivals in delivering vaccines and is transforming the lives of HIV patients The task was not made easier by the aggression of activist investor Elliott or GSK's early failure to come up with a Covid vaccine. The idea is to give GSK a clearer run at rejoining the pharma elite. Post-split, its shares will sell at a discount to much of the sector, offering upside to long-term investors. The risk is that, with a valuation of 84billion, it could become a takeover target. Haleon, home of Advil, Sensodyne and the Centrum vitamins, as a 33billion or so stand-alone healthcare firm, carrying 10billion of debt, also could be an attractive target. It already has seen off interest from Unilever and Nestle. Does GSK have what it takes to become world-class again? In spite of the Covid setback it remains ahead of its rivals in delivering vaccines and is transforming the lives of HIV patients. But some of those HIV patents will fall away later in this decade. At present, shringrix, which combats shingles, is a star performer. The big prize is GSK's work on RSV vaccines for respiratory illness. Results from trials suggest a RSV vaccine is promising. Critical data is scheduled for autumn release. Achieving GSK's challenging targets of 5 per cent earnings and 10 per cent sales over each of the next few years is tough. Walmsley is putting some heft into the process with a 1billion investment in research and development for infectious diseases in poor countries. This month it unveiled plans for a research campus in Stevenage. It is doubling down on vaccines with the 1.75billion purchase of Boston-based biopharma concern Affinivax. And it is seeking to address its gaps in cancer treatments with its purchase of Sierra Oncology. The lack of debt on its reshaped balance sheet gives GSK the opportunity to strengthen through deal-making. It may not seem the ideal time for Haleon to come to the London market. An overwhelming vote in favour from shareholders, together with confidence from the financial groups involved in the rebuild, should mean a fair wind despite choppy waters. Italian job If Mario Draghi with all his experience and silky skills couldn't fix Italy's financial ills, who can? It is one of life's mysteries that Italy, with its mastery of cuisine, design, fitting cruise ships, sunglasses and much else is such a basket case. Draghi's resignation as prime minister leaves a hole at a delicate time. The eurozone's third-largest member is struggling under 2.5trillion (2.1trillion) of debt. That is bigger than that of Greece, Portugal, Ireland and Spain, the countries at the vortex of the last euro crisis, combined. Those countries have since knuckled down and pushed through reforms. Italy has struggled to put together a workable coalition capable of reforming labour and product markets, and shrinking the state. As the globe faces sluggish growth, the market for Italian bonds is showing serious strain. Yields stand at 3.5 per cent in latest trading, opening up gap of more than two percentage points with German bonds. Britain has a productivity problem. Italy's is much worse. Speed bumps Aston Martin has survived more death-defying scrapes than its most famous user, James Bond. But it is gradually falling into safer hands. It now has three cornerstone investors the Saudi Public Investment Fund, Lawrence Stroll's Yew Tree and Mercedes-Benz. The disruption to global supply chains and bouts of Covid in China will be among the key issues facing Tesla when it delivers its second-quarter earnings on Wednesday. The electric car maker, run by the world's richest man Elon Musk, saw its quarterly production and vehicle delivery numbers fall short of expectations in an update this month. Issues with the supply chain and Covid have hurt its ability to ramp up production. The Shanghai factory has been hit by Covid, resulting in strict lockdown measures, while new plants in Texas and Berlin are fighting soaring costs. The second-half outlook will be closely watched, particularly if Tesla cuts a target of making 1.5million cars in 2022. Also looming large will be Musk's impending legal battle with Twitter after he pulled out of a deal to buy the social media platform for 37billion. Musk derives most of his wealth from his near-16 per cent stake in Tesla. But its shares have taken a battering in the wake of the spat, dropping 27 per cent since Musk's bid was revealed, as investors fear his pursuit of Twitter is distracting him from the car firm. With predictions the row will mean a nasty, long and costly court battle should Musk lose, an outcome that many on Wall Street consider likely, shareholders may be hoping for some crumbs of comfort in the quarterly results. Shareholders may also be on the lookout for any plans that Tesla has to try to shield itself from the fallout of Musk's antics elsewhere. Shares in luxury fashion groups Burberry and Richemont slumped after both warned of continuing disruption from lockdowns in China. London-listed Burberry slid 3.8 per cent, or 62p, to 1586.5p, as sales fell by 35 per cent in the 13 weeks to July 2. And Switzerland-based Richemont, which owns brands such as Cartier and Chloe, fell by 2.9 per cent as it said China sales tumbled 37 per cent in the three months to June. Face: Brazilian fashion model Gisele Bundchen in Burberry High-end fashion houses have been ramping up their presence in the country but continued lockdowns as part of a 'zero-Covid' policy, have stymied progress. Despite China, both Burberry and Richemont were boosted elsewhere as the cost of living crisis failed to deter well-heeled customers. Jonathan Akeroyd, Burberry's chief executive, said: 'I was pleased to see our more localised approach drive recovery in EMEIA [Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa], where spending by local clients was above prepandemic levels.' In the EMEIA region, Burberry's store sales rose 47 per cent on the same time last year. Handbags, rainwear and jackets performed strongly. This financial year, it expects an operating profit of 90m. But Sophie Lund-Yates, an analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: 'Burberry's first-quarter performance has sorely disappointed the market, with concerns around lacklustre growth rates. 'Mainland China is acting as a serious drag, overshadowing successes elsewhere including increased domestic spending in other markets, which is needed to offset lost tourism spending from Chinese visitors to Europe. Richemont was aided by the falling value of the euro, as overall sales growth hit 20 per cent. Performance was strongest in its 'other' division, which includes fashion and accessories, followed by jewellery, watchmakers, and online sites such as Net-a-Porter. Britain's accounting regulator has written to the industry's largest firms asking them to stop their staff cheating in exams. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) said it was 'deeply concerned' by fines levied against the likes of EY, PwC and KPMG. It is the latest blow for the audit industry, which has repeatedly been criticised for sloppiness and even outright misconduct. Worry: The Financial Reporting Council said it was 'deeply concerned' by fines levied against the likes of EY, PwC and KPMG Auditors are supposed to rubber-stamp companies' accounts, so they can be trusted by employees, suppliers and shareholders but their negligence and oversights have contributed to the collapse of firms such as Patisserie Valerie and outsourcer Carillion. In a recent letter to chief executives, FRC executive director of supervision Sarah Rapson said the FRC had spoken to firms to understand controls they had in place. She said: 'Given the importance of this issue, we have decided that we need to formalise, deepen and accelerate these discussions.' Rapson has asked the seven largest accountants EY, PwC, KPMG, Deloitte, BDO, Grant Thornton and Mazars to set out how they are presenting and detecting exam cheating. She cited a recent scandal where EY's US arm was fined 84.5m for cheating on exams. Rapson also mentioned cases where PwC's Canadian branch was slapped with a 129,000 penalty for failing to prevent 1,200 staff gaming internal tests, and KPMG Australia was fined 257,000 for failures over internal training. She has asked the likes of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales to set out how it ensures exam integrity. Vast Covid-19 quarantine facilities now scattered around Australia sit unused and empty, serving only as lasting monuments to how the virus triggered politicians into wasting $2billion of taxpayers' money. Even when the facilities were still at the blueprint stage, many were saying borders would be re-opened and the need for quarantine would have passed by the time they were built, but state and federal governments - pressured by the 'just do something' hysteria that Covid stirred up - pushed on with construction. Now those same politicians have been left scratching their heads looking for inventive ways to use four enormous new quarantine centres plus the existing facility at Howard Springs near Darwin, in a vain attempt to justify the profligate spending. Two ideas floated by state officials in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia include repurposing the expensive white elephants as accommodation for backpackers (despite not being near where those travellers need or want to be) or for locals during natural disasters. Another suggestion was to keep them for a rainy day, lest another once-in-a-lifetime pandemic should sweep across the globe. But with most of the population vaccinated and travel restrictions gone, it's difficult to hide the fact that the so-called 'centres for national resilience' were created in the heat of the moment, with elections looming, and to suit a purpose which is now effectively defunct. They have become garish blights on the outskirts of major cities - sprawling, ugly, and useless. Five enormous Covid-19 quarantine facilities, worth a combined $2billion,have become white elephants on the outskirts of major Australian cities Former prime minister Scott Morrison's grand plan was to fund three facilities in an effort to replace hotel quarantine with purpose-built isolation stations - similar to dormant workers' camp Howard Springs which was used for quarantine during the pandemic. A $200million facility was announced for Mickleham, north of Melbourne, another centre worth $200million was to go in Bullsbrook, north-east of Perth, and a third would be built in Pinkenba, Brisbane, for a total of $108million. The Queensland government, despite the federally-funded facility in Brisbane, also made the bizarre decision to built another quarantine hub for about $200million. However, the actual costs (taking into account operating costs) ballooned out to a whopping $2billion - and for what? As of July, anyone entering Australia - citizens and foreign nationals - do not need to provide evidence of their vaccination status, isolate for any length of time upon arrival, or test negative for Covid. Former prime minister Scott Morrison's (pictured) grand plan was to fund three facilities - in WA, Queensland and Victoria Some argue that the Morrison government was only being prudent; that parliamentarians could not possibly have known where the pandemic would be up to by the time the quarantine extravaganzas were built. However that ignores the fact that many were loudly sounding the alarm at the time of planning and construction that these quarantine centres would be redundant even before they were completed. To know that only required a glimpse at the government's own pandemic roadmap which forecast a quick return to open borders after vaccines were widely available, or to have taken heed from other nations that were already re-opening at the time these projects were funded - in June last year. Meanwhile ICU capacity shrunk during the pandemic, with the Medical Journal of Australia warning in November 2021 that there were 8 per cent fewer beds than in March 2020. Here, Daily Mail Australia takes a look at the real costs of each quarantine facility and whether they'll even be used post-pandemic. Mickleham, Victoria: $700million The federal government paid $580million to provide Victoria with 1000 beds for people in isolation - significantly more than the initial $200million projected price. At the time of writing, it was the only the new Commonwealth-funded facility that was a finished project and not under construction. Accommodation facilities were scaled down to just to 250 on July 1 due to lack of demand, but will continue being used as a quarantine facility until December 31 - with $120million set aside to meet running costs. Following that, the state government can choose to extend the life of the centre or repurpose it. The federal government paid $500million for the quarantine hub in Victoria (pictured) The Mickleham facility has 1000 beds. It is the only Commonwealth-funded facility that is not still under construction It is understood that Premier Daniel Andrews has already been briefed at possible alternative uses, given its original purpose was gone by the time it opened. One idea was that refugees from Afghanistan and Ukraine could be housed to remove the need for continued offshore processing, but Mr Andrews said that was beyond his control. 'There's lots of federal police in Victoria too but they don't work for me. You'd have to talk to the Commonwealth government about the status of their facility, which they bought, paid for,' he said in June. Between when it opened in February and the end of June, 1451 people have stayed at the Mickleham centre - 226 were travellers, 186 were maritime crew and 1039 were community members and frontline workers. A spokeswoman for the Victorian government told Daily Mail Australia the facility is currently being used to accommodate Covid-positive community members and frontline workers who cannot safely isolate at home. Bullsbrook, Western Australia: $200million State premier Mark McGowan complained in 2020 and 2021 that the government was haemorrhaging money due to the expense of putting arrivals in Perth hotels. In the midst of the crisis, he suggested international arrivals should be held in existing facilities, such as the Curtin air base or the Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre. In June last year, as millions of Australians began rolling up their sleeves to receive their long-awaited Covid jabs, Mr Morrison announced the federal government would cough up the $200million required to erect a brand new 500-bed quarantine centre. For Mr McGowan, it was too little too late. 'I just want to be really clear about this - this was a decision of the Morrison Government to build this,' he said last Sunday. Mr Morrison announced the federal government would cough up the $200million required to erect a brand new 500-bed quarantine centre (pictured) WA Premier Mark McGowan (pictured) did not want the facility, and doesn't know what to do with it Mr McGowan has suggested using the Bullsbrook facility (pictured) to house international healthcare, hospitality and construction workers amid a labor shortage 'At this point in time, it's not needed for quarantine purposes but it may be needed for some of those purposes in the future.' The Commonwealth will officially hand the keys over to WA officials in August, after which point taxpayers will have to continue to foot the bill for open-ended maintenance and running costs - despite there being no overseas arrivals in quarantine in the state. Mr McGowan has suggested using the facility to house international healthcare, hospitality and construction workers amid a labor shortage. Another possibility was to provide emergency accommodation due to Perth's rental crisis. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the WA government for comment. Pinkenba, Queensland: $400million The 500-bed facility in Brisbane was due to be handed over to the state government in late March, but 'inclement weather' got in the way. Catastrophic floods that ravaged southern parts of the Sunshine State earlier in 2022 delayed the build until May, and then until June. The latest completion date has not been disclosed, but it is understood to be 'near'. What happens to the facility once the keys are handed over is anyone's guess - Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is yet comment on the issue, probably because she went ahead and built her own expensive quarantine hub near Toowoomba. Catastrophic floods that ravaged southern parts of the Sunshine State earlier in 2022 delayed the construction of Pinkenba (pictured) The latest completion date has not been disclosed, but it is understood to be 'near' (artist's impression of Pinkenba is pictured) Finance Minister Simon Birmingham previously suggested it would be turned into a an evacuation shelter during natural disasters once the pandemic is over. When contacted by Daily Mail Australia, a spokeswoman from the state's finance department requested all questions about future use of the facility to the federal government. According to a statement on the federal finance department's website, Covid-19 centres will be used for 'other purposes' post-pandemic. 'The designs open up possibilities for use in future public health emergencies, humanitarian efforts, or as crisis accommodation for bushfire-affected communities or other vulnerable Australians,' it stated. The 500-bed facility in Brisbane (pictured) was due to be handed over to the state government in late March Wellcamp, Queensland: $200million Ms Palaszczuk couldn't wait for Mr Morrison to confirm a facility in her state, so she jumped the gun and asked a private company to build the hub at Wellcamp just outside Toowoomba, west of Brisbane. 'Scott Morrison failed to act and we now have a dedicated quarantine facility for whatever may happen in the future,' she previously said in justifying the cost of a second facility. The federal government rejected the Wellcamp proposal because it is not hear an airport that takes commercial international passenger flights. Furthermore, it's positioned an hour and a half away from a tertiary hospital equipped to deal with Covid-19 patients and was deemed a risk for critical cases. Nevertheless, Wagner Corporation was contracted to build the 1000-bed centre on private land, and the state government will use taxpayers' money to lease the property at a significant cost. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) went ahead and built her own expensive quarantine hub near Toowoomba Ms Palaszczuk had not yet decided whether to renew the facility (plans pictured) after the lease expires in February The state leader was hesitant to reveal the price tag, but her government did not dispute the $200million figure reported in April - $48million of which was fronted by taxpayers for a facility that is not publicly owned. The centre opened in February and has so far accommodated 700 unvaccinated travellers - many of whom were billed for the privilege; $3220 for a two-week stay for an adult and more than $5000 for a family; the same price as a quarantine hotel. It is currently being used for Covid-positive people who are unable to isolate at home. However, Queensland in April abolished the need for unvaccinated travellers and close contacts to isolate, with the state's once buoyant tourism industry having been crippled by the isolationist border policies. In June, Ms Palaszczuk had not yet decided whether to renew the facility after the lease expires in February, however, she did float the idea that it could be used to house flood or domestic violence victims. Howard Springs, Northern Territory: Howard Springs, on the outskirts of Darwin, was an abandoned workers' camp that Territory leaders didn't know what to do with, until it was repurposed for the pandemic. It's supreme location (the middle of nowhere) was the perfect place for people to quarantine and it quickly became Australia's premier quarantine hub - the preferred place to spend two weeks in isolation. There was so much space that occupants were allowed to exercise, and each cabin had its own balcony - a far cry from the medi-hotel rooms around the nation that were more akin to solitary confinement. It even became the target of quarantine opponents who, unable to travel to the remote location to view the site in person, wrongly touted it as a concentration camp. Howard Springs, on the outskirts of Darwin, was an abandoned workers' camp (pictured) 22,000 repatriated Australians, overseas fruit pickers, international students and athletes returning from the Tokyo Olympics isolated at Howard Springs (pictured) Nevertheless, almost 22,000 repatriated Australians, overseas fruit pickers, international students and even athletes returning from the Tokyo Olympics isolated at the facility. Despite the pre-existing structure, the commonwealth somehow ended up giving the Northern Territory government $513million to run the place between May 2021 to June 30, 2022, according to the NT Independent. It cost more than twice as much as Mr Morrison's government spent building Bullsbrook, and $1.5million more than the construction of Pinkenba. The facility closed in June this year after travel restrictions fizzled out, however, the federal government pledged $5million over the next year to keep it on standby as a quarantine hub just in case. Daily Mail Australia contacted the federal finance department to ask what the future holds for the four white elephants for which they are in charge, but did not receive a response. Hardcore drug 'ice' has shaken off its 'bogan coke' tag to become a party-night high for the young, rich and respectable as Australia is named a crystal meth capital of the world. A blockbuster new report found Australia has the highest meth use out of 25 countries in Europe, Asia and Oceania, with Sydney and Perth the biggest hotspots. Experts have warned the scourge of once-taboo methamphetamine is now gripping all levels of society - and is just a text, a social media message or a phone call away. Crystal meth is offered alongside weed, coke and MDMA from dial-a-dealer services delivering direct to partygoers wanting an extra kick to get them through the night. 'It's just another item on the menu of a night out,' drug counsellor Shane O'Neill told Daily Mail Australia. 'Twenty years ago it would have been something on the fringes. 'But today it's just normal for people in their 20s and 30s - and these are people who would never consider themselves addicts. 'It's absolutely insidious and widespread.' Experts have warned the scourge of once-taboo methamphetamine is now gripping all levels of society - and is just a text, social media message or a phone call away (pictured, 400kg of ice worth $300million, discovered being smuggled into Sydney in a 2019 raid) Hardcore drug 'ice' has shaken off its 'bogan coke' tag to be a party-night high for the young, rich and respectable as Australia is named a crystal meth capital of the world Crystal meth is offered alongside weed, coke and MDMA from dial-a-dealer services delivering direct to partygoers wanting an extra kick to get them through the night The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission found ice use in cities had overtaken rural areas in the latest National Wastewater Drug Monitoring study. Ice is now the most widely used illegal drug in the country, overshadowing all other drugs except nicotine and alcohol. 'It is a very resilient market that poses a wicked problem across Australia,' said ACIC principal drugs advisor Shane Neilson. '[Ice] was significantly higher in terms of consumption than most other illicit drugs.' Sewage water testing found Perth locals were using 1,300mg of crystal meth every single day per 1,000 people, with Sydneysiders getting through 1,000mg daily. The boom in use has sparked huge demand and helped fuel the current bikie wars as rival gangs scrap for supply and control of Sydney's lucrative $3.7billion drug trade, worth $10billion nationally CRYSTAL METH BIKIES MOVE INTO ASIA Australian Federal Police fear bikie gangs are setting up new chapters in Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia to smuggle in more ice, cocaine and heroin to Australia. The AFP believe the Comancheros, Hells Angels, Bandidos and Lone Wolf gangs are all trying to set up in south-east Asia. Gang members, especially from Western Australia, are said to have been moving overseas both temporarily and permanently to establish new drug trafficking operations to meet the burgeoning demand. 'These groups are responsible for the importation and trafficking of tonnes of illicit drugs, hundreds of weapons, the laundering of millions of dollars in cash - and, if they feel it is necessary, murder,' AFP Assistant Commissioner Nigel Ryan warned. Advertisement The boom in use has sparked huge demand and helped fuel the current bikie wars as rival gangs scrap for supply and control of Sydney's lucrative $3.7billion drug trade, worth $10billion nationally. Detectives probing bikie Mahmoud Brownie Ahmad's death swooped on an address in Sydney's south-west in May and allegedly found 25kg of ice and $200,000 cash. A 49-year old Wetherill Park man was charged in June with planning Ahmad's murder last April and with drug offences over the ice stash. In October, police allegedly found 300kg of ice, worth an estimated $184million, hidden inside a digger being imported into Sydney from Hong Kong. Raids on suspects linked to the drugs haul allegedly found another $300,000 in cash hidden in homes in Merrylands, Prospect and Rydalmere in Sydney's west. Cops allegedly uncovered another $1.1million in cash next to 220kg of ice when plumbers stumbled on the illicit cache while fixing a leaky toilet at a Canterbury unit in Sydney's inner west. 'Had this drug seizure made its way to Australian streets, countless lives would have been affected,' AFP Acting Commander Matthew Ciantar said. 'Methylamphetamine causes extensive harm to users and the wider community including the families that are torn apart.' The use of the drug has spread beyond those seeking a cheap rush and is now used by young urban partygoers and even housewives. Virginia Perkins was an apparently respectable middle-aged mother from Sydney's northern beaches who ended up bankrupt in a drug-induced psychosis after breaking bad at the age of 44. The use of the drug has spread beyond those seeking a cheap rush and is now used by young urban partygoers and even housewives 'On the surface I was a successful, adventurous, functional professional woman,' she revealed in a warning speech to businesswomen. Virginia Perkins was an apparently respectable middle-aged mother from Sydney's northern beaches who ended up in a drug-induced psychosis at the age of 44 'Behind closed doors, I was little more than a barely functional, emotionally crippled, alcoholic and drug addict. 'Despite the beautiful home, established career, busy social and family networks, I had lost myself.' She revealed she had transitioned from drinking at home to experimenting with drugs until she found herself using ice after a friend offered it to her. 'She used the drug to maintain her figure,' said Ms Perkins. 'It started harmlessly, a few women sharing recreational drugs a couple of nights a week. 'I continued to use ice to relax and socialise.' But she said within a year, it had spiralled hopelessly out of control. HOW ICE AFFECTS THE BRAIN Crystal methamphetamine, or 'ice', triggers the release of three chemicals in the brain, called dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline. These chemicals are also released during pleasant activities - like eating and sex - and they are responsible for making us feel alert and excited. The initial effects of ice - including increased attention, alertness and talkativeness - often last for between four and 12 hours depending on how much ice is consumed. Although the effects of ice are usually felt quickly (within minutes if it is smoked or injected, or about 30 minutes if snorted or swallowed), it can take one to two days for the effects to wear off. But flooding the brain with these chemicals can cause an 'overload' in the system which is why some people cant sleep for days or experience symptoms of after taking ice. Ice also stops the brain from reabsorbing these chemicals which lowers their supply in the brain. This is why people often feel low or irritable for 2-3 days after taking ice. Over the long term, regular use of ice can damage or destroy dopamine in the brain - sometimes to a point where the person using the drug no longer feels normal without having ice in their system. Even after people have stopped using ice it can take up to a year before these brain changes return to normal. SOURCE: CRACKS IN THE ICE Advertisement 'I developed a methamphetamine addiction that quickly escalated to costing several thousand dollars a week, saw me mixing with criminals, admitted to hospital with drug-induced psychosis and literally sent me spiritually, emotionally and finally financially bankrupt within a matter of less than 12 months,' she said. 'Ice addiction is very much about the gradual grinding down of the border between fantasy and reality. 'Many users, myself included, then become psychotic or so deluded they lose all self-awareness, not realising they have become hooked on this insidious drug.' She added: 'Addiction brought me to my knees and cost me so, so much. 'I've come to terms with that and no longer carry romantic notions of harmless recreational drug use. It nearly destroyed me.' Experts stress not all ice users end up addicts or psychotic, and stereotypical side effects such as tooth loss and skin issues depend on the quality of the product and the frequency of use Counsellors and medical experts stress not all ice users end up addicts or psychotic, and stereotypical side effects such as tooth loss and skin issues depend on the quality of the product and the frequency of use. But it does have inherent dangers, admits professor Nadine Ezard, clinical director at St Vincents Hospital drug and alcohol service in Sydney. 'It's such a potent drug to keep you awake that people can stay up for days,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'Ice addiction is very much about the gradual grinding down of the border between fantasy and reality,' former user Virginia Perkins said PIONEERING NEW ICE REHAB TREATMENTS There's now an ever-growing demand for professional help to wean users off ice and Sydney professor Nadine Ezard is pioneering new treatments including using an ADHD drug as a replacement. 'It will allow people to concentrate and focus on their counselling and reinvent themselves, if you like,' St Vincents Hospital alcohol and drug service clinical director said. 'This might give people a chance to put some put other structures in their life.' The unit is also working on a world-first 'psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy' trial based on psilocybin, the active drug in hallucinogenic so-called magic mushrooms. The dose is small enough to offer a psychedelic effect without adverse side-effects such as hallucinations or paranoia. This is followed-up with therapy sessions. Clinical psychologist Dr Elizabeth Knock said the psychosocial treatment could accelerate and enhance the counselling sessions. She says it creates a 'psychological and spiritual experience that people describe as transformative.' But lead researcher Dr Jonathan Brett added: 'We wouldnt be encouraging people to try this at home.' Advertisement 'Basically, if you keep anybody up for several days, there is a risk of psychosis.' She added: 'We get all different kinds of people. It's across the social spectrum. We're seeing a maturing of the epidemic. 'We're starting to see some people that have been using for really quite a long time. 'Some people have got good jobs, they still have their families intact, and they're trying to retain those, so they're coming forward for counselling. 'Some come for a physical and mental health checkup - through to people who recognise they are really out of control.' But she admitted rehabilitation was down to the users themselves. 'The majority of people who use methamphetamine only use occasionally,' she said. 'But no-one can tell anyone to stop using drugs. We can't even keep them out of jail.' Sydney drug rehabilitation centre The Cabin has an upmarket treatment villa in Thailand where the city's rich and famous can recover in luxury and privacy. 'Studies have shown that there has been a drastic increase in the use of methamphetamines in its crystal form,' says their website. Their main clients are usually struggling with cocaine and alcohol but counsellor Shane O'Neill admits they also see meth users too now. 'It's pretty constant,' he said. 'It's an interesting one. It's just normal now for people who aren't necessarily addicts to have ice in their arsenal. 'If they go out, there's coke, there's meth, drink - it just depends on the age group. It's just a normal thing now. It's not the kind of, "Oooh, ice!" It's just there.' No-one was safe from its clutches, he said, but many manage to hide their habits from the world. He added: 'They have jobs, have gone to uni, have families - whatever...but they are just kind of functioning. 'The level of high functioning addicts in Sydney has probably never been higher. It's just how it is... it's out of control.' Australia is scrambling to prevent the biosecurity and economic disaster of a foot and mouth outbreak from hitching a ride on hundreds of travellers returning home from Bali every day. An outbreak could cost the economy up to $80billion and affect most Australians by raising the prices of everything from a morning coffee to a takeaway burger and the weekly grocery shop. On Friday, Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said the government would be 'risk profiling' passengers returning from Indonesia and spending $14million to combat the spread of the disease. Australia is scrambling to prevent the biosecurity and economic disaster of a foot and mouth outbreak from hitching a ride on thousands of travellers returning home from Bali every day What a foot and mouth outbreak would mean for consumers The Cattle Council of Australia (CCA) has urged Bali travellers to think about the impact a foot and mouth disease outbreak would have on their friends, family and community. 'Red meat products would disappear faster than during the COVID-19 lockdowns,' CCA CEO John McGoverne said. 'Red meat would run out quickly and dairy products would follow soon after. 'This could mean no steak, no flat whites and no ice cream until we start the recovery. 'Even when we could start supplying the local market again, it would be a slow return with big shortages.' Advertisement Foot and mouth disease, a highly contagious disease affecting cattle, sheep and pigs has been confirmed in Bali Foot and mouth disease, a highly contagious illness that affects cattle, sheep and pigs, with the potential to shut down meat exports and lead to millions of healthy animals being destroyed, has been confirmed in Bali. Returning Aussies who match the risk profile will be questioned, checked by detector dogs and have their shoes and luggage decontaminated. The 'risk profiling' is based on how returning passengers answer travel declarations, such as whether they have had contact with a dam or livestock or have had grains or meat products in their luggage. Returning Aussies who match the risk profile will be questioned, checked by detector dogs and have their shoes and luggage decontaminated The Cattle Council of Australia said biosecurity measures introduced are 'a good start' but need to take into account the disease can also travel on clothes But there has already been criticism the measures don't go far enough, with calls for travellers to face severe consequences for not telling the truth on travel documents. One of the main measures includes 18 new biosecurity officers to be stationed at Australian airports and mail centres and biosecurity detector dogs reintroduced to Darwin and Cairns airports. Nationals leader David Littleproud claimed there is a 'one in five chance' of the disease making it into Australia at present. He told Daily Mail Australia the Labor government had 'taken too long' with its response and 'they need to go further'. 'Disinfectant foot baths need to be in place at airports for every flight from Indonesia,' Mr Littleproud said. 'The Government must fast track the $20 million provided in the budget for traceability and a gene bank for livestock.' He also called for '3D X-ray scanners at airports for baggage' to urgently be installed. The Cattle Council of Australia said biosecurity measures introduced are 'a good start' but need to take into account the disease can also travel on clothes. 'This disease would gut our industry and can easily travel back to Australia on clothing,' CCA President Lloyd Hick said. The CCA noted the maximum fines for not declaring banned items are up to $1.1 million and 10 years in jail. But it said on-the-spot fines need to be urgently increased and called for tough penalties for travellers who make false declarations. 'The Government should also review its on-the-spot fines that are capped at $2,660. 'Sometimes fines of a few hundred dollars are issued, but the risk to our industry and Australian economy is in the billions. 'This is a massive imbalance, particularly when someone has deliberately made a false declaration. 'Immigration should also look at cancelling visas for people who make false biosecurity declarations.' The Cattle Council has warned a foot and mouth disease outbreak could see ice cream and our morning coffee disappear because milk production would stop as humans can catch the disease from drinking milk The scale of the biosecurity emergency is huge, with hundreds of Australians flying into Bali every day for a break from the cold Down Under. On Thursday and Friday, a total of 32 flights landed in Australia from Bali, according to Mr Littleproud. A Melbourne airport spokeswoman confirmed 686 passengers arrived from Bali on Thursday, and 1050 departed for the island destination. A Brisbane airport spokesman 23,376 people, travelled to Bali between June 10 and July 10. National Farmers' Federation CEO Tony Mahar said an outbreak would bring every industry involving cattle, sheep or pigs to a 'grinding halt'. Calls are growing for an immediate travel ban to Bali, or at least Covid-level restrictions on travellers amid the FMD on the popular island North Queensland senator Susan McDonald says people returning from a holiday Bali should undergo a week's quarantine to minimise the chances of the highly infectious disease entering Australia 'If FMD arrived in Australia we will first have to assess the outbreak and how far it has spread and this could mean immediate livestock standstills to prevent further spread. This will bring the supply chains to a grinding halt and if livestock can't leave the farm, then meat can't get to supermarket shelves,' Mr Mahar said. 'In the worst case scenario it could drastically reduce the availability of chops and snags for the barbecue and meat for your burger, but more than that, all the people along the supply chain will have their livelihoods in the hanging in the balance farmers, truck drivers, processors, the list goes on.' Earlier this week one grazier from southern NSW called for 'an immediate ban' to any travel to or from Bali. 'The cost to Australia if foot and mouth disease enters Australia is such that an immediate ban on travel to and from Bali and any other parts of Indonesia where the disease is present, is necessary and a very small price to pay to reduce the risk to Australia,' said farmer Charles Harvey on Twitter. North Queensland senator Susan McDonald said people returning from a holiday in Bali should undergo a week's quarantine to minimise the chances of the highly infectious disease entering Australia. She said the likely impacts on animals, consumers and farmers were of 'biblical proportions.' 'They might think about 'I haven't been on a farm,' but what we're saying is in Bali you have contact with animals and people who work with animals,' she said. People could easily bring the disease in on their shoes or on the bottom of a suitcase if either touch animal faeces. Ms McDonald was joined by columnist and fiancee of former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce Vikkie Campion, who called for empty Covid quarantine facilities around Australia to be used to keep FMD out. 'Everyone back from Bali should get a bonus 28 hours in the brand new Wellcamp quarantine station, which the Queensland Labor State Government opened just in time for Covid quarantine measures to end,' she wrote in The Saturday Telegraph. 'If you can slam Australian borders shut for a disease we already had, you can justify stricter controls for a highly contagious virus wearing an $80billion price tag.' Sydney University professor Michael Ward said foot and mouth disease is 'remarkable' for how it survives and spreads. 'It can persist on many inanimate objects, such as equipment used with livestock, people's clothing and shoes, on the tyres of vehicles and in livestock transport,' he said. 'It can even remain infectious on the hands and within noses of those in contact with infected livestock.' The disease, which cost the British economy $19billion in 2001, led to apocalyptic scenes of over six million cattle carcasses being burned on 2000 farms. What is foot and mouth disease? It is a highly infectious and contagious 'zoonotic' disease that infects cattle, sheep, pigs, goat and deer with blisters, they also drool and limp The meat of infected animals is not safe to eat Exports from any country with infection are banned Milk production stops as humans can catch the disease from drinking milk Healthy animals must be killed and burned inside a quarantine zone The disease was detected in Indonesia in May 2022 and has spread to Bali People can spread the disease from contact with animals including on shoes, thongs and luggage The estimated threat to the Australian economy is $80billion Over six million cattle had to be destroyed during an outbreak in the UK in 2001 Advertisement Foot and mouth disease is understood to be at least as contagious as the Omicron variant of Covid-19. Although the disease is in theory transmissible to humans - especially from drinking milk - that is rare Heartbreakingly, farmers could be ordered to destroy even healthy animals inside declared quarantine zones and burn their carcasses. That's because it is extremely contagious and difficult to control and requires a vaccination program with vaccines matched to specific strains of the disease. Another farmer, Catherine Marriott, the CEO of Riverine Plains, begged travellers to 'leave your clothes and your shoes over there'. 'Support their local economies, buy clothes [and shoes] over there and leave them over there. There has not been an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Australia for 130 years. Skittles manufacturer Mars Inc. has been sued by a California man who claims a colorant used in the candies is dangerous and puts people at risk of damage to their brains and DNA. In a proposed class action filed on Thursday in the Oakland, California federal court, Jenile Thames accused Mars of endangering unsuspecting Skittles eaters by using 'heightened levels' of titanium dioxide, or TiO2, as a food additive. The lawsuit highlighted how titanium dioxide will be banned in the European Union next month after a food safety regulator there deemed it unsafe because of 'genotoxicity,' or the ability to change DNA. TiO2 - which is used as a colorant in Skittles - is also feared to have the ability to damage vital organs including the brain, if consumed in dangerous quantities. It is generally used to provide a white or cloudy background on products. Those foodstuffs can then be sprayed-over with the bright colors that Skittles - whose slogan is Taste the Rainbow - are famous for. Skittles parent firm Mars Inc. has been sued in California over claims the famous candies contain a colorant called titanium dioxide that can alter DNA and cause brain damage 'A reasonable consumer would expect that can be safely purchased and consumed as marketed and sold,' the complaint said. 'However, the products are not safe.' The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for fraud and violations of California consumer protection laws. Mars did not immediately respond on Friday to requests for comment. DailyMail.com has also contacted Thames for a comment. The McLean, Virginia-based company, which is private, had pledged in February 2016 to remove artificial colors from its food products over the next five years. But Thames' lawsuit alleges that was just a ruse to keep consumers happy, and that Mars Inc. continues to pump the chemical into its candies. He says the firm should print warnings on its packaging to make consumers aware of the dangers of consuming titanium dioxide. In October 2016, it confirmed that titanium dioxide was among the colorants being removed, according to the nonprofit Center for Food Safety, citing an email from Mars. The case was filed in Oakland Federal Court, pictured, on Thursday According to the lawsuit, titanium dioxide is used in paint, adhesives, plastics and roofing materials, and can cause DNA, brain and organ damage, and well as lesions in the liver and kidneys. Thames, of San Leandro, California, said he bought Skittles at a local QuikStop in April, and would not have done so had he known their contents. He said checking the label would not have helped because the ingredients on Skittles' bright-red packages are hard to read. The Guardian reported that the European Food Safety Authority warned titanium dioxide 'can no longer be considered safe as a food additive.' Its officials added: 'A critical element in reaching this conclusion is that we could not exclude genotoxicity concerns after consumption of titanium dioxide particles. 'After oral ingestion, the absorption of titanium dioxide particles is low, however they can accumulate in the body.' A former Southwest Airlines flight attendant who was fired after sparring with her union president over abortion won a $5.3 million jury verdict against the airline and the union Thursday. A jury in a Dallas federal district court handed down the verdict, ruling Charlene Carter had been fired for her religious stance on abortion, which she shared to social media, and that her termination was in violation of her right to advocate against her union. If it stands, Carter could collect $4.15 million from Southwest and $950,000 from Local 556 of the Transport Workers Union, mostly in punitive damages. Southwest said Friday that it 'has a demonstrated history of supporting our employees' rights to express their opinions when done in a respectful manner.' It plans to appeal. A lawyer for the union said jurors might've misunderstood the judge's instructions and it also plans to appeal. Carter alleged she was fired in March 2017 after complaining to the union president about flight attendants going to the Women's March in Washington, D.C., in January of that year, where more than 500,000 people protested former President Donald Trump's positions on abortion and other issues. A former Southwest Airlines flight attendant who was fired after sparring with her union president over abortion won a $5.3 million jury verdict against the airline and the union Thursday The longtime flight attendant, who had clashed with the union for years over other issues, believed dues were paying for an anti-abortion protest The longtime flight attendant, who had clashed with the union for years, believed dues were going to fund an anti-abortion protest. Carter sent a series of Facebook messages, some containing videos of purported aborted fetuses, to Audrey Stone, who was president of the union at the time, calling her 'despicable' and saying she would be voted out of office. 'This is what you supported during your paid leave with others at the Womens March in D.C.,' she wrote in one message to Stone, according to the Dallas Morning News. 'You truly are despicable in so many ways. According to court documents, the airline said it fired Carter because her Facebook posts, in which she could be identified as a Southwest employee, were 'highly offensive' and that her private messages to Stone were harassing. The airline said she violated company policies on bullying and use of social media. Carter sent a series of Facebook messages, some containing videos of purported aborted fetuses, to Audrey Stone (pictured), who was president of the union at the time Carter, a 20-year veteran of Southwest, said the union didn't fairly represent her and retaliated against her for expressing her views. Her lead attorney came from the National Right To Work Committee, which campaigns against compulsory union membership. The dean of students and a counselor at Oxford High School in Michigan who were named in a lawsuit against the school district were put on administrative leave after the tragic shooting that left four students dead in November. The employees - Dean of Students Nicholas Ejak and Counselor Shawn Hopkins - have both since left the school but will continue to work in the Oxford School District. An attorney leading the lawsuit, Ven Johnson, called these actions an attempt to cover up its responsibility in not stopping the shooting. 'Oxford Community Schools has yet again covered up its role in the Oxford High School mass shooting tragedy. Today, we have found out for the first time, that two of its high school employees, Nicholas Ejak and Shawn Hopkins, both of whom are named in our civil lawsuit, were immediately placed on paid 'administrative leave' for more than one month following the shooting,' Johnson said in a statement. The suspensions are 'yet another example of the overwhelming evidence which proves the school district has no interest whatsoever in determining the mistakes it made that left four students dead, seven injured and hundreds traumatized,' he added. Counselor Shawn Hopkins (pictured left) and the Oxford High School Dean of Students Nicholas Ejak (pictured right) were allegedly suspended in the wake of the brutal shooting at the school in November, but remain employed by the district, according to a lawsuit Ejak and Hopkins both met with then-15-year-old Ethan Crumbley and his parents to discuss the disturbing drawings he'd made just a few hours before he went on a killing spree, according to the county prosecutor Crumbley killed four students and injured another seven on November 30 at Oxford High School Ejak and Hopkins both met with then-15-year-old Ethan Crumbley and his parents to discuss the disturbing drawings he'd made just a few hours before he went on a killing spree, according to the county prosecutor. Crumbley allegedly convinced them that the drawings were for a video game and his parents refused to take him home, Karen McDonald said. The lawsuit against the district also claims Ejak had Crumbley's backpack containing a handgun and 48 rounds of ammunition in his possession. A representative from the district told Fox News that Hopkins and Ejak are both being moved to a different school this fall but both 'are still employed by the school district.' The lawsuit, filed by Johnson in a civil court on behalf of six of the students and their families, accuses Crumbley's parents, James and Jennifer, of negligence. School staff, including Ejak and Hopkins, are accused of the same. They say killer Ethan Crumbley exhibited 'concerning behavior that indicated psychiatric distress, suicidal or homicidal tendencies and the possibility of child abuse and neglect.' Crumbley was said to have been seen by a teacher to be looking at ammunition online and is alleged to have been seen by other students to have shell casings and live ammunition on the day before the shooting. He also brought a severed bird's head to the school and placed it in the boy's bathroom. While this behavior was reported by students, school administrators, including the principal and district administrators, allegedly concealed the information from staff and parents, according to the filings. 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, Mich. The school is now being sued by the families of the victims 'Senior Speaker' Kylie Ossege, who was shot and wounded by Crumbley and is now suing the school, addresses the seniors at the Oxford High School graduation at Pine Knob Music Theater in Independence Township, Mich., on May 19 They say this inaction breached the constitutional rights of the children at school to be safe. Tate Myre, 16; Madisyn Baldwin, 17; Hana St. Juliana, 14; and Justin Shilling, 17, died in the tragic shooting. Kylie Ossege, 17, suffered a shoulder injury but survived and is now suing the district and administrators of gross negligence and violation of the Michigan Child Protection Law. Attorney Wolf Mueller said: 'It is clear after reviewing documents and seeing testimony in the preliminary Exam of Crumbley's parents, that the school administrators failed the students of Oxford High School.' He added that the inaction of administrators made the tragedy 'predictable and preventable.' The lawsuit states school administrators sent an e-mail on November 12, after reviewing threats and said there was no 'threat to our building nor our students' and principal Wolf said that they were 'merely exaggerated rumors'. One teacher, Pam Parker Fine, is accused of violating the law by failing to contact child protective services in response to evidence that Crumbley was researching ammunition and that Crumbley's parents did not take her call. The law requires teachers to contact the high school's liaison officer at the police when evidence of child neglect, child abuse and danger to others was presented. The lawsuit says killer Ethan Crumbley exhibited 'concerning behavior that indicated psychiatric distress, suicidal or homicidal tendencies and the possibility of child abuse and neglect' Jacqueline Kubina, a teacher who also found Crumbley looking up ammunition in class, is also accused of violating the same law. After teacher's allegedly found Crumbley's drawings of people with gunshot wounds, the lawsuit alleges that Ejak, the dean of students, and Hopkins, a student counselor, failed to search his backpack despite having grounds to do so. The drawings reportedly came with the inscription: 'The thoughts won't stop. Help me.' The shooting occurred after a meeting between Ejak and Hopkins and the Crumbley family in which the shooter's parents refused to take their child home and the lawsuit says the meeting 'deliberately' took place without a safety liaison officer present to search Crumbley's person. The lawsuit called the defendants' actions 'reckless' and put the lives of the victims 'at substantial risk of serious and immediate harm'. It further alleges that it was 'foreseeable that [Crumbley] would carry out such acts of violence. Ven Johnson, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said: 'While this new lawsuit won't remedy the pain and suffering these families have gone through, it will certainly hold the school district and its officials accountable for their role in not properly supervising and training teachers and counselors, who have an obligation to ensure students remain safe.' 'With the alarming number of red flags and desperate cries for help that Ethan's parents, teachers, counselors and administrators all somehow missed, this mass shooting absolutely could and should have been prevented.' Ethan Crumbley, now 16, has been charged as an adult with four counts of first-degree murder for the November 2021 massacre of his fellow Oxford High students. Justin Shilling and Tate Myre's families have launched the lawsuit Madisyn Baldwin, 17, (left) and Hana St Juliana, 14, (right) died in the shooting rampage at Oxford High School in suburban Detroit His parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, were charged with involuntary manslaughter after it emerged they had bought the gun for their troubled son, who spent hours researching mass shootings and pleaded with his parents for help before using the weapon at his school. The judge said they failed to exercise 'ordinary care and diligence' as parents. Ethan will be called as a witness in his parents' trial, it was revealed in late June. A judge has refused to reduce their bail, insisting they're a flight risk. By Kwon Mee-yoo New U.S. Ambassador to Korea Philip Goldberg attended the Seoul Queer Culture Festival (SQCF) at Seoul Plaza, Saturday, along with other foreign diplomats, to promote queer rights in Korea. Goldberg reaffirmed the U.S. government's commitment to root out discrimination in society. The U.S. envoy's participation and speech in support of the LGBTQ community in Korea was applauded by the participants of the festival, including LGBTQ people as well as their friends and supporters. The festival returned after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Envoys from the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Denmark, European Union, Sweden, Ireland, the U.K., Canada, Finland, Australia and the U.S. appeared on stage together holding a large rainbow banner that read, "Diplomats for LGBTI+ Rights." Each of them gave a short speech advocating the rights of sexual minorities, diversity and inclusion. Goldberg, who was the last among the envoys to speak, introduced himself as the new U.S. ambassador to Korea and said he wanted to be part of the festival even though he just arrived in the country this week. "It is the strong commitment of the United States to ending discrimination, wherever it occurs, and to ensuring that everyone is treated with respect and humanity," Goldberg said. "We simply cannot leave any of you behind... We are with you. We are going to fight with you for equality and human rights." U.S. ambassador to Korea Philip Goldberg, left, shakes hands with an official from the British Embassy as he visits a booth set up jointly by several foreign diplomatic missions at the 2022 Seoul Queer Culture Festival at Seoul Plaza, Saturday. Captured from Twitter Goldberg also tweeted a photo of him visiting the U.S. Embassy's booth, co-organized with the British Embassy, at the SQCF and wrote, "No one should be discriminated against because of their identity. I join with (U.S. President Joe Biden) in standing with the LGBTQI+ community and applaud all those working to advance the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons in Korea." Goldberg's participation in Korea's largest LGBT festival faced opposition from Christian and far-right groups who held protest rallies against the queer festival across the street. Shouting into loudspeakers, the protesters criticized the embassies taking part in the festival and especially denounced the U.S. ambassador for supporting queers. The groups already held rallies against Goldberg in front of the U.S. Embassy Seoul upon his arrival, claiming that the diplomat is a homosexual. Comanchero boss Mark Buddle secretly wedded a Northern Cyprus woman in a fake marriage after fleeing Australia and hiding out overseas. Buddle fled Australia in 2016, after being wanted in connection with several murders, and moved to Girne, in Northern Cyprus, on a tourist visa on July 7, 2021. The wanted bikie boss began to put down roots on the island, investing in local businesses and real estate and tying the knot to a mystery woman known as Ozge. Meanwhile his longtime partner Mel Ter Wisscha appeared to be living it up abroad and regularly posted photos of herself in Bodrum, Turkey, more than 500km away. In one photo she was seen wearing a pink bikini while posing on an outdoor lounge at a luxury resort. Buddle's attempt to build a new life overseas came crashing down when he was arrested at his hideout last Saturday and transferred to a Turkish prison. Exiled Comanchero boss Mark Buddle secretly wedded a Northern Cyprus woman in a fake marriage after fleeing Australia and hiding out overseas (pictured, Buddle with longtime partner Mel Ter Wisscha) Meanwhile his longtime partner Mel Ter Wisscha appeared to be living it up abroad and regularly posted photos of herself in Bodrum, in Turkey, more than 500km away It is understood he would have been able to gain citizenship in Northern Cyprus if he remained married to the mystery woman for a year, Daily Telegraph reported. She is understood to be well-liked in the community and is being looked after by locals since Buddle's arrest. Buddle is believed to have partnered with a businessman with mob and mafia connections while living on the Mediterranean island. Sources claimed the businessman had vouched for Buddle so he could extend his one-month tourist visa by another three months. Official sources claimed Buddle had organised to meet 'with a gang member of his who came from Germany' before he was then arrested at gunpoint. While Buddle has long been suspected of involvement in international drug smuggling, it was an investigation into security guard Gary Allibon's murder that appears to have led him to flee overseas. The execution of Allibon was a senseless crime as brutal as it was unnecessary. On the day he was killed Allibon had been dropping off cash at a Commonwealth Bank ATM when just after 6am on June 7, 2010, a trio of armed men wearing balaclavas ambushed his crew of three at Sussex Street in Sydney. The bandits snatched a cash box containing $300,000 and should have immediately made their getaway in a stolen silver Audi S8 driven by a fourth accomplice. Security guard Gary Allibon was shot dead while delivering cash to an ATM in Sydney's central business district in June 2010. Three men wearing balaclavas escaped with $300,000. Police want to interview Comanchero boss Mark Buddle about the robbery and murder Mark Buddle was expelled from Northern Cyprus last weekend and taken to a prison in Turkey from where he might soon be deported to Australia or a third country. He left Australia in 2016 and has spent time in Dubai, Iraq and Lebanon. Buddle is pictured with wife Mel Ter Wisscha Gary Allibon (out of picture) had his back turned and his arms raised when one of three armed robbers shot him with a .45 calibre handgun. The shooter then stole the guard's weapon Instead, one of the gunman shot Allibon in the back while the guard had his hands raised, then stole his work-issued firearm in one last indignity. Allibon, who had done as he was ordered and presented no threat to the robbers, died a short time later at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. The gang escaped with the cash in the Audi, which was captured on CCTV two days later driving in convoy with a black Mercedes C63 on Henry Lawson Drive at Milperra about 10pm. The Audi was found dumped and incinerated a couple of hours later near Deepwater Park at Milperra, not far from the clubhouse of the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang. A stolen Audi S8 used in the armed robbery in which Gary Allibon was killed was found burnt out two days later near Deepwater Park at Milperra, not far from the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang's clubhouse. The incinerated vehicle is pictured Everything about the cash grab - except Allibon's shooting - looked like the work of experienced armed robbers, down to the use of stolen high-performance vehicles. The Mercedes C63 was never located and neither was a white BMW X6 four-wheel drive which was also linked to the robbery. Ballistics examinations matched the firearm used to kill Allibon to a drive-by shooting of a house at Vaucluse in the city's eastern suburbs in November 2007. The same .45 calibre handgun was also likely used in the shooting of two members from the Notorious gang at Merrylands in western Sydney in March 2010. Bullet casings found in the burnt-out Audi matched another weapon used in the western suburbs shooting of drug cook Roy Yaghi at Wentworthville in April 2010. [Yaghi and his friend Jamie Grover, both Lone Wolf associates, were shot dead in August 2012 in a dispute over drugs]. On the fifth anniversary of Allibon's murder police released CCTV footage taken two days after the crime. The footage showed two men in a Mercedes C63 which was driven behind the Audi getaway car. A month later Mark Buddle tried to fly to Noumea with $60,000 undeclared cash Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Mark Buddle was involved in any of those crimes, only that he is a person of interest in the Allibon investigation. Buddle grew up in public housing at beachside Maroubra in Sydney's south-east and spent time in juvenile detention. He had played representative rugby league but that career was ended by injury. Joining the Comanchero when he was 21, he took control of the club after national president Mahmoud 'Mick' Hawi was jailed over the death of Hells Angels associate Anthony Zervas at Sydney Airport in March 2009. Zervas was bludgeoned to death when 12 Comanchero confronted five Hells Angels and Hawi was eventually convicted of manslaughter. In Hawi's absence the gang was taken over by Duax Hohepa Ngakuru until he left Australia in 2010 when the crown was seized by the fiercely ambitious Buddle. Buddle grew up in public housing at beachside Maroubra in Sydney's south-east and spent time in juvenile detention. He had played representative rugby league but that career was ended by injury. He is pictured when he was commander of the Comanchero in NSW In the following years Buddle spent time in prison for offences including assault, affray and intentionally causing injury but how and why police became interested in his knowledge - if any - of Allibon's murder is unclear. A coronial inquest held into the shooting in September 2015 recommended the investigation be referred to the unsolved homicide unit of NSW Police. Detectives first said they were close to making an arrest over Allibon's shooting in June 2014 when they stated publicly they knew who had killed him. On the eve of the fourth anniversary of Allibon's death, Detective Superintendent Luke Moore of the Robbery and Serious Crime Squad said Strike Force Lorimer had made a number of significant breakthroughs. 'We believe we know who is responsible for this offence and we are very close to being able to charge those people with the offence,' Moore said at the time. It was then police revealed the links they had made between the Audi and Yaghi's first shooting, as well as releasing details of the missing BMW X6 and a silver BMW 5-Series sedan, which was stolen during a car-jacking at Maroubra in July 2009. Detective Superintendent Moore said detectives still needed 'little pieces of information' before they could arrest the suspects and asked the public for help. He called those involved in the murder 'well-organised' and 'cold-blooded' and said they were suspected of having links to known organised crime groups. A year later in June 2015, ahead of another anniversary, police released CCTV footage showing two men in the Mercedes C63 which was driven behind the getaway Audi two days after the crime. Both men were likely identifiable to those who know them. Detective Acting Superintendent Mick Sheehy issued a reminder there was a $100,000 reward for information that led to the conviction of Allibon's killers. Gary and Monica Allibon were married for 25 years and lived at Kirrawee in Sydney's south. He regularly left love notes around the couple's home and was just eight months away from retiring 'We believe the men in the Mercedes as depicted in the CCTV could assist us greatly with our inquiries into the occupants of the silver Audi, so we are asking anyone who can identify them to come forward,' he said. The next month Buddle was pulled off a plane at Newcastle Airport after chartering a flight to Noumea. He was carrying $60,000 in undeclared cash and spent eight weeks in prison. Buddle legally flew out of the country in 2016 - first to Dubai, then Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey and Cyprus - and has not returned. In 2017 he was still asserting authority over the Comanchero in his absence, texting associates: 'I'm the f***ing commander of the world... no one is to touch another member or set up another chapter without my permission.' Buddle did not come back to Australia for his father's funeral that year or his mother's in 2018. Buddle did not return to Australia for his father's funeral in 2017 or his mother's in 2018. Comanchero sergeant-at-arms Tarek Zahed is pictured in club colours carrying Buddle's mother's coffin. Zahed was shot ten times in May in an ambush that killed his brother Omar Hawi, who was released from prison in 2015 and left the Comanchero, was shot dead outside a Rockdale gym in Sydney's south in February 2018. Two Lone Wolf members were acquitted of that murder in 2020. One of those men, Yusuf Nazlioglu, was shot dead at Rhodes in the city's inner-west in June. Detectives are interested in what Buddle might know about Hawi's murder, as well as the execution of gangster Mejid Hamzy at Condell Park in the city's south-west in October 2020. Underworld rumour has it that there is a $7million contract on Buddle's head. Less profitable but slightly less risky would be providing information that leads to the conviction of Allibon's killer and claiming the $1million reward. That sum was increased from $100,000 in April 2020 when police announced they were reinvestigating the murder and again asked for the public's help. Buddle took control of the Comanchero in 2010 while national president Mahmoud 'Mick' Hawi (above, with wife Carolina Gonzalez) was in jail. Hawi was shot dead while sitting in his Mercedes outside a Sydney gym in 2018 Monica Allibon said she hoped the increased reward would bring new leads to investigators and finally provide justice for her late husband. 'There are no words to describe the grief I felt the day Gary died - the grief of losing him and the grief of the loss of our future together,' she said. 'That gut-wrenching feeling has yet to subside, and I don't think it can while his killers continue to live their lives without facing the consequences of their actions. 'Gary was just months away from retirement and, in addition to our plans for relaxation and holidays, we had the simple dream of growing old together. That was ripped from us with a single bullet fired in greed. 'Those men robbed the van and took my husband's life, and the people who know them and what they did are robbing me of answers and justice for Gary.' Monica Allibon has made regular public appeals for information that could lead to the arrest of those responsible for murdering her husband. She is pictured in 2020 when the reward for such information was increased to $1million Detective Acting Superintendent Grant Taylor of the Robbery and Serious Crime Squad said the re-investigation was following well-established lines of inquiry. 'The original Strike Force Lorimer investigators established links between this case and other organised criminal activity, including three shootings, which we are continuing to explore,' he said. 'We believe we have a clear picture of the events of the day, and a fair idea of the identities under the balaclavas, but we need the community's help to bring our case beyond reasonable doubt. 'Make no mistake, this wasn't a robbery gone wrong; Gary Allibon had complied with their demands and was executed in cold blood.' The newly appointed national president of the Comanchero is Sydneysider Allan Meehan (right), who was mentored by Buddle (left). Meehan took over after Mark Murray was locked up in Victoria on a murder charge 'The persons of interest to our investigation vary from those we believe know what happened or who was involved through to those who were there and the man who pulled the trigger. 'The time for any - or all - of these people to come forward is now. Strike Force Lorimer will get the pieces of information they need, so either way, you'll be seeing us soon.' Asked directly about police interest in Buddle, Taylor said: 'Rest assured that individual you're talking about is right up there at the top of our equation and our thoughts.' Anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Lorimer detectives is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Ex-NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian has given a touching farewell to her father Krikor, who has died aged 90. Krikor Berejiklian passed away on July 10, following an illness. His wife of 52 years Arsha and their three daughters - Rita, Mary and Gladys- were by his side as he passed away at a Sydney hospital. At his funeral on Thursday, held at Chatswood's Armenian Apostolic Church, the former boilermaker and welder - who proudly worked on the Sydney Opera House - was remembered as a man who always looked on the bright side of life. Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian's father Krikor (left) has died, aged 90 after a short illness At his funeral on Thursday, the former boilermaker and welder, who proudly worked on the Sydney Opera House, was remembered as a man who always looked on the bright side of life The former NSW Premier addressed mourners at his traditional Armenian funeral service and burial, speaking of the family's 'overwhelming grief' following his passing. 'Our father was a humble man. He was a true gentleman, a real character and a friend to all he came into contact with,' the former premier said, reports The Daily Telegraph. 'His smiling face always brought great joy.' Ms Berejiklian said her father instilled in his daughters a good work ethic and to always be proud of their Armenian heritage. She described her father as 'optimistic' and 'young at heart' all the way to the end, sharing with mourners that three weeks before his death and with his health declining, he still left the family home for one last ride on a state bus from North Ryde to Wynyard before heading back home again. 'When he was in hospital he was asked by the medical staff how old he was and without hesitation he answered 'only 90',' she added. The former NSW premier has always spoken highly of her father. The former NSW premier said her father will always be remembered as 'a man who always looked on the bright side of life' In 2018 she said her relationship with her father was, 'more a friendship than anything else, and a respect'. 'We feel blessed to have them because not everybody has parents living to that age,' she said. 'No matter what happens in life, my Dad has always had a really positive attitude and I think thats rubbed off a bit on me because hes always very can-do and no matter what the situation is, hell always find a silver lining.' A super vaccine designed to smash all Covid variants is in the works with the aim of starting human clinical trials early next year. A team of scientists from Sydney University are mixing together different Covid mutations to find one jab with the best immunity and combat the need for people to receive multiple vaccines at different times. The scientists' hopes are to create a multi-layered jab so proficient in its 'long-lasting immunity' that it would be doled out to recipients every two years. It could make the need for boosters an outdated concept at a time where most Aussies are getting their fourth jab in 12 months for best immunity. New robust research into a multi-pronged vaccine to target all Covid variants may see people only need a jab once every two years University of Sydney virologist Dr Megan Steain (pictured) said their research could lead to a new Covid booster designed to target all variants as they come University of Sydney virologist Dr Megan Steain told News Corp the variants that are infecting Aussies now are slipping past immunity protection provided by the present generation of vaccines. 'Currently what we are seeing with the Covid-19 pandemic is we are getting a rapid emergence of new variants that have partially escaped some of the immunity, which in generated from our current vaccines,' Dr Steain said. 'Our aim is to generate an immunity that will protect us from all possible variants that arise in the future to limit that immune escape.' The researchers' goals are part of a race between 12 different teams in the world to create the first multi-effective jab of its kind. A USA team from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research has already started the first human clinical trials for multiple coronaviruses. Israel is trying to produce a vaccine to target different variants in a pill form that dissolves in the mouth. The research is crucial as vaccine companies are struggling to keep up with the ever-changing variants that are putting up a fight to get past immunity in humans. Moderna and Pfizer made vaccines for the original Omicron variant earlier this year, yet before they finished trials the variant had mutated into two new robust forms. Dr Steain said it was not feasible for vaccine makers to continue along this route, emphasising the need for a jab that targets all potential emerging variants in the future. Another group of Aussie researchers also have a similar plan underway at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research [WIMR] in Sydney. They are building on a separate 'T-cell' vaccine that enhances immunity when it is given alongside other Covid jabs. It aims to prolong the duration of regular Covid vaccines in the human body by producing more of the T-cells needed to create antibodies. Moderna and Pfizer made vaccines for the original Omicron variant earlier this year, yet before they finished trials the variant had mutated into two new robust forms (pictured a Melbourne woman gets the Pfizer jab) When a Covid booster is put into the body it creates two things - antibodies and T-cells - and they fight in tandem to ward off the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which creates the Covid-19 disease. As antibodies diminish in potency over time, T-cells pick up the slack by creating more antibodies rapidly when infection occurs. WIMR founder and infectious diseases expert Professor Tony Cunningham told Access News last November the booster has a multi-pronged approach to tackle mutations. 'We're trying to develop a booster that doesn't require changing every time a new variant comes along, it can be used for just simply all variants,' Professor Cunningham said. But public health physician Dr Robert Grenfell said making the multi-impact vaccine was no walk in the park as efforts to do the same with the influenza jab have failed. 'Believe me, there's been a lot of work done on it and it's been it's been fraught with failure. But that certainly doesn't mean we give up on it with regards to coronavirus,' he told The Courier-Mail. Conservative MP and Tory leadership contender Tom Tugendhat has revealed he survived a suicide bomb attack while serving in Afghanistan with the British Army. Mr Tugendhat, who was in the Army Intelligence Corps, claims he saw 'disgusting carnage' and the remains of his friends strewn around the area after the bombing in Helmand in 2006. The 49-year-old, who has been the Conservative MP for Tonbridge and Malling since 2015, said despite the tragedy he went back to work in the same office the very next day. Mr Tugendhat said the horrific attack, which was one of two bombings he survived in the country, made him realise that 'showing up' is a key part of leadership. He revealed the dramatic tale as he bids to become the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, in a hotly contested Conservative leadership race to replace Boris Johnson. And despite currently languishing fifth in the leadership race, the backbench MP proved popular among viewers watching the televised leadership debate last night - even going so far as to quote Harry Potter character Albus Dumbledore in response to one question. Tom Tugendhat, pictured here during last night's televised Conservative Leadership Debate, says he survived a terrorist attack in Afghanistan in 2006 Mr Tugendhat, pictured here during his time in the army said he was working in an office building that was destroyed in a blast by a suicide bomber Speaking to the Telegraph yesterday, Mr Tugendhat said despite the horror of what he had seen in Afghanistan, he learned some important lessons in army, including that 'it's not about you'. The attack itself took place on December 13, 2006, when the bomber walked into the compound of regional governor Mohammed Daud and detonated an explosive device, killing 10 people in the process. Mr Tugendhat, who was working in a building at the time, said he was confronted by the reality that some of his friends had died but had to face up to the fact he was needed back at the work the very next day. He told the paper: 'A lot of people, of course they are, are frightened and nervous [after the attack] and part of leadership is showing up. 'Part of leadership is making the case, part of leadership is just getting the best out of people. That's what it's about.' Mr Tugendhat is currently running to become Prime Minister as part of the Conservative leadership contest. Here he is pictured at BT Studios last night ahead of the debate As well as surviving two suicide blasts while in the country, Mr Tugendhat was also wounded in a friendly fire incident in Iraq, adding that 'you try to get through' the painful moments. He added that he was hoping to have learned from some of the leaders he had served under during his time in the army, including General Lord David Richards, the former Chief of the Defence Staff. Mr Tugendhat said: 'When you build a team you need to make sure that inside it are people who will tell you that you are wrong, that you should think about things differently. 'They are risking their place in the team for the effectiveness of a better outcome, that you might take it badly and kick them out of the group. Thats a hell of a thing to do and those are the people you should value.' Mr Tugendhat, who is chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, is currently in last place of the remaining Conservative leadership contenders bidding to replace Boris Johnson. Leadership contender Mr Tugendhat with his wife Anissia Tugendhat arrive at Here East studios in Stratford, east London, yesterday evening The former soldier, who is an outspoken critic of Mr Johnson and voted against Brexit, has the support of 32 MPs after two rounds of voting, something that will see him eliminated in the next round unless he picks up more support from fellow Parliamentarians. However, he did prove popular with the public at large after his performance during yesterday's first televised leadership debate on Channel 4. He received a round of applause from the audience for being the only candidate to say he didn't think Mr Johnson was an honest man, while he won praise on social media for quoting Harry Potter's Albus Dumbledore in the debate. When asked by hot Krishnan Guru-Murthy why the public should trust him, he quoted the Hogwarts headmaster, saying: 'It is easy to stand up your enemies, it is harder to stand up to your friends.' Tory leadership race: Round two vote result Rishi Sunak: 101 (+13) Penny Mordaunt: 83 (+16) Liz Truss: 64 (+14) Kemi Badenoch: 49 (+9) Tom Tugendhat: 32 (-5) ELIMINATED Suella Braverman: 27 (-5) Advertisement He also praised the NHS for the impact it had on his comrades wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, saying he was 'eternally grateful'. 'You've also given me two children', he said in response to a question on the health service from a woman in the audience, before hastily adding 'not you personally, of course'. A snap poll conducted by strategic insight agency Opinium also confirmed Mr Tugendhat as the most impressive performer. Of more than 1,000 normal voters polled, 36 per cent believed he had 'performed best' in the debate. When asked about whether he thought Mr Jonhnson was honest, he was the only candidate to swiftly reply 'no'. He spoke while acknowledging 'trust in politics has been collapsing, trust in our party has been collapsing', and added: 'I've been holding a mirror to many of our actions and asking those in our party, those in our leadership positions, to ask themselves "is that what the public really expects?" 'Are you serving the people of the United Kingdom or are you serving your career? Because that's the real question tonight. That's the real question for all of us.' A fortnight ago, Josephine Kelly was undressing in the changing room of her local gym Total Fitness in Willerby, Hull, alongside other, mostly elderly, women, when a figure caught her eye in the mirror opposite. Something about the tall, well-built stranger's demeanour made Josephine instinctively turn round to double-check. 'I was taken aback because standing there, quite blatantly, was a biological male getting changed into a pair of women's leggings, with full genitalia on display,' says Josephine, a 51-year-old married mother-of-two from East Yorkshire. 'This person was stocky and tall, with hair in a ponytail but they had a bald patch common in middle-aged men. 'I really didn't feel this was appropriate this was a women's changing room. I was too shocked to say anything and besides I got the distinct impression that their body-language was screaming: 'Go on, say something'. But what woman is going to feel safe arguing with a burly 6ft biological male especially in a room where there are only other women and no CCTV cameras? 'Another woman about my age clearly noticed too because, like me, we both rushed into a private cubicle and changed very quickly. Catherine Heseltine from London, who converted to Islam 23 years ago, now avoids things like women-only swimming sessions because some cannot guarantee that men who identify as women will not be there The notion that certain spaces are 'female only' is now, as our research shows, a thing of the past, as 'inclusive' gender-neutral areas become more widespread 'I was glad I didn't have my children with me. I have two boys and while the 12-year-old now changes in the male facilities, my youngest, aged seven, still changes with me in a private cubicle. I'd have found it difficult to explain why a grown adult biological male was getting undressed in full view of all these women. 'I understand this person might have felt uncomfortable in a male changing room. But their actions left me and I'm sure the other women present feeling very uncomfortable. Who's welcome where? Clothing stores with gender neutral changing rooms include Urban Outfitters, Matalan, Primark and H&M. H&M told the Mail: H&M fitting rooms in our UK stores are not gendered. Our fitting rooms are for everyone and our customers should always feel welcome. We strive to be inclusive and we allow our customers the choice of which fitting room to use. We have no further comment to make. John Lewis, meanwhile, said: For many years weve said our customers are welcome to use whichever fitting room makes them feel the most comfortable. All our fitting rooms are fully staffed and the vast majority of doors are lockable with the remainder due to be lockable soon. Uniqlo says it has a mix of single-sex and gender neutral fitting rooms. We also discovered that while Zara, Next, New Look, Whistles and Marks & Spencer might officially have single-sex areas, they will also allow in trans or non-binary people. Our fitting rooms are located within our womenswear and menswear departments and therefore are mainly used by customers of that gender, said a spokesman for Marks & Spencer. However, in line with most other retailers we will generally allow people to use the fitting room they prefer, with our colleagues exercising discretion and common sense. No single store told the Mail they will only cater for a single-sex clientele. LEISURE CENTRES AND GYMS The Mail questioned the five biggest leisure centre companies in the UK Parkwood Leisure, Fusion Lifestyle, GLL, Everyone Active and 1Life, which between them run hundreds of council facilities on their policy. Two replied, confirming that they had adopted gender-neutral changing villages. Over the years there has been a move towards village changing facilities in public leisure centres, driven by reasons of practicality, cost, space and inclusivity, said a spokesman for GLL, which runs more than 270 leisure centres under the brand name Better. We have safeguarding training for staff and strong management protocols. If anyone feels threatened or intimidated, staff will assist them. A spokesman for Everyone Active, which runs some 200 gyms, added that gender neutral facilities offer a more flexible option for everyone and include cubicles, too and that it has strict policies in place to ensure photography and videography is not taken inappropriately. Out of ten of the biggest private gym companies in the country approached, two responded. Pure Gym, which has 1.6 million members, confirmed it has gender neutral spaces alongside single-sex areas, while Nuffield Health spoke of focusing on supporting the individual needs of every member so they can enjoy our fitness and wellbeing facilities. The 70 Bannatyne gyms, owned by Dragons Den star Duncan Bannatyne, are the only totally single-sex gyms. The upmarket chain David Lloyd, which has 500,000 members, says it allows members to use the changing room thats best for them in line with industry guidance. A spokesman said: At David Lloyd Clubs we pride ourselves on offering a space that is safe, welcoming and supportive for all. Along with other operators we follow the advice of our fitness industry body UK Active, who in turn work closely with the EHRC. We would encourage any member to speak with our Club teams to ensure their needs are met. Advertisement 'Today, I'm kicking myself for not complaining. But at the time, my over-riding feeling was that I'd be labelled 'transphobic' if I did, which certainly isn't the case: I strongly believe people should be able to live their lives in peace. However, I do question whether this person put any thought into how women really feel about being near near-naked biological males. It can feel intimidating and puts you on high alert.' The Mail contacted Total Fitness to ask about its changing room policy. A spokesman said: 'Our club teams work hard to create an inclusive environment for all our members, ensuring they feel safe and comfortable to work out at all times. We support our members choosing the changing facilities that are best for them in line with our policies and take guidance from our industry association UKActive. 'Although we don't have gender neutral changing rooms, if anyone wishes to have a private space or members raise any concerns, we will always do our best to meet their specific needs and provide facilities with which they feel comfortable.' Worryingly, Josephine's experience is not singular. For as the Mail's detailed audit today shows, across the country, women and girls can no longer be certain their public toilets and changing rooms are the sole preserve of biological females. The notion that certain spaces are 'female only' is now, as our research shows, a thing of the past, as 'inclusive' gender-neutral areas become more widespread. High Street stores are seemingly at the vanguard of making changing areas gender-neutral, with Urban Outfitters, H&M and Primark no longer having female-only spaces, despite the latter two often only having flimsy curtains for privacy. That such shops, so popular with teens, no longer provide space exclusively for biological females will surely raise concerns of parents everywhere, as their daughters head out for Saturday shopping trips with friends. Yet it's not just shops for youngsters that are succumbing to 'inclusivity'. Even M&S told the Mail that customers have the choice to 'use the changing room that they prefer'. And a row erupted earlier this year after a non-binary biological male spoke of their fury at being turned away from a Monsoon changing room with the store subsequently apologising and offering to give them a free dress, before announcing a new policy saying changing rooms would be 'open to both sexes'. That, in turn, led to outrage from many female fans of the shop. Indeed, despite this new prevalence of gender-neutral spaces, surveys show the public are overwhelmingly in favour of keeping single-sex facilities. This week, it was revealed that 7,000 people predominantly women responded to a survey by human rights organisation Sex Matters about single-sex spaces, with the vast majority saying they were vital for privacy, dignity and safety. The results echoed other more representative polls, such as the recent More In Common survey of more than 5,000 people and 20 focus groups. This found only 24 per cent of people thought biological males who identified as women, but retained male genitalia, should be allowed in a women's changing room. Currently, the law is on the side of those who want same-sex spaces. The Equality Act 2010 made male-free spaces lawful. Yet it seems women in particular feel their rights to spaces away from men are being eroded without anyone asking if they object. 'The public is not being consulted about toilets and changing rooms becoming 'gender-neutral', rape crisis centres dropping female-only support groups, and grassroots sporting organisations allowing males who identify as female to compete against women and girls,' says Maya Forstater, executive director of Sex Matters. 'Over 3,000 people mostly women have shared shocking and deeply moving testimonies with us as to why they don't feel comfortable in gender-neutral spaces. Some were victims of sexual assault, some were disabled or women of faith, but others were simply women who didn't want to be confronted by a man whenever they were undressing or feeling vulnerable. These voices are being ignored.' A row erupted earlier this year after a non-binary biological male spoke of their fury at being turned away from a Monsoon changing room with the store subsequently apologising and opening its changing rooms to both sexes Currently, the law is on the side of those who want same-sex spaces - the Equality Act 2010 made male-free spaces lawful Catherine Heseltine is one such woman. The 43-year-old former nursery teacher and full-time mother-of-three from North London converted to Islam 23 years ago and says she and fellow Muslim women are now avoiding certain changing areas or toilets because providers can't guarantee they're reserved for people of the same biological sex. 'It's a big issue for women like me. It's shocking to see that so many Left-wing people who pretend to care about the Muslim community suddenly don't when our rights clash with the rights of biological males who say they are women,' she says. 'I have empathy for someone who feels 'trapped in the wrong body'. They should be free to live without any abuse. But I shouldn't be labelled transphobic because I don't believe in this ideology. I would never call someone Islamophobic who doesn't believe in Islam. 'Some swimming pools and gyms have become no-go areas for many Muslim women who used to attend women-only sessions because leisure centres can no longer guarantee women-only. 'I know of at least two female family members who used to go to women-only sessions, but no longer do as they don't want to change or swim with men. One lady recently told me a biological male in a lady's swimming costume had jumped in the pool in her women-only session and all the women jumped out. 'When they complained to the management, they said it was their problem as the swimmer identified as a woman. If they didn't like it, they could leave. 'I've had supporters of trans rights say to me: 'Well just stay at home then.' Which is not the answer. I don't see why we can't have both women-only spaces, but also gender-neutral ones.' Heather Binning, founder of the Women's Rights Network which campaigns for single-sex spaces, agrees. 'We hear from women all the time, some who have been sexually assaulted or who have escaped violent relationships. Their need for the sanctity of a space where they know they will only meet other women is very real.' However, supporters of gender-neutral spaces say they're not excluding others and that these areas are a simple way to ensure a kinder, more inclusive society. Many also claim same-sex facilities would not deter sexual predators. Some women no longer feel safe to go to women-only swimming or activity sessions, in case biological men are present Yet critics such as Fair Play For Women suggest that, if this were true, incidents of assault would be evenly distributed across single and mixed-sex changing spaces. That's not the case. A Freedom of Information request in 2018 found that, of the 134 reports of sexual assault in changing rooms over the two-year period from 2017 to 2018, some 120 took place in gender-neutral facilities compared to just 14 in single-sex changing areas. Cases of this kind are truly disturbing in their detail. For example, in 2017, Jade McDaid, a then 27-year-old mother from Barnsley, caught a man filming her as she tried on underwear in the changing rooms of Asda she spotted a smartphone hovering over the top of her cubicle while she was partially dressed. And in May, Derbyshire police officer James Land, 43, was found guilty of possessing prohibited images of children and voyeurism after recording a four-minute video of young children in the communal changing areas. Certainly, with stories like these in mind, it's understandable why some women particularly victims of assault feel so disconcerted. Tanya Wilson (not her real name), a 48-year-old mother-of-two, says she would now 'never dream' of going into a changing room. The victim of several rapes, the last of which was eight years ago, she says the thought of bumping into a biological male however they self-identify in a confined space terrifies her. 'I have an involuntary trauma response when confronted with a strange man in an enclosed space or when vulnerable. It's deeply embarrassing, but sometimes I wet myself,' Tanya, from South London, says. 'I don't have control over this reaction unfortunately. 'I had therapy for 18 months, but then while on the waiting list the charity I was supposed to have counselling with changed their policy to be 'inclusive'. This meant I could turn up to a session and there might be a biological male there, so I can no longer go. I really wouldn't mind if a woman who'd transitioned was allowed to go. I would support that. But no biological male. I can just tell by their body language, their eyes. 'Where I live, I see biological males who clearly want to live as women. Let them get on with their day and be happy. 'But the thought of them being in a women's changing room or toilet makes me recoil. On occasions when I need to go to a public toilet, I have to take another woman with me. It's heartbreaking that society doesn't seem to remotely care about rape victims. It's all about how a tiny percentage of biological males feel.' Many women with disabilities are also seemingly too fearful to use spaces previously for biological women only like former youth worker Julie Baker, 47, who has the bone growth condition PFFD. Today, she needs sticks and a mobility scooter. Made doubly vulnerable as she is a victim of sexual violence, she says she now avoids mixed changing rooms. 'I often need help getting changed,' she says, 'and disabled cubicles are often too small, so sometimes you need to keep the door open or use the communal area. Once a man walked into a changing room while I was half undressed and said 'Nice jugs' to me. I was horrified. 'Today I always check what the rules are about whether men can go into a changing area. If that person had had a total sex-change, I would be happy to recognise that person as a woman. But as someone who has been violated by someone with a penis, I don't want to encounter someone with one when I'm in a vulnerable position. I'm only 5 ft 2 and have a disability, so that could be very frightening.' Karen Ingala Smith, author of Defending Women's Spaces, has worked with female survivors of male violence for over three decades and says women like Tanya and Julie desperately need single-sex spaces for their own peace of mind. 'To recover from the lasting impact of abuse, some women need to be in a space that doesn't trigger a trauma response,' she says. 'And for some women not all this means a space away from men. The alternative means excluding the most vulnerable women who need support.' For other females in our society from your daughter trying on dresses in Primark, to your grandmother having a bra fitting in M&S the erosion of their rights when it comes to places they can call their own is something truly disconcerting. Some names have been changed. Jill Foster is an adviser to Sex Matters. Barely one adult in ten thinks rail workers deserve pay rises larger than other frontline public sector staff, according to a poll. The findings demolish claims by union barons that the public backs their strikes and last night the Government accused them of cynicism. The poll of 2,000 adults found only 12 per cent believe rail staff should get a bigger pay increase than NHS workers or teachers. The former were given a rise of 3 per cent last year and are expected to be offered 3 to 4 per cent this year. But the militant RMT union this week rejected a salary rise offer from state-owned Network Rail of 8 per cent over this year and next. RMT boss Mick Lynch said yesterday the public are right behind us Including cash bonuses, the package is worth 13 per cent for the lowest-paid workers over the two years and 10 per cent for those on higher salaries. The poll by the consultancy Yonder found 72 per cent of adults believe it is reasonable to modernise the railways in exchange for pay increases something resisted by unions. The poll of 2,000 adults found only 12 per cent believe rail staff should get a bigger pay increase than NHS workers or teachers But despite the findings, RMT boss Mick Lynch said yesterday the public are right behind us. Figures show a fifth of train and tram drivers earn 70,000 or more. Their average last year was 59,189, compared with the UK median of 26,000. It is also far more than the average 17,000 for care workers, 31,000 for nurses and 37,000 for teachers. A Government source said: The breathtaking cynicism of Mick Lynch and his hard-Left lieutenants is clear. A good pay offer has been tabled by Network Rail and assurances on job security made, and still he carries on with his strikes. Aslef, the train drivers union, this week announced walkouts on lines operated by eight train firms on July 30. Drivers on Greater Anglia will also strike on July 23 and those on Hull Trains will walk out today and on July 23. The RMT has announced three 24-hour walkouts by staff for Network Rail and 14 train companies on July 27 and August 18 and 20. Nicola Sturgeon took another swipe at the Tory leadership hopefuls today as she continued to push her case for a second Scottish independence referendum. In two separate tweets on Friday, the First Minister claimed the prospective successors to Prime Minister Boris Johnson were helping her to make the 'case for independence' with their policies and last night's televised leadership debate. First, she reacted to a news story from The Times that reported that Rishi Sunak - former chancellor and current front-runner in the leadership race - would 'circumvent Holyrood to implement key policies' if he becomes Prime Minister. The story quoted Scottish Conservative Party MP Andrew Bowie - a supporter of Mr Sunak - as saying: 'we cannot trust the SNP (Ms Sturgeon's Scottish Nationalist Party) to act in the best interests of the Scottish people.' In response to the story, Ms Sturgeon wrote sarcastically: 'Good of the Tories to help make the case for independence #indyref2.' An hour later, the First Minister followed up her initial tweet by saying that the Tory leadership debate, hosted on Channel 4, was having the same effect. 'Having seen just 10 minutes of the @Channel4News Tory "leadership" debate, my comment below stands' she wrote, as Mr Sunak faced off against the other four Tory competitors - Penny Mordaunt, Liz Truss, Kemi Badenoch and Tom Tugendhat. Nicola Sturgeon took another swipe at the Tory leadership hopefuls today as she continued to push forward a new case for a new Scottish independence referendum In two separate tweets on Friday, the First Minister claimed the prospective successors to Prime Minister Boris Johnson were helping her to make the 'case for independence' 'Having seen just 10 minutes of the @Channel4News Tory "leadership" debate, my comment below stands' she wrote, as Mr Sunak faced off against the other four Tory competitors - Penny Mordaunt, Liz Truss, Kemi Badenoch and Tom Tugendhat Ms Sturgeon's comments came after she yesterday tore into the Tory leadership hopefuls, claiming that whoever won the protracted race to replace Mr Johnson would be 'another prime minister Scotland hasn't voted for'. It came as she launched the second in a series of papers designed to put forward a 'refreshed' case for independence. The leader of the SNP is demanding a new vote next year, just nine years after Scotland voted to remain in the UK in a once-in-a-generation plebiscite, but Mr Johnson has refused to grant it. Speaking in Edinburgh, Ms Sturgeon said: 'We may be just a few days into this Tory leadership contest but it is already crystal clear the issues Scotland is focused on - tackling child poverty, supporting NHS recovery, building a fairer economy and making a just transition to net zero -will be hindered not helped by who ever becomes prime minister in the weeks ahead.' Voters in Scotland have 'repeatedly' returned a majority of MSPs who support independence, Ms Sturgeon added, saying this was 'treated as immaterial' by Westminster. 'You don't have to be a supporter of independence to know that that is not democracy,' she added. The new paper published by the Scottish Government, as part of the Building a Better Scotland series, focuses on democracy, Ms Sturgeon said. But Ms Sturgeon was on Friday accused of 'self-indulgence and distraction' after publishing the new paper. The document, which detailed what the Scottish Government called a 'democratic deficit' at the heart of the union, is the second in a series of papers expected over the coming months which will refresh the prospectus for independence. 'Having seen just 10 minutes of the @Channel4News Tory "leadership" debate, my comment below stands' Ms Sturgeon wrote on Friday night, as Tory leadership candidates faced off in a debate on Channel 4. Pictured, left to right: Tory leadership hopefuls Kemi Badenoch, Penny Mordaunt, Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss and Tom Tugendhat Last month, the First Minister laid out plans for a referendum to be held on October 19, 2023, with Boris Johnson rejecting a request for the powers to hold a referendum in one of his last acts before announcing he would step down as Prime Minister. The Lord Advocate also referred a prospective Bill on independence to the UK Supreme Court to ascertain its legality. The First Minister used her speech on Thursday to take aim at both the Tories and Labour, saying that the UK faced a 'shift to the right' under a new prime minister, while accusing Labour of 'giving the proverbial two fingers' by saying the party would refuse a push for another referendum if it won back Downing Street. Scottish Tory constitution spokesman Donald Cameron said: 'This speech was the height of SNP self-indulgence and distraction. 'Nicola Sturgeon is all too happy to shamefully use her podium at Bute House to push her political obsession and have valuable civil servants' time and resources wasted on working on the SNP's only priority. 'She knows the vast majority of people in Scotland don't want another divisive independence referendum next year. 'They want her Government focused on tackling the global cost-of-living crisis, helping our NHS to get through the ever-increasing backlogs in treatment and supporting our post-pandemic recovery. 'Yet, instead of getting on with the job at hand, she is using her official residence to spout SNP propaganda, which will only paralyse Scotland with years of bitter division and distraction.' Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said the papers so far had been a 'cocktail of wishful thinking and fearmongering'. 'Bills are soaring, NHS waiting lists are spiralling and trains are barely running - but Scotland has two Governments ignoring these issues to stoke division, play political games, and make impossible promises. 'Nicola Sturgeon tells Scots they can't expect a better future without independence - but Scottish Labour are fighting to build a better future here and now. 'While the SNP reheat their one and only solution to all Scotland's problems, Scottish Labour have set out real, credible plans to renew democracy in every part of the UK by establishing a Senate of Nations and Regions and prioritising co-operation.' Lib Dem deputy leader Wendy Chamberlain said businesses 'shudder' when the First Minister talks about independence, adding: 'We should not repeat the mistakes of Brexit by putting up new borders and breaking up the UK.' On Friday night, the campaign teams of the remaining Tory leadership contenders were assessing the impact of the first TV debate which saw Ms Mordaunt come under fire over her plans for tax cuts and her record on transgender issues. Amid a series of bruising exchanges, the international trade minister said the attacks by her rivals showed she was the candidate to beat in the race. 'I take it as a big fat compliment that no-one wants to run against me,' she said after finishing an unexpectedly strong second in the first two rounds of voting by MPs. One snap poll of viewers following the debate suggested Mr Tugendhat - who trailed in fifth place in the last ballot - came out on top on the night, with 36 percent saying he had been the strongest performer. The survey of 1,159 UK adults by pollsters, Opinium, put Mr Sunak second on 24 percent, with Ms Mordaunt and Kemi Badenoch tied on third with 12 percent and Liz Truss fifth on 7 percent. A New Zealand tradie claims Victorian builders are even poaching Kiwis for work Senior construction sources say that is why major infrastructure is so costly That rate is the seventh highest in the world, only behind 2 Swiss and 4 US cities If you're a construction worker, Melbourne is one of the best places in the world to be. It's been revealed the southern capital has the highest average hourly wage for a construction worker in the country at $124 and the seventh highest in the world. Melbourne's hourly rate is only beaten by six cities - four from the US and two from Switzerland. Senior construction sources said the figures show why major infrastructure is so costly to build in Victoria. Melbourne tradies are the best paid in Australia, at an average $124 an hour, $20 more than the average pay for a construction worker in Sydney Melbourne pay for construction workers is the seventh highest in the world, coming in only behind two Swiss and four US cities The Australian Workers Union said the fact Victoria's construction rates are higher than the rest of the country and most of the world should be considered a badge of honour. A Victorian tradie's salary would work out to be $243,000 a year if they worked an average 38-hour week. The figures were included in a Turner and Townsend survey, assessing labour market conditions in 88 markets across the world. Geneva came in at top spot, with a $175.50-an-hour salary, followed by Zurich ($174.50), San Francisco ($172.82), New York City ($169.48), Boston ($163.55), Los Angeles ($134.64) and then Melbourne ($124.26). The Turner and Townsend report revealed the overall cost of building in Australia increased during the Covid pandemic due to the loss of skilled migrants. 'The loss of skilled migration during 2020-21 had a considerable impact on the availability of construction labour in these markets, which has subsequently pushed up labour costs, making it the second most expensive region for construction labour,' the report reads. The Turner and Townsend report says Group 1 trades which include plumbers and electricians earn an average $130 in Victoria, $20 more than the $110 average in Sydney. Senior construction sources said the figures show why major infrastructure is so costly to build in Victoria The wages Melbourne tradies are commanding are such that companies are attempting to poach construction workers from across the ditch. A New Zealand tradesman claimed Kiwi tradies are being drafted from construction sites to work in Australia with promises of an airplane ticket, 12-months free rent and an hourly rate double what they now earn. The construction worker called into New Zealand radio station Today FM to make his claims to host Duncan Garner. The tradie told listeners an Aussie builder was on site 'tapping everyone on the shoulder' offering wages of $75 per hour, which is double the pay for Kiwi construction workers on the lowest pay rate. He said workers were offered a free flight to Melbourne along with living rent free for 12 months. Garner was taken aback by the claims of free rent, before encouraging workers to take up the generous offer if they can. 'It is twice the salary plus a year's free rent, it's a no-brainer for anyone who can go,' Garner said. 'If you don't have kids or whatever, and you can go, just go.' A New Zealand tradie claims Victorian builders are even poaching Kiwis for work by offering wages of $75 per hour, double the pay for Kiwi construction workers on the lowest pay rate A father and son with alleged links to the Hamze and Alameddine gangs have been accused of trying to import $24million worth of cocaine. Brendon Khalil, 53 and his son Simon, 25, were arrested by Australian Federal Police in Perth, Western Australia, last Friday. Police allege 66kg of cocaine had been divided into 56 packages and hidden in Mercedes Benz performance wheels that were imported into the state. A father and son with alleged links to the Hamze and Alameddine gangs have been accused of trying to import $24million worth of cocaine Police allege 66kg of cocaine had been divided into 56 packages and hidden in Mercedes Benz performance wheels that were imported into the state Police swapped the drugs with a harmless substance before then releasing the tyres for collection and following them to an address in Nollamarra. Officers allege the packages were unpacked from the tyres by four other people and then picked up by Khalil and his son who had travelled in from Sydney. The pair then drove to a hotel before travelling to a shopping centre at Belmont. Police allege the pair unwrapped the packages so they could test the drugs before ditching them in a nearby dumpster. The pair were then arrested by AFP officers while their homes in Sydney were raided. AFP superintendent Graeme Marshall alleged the men intended to take the drugs interstate. 'We suspect these men were planning to take the cocaine to the eastern states for distribution,' he said. Police swapped the drugs with a harmless substance before then releasing the tyres for collection and following them to an address in Nollamarra Officers allege the packages were unpacked from the tyres by four other people and then picked up by Khalil and his son who had travelled in from Sydney 'Drug trafficking syndicates will try any avenue they can to flood Australia with drugs because of the profit they can make, however the AFP is working closely with our Commonwealth partners to disrupt these syndicates and protect the Australian community.' Superintendent Marshall said the large haul of cocaine was worth millions of dollars. 'This amount of cocaine could have been worth almost $24 million if sold in 1 gram street deals the investigation has prevented that money from going into the pockets of criminals,' he said. Both men were charged with import a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs and attempt to possess a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs. They appeared at Perth Magistrates Court on Friday and were remanded in custody for their next court appearance on Thursday. The four people who allegedly unpacked the tyres have been charged with attempt to possess a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug. Both men were charged with import a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs and attempt to possess a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs A brawl broke out between officials at Kenya's election results centre in Nairobi amid accusations of vote rigging and a delayed announcement, with William Ruto controversially declared the winner. Supporters of rival presidential candidate Raila Odinga were up in arms as four out of seven election commissioners said they could not recognise the results nor take part in the announcement. The scuffles, which saw chairs flying and punches thrown, came as it appeared that a backer of Raila Odinga tried to block the head of the election commission from making an address. While Mr Ruto arrived at the national tallying centre at 1pm local time for the expected announcement, Mr Odinga did not show up. His party's chief election agent announced he would not ask Mr Odinga to go to the tallying as his team had not been able to verify some of the results. 'We cannot take ownership of the result that will be announced,' Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) vice chair Juliana Cherera told reporters, saying the process was 'opaque'. The 23rd Seoul Queer Culture Festival is under way at Seoul Plaza in Seoul , July 16. Yonhap Sexual minorities in South Korea held an annual festival in downtown Seoul on Saturday after a pandemic-driven two-year hiatus, with Christian and other conservative groups opposing the high-profile event. The 23rd Seoul Queer Culture Festival took place at Seoul Plaza, bringing together members of the LGBTQ community lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer persons as well as their supporters and human rights activists. Waving the rainbow flag, a symbol of LGBTQ social movements, tens of thousands of people coalesced behind their long-standing cause against discrimination, exclusion, hate speech and violence targeting sexual minorities. "Since the outbreak of COVID-19, sexual minorities have led lonelier, more isolated lives," Yang Sun-woo, head of the festival's organizing committee, said. "This is a venue that people have been waiting so much for." LGBTQ activists hold a banner symbolic of the transgender community in a central square in Seoul, July 16. Yonhap Opponents also rallied to highlight their aversion to the LGBTQ festival, which they said undermined their movement to promote "wholesome sex culture." They also criticized the Seoul municipality for allowing the event to proceed. Police beefed up security around the plaza as high-profile figures, such as new U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg and other foreign diplomats, visited the festival. Goldberg pledged to work together with the LGBTQ community to protect their human rights. The festival featured musical celebrations and a queer parade designed to underscore the LGBTQ community's pride and their message for human dignity and equality, organizers said. Opponents of the LGBTQ festival rally near Seoul Metropolitan Council in Seoul, July 16. Newsis Boris Johnson wants to earn big money after leaving Downing Street because he cant afford a home in London, according to reports. The Prime Minister and his wife Carrie currently let out his former home in Oxfordshire and their jointly owned 1.3million townhouse in Camberwell, south London. He is reportedly looking for a new central London home big enough for Carrie and their two young children, as bodyguards have vetoed the Camberwell property on safety grounds. Boris Johnson wants to earn big money after leaving Downing Street because he cant afford a home in London, according to reports Sources told The Times that Mr Johnson, who has had to pay for two divorces, hopes to make much more than his current 164,080 salary with speaking fees and book deals. Since leaving No10 in 2019, Theresa May has earned 2.1million in speaking fees. And when Mr Johnson quit as foreign secretary in 2019, he earned as much as 122,899.74 for a speech he made in India. As a Daily Telegraph columnist, Mr Johnson earned 275,000 a year. He received an advance of 88,000 in 2015 for a biography of William Shakespeare a deal reportedly worth 500,000. It is also thought he could write an autobiography. Anthony Albanese will bring back the $750-a-week pandemic leave disaster payment despite previously vowing to scrap it. The prime minister made the extraordinary backflip on Saturday announcing the payment would be made available from Wednesday and extended to September 30. 'I want to make sure that people aren't left behind, that vulnerable people are looked after,' he said. 'That no-one is faced with the unenviable choice of not being able to isolate properly without losing an income.' Mr Albanese held an emergency national cabinet meeting, which was brought forward from Monday, as the latest Omicron variants sweep through Australia. The prime minister has encouraged face masks to be worn in crowded indoor settings and insisted the seven-day isolation period for positive cases remain - despite NSW premier Dominic Perrottet placing pressure on him to reduce it to five days. Anthony Albanese will bring back the $750-a-week pandemic leave disaster payment despite previously vowing to scrap it The prime minister made the extraordinary backflip on Saturday announcing the payment will be extended until September 30 'Ultimately, we have to get to a point where if you are sick you stay at home and if you are not sick you can go to work,' Mr Perrottet said on Friday. 'The real conversation to be had is this: what is the future of public health orders?' Australia has continued to enforce the seven-day isolation period despite other countries reducing the quarantine period or ditching it completely. Poll Should Australians with Covid be forced to isolate for seven days? Yes No Should Australians with Covid be forced to isolate for seven days? Yes 828 votes No 1373 votes Now share your opinion Positive Covid cases are not required to isolate in countries such as the United Kingdom or Switzerland while they are only 'recommended' to self-quarantine for five days in the United States. Face masks are not enforced in the UK or Switzerland either - while Australians are still required to wear them while catching public transport or visiting a hospital. Countries such as Sweden no longer categorise Covid as a 'critical illness'. Mr Perrottet suggested reducing the seven-day isolation period to five days. 'I think we need to look at the periods of time in which we are forcibly requiring people to not be able to work and provide for their families,' he said. Mr Albanese argued the isolation period was necessary to combat surging Covid cases and ease pressure on hospitals - even though a large portion of the strain on the healthcare system is coming from a surge in influenza cases. Australia recorded its worst May on record with 65,770 confirmed influenza cases - more than double the number set before lockdown in 2019. Health experts warned the previous lockdowns had weakened residents' immune systems and made them more vulnerable to the virus. The disaster payments will be reinstated with crisis payments and cost $780million - with the price to be split between federal and state governments. 'Going forward, the states and territories have agreed that this payment will be covered 50-50 on a shared cost with the states and territories,' Mr Albanese said. Shadow health spokeswoman Anne Ruston labelled it an 'embarrassing backflip'. 'AlboMP has admitted that he left many Australians behind by his lack of action in his health response to the current outbreak,' she wrote on Twitter. Mr Albanese held an emergency national cabinet meeting, which was brought forward from Monday, as the latest Omicron variants sweep through Australia Casual workers who have to isolate with Covid will be able to access a $750 payment as Anthony Albanese temporarily reinstates it 'This is an embarrassing backflip and there are still questions to be answered, including if the Govt sought advice initially on cutting the payments?' Mr Albanese has vowed there will be a 'consistent national approach' in dealing with the Covid pandemic going forward. 'The Commonwealth will meet with the states and territories in the national cabinet approach every two to three weeks,' he said. 'All of the premiers and chief ministers as well as the Commonwealth understand that we need to get the health outcomes right in order to protect people's health and also to protect our economy. 'When you get the health outcomes right, you protect jobs and protect the economy. We are all committed to that. The really positive thing as well today is [we are] working towards a much more consistent national approach.' A temporary Telehealth system will also be introduced to connect GPs with patients who need to access oral Covid antivirals. 'We want to make sure that antivirals can be administered where appropriate and in order to do that, this temporary Telehealth facility is appropriate, it is appropriate it be established,' Mr Albanese said. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet (above) said he would call for the seven-day Covid isolation period to be discussed at Saturday's emergency national cabinet meeting Mr Albanese had previously shut down calls from premiers and unions for the disaster leave handouts to be continued after they ended on June 30. He argued the $1trillion national debt he 'inherited' from the Morrison Government and the ease of most Covid restrictions meant the payment was no longer beneficial. Australia is currently battling two more-infectious sub-strains of the Omicron variant, known as BA.4 and BA.5. Health experts have warned the strains are highly contagious and can reinfect people who have already had the virus and double-vaccinated residents - but it is not considered to be more dangerous than the previous strains. Dr Kerry Chant was prompted to reduce the reinfection window period from 12 weeks to 28 days. 'Were urging people who have recently had Covid-19, even if they left isolation in the past four weeks, not to be complacent. If you develop symptoms again, make sure to test and isolate,' Dr Chant has warned. Casual workers, specifically in hospitality and retail sectors, called for the $750 Covid isolation payment to be reinstated to help make up for vital lost income Disgraced South Carolina legal heir, Alex Murdaugh, lured his wife to their family home before she and their son were executed last summer. Murdaugh, 54, told his wife that his 81-year-old father was on his death bed and she needed to see him before he passed. Maggie Murdaugh, 52, declined her husband's request before reluctantly agreeing to meet him at their 1,770-acre estate in the small town of Islandton. While en route to the home, Maggie sent a text to a friend alleging Murdaugh's behavior was 'fishy' and that he was 'up to something,' a law enforcement source told People Magazine on Friday. Maggie and her son, Paul, were gunned down on June 7, 2021 just moments after she arrived at the estate. Murdaugh was officially charged with their murders on Thursday. The one-time legal scion was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. The indictment alleges he shot Maggie with a rifle, and Paul, 22, with a shotgun at the estate. Disgraced South Carolina legal heir Alex Murdaugh (left) lured his wife, Maggie Murdaugh (right), to their family home before she and their son, Paul, were executed last summer Murdaugh and Maggie had hit a rough patch in their marriage and were living in separate homes at the time of her murder. She had been staying at the family's beach home in Edisto Island, approximately an hour away form the estate, when Murdaugh told her the health of his father, Randolph Murdaugh III, had declined. Police sources claim Murdaugh requested Maggie meet him at the estate so they could say their goodbyes Randolph. She initially rejected going to the property, suggesting she meet them at the hospital where Randolph was receiving treatment instead. Maggie was somehow convinced to meet at the property, where she then planned to follow Murdaugh to the hospital in her own vehicle. But she was murdered before she had the chance to visit Randolph. Police sources claim Murdaugh (center) told Maggie his father's health had declined and she needed to see him before he died. Maggie (right) thought his behavior was 'fishy' and that he was 'up to something.' Alex and Maggie are pictured with their son, Paul (left) Murdaugh asked Maggie to meet them at their family's 1,770-acre estate in the small town of Islandton (pictured) on June 7, 2021. The pair were then expected to travel to the hospital, where his father was receiving treatment Maggie and Paul were murdered outside the dog kennels on the property (pictured) before she had a chance to go the hospital. Paul was shot twice with a shotgun and Maggie had been shot multiple times with an assault rifle Thirteen months ago, Murdaugh told police he 'found' the bodies of his youngest son and wife by the dog kennels on the family's hunting estate around 10 p.m. In audio of the 911 call he placed at 10:07 p.m. that night, he can be heard telling the dispatcher in a high-pitched screech: 'I need the police and an ambulance immediately. My wife and child were just shot badly.' People reported that Maggie was shot shortly after she arrived at the property, alleging she left her car running as she walked over to the kennels where Paul had been standing. He had been taking pictures of a friend's dog he had been watching. Paul was shot twice with a shotgun once in the head and once in the chest. Maggie had been shot multiple times with an assault rifle. Their gunshot wounds were believed to be consistent with 'execution-style' killings, reports said. According to several sources, Paul's body was found partially inside one of the kennels, while his mother's was several feet away, leading investigators to believe she ran from her killer before being gunned down. At least two of her gunshot wounds were believed to have been inflicted while she was on the ground. Once a prominent legal scion, Alex Murdaugh resigned from the family's Hampton-based law firm in September. The firm later claimed Murdaugh embezzled company funds and at least one of Murdaugh's former colleagues is among the many bringing suits against him. Alex is pictured with his wife, Maggie, and two sons, Paul and Buster In the immediate aftermath of the horrific discoveries, Murdaugh's family and attorneys were robust in their defense of the man and his marriage. According to lawyer Dick Harpootlian, Murdaugh had a 'ironclad alibi' and his marriage with Maggie was 'full of love.' But in the intervening months, a very different picture has emerged, casting doubt on both claims. It remains unconfirmed what his possible motive for killing his wife and son was, but at the time of their deaths, Murdaugh - a lawyer - was drowning in debt thanks to a crippling addiction to opioids. Murdaugh was charged Thursday with two counts of murder for the deaths of Maggie and Paul. The charges came a day after he had finally been disbarred by South Carolina's Supreme Court His furious wife had been consulting divorce lawyers after being left red-faced at charity luncheons, where her donation checks bounced. Paul had also landed the family in legal trouble. In 2019, he was driving a boat when it crashed, throwing 19-year-old Mallory Beach overboard. She died in the accident and it was later found that Paul was drunk. In the months after Maggie and Paul's murders, Murdaugh was pushed out from his legal firm amid claims he had embezzled millions of dollars over multiple years. Murdaugh was charged Thursday with two counts of murder for the deaths of Maggie and Paul. The charges came a day after he had finally been disbarred by South Carolina's Supreme Court. 'Today is one more step in a long process for justice for Maggie and Paul,' Mark Keel, the chief of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, said in a statement. Murdaugh, who has been jailed since October, has already been indicted for insurance fraud, theft, lying to the police and multiple other offenses. He is accused of paying a man to shoot him in September of last year so his surviving son, Buster, could collect on a $10 million insurance policy. Curtis Smith, the hit man allegedly hired by Murdaugh, botched the job, firing a bullet that only grazed him. Murdaugh, who has been jailed since October, has already been indicted for insurance fraud, theft, lying to the police and multiple other offenses. He is pictured at his bond hearing in September 2021 Murdaugh's staged murder attempt came a day after he was forced out of his law firm for allegedly embezzling millions of dollars. Murdaugh has also been accused of pocketing a $4 million settlement that was intended for relatives of the family housekeeper, who died in a 2018 fall at the Murdaugh home. He has pleaded not guilty to all previous charges and is currently jailed on a $7 million bond. It is unclear if additional bond will be added in wake of the murder charges. The Murdaugh family has deep roots in law enforcement in South Carolina. Murdaugh's father, grandfather and great-grandfather all served as district prosecutors. Children at an end of year school prom were left in tears and stuck in limos after a group of bikers allegedly ruined the evening by blocking the road. Year 6 pupils from at St Gregory's Catholic Academy, in Longton, near Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, had been attending the prom on Thursday night when a group of 60 bikers turned up. It is claimed the group then scared children by revving their engines and created a 'blockade' leaving parents unable to drive down the road. The school has hit out at the group for causing 'disruption on the public highway', and says it is in the hands of the police. But the bikers themselves have hit back, saying they were there to support a little girl who was at the prom and whose mum claimed had been the victim of bullying at the school. They added it was the behaviour of other irate parents that had left children in tears and claimed that one parent had threatened members of the group. Parents have slammed the bikers, claiming they ruined what was meant to be a special occasion for their children The incident came days after the the schools awards evening was marred by threats made by one mum, with the school going into lockdown a day later on Wednesday after the a complaint made against the same woman, Stoke-on-Trent Live reports. Following this, the schools end of year prom for Year 6 leavers descended into chaos when the bikers arrived, parents claim. It is reported that clashes between parents and the bikers took place at around 6pm, when parents were left unable to drive down the road due to the 'blockade', with those that did make it having to be 'carried out of their limos by teachers'. A Facebook event was set up calling for 'as many bikes as possible' to escort the girl, who was allegedly a victim of bullying at the school, to the event. The bikers claim they did nothing wrong and it was the reaction of some parents that left some children in tears Pictures and video from Thursday evening show a group of bikers waiting on Blurton Road before driving along Drubbery Lane in the direction of St Gregory's. Police were then also called to the school due to the disruption. Parents say their children were left 'intimidated and frightened' at what was supposed to be a celebration of their time at St Gregory's. Vikki Smith, aged 32, whose son attended last night's prom, said: 'My son was stuck in his limo with eight other children as they couldn't get through the road. You couldn't see for bikes, it was swarming. I asked them to move and they completely ignored me. 'We were trying to take pictures of our children, but they were revving their engines so loud, the kids were absolutely petrified. My kids were dragged out of the limo by teachers for their own safety. 'One child got stuck in the middle and was that scared he had to be carried into school crying, shaking and screaming. The teachers were trying to get them inside school as quickly as possible. Five parents rang 999. 'We've got no issue with the bikers bringing a child to the prom, but why couldn't they let everybody else through? 'My son will speak to anybody, he's so bubbly, but when he came home last night I couldn't get two words out of him, just one word answers. It scared my son last night. 'It's just a shame for the children as they wanted to come and have a good night, but instead they were intimidated and frightened.' Adele Forbes' daughter also attended last night's prom. The 47-year-old said: 'They blocked the road and my daughter was late for the prom because of it. They told us they'd been told to escort a girl who is being bullied at the school. 'The mum of this child had started to get agitated at an awards evening on Tuesday night telling people to 'f***k off'. She was saying she was going to kick off then. 'Then first thing on Wednesday morning the school had to go into lockdown. I thought the fire alarms were going off, but it was because she was inside the school reportedly threatening to throw a vase. 'A lot of our children are not used to that kind of behaviour and don't deserve it. They want to remember their last few days at St Gregory's as a happy place, a safe place. 'But the only thing they're going to remember now is someone being aggressive on the playground and they won't understand why.' Simon Grayley's son also attended the leavers' prom last night. The 45-year-old said: 'It was awful. If they were dropping a girl off at school, that's brilliant, but once the little girl was inside they tried to provoke a reaction from everyone and stop people from getting in. 'My little lad had to be ushered into school. I'm disgusted. The children couldn't hear over the revving engines and they were giving 10 and 11-year-olds grief.' The cavalcade was organised by two friends after the girl's mum issued a social media appeal. They raised 400 which paid for the girl's dress, hair and make-up. Organiser Clare Campbell said: 'There were a lot of bikes and when we got there, bikes were pulling up along the road and making way for traffic, parents got impatient and a large man started to shout, swear and threaten bikers. 'I was threatened in front of my children. I told them all to stop. Their behaviour is what was upsetting the children not the bikes. 'There was a Porsche and, I think, a Ferrari that both revved their engines loudly but that was ok? Yes some bikes revved their engines but this is normal when doing a biker escort. It was no louder than the Porsche or Ferrari revving their engines. 'I'm very happy that none of the bikers retaliated to the abuse we got. All we wanted to do was make a little girl's night special and have her arrive in style. Bikers are great people and we do a lot for charity. 'I have arranged numerous biker escorts to proms and never had an issue. In fact everyone has loved it. I'm truly saddened and shocked at last night's behaviour towards the bikers. Under no circumstances did we attempt to block the road. 'I feel bad for the poor children that had to witness the disgusting behaviour of the parents. We tried to do something nice and are now wrongly criticised for it. 'The bikers would have left a lot sooner if all the parents hadn't made such a scene. We weren't wanted there and they were ready for trouble. It was totally disgusting.' Clare Campbell, who organised the biker gathering, said it was not the fault of those who attended. She said: 'Bikers are great people and we do a lot for charity' St Gregory's says the matter is 'now in the hands of Staffordshire Police'. Chief Executive Margaret Yates said: 'St Gregory's has a robust anti-bullying and complaint policy in place and takes all reports of bullying or complaints very seriously. 'Every report or complaint is promptly investigated and action taken, where necessary. 'Unfortunately, an attempt was made to cause disruption on the public highway outside school as our end of year leavers' arrived for their prom; the adult group involved is not associated with the school. 'Some of our pupils were intimidated and reduced to tears by the behaviour of the group. 'We are extremely grateful for the support of our parents who witnessed the incident and the matter is now in the hands of Staffordshire Police.' The mother of the child has declined to comment. Staffordshire Police are investigating both incidents. A police spokesman said: 'Police were called to a premises just before 8.50am on Wednesday (13 July) following reports of a disturbance. 'Officers are working to establish the full circumstances of the incident and carrying out high-visibility patrols in the area. Inquiries are ongoing.' Firebrand radio host Chris Smith - who is filling in for Ben Fordham on his 2GB breakfast show - has threatened legal action against Ray Hadley as the pair's on-air stoush over a Covid outbreak on a cruise ship hit a new level. Smith and Hadley have gone back and forth since Wednesday morning when Smith said we 'shouldn't panic' about the discovery of new Covid cases on the cruise ship the Coral Princess in Sydney - comments which were slammed by Hadley as 'foolish'. On Saturday morning Smith further sharpened his attack on his fellow 2GB host, telling listeners: ' I will not be bullied even by lifetime bullies. I love a good rumble, I look forward to further disagreements and I look forward to standing up for myself each and every single time.' Smith then went on to say he had engaged two defamation lawyers after Hadley said on air presenters on the network 'may have arrangements' with the cruise ships. Chris Smith says 'Chief Covid bedwetters' have 'embarrassed themselves' with their remarks about Covid infections on board the Coral Princess cruise and said he would be seeking legal advice Hadley on Wednesday said he was 'embarrassed' to be on same network as Smith after the fill-in host for Ben Fordham said people should not panic about Covid cases on board cruise ship the Coral Princess 'Anyone who suggests I have and peddles that suspicion had better be prepared to defend themselves in court, I know I can,' Smith said. 'I have actually engaged two media defo (defamation) lawyers and will work on that very closely on Monday. 'Do not listen to anyone in this place who tries to imply that I had any official affiliation with a cruise line which impacts my opinion, it's garbage, it's muckraking. 'I do not have any connections, none whatsoever, why the hell would I? 'It's a nasty thing to suggest.' Hadley first slammed Smith on Wednesday, saying he was 'embarrassed to be on the same network' as him over 'foolish' comments he made about the Covid-infected cruise ship. Smith hit back on Thursday saying the situation should be put into perspective - which is when Hadley declared that while network accepted ads from the cruise industry, he didn't read ads for them and didn't go on cruises - but some others and the network did and may have a relationship with them. This prompted another spray from Smith on Saturday morning. 'Those that beat this up should be ashamed... peddling fear in this context is foul and shameful,' he said. He said the Coral Princess should not be equated with the Ruby Princess - the Covid-riddled cruise ship that helped introduce the first Covid wave to Sydney in March 2020 - and said 'the chief bedwetters ... have embarrassed themselves terribly.' Smith hit back at suggestions he had made his comments about the cruise ship based on connections with the company involved. 'Anyone who suggests I have and peddles that suspicion had better be prepared to defend themselves in court, I know I can' 'Those that have elected to go down a twisted path and get personal to hurt me have terrible glass jaws and they have copped a terrible bashing on various media platforms, which says it all,' Smith claimed. On Wednesday morning, Smith said Australians don't need to get worked up about the Coral Princess, which docked in Sydney on Wednesday. He said passengers 'knew what they were walking into' on the 'damn cruise ship' - with more than 100 staff and passengers forced to stay on the boat until they returned a negative test. 'We are in a different realm, this is very different. We have defences against the virus now and it's not like following the Ruby Princess,' Smith said. 'I would argue we shouldn't panic... We need to be real about this, put it in context. Let's not get excited. 'Put it in perspective: there are only 118 positive cases on the Coral Princess.' In response Hadley attacked his colleague, saying he was 'almost embarrassed' to be on the same broadcast network. Hadley on Wednesday: 'I'm sorry but the sort of nonsense I heard on the network this morning was just foolish and I'm almost embarrassed I'm on the same broadcast network as that bloke' Without naming him, Hadley said: 'One of my colleagues this morning was saying nothing to see here, it's all wonderful, well, he's a foolish person in my opinion in relation to the virus. 'I'm sorry, but the sort of nonsense I heard on the network this morning was just foolish and I'm almost embarrassed I'm on the same broadcast network as that bloke, but anyway that's another story I'll deal with privately.' Following Hadley's comments on Wednesday, Smith did not back down saying he would take his advice from the medical experts. 'I stand by what I said,' the broadcaster told Daily Mail Australia. 'The cruise company has let those passengers down with sloppy biosecurity measures. Coral Princess passengers seen leaving the cruise ship after disembarking at Circular Quay early on Wednesday morning 'But with 4.7 per cent of those on board becoming infected and 100 per cent of them fully vaccinated, this is nothing like the Ruby Princess case. 'As the Queensland Health Minister said, 'Covid is all around us'. I'll take advice from the epidemiologists, thanks.' The outbreak forced Princess Cruises to offer refunds to those booked on its next 12-day trip before it departed from Brisbane to Sydney on Monday. A Princess Cruises spokesman on Tuesday said the crew who had tested positive in a recent full-screening were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms. The contagion on the vessel - which is a sister ship to the Ruby Princess that was linked to 28 deaths after an outbreak onboard in 2020 - is the first for the local cruise industry since it resumed trips after the pandemic. Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said protocols were in place on the ship before the outbreak. The ship travelled around Queensland on Sunday before heading to NSW, where it is currently docked in Sydney 'The virus is everywhere and there's no escaping that,' Ms D'Ath said earlier this week. 'They will be testing staff more frequently at the moment and also encouraging any passengers with any symptoms whatsoever to come forward and get tested and they will have to isolate as well.' Princess Cruises said they were 'doing everything possible' to ensure the safety of guests and crew. 'We are adhering to comprehensive protocols that were agreed in conjunction with federal and state authorities and we are confident that they are working effectively,' a spokesman told Australian Associated Press. Fox News host Tucker Carlson has claimed that President Joe Biden takes 'pills' to boost his cognitive performance before public appearances. Biden, 79, has strenuously rejected similar allegations in the past, but Carlson claimed on his Friday evening show that he had spoken 'directly' to a witness who saw the alleged medication on the 2020 campaign trail. 'His staff, supervised by Dr. Jill, his wife, was giving him pills before every public appearance. Checking the time, and at the certain hour giving him a dose of something,' said Carlson. 'Before taking the medications, this person said Biden was 'Like a small child.' You could not communicate with him, he changed completely because he was on drugs and he clearly still is on drugs,' the pundit alleged. Fox News host Tucker Carlson (above) has claimed that President Joe Biden takes 'pills' to boost his cognitive performance before public appearances Biden is seen on the campaign trail in Iowa in 2019. He has strenuously denied claims that he takes any cognitive boosters, and his medical report lists no such drugs Carlson's unproven allegation came during a lengthy monologue in which he argued that Biden is 'incapacitated' and suffering from 'dementia.' A White House spokesperson did not immediately respond to an inquiry from DailyMail.com late on Friday. List of Biden's medications The White House physician's medical report on Biden does not mention any cognitive issues, and only lists the following medications: Eliquis (Apixaban): Blood thinner for irregular heart beat Blood thinner for irregular heart beat Crestor (Rosuvastatin): For high cholesterol For high cholesterol Dymista (Fluticasone/azelastine): Nasal spray for allergies Nasal spray for allergies Allegra (Fexofenadine): Over the counter for seasonal allergies Over the counter for seasonal allergies Pepsid (Famotidine): Over the counter for acid reflux Advertisement According to the latest report from his White House doctor, Biden takes prescription medication for an irregular heartbeat, high cholesterol, and seasonal allergies. None of those medications are considered cognitive enhancers. White House Physician Kevin C. O'Connor did not mention any cognitive issues in the November report, and wrote that Biden 'is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency.' Nevertheless, Biden has a lifelong history of verbal gaffes, and as he approaches 80, even some Democratic strategists have begun to question whether he should seek re-election. If re-elected, Biden would be 86 at the end of his second term. Carlson, a fierce critic of the Biden administration, is not the only Republican to accuse Biden of using cognitive enhancing drugs. During the 2020 campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly leveled the claim, without evidence, that Biden is on drugs, saying in one in interview: 'that's what I hear.' 'It is probably, possibly drugs involved. That's what I hear,' Trump said in September 2020, weeks before Biden won the presidential election. 'I mean there's possibly drugs. I don't know how you can go from being so bad where you can't even get out a sentence,' Trump continued, accusing Biden of weak performance on the debate stage. Carlson claimed that the First Lady supervised Biden's medication, though he may have been making a mocking reference to her use of the Dr. prefix, which refers to her Ed.D degree Trump, who also accused Biden of taking drugs, once repeated the words 'person, woman, man, camera, TV' several times as a demonstration of his mental acuity Trumps description of a cognitive test is mesmerizing pic.twitter.com/Gx4o9HNaXR Shane Goldmacher (@ShaneGoldmacher) July 23, 2020 In the 2020 primary campaign, Biden managed to prevail over a crowded Democratic field. He stumbled in some debates, but many critics wrote that he improved as the debates wore on. His rivals ended up endorsing him en masse after they were defeated. Trump, now 76, also faced questions about his mental fitness on the 2020 campaign trail. In one memorable television interview, he repeated the words 'person, woman, man, camera, TV' several times as a demonstration of his mental acuity. Carlson's allegation about Biden's fitness comes as the president takes a four-day tour of the Middle East, with stops in Israel and Saudi Arabia. The trip was originally meant to be rolled in with a visit to Europe last month, but the New York Times reported that aides worried the resulting 10-day schedule would be taxing for Biden -- or 'crazy,' as one official told the outlet. Biden is seen on Friday laughing at a question from a DailyMail.com reporter, who asked him about his fist bump with Saudi Crown Prince MBS. White House insiders say Biden remains 'intellectually engaged' but they also 'quietly watch out for him' Biden recently fell off his bike during a ride near his beach house in Delaware and then hopped around in an effort to prove he wasn't injured in the accident Staffers told the Times they find themselves holding their breath during Biden's speaking engagements to see if he makes it to the end without a blunder. His presidency has seen several gaffes during events, including a recent one when he appeared to read speaking instructions off of his teleprompter. Last month, he fell off his bike during a ride near his beach house in Delaware and then hopped around in an effort to prove he wasn't injured in the accident. The Times reported that staffers cringed over the coverage the bike fall story received, but said many insisted the president remains sharp and inquisitive. Aides allege Biden's health is a 'sensitive topic' throughout the White House. However, more than a dozen current and former senior officials and advisers 'uniformly reported' Biden is mentally engaged in his role as president. They told the Times he asks 'smart questions' during meetings, grills his aides on points of dispute and helps them revise weak points in his speeches. The wife of an embattled local councillor defended her husband after explosive revelations that he sent texts to a young girl about her bikini pictures on Instagram. Angela Carbone's social media post described her husband, former Burnside councillor Julian Carbone, as a 'gentleman' who had been subjected to 'incredible nastiness' in recent days. Ms Carbone took to Facebook on Friday saying he was a 'kind, caring and funny' man, who was a 'passionate, enthusiastic and dedicated' council member in Adelaide. Angela Carbone (pictured, left) stands by her man, former councillor Julian Carbone (pictured, right) after a torrid week following allegations he wrote an inappropriate message to a young girl on her Instagram page Angela Carbone's message (pictured) in support of her husband, former Burnside councillor Julian Carbone, said he was a 'kind, caring and funny' gentleman 'In your final days as a Burnside Councillor you were subjected to such incredible nastiness, which seemed relentless,' her emotional post read. 'However during this time you have also received a tremendous amount of calls and messages of support from all areas of your life and additionally from members of the Burnside community. 'The past week has proved just how much support you do have and how much your work was appreciated and will be missed.' The former councillor resigned after he was caught out messaging a girl, 17, about her bikini photos on Instagram. Mr Carbone's ordeal began last Tuesday after an official council report revealed he sent a message to the young girl at 5am on Saturday, November 27. The message read: 'Lots of bikini photos - but it's so damn cold at the moment hey.' Carbone, 41, initially denied sending the message, then he said he couldn't remember sending it, before suggesting his phone was hacked. He eventually stated he was simply trying to strike up conversation about the weather. Further investigation revealed Carbone followed at least six profiles on Instagram run by people claiming to be teenage girls. It was also revealed he has another work profile and a TikTok account where he follows scantily-clad women. In an explosive post to his followers later on Tuesday, the father-of-one declared he shut his Instagram account down because it was 'riddled with accounts that I had nothing to do with'. However, Daily Mail Australia can reveal Mr Carbone had a second professional Instagram account that he used while working in property development - and followed a number of women who regularly post lingerie and activewear selfies. An image of one of the accounts (pictured) noted in a council report showed a concerning number of young females on his Instagram account Ms Carbone posted a photo (pictured, the photo with her husband's response) along with her emotional message supporting her husband The father-of-one also had a TikTok account with the handle @votejulian where he described himself as an elected member of the Burnside City Council. It followed 55 accounts - many of which were people claiming to be teenagers. Another account he followed was called whosyourmumma75 and had videos of a woman dancing in lingerie. In a Facebook post on Tuesday evening, referring to his Burnside Council Instagram account, Mr Carbone wrote: 'As my Instagram page has become overrun and riddled with FAKE PROFILES, all of which I had nothing to do with, I've made the conscious decision to remove my account.' 'I am very passionate about increasing resident engagement so I will continue to liaise with you via my normal Council Facebook page.' Despite Mr Carbone's assertation that his account was inundated with 'fake' profiles, all the racy accounts listed on all three social media profiles were found in the 'following' section of his pages. Burnside Council members voted unanimously on Tuesday that he had to resign amid the furore - acknowledging they couldn't force him to. On Wednesday morning, the father-of-one announced he had no intention of stepping down and intended to run in the next local government election. Mr Carbone then resigned on Thursday, posting to social media responding to the accusations. 'None of this was intentional, on purpose or with any unwholesome or unsavoury motivations,' the post read. 'All of this has been one big unintentional mistake, a lack of due diligence and just simply, naivety. For all of this, I am humbly sorry.' Advertisement Tragic new details are emerging in the death of Ivana Trump, who was found dead in her Manhattan townhouse on Thursday after suffering an apparent fatal fall down her opulent winding staircase. The death of Donald Trump's first wife, the mother of his eldest children, at age 73 sent shockwaves through the family, with son Eric Trump saying as he left Ivana's townhouse that it was 'a very sad day, a very sad day.' Ivana had grown increasingly frail during more than two years of isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, friends say, and the socialite's close confidante Nikki Haskell says she had feared an accident on the stairs. 'I have to tell you something that has always been my fear. She had one of those really beautiful staircases that was impossible to walk down,' Haskell told Extra on Friday. 'Narrow in the inside and wider as it got out. I was always afraid that she would fall. I don't know what happened, but it's not hard for me to believe that's what happened treacherous stairs,' added Haskell. New York's medical examiner earlier reported that Ivana died of injuries suffered in an accidental fall, and police sources say that she was discovered near the bottom of a staircase in her Upper East Side home. Ivana Trump is seen in 2011 on the winding staircase of her Manhattan townhouse. She died on Thursday after an accidental fall, and was found near the bottom of the stairs Photos have emerged showing parts of the home's winding staircase, which is covered in thick carpeting The winding staircase took twists and turns through the seven-story townhouse The exterior of Ivana Trump's townhouse on East 64th street in Manhattan is seen following her death on Thursday Ivan's close confidante Nikki Haskell (above) says she had feared her friend Ivana would have an accident on the 'treacherous' stairs Meanwhile, photos have emerged showing parts of the seven-story home's winding staircase, which is covered in thick carpeting. In a tragic twist of fate, Ivana was preparing to leave for a St. Tropez getaway on Friday -- her first trip since the pandemic descended in March 2020. 'The past couple of years, she became very reclusive She had a big townhouse and she was really afraid of getting the virus, much more so than anybody I know,' said Haskell. 'She didn't want to go anywhere, she didn't want to travel She took it very, very seriously. She was afraid of getting sick.' On her walks and salon visits on the Upper East Side, Ivana was often seen being assisted by a home health aide in recent months. She was last seen alive on Wednesday evening, when she ventured out to her favorite neighborhood restaurant, just a few doors down from her home. Around 6pm, Trump and her health aide stopped in Alesti on East 64th Street, where the socialite ordered soup to be delivered to her home, the New York Post reported. 'She did not come in,' restaurant owner Paolo Alavian told the outlet. 'I bumped into her outside. I said, 'Senora, how are you? Good?' She said, 'I just went for my walk,' and we chat couple of minutes as a common thing we always [do].' Ivana's close confidante Nikki Haskell (with her in 2004 above) says she had feared an accident on the stairs Ivana Trump is seen walking her dog Tiger on a stroll with an aide in New York City in 2020. Friends say she had remained highly cloistered during the pandemic, and feared falling ill Alavian said Trump's demeanor was 'very, very normal,' but that she appeared tired. He said that she always ordered soup to go, and that carrot soup was her favorite. Several friends noticed that Ivana had difficulty walking recently, and said that isolation during the pandemic appeared to have taken a heavy toll. 'She aged very rapidly the last one year,' restaurateur Thomas Makkos, the owner of Nello, told the Post, adding that when he last saw Ivana a few months ago, 'She seemed a little down, she seemed frail.' 'She had difficulty walking. We had to help her home,' he said. Atilla Cetin, a manager at Nello, an Italian which sits a block from Ivana's house, says she appeared in good health during her most recent visit three weeks ago. Cetin told DailyMail.com Ivana looked 'terrific' and 'appeared in good spirits' the last time he'd seen her, and blinked back tears as he expressed regret at not visiting her before her sudden death. Ivana was very popular with local businesses, and had been due to have her hair styled at 2pm on the day of her death. Staff there said she appeared in decent health, and was looking forward to an upcoming trip to St Tropez. The interior of Ivana Trump Residence in New York City is seen in a file photo Ivana's townhouse is seen above. Several friends noticed that Ivana had difficulty walking recently Fatih Cakirca, the brother of salon owner Salih Cakirca, told DailyMail.com on Thursday that his brother had done Ivana's hair for 20 years, and that she came in once a week to get the 'Ivana Classic'. 'I've also known her for 20 years. She was a very nice lady, we're shocked and sad. She had an appointment today at 2pm and the housekeeper just cancelled,' he said. 'I know she was going to St Tropez until September. I just saw her last Friday, she came to the salon, I did her hair. She was great, nothing wrong with her. She looked very healthy and happy. She was a very lovely lady . Very friendly,' added Fatih Cakirca, who works alongside his brother at Salih Salon, not far from Ivana's home. The New York City medical examiner's office said Friday that Ivana died accidentally from blunt impact injuries to her torso in an apparent fall. Police had been looking into whether she fell down the stairs after finding her unresponsive at the foot of a staircase, but the medical examiner's brief report did not specify when the accident took place. Earlier on Friday, Eric Trump praised his mother as an 'extraordinary woman' who could ski faster than 'any man down a mountain and still look like a supermodel'. Eric, 38, told Fox Digital on Friday that he was working in nearby Trump Tower on Thursday and was able to arrive at his mother's apartment within minutes of being called. A visibly devastated Eric was pictured leaving his mother's home on Thursday afternoon around 4.30pm alongside his wife, Lara, who called her death a 'big loss'. Ivana's youngest child Eric, 38, was seen outside his mother's New York home on Thursday afternoon shortly after the news of her death broke. He issued a statement to DailyMail.com in the wake of Ivana's passing, praising her as an 'incredible woman' Eric was joined by his wife Lara Trump, 39, who kept her face shielded with large sunglasses as she made her way out of her late mother-in-law's home His wife Lara told Fox News that Ivana was 'an 'incredible woman' and that 'New York City will never be the same without Ivana Trump.' 'Not only was she known throughout her neighborhood but she was known throughout the city, she was an incredible socialite,' she said. She continued by saying 'obviously a tough day for all of us in the family yesterday,' but 'we'll all get through this' and said you should 'come together as a family' when faced with situations like this. Lara then spoke about Ivana's life and said she was only able to escape communist Czechoslovakia because she was a 'world class skier.' This led her loving her life in America, and Lara said 'no one that cherished this country more than she did, she truly appreciated America because she understood how lucky we were to be here.' On meeting Donald Trump, who she'd eventually marry and have three kids with, Lara said they were 'not only partners in life, but partners in business.' Lara called Ivana an 'incredible business woman,' and said 'she is credited with restoring glory to places like the Plaza Hotel' and she 'managed the casinos and hotels in Atlantic City.' Donald and Ivana Trump married in 1977 and shared three children together before divorcing in 1992 Ivana Trump is survived by her mother, her three children and 10 grandchildren. Ivana's mother, Marie Zelnickova, is 95 and due to turn 96 in September; she was last seen with her daughter in 2019, when the family gathered to mark the matriarch's 93rd birthday. On Friday, Ivanka Trump posted a tribute to her mother on Instagram, sharing several family photos from throughout the years. 'Heartbroken by the passing of my mother. Mom was brilliant, charming, passionate and wickedly funny. She modeled strength, tenacity and determination in her every action,' wrote Ivanka. 'She lived life to the fullest never forgoing an opportunity to laugh and dance,' she added. 'I will miss her forever and will keep her memory alive in our hearts always.' Eric also took to Instagram to post a tribute to his late mother, sharing several images of the socialite and her children over the years, including photos of Ivana with her children when they were younger. Ivana was last pictured out and about in New York City on June 22, when she was seen leaving her Upper East Side townhouse and being escorted to a hair salon. Images showed the socialite being assisted by an aide, who gave her arm to Ivana as they strolled down the sidewalk to her hair appointment. The day raging Ivana chased cheating Trump down the ski slope going backwards so she could wag her finger in his face: Just one gloriously feisty cameo in the life of the irrepressible society queen, who has died aged 73 By Tom Leonard for the Daily Mail There was just one thing that would have made the brash and chaotic circus of the Trump presidency complete his irrepressible first wife, Ivana. Unlike shy and glacial Melania, whose heart never seemed to be in it, the Czech-born former skiing instructor and fur coat model would have been the perfect, larger-than-life First Lady for the bombastic president. Her outrageous hairdos were as bouffant as his, her wit as caustic and her personality just as egocentric and competitive. The formidable Ivana was also a detail-obsessed workaholic who played a key role in the Trump business empire. She became an unlikely hit with British viewers in the 2010 series of Celebrity Big Brother and would surely have relished every second in the White House although heaven only knows what the queen of kitsch would have done with the decor. Instead, Ivana had to observe some sense of decorum and watch from the sidelines and largely succeeded. Ivana Trump, former US president Donald Trump's first wife, on the slopes of St-Moritz in 1997. She tragically died this week of a heart attack, leaving behind her and Donald's three children Ivana, who died on Thursday, aged 73, after falling downstairs at her Manhattan home, always seemed made of rather tougher stuff than the other women in The Donald's life Ivana took credit for supervising the construction and design of Trump Tower and the Grand Hyatt hotel in New York, and the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City Although she diplomatically stayed silent about 'The Donald' (as she memorably dubbed him) during his election campaign, a woman who'd traded off her husband's name for years could hardly keep quiet when she had a memoir to plug in 2017. 'I have the direct number to White House,' she boasted on U.S. breakfast TV with her distinctive Eastern European diction, adding that 25 years after they divorced she still talked to The Donald every two weeks. 'But I don't really want to call him because Melania is there and I don't really want to cause any kind of jealousy or something like that because I'm basically first Trump wife. I'm First Lady, OK?' Of course, it was designed to get a rise and it worked. Within hours, Melania had broken her usual silence and issued a statement defending herself, adding icily: 'There is clearly no substance to this statement from an ex. Unfortunately only attention-seeking and self-serving noise.' A rebuke like that was hardly going to quell a force of nature like Ivana, a woman who, on discovering while they were skiing in Aspen that Mr Trump was cheating on her with future wife Marla Maples, had it out with Maples and then spotted her husband hastily putting on his skis to flee her wrath. She pursued the wobbly novice down the mountain, wagging her finger in his face as she skied backwards beside him and he tried to avoid falling over. Ivana, who died on Thursday, aged 73, after falling downstairs at her Manhattan home, always seemed made of rather tougher stuff than the other women in The Donald's life. Indeed, he reportedly resolved that after Ivana who became head of interior design for the Trump Organisation and managed a clutch of its biggest developments he'd never again marry a woman who competed with him in the boardroom and in the social pages. During their 15-year marriage, which lasted from 1977 to 1992, they set new standards for glitzy excess as they came to epitomise the 1980s New York power couple an image which Mr Trump exploited as he built the TV career that eventually took him to the White House. Ivana shared his limitless ambition, boasting that 'in 50 years, we will be the Rockefellers'. Although she had a reputation for being less brash and more charming than him (which can't have been hard), her candid revelations, even to casual acquaintances, about her sex life proved too much for those in New York society who would have preferred a little less information. She even asked me for a receipt for stamps! By Liz Brewer In 1992, I picked up the phone only to hear Ivana Trump. 'Lizzie,' she purred, in her wonderful throaty accent. 'I understand I need to meet you. Can you have lunch?' That invitation was the start of a long working relationship that became a warm friendship, during which I saw Ivana both in work mode and at play. She brought the same energy and exacting standards to both, and I grew used to being greeted at my office by yards of faxes (Ivana was a late adopter of email) of her instructions. When we first met, she was ending her 15-year marriage to Donald and needed PR advice. Post-divorce, she was anxious to be taken seriously as a businesswoman rather than just a famous ex-wife and wanted to forge a life in London. Raised amid the deprivations of communist Czechoslovakia, Ivana had emerged with an inner steel and a craving for the finer things in life: private jets, superyachts and lavish parties at her home in Palm Beach. A glass of champagne in one hand and usually with a new man in tow she was in her element. But behind that coiffured beehive Ivana didn't suffer fools, scrutinising my invoices down to the last penny she once asked me for a receipt for a set of stamps while if you upset her you knew about it, as Richard Branson once discovered. At the Business Traveller Of The Year awards ceremony, Richard made the mistake of whipping Ivana up off the floor and turning her upside down one of his party pieces. I knew she'd be worrying about her beehive, and the fact it emerged intact didn't lessen her fury. She vowed never to fly with Virgin Airlines, or speak to him, ever again. But they made up at her engagement party. The next time I saw them, they were laughing uproariously. That was Ivana all over: fervent, but with a wicked sense of humour. She remained close to her ex-husband, who called her regularly even as President, and while she had less need of my services over the last three years, we remained friends. I spoke to her just last week, when she was in good spirits and looking forward to flying to her adored townhouse in St Tropez, where I planned to visit her. Alas, it was not to be. I shall miss her terribly. Advertisement Like Melania, a child of Soviet-era Eastern Europe, she was born Ivana Zelnickova in a small town south of Prague in 1949. Her parents, an engineer and a telephone operator, encouraged her to become a competitive athlete. She was so good at skiing that she got into the Czech junior national team (although Mr Trump claimed she got into the Olympic squad) and was briefly married to an Austrian ski instructor. That 'Cold War marriage', as she called it, got her the Austrian passport that allowed her to move to Canada, where she worked as a model and ski instructor. She moved to New York in her early 20s and met the then 29-year-old Mr Trump when he helped get a table for herself and a friend in a restaurant he was managing for the family business. 'He offered us a table,' she recalled. 'I told my girlfriend I had good news and bad news the good news was we could get a table fast, the bad news was that Donald was going to sit with us.' They married less than a year later. As she later observed: 'I came to America and I saw the houses, the cars, the bananas and the strawberries in winter, and I knew what I wanted. With Donald, I found them, yes? I may be blonde, but I was not stupid.' She gave Mr Trump three children Donald Jr, Ivanka and Eric later claiming that when she gave birth to their first child, she said she wanted to name him Donald Jr. 'But what if he's a loser?' said Mr Trump, apparently genuinely worried. She also wanted to be part of his business life and, at least in private, became an equal partner. The gaudy opulence for which Mr Trump became notorious was her inspiration. Ivana took credit for supervising the construction and design of Trump Tower and the Grand Hyatt hotel in New York, and the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. She was paid a salary of nearly 1 million a year, plus all the couture frocks she could wear. She drenched the couple's huge, triplex penthouse in Trump Tower in gold, brass and pink marble, and the couple flew around in their own Boeing 727. By the end of the 1980s, they were estimated to be worth $3billion. However, according to Mr Trump's niece Mary, the couple were so lazy and mean they would recycle presents for family members. Linda, Mary's mother, once received a handbag from Ivana that contained a used Kleenex tissue, while Mary said she was once given a gift bag of food that had already been partially eaten. Although Ivana insisted she and Mr Trump were kindred spirits their daughter Ivanka described their shared approach to life as 'all out, all the time' Ivana claimed she represented too much of a challenge to him. 'Behind every successful woman, there is a man in shock,' she wrote years later. 'I was too successful to be Mrs Trump. In our marriage, there couldn't be two stars. So one of us had to go.' She insisted she had already heard rumours of her husband's infidelity when, in the winter of 1989, a blonde woman approached her as she queued for lunch with her children in the super-smart ski resort of Aspen, Colorado, and introduced herself by saying: 'I'm Marla and I love your husband. Do you?' Ivana said she shot back: 'Get lost. I love my husband.' L-R: Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump, and Ivana Trump. Ivanka Trump has said her mother and father's lifestyle was 'all out, all the time' Ivana insisted she and Mr Trump were kindred spirits, and said she would speak to him every two weeks even after he entered the White House Ivanka Trump shared this charming photo of herself and her mother skiing, in tribute to Ivana Trump, on social media Witnesses said Ivana was rather more pointed than that, following Maples, a former beauty queen 15 years her junior, outside and telling her: 'You bitch. Leave my husband alone.' It was then that she spotted Trump trying to make a hasty getaway and memorably for those watching chased him down the slopes. The messy and acrimonious, two-year divorce battle that followed cemented Ivana's celebrity but also saw her claim in a sworn deposition that he'd once raped her after becoming enraged over painful scalp-reduction surgery he'd had in an attempt to deal with his hair loss. Mr Trump denied the rape allegation and, after receiving a hefty financial settlement, Ivana later retracted her claims and clarified that it was not rape in 'a literal or criminal sense'. According to Ivana, Mr Trump once sent a bodyguard to collect young Donald Jr, then rang Ivana to say she wouldn't see her son again as he would bring him up instead. It was a tactic, she observed, 'simply to upset me'. The warring parties also slugged it out in the Press. Miss Maples famously claimed Mr Trump had provided 'the best sex I've ever had'. Ivana returned fire by telling newspapers her children would cry themselves to sleep, terrified they would never see her again. She came away from the divorce with $14million, a mansion in Connecticut, an apartment at Trump Plaza on Manhattan's Upper East Side and the right to stay for a month a year at Mr Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida. Ivana also won sole custody of the children. Not that either of them bore a grudge for long: within three years, they'd appeared together in a Pizza Hut commercial in which they even joked about their divorce battle. 'Can I have the last slice?' she asked. 'Actually, you're only entitled to half,' he countered. She showed she'd become the patron saint of divorcees in the 1996 film The First Wives Club, in which she had a cameo role, reassuring a group of divorced women: 'Don't get mad, get everything!' Not one to simply sit back and enjoy her fortune, Ivana pioneered the sort of celebrity product lines that are now ubiquitous. She developed her own brands of clothing, jewellery and beauty products, which she'd plug herself on the TV shopping channels. She became a motivational speaker and newspaper agony aunt, wrote four books and launched a magazine, Ivana's Living In Style. That 'style' remained very much her own. Joan Collins visited Ivana's post-divorce New York home and commented: 'I've rarely seen anything so badly decorated in faux everything in my life. Velvet on the walls! And cornices painted glittering gold!' Ivana reportedly spent an annual 200,000 on her wardrobe and also kept four homes in the U.S. and Europe, and a yacht in the Mediterranean. Ivana married Italian businessman Riccardo Mazzucchelli in 1995. But, despite reports he showered her with jewels, they separated 20 months later. She sued him for violating the confidentiality clause in their pre-nuptial agreement while he sued her and Mr Trump for suggesting he was a gold-digger. The latter suit was settled in a British libel court for undisclosed terms. After a six-year relationship with Italian aristocrat Count Roffredo Gaetani, a playboy Ferrari dealer, she married for a fourth time in 2008 solidifying her 'cougar' reputation as Italian actor and model Rossano Rubicondi was 36 and she was 59. Mr Trump let them use Mar-a-Lago for the wedding, but within five months Ivana had asked for a separation after discovering he had a girlfriend. Ivana and Rubicondi danced together in Italy's Dancing With The Stars and although they divorced within a year, their on-off relationship continued until 2019. In later life, Ivana divided her time between homes in New York, Miami and St Tropez, saying she turned down Mr Trump's offer of the U.S. ambassadorship to the Czech Republic because she couldn't face four years in Prague. However, the once gregarious socialite shut herself away during the pandemic in terror of getting infected. A close friend said she had also been 'devastated' by the death of Rubicondi last October. Her daughter Ivanka described her as 'brilliant, charming, passionate and wickedly funny', adding: 'She lived life to the fullest never forgoing an opportunity to laugh and dance.' The Trump 'brand' certainly now glows with a little less of its brassy lustre. 'It was an honor to know her and love her': Donald Trump Jr. and his fiancee Kimberly Giulfoyle post Instagram tribute to his mum Ivana Trump and collage of photos By Natasha Anderson For DailyMail.Com Ivana Trump's eldest son praised his mother for raising her children with 'incredible values' and challenging them to push themselves. Donald Trump Jr. paid tribute to his late mother on Instagram Friday night, one day after her death, saying: 'I am who I am today because of you.' His fiancee, Kimberly Guilfoyle, declared Ivana the 'embodiment of the American Dream,' applauding her for her professional successes and being a 'devoted and loving mother' to her three children - Donald Jr., Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump. Throughout her life Ivana, the first wife of President Donald Trump, relished in her role as a loving mother and proudly described how she raised her children without their father's help. Ivana, 73, was found 'unconscious and unresponsive' at the bottom of the staircase in her New York City townhouse on Thursday afternoon. She died from blunt impact injuries sustained during her fall and her death has been ruled an accident. Ivana Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., praised his mother for raising her children with 'incredible values' and challenging them to push themselves. Donald Jr.'s tribute included a 2011 photo of him (left) with his mother and siblings - Ivanka and Eric In a heartfelt Instagram post (pictured) featuring a collection of photos of his mother, Donald Jr. paid tribute to his late mother saying: 'I am who I am today because of you.' Donald Jr. shared a photo of Ivana holding a young child, likely one of her 10 grandchildren He attributed his successes to the way Ivana raised him and his younger siblings Donald Jr., the eldest Trump child, said their family will miss Ivana 'incredibly' after her unexpected passing. In a heartfelt Instagram post featuring photos of his mother, the businessman attributed his successes to the way Ivana raised him and his younger siblings. 'Thanks for always pushing us hard, not letting us get away with anything, and instilling so many incredible values and personality traits,' he lovingly penned. 'From your sense of humor to your sense of adventure, I am who I am today because of you. I love you very much. R.I.P.' Guilfoyle also honored her boyfriend's mother Friday night. 'Ivana Trump was a successful businesswoman, a remarkable athlete, & most notably, a devoted & loving mother to @DonaldJTrumpJr, @IvankaTrump, & @EricTrump,' she wrote. 'She was the embodiment of the American Dream. It was an honor to know her & to love her. We will all miss her so much.' Guilfoyle and Donald Jr. have been dating since 2018 and got engaged on New Year's Eve 2020. DailyMail.com broke the news of their engagement in January after insiders confirmed the couple had kept it under wraps for over a year. The pair had been friends for over 15 years and the Trump family is reportedly a 'big fan' of Guilfoyle. She was also named the National Finance Chair of the Trump Victory Finance Committee in 2020. Donald Jr.'s post included a photo from his childhood at an apparent birthday party. In his tribute he applauded his mother's 'humor and sense of adventure' Donald Jr. posted a photo of Ivana with her grandchildren. He said Ivana 'instillied so many incredible values and personality traits' in their family 'Thanks for always pushing us hard, not letting us get away with anything,' his post read His girlfriend, Kimberly Guilfoyle, also made a post (pictured) honoring Ivana and declared her the 'embodiment of the American Dream' Guilfoyle also applauded Ivana for her professional successes and being a 'devoted and loving mother' to her three children Guilfoyle and Donald Jr. have been dating since 2018 and got engaged on New Year's Eve 2020. The couple is pictured together on NYE 2021 A heartbroken Ivanka posted a moving tribute to her 'brilliant, charming, passionate and wickedly funny' mother Ivana on Thursday. The 40-year-old said Ivana 'modeled strength, tenacity and determination in her every action' and had 'lived life to the fullest'. She also shared stunning pictures of the pair and the rest of their family from when they were growing up, including of her when she was young kissing her mom on a golden bed. Son Eric also shared a heartwarming tribute with Dailymail.com - penned by himself, Ivanka and Don Jr - which remembered Ivana as an 'incredible woman' who was 'a force in business, a world-class athlete, a radiant beauty, and caring mother and friend'. The joint statement recalled the businesswoman's tough upbringing behind the Iron Curtain and incredible journey to the US, having fled communism in Czechoslovakia before moving to Canada and then New York City. They said she 'taught her children about grit and toughness, compassion and determination' and said she will be 'dearly missed'. A heartbroken Ivanka Trump paid moving tribute to her 'brilliant, charming, passionate and wickedly funny' mother on Thursday The 40-year-old said Ivana - her father Donald's ex-wife - 'modeled strength, tenacity and determination in her every action' and added that she had 'lived life to the fullest' She also shared stunning pictures of the pair and the rest of their family from when they were growing up, including of her when she was young Progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez described her fame as a 'phenomenon' - while insisting that she remains in touch with her constituents. The woke congresswoman rose to fame when she toppled one of the most powerful Democrats in Congress four years ago, claiming Joseph Crowley was more focused on his political ambitions than the working-class voters he represented. She now boasts 13.2 million Twitter followers and another 8.6 million on Instagram, with some claiming the online adulation has gone to her head. But AOC refuted those claims in a brief interview with AP, saying: 'It's always a concern that thats a perception. 'I've never had any control over the fact that that kind of phenomenon started the moment I was elected,' she continued. 'If anything, thats why it's really important for me to continue to be here in the community.' But AOC has isolated many centrist Democrats and swing voters with woke parroting about defunding the police, and using phrases like 'people who menstruate.' She has also faced claims that she's damaging the Democrat party as a whole, because the attention given to her gives the impression that the entire party has the same extreme-left views on social issues as she does. As Jon Reinish, a Democratic political strategist based in New York, explains: 'Outside of the very online far-left, she's not popular. 'She is considerably to the left of the vast majority of New York voters.' Woke Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said in a recent interview that her fame is just a 'phenomenon' as she tries to claim she has not lost touch with the constituents who voted her into office. She is seen here taking a selfie with reproductive rights advocates after a press event in front of the Capitol on Friday AOC rose to fame when she toppled one of the most powerful Democrats in Congress four years ago, claiming Joseph Crowley was more focused on his political ambitions than the working-class voters he represented, She is pictured here at a fundraiser in August 2018 On Twitter, AOC has more than 13.2 million followers who support her far-left ideology She recently went on a tour of the congressional district she represents, entering into a nondescript building in Queens that a local nonprofit is buying with the help of $2 million AOC helped it secure as part of a $1.5 trillion government-wide spending bill to remind the community of her work. AOC has made a name for herself over the past four years as she spoke out against former President Donald Trump's policies and advocated for some far-left bills like the Green New Deal. Over the years, has raised massive sums of campaign cash from mostly small-dollar donors that she distributes to candidates who share her progressive worldview. And her leadership political action committee has given at least $207,500 to other campaign committees since the start of 2021, according to federal election data. Her popularity is even on display during her visits to the district, where some constituents seem to have a misplaced belief that she could solve any issue. A March town hall in the Bronx, for example, attracted people like Daron Jones, a 21-year-old who was among those lining up to get a photo with Ocasio-Cortez. He doesn't live in the district - or even in New York. He drove about an hour from Hoboken, New Jersey, to see Ocasio-Cortez after having watched 'Knock Down The House,' a Netflix documentary chronicling her 2018 campaign against then-Rep. Joe Crowley. 'I knew she was big,' he said. 'It inspires me how she just is a regular person. Shes just here trying to help the community.' But when Nancy Johnson, who lived in the neighborhood, asked AOC if she could intervene in a dispute with her condominium board over elevator outages and other complaints, the congresswoman said she her office could only counsel her and fellow residents about their options - because the condo board is a private entity. 'I was very impressed with her and what shes doing,' Johnson said, but 'just a little disappointed that she couldnt help us or even respond.' AOC has made a name for herself over the past four years as she spoke out against former President Donald Trump's policies and advocated for some far-left bills like the Green New Deal. She is pictured here taking a selfie with abortion-rights advocates on Friday AOC's popularity is on gull display even as she walks through her district. She is seen here talking to Chhaya Community Development Corporation Executive Director Annetta Seecharran right, and Urged Sherpa as they walked through the Jackson Heights neighborhood of Queens on July 6 Her attempts to use her platform to bring attention to candidates or causes she cares about have since seen mixed results, with her picks in several high-profile congressional primaries this year defeated by more moderate candidates backed by the Democratic establishment. Even in her hometown of New York City, a candidate she backed for mayor was defeated by the more moderate Eric Adams. The two have developed a fraught relationship, sparring over everything from the city budget and policing to his choice of words when describing some workers as 'low skill.' And the woke congresswoman has also come under fire in the past for wearing a dress to the celebrity-packed Met Gala with the words 'Tax the Rich' scrawled across the back, with some saying it was hypocritical to wear the dress while attending the ultra-exclusive event full of the wealthy and connected. AOC has previously come under scrutiny for wearing a dress reading 'Tax the Rich' to the ultra-exclusive Met Gala in September Now, AOC finds herself at a crossroads as she struggles to appeal to both liberals in New York City and more moderate voters upstate. And with Democrats facing an uphill battle to maintain control of the House after this year's midterms, the woke congresswoman is poised to find herself in the minority for the first time. She is often mentioned as a potential Senate or even presidential contender. But she has opted against opportunities to seek higher office, including this year when there was speculation that she might challenge Chuck Schumer, the New York Democrat and Senate majority leader, in a primary. Now, AOC says she doesn't have a clear plan for what comes next for her. 'Its a common question that I get and its not even an intention to be cagey or dismissive. Its just - I really dont know,' she said. 'I really do try to assess the landscape and see how I can best serve.' 'Personally - this is - Im already like way beyond anything that I ever thought was possible for my life,' she added. 'And so, I do not have this internal craving.' A Sydney bar owner has been banned from the industry for life after a conviction for violently assaulting two patrons. John Quinlan, 59, the former co-owner of JD's Bar and Grill in Cronulla in Sydney's south, had been drinking heavily at the venue with the two victims before he attacked them on October 13, 2019. CCTV footage shows Mr Quinlan stomping on a man's head, pushing a woman into a brick wall and punching and shoving the two victims as they lay in a stairwell. John Quinlan (pictured, on right) was caught on camera assaulting two patrons as they lay in a stairwell in Sydney's south in 2019 The 15-minute assault was described by liquor and gaming authorities as being done in a 'very vicious, undisciplined way to the point [the victims] were seriously injured and required hospitalisation' The trio had been drinking heavily before the man and woman were carried downstairs, where the assault took place. John Quinlan (pictured) was ordered to do more than 200 hours of intensive community service, has two apprehended violence orders against him for two years - and faces a life ban from the liquor and gaming industry The victims were seriously injured, needing to be hospitalised with the man sustaining fractured ribs and facial injuries. Philip Crawford, from the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority, said: 'For some reason, an altercation occurred and Mr Quinlan for 15 minutes assaulted in a very vicious, undisciplined way to the point they were seriously injured and required hospitalisation.' Mr Quinlan was convicted of two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in Sutherland Local Court and given a two-year Apprehended Personal Violence Order for the victims' protection. He was also sentenced to more than 200 hours of intensive community service. Mr Quinlan was caught out on CCTV (pictured) stomping on a man on the ground in 2019 Details of the case were issued on Saturday by the newly formed NSW Department of Enterprise Investment and Trade, which houses the state's Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority. The authority has found Mr Quinlan unfit to hold a liquor licence, manage a licensed premises or be the close associate of a licensee. 'Clearly the community will not tolerate any licensees predisposed to this sort of behaviour and neither will the regulator,' Mr Crawford said. Liquor and Gaming chief executive Anthony Keon said the 15-minute assault was a shocking display of violence. 'He's out of the industry but a life ban will make sure he doesn't come back,' Mr Crawford said. The trio drank excessively together at the Cronulla bar before the man and woman were carried downstairs (pictured) Between July 2018 and October 2019, Mr Quinlan received eight penalty notices from NSW Police, including six for breaches of the venue's liquor licence conditions. He no longer works at or owns JD's Bar and Grill. Only two other publicans have faced the same life-ban punishment in the past five years, making it a rare sentence. President Yoon Suk-yeol takes reporters' questions from the presidential press corps as he arrives at his office in central Seoul, Friday. According to a recent survey, Yoon's approval rating has fallen to a new low of 33 percent, Thursday. Yonhap By Kwon Mee-yoo President Yoon Suk-yeol's approval rating is on a downward trajectory just two months after his inauguration with some saying the political novice has failed to lay out a clear vision for the country amid global recessionary risks. His approval rating declined sharply during the past few weeks, entering a "death cross," as negative feedback for the president outstripped his support rate. Yoon has continuously blamed the previous administration without providing a better alternative as well as facing accusations of nepotism regarding his questionable personnel appointments. According to a survey of 1,001 adults in Korea from July 11 to 13, co-conducted by Embrain Public, KSTAT Research, Korea Research and Hankook Research, only 33 percent answered Yoon is performing his duties well, while 53 percent said he was not. Those who supported Yoon said he is decisive (28 percent), communicates with the public well (18 percent) and is just and fair (18 percent). The biggest reason for the negative evaluation of Yoon's presidential performance was due to being too dogmatic and unilateral (30 percent), followed by lacking experience and competence (28 percent) and appointing unsuitable people to the Cabinet (16 percent). More details are available on the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission's website. Experts say that Yoon should put more effort into winning the public over, especially in the early part of his presidency as he only just managed to win the presidential election with a slim margin of just 0.73 of a percentage point. Yoon's win is largely thanks to the centrists and swing voters, but these groups can also turn their back on him easily as a string of disputes, questionable personnel appointments and the deteriorating state of the nation's economy are starting to be noticed more by the public. Bae Cheol-ho, a senior analyst at survey company Realmeter, said Yoon should come up with some momentum to rebound amid a series of controversies over Yoon and first lady, Kim Keon-hee who hired personal contacts and put them into public posts, thereby shaking the trust given to the Yoon administration. "The gap between the positive and negative assessments widens and public sentiment is moving from worry to resentment," Bae said. Eom Gyeong-yeong, director of the political think tank, Zeitgeist Institute, pointed out that Yoon does not have a strong support base. "Yoon won the presidential election because of anti-Moon Jae-in and anti-Lee Jae-myung voters who turned to Yoon. He does not have a base of support like former President Park Geun-hye's supporters such as the over 60s group in the Gyeongsang provinces," Eom said. The Yoon administration continues to emphasize the "wrongdoings" of the previous administration as President Yoon seeks to differentiate himself from former President Moon Jae-in. Choi Jin, head of the Presidential Leadership Institute, urged President Yoon to find a breakthrough by putting more care and attention toward public wellbeing. "It is natural for an administration to solve problems caused by the previous government after a change of government. However, it should be done in a rapid and sophisticated way. If his approval rate dips down even further, he could face the possibility of being an early lame duck," Choi said. Experts fear Migaloo the white humpback may be dead after an albino whale carcass was found washed up on a beach in Victoria. Researchers are yet to determine whether the carcass spotted on Big Beach in Mallacoota, in the East Gippsland region, on Saturday afternoon is that of Australia's favourite whale. Migaloo hasn't been spotted for two years after losing his tracking chip, and experts believe the dead's whale location lines up with his known migration pattern. Genetic material from the carcass will be extracted by scientists and compared with samples from Migaloo. The dead mammal's fluke will also be compared with photographs of the famous white whale. A dead albino whale (above) found on Big Beach in Mallacoota on Saturday is feared to be beloved white Aussie whale Migaloo Migaloo (above), an Albino whale seen in Australian waters, hasn't been spotted for two years after losing his tracking chip The dead albino whale found on Saturday was reportedly about 10m long Mallacoota local Peter Coles found the dead whale while walking along Big Beach on Saturday and shared photos to the community's Facebook page. 'Looks like a sculpture.. about 10metres long,' he said. Migaloo is recorded as being 15metres long and would be turning 33 this year with an expected lifespan of 50 years. Wildlife scientist Vanessa Pirotta said experts are continuing to work to identify the whale. 'At this stage we don't know if this is Migaloo,' she tweeted. 'This is very much a developing story. We are working behind the scenes to make sure we collect as much information as possible.' Marine experts are still working to identify the deceased whale (pictured) while Migaloo lovers hope it isn't their beloved humpback Migaloo is considered 'such a unique whale' that special legislation was created specifically to protect him from harassment. The legislation prohibits all water vehicles, including jetskis, from operating within 500m of Migaloo while aircraft cannot operate lower than 2,000ft to see the albino whale. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Victorian Department of Environment for comment. Migaloo was first sighted back in 1991 off Byron Bay and researchers have been following him ever since. His name means 'whitefella' in several indigenous languages. Researchers were fascinated by Migaloo's colouring, as he was believed to be the first fully white whale in the eastern humpback whale population. Advertisement Southwest Europe baked under sweltering temperatures on Friday for a fifth day, with the heat sparking devastating wildfires, forcing the evacuations of thousands and ruining holidays. Armies of firefighters battled blazes in France, Portugal and Spain as Britain braced for 'extreme heat' in coming days and even Irish forecasters predicted a taste of blistering Mediterranean-style summer temperatures. As French President Emmanuel Macron vowed authorities would do everything to mobilise resources to fight the fallout, the Bordeaux public prosecutor indicated a 'criminal' origin was its main line of inquiry for at least one fire near the southwestern city. The furnace engulfing swathes of southwest Europe is the second in weeks, with scientists blaming climate change and predicting more frequent and intense episodes of extreme weather. Some of the worst fires have been in Portugal, where the pilot of a firefighting plane died on Friday when his plane crashed while on an operation in the north east. In Portugal, five regions in the centre and north - where temperatures hit a July record 47 Celsius on Thursday before dropping back - were on red alert again Friday as more than 2,000 firefighters tackled four major blazes. Spain was struggling to contain several fires, including two that have burned about 7,400 hectares or 18,200 acres. In southern Andalusia, Spain, 3,000 people were evacuated from villages in danger from a blaze started near the village of Mijas in the province of Malaga. A helicopter pours water into the flames of a forest fire in Mijas, near Malaga in southern Spain A firefighter pictured yesterday tackling a forest fire yesterday around the village of Eiriz in Baiao in the north of Portugal A fire in south eastern France covered 1,000 hectares and burnt through at least 300 hectares of the Montagnette forest south of Avignon (pictured: a firefighter works to put out the blaze yesterday) Several hundred firefighters struggled yesterday to contain two wildfires in the Bordeaux region of southwest France that forced the evacuation of 10,000 people and ravaged more than 7,000 hectares of land High temperatures and strong winds have complicated firefighting efforts in south western France A helicopter is pictured from Alhaurin de la Torre over a wildfire in Sierra de Mijas mountain range in Malaga The Gironde area of southwestern France is in the grip of two wildfires with over 10,000 hectares already burned The Gironde Fire and Rescue Departmental Service submitted this image of the wildfire in Landiras, southwestern France Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate their homes in southwestern France after days of wildfires Holidaymakers to the region have also abandoned their visits due to the extreme weather conditions A plane that was battling forest fires in the Braganca region crashed on Friday near Vila Nova de Foz Coa in northern Portugal, killing its pilot, the civil defence said. As of late Thursday, the fires had killed one person and injured around 60. Nearly 900 people had been evacuated and several dozen homes damaged or destroyed, authorities said. Wildfires have destroyed 30,000 hectares (75,000 acres) of land this year, the largest area since Portugal's horrific summer of 2017 when around 100 people died. Portuguese authorities said a July national high of 47C was registered in the northern town of Pinhao on Wednesday. In neighbouring Spain, where temperatures were as high as 37C by 7am, a fire that broke out Thursday near the Monfrague National Park, a protected area renowned for wildlife in the Extremadura region, continued to blaze. Spanish authorities reported close to 20 fires still raging out of control with one near Mijas in the deep south, inland from regional capital Malaga, forcing some 2,300 people to evacuate their homes. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez tweeted he was 'closely following the evolution of active fires' posing an 'extreme risk'. Regional authorities in Mijas (pictured) near Malaga, southern Spain, activated the first level of the Emergency Plan for Forest Fire Emergencies yesterday as the blaze was been spreading since noon Local people look at the flames burning trees surrounding Ancede village during a wildfire in the municipality of Baiao,in northern Portugal A helicopter works on containing a wildfire during the second heatwave of the year in the vicinity of Guadapero, Spain A firefighter fights the flames surrounding Ancede village during a wildfire in the municipality of Baiao, northern Portugal A helicopter pours water into the flames of a forest fire in Mijas, southern Spain A view of trees burning amid a wildfire near Landiras in southwestern France The mercury reached 45.4C in Spain on Thursday, shy of the all-time high of 47.4C registered in August last year. Temperature-related deaths have surged in Spain this week amid a heatwave that has kept temperatures above 40C in many areas. According to Spain's Carlos III Institute, which records temperature-related fatalities daily, 237 deaths were attributed to high temperatures from July 10-14. That was compared to 25 temperature-related deaths the previous week. In southwestern France, flames have destroyed some 7,700 hectares since Tuesday and forced the evacuation of 11,000 people - including many holidaymakers who decided to abandon their vacation rather than remain in makeshift shelters set up by local authorities. Southern France, battling temperatures around 40C on Friday, is bracing for more heat next week with 16 departments already on orange, a severe alert. Across the Mediterranean, authorities said one person was found dead in northern Morocco as forest fires raged. Authorities also evacuated hundreds of people from more than a dozen villages in northwestern Morocco. One fire was raging in pine forests near France's Dune du Pilat, Europe's tallest sand dune and a magnet for tourists. 'I've never seen this before and you get the feeling that it's post-apocalyptic,' said resident Karyn on Thursday shortly before the preventative evacuation order at Cazaux village near the dune. In southwestern France, flames have destroyed some 7,700 hectares since Tuesday and forced the evacuation of 11,000 people Many holidaymakers in southwestern France decided to abandon their vacation rather than remain in makeshift shelters set up by local authorities (pictured: a wildfire near Landiras in southwestern France yesterday) A tree burned by a wildfire in Tarascon, southeastern France, where 300 hectares of forest was destroyed The tree eventually came tumbling down and its branches burned in the Montagnette forest Firefighters work to put out a wildfire, which left a vast swathe of scorched earth in the Avignon region This image shows the charred vegetation after the passage of a wildfire near Graveson, south of Avignon in southeastern Franc Flames are seen during a wildfire, amid the second heatwave of the year, in Casas de Miravete in western Spain A wild boar runs through charred grasslands after a wildfire in the vicinity of Casas de Miravete, Caceres, in western Spain Fire commander Laurent Dellac spoke of 'tunnels of fire' around Teste-de-Buch, in the middle of the Landes forest to Bordeaux's southwest - although nobody was reported hurt. 'The blazes are still not under control, and unfortunately conditions are windy again,' firefighter spokesman Matthieu Jomain told AFP. Britain's meteorological agency meanwhile issued its first ever 'red' warning for exceptional heat with nights exceptionally warm. The Met Office said there was a 50 percent chance on Monday or Tuesday of temperatures topping 40C for the first time, and an 80 percent chance that the country's previous record of 38.7C set in 2019 will be exceeded. UK hospitals have warned of a surge in heat-related admissions and train operators have told passengers to expect cancellations. The Irish meteorological office issued a weather warning for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday with 'exceptionally warm weather'. A restaurant destroyed by flames due to a wildfire spreading in the area close to the beach of Cazaux lac, near La Teste-de-Buch, southwestern France Firefighters tackle a forest fire around the village of Eiriz in Baiao, northern Portugal A fire and rescue officer struggles to put out the forest blaze in Baiao, northern Portugal The region of Baiao in northern Portugal was left was huge areas of scorched earth and ruined vegetation after yesterday's wildfire A high of 32C was possible on Monday, Met Eireann said, just short of Ireland's record high 33.3C set in 1887. Belgian authorities said they expected much higher temperatures next week, with a high of 38C in parts of the country forecast for Tuesday. Scientists blame the increasing regularity of heatwaves on global warming. 'Climate change is driving this heatwave, just as it is driving every heatwave now,' said Friederike Otto, senior lecturer in climate science at the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London. 'Greenhouse gas emissions, from burning fossil fuels like coal, gas and oil, are making heatwaves hotter, longer-lasting and more frequent,' she said. Liz Truss will expand the controversial Rwanda migrant deportation plan to countries such as Turkey if she becomes Prime Minister, it has been claimed. The foreign secretary has told MPs privately that she will open negotiations with more countries to get them to take refugees arriving in Britain if she wins the leadership, the Times said. While sources close to Ms Truss poured cold water on claims by Sir Christopher Chope that this would include Spain, Turkey was accepted as a possible destination despite already having the world's largest refugee population. Despite the claims, Turkey has repeatedly claimed that it does not have the capacity to deal with any new influx of refugees after it bore the brunt of the wave of Syrian refugees in 2015. Speaking last year after the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for other EU nations to 'bear the burden of the Afghan migration'. The foreign secretary has told MPs privately that she will open negotiations with more countries to get them to take refugees arriving in Britain The controversial plan has yet to send anyone to Kigali, and the first flight is unlikely to take off before a new prime minister is unveiled in September - if it survives legal attempts to have it scrapped. The Home Secretary's inaugural removal flight to east Africa was cancelled shortly before it was due to take off on Tuesday following the 11th-hour intervention by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) - despite the UK Supreme Court's green light. All of the contenders in the race to replace Boris Johnson as Prime Minister have said they would keep the contentious policy which sees migrants sent to Rwanda for processing. Channel crossings passed 13,000 for this year on Tuesday. Attempts by Britain to begin deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing - which is intended to serve as a deterrent - have been held up by court action. According to government figures 28,526 people made the journey in 2021 - compared to 8,410 who arrived in 2020. France claims its security forces prevented 61 percent of attempted crossings this year, up 4.2 percent from the period last year. Channel crossings passed 13,000 for this year on Tuesday despite the Rwanda plan being intended as a deterrent A Government spokesperson said at the time: 'The rise in dangerous Channel crossings is unacceptable. 'Not only are they an overt abuse of our immigration laws, but they risk lives and hinder our ability to help refugees who come to the UK through safe and legal routes. 'The Nationality and Borders Act will enable us to crack down on abuse of the system and the evil people smugglers, who will now be subject to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. 'Under our new Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda, we are continuing preparations to relocate those who are making dangerous, unnecessary and illegal journeys into the UK in order for their claims to be considered and rebuild their lives.' Ms Truss is still in contention to enter the run-off phase of the Tory leadership elections and racked up 64 MPs supporting her at the last ballot. She has work to do, however, to catch up with former Chancellor Rishi Sunak who came top with 101 votes and Penny Mordaunt in second with 83 - adding 16 to her previous tally. If she does gazump Ms Mordaunt into second place, polling suggests the foreign secretary would make light work of a runoff with Mr Sunak and likely would become Prime Minister. President Joe Biden formally invited the leader of the United Arab Emirates to the United States by the end of the year as he kicked off day two in Saudi Arabia with a trio of meetings with Arab leaders. 'Challenges you face today only make it a heck of a lot more important we spend time together,' he told UAE President Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. 'I want to formally invite you to the States.' The Sheik, who assumed office in May, conceded that he was new to the job, but working hard. The 79-year-old Biden, who won his first federal election in 1972, joked that he was new too, getting a laugh from the Sheik. The UAE is part of the 'I2U2' that met partially in-person and part virtually on Thursday, while Biden was holding meetings with Israel's Prime Minister Yair Lapid - part of the president's four day trip to the Middle East. The I2U2 consists of the United States, Israel, the UAE and India. UAE's President Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and India's Narendra Modi Narendra participated virtually. But UAE's leader met in-person with Biden in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Saturday as part of the GCC + 3 - bringing together leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman - as well as the heads of state of the United States, Egypt and Iraq. Biden will again be face-to-face with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as the leaders take a 'family photo' together - and spend the afternoon in meetings. On Friday, after Biden became the first U.S. president to fly between Tel Aviv, Isreal and the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah, Biden greeted MBS with a fist-bump, a gesture that received criticism from allies of slain Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. President Joe Biden (right) formally invited United Arab Emirates President Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (left) to the United States when they met Friday afternoon in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia A handout photo of President Joe Biden (left) fist-bumping Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (right) as he arrived for a meeting with the controversial royal Friday evening in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia President Joe Biden said Friday night that he brought up the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in his meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman In remarks to reporters after his meeting with the Saudis, Biden insisted that he brought up the gruesome murder of Khashoggi, a Saudi-born critic of the kingdom who lived in the United States. 'In respect to the murder of Khashoggi, I raised it at the top of the meeting, making it clear what I thought of it at the time, and what I think of it now,' Biden said. 'I was straightforward and direct ... I made my view crystal clear.' 'What happened to Khashoggi was outrageous,' Biden later offered. But when questioned about criticism of the fist bump by a DailyMail.com reporter, Biden laughed and then said it was a 'silly question' when asked how he can be sure another murder like that of Khashoggi wouldn't happen again. Fred Ryan, the publisher and CEO of The Washington Post - which employed Khashoggi - called Biden's fist bump with the crown prince 'shameful.' 'The fist bump between President Biden and Mohammed bin Salman was worse than a handshake - it was shameful,' Ryan said in a statement. 'It projected a level of intimacy and comfort that delivers to MBS the unwarranted redemption he has been desperately seeking.' Hatice Cengiz, Khashoggi's fiancee, shared what she believed her late love's reaction would be to the fist bump: 'Is this the accountability you promised for my murder? The blood of MBS's next victims is on your hands.' President Joe Biden (right) kicked off his second day in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia with a bilateral meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi (left) Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi speaks during a meeting with President Joe Biden in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday President Joe Biden's (right) second meeting was with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi (left) Biden was also read Cengiz's comments by a reporter, who then asked for the president's response. 'I'm sorry she feels that way,' the president answered. 'I was straightforward back then. I was straightforward today.' Prior to inviting UAE's president to the U.S., Biden met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Biden talked about Iraq's move to democracy in his meeting with the wartorn country's leader. 'I want the press and you to know we want to be helpful as we can in doing that,' the president told reporters in the room. Later in a readout of the meeting, the White House said the leaders 'reaffirmed the importance of forming a new Iraqi government responsive to the will of the Iraqi people and their respect for Iraqs democracy and independence.' 'President Biden underscored the importance the United States places on a stable, united, sovereign, and prosperous Iraq, to include Iraqs Kurdistan region,' the readout said. The head of Heathrow Airport has advised airlines to boot passengers off planes in order to avoid cancelling flights altogether in the latest bid to reduce the summer travel chaos. Bosses at the nation's busiest airport reportedly told carriers to consider reducing the number of seats on individual flights, in some cases by as much as 25 per cent, to avert widespread cancellations. A meeting between airlines and Heathrow bosses yesterday saw airport chiefs recommend 'capping the number of passengers on each flight' so carriers could avoid 'necessarily cancelling lots of flights'. The source with knowledge of the meeting added: 'They dont know what the cap would be, but in the past it has been around 75 per cent to 80 per cent capacity on each flight', the Telegraph reported. The UK's busiest airport has seen lengthy lines and piles of unloaded baggage as it struggles to cope with summer demand 'In effect, passengers face being bumped off flights that do take off.' The Department of Transport reportedly told airports and airlines that travel anarchy during the June half term, with flights cancelled once passengers had already boarded, cannot be repeated. The news came as Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye was accused of ignoring airlines' warnings that the hub was woefully underprepared for this year's summer traffic. A letter from airlines Mr Holland-Kaye in late 2021 stated they were 'deeply concerned' for the summer ahead. The letter added that modest estimates would result in 'late recruitment and training of colleagues'. Bosses at the west London airport (pictured: Queues at Terminal 3 yesterday) have reportedly told carriers they should consider reducing the number of seats - in some cases by as much as 25 per cent - on individual flights to avoid having to cancel them altogether Meanwhile a stalemate is emerging between Heathrow and airlines over the decision to cap the number of departing passengers to just 100,000 per day. In order to meet the cap, airlines need to reduce the number of passengers by around 4,000 per day - which means cancelling around 1,000 flights this summer. But airlines are reluctant to cut back on flights, while Emirates have flatly refused, describing Heathrow's demands as 'entirely unreasonable'. But such a move could result in thousands of passengers having their tickets cancelled at short notice. BA has proactively offered passengers flying before July 25 to move their flights to a later date free of charge. It comes as the boss of Heathrow was today given a Government ultimatum to reveal his plan to end the continuing travel chaos ruining holidays for British holidaymakers. Department for Transport (DfT) and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) chiefs have written a joint letter to Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye urging he provide a 'credible' recovery plan to get the airport back to operating 'reliably' at a 'stable level of capacity'. They have also demanded to know why the airport believes a cap on daily departing passengers 'provides a safe and resilient airport with a positive passenger experience'. Mr Holland-Kaye was reportedly given until noon on Friday to assure both groups that the airport has enough staff for security screening and to assist disabled passengers. It is not yet clear if this deadline has been met. It comes as travellers today shared pictures on social media of long queues at the airport overnight, including one queue appearing to stretch down a hallway of Terminal 3. On another day of airport chaos: Heathrow boss John Holland-Kaye was sent a letter asking him to assure the DfT and the CAA that the airport has a 'credible' recovery plan to get the airport back to operating 'reliably' at a 'stable level of capacity' It comes after a furious row broke out between Heathrow and Emirates after the airline refused to comply with an 'unacceptable' order to cut flights from its schedule; An easyJet passenger whose flight was delayed by an hour due to baggage delays revealed how she watched a ground crew member sitting scrolling on his phone; EasyJet crew members in Spain began a strike today over a wage dispute with bosses. The strike, involves staff at Barcelona, Malaga and Palma de Mallorca airports, is the second of three weekends of strike action planned by airline staff this month, with walkouts also scheduled for July 29-31; Yesterday, easyJet Holidays chief Garry Wilson told the BBC that it had done 'everything in its control' to prevent flight cancellations and sure up its scheduling; Gatwick Airport ran out of water - leaving some passengers unable to use the toilets and some food outlets unable to serve meals and drinks. The boss of Heathrow (pictured: Queues at the airport overnight shared by one user on Twitter) is facing a Government ultimatum to reveal his plan to end the continuing chaos - after an airline last night launched an open rebellion against the airport's demands to cut the number of flights It comes as travellers shared pictures on social media of long queues at the airport overnight, including one queue appearing to stretch down a hallway of Terminal 3 Airline Emirates took aim at the west London airport (pictured: Queues overnight at Heathrow) over long queues, numerous flight cancellations, missing baggage and frequent delays, describing the situation as 'airmageddon' Department for Transport (DfT) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) chiefs last night wrote a joint letter to Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye (pictured) urging he provide a 'credible' recovery plan to get the airport back to operating 'reliably' at a 'stable level of capacity The DfT and CAA last night ramped up the pressure on Heathrow following months of disruption at Heathrow, and other separately run UK airports. Emirates' strongly-worded response to Heathrow's passenger cap 'Emirates values our partnerships with airport stakeholders across our network with whom we engage continuously, and collaboratively, to secure our flight operations and ensure minimal customer disruption, particularly over the peak travel months. 'It is therefore highly regrettable that LHR last evening gave us 36 hours to comply with capacity cuts, of a figure that appears to be plucked from thin air. Their communications not only dictated the specific flights on which we should throw out paying passengers, but also threatened legal action for non-compliance. 'This is entirely unreasonable and unacceptable, and we reject these demands. 'At London Heathrow airport (LHR), our ground handling and catering run by dnata, part of the Emirates Group - are fully ready and capable of handling our flights. So the crux of the issue lies with the central services and systems which are the responsibility of the airport operator. 'Emirates is a key and steadfast operator at LHR, having reinstated 6 daily A380 flights since October 2021. From our past 10 months of regularly high seat loads, our operational requirements cannot be a surprise to the airport. 'Now, with blatant disregard for consumers, they wish to force Emirates to deny seats to tens of thousands of travellers who have paid for, and booked months ahead, their long-awaited package holidays or trips to see their loved ones. And this, during the super peak period with the upcoming UK holidays, and at a time when many people are desperate to travel after 2 years of pandemic restrictions. 'Emirates believes in doing the right thing by our customers. However, re-booking the sheer numbers of potentially impacted passengers is impossible with all flights running full for the next weeks, including at other London airports and on other airlines. Adding to the complexity, 70% of our customers from LHR are headed beyond Dubai to see loved ones in far flung destinations, and it will be impossible to find them new onward connections at short notice. 'Moving some of our passenger operations to other UK airports at such short notice is also not realistic. Ensuring ground readiness to handle and turnaround a widebody long-haul aircraft with 500 passengers onboard is not as simple as finding a parking spot at a mall. 'The bottomline is, the LHR management team are cavalier about travellers and their airline customers. All the signals of a strong travel rebound were there, and for months, Emirates has been publicly vocal about the matter. We planned ahead to get to a state of readiness to serve customers and travel demand, including rehiring and training 1,000 A380 pilots in the past year. 'LHR chose not to act, not to plan, not invest. Now faced with an 'airmageddon' situation due to their incompetence and non-action, they are pushing entire burden of costs and the scramble to sort the mess - to airlines and travellers. 'The shareholders of London Heathrow should scrutinise the decisions of the LHR management team. 'Given the tremendous value that the aviation community generates for the UK economy and communities, we welcome the action taken by the UK Department for Transport and Civil Aviation Authority to seek information from LHR on their response plans, systems resilience, and to explain the seemingly arbitrary cap of 100,000 daily passengers. Considering LHR handled 80.9 million passengers annually in 2019, or a daily average of 219,000, the cap represents greater than a 50 per cent cut at a time when LHR claims to have 70% of ground handling resources in place. 'Until further notice, Emirates plans to operate as scheduled to and from LHR.' Advertisement DfT's director general for aviation Dr Rannia Leontaridi and the CAA's chief executive Richard Moriarty last night penned a letter requesting Mr Holland-Kaye's assessment of why the airport's passenger cap will work - after criticism from airlines including Emirates and Virgin Atlantic. In the joint letter, they also wrote: 'We need you to develop a credible and resilient capacity recovery plan for the next six months, that provides comfort that Heathrow can operate reliably at a stable level of capacity.' Mr Holland-Kaye was reportedly given until midday today to respond to the letter. MailOnline has contacted the CAA and Heathrow to ask if that deadline has been met. The CAA did not confirm if they had received a response. However a spokesperson said: 'We remain in constant discussions with Heathrow Airport and the airlines. 'We continue to encourage all parties to collaborate effectively in minimising disruption for passengers this summer and ensure a positive passenger experience.' It comes as British Airways last night started contacting passengers asking them to reschedule their flights amid a row between Heathrow and airlines over the airport's passenger cap. Bosses at the west London travel hub sparked fury from travel chiefs on Tuesday after announcing an immediate 100,000 daily passenger limit. It is part of the airport's bid to reduce the risk of delay and cancellations ahead of the school summer holidays. The move is expected to result in the cancellation of around 1,000 flights this summer. But it sparked a furious row between the airport and Emirates, who yesterday said it was refusing to comply, describing Heathrow's demands as 'entirely unreasonable'. The Dubai-based airline also took aim at the west London airport following months of long queues, numerous flight cancellations, missing baggage and frequent delays, a situation it described as 'airmageddon'. And Virgin Atlantic heaped on the criticism, saying the airport was responsible for failures which are contributing to the chaos. Meanwhile, airport chiefs ordered UK airlines to, 'stop selling summer tickets to limit the impact on passengers' because Heathrow is already expecting an average of 104,000 daily outbound passengers in the coming months. Carriers were yesterday said to be in intense discussions with the airport and flight schedulers in an attempt to cut capacity by up to 15 per cent at Terminals 3 and 5. And BA has now started to contact passengers due to fly before July 25 if they are able to reschedule their flight. Industry insiders have suggested the company is filleting out flights in order to more easily make short-notice cancellations. However MailOnline understands the UK flag carrier has made a 'small number' of short-haul and domestic cancellations over the next two weeks to fit in with Heathrow's passenger cap. BA says it has moved passengers either onto trains or similar flights from Heathrow or City airports. Yesterday, travel expert Paul Charles, who runs travel consultancy the PC Agency, shared an email from BA to customers asking passengers travelling in the next fortnight if they would like to reschedule their flights for free. BA said passengers could change their flights to another BA operated flight to any date within the next 12 months, subject to availability. Commenting on the email, in a post on Twitter, Mr Charles wrote: 'I said it would be a summer of stress. BA among airlines operating from Heathrow now asking those travelling before 25th July to consider changing flights, so enabling them to more easily choose which flights to cancel at short notice.' The new measures, which are due to remain in place until September 11, are part of Heathrow's latest attempts to prevent a school summer holiday repeat of the chaotic scenes witnessed at airports up and down the UK over the Easter weekend. Yesterday, in the latest update to the summer of airport chaos, BA began contacting customers by email asking if they are able to change their flights. The email said: 'This week Heathrow Airport has set a passenger limit per day until September 2022. As a result, they have told us to adjust our flying schedule to reduce the number of customers using the airport this summer. 'We understand that some customers may want to review their travel plans in light of current travel challenges. We want to be as flexible as possible so that you can move your flights if you wish. 'If you are due to travel between now and July 25 and you wish to change your flights we have introduced a policy that will allow you to easily change your travel dates via our website.' The airline insists the move is to help passengers who are concerned about flying amid the travel chaos and the current summer heatwave, and that it has already rescheduled in preparation for Heathrow's announcement. MailOnline understands around 80 flights have been cancelled across the next fortnight. However BA insists its schedule is line with Heathrow's request and they are not expecting to make any short-notice cancellations, unless in the case of technical issues. It comes as an American airline has sent an empty plane to the UK to repatriate hundreds of lost suitcases caught up in Britain's travel chaos - as an easyJet chief pointed the finger of blame at airports. Delta Air Lines sent the Airbus SE A330-200 to Heathrow Airport last night to bring back the bags, which have been following a baggage backlog at the west London travel hub. The backlog stretches back from a technical glitch earlier this month which resulted in thousands of bags being stacked up outside Terminal 2, creating what some described as a 'sea of luggage'. A spokesperson for Delta added: 'Delta teams worked a creative solution to move delayed checked bags from London-Heathrow on July 11 after a regularly scheduled flight had to be cancelled given airport passenger volume restrictions at Heathrow. 'Delta flight 9888 from Heathrow to Delta's Detroit hub flew 1,000 bags back to the US, where teams then forwarded the bags on to our customers.' British Airways (pictured: Library image) has started contacting passengers to ask if they are able to reschedule their flights amid a row between Heathrow and airlines over its decision to cap the number of passengers travelling through the airport It comes after travel expert Paul Charles today shared an email from BA to customers asking passengers travelling in the next fortnight if they would like to reschedule their flights for free Yesterday, as the blame game continued, Garry Wilson, chief executive of EasyJet Holidays, easyJet's holiday wing, said the airline had done 'everything in its control' to prevent flight cancellations and sure up the resilience in its scheduling. The budget airline cancelled more than 4,000 flights in the three months to the end of June in a bid to prevent a repeat of the chaotic scenes witnessed at airports over the Easter Holidays. Mr Wilson told the BBC: 'We've done everything in our control to ensure there's resilience in the system. There may be other things happening - like air traffic control delays, or with airport infrastructure.' EasyJet staff in Spain go on strike today over pay Easyjet staff in Spain are set to take part in a walkout today following a row with bosses over pay. As many as 450 workers based at Barcelona, Malaga and Palma de Mallorca are set to take part in the strike - which will also stretch over the weekend. It is the second of three weekends of strike action planned by airline staff this month, with walkouts also scheduled for July 29-31. Earlier action took place on the first weekend of July. The strikes are taking place over a wage dispute between cabin crew and airline bosses. Advertisement Travel firms have been blamed for the chaotic scenes at airports. Airlines and airports have been accused of failing to prepare for the return of international travel following the lifting of Covid restrictions earlier this year. But airlines and airports have in turn blamed the Government, who they say left companies with no choice but to make job cuts by failing to extend the Covid furlough scheme for holiday firms until all travel restrictions had been lifted. Mr Wilson rejected the suggestion EasyJet had failed to prepare for the summer. He said: 'No, I think with the information we had at the time, we took all the steps that were necessary. As soon as we knew there was strain on the system, we built up that resilience, by taking flights out.' MailOnline has contacted Heathrow Airport for a comment. In a response to Emirates' statement on the passenger cap, a Heathrow spokeswoman said aviation is 'a complex network' and 'no-one can operate in isolation'. She explained that staffing for ground handling teams at the airport are only at 70 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, whereas passenger numbers are at 80-85 per cent. She added: 'For months we have asked airlines to help come up with a plan to solve their resourcing challenges, but no clear plans were forthcoming and with each passing day the problem got worse. 'We had no choice but to take the difficult decision to impose a capacity cap designed to give passengers a better, more reliable journey and to keep everyone working at the airport safe.' The spokeswoman noted the cap is 'significantly higher' than the 64,000 imposed at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport. 'It would be disappointing if instead of working together, any airline would want to put profit ahead a safe and reliable passenger journey,' she added. In December last year, Heathrow said it expected passenger numbers for 2022 to reach around 45 million. It subsequently raised its forecast to 'nearly 53 million' in May, and 54.4 million in June. Terminal 4 was only reopened on June 14, some three months after the UK lifted all remaining coronavirus travel restrictions. It was the last terminal at a major European airport to resume operations during the pandemic. Giant deadly snails have been discovered making their way down a busy street in the middle of the UK capital. The monster-sized 8in African land snails were spotted roaming the pavement in London near London Bridge railway station after escaping from a cardboard box. The creatures had been dumped at a bus stop in the lettuce-filled cardboard box before they made their escape. Giant African land snails can carry potentially deadly parasites and can transmit the rat lungworm parasite that can cause deadly meningitis in humans. The creatures had been dumped at a bus stop in the lettuce-filled cardboard box before they made their escape (Stock image) The species, which feed almost constantly, are also considered to be one of the most dangerous pests in agriculture, and have been known to eat farmer's crops including cocoa, peanuts, bananas and cauliflower. In the US, officials have been forced to hunt down the creatures in Florida after the species began taking over the New Port Richey area. Over 1,000 of the snails have been captured in the area since June 23. In London, the snails were spotted by Jamie-Lee McEvoy who said they were 'the size of [his] arms.' 'I thought I was seeing things,' the 20-year-old told The Sun. 'Everyone was wondering where they'd come from. But no one knew what to do or wanted to touch them.' The huge snails were collected at London Bridge by wildlife volunteer Beth Crivelli, who took the pair home in a damp towel. 'They're living with me in a proper sealed box until I can find someone to adopt them, she said. The species, which feed almost constantly, are also considered to be one of the most dangerous pests in agriculture Giant African land snails can carry potentially deadly parasites and can transmit the rat lungworm parasite that can cause deadly meningitis in humans 'They would have died crawling along the streets in this heat.' The country is preparing itself for the hottest day ever in recorded history with the Met Office predicting temperatures of 106F or 41C. which will see temperatures sore to their highest levels next week amid a red weather warning. The unprecedented weather warning states there is an 80 per cent chance of temperatures beating the current record of 101.7F set in 2019 in Cambridge. Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said there is a 50 per cent chance of temperatures reaching 40C somewhere in the UK, likely along the A1 corridor. The UK Health Security Agency has increased its heat health warning from level three to level four - a 'national emergency'. Level four is reached 'when a heatwave is so severe and/or prolonged that its effects extend outside the health and social care system.... At this level, illness and death may occur among the fit and healthy, and not just in high-risk groups', it said. Workers are back at the office in post pandemic record numbers as soaring temperatures mean they're keen to enjoy employers' air conditioning instead of working from home. The Met Office has said there is an 80 per cent chance of the mercury topping the UK's record temperature of 38.7C (101.7F) set in Cambridge in 2019, with the current heatwave set to peak on Tuesday. Temperatures will climb over the weekend, and the Met Office has issued an amber warning for heat covering much of England and Wales from Sunday until Tuesday. But the warm weather this week has already seen a surge in employees heading back to offices to take advantage of the air conditioning. Before the pandemic, the average office occupancy was 60 per cent, the Times reports. According to data from Freespace, the average office occupancy across the country on Tuesday was 42 per cent - the busiest day this year so far. Workers are back at the office in post pandemic record numbers as soaring temperatures mean they're keen to enjoy employers' air conditioning instead of working from home In London, occupancy was even higher with a rate of 43 per cent on Tuesday while the traditionally quieter Monday reached 26 per cent. Raj Krishnamurthy, Freespace CEO, commented: 'People have been given more flexibility and more say in where, when, and how they work. If they are visiting the office to enjoy the conditioned environments and to keep cool during this extreme heat, then this is another way of demonstrating the benefits of the modern office. 'Being given the right environment to work is all employees want and businesses should focus on this rather than getting too stressed about forcing a specific work pattern. 'Looking ahead, the same could be said about the expected behaviour in the winter to keep warm, which will play out to be a balance between cost of transport versus the cost of heating your home office. 'The acceptance of new working patterns has given everybody a newfound freedom to work where they want and how they want; to move the dial between independent and collaborative working as needed. 'This freedom needs to be harnessed. Businesses will gain significantly from smarter use of their real estate resources in the months and years to come.' Cabinet Office minister Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured above), who drew up the HQ occupancy league table, took to patrolling Government buildings and leaving notes on empty desks It comes as the Government continues with its push to get workers back in the office in Whitehall. Most departments are still more than a third empty despite a major drive by ministers to get staff back to their desks. Latest official figures show 12 of the 19 main government departments were less than 67 per cent occupied at the start of the month as thousands of civil servants continue to work from home. The Foreign Offices building in King Charles Street was the quietest with just four in ten officials present, despite their crucial role in imposing sanctions on Russia and trying to fix the Brexit deal. The Home Office, responsible for the Governments policy to deport migrants to Rwanda, was just half full (51 per cent occupied). HMRC was little better at 53 per cent amid growing complaints over how long tax officials are taking to answer phones. Only two HQs were more than three-quarters full in the week commencing June 27 the Department for Trade (79 per cent) and the Ministry of Defence (80 per cent). Former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith told the Daily Mail: They need to get back to work. Theres no excuse. The note left by Cabinet Office Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg left on empty desks at Whitehall The figures come despite senior ministers fighting to end the WFH culture that took hold during lockdown. Cabinet Office minister Jacob Rees-Mogg, who drew up the HQ occupancy league table, took to patrolling buildings and leaving notes on empty desks. But as the Mail has revealed, dozens of government bodies have quietly agreed to hybrid working policies this year that only require staff to be present two days a week. At a recent grilling by MPs, head of the Civil Service Simon Case admitted: It is vital we make best use of taxpayers money. But he also added: Hybrid working has been part of the way the Civil Service works for a decade. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was seen sporting a fresh haircut after he cancelled a visit to a brewery in Ottawa amid protests. Mr Trudeau was pictured visiting children at a day camp in Gatineau Park in Quebec with much shorter hair than usual earlier this week. Those used to his longer locks were somewhat surprised to see him sporting the trim, which he debuted to the world wearing a plain white shirt and jeans amid visits to the park and two Ottawa suburbs. He debuted much shorter hair on his visit to parts of Ottawa earlier this week Those used to his longer locks were somewhat surprised to see him sporting the trim, which he debuted to the world wearing a plain white shirt and jeans The Canadian President visited children at a day camp in Gatineau Park in Quebec Since he came to office in 2015, the 50-year-old has always kept his hair the same mid-length style. It is not clear what prompted him to make the change. His shorn locks were the big talk of the day, with several making comments on his new look. His new look has sparked a debate online, with many people comparing him to Jim Carrey's famous character in Dumb and Dumber. 'So now... either you cut your hair yourself, or literally everyone hates you even your hairdresser,' one wrote. 'So Justin Trudeau got himself a new hairstyle and he's making all kinds of public appearances,' another added. 'For those who haven't seen it, apparently he went to his stylist and said "Give me the Lloyd Christmas.' They finished the post with a side by side shot of Mr Trudeau and Mr Carrey in the infamous 1995 comedy in which he stars with Jeff Daniels. Another simply said: ' I can't stop looking at his hair' while another said: 'What happens to his hair? Lol he looks like that guy from dumb and dumber.' Many also tweeted Mr Trudeau directly to ask him if he had been the one to chop his own locks, while others said they should have been warned that he was planning on cutting it. He was due to visit the Brasserie Etienne Brule Brewery in Embrun, Ontario later in the day (Friday July 15) which is about 30 minutes east of Ottawa. But the event was called off before he arrived. Around a dozen protestors had gathered across the street from the brewery, including one who was carrying a flag with profanity directed at Trudeau, and another who was recording on their phone. Inside, the brewery was busy with parties of people inside and out of the patio. Three patrons were asked to leave the property. One of them, a woman, approached Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who were posted outside in plain clothes, and appeared to argue with them before leaving. Government sources have confirmed the presence of the apparent convoy supporters was behind the decision to cancel the event. Mr Trudeau was pictured visiting children at a day camp in Gatineau Park in Quebec with much shorter hair than usual The 50-year-old also visited suburbs in Ottawa as part of his whistle stop tour of the area Slide me His shorn locks were the big talk of the day, with several making comments on his new look He previously sported much longer hair before cutting it off leaving many people online surprised Since he came to office in 2015, the 50-year-old has always kept his hair the same mid-length style It is the second time in less than two months he has been forced to pull out of a planned appearance before of protestors who appear to share similar views as 'freedom convoy' protesters who blockaded downtown Ottawa for three weeks last winter. He attended a fundraising event virtually in May after protestors gathered outside a banquet hall in Surrey, British Columbia. The protests have been largely against covid-19 vaccinations and restrictions as a result of the virus. Some have also demanded that he been thrown out of office. A couple's five-star 'holiday of a lifetime' turned out to be a 'holiday from hell' after they staying at 'filthy' hotels with mouldy rooms and bedding stained with bodily fluids. Nurse Lauren Jones, 37, and her partner Adam Donlevy, 36, booked the two-week getaway to Singapore and Bali with agent at the Broughton branch of Hays Travel - the largest independent travel agent in the UK - in September for 3,000. The couple from Cheshire planned to kick their well-deserved holiday off on June 20 with a five night stay at a Singapore Hotel. This was to be followed by 10 nights in Bali - five in cultural hotspot Ubud and five in beach resort Seminyak before heading home on July 5. But the holiday turned into a nightmare for the couple during the first leg in Singapore, after arriving at the 'five-star' hotel she described as a 'hellhole'. 'It was meant to be the holiday of a lifetime and it was a hellhole. It was literally a holiday from hell,' said Nurse Lauren Jones (right),37, about her trip to Singapore and Bali with her partner Adam Donlevy (left), 36 The holiday turned into a nightmare for the couple during the first leg in Singapore, after arriving at the 'five-star' hotel she described as a 'hellhole' Miss Jones said they left feeling 'unwell' due to mould and generally filthy rooms and 'bodily fluid' stains on the bedding. 'It was just despair and anxiety. Despair at having to stay in such horrendous, dirty conditions and the anxiety of whether we were going to become unwell,' Miss Jones told CheshireLive. 'We did both become unwell in those conditions, with stomach problems. But it's also the fear you're going to contract something else. 'I'm a nurse, I know the things you can contract in those situations. As much as you can be careful by just using bottled water or that sort of thing, when the place itself is that dirty, you are bound to get ill which obviously we did. 'It's the anger as well - the anger and shock that we were placed in what should have been five star hotels that were nowhere near five stars. But also the anger towards Hays Travel for the way they treated us and how much I had to fight to get us moved to a safe and clean environment. 'It was meant to be the holiday of a lifetime and it was a hellhole. It was literally a holiday from hell.' Following their five-night stay in Singapore, the couple arrived at Sthala, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Ubud, Balie, on June 25. They arrived late on that Saturday night, went to bed and then got up the next morning when Miss Jones said they noticed the room 'smelled quite damp'. 'It was just despair and anxiety. Despair at having to stay in such horrendous, dirty conditions and the anxiety of whether we were going to become unwell,' Miss Jones said 'We found the bodily fluids on the bedding and the towels' She said: 'We noticed that Adam's coat had started developing mould on it when it had just been hanging up in the wardrobe. When we looked around the room, we found black mould going up half the walls. 'We turned the cushions over on the outdoor seating part and they were covered in mould. There was just mould everywhere so we had to keep all our clothes in the suitcases. 'We were unimpressed with the view. We looked out at what looked like a rotten fence wall with loads of equipment put out there, when we weren't promised that.' Miss Jones said she did not feel 'safe' and her and her partner were 'constantly watching over our shoulders', as she claimed she saw a lot of 'crime'. Her and Mr Donlevy contacted agents Hays Travel on the Tuesday, June 28, to complain about the hotel. Miss Jones said she they asked why they hadn't been in touch earlier but she explained they were both 'shocked' and 'didn't want to feel more uncomfortable'. They went to their next hotel two days later on the Thursday, June 30, which was the Jambuluwuk Oceano Seminyak Hotel in Seminyak which was '10 times worse'. 'We found the bodily fluids on the bedding and the towels. The pool was actually closed because the roof was falling down and held together with blue rope,' Miss Jones said of the Jambuluwuk Oceano Seminyak Hotel in Seminyak 'We found the bodily fluids on the bedding and the towels. The pool was actually closed because the roof was falling down and held together with blue rope,' she said. 'There's a tiny pool at the top of the hotel, which was green, so you wouldn't want to go in there. We couldn't eat at the hotel because it was just that dirty, it was vile. 'It wasn't a safe place to be in at all and the bathroom was horrendously dirty. The hotel wasn't fit to be open and it said on the sign that they were compliant with Covid-19 safety, which was a blatant lie.' Miss Jones said that, following their stay at the first hotel in Bali, Hays Travel promised to move them to a new place 'immediately' if the second was just as bad. But she said they weren't moved until Saturday, July 2, despite numerous attempts to contact the travel agency. They were found a room at the Grand Hyatt Bali Hotel leaving the couple with just two full days of a 'truly five star experience' on their two week holiday. They arrived home the following Tuesday, July 5, and filed a complaint with Hays Travel, asking for a refund. Miss Jones said that as of Tuesday, July 12, she had not received a response from the travel agency. However, Hays Travel have now said the couple have been offered a refund for their stays at both hotels plus an 'additional goodwill gesture'. The travel agency also said they would conduct an 'urgent review' and has put a 'stop-sale' on the two venues. A spokesperson for Hays Travel said: 'We were sorry to hear that Miss Jones and her partner were not satisfied with the hotels during their stay in Bali. 'When Miss Jones made contact from her second hotel and asked to be moved we worked with our overseas supplier to find a suitable alternative which Miss Jones and her partner relocated to. 'We have since passed the details of both properties to our product management team for urgent review and can confirm we have now put these hotels on stop sale. 'The Broughton team have contacted Miss Jones to offer a refund of both hotels plus an additional goodwill gesture.' The couple only got to experience their true five-star Indonesian holiday for two days after they were finally moved to a good quality hotel Miss Jones also wanted to warn people about online reviews of hotels that date back to before the pandemic. She said: 'A lot of hotels have been closed during the pandemic and the reviews that people are looking at are from when they were open, up and running and amazing. 'The problem is, with a lot of them only just up and running now, many were left to go to ruin during a two-year period.' She added: 'People need to be looking at the reviews from the last few weeks and not basing anything on what you're told by a travel agent from a review from two years ago when it was last open. 'We only realised that when we got out there and saw how bad things were.' Anthony Albanese could have saved taxpayers $800million had he chosen to scrap the seven-day mandatory isolation period for Australians infected with Covid. The Prime Minister announced he would reinstate the $750-a-week Covid payment for casual workers and those without sick leave benefits who are forced into isolation. He'd been pressured to bring back the payments after refusing to budge on mandatory isolation, with the total scheme expected to cost just under $800million. Mr Albanese brought forward the emergency national cabinet meeting on Australia's latest Omicron wave to Saturday, after calls from premiers such as Queensland leader Annastacia Palaszczuk. Unlike other countries around the world where isolation periods have been reduced or ditched altogether, Mr Albanese said the current rules would remain, and encouraged face masks to be worn in indoor settings. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has called for the isolation period to be scrapped or shortened, but said if workers were forced to isolate they needed to be compensated. Anthony Albanese could have spared taxpayers $800million had he chosen to scrap the seven-day mandatory isolation period for Australians infected with Covid The prime minister made the extraordinary backflip on Saturday announcing the payment for those having to isolate with Covid will be extended until September 30 'Ultimately, we have to get to a point where if you are sick you stay at home and if you are not sick you can go to work,' Mr Perrottet told News.com.au. 'I think we need to look at the periods of time in which we are forcibly requiring people to not be able to work and provide for their families. 'My view is this: if we're going to have the state take away people's liberty and they can't work well then the state needs to compensate.' Experts have predicted Covid infections will peak in late July or early August and Mr Albanese had been under mounting pressure to meet with state leaders and health bosses. Ms Palaszczuk and Tasmanian premier Jeremy Rockliff were particularly vocal in their calls for a cabinet meeting. 'I think the country just wants to know how this wave is going. How the hospitalisations are going. And get the information from the chief health medical officer which is what we used to get from national cabinet,' Ms Palaszczuk told The Today Show on Thursday. 'It doesn't have to be a long meeting. Gives an opportunity for the Prime Minister to brief the country on how it's going.' Mr Albanese had earlier said the $750-a-week pandemic leave disaster payment would not be reinstated past June 30. But in a spectacular backflip on Saturday, he announced it would be made available again from Wednesday and would extend to September 30. 'I want to make sure that people aren't left behind, that vulnerable people are looked after,' he said. 'That no-one is faced with the unenviable choice of not being able to isolate properly without losing an income.' Poll Should Australians with Covid be forced to isolate for seven days? Yes No Should Australians with Covid be forced to isolate for seven days? Yes 828 votes No 1373 votes Now share your opinion People with Covid are not required to isolate in countries such as the United Kingdom or Switzerland while they are only 'recommended' to self-quarantine for five days in the United States. Face masks are not enforced in the UK or Switzerland either - while Australians are still required to wear them while catching public transport or visiting a hospital. Countries such as Sweden no longer categorise Covid as a 'critical illness'. Mr Albanese argued the isolation period was necessary to combat surging Covid cases and ease pressure on hospitals - even though a large portion of the strain on the healthcare system is coming from a surge in influenza cases. Australia recorded its worst May on record with 65,770 confirmed influenza cases - more than double the number set before lockdown in 2019. There is no mandatory isolation period for influenza, and no payments for casual workers off sick with the flu. Health experts warned the previous lockdowns had weakened residents' immune systems and made them more vulnerable to the virus. The disaster payments will be reinstated with crisis payments and cost $780million - with the price to be split between federal and state governments. 'Going forward, the states and territories have agreed that this payment will be covered 50-50 on a shared cost with the states and territories,' Mr Albanese said. Shadow health spokeswoman Anne Ruston labelled it an 'embarrassing backflip'. 'AlboMP has admitted that he left many Australians behind by his lack of action in his health response to the current outbreak,' she wrote on Twitter. Mr Albanese held an emergency national cabinet meeting, which was brought forward from Monday, as the latest Omicron variants sweep through Australia Casual workers who have to isolate with Covid will be able to access a $750 payment as Anthony Albanese temporarily reinstates it 'This is an embarrassing backflip and there are still questions to be answered, including if the Govt sought advice initially on cutting the payments?' Mr Albanese has vowed there will be a 'consistent national approach' in dealing with the Covid pandemic going forward. 'The Commonwealth will meet with the states and territories in the national cabinet approach every two to three weeks,' he said. 'All of the premiers and chief ministers as well as the Commonwealth understand that we need to get the health outcomes right in order to protect people's health and also to protect our economy. 'When you get the health outcomes right, you protect jobs and protect the economy. We are all committed to that. The really positive thing as well today is [we are] working towards a much more consistent national approach.' A temporary Telehealth system will also be introduced to connect GPs with patients who need to access oral Covid antivirals. 'We want to make sure that antivirals can be administered where appropriate and in order to do that, this temporary Telehealth facility is appropriate, it is appropriate it be established,' Mr Albanese said. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet (above) said he would call for the seven-day Covid isolation period to be discussed at Saturday's emergency national cabinet meeting Mr Albanese had earlier argued the $1trillion national debt he 'inherited' from the Morrison Government and the ease of most Covid restrictions meant the Covid payment was no longer beneficial. People will be able to begin to apply from July 20 for the payments. Australia is currently battling two more-infectious sub-strains of the Omicron variant, known as BA.4 and BA.5. Health experts have warned the strains are highly contagious and can reinfect people who have already had the virus and double-vaccinated residents - but it is not considered to be more dangerous than the previous strains. Dr Kerry Chant was prompted to reduce the reinfection window period from 12 weeks to 28 days. 'We're urging people who have recently had Covid-19, even if they left isolation in the past four weeks, not to be complacent. If you develop symptoms again, make sure to test and isolate,' Dr Chant said. Casual workers, specifically in hospitality and retail sectors, called for the $750 Covid isolation payment to be reinstated to help make up for vital lost income China to embrace golden era of IoT development 15:33, July 16, 2022 By Li Jiabao ( People's Daily From smart city to digital countryside, and from intelligent transport to smart tourism, Internet of Things (IoT) is being applied in more and more scenarios and permeating all aspects of people's life. IoT, through sensing and internet communication technologies, connects people, machines and objects, and provides infrastructure such as information sensing, transmission and processing services. Oilseed rape seedlings are sprayed in an intelligent breeding greenhouse of a modern agricultural park in Guangrao county, Dongying, east China's Shandong province, July 4, 2022. (Photo by Liu Yunjie/People's Daily Online) It is widely used in people's daily life. For instance, it enables convenience stores to run unattended, as payments can be settled automatically by an IoT system that identifies the commodities taken by customers. IoT chips equip home appliances with better human-machine interaction and thus bring a better user experience. More broadly, IoT is employed by hospitals to perform telesurgeries and teletherapies, and automatic fares can be collected by installing intelligent cameras at expressway entrances, which improves traffic efficiency and reduces waiting time. According to a report issued by the Internet Society of China, the scale of China's IoT industry exceeded 1.7 trillion yuan ($251 billion) in 2021 and is expected to reach 2 trillion yuan this year. Mobile IoT connections will hit 80.1 billion by 2025, the report estimates. Urban management officers in Lianhua county, east China's Jiangxi province check and verify information on a smart urban management platform, March 16, 2022. (Photo by Li Xiaobin/People's Daily Online) At present, IoT technology is widely used in engineering machinery, aerospace manufacturing and other traditional industries. Wearable devices, smart home appliances, intelligent healthcare instruments, intelligent connected vehicles and disaster warning systems equipped with IoT sensors are also seen in our daily life. In Cangnan county, Wenzhou, east China's Zhejiang province, cameras are installed in and around buses to capture real-time images. The images are uploaded to a system established by the Zhejiang branch of China Mobile, one of the major telecommunication carriers in China. The system, created by cloud networking and 5G technologies, turns buses into the citys "security inspectors." It is reported that the system employs a number of cutting-edge technologies, such as IoT, 5G, artificial intelligence (AI) and big data. The information it collects is processed in a platform to detect incidents happening in the county, so as to make urban governance smarter. An unmanned vehicle carrying supplies runs on a neighborhood road in Yangpu district, Shanghai, April 19, 2022. (Photo by Wang Gang/People's Daily) The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) recently unveiled a list of 179 IoT demonstration projects. In particular, 42 projects on the list have made breakthroughs in key technologies or made innovations in the integrated application of 5G, big data, AI and blockchain technologies. The innovations include research and verification of vehicle-road technology based on 5G and AI, the research and application of 5G-adapted intelligent gateways oriented toward multiple industrial scenarios, and the research and application of the 5G-integrated technologies of high-precision Beidou navigation. Wu Hequan, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, told People's Daily that 5G technology has promoted the development of IoT to broadband-connected intelligent networks, and improved the value of IoT applications. The MIIT, together with seven other departments jointly issued a three-year action to promote the construction of IoT infrastructure in September 2021. By the end of 2023, the country will have preliminarily completed the construction of IoT infrastructure in its major cities, fostered 10 leading players in the industry each with an output value of over 10 billion yuan, and witnessed 2 billion IoT connections. Driven by supportive policies, the released market demand, as well as investment, China's IoT industry will embrace a golden area for development. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji) The United States believes that Russian officials visited an airfield in Iran recently to view attack-capable drones, U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan said on Saturday. The United States earlier this week said it has information that shows Iran is preparing to provide Russia with up to several hundred drones, including some that are weapons capable, and that Tehran is preparing to train Russian forces to use them. Iran's foreign minister denied that. "We assess an official Russian delegation recently received a showcase of Iranian attack-capable UAVs....To our knowledge, this is the first time a Russian delegation has visited this airfield for such a showcase," Sullivan said in a statement. The statement included satellite imagery dated June 8 showing Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) "that the Russian government delegation saw that day". It said similar equipment was showcased for a second Russian visit to the airfield on July 5. On Friday, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, in a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart, rejected as baseless U.S. accusations about Iranian drones being sent to Russia for use in the war against the Ukraine. Iran, which has supplied UAVs to its allies in the Middle East, on Friday announced its first naval drone-carrying division in the Indian Ocean as U.S. President Joe Biden visits the Middle East. Biden is expected to meet with Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia on Saturday and discuss integrating missile and defence capabilities in the region to combat Iranian drone and missile attacks in the Middle East. "Russia is effectively making a bet on Iran and we are making a bet on a more integrated, more stable, more peaceful and prosperous Middle East region," a senior U.S. administration official told reporters on Saturday. Biden has used Iran's growing ties with Russia as a rallying cry to press Arab countries to take a harder stance on the Ukraine crisis. Gulf nations, which have energy and business ties with Moscow, have so far refused to take sides. (Reuters) Advertisement There was chaos at Ibiza Airport today with Easyjet and Ryanair strikes coinciding with the start of the school holidays. Passengers faced long queues at check in desks and were seen sleeping on the airport floor this morning as a mix of staff shortages and strikes continue to make air travel difficult. Easyjet workers in Spain are on strike until tomorrow, affecting hundreds of crew at their airline's bases across the country. Ryanair staff in 10 Spanish airports were on strike for four days last week and will go on strike for another four days starting on Monday, July 18, after demanding a higher pay and better working conditions. It comes as Heathrow has asked airlines to stop selling summer tickets and imposed a daily limit of 100,000 passengers departing the airport as it struggle to cope with traveller numbers. L9ong queues formed at Ibiza Airport this morning as passengers faced a fraught journey home Strikes by easyJet and Ryanair staff in Spain have caused delays and cancellations for many passengers Passengers faced long queues at check in desks and were seen sleeping on the airport floor this morning Easyjet workers in Spain are on strike until tomorrow, affecting hundreds of crew at their airline's bases across the country (Pictured: Ibiza Airport this morning) Ryanair staff in 10 Spanish airports were on strike for four days last week and will go on strike for another four days starting on Monday (Pictured: Ibiza Airport this morning) Government ministers told airlines to review their flights after the May half term chaos, which was blamed on a shortage of airline and airport staff. Staff shortages have already been leading to queues at security and check in desks at airports across the UK as the travel industry picks up after Covid pandemic lockdowns. There are triple the number of passengers flying in and out of Britain's airports this summer compared to last year. Hundreds of flights are being delayed or cancelled as there are not enough staff to cope with the booming demand. Passengers are also reporting having to wait hours to get their luggage back after flights and bags and suitcases are being left abandoned on carousels. Kick holidaymakers off flights to end travel chaos, Heathrow tells airlines as it emerges that airport boss was warned last YEAR that it was woefully underprepared for this summer By Adam Solomons and James Robinson for MailOnline The head of Heathrow Airport has advised airlines to boot passengers off planes in order to avoid cancelling flights altogether in the latest bid to reduce the summer travel chaos. Bosses at the nation's busiest airport reportedly told carriers to consider reducing the number of seats on individual flights, in some cases by as much as 25 per cent, to avert widespread cancellations. A meeting between airlines and Heathrow bosses yesterday saw airport chiefs recommend 'capping the number of passengers on each flight' so carriers could avoid 'necessarily cancelling lots of flights'. The source with knowledge of the meeting added: 'They dont know what the cap would be, but in the past it has been around 75 per cent to 80 per cent capacity on each flight', the Telegraph reported. The UK's busiest airport has seen lengthy lines and piles of unloaded baggage as it struggles to cope with summer demand 'In effect, passengers face being bumped off flights that do take off.' The Department of Transport reportedly told airports and airlines that travel anarchy during the June half term, with flights cancelled once passengers had already boarded, cannot be repeated. The news came as Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye was accused of ignoring airlines' warnings that the hub was woefully underprepared for this year's summer traffic. A letter from airlines Mr Holland-Kaye in late 2021 stated they were 'deeply concerned' for the summer ahead. The letter added that modest estimates would result in 'late recruitment and training of colleagues'. Bosses at the west London airport (pictured: Queues at Terminal 3 yesterday) have reportedly told carriers they should consider reducing the number of seats - in some cases by as much as 25 per cent - on individual flights to avoid having to cancel them altogether Meanwhile a stalemate is emerging between Heathrow and airlines over the decision to cap the number of departing passengers to just 100,000 per day. In order to meet the cap, airlines need to reduce the number of passengers by around 4,000 per day - which means cancelling around 1,000 flights this summer. But airlines are reluctant to cut back on flights, while Emirates have flatly refused, describing Heathrow's demands as 'entirely unreasonable'. But such a move could result in thousands of passengers having their tickets cancelled at short notice. BA has proactively offered passengers flying before July 25 to move their flights to a later date free of charge. It comes as the boss of Heathrow was today given a Government ultimatum to reveal his plan to end the continuing travel chaos ruining holidays for British holidaymakers. Department for Transport (DfT) and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) chiefs have written a joint letter to Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye urging he provide a 'credible' recovery plan to get the airport back to operating 'reliably' at a 'stable level of capacity'. They have also demanded to know why the airport believes a cap on daily departing passengers 'provides a safe and resilient airport with a positive passenger experience'. Mr Holland-Kaye was reportedly given until noon on Friday to assure both groups that the airport has enough staff for security screening and to assist disabled passengers. It is not yet clear if this deadline has been met. It comes as travellers today shared pictures on social media of long queues at the airport overnight, including one queue appearing to stretch down a hallway of Terminal 3. On another day of airport chaos: Heathrow boss John Holland-Kaye was sent a letter asking him to assure the DfT and the CAA that the airport has a 'credible' recovery plan to get the airport back to operating 'reliably' at a 'stable level of capacity' It comes after a furious row broke out between Heathrow and Emirates after the airline refused to comply with an 'unacceptable' order to cut flights from its schedule; An easyJet passenger whose flight was delayed by an hour due to baggage delays revealed how she watched a ground crew member sitting scrolling on his phone; EasyJet crew members in Spain began a strike today over a wage dispute with bosses. The strike, involves staff at Barcelona, Malaga and Palma de Mallorca airports, is the second of three weekends of strike action planned by airline staff this month, with walkouts also scheduled for July 29-31; Yesterday, easyJet Holidays chief Garry Wilson told the BBC that it had done 'everything in its control' to prevent flight cancellations and sure up its scheduling; Gatwick Airport ran out of water - leaving some passengers unable to use the toilets and some food outlets unable to serve meals and drinks. The boss of Heathrow (pictured: Queues at the airport overnight shared by one user on Twitter) is facing a Government ultimatum to reveal his plan to end the continuing chaos - after an airline last night launched an open rebellion against the airport's demands to cut the number of flights It comes as travellers shared pictures on social media of long queues at the airport overnight, including one queue appearing to stretch down a hallway of Terminal 3 Airline Emirates took aim at the west London airport (pictured: Queues overnight at Heathrow) over long queues, numerous flight cancellations, missing baggage and frequent delays, describing the situation as 'airmageddon' Department for Transport (DfT) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) chiefs last night wrote a joint letter to Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye (pictured) urging he provide a 'credible' recovery plan to get the airport back to operating 'reliably' at a 'stable level of capacity The DfT and CAA last night ramped up the pressure on Heathrow following months of disruption at Heathrow, and other separately run UK airports. DfT's director general for aviation Dr Rannia Leontaridi and the CAA's chief executive Richard Moriarty last night penned a letter requesting Mr Holland-Kaye's assessment of why the airport's passenger cap will work - after criticism from airlines including Emirates and Virgin Atlantic. In the joint letter, they also wrote: 'We need you to develop a credible and resilient capacity recovery plan for the next six months, that provides comfort that Heathrow can operate reliably at a stable level of capacity.' Emirates' strongly-worded response to Heathrow's passenger cap 'Emirates values our partnerships with airport stakeholders across our network with whom we engage continuously, and collaboratively, to secure our flight operations and ensure minimal customer disruption, particularly over the peak travel months. 'It is therefore highly regrettable that LHR last evening gave us 36 hours to comply with capacity cuts, of a figure that appears to be plucked from thin air. Their communications not only dictated the specific flights on which we should throw out paying passengers, but also threatened legal action for non-compliance. 'This is entirely unreasonable and unacceptable, and we reject these demands. 'At London Heathrow airport (LHR), our ground handling and catering run by dnata, part of the Emirates Group - are fully ready and capable of handling our flights. So the crux of the issue lies with the central services and systems which are the responsibility of the airport operator. 'Emirates is a key and steadfast operator at LHR, having reinstated 6 daily A380 flights since October 2021. From our past 10 months of regularly high seat loads, our operational requirements cannot be a surprise to the airport. 'Now, with blatant disregard for consumers, they wish to force Emirates to deny seats to tens of thousands of travellers who have paid for, and booked months ahead, their long-awaited package holidays or trips to see their loved ones. And this, during the super peak period with the upcoming UK holidays, and at a time when many people are desperate to travel after 2 years of pandemic restrictions. 'Emirates believes in doing the right thing by our customers. However, re-booking the sheer numbers of potentially impacted passengers is impossible with all flights running full for the next weeks, including at other London airports and on other airlines. Adding to the complexity, 70% of our customers from LHR are headed beyond Dubai to see loved ones in far flung destinations, and it will be impossible to find them new onward connections at short notice. 'Moving some of our passenger operations to other UK airports at such short notice is also not realistic. Ensuring ground readiness to handle and turnaround a widebody long-haul aircraft with 500 passengers onboard is not as simple as finding a parking spot at a mall. 'The bottomline is, the LHR management team are cavalier about travellers and their airline customers. All the signals of a strong travel rebound were there, and for months, Emirates has been publicly vocal about the matter. We planned ahead to get to a state of readiness to serve customers and travel demand, including rehiring and training 1,000 A380 pilots in the past year. 'LHR chose not to act, not to plan, not invest. Now faced with an 'airmageddon' situation due to their incompetence and non-action, they are pushing entire burden of costs and the scramble to sort the mess - to airlines and travellers. 'The shareholders of London Heathrow should scrutinise the decisions of the LHR management team. 'Given the tremendous value that the aviation community generates for the UK economy and communities, we welcome the action taken by the UK Department for Transport and Civil Aviation Authority to seek information from LHR on their response plans, systems resilience, and to explain the seemingly arbitrary cap of 100,000 daily passengers. Considering LHR handled 80.9 million passengers annually in 2019, or a daily average of 219,000, the cap represents greater than a 50 per cent cut at a time when LHR claims to have 70% of ground handling resources in place. 'Until further notice, Emirates plans to operate as scheduled to and from LHR.' Advertisement Mr Holland-Kaye was reportedly given until midday today to respond to the letter. MailOnline has contacted the CAA and Heathrow to ask if that deadline has been met. The CAA did not confirm if they had received a response. However a spokesperson said: 'We remain in constant discussions with Heathrow Airport and the airlines. 'We continue to encourage all parties to collaborate effectively in minimising disruption for passengers this summer and ensure a positive passenger experience.' It comes as British Airways last night started contacting passengers asking them to reschedule their flights amid a row between Heathrow and airlines over the airport's passenger cap. Bosses at the west London travel hub sparked fury from travel chiefs on Tuesday after announcing an immediate 100,000 daily passenger limit. It is part of the airport's bid to reduce the risk of delay and cancellations ahead of the school summer holidays. The move is expected to result in the cancellation of around 1,000 flights this summer. But it sparked a furious row between the airport and Emirates, who yesterday said it was refusing to comply, describing Heathrow's demands as 'entirely unreasonable'. The Dubai-based airline also took aim at the west London airport following months of long queues, numerous flight cancellations, missing baggage and frequent delays, a situation it described as 'airmageddon'. And Virgin Atlantic heaped on the criticism, saying the airport was responsible for failures which are contributing to the chaos. Meanwhile, airport chiefs ordered UK airlines to, 'stop selling summer tickets to limit the impact on passengers' because Heathrow is already expecting an average of 104,000 daily outbound passengers in the coming months. Carriers were yesterday said to be in intense discussions with the airport and flight schedulers in an attempt to cut capacity by up to 15 per cent at Terminals 3 and 5. And BA has now started to contact passengers due to fly before July 25 if they are able to reschedule their flight. Industry insiders have suggested the company is filleting out flights in order to more easily make short-notice cancellations. However MailOnline understands the UK flag carrier has made a 'small number' of short-haul and domestic cancellations over the next two weeks to fit in with Heathrow's passenger cap. BA says it has moved passengers either onto trains or similar flights from Heathrow or City airports. Yesterday, travel expert Paul Charles, who runs travel consultancy the PC Agency, shared an email from BA to customers asking passengers travelling in the next fortnight if they would like to reschedule their flights for free. BA said passengers could change their flights to another BA operated flight to any date within the next 12 months, subject to availability. Commenting on the email, in a post on Twitter, Mr Charles wrote: 'I said it would be a summer of stress. BA among airlines operating from Heathrow now asking those travelling before 25th July to consider changing flights, so enabling them to more easily choose which flights to cancel at short notice.' The new measures, which are due to remain in place until September 11, are part of Heathrow's latest attempts to prevent a school summer holiday repeat of the chaotic scenes witnessed at airports up and down the UK over the Easter weekend. Yesterday, in the latest update to the summer of airport chaos, BA began contacting customers by email asking if they are able to change their flights. The email said: 'This week Heathrow Airport has set a passenger limit per day until September 2022. As a result, they have told us to adjust our flying schedule to reduce the number of customers using the airport this summer. 'We understand that some customers may want to review their travel plans in light of current travel challenges. We want to be as flexible as possible so that you can move your flights if you wish. 'If you are due to travel between now and July 25 and you wish to change your flights we have introduced a policy that will allow you to easily change your travel dates via our website.' The airline insists the move is to help passengers who are concerned about flying amid the travel chaos and the current summer heatwave, and that it has already rescheduled in preparation for Heathrow's announcement. MailOnline understands around 80 flights have been cancelled across the next fortnight. However BA insists its schedule is line with Heathrow's request and they are not expecting to make any short-notice cancellations, unless in the case of technical issues. It comes as an American airline has sent an empty plane to the UK to repatriate hundreds of lost suitcases caught up in Britain's travel chaos - as an easyJet chief pointed the finger of blame at airports. Delta Air Lines sent the Airbus SE A330-200 to Heathrow Airport last night to bring back the bags, which have been following a baggage backlog at the west London travel hub. The backlog stretches back from a technical glitch earlier this month which resulted in thousands of bags being stacked up outside Terminal 2, creating what some described as a 'sea of luggage'. A spokesperson for Delta added: 'Delta teams worked a creative solution to move delayed checked bags from London-Heathrow on July 11 after a regularly scheduled flight had to be cancelled given airport passenger volume restrictions at Heathrow. 'Delta flight 9888 from Heathrow to Delta's Detroit hub flew 1,000 bags back to the US, where teams then forwarded the bags on to our customers.' British Airways (pictured: Library image) has started contacting passengers to ask if they are able to reschedule their flights amid a row between Heathrow and airlines over its decision to cap the number of passengers travelling through the airport It comes after travel expert Paul Charles today shared an email from BA to customers asking passengers travelling in the next fortnight if they would like to reschedule their flights for free Yesterday, as the blame game continued, Garry Wilson, chief executive of EasyJet Holidays, easyJet's holiday wing, said the airline had done 'everything in its control' to prevent flight cancellations and sure up the resilience in its scheduling. The budget airline cancelled more than 4,000 flights in the three months to the end of June in a bid to prevent a repeat of the chaotic scenes witnessed at airports over the Easter Holidays. Mr Wilson told the BBC: 'We've done everything in our control to ensure there's resilience in the system. There may be other things happening - like air traffic control delays, or with airport infrastructure.' EasyJet staff in Spain go on strike today over pay Easyjet staff in Spain are set to take part in a walkout today following a row with bosses over pay. As many as 450 workers based at Barcelona, Malaga and Palma de Mallorca are set to take part in the strike - which will also stretch over the weekend. It is the second of three weekends of strike action planned by airline staff this month, with walkouts also scheduled for July 29-31. Earlier action took place on the first weekend of July. The strikes are taking place over a wage dispute between cabin crew and airline bosses. Advertisement Travel firms have been blamed for the chaotic scenes at airports. Airlines and airports have been accused of failing to prepare for the return of international travel following the lifting of Covid restrictions earlier this year. But airlines and airports have in turn blamed the Government, who they say left companies with no choice but to make job cuts by failing to extend the Covid furlough scheme for holiday firms until all travel restrictions had been lifted. Mr Wilson rejected the suggestion EasyJet had failed to prepare for the summer. He said: 'No, I think with the information we had at the time, we took all the steps that were necessary. As soon as we knew there was strain on the system, we built up that resilience, by taking flights out.' MailOnline has contacted Heathrow Airport for a comment. In a response to Emirates' statement on the passenger cap, a Heathrow spokeswoman said aviation is 'a complex network' and 'no-one can operate in isolation'. She explained that staffing for ground handling teams at the airport are only at 70 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, whereas passenger numbers are at 80-85 per cent. She added: 'For months we have asked airlines to help come up with a plan to solve their resourcing challenges, but no clear plans were forthcoming and with each passing day the problem got worse. 'We had no choice but to take the difficult decision to impose a capacity cap designed to give passengers a better, more reliable journey and to keep everyone working at the airport safe.' The spokeswoman noted the cap is 'significantly higher' than the 64,000 imposed at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport. 'It would be disappointing if instead of working together, any airline would want to put profit ahead a safe and reliable passenger journey,' she added. In December last year, Heathrow said it expected passenger numbers for 2022 to reach around 45 million. It subsequently raised its forecast to 'nearly 53 million' in May, and 54.4 million in June. Terminal 4 was only reopened on June 14, some three months after the UK lifted all remaining coronavirus travel restrictions. It was the last terminal at a major European airport to resume operations during the pandemic. Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu today gave the order to dramatically increase so-called shock and awe attacks on Ukraine. He claimed Kremlin forces must 'exclude the possibility of the Kyiv regime inflicting massive rocket and artillery strikes on civilian infrastructure and residents of the Donbas and other regions,' according to reports in Moscow. It followed an on-the-ground inspection by Putin's trusty defence minister - and a National Security Council meeting led by Vladimir Putin. Emergency services attend the horrific scene in central Vinnytsya on Thursday afternoon Maxim Zharyi, seven, and Victoria Rekuta, 35, were both killed in the sick attack on Thursday Shoigu 'gave instructions to further increase the actions of [military] groups in all operational areas', local reports stated. It was unclear whether the minister's talks with military chiefs were in Russia or occupied Ukraine. Shoigu's ominous threat came as more details emerged of the tragic victims of Thursday's sickening Russian strike on city Vinnytsya, western Ukraine. The death toll now stands at 24. Shoigu's ominous threat came as more details emerged of the tragic victims of Thursday's sickening Russian strike. Pictured: bomb damage in Dnipro, eastern Ukraine Liza Dmitrieva, four, was in her pram when a ship-fired missile struck, killing her instantly Pictures showed a seven-year-old boy whose remains could only be recognised from his DNA after he was hit by one of Putin's missiles while attending a doctor's appointment. Alina Kisel, 25, was at work in a bank when the Russian missile hit, killing her Maxim Zharyi died with his mother Victoria Rekuta, 35, a qualified dentist, in the shocking attack on a city hundreds of miles from the eastern frontline. The pair had been to the Neuromed clinic, which was struck by a missile fired from a Russian warship in the Black Sea. Ksenia Denisyuk, Victoria's friend, said: 'He was a wonder child, bright and kind. 'Together they went to a clinic. 'This was the moment when the terrorist country [Russia] hit the medical centre. 'Maxim could be identified only with a DNA test. Horror footage showed the scale of the destruction in the south-west Ukrainian town 'The whole world should know that Russia is a terrorist state.' Another boy, Kirill Pyakhin, eight, died in the rocket strike, as he waited in a parked car with his uncle while his grandmother went to get cash from a nearby bank. This was the same attack in which little Liza Dmitrieva, four, was killed in her pushchair and her mother Irina, 33, left gravely wounded. Kirill Pyakhin, eight, was waiting for his grandmother in a car with his uncle. He was killed Alina Kisel, 35, was also killed as a tree fell due to the missile strike. She was in the backyard of the bank where she worked and 'died instantly'. Four other bank workers were hospitalised. Meanwhile Shoigu presented the Gold Star Hero of the Russia medals to Colonel-General Alexander Lapin and Major-General Esedulla Abachev. A man sorts through his belongings in the aftermath of Thursday's rocket attack on Vinnytsya A 70-year-old woman was among three victims in an airstrike on Chuhuiv near Kharkiv overnight. A regional police official said Russia fired four missiles from near western city of Belgorod at around 3.30am. The strike damaged a two-story residential building, a school and a shop, Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Synehubov said. Ukraine's shortened and straightened defensive line in the east has successfully repelled Russian attacks, according to the British Ministry of Defence. Its daily intelligence update this morning stated that the 'Ukrainian defence has been successful in repulsing Russian attacks since Lysychansk was ceded and the Ukrainian defensive line was shortened and straightened.' It added: 'This has allowed for the concentration of force and fires against reduced Russian attacks and has been instrumental in reducing Russias momentum.' The Met Office official who starred in the now-viral video which warned of the perils of the coming heatwave spent ten years designing tank armour. Dr Penny Endersby, the Met Office's chief executive, is a career scientist and spent decade designing armour for fighting vehicles. After studying natural sciences at Cambridge and a short stint at British Gas, Dr Endersby joined the Ministry of Defence working for the Defence, Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL). At the DSTL, Dr Endersby was an Armour Scientist and was responsible for designing light, fast and strong armour for tanks and people - including by carrying out explosives tests and firing trials. At the DSTL, Dr Endersby was an Armour Scientist and was responsible for designing light, fast and strong armour for tanks and people She told Grow Media that she 'enjoyed being a cool scientist and not giving a second thought to management or operational aspects of the organisation.' Dr Endersby starkly told The Telegraph last November that the 40C temperatures that are forecast for this week were coming in the near future. Her Met Office said that it was considering naming heatwaves, in the same way as serious storms are given names, to raise public awareness. Dr Endersby told The Sunday Telegraph that the public is now increasingly knowledgeable about storms since the weather service began naming them. Now, the same tactic which could be used for heatwaves as concerns grow over more extreme hot summers in the future. Last year set a new record for heat-related deaths in the UK according to Public Health England, with summer heatwaves leading to 2,556 deaths - a stark rise from less than 1,000 recorded in previous years. Dr Endersby's inspiration as a young woman going into the sciences was to have a scientific theory named after her. She said that her ambition as the daughter of an engineer and a classicist in 1970s London was to have an 'Endersby theory' taught at universities. After leaving the MOD at 30, Dr Endersby went into management with Deloitte before joining the Met Office in 2018. Her role as chief executive has become increasingly high-profile as extreme weather events become more frequent. Her most public appearance so far has been the sombre that the Met Office released a dramatic video this week warning Britons are 'not adapted to what is coming' regarding the coming heatwave The prolific professor is also a fellow of the Institute of Physics and the Royal Academy of Engineering, and a visiting professor in Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton. Her most public appearance so far has been the sombre that the Met Office released a dramatic video this week warning Britons are 'not adapted to what is coming' as she warned of 'absolutely unprecedented' conditions for the UK. Health officials told Britons to 'look out for others, especially older people, young children and babies and those with underlying health conditions' and transport bosses warned of major rail disruption. Operators advised passengers against non-essential travel next Monday and Tuesday, with speed restrictions likely Advertisement Infamous Mexican drug baron Rafael Caro Quintero - who ordered the kidnap and murder of a US drug enforcement agent in 1985 - has been caught eight years after fleeing jail and unleashing a vicious turf war with rival drug lords. The 69-year-old was captured by Mexican forces yesterday nearly a decade after walking out of a Mexican prison and returning to drug trafficking, Mexico's navy said. Caro Quintero was arrested after a search dog named Max found him hiding in brush in the town of San Simon in Sinaloa state during a joint operation by the navy and the attorney general's office, a navy statement said. The site was in the mountains near Sinaloa's frontier with the northern border state of Chihuahua. A navy helicopter crashed during the mission. 69-year-old Rafael Caro Quintero (centre) was captured by Mexican forces yesterday nearly a decade after walking out of a Mexican prison and returning to drug trafficking Rafael Caro Quintero 'El Numero 1' rose to become one of the most feared drug cartel leaders in the 1970s and 80s Members of the Mexican Navy and the Federal Ministerial Police carry out the transfer of drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero from a hangar belonging to the Prosecutor's Office to the Altiplano Prison in Mexico City, Mexico Mexican drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, was admitted tonight to the Federal Center for Social Readaptation Number 1 'El Altiplano' under the custody of the Navy and the National Guard (pictured) Caro Quintero was arrested in the town of San Simon in Sinaloa state during a joint operation by the navy and Attorney General's Office Back behind bars: The life and times of one of Mexico's most notorious drug traffickers Rafael Caro Quintero 'El Numero 1' Born in Sinaloa, Mexico, on October 24, 1952, Rafael Caro Quintero 'El Numero 1' rose to become one of the most feared drug cartel leaders in the 1970s and 80s. He started growing marijuana on a ranch owned by his brother Jorge Luis, before setting up the Guadalajara Cartel with Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo, Juan Jose Esparragoza Moreno and others. The cartel was among the frontrunners of Mexico's booming drug trade in the late 1970s and widely feared. Authorities believe Caro Quintero ordered the kidnap of drug enforcement agent Enrique Camarena, 37, and his pilot Alfredo Zavala Avelar on February 7, 1985, in Guadalajara with the help of corrupt officials. The pair were tortured at length and killed, before being dumped on the edge of a ranch. In addition, Caro Quintero is also believed to have ordered the brutal murders of American tourists John Clay Walker and Albert Radalat in January 1985, after they stumbled on a drugs deal. Caro Quintero was jailed for 40 years for the murders of Camarena and Avelar in 1985. After fleeing prison in 2013, Caro Quintero returned to drug trafficking and unleashed bloody turf battles in the northern Mexico border state of Sonora. Advertisement Mexico's national arrest registry listed the time of Caro Quintero's detention as around midday. There were two pending arrest orders for him as well as an extradition request from the US government. The attorney general's office said in a statement late on Friday that Caro Quintero had been arrested for extradition and would be held at the maximum security Altiplano prison about 50 miles west of Mexico City. A short video segment released by the navy showed Caro Quintero with his face blurred, dressed in jeans, a wet blue shirt and baggy khaki jacket, being held by both arms by men wearing camouflage uniforms and carrying assault rifles. Caro Quintero walked free in 2013 after 28 years in prison when a court overturned his 40-year sentence for the 1985 kidnapping and killing of US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, 37. The brutal murder marked a low point in US-Mexico relations. Caro Quintero reportedly sought revenge against undercover agent Camarena after Mexican authorities raided a 1,000-hectare (2,500-acre) ranch known as El Bufalo in November 1984 - burning over 10,000 tons of marijuana with a street value of $160million. In retribution, Caro Quintero is said to have ordered the kidnap of Camarena and his pilot Alfredo Zavala Avelar on February 7, 1985, in Guadalajara. Their bodies were found a month later, wrapped in plastic outside a ranch in the countryside and showed signs of torture. In addition to Camarena's murder, Caro Quintero is also believed to have ordered the torture and murder of two US civilians, aspiring novelist John Clay Walker, 36 and dentistry student Albert Radelat, 33, on January 30, 1985. Walker was staying in Guadalajara on a year-long sabbatical while working on his book. He and his friend Radalat went out for dinner, when they are said to have stumbled on a private party held by Caro Quintero. Mistaking the two for drug enforcement agents, Caro Quintero is said to have ordered them into the restaurant store room, where they were beaten and tortured with ice picks. Walker died during the ordeal but Radalat is believed to have still been alive when they were wrapped in table cloths and buried in the Mexican plains. Their bodies were found six months later. Caro Quintero's exploits including the murders of Camarena and Walker are depicted in the Netflix TV series Narcos: Mexico, where he is portrayed by actor Tenoch Huerta Mejia. After fleeing prison in 2013, Caro Quintero, the former leader of the Guadalajara cartel, returned to drug trafficking and unleashed bloody turf battles in the northern Mexico border state of Sonora. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has maintained he is not interested in detaining drug lords and prefers to avoid violence, but the arrest came days after he met US President Joe Biden at the White House. There had been tensions between the Mexican government and the DEA after Mexico enacted a law limiting the US agency's operations. The FBI's ten most wanted fugitive poster shows the profile of Rafael Caro Quintero A navy Blackhawk helicopter crashed during the capture of drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, near Los Mochis, Sinaloa state Another navy helicopter was brought in to provide assistance during the capture after another aircraft crashed However, the US agency's new head in Mexico had recently received a visa, which US officials marked as a sign of progress in the relationship. An appeals court overturned Caro Quintero's verdict in 2013 but the Supreme Court upheld the sentence. It was too late by then; Caro Quintero had been spirited off in a waiting vehicle. He was on the FBI's most wanted list, with a 20 million dollar (16.8 million) reward for his capture through the State Department's Narcotics Rewards Programme. He was added to the FBI's 10 most wanted list in 2018. Caro Quintero was one of the primary suppliers of heroin, cocaine and marijuana to the US in the late 1970s. Five men have been charged following the murder of a 20-year-old man who fled Eritrea and successfully was granted asylum. Bereket Selomun's body was found shortly before 7.30am on Thursday, July 7 in woodland next to Fairlands Valley Park in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. A post mortem discovered the 20-year-old victim had suffered multiple stab wounds. Specialist officers are assisting Mr Selomun's family as the investigation into his killing continues. Bereket Selomun's body was found shortly before 7.30am on Thursday, July 7 in woodland next to Fairlands Valley Park in Stevenage, Hertfordshire Five men aged between 18 and 23 are expected to appear in court today to be charged with Mr Selomun's murder Police have charged five men aged between 18 and 23 with Mr Selomun's murder. A sixth man is being investigated on suspicion of assisting an offender. The men, Jalani Omer, Robel Msange and Malake Fiseha, all aged 23 and Temesgen Gebremedhin, 20 and Natnael Hadgu, 18, are all due to appear in St Alban's Magistrates' Court today. Detective Inspector Iain MacPherson, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire (BCH) Major Crime Unit, said: 'Our thoughts remain with Bereket's family at this extremely difficult time. 'Our enquiries have continued at pace and following arrests made earlier this week charges have now been secured. However, we are still appealing for any witnesses who haven't yet spoken to police to please come forward. 'If you have any information at all, please contact us.' A Google Maps blunder is sending Beatles fans down a long and winding road by directing them to the wrong zebra crossing instead of the one pictured on the Abbey Road album cover. Traffic is frequently halted at the iconic zebra crossing as tourists stop in the middle of the street to snap a picture of themselves recreating the 1969 album cover featuring the fab four. However Google Maps has not been sending some fans to the famous crossing outside the eponymous music studio - which is still used by hit artists today - but about half a mile up Abbey Road. If you type in 'Abbey Road' into Google Maps you could be directed a 'notable street' marker in the centre of the road. This is about half a mile north of the studio at the south end of the London road where the Beatles recorded some of the greatest songs ever written, including Come Together, Something and Here Comes the Sun. The front cover of The Beatles' 1969 album Abbey Road features the fab four crossing an ordinary zebra crossing near the eponymous studio - and is now a tourist photo hotspot If you type in 'Abbey Road' into Google Maps you could be directed a 'notable street' marker in the centre of the road (1) but the studio is actually about half a mile further south (2) along with the real zebra crossing (3) Fans often stop in the street to recreate the iconic Beatles album cover on Abbey Road Tourists may be confused to not find themselves at a zebra crossing - however, just 500 yards north of the marker is another Abbey Road zebra crossing that's only claim to fame is being mistaken for the genuine article. Sieun Kim, 22, a South Korean student, joked that she would still post the photos at the faux crossing of her and her three friends she was trekking across Europe with on Instagram, after speaking to the Telegraph yesterday, July 15. They also spoke to Californian Leilani May, 16, who was embarrassed to be taking a picture 'in a random spot'. The Beatles' penultimate album is considered to be one of the best of all time and featured classics such as Here Comes the Sun and Come Together. Pictured: Messages to the Beatles written on the street sign at Abbey Road If this is your view, you're at the wrong zebra crossing - head south until you see tourists blocking traffic and taking photos This is the site of the correct zebra crossing, near the studio which is still used by hit artists today The ersatz album crossing is opposite the Almas restaurant, where a worker told the Telegraph he had seen Uber drivers drop tourists off at the wrong spot, but a local chemist worker said they found it 'hilarious'. If you plan on visiting the bit of Beatles history then make sure you type 'The Beatles crosswalk' into Google Maps to get the right location. Tourists were also confused around a decade ago after getting on the DLR line to Abbey Road Station - a totally different street which happens to have the same name. JK Rowling has defended a disabled schoolgirl who was told she did not have the right to women-only care in school toilets. The parents of the 16 year-old girl, who has severe learning disabilities, were told two years ago the school was replacing it 'same-sex' intimate care policy with a 'cross-gender' policy. This meant male staff would also be able to take part in intimate care for the pupil - including using the toilet and changing rooms. Her parents have accused the special school, which has not been named, of putting their child at risk for the sake of 'celebrating staff diversity.' Although a lawyer said removing the policy was a breach of the 2010 Equality Act, the school dismissed the finding as 'outdated and against majority opinion.' JK Rowling, 56, called the school position on intimate care 'a travesty' and said it risked endangering vulnerable girls The parents of 'Helen' raised their concerns over their dispute with the school in a blog post JK Rowling blasted the school's approach on Twitter, saying it would endanger 'extremely vulnerable girls.' The Harry Potter author added: 'This is a travesty. 'Have we learned nothing from successive abuse scandals? Do we value the disabled so little?' The parents of 'Helen' - not her real name - wrote about their dispute with the school in a post on website Transgender Trend. They said the school eventually conceded Helen could be cared for by women, but only because of 'parental preference.' The Harry Potter author gave a damning verdict on the school's controversial policy Ms Rowling posted a thread of Tweets on the dispute, criticising what she called 'cruelty and indifference' The parents said: 'There is no doubt in our minds that a priority for the school was to be able to appease, to be able to tell the staff 'the parents have insisted on it. 'This was the starting point of our journey: that a special school, with all its expertise and experience of teaching and supporting girls with severe learning disabilities, felt justified in tossing away Helen's rights in order to "celebrate staff diversity."' They added that young people with severe learning disabilities have 'no sense of stranger-danger' and warned they might not be able to 'tell anyone if they have been flashed, groped, or raped.' Discrimination law barrister and co-founder of campaign group Sex Matters Naomi Cunningham argued removing the intimate care policy could be indirect discrimination. She said it was: 'Likely to put girls at a particular disadvantage compared to boys'. She added: 'Intimate touching without consent is likely to be experienced by the victim as sexual assault even if the requisite intent can't be proved to get a conviction under the Sexual Offences Act. 'So if a child or those acting on her behalf don't consent to opposite-sex intimate care, the school would seem to be encouraging the commission of a criminal offence by imposing it on her. 'If schools are worried that it might be discriminatory against male staff members not to let them provide intimate care to girls, that is a groundless fear. 'Discrimination requires a "detriment", and there's case law to say that an "unjustified sense of grievance" isn't a detriment.' As well as JK Rowling's intervention, Helen's case was also raised in the House of Lords by Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, who called the incident 'scandalous'. She said 50 per cent of local authorities had introduced similar policies on intimate care and warned that 'sexual assaults are happening'. Pressure is growing on the Moonies after the church confirmed that Shinzo Abe's assassin's mother was a member of the cultish sect and had given over 600,000 to them. Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, was allegedly motivated to kill Mr Abe at a July 8 election rally by a grudge he held over his mother's finances, claiming he and his relatives had nothing left after she gave money to the South Korean Unification Church, more commonly known as the 'Moonies'. Yamagami's mother reportedly sold her home to donate 600,000 to a church that the former prime minister was said to be close to and bankrupted her family in the process. Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, was allegedly motivated to kill Mr Abe at a July 8 election rally by a grudge with the Moonies Abe praised the churchs activities during a speech in September though is not thought to have been a member WHAT ARE THE MOONIES? The Unification Church is a religious movement founded in Pusan, South Korea, by the Reverend Sun Myung Moon in 1954. Known for its mass weddings, the church teaches a unique Christian theology. It has generated much controversy, and its members are commonly derided as 'Moonies.' According to Moon, the world was created from God's inner nature, which is reflected in the 'dual' expressions of life, (causal, masculine) and (resultant, feminine). The purpose of creation, Moon believes, is to experience the joy of love. Controversy surrounding the church led to congressional hearings, and in 1982 Moon was convicted of tax evasion. His supporters, including many mainline church leaders, saw the trial as an example of government religious persecution. In 1994, on the 40th anniversary of the founding of the church, Moon announced the formation of the International Federation for World Peace, which assumed many of the functions formerly performed by the church. Known for its mass weddings, the church teaches a unique Christian theology Advertisement The church has confirmed the mother is a member after a police investigation was announced, but has not shared any information on money she donated. Abe praised the churchs activities during a speech in September though is not thought to have been a member. His grandfather, ex-Japan PM Nobusuke Kishi, is said to have assisted the anti-communist church in establishing itself in Japan. Abe had reportedly sent messages to events held by church affiliates and expressed support for its global peace movement. Moon, who spoke fluent Japanese, launched an anti-communist group in Japan in the late 1960s, the International Federation for Victory Over Communism, and built relations with Japanese politicians, according to the churchs publications. It comes as Japanese police said they have found a number of suspected bullet marks on a building near the site of the fatal shooting. They are apparently from the first shot fired from a suspect's powerful homemade gun that narrowly missed Mr Abe. Mr Abe, the country's longest-serving prime minister who remained influential after stepping down two years ago for health reasons, was shot on Friday during a campaign speech near a crowded train station in Nara, west Japan. A bullet from a second shot, fired seconds after the first from behind Mr Abe, hit him just as he turned around, apparently in reaction to the initial explosive sound. Yamagami was arrested on Friday and can be detained for police investigation for up to three weeks before prosecutors decide whether to charge him. On Wednesday, police found several suspected bullet marks in the wall of a building about 90 meters away from the shooting scene. Police said they believe the bullets, or fragments of the bullets, from the first shot hit the wall after narrowly missing Mr Abe and piercing through an election vehicle parked nearby. The marks on the wall and in the vehicle match, police said, suggesting they were caused by the same weapon. Police confiscated the homemade gun the suspect allegedly used to kill Mr Abe. The taped-up 40cm double-barrel gun, made with two iron pipes, was designed to release several bullets per shot, police said. Police also allegedly confiscated several other similar weapons from the suspect's apartment. Mr Abe's death has shed a light on his and his governing party's links to the Unification Church, which is known for its conservative and anti-communist stances and its mass weddings. Tomihiro Tanaka, head of the Japanese branch of the South Korean-based church, confirmed on Monday that Yamagami's mother was a member. Mr Tanaka said Mr Abe was not a member but may have spoken to groups affiliated with the church. Police inspect a sidewalk near the site where former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was fatally shot in Nara, western Japan Crowds throng the streets outside Tokyo's Zojoji temple as the hearse carrying Shinzo Abe's body emerges, following a private funeral ceremony attended by family and friends Police this week inspected a building related to the church in Nara after the suspect told investigators he had test-fired a homemade gun the day before the shooting to figure out how powerful it would be. They found several holes in the wall of an unrelated office next door, which the suspect might have believed was part of the church, police said. Mr Abe's assassination has shaken Japan, one of the world's safest nations with some of the strictest gun laws. Police have acknowledged possible lapses in guarding Mr Abe and announced plans to set up a task force to review safety procedures. Hundreds of people, some in formal dark suits, filled pavements outside the Zojoji temple in downtown Tokyo to bid farewell to Mr Abe, whose nationalistic views drove the governing party's conservative policies, on Tuesday. A photo has shown just how far New Zealand has gone to stop the spread of Covid, with airport workers seen in bizarre protective masks that cover their entire heads. The picture, believed to have been taken this week, shows Christchurch immigration and biosecurity staff in N95 masks and powered air purifying respirators, otherwise known as PAPRs. The PAPRs not only shield the face, but have a tube that filters air into the hood which is worn over the head. Christchurch, New Zealand. All the immigration and biosecurity staff in fit tested N95s, mainly 3M Auras. A few who failed fit test were in PAPRs. The officer I spoke to said they had had zero occupational transmission. IT'S. NOT. HARD. pic.twitter.com/eW1s1YeTLB Dr David Berger, aBsuRdiSTe cROnickLeR (@YouAreLobbyLud) July 16, 2022 The devices are usually used if a more standard face mask is unable to be fitted correctly onto the person needing it. Other staff members who were wearing the N95 masks were also spotted wearing protective glasses. While the protective gear may appear strange to many around the world, New Zealand has famously taken an extremely strict approach to Covid and have extensive masking measures in their airports. Customs officers must wear fitted N95 masks and protective eyewear. Reading glasses don't count. Jacinda Ardern (pictured) has strict rules for her airport staff but has eased restrictions for travellers in the hopes tourism will ramp up Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern recently relaxed rules for international visitors in a bid to entice more tourists to New Zealand. New Zealand was mostly locked away from the rest of the world during the pandemic, due to Ms Ardern's strict zero-Covid policy which also saw its own residents struggling to get home. Multiple lockdowns had been imposed after just a handful of cases. Vaccinated travellers with approved visas can now enter the country without having to isolate but must take two rapid tests upon arrival and report the results. In her most recent visit across the ditch, Ms Ardern called on Australians to travel to her country. 'I don't hesitate to say we missed you. And you will get a welcome like no other right now, because we're so excited to have people back,' she said. 'It's ski season in New Zealand. Look, in regular times, Australians made up of our international skiers about 71 per cent of the market. So Aussies love to ski in New Zealand. I can see why. It's easy, it's accessible.' President Joe Biden concluded his trip to the Middle East Saturday by offering another lecture on human rights to Arab leaders. He said that no country gets it 'right all the time' but leaders need to accept criticism and grow from their mistakes. 'No country gets it right all the time, even most of the time, including the United States,' Biden said in his remarks to the GCC+3 summit. 'But our people are our strength. Our countries with the confidence to learn from the mistakes grow stronger.' Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud was among the leaders listening as Biden gave his lecture. The president, however, didn't mention by name Jamal Khashoggi, the Washington Post journalist who intelligence agencies said was killed at the prince's orders. His meaning, however, was clear, when he said that citizens should be able to 'question and criticize their leaders without fear of reprisal.' Khashoggi was critical of MBS and his plans for the kingdom. Biden said he's gotten plenty of criticism himself over the years and while it's 'not fun' it helps the exchange of ideas. 'I've gotten plenty of criticism over the years. It's not fun. But the ability to speak openly and exchange ideas freely is what unlocks innovation,' he said. 'Accountable institutions that are free from corruption and act transparently and respect the rule of law are the best way to deliver growth, respond to people's needs, and I believe ensure justice.' After the meeting concluded, Biden boarded Air Force One at the King Abdulaziz International Airport, spending less than 24 hours in Saudi Arabia. President Joe Biden offered another lecture on human rights in his speech to Arab leaders, saying leaders need to accept criticism and grow from their mistakes President Joe Biden left for the airport after Saturday's meeting, waving goodbye on the tarmac of the King Abdulaziz International Airport after spending less than 24 hours in Saudi Arabia President Joe Biden (center left) and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (center right) pose for a family picture with other leaders in the GCC+3 President Joe Biden, center left, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, center, arrive for the family photo President Joe Biden attends the Gulf Cooperation Council meeting The Saudis again rolled out a purple carpet for President Joe Biden as he departed Jeddah Saturday from the King Abdulaziz International Airport President Joe Biden walks to Air Force One as he departed Saudi Arabia Saturday bound for the United States The speech outlined Biden's vision for the Gulf region and the American role there. It came at the end of his four-day trip the region, his first as president. In his remarks, he again vowed to keep Iran from getting a nuclear weapon and pushed for stronger ties among the countries in the region. Biden wants to see Israel more intergrated to help counter the growing threat of Iran. He also vowed the U.S. won't 'walk away.' 'We will not walk away and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia or Iran,' he said. 'We will seek to build on this moment with active, principled, American leadership.' Biden concluded by promising the United States would stay involved in the Middle East region. 'Let me conclude by summing all this up in one sentence. The United States is invested in building a positive future in the region, in partnership with all of you and the United States is not going anywhere.' Biden spent the final day of his trip holding formal one-on-one meetings with the leaders of Iraq, Egypt, and the UAE as he worked to reassert U.S. influence in the region. The president formally invited the leader of the United Arab Emirates to the United States by the end of the year as he kicked off day two in Saudi Arabia with a trio of meetings with Arab leaders. 'Challenges you face today only make it a heck of a lot more important we spend time together,' he told UAE President Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. 'I want to formally invite you to the States.' The Sheik, who assumed office in May, conceded that he was new to the job, but working hard. The 79-year-old Biden, who won his first federal election in 1972, joked that he was new too, getting a laugh from the Sheik. President Joe Biden (right) formally invited United Arab Emirates President Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (left) to the United States when they met Friday afternoon in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia A handout photo of President Joe Biden (left) fist-bumping Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (right) as he arrived for a meeting with the controversial royal Friday evening in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia President Joe Biden said Friday night that he brought up the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in his meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman The UAE is part of the 'I2U2' that met partially in-person and part virtually on Thursday, while Biden was holding meetings with Israel's Prime Minister Yair Lapid - part of the president's four day trip to the Middle East. The I2U2 consists of the United States, Israel, the UAE and India. UAE's President Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and India's Narendra Modi Narendra participated virtually. But UAE's leader met in-person with Biden in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Saturday as part of the GCC + 3 - bringing together leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman - as well as the heads of state of the United States, Egypt and Iraq. President Joe Biden (right) kicked off his second day in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia with a bilateral meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi (left) Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi speaks during a meeting with President Joe Biden in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday President Joe Biden's (right) second meeting was with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi (left) Priot to inviting UAE's president to the U.S., Biden met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Biden talked about Iraq's move to democracy in his meeting with the wartorn country's leader. 'I want the press and you to know we want to be helpful as we can in doing that,' the president told reporters in the room. Later in a readout of the meeting, the White House said the leaders 'reaffirmed the importance of forming a new Iraqi government responsive to the will of the Iraqi people and their respect for Iraq's democracy and independence.' 'President Biden underscored the importance the United States places on a stable, united, sovereign, and prosperous Iraq, to include Iraq's Kurdistan region,' the readout said. The White House also said Biden met on the sidelines of the summit with King Abdullah II of Jordan, Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar and King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pointed to American abuse in the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and the war in Afghanistan as he told President Joe Biden Friday that the U.S. made 'mistakes' too. Reuters reported Saturday on what MBS - as the crown prince is called - responded to the president when pressed about the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the top of their first in-person meeting Friday evening in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A U.S. intelligence report held MBS responsible for the 2018 killing of Khashoggi, a Saudi-born critic of the kingdom, who lived in the United States. 'The United States also made a number of mistakes like the incident of Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and others,' the crown prince told Biden, a Saudi official told Reuters. In the early part of the Iraq War, detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison were tortured by U.S. forces, with 11 Americans convicted of crimes related to the scandal. While MBS reportedly spoke to Biden about shared values - he also said pushing those values on other countries could backfire. 'However trying to impose those values by force could have the opposite effect as it happened in Iraq and Afghanistan where the U.S. was unsuccessful,' the statement from the Saudi official to Reuters said. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (right) pointed to American abuse in the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and the war in Afghanistan as he told President Joe Biden (left) Friday that the U.S. made 'mistakes' too When President Joe Biden brought up the murder of Jamal Khashoggi (left), which U.S. intelligence said MBS ordered, the crown prince pointed to the Abu Ghraib (right) prison scandal from the early days of the Iraq War Biden oversaw a messy U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, after a 20-year military involvement there following the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. The Taliban quickly retook control of the country as the U.S. was leaving. Biden told reporters after his meeting with the Saudis that he brought up Khashoggi's killing first thing. 'In respect to the murder of Khashoggi, I raised it at the top of the meeting, making it clear what I thought of it at the time, and what I think of it now,' Biden said. 'I was straightforward and direct ... I made my view crystal clear.' 'What happened to Khashoggi was outrageous,' Biden later offered. Biden told reporters that MBS 'basically said he was not personally responsible' for the gruesome killing that took place in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. 'I indicated I thought he was,' Biden continued. 'He said he was not personally responsible for it and he took action against those who were responsible.' Biden didn't mention that MBS brought up the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, as a Saudi official claimed. And later the Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs Adel Al-Jubeir told reporters that he did not hear Biden place blame for the killing on MBS during the meeting, according to The New York Times. He described the conversation as one in which Biden spoke more about human rights than the grisly killing. Jubeir called Khashoggi's death a 'terrible mistake,' but pointed out that 'people were put on trial.' In 2020, a Saudi court jailed eight people for between seven and 20 years for Khashoggi's murder. Their names were never released publicly. The Al-Arabiya channel quoted a Saudi official who said Biden and MBS 'addressed the issue of Jamal Khashoggi quickly' and the crown prince 'confirmed that what happened is regrettable and we have taken all legal measures to prevent' it from happening again. During Biden's remarks to MBS and other Arab leaders Saturday, the president concededthe U.S. hasn't had a perfect track record. 'No country gets it right all the time - even most of the time - including the United States,' Biden said. But he also pressed that dissenters - like Khashoggi - shouldn't be punished. 'I've gotten plenty of criticism over the years,' he said. 'It's not fun.' 'But the ability to speak openly and exchange ideas freely is what unlocks innovation,' Biden added. A former FBI investigator described how he broke through a murder suspect's defenses to unravel the mystery of The Girl in the Picture kidnapping, while also uncovering how he killed the victim's son. Scott Lobb, who was investigating the two-decades-old murder of Suzanne Sevakis, was among the FBI agents interrogating death row inmate Franlink Delano Floyd, 78, whose 30-year criminal career includes kidnappings, murders, rapes and a bank robbery. During their investigation, Lobb learned that Sevakis was actually among the four children Floyd kidnapped back in 1975 and raised to be his wife before she was killed in Oklahoma City in a hit-and-run in 1990. Although Floyd refused to speak about Sevakis, Lobb said he used several tactics - like dressing smartly and invading the suspect's personal space - to learn what happened to the Sevakis's son, Michael, The Sun reported. After days of pushing, Lobb said 'a switch had been flicked,' and an emotionless Floyd confessed to the kidnapping and murder of the six-year-old boy. 'I shot him in the back of the head to make it real quick,' Floyd allegedly said, stunning the FBI agent. Lobb told The Sun there was 'no remorse, not tears, it was very matter of fact and eerie.' FranklinDelano Floyd, a death row inmate, had kidnapped his daughter, Suzanne Sevakis, and forced her to marry him before she was killed in a hit-and-run in 1990. Floyd then confessed to the kidnapping and murder of her son, Michael. Pictured: Floyd and Sevakis as a child Floyd, now 78, made the chilling confession that he shot Michael (right) in the back of the head Former FBI investigator Scott Lobb said there was no remorse in Floyd's confession. The retired agent said he and his partner were able to turn the tables on the 'master manipulator' to get him to confess after decades of silence Floyd was given the death penalty. He is now 78 years old and is currently on death row in a prison in Florida The chilling case, which was explored in the new Netflix crime documentary, The Girl in the Picture, describes the mystery of surrounding Sevakis, who was taken with her three siblings from their mother, Sandi. While the other children were eventually found Floyd kept Sevakis and raised her as his own daughter, changing her name to Sharon Marshall and spending years pretending that he was her father before forcing her to marry him. Sevakis eventually had a son, Michael, with another man, and Floyd had the family move to Oklahoma, where Sevakis was killed in 1990 after being hit from behind with a car. Michael was put into foster care and later adopted. But in September 1994, when he was in first grade, Floyd walked into his elementary school with a gun and took Michael. Police searched for Floyd and Michael for weeks, and he was eventually arrested in Louisville, Kentucky, after he tried to get a new license and the DMV realized who he was and alerted the FBI. He was found guilty of kidnapping and sentenced to 55 years in prison. He was later also charged with first-degree murder for killing a friend of Sevakis, and was given the death penalty in Florida. For years, it was unknown what happened to Michael, but in 2015, Lobb uncovered the truth with his partner, Special Agent Nate Furr. Although Floyd appeared unwilling to talk with the investigators, who described him as a 'master manipulator,' Lobb said the agents were able to turn the tables on him and steer the convicted mureder to the truth. A simple tactic they used was coordinating their outfits, dressing Lobb up a figure of authority that Floyd could trust as opposed to Furr, who would be dressed more casually. 'I went to Nate a couple of days before and I said, 'Listen, he has this respect, whether it's pseudo respect for people in authority or not, but he seems to respond better,' so we're gonna tell him that I'm in charge,' Lobb told The Sun. 'We also contrasted the way we dressed, so on the first day I was in a full suit and FBI uniform, and Nate was in dress slacks, a sport coat, and a shirt with no tie, and so on. 'We always made Nate look a little bit less dressed than me... and Floyd seemed to respond well to that. 'Don't get me wrong, there was still a battle in that room every day with him, but he seemed to respond well to that perception.' He was found guilty of kidnapping Michael (pictured) and sentenced to 55 years in prison. He was later also charged with first-degree murder for killinga friend of Sevakis Floyd then became the suspect in a disappearance case of an 18-year-old woman named Cheryl Ann Commesso (pictured right) - a coworker of Suzanne's (pictured left) who was seen arguing with Floyd before she went missing For years, it was unknown what happened to Michael, but in a 2015 interview with the FBI, Floyd admitted to shooting and killing the little boy on the day that he kidnapped him During a series of interrogations in 2015, Lobb said his patience with Floyd was wearing thin as the murderer kept dodging the investigators' questions. As he was grilling Floyd, Lobb found that the death row inmate could not stand to be cornered by the agents, so on the third day of the intense questioning, Lobb went on the offensive. 'During this whole process, if he would lean back, to try to get away from me, I leaned forward to try to keep that space real tight,' he told The Sun. 'If he leaned back and was just having a nice time talking to us, I leaned back I was relaxed - so I mirrored his body language. 'But he told me to get away from him when I came back in so I did I stood at the back of the room and let Nate talk about Michael,' he added. It was then that Floydd confessed to the kidnapping and murder of the six-year-old boy. The criminal was a pro at fleeing from the law - using fake aliases, constantly moving from state to state, and changing his name and persona. Some of his aliases are seen He kidnapped a little girl named Suzanne from a woman named Sandi Chapman. He kept Suzanne (pictured) and raised her as his own daughter, changing her name to Sharon Marshall Although investigators finally uncovered the truth, the full details of what happened to Sevakis continues to elude Lobb. For his part, the former FBI agent said he would still be open to discussing the case with Lobb, who sits on death row, to see what else they could get out of him. 'I would like to try and open up a dialogue with him about Suzanne's death,' Lobb told The Sun. 'I don't know how he'd receive me and I don't know what his mental faculties are now. 'It's been seven years since I last talked to him, but yes, I'd love to talk to him more,' Lobb said. 'I'd love to sit across from him again to get the rest of the truth.' A Met Police detective sergeant has been sacked after he was convicted of possession of cocaine. Detective sergeant Wayne Stanley, 41, was arrested while off duty by Surrey Police who were attending an incident at a residential address on December 28, 2019. Officers attending the scene spotted Stanley dropping a small packaged from his pocket onto the floor. A forensic examination of the white powder showed it was cocaine. Off duty Detective Sergeant Wayne Stanley, 41, was arrested by Surrey Police officers after they spotted him drop a suspicious package onto the ground which was later found to contain cocaine A hearing at the Empress State Building, home of the Met Police's professional standards team, ruled that Stanley should be dismissed without notice following his conviction of possession of cocaine Stanley, who was attached to the Met Operations Command, was yesterday dismissed without notice following a misconduct hearing at the Empress State Building. Following his arrest, he remained on restricted duties until his sacking yesterday. Stanley was charged on April 6, 2021 and was convicted in Guildford Crown Court on May 20, 2022. He was fined 750 and ordered to pay a further 2,250 in costs. The misconduct hearing was chaired by Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball who agreed the former officer had breached professional standards at a level considered gross misconduct. Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Trevers, who is commander for Met Operations said: 'The disappointing actions of this officer fell far below the values and standards that we strive to uphold. 'Our communities deserve the best of its police officers and this kind of behaviour has no place at all in the Met. Our professional standards team will continue to root out those who let us down and ensure they are held to account.' A cinema chain has spared a thought for ginger-haired people by offering them free tickets next week as temperatures soar. Showcase Cinema have offered redheads a place to enjoy air-conditioning and a film for free next Monday and Tuesday amid a red weather warning from the Met Office as the country braces itself for the hottest day ever. The extremely rare red heat warning affects large parts of the UK and states there is an 80 per cent chance of temperatures beating the current record of 101.7F set in 2019 in Cambridge. Studies have suggested that people with ginger hair have an 'aversion' to the summer heat. Showcase Cinema have offered redheads a place to enjoy air-conditioning and a film for free next Monday and Tuesday What's on at the cinema amid soaring heatwave Thor: Love & Thunder Minions 2: The Rise of Gru Elvis Top Gun: Maverick Jurassic World: Dominion Lightyear Brian and Charles DC League of Super-Pets Joyride Kaduva London Nahi Jaunga Luck Persuassion Shabaash Mithu Shamshera The Black Phone The Gray Man The Railway Children Return Where The Crawdads Sing Women's Euros Andre Rieu: Happy Days Are Here Again Bing & His Friends at the Cinema Chilli Laugh Story Eric Ravilious: Drawn to War Fortune Favours Lady Nikuko Fruit Basket: Prelude Good Luck To You, Leo Grande Superworm and Zog The Deer King Advertisement Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said there is a 50 per cent chance of temperatures reaching 40C somewhere in the UK, likely along the A1 corridor. The UK Health Security Agency has increased its heat health warning from level three to level four - a 'national emergency'. Level four is reached 'when a heatwave is so severe and/or prolonged that its effects extend outside the health and social care system.... At this level, illness and death may occur among the fit and healthy, and not just in high-risk groups', it said. Studies have suggested that people with ginger hair have an 'aversion' to the summer heat. It is believed that people with naturally ginger hair have a mutation in a specific gene called a melanocortin receptor 1 (MCR1). It is thought the mutation essentially stops skin from tanning when exposed to UV rays, and making it more likely to burn. The cinema chain has decided to lend a hand to red heads as a result. Mark Barlow, UK General Manager for Showcase Cinemas said: 'While the UK enjoys some much-needed sunny weather, we know how hard some people find the heat. 'That's why to tackle the heatwave, we're offering red heads free entry to our cinema screens this Monday and Tuesday, so they'll be able to enjoy some of the amazing films on offer in the comfort of our air-conditioned cinema screens and ensure they stay protected from the sun.' To claim a free ticket, red heads will need to go to their local Showcase cinema on Monday (July 18) and Tuesday (July 19) where they will be entitled to one free ticket per ginger-haired person. According to the full terms and conditions, the tickets will only apply to screenings starting on Monday July 18 and Tuesday July 19 and are limited to one ticket per transaction per day for guests with red hair. Gallery seating tickets are not included and additional charges will apply for premium seating or formats including XLR, XPlus, 3D and Director's Hall. The tickets will not be available in conjunction with other offers or promotions. Across the country, millions are preparing for the what may potentially be the hottest day on record, with drivers urged to avoid driving on Monday and Tuesday, and Downing Street considering speed restrictions on rail lines as part of contingency planning. A No 10 spokesman previously said discussions with sectors including the NHS will 'continue to work closely with all of those sectors over today, through the weekend and into early next week'. Redheads could opt to see the new Top Gun: Maverick film starring Tom Cruise for free Thor: Love and Thunder is one of the films on offer at the cinema on Monday and Tuesday 'It may be the case that speed restrictions are likely to be put in place on some parts of the network next week to manage the hot weather and to avoid any potential damage,' they said. The RAC said they are expecting a major surge in breakdowns as cars overheat in the extreme weather conditions with the organisation strongly urging motorists in England and Wales 'to think carefully before they drive, and do everything they can to avoid a breakdown'. Drivers are advised if they must use their cars they should ensure that all fluids are at their correct levels and carry an emergency kit in case of breakdown. A British estate agent has been found dead and his girlfriend seriously injured in a swish Italian hotel after police believe a suspected erotic game went tragically wrong. The 40-year-old man, who has not been named, was found dead in his room next to a 43-year-old woman covered in cuts and bruises following the couple returning in 'high spirits' at 2am today to the four-star Hotel Continentale. Staff called police after the woman asked a chambermaid for help. Paramedics raced to the hotel, a stones throw from the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge in the Renaissance city of Florence, and the woman was taken to the citys Careggi hospital where she was said to be in a serious but stable condition. The couple, believed to be from Manchester, had only arrived at the hotel on Friday night and the alarm was raised early on Saturday morning. There were also unconfirmed reports in the Italian media the man who died was an 'amateur league' rugby player. Emergency services vehicles gathered outside the hotel earlier today after the tragic death Police said they're still trying to determine the exact cause of death and injury to the woman The 350-a-night Hotel Continentale (terrace pictured) was the scene of the accident A police source told MailOnline: 'The people involved are both British and at the moment we are working on two theories an erotic game that went wrong'. Pictured: Continentale suite A police source told MailOnline: The people involved are both British and at the moment we are working on two theories an erotic game that went wrong or some sort of domestic argument, but the general direction is that of an erotic game. The man was found with a series of cuts, bruises and other injuries on his body and so was the woman, although she was more seriously hurt and the man appears to have had some sort of seizure. There is blood in the room and the forensic teams are working there at the moment while the woman has been taken to hospital for treatment. The hotel is a few minutes' walk from the heart of the city which is popular with British tourists Investigators consult their notes as they probe the death and injury at the swish hotel The man is thought to have had a seizure during the 'erotic game' in the swanky hotel room The man died moments away from iconic Florence landmark Ponte Vecchio on the River Arno Her current condition is serious but she is stable and her injuries are not life-threatening. We hope to question her at some point in the next few hours. Sources said the couple were from Manchester and ran an up-market estate agent and they had arrived at the hotel late Friday night. The pair went out shortly after arriving ok Friday and returned just before 2am on Saturday with witnesses saying they were in 'high spirits'. Police sources said the woman had a child through a previous relationship but was not married to the man who died. The picturesque Italian city is known for its gorgeous bridges and Renaissance architecture A source said: The woman had raised the alarm after a chambermaid knocked on the door' The hotel is a few minutes' walk from the heart of the city which is popular with British holidaymakers. Prince Charles and former PM Tony Blair are regular visitors. In travel guides the 350-a-night hotel is described as playfully chic and it has a rooftop bar and spa and is popular with honeymooners and those looking for a romantic weekend. A source said: The woman had raised the alarm after a chambermaid knocked on the door but some of the guests had already called reception to report shouting and banging coming from the room. TV news footage showed several police cars and an ambulance parked outside the hotel as forensic teams walked in and out of the foyer, while tourists looked on from the nearby Ponte Vecchio bridge. Local magistrate Ester Nocera has opened an investigation into the tragedy and was also seen walking into the hotel and speaking with forensic teams. CCTV footage shows the horrifying moment an 'obsessed and jealous' killer viciously murdered his ex-wife on her doorstep. Mohammed Arfan, 42, stalked Marena Shaban, 41, after she left work and followed her before killing her outside her Birmingham home. Arfan slit his former partner's throat and stabbed her 20 times in a brutal murder witnessed by a child. Camera footage from the evening of the attack on January 28 shows Arfan drove and walked past the shop Marena worked in, waiting for an opportunity to kill her. Marena Shaban, 41, was 'greatly concerned' her ex-husband was stalking her and blocked his mobile number, the court heard Mohammed Arfan, 42, was caught on CCTV laughing in a barber shop just half an hour after the vicious murder Arfan waited for his ex-wife to walk home from work before stabbing her to death He disguised himself in an afro wig and drove around in a recently-purchased second-hand car before murdering Ms Shaban. Arfan was also caught on CCTV disposing of the murder weapon, the wig his coat and his car. Just half an hour after the murder he was laughing and joking with friends in a nearby barber shop. Appearing in Birmingham Crown Court on Friday July 15, Arfan pleaded guilty to murder - breaking down and crying in front of Ms Shaban's grieving friends and family. He said: 'I have devastated the lives of so many people including my sons, my entire extended family. Arfan later returned to the scene of the crime at Ms Shaban's home in Birmingham, before lying to police about what had happened 'Most importantly I took away the life of the woman I loved for so many years. If I could bring her back and offer myself in her place I would do it gladly, but instead I have the horrible reality that I am responsible for her death.' Peter Grieves-Smith QC told the court Merena had been 'greatly concerned' that Arfan was stalking her and that he had become 'obsessed' with her. Mr Grieves-Smith added: 'One witness to the attack was a boy. He saw the defendant approach Marena Shaban as she was about to open the door. He attacked her straight away. He described the attacker as having afro hair. 'In the defendant's car was a wig box - the wig matching that description. Returning to the boy, he describes Ms Shaban's throat being slit. "He just grabbed her and slit her throat", he said.' Arfam returned to the scene later, where he saw police surrounding mother-of-four's body. When relatives told him about the murder later that night he said: 'Where am I going to find and English-speaking woman now?' The court also heard Arfan told the police 'a pack of lies' after the murder, making up and alibi and claiming he had not seen Ms Shaban for five months. Mr Grieves-Smith said: 'A significant feature of this case is the way the defendant was able, having killed her, to feign grief and control his responses to questions after. 'He visited the scene of the killing and saw the body and lied to the police about his involvement. Those are the actions of a man well able to control his feelings.' Judge Inman, passing sentence, said: 'It's clear from the evidence you were never able to accept the marriage was over and that Marena was free to pursue her own life. 'You became aware she had met someone else and you became extremely jealous and angry.' He ruled Arfan's depression did not play a significant role in his actions adding: 'Marena told those at work you were stalking her and she felt frightened. Sadly she was right to be frightened. 'On the 28th of January you murdered Marena. It was a savage and planned attack.' The judge sentenced Arfan to life in prison with a minimum of 22 years. Many Australians are in favour of scrapping the mandatory seven-day Covid isolation period, although Anthony Albanese prefers to pay workers to stay home instead. The Prime Minister on Saturday backflipped and announced he would reinstate $750-a-week Covid payments for casual workers and those without sick leave benefits who are forced into isolation. He'd been pressured by state premiers to bring back the payments after refusing to budge on mandatory isolation, with the extension expected to cost taxpayers about $800million. But in a survey conducted by Daily Mail Australia, 62 per cent of respondents said they wanted Covid isolation rules brought in line with the rest of the world instead. This would remove the need for continued pandemic payments, and mean Covid positive workers are treated the same as those with influenza, which is also rampant. In the 24 hours to Friday morning, 43,491 new cases of Covid were reported across Australia. The nation had almost 8.7 million cases since the start of the pandemic, Australian Health Department figures show. Many Australians appear to be in favour of scrapping the mandatory seven-day Covid isolation period after Anthony Albanese refused to change his stance on the rules Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) has stuck by his seven day isolation rule for those with positive Covid cases but has been pressured into reinstating the costly payments scheme Mr Albanese called an emergency national cabinet meeting on Australia's latest Omicron wave after giving in to demands from premiers including Queensland leader Annastacia Palaszczuk, and then fast-tracked it from Monday to Saturday. The Prime Minister at the meeting said the current rules around isolation would remain, and encouraged face masks to be worn in indoor settings. Those with Covid are not required to isolate in countries such as the UK or Switzerland, while they are only 'recommended' to self-quarantine for five days in the United States. Face masks are not enforced in the UK or Switzerland either - while Australians are still required to wear them while catching public transport or visiting a hospital. Countries such as Sweden no longer categorise Covid as a 'critical illness'. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has been leading calls for the isolation period to be ditched or shortened, and said if workers were forced to isolate they needed to be compensated. 'Ultimately, we have to get to a point where if you are sick you stay at home and if you are not sick you can go to work,' Mr Perrottet told News.com.au. 'I think we need to look at the periods of time in which we are forcibly requiring people to not be able to work and provide for their families. 'My view is this: if we're going to have the state take away people's liberty and they can't work well then the state needs to compensate.' Experts have predicted Covid infections will peak in late July or early August and Mr Albanese had been under mounting pressure to meet with state leaders and health bosses. Anthony Albanese could have spared taxpayers $800million had he chosen to scrap the seven-day mandatory isolation period for Australians infected with Covid The prime minister made the extraordinary backflip on Saturday announcing the payment for those having to isolate with Covid will be extended until September 30 Ms Palaszczuk and Tasmanian premier Jeremy Rockliff were particularly vocal in their calls for a cabinet meeting. 'I think the country just wants to know how this wave is going. How the hospitalisations are going. And get the information from the chief health medical officer which is what we used to get from national cabinet,' Ms Palaszczuk told The Today Show on Thursday. 'It doesn't have to be a long meeting. Gives an opportunity for the Prime Minister to brief the country on how it's going.' Mr Albanese had earlier said the $750-a-week pandemic leave disaster payment would not be reinstated past June 30. But in a spectacular backflip on Saturday, he announced it would be made available again from Wednesday and would extend to September 30. 'I want to make sure that people aren't left behind, that vulnerable people are looked after,' he said. 'That no-one is faced with the unenviable choice of not being able to isolate properly without losing an income.' Australian Medical Association president Dr Omar Khorshid said isolation payments should be in place for as long as they're needed. 'The payments should never have been removed,' he said on Saturday. The disaster payments will be reinstated with crisis payments and cost $780million - with the price to be split between federal and state governments. 'Going forward, the states and territories have agreed that this payment will be covered 50-50 on a shared cost with the states and territories,' Mr Albanese said. Shadow health spokeswoman Anne Ruston labelled it an 'embarrassing backflip'. 'AlboMP has admitted that he left many Australians behind by his lack of action in his health response to the current outbreak,' she wrote on Twitter. Mr Albanese held an emergency national cabinet meeting, which was brought forward from Monday, as the latest Omicron variants sweep through Australia Casual workers who have to isolate with Covid will be able to access a $750 payment as Anthony Albanese temporarily reinstates it Why cutting Covid reinfection period led to Albo's backflip on $750 a week payments Covid-related staff shortages in Australian hospitals, schools and businesses are being amplified by a new rule to send patients back into isolation if they are reinfected with Covid. The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, which advises the state's health ministers on public health protection, decided on July 12 to cut the Covid reinfection period from 12 weeks to 28 days in the face of the growing outbreak of the less deadly, but more infectious, Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5. The Labor government signed off on the decision and it was mandated across Australia. A well-placed source said the decision was made 'unilaterally by the bureaucrats without any consideration for what it means in the real world' and 'exposed the naivety of the new Albanese Government' in dealing with health advice. 'That is, it's always just advice,' the source said. 'There was a "lie" told to Australians throughout Covid by leaders that we were "only following the health advice". That was never true.' The decision to adopt the reinfection period means that if someone was reinfected with Covid after just 28 days, they would be forced into another seven-day isolation period. Previously, Australians didn't face seven days isolation until after 12 weeks. Advertisement 'This is an embarrassing backflip and there are still questions to be answered, including if the Govt sought advice initially on cutting the payments?'. Mr Albanese has meanwhile argued the isolation period was necessary to combat surging Covid cases and ease pressure on hospitals - even though a large portion of the strain on the healthcare system is coming from a surge in influenza cases. Australia recorded its worst May on record with 65,770 confirmed influenza cases - more than double the number set before lockdown in 2019. There is no mandatory isolation period for influenza, and no payments for casual workers off sick with the flu. Health experts warned the previous lockdowns had weakened residents' immune systems and made them more vulnerable to the virus. Mr Albanese also vowed there will be a 'consistent national approach' in dealing with the Covid pandemic going forward. 'The Commonwealth will meet with the states and territories in the national cabinet approach every two to three weeks,' he said. 'All of the premiers and chief ministers as well as the Commonwealth understand that we need to get the health outcomes right in order to protect people's health and also to protect our economy. 'When you get the health outcomes right, you protect jobs and protect the economy. We are all committed to that. The really positive thing as well today is [we are] working towards a much more consistent national approach.' A temporary Telehealth system will also be introduced to connect GPs with patients who need to access oral Covid antivirals. 'We want to make sure that antivirals can be administered where appropriate and in order to do that, this temporary Telehealth facility is appropriate, it is appropriate it be established,' Mr Albanese said. Dr Khorshid dubbed this move an 'important step' but was critical of the dozens of medical items no longer available bulk-billed via telehealth, including longer consultations. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet (above) wants there to be a discussion around reducing mandatory isolation periods Mr Albanese had earlier argued the $1trillion national debt he 'inherited' from the Morrison Government and the ease of most Covid restrictions meant the Covid payment was no longer beneficial. People will be able to begin to apply from July 20 for the payments, but it's unclear if they'll be continued past September 30. Acting opposition leader Sussan Ley said the government should be prepared to continue the payments beyond September if needed. 'We can't have this stop, start continue to happen so I hope the government is well prepared to take the action they need to,' Ms Ley told ABC News. Greens leader Adam Bandt has urged Mr Albanese to extend them as well as free RATs for concession card holders. Australia is currently battling two more-infectious sub-strains of the Omicron variant, known as BA.4 and BA.5. Health experts have warned the strains are highly contagious and can reinfect people who have already had the virus and double-vaccinated residents - but it is not considered to be more dangerous than the previous strains. Dr Kerry Chant was prompted to reduce the reinfection window period from 12 weeks to 28 days. 'We're urging people who have recently had Covid-19, even if they left isolation in the past four weeks, not to be complacent. If you develop symptoms again, make sure to test and isolate,' Dr Chant said. Australia recorded more than 40,000 cases on Saturday along with 77 deaths. There are currently more than 4,700 people in hospital. The great-aunt of a four-year-old Ukrainian girl killed in her pram during a Russian rocket attack wept as she described little Liza's tragic death. Tetiana Dmytrysyna said she is waiting to find out whether Liza's mother Iryna will survive her wounds in the missile strike on Vinnytsya last Thursday. Iryna lost a leg in the strike and remains unconscious. Tetiana told AP: 'She was reaching for her daughter, and Liza was already dead. Great-aunt Tetiana wept yesterday as she described the pain of losing little Liza, aged four 'The mother was robbed of the most precious thing she had.' Mother Iryna is unconscious in hospital and has lost a leg. Her condition is critical Liza, whose mother kept a blog where she would update readers on parenting a child with Down's Syndrome, has become the latest face of her nation's suffering. Heartbreaking footage shot earlier in the day shows Liza playing hours before her death. Her pram was charred and crushed when the missile struck the busy town centre in south-western Ukraine at 10.50am. Irina previously posted on social media about her fears for daughter Liza, saying she was 'scared to make wishes' about the future for them and for their country. Writing about the fifth birthday that little Liza will now never get to experience, she said: 'It was Covid-19 first, then the war. I have not been able to arrange a proper birthday party for Liza for two years. 'I am hoping her fifth birthday will give us a chance! I am scared to make wishes. I just dream about peace, and about things going the way we want.' Heartbreaking video shot just hours before Liza was killed shows her pushing her own pram A Ukrainian soldier leaves a bouquet of flowers at a makeshift memorial where Liza was killed Liza's pram was later found in the middle of the street - spattered with blood from wounds the girl did not survive. Iryna was wounded and taken to hospital in critical condition where she is now fighting for life Liza Dmitrieva, four (left), who had Down's Syndrome, was on a girls' day out in the Ukrainian city of Vinnystya with mother Irina (right) today and was filmed pushing her own pram - just an hour before a Russian cruise missile killed her Just six hours before Liza was killed, she had posted about the progress her daughter had made despite the pandemic and the war. Posting on social media after the attack, President Zelensky wrote: 'Vinnytsya. Rocket strikes in the city centre. There are wounded and dead, among them a small child,' he wrote on Instagram. 'Every day, Russia destroys the civilian population, kills Ukrainian children, directs rockets at civilian objects where there is nothing military. 'What is this, if not an open act of terrorism? Inhumans. A killer country. A terrorist country.' In a comment on Twitter, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba accused Russia of committing 'another war crime'. 'We will put Russian war criminals on trial for every drop of Ukrainian blood and tears,' he wrote. Tetiana wept as she said: 'She was reaching for her daughter, and Liza was already dead' Three Russian missiles hit an office block in the centre of Vinnytsya today, a Ukrainian city hundreds of miles from the current frontlines, leaving multiple civilians dead A Russia Kalibre cruise missile slammed into this office block in Vinnystya, which is hundreds of miles from the closest front line, as Liza and Irina walked past - peppering them both with shrapnel Russia has stepped up its attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine as its offensive in the east has stalled following the seizure of two key cities in late June and early July. Ukraine says Putin's men are taking an 'operation pause' before pushing on with their offensive, but that has not stopped them raining down death from a distance. The first such strike obliterated the Kremenchuk mall on June 27, killing at least 20 people but leaving another 36 missing presumed dead. Russia attempted to deny it had hit the mall - suggesting it had fired at nearby military targets including a factory and railway - and that 'collateral' damage had been caused by a fire that spread to the shopping centre. But CCTV footage clearly showed a Russian anti-ship missile, originally designed to take out US aircraft carriers, slamming into the building. That was followed by a hit on an apartment block in Mykolaiv on June 29 that left at least eight people dead, and another in Odesa on July 1 that killed 18. Vinnytsya,450 miles went of the Donbas front line, is just the latest city to be hit in a series of Russian air strikes targeting civilians Putin's loyal defence minister Sergei Shoigu today said Russia must increase its shock and awe attacks in Ukraine. Shoigu 'gave instructions to further increase the actions of [military] groups in all operational areas', local reports claimed. A 70-year-old woman was among three victims in an airstrike on Chuhuiv near Kharkiv overnight. A regional police official said Russia fired four missiles from near western city of Belgorod at around 3.30am. The strike damaged a two-story residential building, a school and a shop, Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Synehubov said. Dozens of people were wounded in the attack, many of them in serious condition, in just the latest Russian missile strike to hit a purely civilian area of Ukraine Cars smoulder in front of an office block in the city of Vinnytsya, western Ukraine, after it was struck by three Russian missiles that landed around 10.50am on Thursday Fire crews attempt to put out blazes in Vinnytsya caused by three Russian missiles which hit the city on Thursday morning Ukraine's shortened and straightened defensive line in the east has successfully repelled Russian attacks, according to the British Ministry of Defence. Its daily intelligence update this morning stated that the 'Ukrainian defence has been successful in repulsing Russian attacks since Lysychansk was ceded and the Ukrainian defensive line was shortened and straightened.' It added: 'This has allowed for the concentration of force and fires against reduced Russian attacks and has been instrumental in reducing Russias momentum.' Another 207,416 migrants were caught crossing the US southern border in June, the latest Customs and Border Protection figures show, as Biden's border crisis continues. The latest figure was down 14 per cent in a month - from 240,991 apprehensions in May, but represents the fourth month in a row that interceptions have sat above 200,000. Disturbingly, six of those apprehended were on terror watch lists, bringing the total number of terror suspects apprehended crossing the border this year to 56. That is far more than the 30 terror suspects arrested in total during the previous four years combined, Fox News reported. The soaring number of apprehensions comes as President Biden faces increasing pressure for what critics say are soft-touch policies on immigration that encourage people to try getting into the United States. He is keen to try and end Title 42, a Trump-era COVID policy that saw migrants deported straight back to Mexico, but a judge has ordered the president to continue enforcing it. A total of 207,416 migrants were encountered at the US southern border in June 2022 This chart shows the scale of the ongoing southern border crisis, which has been blamed on Biden's soft-touch immigration policies Twenty-six percent of all crossers had previously attempted to cross the border within the last year, which is up from the usual 15 percent between 2014 and 2019, CBP said. The largest group to come through was single adults, making up 68 percent of the crossing, with 140,197 people. Unaccompanied children increased four percent in June, with 15,271 encounters. Family units decreased 13 percent, with 59,534 people. In addition, cocaine seizures went up a shocking 62 percent and methamphetamine seizures also increased 14 percent. However, heroin and fentanyl seizures decreased 49 and 41 percent. CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus said it's normal for migration numbers to fluctuate month-to-month and that the agency is 'committed to implementing our strategy of reducing irregular migration, dissuading migrants from undertaking the dangerous journey, and increasing enforcement efforts against human smuggling organizations.' The majority of those who crossed in June were single adults, with 140,000. There was also 51,780 in family units and 15,271 unaccompanied children, as well as, six on terrorists lists The report was published just a few weeks after 53 migrants perished inside a truck that reached 105 degrees in June. The death toll in the tragedy is the deadliest human smuggling attempt in American history. 'We continue to rescue and provide medical assistance to those in distress,' Magnus said. 'My message to those considering taking this dangerous journey is simple: this is not an easy passage, the human smugglers only care about your money not your life or the lives of your loved ones, and you will be placed in removal proceedings from the United States if you cross the border without legal authorization and are unable to establish a legal basis to remain.' Police say the smugglers treated the migrants 'worse than animals' throughout the voyage, leaving them no water or visible means of air-conditioning. Several survivors were left in critical condition after suffering brain damage and internal bleeding. Investigators suspect the migrants paid the smugglers around $10,000 for safe passage to the US. The 2022 fiscal year, which ends September 30, has already surpassed 2021 numbers with two and half months to go. A total of 1,746,119 total encounters have taken place this year, compared to 1,734,686 last year. There was roughly a 15 percent decrease in migrants at the border last month compared to May An incident in late-June left 53 migrants dead after a truck reached internal temperature of 105 In addition to the 200,000 encountered at the border, a 105,161 immigrants were removed from the US. More than 92,000 of them were expelled under Title 42. Around 80,000 migrants were released into the US. The monthly report comes after Texas and Missouri filed a lawsuit against the Biden Administration. It now requires CBP to provide numbers on encounters and expulsions. A personalised knife and fork thought to have been used by Emperor Napoleon have sold for 11,250 after a bidding war. The silver-gilt cutlery, which is emblazoned with the General's initial 'N' in a laurel wreath, as well as his Imperial arms and bee motif, sold at an auction in Salisbury, Wiltshire, for double its 5,000 estimate. It is possible that the pieces were taken from the infamous General's carriage following his devastating defeat at Waterloo in 1815. The cutlery was made by silversmith Martin-Guillaume Biennais in Paris in around 1810 The cutlery was made by silversmith Martin-Guillaume Biennais in Paris in around 1810. He had supplied Napoleon's crown and sceptre for his 1804 coronation. The 'high quality' pieces were then purchased by entrepreneur Alfred William Weston in the 1920s and have remained in his family for a century before going under the hammer with auctioneers Woolley and Wallis. Rupert Slingsby, silver specialist at Woolley and Wallis, said: 'Biennais was the silversmith who supplied the crown and sceptre for Napoleon's 1804 coronation, and continued to supply the Bonaparte family with silver and silver-gilt throughout his reign. 'The design includes motifs that were personal to Napoleon, including his Imperial arms, the initial N in a laurel wreath, and the bee motif that he favoured so much. The cutlery is emblazoned with the General's initial 'N' in a laurel wreath, as well as his Imperial arms and bee motif It is possible that the pieces were taken from the infamous General's carriage following his devastating defeat at Waterloo in 1815 'This particular knife and fork hasn't been seen on the market for around 100 years. It was purchased by an entrepreneur called Alfred William Weston in the 1920s and has been passed down through the family until now. 'This is cutlery of extremely fine quality, befitting of Napoleon's wealth and status in the early 19th century. 'The fact that pieces have survived despite his subsequent ignominious fall from grace indicates that they were highly prized objects even by Napoleon's opponents, and today they are wonderful reminders of a turbulent period of history between the English and the French.' A troubled homeless woman has been caught breaking into multiple Hamptons mansions to try and take a nap. Peace Ofoego, 32, has been dubbed 'Goldilocks of the Hamptons' over her antics in Westhampton, and has been arrested three times since the end of May. One resident, Peter Nesvold, even snapped images of Ofoego as she tried entering his home while his wife was inside. Police were called, and Ofoego was arrested and led away shortly afterwards. Another, John Mallon, collared Ofoego inside his $35,000-a-month rental. He called police and asked them to record the incident, but declined to press charges. Ofoego is originally from Nigeria and claims to have fled an abusive marriage. She has also said she is hoping to regain custody of her children. The troubled woman has been caught entering seven properties in the ritzy town, but only charged over three of the incidents. Sometimes she wears the same black trench coat and black knit beanie she was reported in back in May - despite hot temperatures Westhampton resident Peter Nesvold shared these images of Peace Ofoego trying to break into his home while his wife was inside. Ofoego was subsequently arrested Ofoego was caught staying in this $35,000-a-month home in Westhampton. Owner John Mallon called the cops to ask them to record the incident, but declined to press charges Ofoego was first spotted in Westhampton Beach on Memorial Day weekend, when a resident reported to police a 'black female wearing a black trench coat and sandals' was wandering through the backyard construction site of his four-bedroom rental property - just about a mile from the village's train station. When police arrived on May 29, she told them he had no identification or credit cards because she had been robbed while living in Washington DC. She also said she traveled to New York City a few days earlier, from where she boarded a rail road to Westhampton Beach, where she said she was looking for a hotel room near the ocean. Police then helped Ofoego find a local homeless shelter, the Post reports, where she said she wanted to charge her computer 'and transfer funds to an account.' But just a few days later, on June 2, she was seen wandering through the wealthy neighborhood again - and it would not be the last time. Over the past few months, Peace Ofoego, 32 (pictured) has been found sleeping in Westhampton homeowners' backyards, pool houses and second-story bedrooms She has been arrested three times for trespassing since the end of May, but has entered a total of seven properties within the village Authorities say that Ofoego passed through an unlocked gate that leads from the beach to a $275,000-a-month eight-bedroom rental on exclusive Dune Road. She then allegedly entered the house through an unlocked back deck, where she lounged until police showed up - and charged her with criminal trespass. 'Subject stated she was staying at a house down the road and entered the stated residence to ask somebody about a restaurant to eat at,' a police report obtained by the Post says. Then just two days later, on June 4, Ofoego was again spotted 'staying' in the pool house of a property that rents at $35,000 a month. When police showed up that time and were attempting to find another homeless shelter for Ofoego, 'Peace began walking away,' an officer wrote in his report, addingthat he warned her that if she kept wandering into village homes she would again be arrested for trespassing. 'She left the area on foot.' Ofoego's last encounter with the Westhampton police came on June 24 at a 'quintessential beachfront estate' that features seven bedrooms and was listed for rent at a whopping $280,000 in July and August. According to the police report, she walked into the second-story bedroom, startling the homeowner. Police were then called to the scene and arrested her. But when they were processing her paperwork at the police department, Ofoego is said to have told the cops they were mistaken and she just 'went inside to look at the rental. 'You just want to arrest me,' she allegedly accused them. 'All I did was look for a rental.' Ofoego now spends her days walking through the village and along the beach, residents have reported on Facebook. Some have said they saw her on back roads, on Main Street, at a gazebo where bands play during the summer months and at a local marina. Sometimes she is seen wearing the same black trench coat and black knit beanie she was reported in back in May - despite hot temperatures. Janet Feldman, for example, commented on the Westhampton Beach Area Community Forum, said she saw Ofoego walking on the beach and down Dune Road while walking her dog in the morning. 'She seems mentally unwell for sure,' Feldman wrote. Marie Costelli also commented: 'A few weeks ago, she approached me in Lidl asking for help. She needed money to pay for her groceries. 'As I was handing her some cash, which she took, a man who may have been the store manager asked her to leave,' Costelli said. 'I felt sorry for her, I hope she gets the help she needs.' Ofoego now says she intends to defend herself in court, refusing a court-ordered public defender at hearings on July 6 and July 13. At one of those hearings, Liam Anthony DeFronzo wrote, Ofoego was arguing with the judge. And days earlier, the Post reports, when officers were trying to serve her with a subpoena to appear in court, she told them they were harassing her and threatened to sue them. 'It seemed to me she is angry with where she is in life and with the system,' DeFronzo posited. 'Ultimately, it seems she's looking for a place to sleep, but of course you never know what she might do, and it's not acceptable to break into homes. 'Does she truly want help in finding some sort of shelter and is doing this as a cry for help? I don't know, but I felt compelled to help her the other day in the court room,' he said. Ofoego is due back in court on July 27. Ofoego now spends her days walking through the village and along the beach, residents have reported on Facebook Residents on Facebook have reported seeing her walking throughout town Ofoego now claims she was fleeing her abusive husband and is trying to find a place where she can raise her children. She told the Post she was born in Nigeria, but has lived in the United States for the past 13 years - coming o the country when she was 19-years-old and settling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she began studying medical science at Southern University. She also said her father is a journalist in Nigeria, and she was educated in boarding schools before coming to the United States. Ofoego wound up in Westhampton, she claims, after she fled her abusive husband in Florida. She then made her way to DC then to New York City, where she claims she was violently pushed down subway stairs in May. She then made her way to Westhampton, where she said did not know the beaches were restricted to local resident. 'All I want is just some simple kindness from strangers,' she told the Post. 'But no one cares about me.' Ofoego also says her parents in Nigeria are aware she is homeless but cannot do anything about it. She has previously told cops that she has an aunt back in Louisiana, and when they called Ugoo Onyenekwu, she said Ofoego was 'moving around looking for a location where she could regain custody of her children who are currently in California.' It is unclear how many children Ofoego has, but a November 4, 2020 police report from Florida shows she was stopped for 'failure to register a motor vehicle.' She had 'seven juvenile passengers' in the car at the time. Police reported that she produced 'a foreign passport' as identification, and failed to show up at her arraignment. She was stopped by officers again in Lake County, Florida in 2017 for driving without a license - to which she allegedly claimed she never had one. Ofoego has since lived in several locations in Florida over the past few years, the Post reports, and worked with her husband Marquis Duvuall Hudson for a company called Meticulous Cleaning Services in Boca Raton. Court documents seem to back her claims that her husband, Marquis Duvuall Hudson, 40, was abusive. He was charged with 'domestic battery to a pregnant female' in 2018 but the charges were dropped when Ofoego did not show up to court Court documents seem to back her claim he was abusive. Hudson, now 40, was charged with resisting arrest and assaulting an officer in 2017. He was then sentenced to 11 months in prison. After he got out, police records show he allegedly struck Ofoego while she was pregnant. She had called cops the day after Christmas in 2018, saying that five days earlier they had a fight while putting cleaning supplies in a storage locker. A police report claims Hudson 'was accusing her of trying to leave the country, and the two got into an argument' during which 'Marquis grabbed her throat and began choking her.' Ofoego told cops she was having trouble breathing and nearly passed out. 'I asked Peace if Marquis is capable of killing her or her children, [to] which she stated 'yes,'' Officer Tobias Andrews wrote. 'Marquis at the time of the battery was aware Peace is pregnant.' He was charged with 'domestic battery to a pregnant female,' but when Ofoego failed to show up to court to provide testimony against him, the case was thrown out. A primary school teacher has been banned from teaching for posting inappropriate pictures of himself and offering to sell sexual services on the internet. Thomas Heayel, 31, taught at St Columb Minor near Newquay, Cornwall before his secret online life was discovered. Heayel, 31, was sacked by the school after the photographs were spotted and sent forward to a disciplinary hearing by the Teaching Regulation Industry. Thomas Heayel, 31, taught at St Columb Minor near Newquay, Cornwall before his secret online life was discovered The hearing was told that between February 1, 2020 and July 31, 2020 Heayel 'posted or allowed to be displayed' at least one inappropriate image of himself on the internet The disciplinary panel was satisfied that Mr Heayel's conduct fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession The hearing was told that between February 1, 2020 and July 31, 2020 Heayel 'posted or allowed to be displayed' at least one inappropriate image of himself on the internet. The hearing was also told that Heayel, over the same period, allowed at least one image or message to be placed on the internet offering to sell sexual services. Heayel started at the school on September 1, 2019 until his sacking. He admitted the allegations and accepted his behaviour amounted to 'unacceptable professional conduct'. The disciplinary panel was satisfied that Mr Heayel's conduct fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession. The panel said: 'Whilst the panel had regard to the fact that there was no evidence presented that any pupils had seen or accessed the images online, the panel did consider that as a teacher Mr Heayel was likely to be viewed as a role model by pupils. 'The panel noted that whilst the website where Mr Heayel posted the images was restricted, the images could also be accessed via a generic internet search and one Simage contained Mr Heayel's name. Consequently the images were in the public domain enabling any member of the public, or pupil, to have sight of them. 'The panel therefore concluded Mr Heayel's behaviour would undoubtedly damage the public's perception of the teaching profession and there were public interest factors to consider.' The panel noted Mr Heayel's remorse and prohibited him from teaching indefinitely meaning he cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children's home in England. However, he may apply for the prohibition order to be set aside, but not until July 5, 2024, two years from the date of the order at the earliest. In order for My Heayel to then return to teaching, he must prove to another Teaching Regulation Agency panel that he is fit to do so. Seven terrified university friends had no choice but to run for their lives after a wildfire surrounded their Algarve villa. Ash fell into the pool while the group rushed to safety, frantically cramming themselves into a car to escape the furious flames closing in on them. The group of friends had jetted off for a week in the Portuguese sunshine to celebrate their time at the University of Oxford coming to an end. But things took a dramatic turn in the early hours of July 14. The group had jetted off for a week in Portugal to celebrate the end of their time at the University of Oxford Wildfires had been raging about 1-2km from their Airbnb villa, near Quinto Verde, for most of the day. One of the group, Millie Farley, 22 from Wombourne, told BirminghamLive they were worried about sleeping through the night so had set an alarm for 3am to keep a lookout. This alarm may have potentially saved their lives. When the alarm went off, they checked outside and could see a 'very small, seemingly insignificant bonfire-like fire' about 100m away. Ms Farley said: 'We decided to stay up and keep an eye on it to make sure that it was nothing to be concerned about. At 3am they checked outside and could see a 'very small, seemingly insignificant bonfire-like fire' about 100m away from their villa near Quinto Verde When they returned the villa to collect their belongings the ground was still smouldering 'After about 20 minutes of anxious waiting, we stood up to head back outside. The image that greeted me when I pulled back the curtains to open our patio door is something that will haunt me for a long time - flames were literally less than 2m from my window, ash was falling into the pool and the sky was lit up in a fiery orange glow.' She continued: 'It was genuinely terrifying. 'We screamed to wake everyone up and grabbed our passports as we ran out of the front door to the car. 'Without hesitating we drove at rapid speeds down the lane, seven of us crammed into a little Fiat Panda.' The former modern languages student felt genuinely terrified by the sudden fires and left the villa immediately As they sped off to safety, Ms Farley said they were so worried that the fire would block the path, their one and only exit to the main road. 'Luckily we sped out just in time,' she said. 'The fire spread rapidly behind us, burning down trees and bushes in its path.' About two hours later, the friends were told it was safe to return to the villa and collect their things. One of the group decided to fly home shortly after the morning's dramatic events, but the six remaining friends arranged to stay in Faro before flying home on Friday. Ms Farley, a former modern languages student, said: 'There was no water or electricity as the wires were burnt through, but we could pack our cases and leave. The surroundings of the villa were completely blackened and the ground was still smouldering - we could barely breathe through the smoke. Ms Farley could see flames less than 2m from the window, ash falling into the pool and the sky lit up with a fiery orange glow 'To be honest, we could have probably stayed in the same villa because it wasn't physically damaged from the fire and the groundskeeper was going to fix the wires. For us it was more the traumatic experience that prevented us from returning, the area is dry and barren - it's a disaster waiting to happen.' Many celebrities have also been caught up in the dangerous wildfires. Former Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne tweeted to say he had been forced to flee his mansion during a 'terrible day in the Algarve'. Rebekah Vardy, who is holidaying with her children in Portugal, shared a video of a helicopter carrying water on her Instagram story with the caption 'these guys are incredible'. Warren Buffett's female protege, who first landed a job at his company after writing him a letter following her college graduation, has set up her own private equity firm. Tracy Britt Cool, 37, founded Kanbrick - a combination of Kansas and Brick - with Brian Humphrey in 2020 after she spent 11 years working for Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway. The cofounders named the company after their home state and their idea that good businesses are built brick-by-brick. Cool first started at Buffett's conglomerate in 2009, when she was just 24-years-old and a recent college graduate. Her first position at the company, 'Financial Assistant to the Chairman,' was made up by Buffett himself. She got the job after writing him a letter to ask for a job and she, unexpectedly, got a phone call back telling her to stop by his office if she found herself in Omaha, Nebraska, where Buffett famously resides. 'What do you take to a meeting with a billionaire?' Cool recalled thinking at the time in an interview with The New York Times. She would settle on a gift of sweet corn and tomatoes, a nod to her growing up on a farm and their shared Midwesterner roots. Cool and Buffett weren't complete strangers when she walked into his office in 2009, she had met him three times as a student, including on Smart Woman Securities - a women's investment group she founded at Harvard. Cool would go on to be a standout at the company and become one of the few female executives at Berkshire Hathaway. Tracy Britt Cool, 37, started at Berkshire Hathaway in 2009 directly out of college after she wrote a letter to owner Warren Buffett. He called her and told to stop by the office if she was ever in Omaha. He then made up a position for her: financial assistant to the chairman Buffett (pictured at billionaires summer camp in Sun Valley) has since given his blessing on her new advance, Kanbrick, which has similar values to his own company Tracy Britt Cool, 37, founded Kanbrick - a combination of Kansas and Brick - with Brian Humphrey (pictured) in 2020 after she spent 11 years working for Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway. As a blonde-haired, blue-eyed young woman, beginning her career in a 'very difficult' company culture, Cool said she put her head down and did the work. 'Its not a culture of coddling you or training you,' Robert Miles, who has written several books about Berkshire, told the NYT. 'But she got a first-hand look at what Berkshire does.' Cool's business acumen developed as a result of Berkshire's growing portfolio. The company, which started out by acquiring businesses like Dairy Queen and Benjamin Moore, eventually became the $600billion conglomerate it is today, leaving little time for Buffett to focus on smaller acquisitions. Buffett entrusted Cool to travel and meet with their CEOs. In doing so, she began building other connections which would eventually lead her to become the chief executive for Pampered Chef in 2014 when she was pregnant with her first child. Cool spent 11 years at the Berkshire before breaking out on her own in 2020 Berkshire had purchased the company in 2002, but the profit margin was declining as customers moved to digital sales. Within five years of moving into the role as chief executive and placing her would-be cofounder into the CFO position, the company would move more than 50 percent of its sale from parties to online. The founder of the company, Doris Christopher, told the NYT that Cool was a 'thoughtful and decisive leader.' She would go on to help other companies like NetJets, which would lead Buffett to calling her a 'fireman' in a Wall Street Journal interview in 2020. 'Anything Ive assigned her, shes done a first-class job on,' he said at the time. Buffett and Cool were close and would dine weekly at Piccolo Pete, one of the Omaha restaurants he frequented. He even walked her down the aisle in 2013 when she married her attorney husband Scott Cool, as her father had passed away. Now, with Buffett's blessing who said her new venture reminded him of himself when he started his own firm she is taking all the knowledge she acquired at Berkshire, to pave her own way. The front of the house where Buffett started his business Berkshire Hathaway The door to the sunroom features Buffett's signature and the words: 'The birthplace of Buffett Associates May 1956' Although she insisted to the NYT that her and Humphrey's business was not a copycat of Buffett's, it does have similar values, such as holding on to businesses for the long term, unlike other private equity companies that typically let them go after a few a years. However, she does plan to be much more involved in the companies she acquires, unlike Buffett. Kanbrick will also host programs to help CEOs learn how to grow their businesses. Her family has since made the move to Tennessee and her husband who she met in an elevator is doing most of the childrearing, in order to let her have the 'flexibility' to work, she told the Times. 'He spends a lot of time with our kids,' she told the outlet. She's now ready to keep growing her business, telling the Times: 'I try to stay humble, to learn and grow. If I do those things, there wont be failure.' Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, rides to the Sun Valley 'camp for billionaires' conference in a red jacket and light khakis on July 6, 2022 Buffett, the fifth wealthiest man on the planet, lambasted Wall Street at Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting in April, telling investors that the market encourages risky behavior in the stock market that turns it into a 'gambling parlor.' Buffett criticized investment banks and brokerages to a crowd of tens of thousands of investors at his annual shareholder meeting at Omaha Arena, saying that Wall Street makes 'a lot more money when people are gambling than when they're investing.' 'Wall Street makes money, one way or another, catching the crumbs that fall off the table of capitalism,' he said. 'They don't make money unless people do things, and they get a piece of them.' Large American companies have become 'poker chips' for market speculation, he said, citing an increase in call options and said brokers make more money off bets than simple investments. But amid that environment, he said, his company Berkshire Hathaway seized an opportunity, spending more than $50 billion on stocks in the first quarter of 2022. A three-year-old boy has died after a collision with a tractor on a farm in the Tottington area of Bury. Greater Manchester Police were called by North West Ambulance Service shortly before 12.45pm today (Saturday 16 July) after an ambulance had been signalled to stop by a vehicle carrying a seriously injured child on Rochdale Old Road. Officers attended and the boy was tragically pronounced dead by paramedics before he could be taken to hospital. Enquiries quickly established that the boy had suffered his critical injuries following a collision with a tractor on farmland off Bentley Hall Road. A car carrying the young boy managed to flag down paramedics on Rochdale Old Road, Bury (pictured), but he was sadly pronounced death before being taken to hospital Police were called after a car with the boy inside flagged down an ambulance on Rochdale Old Road The three-year-old was involved in a collision with a tractor on farmland off Bentley Hall Road (Stock image) The driver of the tractor is assisting police with enquiries and a scene remains in place at the farm while investigators from Bury CID work to establish the circumstances of the incident alongside colleagues from the Health and Safety Executive. A scene was in place on Rochdale Old Road to allow for initial enquiries to take place. The cordon has now been lifted. Specialist officers are supporting the family of the boy, and Greater Manchester Police ask that the family's privacy is respected at this devastating time. Chief Inspector Ian Partington, of GMP's Bury district, said: 'This is a heart-breaking incident that has seen a young boy tragically lose his life and my thoughts go out to his family and loved ones who will be utterly devastated by today's events. 'Despite his family flagging down an ambulance while driving him towards hospital quickly as they could, the boy sadly could not be saved after the best efforts of paramedics; I can't imagine how distressing this was for those involved. 'We are working to ensure that a full investigation is carried out, and the farmland where we understand this incident to have occurred remains cordoned off to allow our investigators and partners from the HSE to conduct thorough enquiries to establish exactly what has occurred here.' Strangers on social media have flooded to send well-wishing messages to the boy's family, describing the collision as 'tragic', 'awful' and 'heartbreaking'. To add to the tragedy, there are reports of a second, unrelated collision on Rochdale Old Road at the time that they boy's family made paramedics aware of the boy's condition. A Greater Manchester Police car was also in collision with another vehicle as officers drove to the scene, as part of the emergency services response.. A number of people in the car were taken to hospital as a precaution, but no police officers were injured, GMP said. A woke mob that included Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg's husband descended on a CNN host who warned Democrats to stop obsessing over pronouns. Chasten Buttigieg and other pious tweeters took exception to Fareed Zakaria's Washington Post column headlined: 'Forget Pronouns: Democrats need to become the party of building things.' Zakaria used his regular column to warn Democrats that tangible achievements, rather than a fixation with woke issues including trans rights, that would help them achieve continued success. He warned that the party needs to 'make government work for people' and that doing so 'was more important to most Americans than using the right pronouns.' But Chasten Buttigieg was among those keen to pour scorn on Zakaria for expressing his opinion. He tweeted: 'Addressing someone by the name/pronoun they prefer is free, easy, and kind. Using them builds community and belonging. Democrats can walk and chew gum. We can fix roads and build bridges while also making it a little easier to go about your life. That's called freedom,' Chasten wrote. His tweet continued: 'It is wildly inappropriate to instruct Democrats to toss aside an entire group of Americans in order to win. Democrats are making historic investments and bold moves while proposing life-saving and democracy-strengthening legislation that republicans continue to vote no on.' CNN host Fareed Zakaria wrote a Washington Post column: 'Forget Pronouns: Democrats need to become the party of building things,' urged Democrats that getting 'stuff done' is 'a lot more important to most Americans than using the right pronouns.' The paper revised the headline less than 24 hours later removing the two words: 'Forget Pronouns' This was the original headline of Zakaria's Washington Post op-ed, which inflamed the usual woke Twitter suspects Chasten (pictured left) married his love, Pete Buttigieg, and former South Bend Mayor before his 2020 Presidential run, in 2018. During his partner's run for office, Chasten was called 'the Twitter celebrity we deserve,' by Mashable, and 'winning the 2020 spouse primary,' by Politico, Oprah Daily reported The controversial column that caused a Twitter media storm by Chasten Buttigieg on Fridy His response garnered more than 9,000 likes, and 1,000 retweets. On Friday evening, The Washington Post revised the headline removing the two words: 'Forget Pronouns,' to its new headline: 'Democrats need to become the party of building things.' Others followed suit finding the piece equally offensive. Liberal podcaster Kimberley Johnson blasted Zakaria. Johnson tweeted: 'Who is running on pronouns, @FareedZakaria?' Fox News reported. She continued: 'No candidate is making pronouns part of their platform. It is a social issue that most Democrats embrace This is lazy journalism and it's transphobic. You're singling out one group and it's gross.' New York Times contributing writer Elizabeth Spiers joined in the cyber mob. She slated Zakaria for what she claimed was a 'wild misreading of that Times poll to begin with,' since he referenced the New York Times poll in the column. Spiers also raged: 'but if you conflate civil rights with pronoun etiquette and are completely unaware that you're parroting a transphobic GOP talking point, maybe step back from the keyboard.' The CNN host shot back trying to clarify his argument, which was mostly directed towards Chasten, Fox News reported. 'I hope it is clear that I am NOT arguing against any minority groups. (I belong to several myself.) I am arguing against giving Republicans an easy way to demagogue and divert attention,' he tweeted, echoing the argument made in his piece. He added, 'If the Democrats are wiped out in the midterms, it will not help these embattled groups any!' This is not the first time, Chasten Buttigieg, an LGBTQ rights advocate, and author has spoken out. In June 2021, he criticized GOP Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel's tweet about Pride Month during an episode of CNN Erin Burnett's Out Front. The outspoken Chasten married his love, Pete Buttigieg, the first openly gay cabinet member, former South Bend Mayor before his 2020 Presidential run, in 2018. During his partner's run for his office, Chasten was called 'the Twitter celebrity we deserve,' by Mashable, and 'winning the 2020 spouse primary,' by Politico, Oprah Daily reported. It was as close to a vision of hell as I am ever likely to come across. I was in a dark tunnel of the London Underground, 100ft beneath Russell Square station. All the living and injured had been evacuated but the dead remained. Searching the mangled carriages of a Tube train, I had to step gingerly. Bodies and bits of bodies were piled along the seats with little yellow signs saying DEAD on them where the paramedics had done their best. It was hard to move around by the light of a torch, but it didnt take long to conclude that the unfortunate people in the front carriage had taken the worst of the blast. Im a bomb expert rather than a pathologist, and I can recognise the characteristic injuries caused by high explosives, including traumatic amputation of limbs and scorching of flesh and clothing. The more I looked, the more the true scale of the carnage that day became apparent. Over a 20-year career with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratorys Forensic Explosives Laboratory (FEL), I had analysed the work of terrorists. Id dealt with the aftermath of IRA atrocities and the Lockerbie bombing that brought down a jumbo jet. Id studied improvised explosives and bombs pipe bombs, booby-traps, car bombs, shoe bombs, lorry bombs. But until I was called to the grisly scene of the Al Qaeda-inspired suicide bombings in London on July 7 2005 for ever remembered as 7/7 I had never been confronted with such a visceral and stomach-churning tableau of what those things could do to the human body. Cliff Todd, a bomb expert (pictured), has a 20-year career with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratorys Forensic Explosives Laboratory I felt almost overwhelmed by the sheer brutality of what I saw. My defence was to push back against emotional overload: You cant let this get to you, Cliff, concentrate, I told myself. Dont think about who these people were. Focus on what you need to do to help the police. That was fine until I came upon a man wrapped around a train wheel. I suddenly felt short of breath. He must have been on the far side of the crowded carriage from the bomber, standing against the doors. He would have been shielded from the immediate blast but pushed out, probably fully conscious and relatively uninjured, when the doors burst open. Then the train wheel had achieved what the bomber had failed to do. The image will stay with me for ever. After nearly two hours, I edged my way out of the tunnel and back to ground level. In the station ticket hall, I was approached by the detective in charge. OK, Cliff, what can you tell us? The insistence in his voice was palpable. The picture was changing all the time; early reports suggested a series of explosions on the Underground had been caused by a freak power surge. Now we knew there had been a co-ordinated series of bombs on three trains and a double-decker bus in the morning rush hour. A total of 56 people had been killed and a further 784 wounded. This was an investigation into premeditated mass murder. I took deep breaths of fresh air and gave my assessment. Id say several kilograms of high explosive detonated at or close to floor level, in the standing area beside the second set of doors from the front of the first carriage of the train. I hadnt addressed the question the police were desperate to answer: had these been suicide bombers or had they left their devices on the train ready to strike again? Under pressure, I ventured into some educated speculation. My guess is this was the work of a suicide attacker, I told him. This was not entirely unfounded. Of all the bodies Id seen, one had stood out. Most of the victims had trauma to their lower limbs and trunk, but facially they had been largely intact. But one seemed to have suffered more damage to the trunk and had almost no face remaining. With a device placed at floor level, I could see this kind of damage if someone was crouching down, perhaps to trigger it. I had a hunch this was the bomber and we later learned he was a 19-year-old Islamist terrorist called Germaine Lindsay. As the investigation developed, we came under pressure to show what explosive had been used something we would normally expect to clear up within hours. Everybody from the Home Secretary down wanted answers but my colleagues and I had nothing to tell them. We had taken samples and tested them for all the usual suspects plastic explosives, TNT, nitroglycerine and improvised fertiliser bombs, as used by the IRA. We tested them for gunpowder and pyrotechnic materials. Nothing. As the person in charge, I knew we had to sort this out and fast. It seemed the cruellest of ill- fortune that the bomb-makers in the biggest mass murder in Britain since Lockerbie had come up with a concoction we had never seen before. Luckily the police made two major breakthroughs when they found two of the bombers cars at Luton station, and details of a series of addresses used by them in the Leeds-Bradford area, including a two-bedroom flat in Leeds that appeared to be a bomb factory. This changed everything. Two of my staff were despatched to Leeds by helicopter while I called the police explosives officer at Luton and talked through what he had found. One of the cars, a Nissan Micra, had a bag in the boot with 12 devices in it. These consisted of clear glass petri dishes with a white powder inside, some with nails stuck to their outside surfaces. The lids were held down by a heavy-duty version of clingfilm. There was no detonator with any of the dishes and it looked as though these had been built as improvised hand grenades, presumably to target police officers or even the public. Assuming the white powder was a form of unstable high explosive, these would simply have to be thrown and would explode on impact. The bomb disposal officer had removed the bag and placed the devices on a tarpaulin on the ground. He told me he planned to zap them with a robot. This would probably mean losing vital evidence so I asked if he could cover them with sandbags so we could recover the debris for trace testing. I was anxious to try to get hold of some of the white powder, thinking it could be the same substance the bombers had used to detonate their suicide devices. We discussed how a small sample of powder could be collected and packed in a vial containing a mixture of alcohol and water as a dampener. The 7/7 terrorist attack in London on 7 July 2005 saw more than 700 people injured and killed 56 across buses and tubes To his considerable credit, he manually opened one dish using a scalpel and removed a small scoop of powder. It was a dangerous procedure and I was grateful to him for going beyond the call of duty. When we got it to the lab, we confirmed it was HMTD hexamethylene-triperoxide-diamine, a highly dangerous explosive thats so volatile it has never been manufactured commercially. Finally we were making progress. The Leeds bomb factory promised to be an evidential treasure trove. But we couldnt get in because the inexperienced army bomb disposal technician at the scene was ill-prepared for what he found inside. The poor guy was used to making bombs safe, not trying to work out what was dangerous in a room littered with food, paper, plastic bags, bottles, tubs of smelly glutinous mixtures he could not identify, filter papers, glass containers with powders in them, and gas masks. He would not allow my colleagues in until it was safe. They did, however, persuade him to bring out some brown sludge from a bucket and white powder from a jar. That was it for five days. In retrospect, it seems incredible a young bomb disposal technician had effectively stopped a terrorism investigation because he didnt understand what he was looking at. Meanwhile, we tested the samples at our laboratory at Fort Halstead, a Ministry of Defence complex near Sevenoaks, Kent. The powder turned out to be more HMTD. But the sludge was a mystery. The word from Leeds was that it was possibly faeces and it certainly looked like it. But after days of tests, we discovered it contained piperine, an alkaloid found in peppercorns. This did not feel like a breakthrough an explosive containing pepper? We were still scratching our heads. At a crisis meeting at Scotland Yard I made it clear we had to get into the flat. The senior officer told me to go to Leeds and get on with it. With a police driver and the blue lights on, I was on my way to Al Qaedas bomb factory. Ive seen a few bomb factories and they are usually messy, but this one was off the charts. It was full of rubbish, some of which looked potentially dangerous. The bath was full of half-dissolved brown sludge that looked and smelt like human faeces though, I noticed, there wasnt a fly to be seen. Luckily, one of the Armys most experienced operators had taken over. We made our way around, selecting items to be sent for analysis, and I noticed a couple of large bags of ground pepper. But it was a while before I began to put it all together the piperine, the pepper and the sludge in the buckets. Clearly, they were making bombs using pepper. But what had they mixed it with? There were several containers of fluids and hotplates where it looked as though a corrosive substance had been heated, presumably to make it more concentrated. I took a sample from one container and took it outside. I dripped a little on to a flowerbed and the soil started fizzing. Thinking it could be acid, I tested it with litmus paper but it came out neutral. It looked like the bombers had used hydrogen peroxide, easily available in chemists as bleach and hair dye, as an oxidiser, pepper as the fuel and HMTD as a detonator. We spent two days going through all the material that needed to be made safe before the neighbours could be allowed to move back in. The bomb disposal officer built a little igloo of sandbags outside where we could burn suspect material. Much of the debris was covered in powder, which I knew was HMTD and thus required delicate handling. To be on the safe side, we soaked items we wanted to burn with a killer solution of alcohol and water. It was during this operation that I experienced one of the very few occasions in my career when it suddenly dawned on me I was doing something stupid. I was on all fours with my head inside the igloo, when to my horror I saw dust dancing in the air all around me. Far from being safe and damp, the material must have dried out in the heat and released HMTD into the igloo all around me. Any sudden movement, or a sneeze, could have blown me sky high. I gingerly reversed out. I knew Id made a bad mistake. It was a reminder that you can never be too careful and that failing to do the simple things can cost you your life. I was still in Leeds a few weeks later, on July 21, 2005, when reports started coming in of new incidents in London. Here we go again, I muttered to myself. It felt like Britain was under perpetual attack. The pattern of the incidents bombs on three Tube trains and a bus was almost identical. There was one major difference, however. There had been small explosions at each scene, in which no one was killed and one person injured. The main charges were left undetonated in a rucksack. The attackers had copied the 7/7 bombers but, unlike them, they were still alive and could strike again. The police were under huge pressure to find them. Explosive by Cliff Todd reveals all about his experience amidst the 7/7 attacks The Forensic Explosives Laboratory went into overdrive. By now, we were confident the 7/7 bombers had used a mixture of concentrated hydrogen peroxide and crushed black pepper in their main charges. But the yellowish gloop that oozed out of the rucksacks used on 21/7 didnt look the same. We had to assume it was a different mix. By 9.30pm, we had come up with a plan. With assistance from my staff, the police explosives officer would carefully scoop the mix into anti-static nylon bags, which would be placed inside plastic boxes and transported back to the Fort for analysis. However, as soon as it was moved, the material started heating up very quickly and started smoking. This looked like a thermal reaction slower than an explosion but which can be extremely violent and produce massive heat in a split second. Suddenly, my phone rang. It was an exhibits officer from the anti-terrorist branch bringing a sample to the lab. Cliff, the samples are fizzing and bubbling and the van is filling up with smoke. I could hear the panic in his voice. Though he had only a small amount of explosive, it could still create a significant blast. What do we do? he kept asking. Eventually, after getting a bit more detail, I agreed with his suggestion to continue to the Fort as quickly as possible. I called the guards at the main gate and told them a police van was approaching with a highly unstable cargo of explosives. They were not to stop it under any circumstances: the van was to proceed straight to a designated area, where we could damp the mix down. We had broken most of our own protocols on handling improvised-explosive material. Sometimes the health and safety rulebook has to go out of the window. When police raided a bomb factory used by the gang in a council flat in North London, it became clear that, instead of using pepper as the fuel, these bombers had used chapati flour. By the end of the month, police had arrested all four of the main suspects, three in England and one in Rome. In the months that followed, a series of trials showed how the flour and hydrogen peroxide mix varied in effectiveness according to the proportions and concentration. We showed that the gang tried to make a viable bomb but got their mixture wrong. Had they built them correctly, they would have killed themselves and everyone else around them. The four bombers were each sentenced to life imprisonment. Cliff Todd, 2022 Explosive, by Cliff Todd, is published by Headline at 22. To order a copy for 19.80, go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937 before July 24. Free UK delivery on orders over 20. Over the four weeks of his high-profile trial, Michael Sams always insisted he had not kidnapped and murdered teenager Julie Dart, who had been snatched from the streets of Leeds. He had, he confessed, abducted estate agent Stephanie Slater and secured 175,000 for her ransom, but of the earlier crime, he steadfastly maintained his innocence. The jury, however, saw through his lies, and the one-legged toolmaker was given four life sentences. And Detective Chief Superintendent Bob Taylor, who had led the gruelling investigation that brought Sams to justice, might have hoped hed seen the last of the callous killer. Killer Michael Sams had always insisted he did not kidnapp and murder teenager Julie Dart in 1991, but secret police tapes reveal he confessed to a detective just days after his conviction But just days after sentence was handed down, the officer received word that Sams wanted to speak to him. They met in the dining hall at Full Sutton Prison in East Yorkshire, where Sams finally confessed that he had bludgeoned and strangled 18-year-old Julie, who was working as a prostitute, after snatching her as a dummy run for the kidnap of the estate agent six months later. And he admitted that even though he had asked for a ransom, he had no plan to release her. He calmly told Mr Taylor: When I went out to kidnap Julie Dart, there was only one intention, and that was to kill her. There was no intention whatsoever to keep her alive. What Sams didnt know was that Taylor had concealed a tape recorder in the briefcase he bought to their meeting. Michael Sams abducted and killed 18-year-old Julie Dart in Leeds on July 9, 1991, after luring her into his car in the citys red-light district, just months before kidnapping Stephanie Slater That recording has been kept under lock and key for nearly 30 years, but later this month, for the first time, Samss confession in his own words will be heard by the public. The cockiness he had shown in the past wasnt there, Mr Taylor recalls of that meeting. He walked in a criminal who had been Britains most wanted man dragging his leg. Even three decades on from their encounter, Mr Taylor, now retired, remains shocked at Samss callous attitude to his horrific crimes. The recording forms part of a new documentary about the case, Michael Sams: Kidnapper Killer, which will stream on Discovery+ from July 31. In it, Sams, who had lost his right leg to cancer while serving a previous jail sentence, explained how he drove to a red-light district in the Chapeltown area of Leeds on July 9, 1991, in search of his victim. There he found Julie, who had turned to prostitution to clear her debts so she could pursue her dream of an Army career, having passed the medical and other assessment tests. Sams said that when she got into the passenger seat of his car, she lent forward to remove her shoes. At that moment, he grabbed the back of her head and threw a ready-prepared noose around her neck. He said: She were bending down and obviously she couldnt move and I was saying, You cant scream. I mean, she did do little screams. I had the rope already round her neck and I pulled it and she couldnt move. The officers, who had come to refer to his victim as our Julie during the investigation, were aware of her background. Did she tell you why she was acting as a prostitute? one asked her killer. No, she told me it was her first night, replied Sams. She said shed never been out before. The kidnapper drove the terrified teenager 70 miles to his workshop in Newark, Nottinghamshire. Estate agent Stephanie Slater was kidnapped at knifepoint while Michael Sams posed as a house buyer in Birmingham and then raped, before he released her for a 175,000 ransom I said she was going to be held kidnapped and I was going to get some money for her release, said Sams. She was frightened of me. She was terrified. Shes the first person in my life thats ever been frightened of me. After leaving Julie locked up overnight, Sams returned to his workshop and ordered her to write letters to her boyfriend and mother Lynn, telling them that she was being held and urging them to contact police. Sams dispassionately told the officers that her usefulness to him now over he then bludgeoned Julie to death with a ball-peen hammer. She wanted a wash, so I let her have a wash, he said. I said, Right, I want to tie your hands behind your back. She was laid on the mattress and I had the hammer at the side of me. He added pathetically: I didnt know how to hit someone to make them unconscious, thats all. A post-mortem examination of Julies body, which was found trussed up in a sheet and ropes under an oak tree in Easton, Lincolnshire, ten days after her disappearance, revealed that Sams had strangled the life out of her by crushing her windpipe with his bare hands. He kept her body for a week in a green wheelie bin before transporting her decomposing remains to his chosen dumping ground. With shocking detachment, Sams referred to the teenager as it, saying: So I went out and dropped her off. I have no idea where I dropped it. It was just a coincidence it was by a railway line. Six months later, Sams would adapt his methods for his next crime, abducting Stephanie Slater at knifepoint while posing as a house buyer in Birmingham and imprisoning her in a wheelie bin in the same workshop. Although her disappearance prompted a huge manhunt, Sams evaded police and escaped with a 175,000 ransom only to be snared later after an appeal on the BBCs Crimewatch. In Julies case, Sams sent her notes to her distraught loved ones on July 11 along with a typewritten letter to police demanding a 140,000 ransom. Officers attempted to comply, and a policewoman with a holdall containing the cash was sent on Samss instructions to various locations, but all attempts at the handover failed. With the hindsight provided by Samss confession, Mr Taylor said his ransom demand was a cruel hoax designed to give police the false hope that Julie could be saved. She was dead before we did the ransom run, the former detective said. She was a disposable victim. She was always going to die. She was being used to intimidate us. He was saying, You have seen what I have done now. If you dont do what I say, the bodies will start mounting up. Towards the end of the interview, Sams told officers he had decided to make a confession for the sake of Julies grieving mother. He said: Ive been going over it and thinking its only fair that she knows I did it. I mean, obviously, I did do it. What can I tell her? I do feel sorry for her, yes. The first person ever to be scared of me Michael Sams abducted Julie Dart in Leeds on July 9, 1991, after luring her into his car in the citys red-light district. His confession came three days after he was convicted of her murder in July 1993, having denied the crime at trial. In the tapes Sams (MS) says: She were bending down [to remove her shoes] and obviously she couldnt move and I was saying, You cant scream. I mean, she did do little screams I had the rope already round her neck and I pulled it and she couldnt move. And she said, What do you want? I said, Ill tell you when we get there. Sams drove her to his workshop in Newark where he would later keep estate agent Stephanie Slater captive for eight days. The police officer (PO) asked: You had Julie lay down on the carpet? MS: She had a mattress as well that she could lay on. Her hands were bound. PO: You mentioned that she had a rope around her leg as well? Where was that secured? MS: There were some little black brackets on the back wall She was tied on to them. I said she was going to be held kidnapped and I was going to get some money for her release. 'She was frightened of me. She was terrified. Shes the first person in my life thats ever been frightened of me. Sams ordered Julie to write two ransom notes before killing her. MS: It was about 6pm on the Wednesday night, so that would be the 10th. She wanted a wash, so I let her have a wash. And I said, Right, I want to tie your hands behind your back. She was laid on the mattress and I had the hammer at the side of me. PO: And you hit her? How many times? MS: About three When I went out to kidnap Julie Dart, there was only one intention and that was to kill her. There was no intention whatsoever to keep her alive. Sams kept Julies body in a green wheelie bin for a week before dumping her remains. Advertisement Samss evil ingenuity was evident when he collected the ransom for Stephanie from her employers under the noses of police. Kevin Watts, boss of Shipways Estate Agency, was told to follow a tortuous route before obeying written instructions to put a holdall into a tray on a bridge parapet over a disused railway line in South Yorkshire. Sams, waiting 60ft below, tugged on a fishing line secured to the tray and the money fell into his arms before he loaded it into the panniers of his moped and escaped. In a secret media briefing later, a police chief admitted: We lost the money, we lost the kidnapper and we lost the girl. Sams escaped with the money but had made a crucial error the day before the ransom handover. Unplanned, he had phoned Shipways demanding: Have you got the money? He had done so to reassure Stephanie that she was going to be released unharmed, but in his haste had forgotten to put a gobstopper sweet in his mouth to disguise his voice as he had done previously. Sams showed more emotion about Stephanie than he ever did with Julie. Interviewed by police, he broke down as he always did at the mention of her name and said: Stephanie was always going home. But his decision to free her helped seal his conviction for Julies murder. When Samss certain role as Julies killer was explained to her, Stephanie was able to provide an artist with a remarkably accurate description, leading to an uncannily realistic drawing. When Crimewatch aired, Samss ex-wife, Susan Oake, screamed at the TV in recognition as the clues provided by Stephanie were revealed. Twelve million people watched the show, generating thousands of calls, but only two Susan Oake and her son Charles Grillo gave Samss name to officers. At Nottingham Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to kidnapping and imprisoning the estate agent and making a 175,000 ransom demand. Stephanie, who was raped by Sams while a captive, subsequently worked with police to help improve the treatment of kidnap victims, but died of cancer in 2017, aged just 50. Sams, now aged 80, remains in jail, where he is one of the UKs oldest prisoners. In 2005 he was given an extra eight years for attacking a female probation officer with a metal spike. Two years ago, the Parole Board ruled that he was still too dangerous to be released. Passengers have been 'passing out' at Gatwick Airport after flight delays left them stuck waiting 'without air conditioning' at some gates, it is claimed. Meanwhile, some easyJet passengers complained that their flights at the airport have been left stranded on the Tarmac for hours due to baggage issues. Frustrated flyers took to social media to voice their anger, with one reporting they had been stuck on a plane going nowhere for six hours. And in a repeat of scenes earlier this week, some waiting passengers complained the heat inside the airport was causing them to feel nauseous as the UK remains firmly in the grip of a sweltering heatwave. It comes after months of chaos at British Airports as a shortage of workers combined with higher than anticipated demand for flights has caused travel misery. Earlier this month Heathrow Airport told some operators to cancel dozens of flights at short notice as it could not accommodate the number of passengers, and hundreds of other flights have been cancelled throughout the summer. The latest chaos at the UK's second busiest airport came as the country saw some of the highest temperatures so far this year, with the mercury topping 80F (28.7C) in London today. There was more travel chaos at Gatwick Airport today. Pictured are passengers queuing at Gatwick's North Terminal on Friday morning. EasyJet was among the airlines affected by delays, with some of its passengers complaining about being stuck on the Tarmac for hours. Pictured is an easyJet plane landing in Prague Passengers inside the airport were left complaining about the temperature, with some saying there didn't appear to be any air conditioning at some gates. One person wrote: '@Gatwick_Airport pleeeease get some aircon on at the gates, gate 52 is unbearably hot and were stuck here.' Another said: '@Gatwick_Airport please can you turn the air-con on at gate 53 north terminal. Been sat here for 40 long minutes and feeling very unwell.' Another passenger wrote: 'Dear @easyJet anyone seen the Gran Canaria cabin crew?! Were waiting in a BOILING @Gatwick_Airport people are passing out, please hurry up. Many thanks.' Things got even worse for some passengers as they complained about their flights being delayed for hours, with one easyJet flight from Gatwick to Innsbruck in Austria still on the Tarmac in Sussex more than six hours after it was due to take off. Passengers on the 11.15am flight were left complaining about the delay, with aircraft tracker FlightRader24 showing it still at the airport as of 8.15pm tonight. One frustrated flyer wrote: 'Dear @Gatwick_Airport we have now been sitting on the runway for 1.5 hours. Why havent you updated @easyJet on an ETA to move the plane off the tarmac. I understand you have staff shortages but after air con-gate earlier in the terminal the passengers on this flight are furious!' Another added: '@Gatwick_Airport spent five hours so far on our plane on the tarmac on our way to Innsbruck. Fabulous pilot and crew really helped.' Meanwhile, one person waiting for the flight to arrive in Austria said they were being delayed coming back to the UK. They wrote: 'Have been stuck for hours in Austria at Innsbruck airport waiting for flight U28294 - which is yet to depart from @Gatwick_Airport (U28293). Little information available and were exhausted! Its looking like a 6-7 hours delay.' Meanwhile passengers on another easyJet flight say they were left stranded on the Tarmac as they waited for their bags to be loaded onto the plane. One passenger on the flight destined for Bari in Italy, even tweeted an image of fellow flyers looking from the stairs at the plane at the bags as they waited for ground crew to help them. One passenger posted this picture of people waiting on the stairs of their plane looking forlornly at bags that were supposed to be being loaded onto the flight A spokesperson for easyJet said: 'EasyJet experienced some disruption to its Gatwick flying programme today due to a combination of issues impacting the operation, including ground handling and airport coaching delays due to airport staff shortages which resulted in the delayed departure of some flights. 'While this is outside of our control we would like to apologise to customers for any inconvenience experienced.' They added that the Innsbruck flight had been delayed overnight due to a 'technical issue'. 'EasyJet can confirm that flight EZY8293 from London Gatwick to Innsbruck was delayed overnight due to a technical issue that required further investigation,' they said. 'A replacement aircraft has been arranged and the flight is due to operate tomorrow, 17 July. Passengers have been provided with meals and hotel accommodation where required. 'We would like to thank passengers for their understanding and apologise for the inconvenience caused. The safety and well being of our passengers and crew is easyJets highest priority.' Gatwick Airport has been approached for comment. The chaos comes days after the airport was hit with a water outage following a burst water main in nearby Crawley that left malfunctioning toilets on Thursday. Gatwick staff handed out bottles of water and brought water tankers on site, with only a limited number of toilets working. While some restaurants had to close earlier, the airport said all had reopened by 5pm. Proposals to reduce compensation for air travellers come 'at the worst possible time' Proposals to reduce compensation for air travellers when their flights are delayed or cancelled come 'at the worst possible time', ministers have been told. SNP MP Patricia Gibson (North Ayrshire and Arran) said: 'UK Government proposals to reduce compensation levels for delayed, cancelled, or overbooked domestic flights are in place, at a time when passengers across the UK face unprecedented disruption, and this cutting of compensation can only be bad news for consumers. 'Compensation levels have been set to deter airlines from running late services. Reducing this opens the door to poorer standards which will adversely impact travellers. 'Will the Leader of the House make a statement setting out his concerns at this wrong policy at the worst possible time?' Commons Leader Mark Spencer replied that Transport Secretary Grant Shapps had 'done a lot of work' with airlines to try and resolve the challenges the industry faces. He added: 'I think we are making progress and I hope by the time we get to the summer that those people who have booked holidays will be able to get on those planes and enjoy the summer.' Advertisement The airport apologised and said it was working closely with SES Water, who insisted just before 7pm that 'the problem has been resolved'. This came as British Airways on Tuesday started contacting passengers asking them to reschedule their flights amid a row between Heathrow and airlines over the airport's passenger cap. Bosses at the west London travel hub sparked fury from travel chiefs on Tuesday after announcing an immediate 100,000 daily passenger limit - a move which will impact tens of thousands of travellers in the coming weeks. Airport chiefs ordered UK airlines to, 'stop selling summer tickets to limit the impact on passengers' because Heathrow is already expecting an average of 104,000 daily outbound passengers in the coming months. Following Heathrow's announcement, carriers have reportedly been in intense discussions with the airport and flight schedulers in an attempt to cut capacity by up to 15 per cent at Terminals 3 and 5. And BA has now started to contact passengers due to fly before July 25 if they are able to reschedule their flight. Industry insiders have suggested the company is filleting out flights in order to more easily make short-notice cancellations. However MailOnline understands the UK flag carrier has made a 'small number' of short-haul and domestic cancellations over the next two weeks to fit in with Heathrow's passenger cap. BA says it has moved passengers either onto trains or similar flights from Heathrow or City airports. Travel expert Paul Charles, who runs travel consultancy the PC Agency, shared an email from BA to customers asking passengers travelling in the next fortnight if they would like to reschedule their flights for free. BA said passengers could change their flights to another BA operated flight to any date within the next 12 months, subject to availability. Commenting on the email, in a post on Twitter, Mr Charles wrote: 'I said it would be a summer of stress. BA among airlines operating from Heathrow now asking those travelling before 25th July to consider changing flights, so enabling them to more easily choose which flights to cancel at short notice.' Meanwhile Emirates announced on Tuesday that it will ignore an order from Heathrow Airport for it to cancel flights to comply with a cap on passenger numbers, describing it as 'entirely unreasonable'. Virgin Atlantic also criticised Heathrow's actions and claimed it was responsible for failures which are contributing to the chaos. But responding to Emirates' refusal to cancel flights, a Heathrow spokeswoman said it had 'no choice' but to make the 'difficult' decision to implement a passenger cap and said it would be 'disappointing' if any company was to put 'profit ahead of a safe and reliable passenger journey'. The new measures, which are due to remain in place until September 11, are part of Heathrow's latest attempts to prevent a school summer holiday repeat of the chaotic scenes witnessed at airports up and down the UK over the Easter weekend. The temperature is rising, but that doesnt mean your bills have to. You dont need expensive gadgets and energy-guzzling air-conditioning units to get through the heatwave. Here are our nine ways to stay cool and save money. 1: Turn your desk fan into an air-con unit Air-conditioning may be the best way to cool a room, but units are expensive to buy and run. You can pick up a decent desk fan for under 20 but the cheapest air-conditioners start at about 250. And a desk fan uses roughly one per cent of the electricity air-conditioning uses. However, there are things you can do to make your fan work a little more like an air-conditioner. As the temperature drops towards the end of the day and the air becomes cooler outside than in, point your fan towards an open window. Thats a more efficient way of cooling your room. Download the Refill app on your mobile phone before you head out. It will show you the nearest public water fountains and places you can refill your water bottle for free across the UK You could also try putting a bowl of ice in front of your fan. Julian House, at the discount website myvouchercodes, explains: The air passes over the bowl, circulating cooler air. He adds that using a metal bowl could help keep the ice frozen for longer. 2: Hang towels outside your window Keeping curtains closed during the day blocks out some of the heat from entering your home. But even with the windows covered this way, roughly 90 per cent of the heat still gets through. It can be even more effective to block the sun from the outside, which keeps it off your windows altogether. Shutters are most effective, but for a cheap and easy makeshift alternative, you could hang light-coloured towels or sheets outside your south-facing windows. 3: Put your pillow cases in the freezer Try putting pillow cases, pyjamas and even bed sheets into freezer bags and keeping them in the freezer to help cool you down right before bed. You could even fill a hot-water bottle and freeze it. Keep your daily moisturisers and sunscreen in the fridge to cool you down when you apply them. Why not put some aloe vera in the fridge as well and get double the cooling? Its also great for dealing with sunburn, adds House. Ankles, feet and wrists have pulse points, so keeping them cool is an effective way of keeping your body temperature down 4: Put your feet in cold water Ankles, feet and wrists have pulse points, so keeping them cool is an effective way of keeping your body temperature down. If you are tempted to stand under a cold shower, you may find that putting your feet in a bowl of cold water is sufficient to cool off and helps to keep your water bills down if you have a meter. 5: Turn appliances off standby A surprising amount of heat is generated from appliances on standby, such as televisions and PC monitors. Switching them off can help avoid adding heat to already sweltering rooms and cut your energy bills. Conventional incandescent light bulbs lose up to 90 per cent of their energy as waste heat. Switch to efficient LED models to cut bills and heat. Keep the back of your fridge clean and at least 10cm from the wall. Fridges work less efficiently when their coils are covered in dirt and dust. They also have to work harder when they are wedged against a wall give them space for air to circulate. A surprising amount of heat is generated from appliances on standby, such as televisions and PC monitors. Switching them off can help avoid adding heat to already sweltering rooms and cut your energy bills 6: Only use the car A/C on faster roads The inside temperature of your car could reach an oven-like 60C in the next few days, according to the AA. So keeping cool on the go is essential. Using your cars air-conditioning increases its fuel consumption by about ten per cent, says the AA. However, opening the windows is not necessarily a cost-free alternative. Open windows can create drag, which also increases fuel consumption. Deciding which option to go for is a fine balance. As a rule of thumb, if you are driving slowly less than about 45mph open windows is cheaper. But, if youre driving on the motorway, air-conditioning is more effective. Using air-conditioning is less efficient on short journeys than long as it has to work harder to cool the car in the first place, rather than just keep the car cool. A spokesman for the AA adds: If you return to a hot car, its best to open all the windows when you first drive off to clear the hot air before closing them and turning the air-con on. That way, the air-con wont have to work so hard and youll cool the interior more quickly. 7: Refill your water bottle for free Download the Refill app on your mobile phone before you head out. It will show you the nearest public water fountains and places you can refill your water bottle for free across the UK. Major high atreet brands such as Costa Coffee, Greggs and Morrisons have all signed up to offer free drinking water along with hundreds of National Trust and English Heritage properties. Go to refill.org.uk. 8: Fill up your fridge with water bottles Fridges work most efficiently when they are reasonably full because refrigerated food helps to maintain the cool temperature. You dont need to buy extra groceries just fill up spaces with bottles of water. That way youre also stocked up with cold drinks to cool down throughout the day. However, dont fill your fridge so much that you cant easily see what is in it. Otherwise youll lose cool air while youre rooting through to find things. About 75 per cent full is ideal. Make sure the seals around your fridge and freezer doors are intact, too. In this heat, hot air will get in quickly and make the fridge work harder to stay cool. The inside temperature of your car could reach an oven-like 60C in the next few days, according to the AA. So keeping cool on the go is essential 9: Ditch the oven It sounds obvious, but do keep your oven off in this weather and use the microwave, barbecue or eat cold meals such as salads instead. Opting for a microwave or BBQ has the advantage of not heating up your home when you cook. And microwaves use far less energy to heat food than ovens, so you will be saving on household bills. Salads have a high water content, which helps to keep you hydrated. Nutrition expert Penny Weston, who runs the Made Wellness Centre in Staffordshire, says: As well as drinking plenty of water, make sure you eat foods such as cucumbers, which are 95 per cent water, tomatoes, watercress where the clue is in the name and apples, which are 85 per cent water. Dr Ross Perry, medical director of Cosmedics, adds: Keep meals light as heavy meals will only keep you awake and stop you from getting a good nights sleep when its hot. It's a holiday home fit for a king. Prince Williams search-and-rescue helicopter has been transformed into a trendy glamping pod. The RAF Sea King is one of three choppers rescued from the scrap heap and given a 250,000 restoration by Yorkshire businessman Ben Stonehouse. Two, one of them flown by William, have been decked out as luxurious glamping pods at the Pinewood Park campsite near Scarborough, while a third, used by the Prince on his first rescue mission, is being converted into a seafront cafe. I would have been devastated if they had been crushed. They have a special place in my heart, Mr Stonehouse said. The RAF Sea King is one of three choppers rescued from the scrap heap and given a 250,000 restoration by Yorkshire businessman Ben Stonehouse After entering service in 1978, the Sea King, manufactured by British firm Westland, saw action in the Gulf War, the Balkans conflict, the Iraq War and the Afghanistan War. A Royal Navy variation of the Sea King was flown by Prince Andrew during the 1982 Falklands conflict. William piloted one of the RAFs 26 yellow-liveried search-and- rescue helicopters based at RAF Valley in Anglesey, North Wales, from 2010 to 2013. The Prince, flying as Flight Lieutenant William Wales, completed 156 missions with the search-and-rescue team, including one that saved a 16-year-old swimmer. The helicopters were retired by the RAF in 2015, but the classified equipment on board meant they could not be sold as working aircraft and were instead stripped for parts and scheduled to be crushed. It's a holiday home fit for a king. Prince Williams search-and-rescue helicopter has been transformed into a trendy glamping pod Mr Stonehouse, 30, managed to trace and buy three of the empty hulls from the Ministry of Defence and has spent the past four years restoring them with original instrument panels and rotor blades. He said: People need to experience them and see how big they are inside. A lot of the kids have never seen them fly. While the pilots dashboard has been restored, visitors paying 159 a night will find conditions on board very different to the spartan life endured by William. RAF Sea Kings had little more than padding to protect the crew from the harsh elements, but the renovated glamping pods are fully insulated and heated. The cockpits rubber and metal seating has been replaced by a comfortable double bed, while cupboards in the hull can be converted into childrens bunk beds. The winch doorway now opens on to a terrace, while the winch itself has been transformed into a childs swing. Each pod sleeps two adults and three children. As for calls of nature, rather than making use of a rubber tube behind the pilots seat, holidaymakers will be relieved that the campsite has full bathroom facilities just a short walk away. A Denver tech worker was fired after she posted Tiktoks explaining how she got a $20,000 raise at her new job, going from $70,000 to $90,000. Lexi Larson started a new job last month at an undisclosed company only to be fired two weeks later over 'security concerns' after they discovered her salary transparency TikToks. In one of the videos still up on her account Larson breaks down the $449 bimonthly increase - or almost $900 monthly - she would be receiving with her new salary. This video, among others, is what Larson suspects got her 'fired out of nowhere.' 'Basically, my employer found my TikToks [and] really, really did not like that I was sharing my salary,' she said in one of the several videos she posted about the firing. 'They said it was a security concern because I could post something private about the company on my TikTok account. When asked if she had broken company policies, or posted something that threatened security, she was told 'not at this time, but it could happen at any time in the future,' and it made them 'question my judgement.' Lexi Larson was 'fired out of nowhere' 2 weeks into her new job after her boss found her TikToks account, where she posts salary transparency videos In one of many TikToks (pictured), she discussed her new job's $20,000 bigger salary and claims she was fired for posting it Although Larson did not - and could not - be fired for specifically talking about her salary, as employees are federally protected the National Labor Relations Act, she still decided to take some of them down just days before her firing after a 'calculated' phone call with her company. Larson also said she thought there wouldn't be a problem with her posting her salary, as she thought it was 'public knowledge' since Colorado requires job postings to include a salary range. 'I did go and check their Colorado job posting after all this happened and they do not have salaries listed,' she said in a TikTok. The tech employee wasn't even looking to leave her job at the time, but had been approached by the company, via LinkedIn. With rising rent and cost of living increasing, she thought it would be a good idea to jump ship when she was offered a much higher salary. Larson went on to say that she viewed other creators posting similar content when she first made an account and found it 'helpful' and wanted to do the same. Her employee cited 'security concerns,' but admitted she had yet to post anything that threatened security 'I also think salary transparency is important, just because that's how you know you're getting underpaid in the workplace, which - as a woman - I'm very passionate about,' she said. Luckily for Larson, she was able to call her old manager 'sobbing' and they offered her old job back, which she is set to return to on Monday. She also said her old/current employers are aware of her account and have 'no issues with it.' Whether or not Larson's termination was legal - considering she had not breeched company policies and could not be fired for discussing her wage, comes down to a few factors. One, Colorado - like many states - are an at-will state and can fire employees for no reason. Although, if employees can prove they were wrongfully terminated, they can sue. However, another reason the company could have fired her was if she used company equipment for the TikToks. It is unknown if she used anything belonging to the company. On the other hand, attorney and founder of Social Media Victims Law Center, Matthew Bergman, said Larson being fired for 'the idea that her actions were a firing offense seems pretty harsh.' Larson could not be fired for discussing her salary, as it is protected under the National Labor Relations Act 'She was only there for two weeks,' he told USA Today. Another lawyer, Bennitta Joseph, said Larson could have a good case against the company and should 'think about contacting a lawyer if she can show she was terminated for discussing her wages.' Companies will more than likely look at employees social media to make sure they are not spouting off discriminating statements or disclosing trade secrets. Although companies cannot fire an employee for discussing their wage, Bergman told USA Today it's 'important to take a step back and be cautious when revealing personal information on social media.' 'It's probably better to keep your money matters offline,' he told the outlet. Some fashion brands are built to last and Duchess of Cambridge favourite Jigsaw is clearly among them. The label, now five decades old, is finding a new lease of life with shoppers who want their style, and clothes, to endure for years. With signs that Britains obsession with throwaway fashion is on the wane, Jigsaw is looking at establishing itself in market towns where it believes its heartland shoppers stylish women in their 40s and 50s live. TIMELESS: The Duchess of Cambridge wearing the labels clothing in 2007 It plans to open stores in Market Harborough in Leicestershire, St Albans in Hertfordshire, and Surrey towns Reigate and Cobham. Celebrity fans include TV presenter Holly Willoughby and Kate, who worked briefly as an accessories buyer for the chain before her engagement to Prince William. HEARTLAND: Jigsaw has largely abandoned city centres for market towns Chief executive Beth Butterwick said its shoppers were confident women who buy less, buy better. She added: Fit and fabric is important cashmere, silk and linen. Were not instant fashion. The brand will also move out of city centre stores and busy shopping centres where younger, more price-conscious buyers scan the rails for the cheapest options. We have very few [shops] in city centres, Ms Butterwick said. Were in market towns and regional centres where customers tend to be local shoppers who go there a lot. Celebrity fans of the brand include TV presenter Holly Willoughby and the Duchess of Cambridge, who worked briefly as an accessories buyer for the chain before her engagement to Prince William The label, now five decades old, is finding a new lease of life with shoppers who want their style, and clothes, to endure for years Of its customers, she said: Theyre stylish and confident. They want to look modern and relevant with their friends. Theyre not slavish to social media. [When we ask them] they reference a multitude of media and they still like print [magazines]. Her formula seems to be working. Jigsaw reversing a 21 million loss in 2020, to a 1.2 million profit last year, with dress sales clocking up a record of more than 7 million this season. People have been evacuated after a huge fire swept through Brixton market this evening, with 100 firefighters battling the blaze. The ground floor of a two-storey storage warehouse was destroyed by the fire and part of the first floor and roof were damaged. Firefighters in the capital have been called to the venue in South London after an inferno was seen raging in the iconic market hall. Video on social media shows fire crews rushing to the area, with flames burning through the building. In dramatic scenes, police can be seen ushering people away from the burning building as the fire takes hold in the building close to Electric Avenue. London Fire Brigade says it has sent 15 fire engines and around 100 firefighters to battle the blaze. There are no reports of injuries caused by the blaze or smoke at this time. Huge flames were seen coming from the iconic market venue in South London this evening A fire engine was seen rushing to the scene of the fire, after it broke out at around 9pm tonight Quite a big fire appears to have broken out in Brixton at one end of electric avenue / market, hard to tell. #brixton #fire pic.twitter.com/i1cRvUrGfc Alec (@alechendry) July 16, 2022 James Twomey, an editor for the South London Press, wrote on Twitter: 'Huge fire in Brixton market right now, a worker said it is an area where items are stored for the market and people might still be in there.' He added that police and fire crews had evacuated people from the area, while images show smoke billowing into the air. It is reported that police have cordoned off Atlantic Avenue and Electric Avenue while firefighters deal with the incident. Smoke was seen rising into the sky and over railway lines in the area of South London after the fire broke out shortly before 9pm. A firefighter can be seen surveying the scene from an aerial ladder tonight. The cause of the fire is not known at this time On the London Fire Brigade website, the blaze is being reported as a 'warehouse alight'. It says: 'Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters are tackling a fire on Electric Lane in Brixton. 'A three-storey warehouse is alight. 'The Brigade's 999 Control Officers have taken 53 calls to the blaze. 'The Brigade was called at 2058. Fire crews from Clapham, West Norwood, Peckham, Old Kent Road, Chelsea and surrounding fire stations are at the scene. 'The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.' In an update posted on Twitter at around 11.30pm, LFB said firefighters 'remain on scene and are making steady progress in tackling the blaze'. It was the moment when the young Liz Truss became, in her words, radicalised. As a child, the Foreign Secretary was infuriated to be presented with a Junior Air Hostess badge when she boarded a KLM flight with her parents while her three brothers received Junior Pilot Badges. I just thought, Dont tell me what I can do or what I cant do, the potential next Prime Minister recalls. Liz Truss (right) spent a cosmopolitan childhood in Paisley, Leeds and Canada, as her academic father moved between teaching posts. John Truss and his wife Priscilla, were both Left-wingers who took their daughter on CND marches (pictured with a CND banner) TURNING RIGHT: At the Tory conference in 1997. After a brief flirtation with the Liberal Democrats, Ms Truss moved to the Right after encountering Conservative students at Oxford University It was a formative moment in a cosmopolitan childhood spent in Paisley, Leeds and Canada, as her academic father moved between teaching posts. John Truss and his wife Priscilla, were both Left-wingers who took their daughter on CND marches. After a brief flirtation with the Liberal Democrats, Ms Truss moved to the Right after encountering Conservative students at Oxford University. Her political journey took her from chanting Maggie, Maggie, Maggie, out, out, out as a child to addressing the Tory Party conference in 1997 with Mrs Thatcher in the audience. Ms Truss is pictured here aged 12 during a year at an elementary school in Canada, before returning to study at Roundhay comprehensive in Leeds. Ms Truss is pictured here aged 12 during a year at an elementary school in Canada, before returning to study at Roundhay comprehensive in Leeds A source close to the family said: Liz had a vibrant, character-forming childhood. With three older brothers, she had to fight for everything. It was a very solid, lower middle-class upbringing, with loads of friends on free school meals. It was a warm and supportive environment to grow up in. Ms Truss cites the air hostess moment when she discusses what she calls the cult of female exceptionalism. She once said: Mrs Thatcher did not consider women to be the equal of men, but their superior... Well, I dont normally disagree with Mrs Thatcher but I do on this occasion. Because I think its very important that we reject the idea that women are superior.... or make better bosses. I think its just as bad as the cult of male exceptionalism: the idea that men are more decisive, mentally stronger or better leaders. A dozen sleeper Rishi Sunak supporters are propping up Kemi Badenochs leadership campaign, rivals have claimed. Michael Gove, who MPs suspect privately backs the former Chancellor, has been accused of masterminding the sleeper cell to fragment the Tory Right. Ms Badenoch emerged as a surprise contender in the leadership race after being boosted by Mr Goves early support. But senior Conservatives are urging her to fold into Liz Trusss campaign or risk the Right of the party being excluded from the final round. Ex-Brexit Minister Lord (David) Frost has publicly called for Ms Badenoch to stand aside. According to a senior Conservative MP, Mr Gove is a Rishi supporter but cannot keep out of the political games it is in his nature. He takes positions simply to cause trouble. A dozen sleeper Rishi Sunak supporters are propping up Kemi Badenochs leadership campaign, rivals have claimed. Michael Gove (pictured), who MPs suspect privately backs Rishi, has been accused of masterminding the sleeper cell to fragment the Tory Right The same source added that Mr Gove will leverage Ms Badenochs unexpected success to negotiate a top Cabinet job with Mr Sunak. He knows Kemi will pack up and he will be able to come over. He cant bear not to be in the Government. In Thursdays second ballot of MPs, Mr Sunak received 101 votes, Penny Mordaunt came second with 83, Liz Truss third with 64 and Ms Badenoch fourth with 49. Insiders pointed to the fact that less than half of Ms Badenochs voters have gone public. Others questioned the true loyalty of her backers, including Robert Courts, who had previously been a key supporter of Grant Shappss leadership bid. Mr Shapps came out for Mr Sunak after giving up his own run. A former Cabinet minister said Mr Gove is Machiavellian and agreed that he will be using Ms Badenochs position as number four in the race to horse trade this weekend and argue for a leading post in Mr Sunaks administration. The source said Mr Gove could be in a position to ask to be Chancellor as his price for bringing enough MPs over from Ms Badenoch to guarantee Mr Sunak a spot in the final two. Meanwhile sources in Ms Trusss campaign expect 22 of Suella Bravermans 27 backers to switch to the Foreign Secretary now that Ms Braverman has been eliminated from the race. An ally of Mr Gove said his support of Ms Badenoch is genuine and he has praised her abilities for a long time but admitted it is feasible that he also backed her to split the Right of the party. A Badenoch campaign source said claims of a dozen sleeper Sunak supporters in the ranks are complete hogwash. Her allies have insisted she will not fold into Mr Sunaks campaign and that she is in it to win it. An ex-EastEnders star has reportedly been arrested on suspicion of 'large-scale fraud' following an early morning raid on her London home. Officers from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (Ersou) are said to have arrested the actress in Woodford Green on Friday. The actress reportedly played a main character in the BBC1 soap and has been a household name on British television, The Sun reports. Documents and electronic devices are said to have been taken away by officers from the address, although specifics about the allegations have not been made available, according to the newspaper. Ersou, which has confirmed news of the arrest and ongoing investigation, is tasked with fighting organised crime and counter terrorism policing. A former EastEnders actress was arrested on suspicion of a 'large-scale fraud' following an early morning raid on her Woodford Green home on Friday It also has a dedicated economic crime team which tackles offences such as fraud and money laundering, as well as enforcing the latest Proceeds of Crime Act legislation. The actress is said to have been taken to a custody centre at Gravesend police station in Kent, before being released under investigation later that day. MailOnline has contacted Ersou and representatives for EastEnders. Tory grandees are planning to tell Boris Johnson to stand down as an MP to stop the probe into whether he lied over Partygate. Senior Conservative MPs have discussed urging Mr Johnson to quit Parliament at the same time as stepping down as Prime Minister on September 6, amid concerns the inquiry would continue to engulf the party in scandal. The Commons Privileges Committee has begun gathering evidence for its investigation into whether he misled Parliament. Senior Conservative MPs have discussed urging Mr Johnson to quit Parliament at the same time as stepping down as Prime Minister on September 6, amid concerns the inquiry would continue to engulf the party in scandal A former Tory Cabinet Minister told The Mail on Sunday: We should make clear to Boris that if he stands down, the Privileges Committee will be told to drop the inquiry. But if he sticks around he gets interviewed, Carrie gets interviewed, it all drags into November. Labour wont let it go away. The MP added: I would tell him to step down, go off to America, then try and come back in the hope people will have forgiven and forgotten. Police issued Mr Johnson with a Fixed Penalty Notice for breaking Covid laws at a birthday party for him in Downing Street in June 2020. The seven-strong committee, which has a majority of Tory MPs, is expected to present its report in the autumn. Its chair, Labour grandee Harriet Harman, has called for committee members to visit Downing Street to inspect the sites where the parties took place. Police stand guard outside Downing Street in Whitehall as dozens of people gathered and reacted against British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's resignation speech in London, United Kingdom on July 07, 2022 The MPs have also demanded diaries, photographs, WhatsApp messages and door logs relating to events in Downing Street. Chris Bryant, the Labour MP who chaired the Privileges Committee before standing down for the duration of the inquiry, told The Mail on Sunday it would only be dropped if the Commons rescinded the original motion for it to investigate Mr Johnson and the Government would need to table a motion to do so. Which Prime Minister is going to table that? It would be imperilling their future, he added. A Downing Street source said Mr Johnson has no plans to quit Parliament. Hes very much intending to stay as an MP. Penny Mordaunt shelled out up to 1,500 on a private helicopter ride which she took a few hundred miles to attend a book festival, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. In a move likely to spark concern that the Tory leadership hopeful is out of touch with ordinary Britons suffering a cost of living crisis, Ms Mordaunt is believed to have chartered the flight from near her home in Portsmouth to the Hay literature festival on the Welsh borders this summer. The MoS has discovered that such a trip could cost as much as 5,000 and understands Ms Mordaunt took the flight with two companions, one of whom was her very close friend and PR guru, Chris Lewis. Mr Lewis was Ms Mordaunts co-author on her book Greater: Britain After The Storm. His multinational agency, Team Lewis, recorded sales of 46 million last year. Penny Mordaunt shelled out up to 1,500 on a private helicopter ride which she took a few hundred miles to attend a book festival, The Mail on Sunday can reveal There is only one helicopter company near Ms Mordaunts home in Portsmouth which provides chartered private flights, according to local aviation experts. That company is Elite Helicopters, which operates out of Goodwood Aerodrome in West Sussex and is used by celebrity clients. It recently flew the Hollywood movie star Keanu Reeves to the British Grand Prix, according to the companys Instagram page. Last night, Ms Mordaunts team said that she paid for her own seat on the helicopter, which could have cost about 1,500. The Conservative Party leadership contender is said to have been invited to the literature event in Powys by the television channel Sky Arts. Penny Mordaunt has been plunged into fresh controversy over trans rights after a leaked document suggested that she backed moves to allow gender self-identification. On Fridays TV debate, the Tory leadership candidate said she had never been in favour of letting people choose their own gender with minimal medical involvement. But The Mail on Sunday has obtained a secret document which suggests she did want to loosen the rules. The paperwork was drawn up by civil servants in July 2019 when Ms Mordaunt was Equalities Minister. In it, officials tell her: It has been very helpful to clarify in recent weeks several elements of how you would like to reform the Gender Recognition Act including Ministerial agreement around removing the need for a diagnosis of gender dysphoria. Currently, people wishing to change gender need to provide evidence that they suffer from that medical condition which means they suffer distress because of a mismatch between their biological sex and their gender identity as well as report detailing what medical treatment they have received. A gender recognition panel then decides if the applicant can officially change gender. Penny Mordaunt has been plunged into fresh controversy over trans rights after a leaked document suggested that she backed moves to allow gender self-identification However some trans activists are calling for a self-identification system that requires no medical diagnoses. The document says that Ms Mordaunt had proposed that while some form of medical requirement should remain part of the process, it could be restricted to an assessment of whether the individual is of sound mind. And it adds: I think the sound mind test needs more work in terms of who would deliver it, how it would be administered... more generally, I think there is still considerable further debate to be had publicly and politically about how far we want to move towards self-identification for transitioning. A senior source claimed last night that the memo contradicted the Trade Ministers insistence during the Channel 4 debate that I have never been in favour of self ID. But Ms Mordaunt denied that interpretation, with a source close to her campaign saying the document was consistent with her view that she believed in some form of medical component to gender-changing. In the televised debate Ms Mordaunt said she would not have divorced it [gender redefinition] from healthcare. But rival candidate Kemi Badenoch said that while Im not going to call [Mordaunt] a liar, I think its very possible she genuinely did not understand what she was signing off, because its a very complex area. The Trade Minister has long been a vocal support of the trans community, which has come back to haunt her during the campaign. Last night, she faced even more questions on the issue after The Mail on Sunday discovered that a key backer of her leadership campaign, Sue Pascoe, is a strident trans activist who once appeared to compare a feminist author to the Nazis. The leaked document emerged as the race between Ms Mordaunt and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss to become one of the final two candidates was tightening down to a handful of MPs, according to allies of Ms Truss. Former Chancellor Rishi Sunak is the clear leader among the Parliamentary party, but polls indicate that in the final two-way race he would lose to either woman in the postal vote of 160,000 members. The memo, which was dated July 15. 2019, said that officials had redirected resources to fulfil Ms Mordaunts request to announce a potential package on Thursday July 18. Government sources said last night that Ms Mordaunt appeared to want to announce reforms to the process before Boris Johnson succeeded Theresa May on July 24, 2019. Penny Mordaunt, Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss and Tom Tugendhat at the Tory leadership debate last week Ms Mordaunt was sacked from both her equalities job and her position as Defence Secretary when Mr Johnson became Prime Minister The new row came as: Ms Truss was boosted by the backing of Attorney General Suella Braverman, who was eliminated from the race on Thursday, with three-quarters of her 27 backers now expected to switch to Ms Truss; Ms Braverman uses a column in todays Mail on Sunday to call on the 49 MPs who voted for fourth-placed Ms Badenoch to swing behind Ms Truss; Allies of Boris Johnson reacted with fury to Mr Sunak apparently questioning the Prime Ministers integrity, with one ally warning that there would be consequences if he continued with the strategy; Mr Sunak was accused of secretly trying to block the Governments programme of flying migrants to Rwanda. Seven months after Ms Mordaunt was ousted from her post, the decision was taken to no longer... proceed with self-identification, according to further leaked documents. The move came because Ms Truss who by then jointly held the equalities brief with Ms Badenoch did not support a move to self-identification. The 2019 document warns Ms Mordaunt that trying to announce changes without wider Government agreement leaves us constitutionally and politically exposed, adding: The alternative is for you to set out what you would like to achieve in more of a personal capacity, acknowledging that you will be seeking support from the future Prime Minister to achieve this. Last night a source close to Ms Mordaunt rejected claims that the document indicated that she was in favour of self-ID, pointing out that it includes the line you... indicated you would like some form of medical requirement to remain part of the process particularly some sort of assessment that the applicant is of sound mind. The source said: The document you sent us demonstrated, regardless of whatever officials may have suggested, that Ministers insisted on some sort of medical requirement to remain. This is clearly stated on page two of the document and was the view of all in the Department at the time and confirms that Ministers were not in favour of self ID. Rio Ferdinand has lavished praise on incoming Manchester United signing Lisandro Martinez, admitting his assessment 'gets better' with everything he hears about him. The Ajax defender has jetted into the UK after boarding a plane last night, and is expected to seal the formalities before officially completing his Old Trafford move. Sportsmail revealed earlier this week that the Red Devils had successfully agreed the structure of the deal, with the transfer set to cost around 46million altogether. Rio Ferdinand has voiced his excitement over incoming Man United signing Lisandro Martinez Former United defender Ferdinand heaped praise on the 46million centre back's 'character' Martinez has previously played under United boss Erik ten Hag, having been an integral part of his defence during their trophy-laden time together in Amsterdam. United supporters have struggled to hide their excitement over the looming arrival, and Ferdinand has also been left with a positive impression of the 24-year-old. 'The more I've looked into him and the vibes and the stories I'm hearing and the mutterings from different people it gets better,' Ferdinand said on Vibe with Five. Martinez was pictured jetting out to the UK last night with his representative to seal the deal 'I listened to an interview with Jurrien Timber, the young player that United were looking to sign, the centre back Martinez played alongside at Ajax. 'He was saying, "When I'm not on my game and a bit out of concentration, Martinez always shouts at me, he always swears at me in in his language and gets me going." 'I've been shouting about the character element for a long time and from what I'm hearing from various people, Timber being one of them, is that he has the character. 'He's a leader. He [makes] demands of other people and he's somebody who wants to get physical and very aggressive but who can also play.' The versatile centre back will once again reunite with Erik ten Hag (R) after their spell at Ajax Martinez was pictured on social media with his representative Cristian Bragarnik on a flight out to the home of his new club, with the caption: 'Rumbo a Manchester @lisandromartinez.' Translated in English, it reads as 'Heading to Manchester.' The versatile defender missed training on Thursday with both clubs working hard to iron out the specific structure of his transfer - which has almost been wrapped up. He has his critics, however, with his lack of height potentially a problem for United. Martinez took a step closer to Old Trafford after the clubs finally thrashed out an agreement Ferdinand has admitted to be concerned over his 5'9' frame, which means that Martinez is much smaller than the majority of centre backs in the Premier League. 'If you're going to ask is there any question marks about him, I think it would be his height and his pace would be the only two,' Ferdinand added. Martinez will become United's third arrival, after Tyrell Malacia and Christian Eriksen. Social media has been awash with theories about Carrie Bickmore's return to The Project this week, after the popular host announced in March she was leaving for a 'family adventure' in Britain only for the trip to be seemingly cut short. Many viewers had expected her to be gone for six months or more, and some even suspected she hoped to get a job in the UK, so they were understandably confused when she slipped back into her role on the panel without fanfare on Monday. Fans of the 41-year-old newsreader had been in the dark about her trip, as she had never indicated a specific return date. Social media has been awash with theories about Carrie Bickmore's return to The Project this week, after the popular host announced in March she was leaving for a 'family adventure' in Britain only for the trip to be seemingly cut short Instead, Bickmore simply said she was 'going to be taking a few months off' from April with her partner Chris Walker and their three children, travelling across Europe while being mostly based in London. 'Chris and I and the kids are heading off on a family adventure together,' she said at the time. 'We've been wanting to do it for a while but lots of reasons, timing hasn't been right, but we figure it's never going to be the perfect time to go.' 'It's something we really want to do before my son starts his final years at school so we're doing term two in the UK. So I will be off for a couple of months,' she added. Many viewers had expected her to be gone for six months or more, and some even suspected she hoped to get a job in the UK, so they were understandably confused when she slipped back into her role on the panel without fanfare on Monday. (Pictured: Bickmore announcing her sabbatical on The Project in March) Fans of the 41-year-old had been in the dark about her trip, as she had never indicated a specific return date and instead simply said she was 'going to be taking a few months off' from April with her partner Chris Walker and their three children (all pictured at Melbourne Airport) As it turned out, returning in 'a few months' is precisely with Bickmore did. Yet during her sabbatical some viewers feared she would never return to the Channel 10 current affairs show, pointing to various 'clues' suggesting she was planning a more permanent move. For example, Bickmore said she had been inspired by fellow Project panellist Kate Langbroek, 56, who spent two years living in Bologna, Italy, with her family. As it turned out, returning in 'a few months' is precisely with Bickmore did. Yet during her sabbatical some viewers feared she would never return to the show, pointing to various 'clues' suggesting she was planning a more permanent move - including her saying she'd been inspired by Kate Langbroek (right) who spent two years living in Bologna, Italy, with her family The family initially planned to move for one year, but decided to extend their trip by 12 months. Furthermore, Bickmore had sold her five-bedroom family home in Melbourne just days before announcing her extended leave. Some fans speculated this was because she and her family were hoping to buy a place to live in England. Furthermore, Bickmore (pictured with her Gold Logie in May 2015) had sold her five-bedroom family home in Melbourne just days before announcing her extended leave There were also rumours Bickmore was hoping to secure a TV hosting gig in the UK. 'Carrie could easily do breakfast TV, or stick to her guns and pick up an evening current affairs-style gig,' an industry source told New Idea in late March. 'Her management will surely be working hard to use Carrie's travels in the UK to her advantage.' There were also rumours Bickmore was hoping to secure a TV presenting gig in the UK Yet none of these theories came to fruition, as Bickmore returned to The Project on Monday evening, just three months after jetting abroad. Bickmore's return also coincides with the drama surrounding The Sunday Project host Lisa Wilkinson's acceptance speech at the Logie Awards on June 19. Wilkinson had mentioned alleged rape victim Brittany Higgins after winning the Outstanding News Coverage award for her one-on-one interview with the former ministerial staffer in 2021. Yet none of these theories came to fruition, as Bickmore returned to The Project on Monday evening, just three months after jetting abroad The speech forced the rape trial, which was due to start the following week, to be rescheduled until October. Wilkinson was taken off the air amid the fallout. She still hasn't returned to the live panel but has been filing pre-recorded interviews. Weighing in on Carrie's return this week, a TV insider wrote on the Media Spy forum: 'It was always long-service leave and to spend time on an extended holiday with her family. She wasn't moving there forever or to pursue and career.' Bickmore's return also coincides with the drama surrounding The Sunday Project host Lisa Wilkinson's acceptance speech at the Logie Awards on June 19 (pictured) 'Her kids went back to school today. She was always taking term two off. The kids can't have more than a term off and ruin their schooling. Theres no conspiracy here,' another industry professional agreed. A third added: 'So despite all the conspiracies... she was on long-service leave.' Bickmore returned to The Project on Monday after three months living and working in Britain with her family. During her time in the UK, she continued to broadcast her Hit Network afternoons show with Tommy Little but took a break from her TV commitments. Weighing in on Carrie's return this week, a TV insider wrote on the Media Spy forum: 'It was always long-service leave and to spend time on an extended holiday with her family. She wasn't moving there forever or to pursue and career' She handed out giant chocolate bars to her colleagues upon her return to the desk. Bickmore joked she had come home with an English accent after living there for a few months, and said she'd had a 'great time'. Some viewers were confused by her return, since she had earlier announced she was 'moving to London' with her family. Returning to the panel on Monday, Bickmore joked she had come home with an English accent after living there for a few months, and said she'd had a 'great time' 'Why is Carrie back already?' one person asked on Twitter. 'I thought she was moving there for six months. All that drama and build up and she's back already?' they added, alongside the hashtag 'drama queen'. 'Why did Carrie call it "moving to UK" if she was there for only three months? Why didn't she just say "I'm going on extended holiday?" She didn't move anywhere. She's already back,' another tweet read. Bickmore has been a core part of The Project since its launch in 2009. Pictured here with Peter Helliar (left), Waleed Aly (centre left) and Steve Price (right) Others were delighted to see Bickmore back on screen, with one writing: 'YAY #Carrie is BACK! REALLY missed you!' 'Welcome back, Carrie,' another said, while someone else complimented her post-holiday look and hairdo. Bickmore has been a core part of The Project since its launch in 2009. She has two children, daughters Evie, six, and Adelaide, three, with her partner Walker, and a 14-year-old son, Oliver, from her marriage to the late Greg Lange, who died of brain cancer in 2010. Kim Kardashian has officially arrived in Australia for a romantic reunion with boyfriend Pete Davidson. On Saturday, the 41-year-old was pictured exiting her private jet after touching down at Cairns Airport in Queensland. Davidson, 28, is currently in Cairns to film the comedy Wizards! with Orlando Bloom. Kim Kardashian arrived in Australia for a romantic reunion with boyfriend Pete Davidson on Saturday Kim looked impossibly chic as she exited the aircraft in an all black ensemble and matching sunglasses. She had her blonde hair pinned back in a small bun and was carrying a bag in one hand. A minder was waiting for her with an umbrella and she was quickly whisked into a car. The star's large entourage followed her off the plane with bags and other items, while several airport workers assisted them. The 41-year-old was pictured exiting her private jet after touching down at Cairns Airport in Queensland Kim looked impossibly chic as she exited the aircraft in an all black ensemble and matching sunglasses Multiple minders attempted to hide The Kardashians star behind umbrellas 'It's a short visit but she's really excited to go,' a source told DailyMail.com this week. 'They've both been so busy with work commitments so this is a much needed break and they are looking forward to time together,' the insider added. The loved-up duo have been apart for four weeks, as he's been filming a new project with Orlando Bloom. Meanwhile a source told The Sun that the Kardashians star will join Pete 'for a few days' and use the time to relax. A male member of Kim's entourage leaves the aircraft with something in his hands The reality star arrived on private jet to meet the SNL star while he films his new movie, after four weeks apart The star's large entourage followed her off the plane with bags and other items An airport worker exits the plane and heads towards the tarmac 'She has said she intends to stay with Pete in his room at the resort he's staying at, and not do much else!' the insider stated. Pete has been busy filming Wizards! - also starring Naomi Scott, Franz Rogowski and Sean Harris - by Australian writer-director David Michod. According to Deadline the film follows 'two hapless pothead beach-bar operators (Davidson and Rogowski) who run into trouble when they stumble across stolen loot that they really should have just left alone.' Airport staffers pushed a large yellow wheelie bin and were clad in face masks for safety The stunning private jet is pictured as it touched down on the airport runway On Monday, Kim posted a series of adorable throwback snaps of herself with the comedian. The couple also enjoyed a vacation in Tahiti together in June. It comes after Pete, who has been dating Kim since the end of 2021, revealed his dreams of becoming a father during a chat with Kevin Hart. '[I'm] definitely a family guy. My favorite thing ever, which I have yet to achieve, is I want to have a kid. That's, like, my dream. Yeah and so it's, like, super corny,' he told Kevin in a Hart to Heart teaser posted on Tuesday. Pete has been busy filming Wizards! in Australia, also starring Orlando Bloom, Naomi Scott, Franz Rogowski and Sean Harris Kim and Pete are pictured together in a cute selfie. The couple have spent the last four weeks apart while Pete has been filming Down Under 'It would be so fun dress up a little dude, like, or you know, like, you saw it's just, like, I'm so excited for, like, that chapter. So, like, that's kind of what I'm just preparing for now, is trying to be, like, as good of a dude and develop and get better so when that happens, it's just easier.' Kim has four children with her ex-husband Kanye West, 45, daughters North, nine, Chicago, four, and sons Saint, six, and Psalm, three. She began dating Pete after divorcing Kanye and guest hosting an episode of Saturday Night Live in October 2021. It comes after Pete recently revealed his dreams of becoming a father. Kim already shares four kids with ex-husband Kanye West, 45; Pictured with daughters North, nine, Chicago, four, and sons Saint, six, and Psalm, three They shared their first kiss in an SNL sketch parodying Disney's Aladdin. Since striking up their romance, Pete has gotten 'Jasmine' and 'Aladdin' tattooed over his collarbone, along with an infinity symbol between the names, as a reference to their first kiss on the show. Pete will also finally be making his debut on her family's new Hulu reality show The Kardashians next season. Bachelor couple Locky Gilbert and Irena Srbinovska are celebrating their engagement in Bali. And on Friday, the pair posed up for a happy snap as they took a dip in their hotel pool together. Locky, 32, shared the picture and some outtakes on Instagram - saying that they were in 'Bali bliss'. The Bachelor's Locky Gilbert and Irena Srbinovska cosied up together as they went for a swim in Bali on Friday - after getting engaged In the image, former Survivor star Locky goes shirtless and shows off his tattoos as he hugs a beaming and bikini-clad Irena, 32. In one outtake, Locky sticks out his tongue as he poses with Irena. Irena also shared a picture of the pool and a palm tree, writing: 'Another day in paradise.' In one outtake, Locky sticks out his tongue as he poses with Irena It comes after the pair announced their engagement last month. Locky pulled out all the stops, presenting Irena with a stunning 1.5 carat diamond ring from Larsen Jewellery, worth $30,000. Involved in every step of the way, Locky settled on an oval brilliant-cut diamond ring on a platinum band setting, with a hidden Tanzanite round gemstone added inside. Locky also presented Irena with a Larsen Jewellery ring on the finale episode of The Bachelor back in 2020. In a statement provided to Daily Mail Australia from the brand, Locky knew he had his work cut out for him in designing a unique ring. It comes after the pair announced their engagement last month. Locky pulled out all the stops, presenting Irena with a stunning 1.5 carat diamond ring from Larsen Jewellery, worth $30,000 'Ever since I put that beautiful ring on Irena's finger at the end of our journey on The Bachelor, I knew I wanted to marry her,' he gushed. 'I also had in my mind, how am I going to be able to top her current ring? Everywhere she goes she gets stopped by people to look at it.' Irena was blown away by the engagement sparkler, describing it as 'so unique and special'. 'Words cannot describe how happy I am right now and the ring is more than I could have ever imagined,' she said. 'Over the years I have grown so fond of my Bachelor finale ring from Larsen Jewellery, every time I look at it, I am reminded of how I met Locky and our journey together. It's so unique and special.' Locky and Irena confirmed their engagement in a joint Instagram post, with Irena captioning the post: 'Mrs Gilbert has a nice ring to it.' The couple got engaged in front of Mackenzie Falls at Grampians National Park, and shared a kiss in front of the falls after Locky popped the question. The pair were both rugged up in activewear and puffer jackets, indicating that they'd been out hiking in the area. It comes after the couple purchased their first home together in Perth. The couple met on season eight of The Bachelor back in 2020, with Locky choosing nurse Irena over aspiring Instagram model Bella Varelis. Rising star Jak Knight, best known for his stand-up comedy act as well as co-creating and starring in the Peacock series Bust Down, died Thursday night at the age of 28. A representative for Knight's family confirmed that he passed away at his in Los Angeles, but so far there's no official word on a cause of death 'Knights loved ones ask that their privacy please be respected during this extremely difficult time,' the rep said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. RIP: Rising star Jak Knight died Thursday night at his home in Los Angeles, the comedian's family confirmed, although the details leading up to his passing are not known The Seattle native had been starring in Bust Down alongside Chris Redd, Sam Jay and Langston Kerman, who all are credited with co-creating the single camera show. Described as a series predominantly about friendship, the 'raunchy, irreverent, and complicated' comedy had only just premiered on Peacock on March 10. All six episodes were released for streaming simultaneously The storyline follows a group of friends working low-wage jobs at a casino in Gary, Indiana The Seattle, Washington native also served as a writer and voiced the role of Devon on the Netflix animated series Big Mouth from 2017 to 2021. Making his mark: Knight was co-creator and star of Bust Down alongside Langston Kerman (pictured), Chris Redd and Sam Jay; the series had only just premiered on peacock in March His growing resume also included writing for the hit ABC series Black-ish, and working on the HBO series Pause With Sam Jay as an actor, co-executive producer and writer. He also took his stand-up show around the world, which included filming his half-hour Netflix special airing as part of The Comedy Lineup series in 2018. Over the years, Knight had open about his influences, giving credit to stand-up legend Dave Chappelle and the adult animated series Boondocks for inspiring him to go into comedy. 'One hundred percent the reasons why I do what I do,' he said of the affect of those two influences. In a sign that he was making headway in his stand-up career, Knight eventually opened up for Chappelle while out on tour, and he would share the stage with other more high-profile comedians like Joel McHale , Eric Andre, Moshe Kasher and Aziz Ansari. Resume: Among his growing credits, Knight served as a writer on the hit show Black-ish RIP: Silicon Valley star Kumail Nanjiani sounded stunned by the tragic news RIP: James Adomian shared an old memory of his fallen friend Following the news of Knight's death, comedians and actors took to social media to pay their respect, share their grief, along with some fond memories. 'Rest In Peace Jak Knight,' Silicon Valley star Kumail Nanjiani tweeted, before adding, 'Hilarious comedian and a great guy. I cant believe it.' Comedian James Adomian heaped praise on his colleague: 'Whenever I was on a lineup with Jak Knight, I knew it was going to be a wildly funny night,' he began, adding, 'Always loved watching him over the last decade. He was winning big, all of it well deserved, so witty and memorable every moment onstage and off. A painful loss to comedy.' Some of his friends and fellow comedians stunned downright stunned by his sudden passing. RIP: Max Silvestri shared how he is 'crushed' by the news of his passing RIP: Danu Fernandez heaped praise on the comedian and writer RIP: Solomon Georgio revealed he had known Knight since they were teenagers Crushed by the passing of Jak Knight,' Max Silvestri shared. 'Watch Bust Down NOW. I was lucky enough to spend years writing with and for Jak, and we taped our Netflix sets the same night. Such a f***ing funny, surprising, kind, weird, singular talent. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones. 'I dont know what to say about Jak Knight that he wouldnt make fun of me for,' wrote writer and actor Dani Fernandez. 'But you were so incredibly loved and respected. There will never be anyone quite like you.' Solomon Georgio posted: ' I dont know what to say. I met Jak Knight when he was a teenager. I'll never forget the weekend me, him and Mo Welch did a casino show for a bunch of Trump voters. One crowd was especially hateful and he didn't hold back a single punch.' Gone too soon: Following the news of Knight's death, comedians and actors took to social media to pay their respect, share their grief, along with some fond memories; seen in 2019 RIP: JD Witherspoon shared a short but sweet message to his fallen friend RIP: Tim Dillon remembered back when he and Knight taped a Netflix special together RIP: Dylan Park opened up about Knight's death hitting him hard, emotionally She's just enjoyed a relaxing break on boyfriend Justin Hemme's private island in Queensland, Haggerstone Island. And on Saturday, model Madeline Holtznagel enjoyed a lunch date with friends at his Merivale venue, the Coogee Pavilion. Madeline shared a racy mirror selfie before heading to the venue, posing up in her outfit and showing off her long legs. On Saturday, Justin Hemmes' model girlfriend Madeline Holtznagel showed off her long legs in miniskirt and knee-high boots in a mirror selfie The brunette beauty looked chic in a miniskirt and white shirt, which she teamed with knee-high boots. She accessorised with a black puffer jacket, sunglasses and a beige Fendi handbag. While on Haggerstone Island, Madeline shared a picture of herself flaunting her figure in a tiny two-piece bikini. She's just enjoyed a relaxing break on boyfriend Justin Hemme's private island in Queensland, Haggerstone Island Justin is part owner of Haggerstone Island, which lies off the tropical coast of Cairns. The private island costs a whopping $7,000 a night to rent. Previous guests include the late Bob Hawke and his wife Blanche d'Alpuget, as well as Lachlan and Sarah Murdoch. While it's not known exactly how long they've been dating, they have been publicly together for about two years. However, Madeline previously hinted they'd known each other for much longer. While it's not known exactly how long they've been dating, they have been publicly together for about two years Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald in October 2020, she said they'd actually met two years before reports emerged of their relationship. 'We have known each other for two years and met when I was modelling in Singapore,' she said at the time. It was also reported that Madeline was living in a penthouse apartment owned by Justin in the beachside Sydney suburb of Coogee. She added that while the majority of her family was yet to meet her boyfriend, her older sister Simone Holtznagel was a fan. Simone, 28, was a finalist on the 2011 season of Australia's Next Top Model. Kim Kardashian has jetted into Australia to enjoy a getaway with boyfriend Pete Davidson while he takes a break from filming his new movie. The reality queen, 41, arrived on Saturday, and it's believed she has already joined her comedian beau, 28, for a romantic weekend. In the lead up to her arrival, Pete is believed to have been staying at the 5 star Crystalbrook Flynn in Cairns, Queensland during filming. Kim Kardashian (right) has jetted into Australia to enjoy a getaway with boyfriend Pete Davidson (left) while he takes a break from filming his new movie. The reality queen, 41, arrived on Saturday, to join her comedian beau, 28, for a romantic weekend Featuring glass swimming pools and three levels of incredible restaurants and bars, it is located on Cairns' iconic waterfront Esplanade. The hotel's most delectable rooms are the suites, with the two bedroom Flynn's Hotel Suite coming in AU $2,430 (USD $1,650) per night. The stunning accommodation offers sweeping Coral Sea views from a private balcony. In the lead up to her arrival, Pete is believed to have been staying at the 5 star Crystalbrook Flynn in Cairns, Queensland Two king beds and a private 'cosy' lounge area are included in what is described as a 'spacious' suite. Pete can watch films with the addition of two two 55 inch HD smart TVs and Chromecast for video streaming, as well as complimentary movies on demand. The suite includes a Nespresso machine with complimentary pods to help the actor have an energetic start to the day. The hotel's most delectable rooms are the suites, with the two bedroom Flynn's Hotel Suite coming in AU $2,430 (USD $1,650) per night. The stunning accommodation offers sweeping Coral Sea views from a private balcony There's plenty to do at the hotel, with three eateries and bars on site, including the Boardwalk Social which has hip burgers and pizza for hungry guests Another option Pete may have taken is the Sea View Suite, coming in at AUD $1,530 (USD $1,038) per night. It also includes stunning views of the Coral Sea, with the hotel's website suggesting guests watch the sunset from the comfort of their king bed. The Sea View Suite includes a rainforest shower for added luxury in a decadent bathroom. or pampering, Pete can head to the on-site Eleme Day Spa with a team made up of 'some of the top beauty and massage therapists in Cairns' There's plenty to do at the hotel, with three eateries and bars on site, including the Boardwalk Social which has hip burgers and pizza for hungry guests. A sophisticated Italian spread is on offer Flynn's Italian, while Whiskey and Wine serves up 'the best whiskey and wine in Cairns' under the stars. For pampering, Pete can head to the on-site Eleme Day Spa with a team made up of 'some of the top beauty and massage therapists in Cairns.' A source told The Sun that the Kardashians star will join Pete 'for a few days' and use the time to relax A source told The Sun that the Kardashians star will join Pete 'for a few days' and use the time to relax. 'She has said she intends to stay with Pete in his room at the resort he's staying at, and not do much else!' the insider stated. On Saturday, Kim was pictured exiting her private jet after touching down at Cairns Airport in Queensland. On Saturday, Kim was pictured exiting her private jet after touching down at Cairns Airport in Queensland. Davidson is currently in Cairns to film the comedy Wizards! with Orlando Bloom Davidson is currently in Cairns to film the comedy Wizards! with Orlando Bloom. 'It's a short visit but she's really excited to go,' a source told DailyMail.com this week. 'They've both been so busy with work commitments so this is a much needed break and they are looking forward to time together,' the insider added. On Monday, Kim posted a series of adorable throwback snaps of herself with the comedian. The couple also enjoyed a vacation in Tahiti together in June The loved-up duo have been apart for four weeks, as Pete has been filming his new project. Pete has been busy filming Wizards! - also starring Naomi Scott, Franz Rogowski and Sean Harris - by Australian writer-director David Michod. According to Deadline the film follows 'two hapless pothead beach-bar operators (Davidson and Rogowski) who run into trouble when they stumble across stolen loot that they really should have just left alone.' The loved-up duo have been apart for four weeks, as Pete has been filming his new project On Monday, Kim posted a series of adorable throwback snaps of herself with the comedian. The couple also enjoyed a vacation in Tahiti together in June. It comes after Pete, who has been dating Kim since the end of 2021, revealed his dreams of becoming a father during a chat with Kevin Hart. '[I'm] definitely a family guy. My favorite thing ever, which I have yet to achieve, is I want to have a kid. That's, like, my dream. Yeah and so it's, like, super corny,' he told Kevin in a Hart to Heart teaser posted on Tuesday. She began dating Pete after divorcing Kanye West and guest hosting an episode of Saturday Night Live in October 2021 'It would be so fun dress up a little dude, like, or you know, like, you saw it's just, like, I'm so excited for, like, that chapter. So, like, that's kind of what I'm just preparing for now, is trying to be, like, as good of a dude and develop and get better so when that happens, it's just easier.' Kim has four children with her ex-husband Kanye West, 45, daughters North, nine, Chicago, four, and sons Saint, six, and Psalm, three. She began dating Pete after divorcing Kanye and guest hosting an episode of Saturday Night Live in October 2021. They shared their first kiss in an SNL sketch parodying Disney's Aladdin They shared their first kiss in an SNL sketch parodying Disney's Aladdin. Since striking up their romance, Pete has gotten 'Jasmine' and 'Aladdin' tattooed over his collarbone, along with an infinity symbol between the names, as a reference to their first kiss on the show. Pete will also finally be making his debut on her family's new Hulu reality show The Kardashians next season. Ulrika Jonsson has shown her support for Florence Pugh after she sparked a wave of controversy by donning a breast-baring dress at the Valentino Haute Couture show in Rome The TV host slammed haters by sharing that the 'inequality is there for all to see', as she backed the 26-year-old actress's decision. Ulrika also opened up about her own breast reduction, admitting that she longed for the procedure all her life before taking the plunge. Support: Ulrika Jonsson, 54, has showed her support for Florence Pugh after her nipple-baring gown sparked controversy (pictured in 2000) Writing in her column for The Sun, Ulrika slammed the misogyny of the situation, after the actress was faced with a barrage of comments calling her 'flat-chested' and mocking her 'tiny t*ts'. 'Strange, really, when you think these men presumably have two of their own adorning their cowardly, pathetic chests. 'And to think this is 2022. Quite what the issue with breasts is Ill never know. We all have them. And Florence looked the epitome of beauty, class and purity, showing and owning what is biologically and physiologically hers,' wrote Ulrika. Bold: Florence Pugh sparked a wave of controversy at the Valentino Haute Couture show in Rome by donning a breast-baring dress 'Cowardly': Writing in her column for The Sun, Ulrika slammed the misogyny of the situation, after the actress was faced with a barrage of comments calling her 'flat-chested' and mocking her 'tiny t*ts' She continued that 'breasts are not singularly objects of sexual gratification', before explaining how close to her heart the #freethenipple campaign is. She also took the opportunity to call out social media platform Instagram, asking why 'This platform cant weed out racism but it can shut down a picture of a nipple. The inequality is there for all to see.' It comes after Florence, herself, defended her dress - hitting out at those who chose to 'publicly destroy a woman's body'. She wrote in an impassioned post on Instagram: 'What's been interesting to watch and witness is just how easy it is for men to totally destroy a woman's body, publicly, proudly, for everyone to see. Fashion: Florence also posted to her fans fans she knew the dress would provoke a reaction, but she was 'excited' to wear the gown (pictured with Anna Wintour) 'So many of you wanted to aggressively let me know how disappointed you were by my 'tiny t**s', or how I should be embarrassed by being so 'flat chested' 'What's been interesting to watch and witness is just how easy it is for men to totally destroy a woman's body, publicly, proudly, for everyone to see. You even do it with your job titles and work emails in your bio? said Florence further in her statement'. And alongside Ulrika, a host of other stars have leaped to her defence too - including Rege-Jean Page and Jessica Chastain. Further in Ulrika's column, she opened up about her own breast journey, admitting her 2009 reduction was a long time coming, as she 'detested them'. Supportive: And alongside Ulrika, a host of other stars have leaped to her defence too - including Rege-Jean Page Describing that 'It was one of the best decisions Ive ever made', she explained that her goal was to get 'a pair of Kate Mosses'. Previously sharing that her breasts increased in size while she was pregnant, Ulrika admitted to going up to a 34L. She then underwent a two-fold surgery, which included a Reduction Mammoplasty' (from a 32E to C) and a Mastopexy (breast lift). Admitting that she wanted 'tiny' breasts initially, the TV personality continued: 'I had to compromise with a slightly bigger pair to suit my frame, but that surgery changed my life and improved my relationship with my body.' 'Detest': Further in Ulrika's column, she opened up about her own breast journey, admitting her 2009 reduction was a long time coming, as she 'detested them' Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan snuck under the radar to shoot their final scenes for the finale of Neighbours. And not even the key cast knew the superstars were in Ramsay street, says Neighbours stalwart Rebekah Elmaloglou. The 48-year-old actress revealed the behind-the-scenes secret in an interview with The Advertiser on Saturday. Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan snuck under the radar to shoot their final scenes for the finale of Neighbours - and not even the key cast knew the superstars were in Ramsay street, says Neighbours stalwart Rebekah Elmaloglou (pictured on the UK's Morning Show in 2019) Rebekah, who played Teresa Willis on the long-running soap, said that the producers were determined to keep the return of the couple - and their beloved characters Scott and Charlene - 'hush-hush'. 'I didn't see Jason and Kylie none of us at the studio were even aware they were at Ramsay Street shooting,' Rebekah told the publication. Charlene and Scott's love story captured the hearts of Neighbours fans across the world and the actor and pop star's return to the soap has resulted in fever-pitch excitement from fans. Rebekah, who played Teresa Willis on the long-running soap, said that the producers were determined to keep the return of the couple - and their beloved characters Scott and Charlene - 'hush-hush'. Kylie and Jason are pictured on set 'I didn't see Jason and Kylie none of us at the studio were even aware they were at Ramsay Street shooting,' Rebekah said. Kylie and Jason are pictured in their Neighbours heyday Kylie and Jason joined a long list of former Neighbours stars lured back for the final episodes, filmed last month, including Guy Pearce. Rebekah said in contrast to the high-profile ex-lovers, the Alien: Covenant star was a highly visible presence on the Neighbours set. 'He was so wonderful,' she said. 'He was just walking around the studios and didn't want any special treatment'. Rebekah said in contrast to the high-profile ex-lovers, Guy Pearce (pictured) was a highly visible presence on the Neighbours set 'He was so wonderful,' she said. 'He was just walking around the studios and didn't want any special treatment'. Kylie and Guy are pictured in 1989 In 1991 Rebekah and Guy shared a romance - only on screen - in rival soap Home and Away, playing boyfriend and girlfriend. 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. Guy enjoyed a cast reunion as he filmed the emotional final scenes with former co-stars Ian Smith, who played the legendary Harold Bishop, and Henrietta Graham, Annie Jones and Peter O'Brien. Charlene and Scott, got hitched in a special wedding episode that attracted almost 20 million UK viewers A leaked script revealing the fate of Charlene and Scott may explain the high-level of secrecy surrounding the filming of Jason and Kylie's scenes Meanwhile, a leaked script revealing the fate of Charlene and Scott may explain the high-level of secrecy surrounding the filming of Jason and Kylie's scenes. The couple will return to Erinsborough at the end of the episode and deliver the closing lines, according to Popbitch. The couple, whose televised wedding was watched by 22 million people in Australia and the UK, will return to Erinsborough at the end of the episode and deliver the closing lines, according to Popbitch. The Neighbours finale will go to air on Channel 10 and 10Peach on July 28 Christian Wilkins has defended himself against critics who take issue with him wearing dresses. The 27-year-old actor said on Friday that he has no time for the 'disgusting' comments. 'If you met me and attacked my personality, that would upset me, but if you think I'm wrong for wearing a dress because I have a doodle, you're an idiot,' he told The Courier Mail. Christian Wilkins (pictured) has defended himself against critics who take issue with him wearing dresses 'Not only do I think it's homophobic, but it's misogynistic. It's this notion of 'I'm a man and I'm dressing like a woman and therefore that makes me less. 'That's a disgusting notion. It's 2022, whatever' he added. Christian, who told the publication he started wearing dresses when he was around ten years old, says he feels gorgeous in frocks. 'If you met me and attacked my personality, that would upset me, but if you think I'm wrong for wearing a dress because I have a doodle, you're an idiot,' he said 'Not only do I think it's homophobic, but it's misogynistic. It's this notion of 'I'm a man and I'm dressing like a woman and therefore that makes me less. That's a disgusting notion. It's 2022, whatever' he added 'There's nothing more beautiful in the world than someone who feels beautiful in an outfit. It just radiates through you' he said. In June, the socialite and reality star was slammed for wearing a plunging white gown to the Logies. Afterwards, he hit back at a Twitter troll who criticised him for the fashion choice. The anonymous user @SaraVic333 tweeted 'it's not normal' for men to wear women's clothes, before adding: 'STOP normalising this bulls**t!!!' Christian, who told the publication he started wearing dresses when he was around ten years old, says he feels gorgeous in frocks 'There's nothing more beautiful in the world than someone who feels beautiful in an outfit. It just radiates through you' he said 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. Fortunately, Christian had plenty of supporters. In June, the socialite and reality star was slammed for wearing a plunging white gown to the Logies (pictured) Many fans praised the Filthy Rich and Homeless star for embracing a feminine look instead of the traditional tuxedo favoured by men on the red carpet. 'She's so mad you're prettier than her and can pull off a dress which she'd most definitely be unable to... jealously IS a disease,' one Twitter user wrote. 'I think you're a fabulous role model,' another added. He spoke about his experimental style in an interview with Body + Soul last year. The anonymous user @SaraVic333 tweeted 'it's not normal' for men to wear women's clothes, before adding: 'STOP normalising this bulls**t!!!' Christian responded by mocking the way some people react hysterically to men who like to wear dresses '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.' Yazmin Oukhellou has told how she's 'scarred for life' following the horror car crash in Turkey earlier this month which killed her boyfriend Jake McLean. The TOWIE star, 28, suffered serious injuries to her arm in the crash, which took place in the early hours of Sunday July 3, with doctors telling Yazmin it's a 'miracle' she's still alive. Breaking her silence following her arrival back home, Yazmin admitted: 'This will live with me forever' as she processed what happened. Ordeal: Yazmin Oukhellou has told how she's 'scarred for life' following the horror car crash in Turkey earlier this month which killed her boyfriend Jake McLean In an interview with The Sun, an emotional Yazmin told how she struggled to comprehend how she survived the crash and Jake didn't, with medics telling her that she's an 'angel' as people do not tend to survive the 'notorious' crash location. The traumatised star is also unable to sleep without her mother Lisa by her side since her ordeal. She said: 'I severed an artery and a nerve, thats why I bled so much. The doctors called me an angel, a miracle, because its a notorious spot and people have never survived. Now Im just wondering how the hell did my partner die while Ive survived? Its made me look at life totally differently.' Yazmin continued: 'I am definitely going to need therapy for a while, and Im going to try some in-patient treatment too. I know this will live with me forever, I need to take it slowly.' Pain: The TOWIE star, 28, suffered serious injuries to her arm in the crash, which took place in the early hours of Sunday July 3, with doctors telling Yazmin it's a 'miracle' she's still alive In addition to therapy, Yazmin may also need plastic surgery as she's been left with 'permanent scarring', with UK doctors warning she may never have the full use of her right arm. The TV personality deliberately broke her trapped arm to escape the crash and rush for help - while Jake lay unconscious. She said of the prospect: 'I could have been like Jake and not survived so Im just very grateful and lucky that if thats the worst case scenario, I will deal with it as best I can. The scarring that I have is awful so I will always have that as a reminder. But at least Im still alive.' As she continues to recover from the terrifying experience, Yazmin told how her emotions are 'very up and down' as she processes the grief of losing Jake. Traumatised: Breaking her silence following her arrival back home, Yazmin admitted to The Sun : 'This will live with me forever' as she processed what happened (pictured last month) She detailed how she had lost relatives in the past, including her beloved Nan last year, but no one who she's loved in an 'intimate way', admitting it's 'very difficult'. Amid her recovery, Yazmin is staying clear of 'social settings' and will not be logging on to social media, while she's also changed her phone number. She emphasised that her 'focus' is just to get herself well again and to deal with what happened to her and Jake, adding that her on-off beau was the only person she felt 'a love like that for'. Shocking: Jake McLean died after crashing his car off a road near the party resort of Bodrum, in Turkey The beauty went on to say that the ordeal will 'stay with me for life' before remarking that she loved Jake, whom she travelled across the world to be with, 'so hard'. Following the crash, Yazmin was forced to break her own arm to escape the car and find help, admitting she had 'no choice' but to take the drastic action. At the time Yazmin didn't realise she had opened an artery but revealed she was covered in blood as she lay upside down in the car. Tragic: motional Yazmin told how she struggled to comprehend how she survived the crash and Jake didn't, with medics telling her that she's an 'angel' as people do not tend to survive the 'notorious' crash location Yazmin said she convinced herself that Jake was still alive as she ran to the top of the bank they has rolled down and screamed for help. Luckily, a man walking his dog found her instantly and rushed down to the car to help, but sadly it was already too late as Yazmin said she couldn't feel Jake's pulse. Yazmin said the grief and shock have left her needing therapy and she hasn't left her mother Lisa's side since the accident. The reality star also confirmed that the couple were currently off, but she flew out to Turkey in the hope they could reconcile and recalled how the trip made things 'perfect' between them. The television personality had been on holiday with Jake in the resort of Bodrum where the terrifying incident took place. Injury: In addition to therapy, Yazmin may also need plastic surgery as she's been left with 'permanent scarring', with UK doctors warning she may never have the full use of her right arm Jake and Yazmin were driving in a blue Mercedes E class saloon along a windy, mountainous road between the coastal city of Bodrum and the seaside town of Yalikavak as they returned from a night out. The crash took place at around 4.30am and investigators have established that the car hurtled around 70 feet over a left turn bend and landed in a ravine almost 30 feet below. Jake was pronounced dead at the scene while Yazmin was rushed to hospital, where she underwent treatment for her injured arm. After the crash, she clambered through thick, thorny bushes to stop a passing motorist for help. Heartbreak: The grief and shock of the crash and losing Jake have left Yazmin needing therapy A source told MailOnline last week that Yazmin has been left heartbroken: 'Yaz is unable to feel any sense of relief because her heart has been ripped in two over Jake's death. 'She still can't come to terms with what has happened.' Jake, 33, - who has previously dated former TOWIE star Lauren Goodger - was driving at the time of the crash. Yazmin suffered serious injuries but pulled herself from the wreckage to get help. Her mother flew out to support her daughter during her recovery at Bodrums Acibadem Hospital in the days after the crash before bringing her home. Family: Yazmin's mum flew out to Turkey to support her daughter in the days after the crash, and helped to bring her back home Meanwhile MailOnline understands that Yazmin could face a police quiz in upcoming days amid reports about the moments leading up to the crash. According to reports yesterday she was arguing with Jake as their car crashed. The claims were made by his mum, Anita Walsh, who raised her concerns with prosecutors investigating the crash that killed her son in Bodrum, Turkey. Anita told prosecutors that Jake would not have lost control of the car as it flew off a bend on a mountainous road because of his driving expertise. An Assistant Prosecutor who cannot be named under Turkish Law told MailOnline on July 6: We have spoken with Jakes mother and she has told us that something was going on in the car that distracted him. She does not believe that this accident was caused by his poor driving. She said that he is a very skilled and experienced driver and would not have lost control of the car like this. Prosecutors are investigating whether Jake was drink-driving. The on-off couple argued outside a club at 3am, shortly before Sunday's crash. Jake and Yazmin are thought to have got together in May last year before she revealed their relationship on Instagram in December in a clip that showed the pair kissing. But she split from him just a month later after he was reportedly caught 'acting single' while on a holiday in Dubai and leaving a club alone with Love Island ex Ellie Jones. The pair were still thought to be split up when the crash happened on Sunday. Friends say they are unsure what the pair were doing together in Turkey, but may have been there to sign some kind of business deal. A source told MailOnline: 'It's a complete tragedy and a total loss of life. Everyone is in shock and hoping Yazmin makes a full recovery. Renee Gracie has revealed the requests she refuses to preform on adult platform OnlyFans. The former V8 Supercars driver, who is now one of OnlyFans top creators, says she won't do anything involving urinating or farting - no matter much she's offered. 'The one I remember the most, only because he was so persistent, was a guy who wanted to pay me $20,000 to fly to Sydney so I could pee on him,' the 27-year-old told The Herald Sun. Renee Gracie (pictured) has revealed the requests she refuses to preform on adult platform OnlyFans. The former V8 Supercars driver, who is now one of OnlyFans top creators, says she won't do anything involving urinating or farting - no matter much she's offered Another fan, 'had an obsession with licking armpits and playing with armpits and elbows, that seemed weird.' Renee says another common request is passing wind - but she only refuses because she 'can't hold on' to her farts long enough to film them. 'I get a lot of farting requests, it is more common than you might think, weirdly enough,' he told the paper. 'The one I remember the most, only because he was so persistent, was a guy who wanted to pay me $20,000 to fly to Sydney so I could pee on him,' the 27-year-old told The Herald Sun The beauty added that she has made multiple millions of dollars on OnlyFans and has been bringing in six figures a month since 2020. Renee previously revealed that she had to go through a process to become comfortable in her new career as a porn performer and was 'repulsed' by the platform at first. 'For me it was a slow progression. I never had the intention to be making so much of what I am making,' she told Triple M Breakfast with MG, Jess and Pagey. Renee says another common request is passing wind - but she only refuses because she 'can't hold on' to her farts long enough to film them. 'I get a lot of farting requests, it is more common than you might think, weirdly enough,' he told the paper 'I didn't have the confidence that people wanted to see it. It slightly repulsed me, watching it and thinking about watching it back,' she added. Renee says she was tempted by the money and building her confidence, which increased as she was encouraged by fans. The stunner also revealed that she has around 20,000 subscribers who pay her $5 each, meaning she makes $120,000 just from subscriptions. The beauty says that she has made millions on OnlyFans and has been bringing in six figures a month since 2020. She has previously said she has made as much as $10 million She added that she also earns 'a lot' from custom content, such as foot fetish photos, which she finds 'easy' to do She added that she also earns 'a lot' from custom content, such as foot fetish photos, which she finds 'easy' to do. 'I like my feet anyway! I have always had nice feet. My feet are nice!' she joked. All in all, Renee says she works between 30 and 60 hours each week, and that includes answering private messages and making content. Renee said last year that she'd made 'almost $10million' in total since starting her adult career at the end of 2019, and has purchased three houses. The world learned on Wednesday that Hollywood legend Bruce Willis, 67, would retire due to his diagnosis of aphasia, a potentially devastating condition that causes a person to lose communication skills. Willis' family announced that the condition would cause the Die Hard star to step away 'from the career that has meant so much to him.' Around one million Americans suffer from the condition, the National Institutes of Health reports, and around 180,000 people are diagnosed with it every year. It can manifest itself in multiple ways, and is often either the result of a head injury, a stroke, a tumor or other brain deterioration. Aphasia can be devastating as well, with experts saying it causes depression in over a third of cases, can lead to personality shifts and can even alienate friends and family from the affected person. Other famous examples of aphasia include former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke. 'Imagine being dropped in a country where you do not speak the language - cannot understand, read, write or speak. It would impact all of your interactions - this is what it is like to have aphasia,' Darlene Williamson, president of the aphasia association, told DailyMail.com. While it is impossible to say for Willis in particular how drastically the condition has effected him and his behavior, Williamson reports that it can often be devastating for patients. 'The consequences of living with a language impairment can alter someone's behavior and outlook on life,' Williamson said. 'Approximately 35 percent of individuals with aphasia experience some depression.' The cause of the condition, which is often some sort of traumatic brain injury or a stroke, can lead to massive personality shifts. '[Aphasia is] difficulty with language that comes about from some kind of injury to the brain. The most common source is stroke but it could come from any other type of damage, Dr Brenda Rapp, a cognitive scientist at Johns Hopkins University, told DailyMail.com. Certain infections that impact the brain's language centers can cause aphasia to form as well, along with cognitive decline and deterioration associated with dementia. The condition can make it very hard for an actor like Willis to continue in his career, as just the process of speaking out lines can become a challenge. 'It would surely be difficult,' Williamson said about attempting to continue acting while afflicted with the condition. 'Aphasia affects comprehension of language, speaking, as well as reading and writing. There are varying levels of severity which would be another determining factor. It may not be impossible, but acting would require extra accommodations.' Dr Rapp said that despite communication failures caused by the condition, people who suffer the condition still have the same thoughts, and are internally the same person. While the experience can be alienating, loved ones should remember that the person has not changed. Pictured: Willis with family and friends after a 'roast' event in 2018 There are four common types of aphasia that make up a vast majority of cases: fluent - often called Wernicke's; non-fluent - known as Broca's; anomic; and Primary Progressive Aphasia. Rapp explained that there are different forms of the condition because each represents a different type of breakdown in the process of communication. Whether it is the ability to translate thoughts into proper words, the ability to physically say words, or the ability to interpret and understand speech from others, each part of communication is a complex process, and even slight brain damage can cause issue. While the condition does cause communication failures, Rapp notes that the person themselves is still the same. Their thoughts, beliefs and feeling towards their loved ones remain, even if it can be frustrating and alienating for both the aphasia patient and those around them to deal with this condition. Willis' family did not reveal what type he was facing, or how severe of a case he had, or what was the root cause found for the condition. According to the Stroke Association, a UK based group, those who suffer Wernicke's aphasia have the ability to string together long sentences of words, but will often say things in a way that they do not make sense, or even use made up words. They will also suffer from impaired reading and writing ability, and may have trouble understanding clear verbal communication towards them. One example used by Rapp is that a person may misunderstand the sentence 'John kicked the dog'. Dr Brenda Rapp, a cognitive scientist at Johns Hopkins University, explains that aphasia is often caused by a stroke, and can manifest itself in many different ways While the average person would clearly understand who kicked who in that scenario, a person dealing with this type of the condition may struggle to figure out whether John or the dog was the person that did the kicking. Broca's aphasia will often cause a person to forget words or put together a proper string of words even when their brain can fully understand what they want to say. A person suffering from this type of the condition will often use simple, short, sentences to get across speech as they are unable to properly say what they want to at times. The Stroke Association says that these sentences will often be of around four words or less. A person suffering from Broca's aphasia will also struggle with writing, but their reading ability is left unaffected. Someone suffering from anomic aphasia may suffer to find specific verbs and nouns that they need to get their point across, and will speak very vaguely. This may also translate into their writing, where they will just not be able to generate the correct words necessary to say what they would like to say. Primary Progressive Aphasia aphasia damages a person's ability to communicate in virtually every single way. A person suffering from this version of the condition will have trouble speaking, reading and writing. Their ability to process and understand someone that is speaking to them is damaged as well. Doctors can often detect aphasia via either an MRI or CT scan, and will be able to pinpoint the exact part of the brain that is causing the issue. There is no way to fix or cure the condition entirely, but patients will often undergo speech therapy to help rebuild their language skills. Theres not a lot of progress [with medication for the condition] the treatment for aphasia is speech therapy,' Rapp said. She noted that in some cases a person may undergo electric stimulation therapy alongside speech therapy in order to 'get the most' out of the experience. Williamson said that 'strong family support is a critical piece of living successfully with aphasia.' It is not always permanent, though, and how long it lasts and how severe it is often depends on how bad the damage to the brain is. Stroke victims in particular that suffer aphasia can regain their speech, and often within only a few weeks. Christine McGuinness put on a very chipper display on Saturday after hinting her marriage was back on track, as she stepped out for a solo outing in Cheshire. The model, 34, beamed as she showcased her slender pins in a pair of black cycle shorts, which she teamed with an ab-flashing grey crop top. Christine teamed her sporty look with black and white trainers and draped a red handbag and a smaller beige phone pouch across her body. Looking good: Christine McGuinness put on a very chipper display on Saturday after hinting her marriage was back on track, as she stepped out for a solo outing in Cheshire The mother-of-three shielded her eyes from the blazing sun with stylish black sunglasses, and added a silver watch and diamond studd earrings. A smiling Christine rounded off her outfit with her sparkling wedding ring, which sat firmly on her finger despite her recent marriage woes. It comes shorty after Christine recently hinted that her marriage was getting back on track via an Instagram Story. Writing: 'Home will always be my happy place', the blonde beauty beamed for the outdoor pic - with her blonde locks gathered together in a high ponytail. Happy again: The model, 34, beamed as she showcased her slender pins in a pair of black cycle shorts, which she teamed with an ab-flashing grey crop top It seems her family unit is looking up, after she shared details on the 'difficult time' she and Paddy were going through just last week. Describing her mental state as 'all over the place' in an interview with Fabulous magazine, she shared that she is 'not going to put up with things from Paddy that she might've in the past.' 'I'm feeling really quite raw and all over the place. What I might have put up with in the past, I probably wouldn't put up with now, and the same for him. I can't deny we are having a very, very difficult time,' she shared. Happy place: The cheery walk comes as she shared a snap to Instagram Stories, hinting that things at home are looking up for her and Paddy Ups and downs: It seems her family unit is looking up, after she shared details on the 'difficult time' she and Paddy were going through just last week But keen to clear her own name, the former model added that she wasn't the one who caused the difficult situation. 'It's just we've been together 15 years, 11 years married: we are gonna have ups and downs but this situation at the minute I don't want to go into it too much but I will just say that I didn't cause this situation,' she continued. The couple have spent time apart in recent weeks with Christine jetting off on her first ever girls' holiday with her close friend Chelcee Grimes, while Paddy returned on Sunday from a Top Gear filming trip to Thailand. But things appeared to be slightly more positive as she appeared on Lorraine on Tuesday morning, telling host Carol Vorderman that she the pair are headed on holiday next week with their three children. Separate lives? The couple have spent time apart in recent weeks with Christine jetting off on her first ever girls' holiday with her close friend Chelcee Grimes, while Paddy returned on Sunday from a Top Gear filming trip to Thailand Rebel Wilson and her girlfriend Ramona Agruma are more loved-up by the day. On Friday, the Australian actress shared a sweet kiss with her American designer love, 38. The 42-year-old shared an image to her Instagram Stories showing the pair locking lips. Rebel Wilson and her girlfriend Ramona Agruma are more loved-up by the day. On Friday, the Australian actress shared a sweet kiss with her American designer love. Both pictured In the image, both women wear bright swimwear and loose, sheer robes over the top. They each have on matching gold-rimmed sunglasses, while Rebel opts for a beige straw hat. Rebel and Ramona have been spending time in Bodrum, Turkey. Rebel and Ramona have been spending time in Bodrum, Turkey. The happy couple shared a tender moment on a swing overlooking the glittering city lights on Wednesday Rebel shared other picture of the pair exploring Bodrum, including one of Ramona kissing her on the cheek during lunch The happy couple shared a tender moment on a swing overlooking the glittering city lights on Wednesday. Rebel posted a cute clip of the pair snuggling into one another as Romana pushed the Pitch Perfect star. They appeared to be having a night out, with the actress dressed in a feathered white jacket teamed with a blue and white striped T-shirt and white jeans. Bridesmaids star Rebel went public with her 'princess' girlfriend last month after coming out as gay aged 42 Rebel shared other picture of the pair exploring Bodrum, including one of Ramona kissing her on the cheek during lunch. Bridesmaids star Rebel went public with her 'princess' girlfriend last month after coming out as gay aged 42. The Pitch Perfect actress shared the news about her sexuality in an Instagram post by posting a snap of her smiling alongside new partner Ramona. She called her a 'Disney Princess' in a message accompanied by hearts and a rainbow emoji and the hashtag 'loveislove' She called her a 'Disney Princess' in a message accompanied by hearts and a rainbow emoji and the hashtag 'loveislove'. Rebel wrote: 'I thought I was searching for a Disney Prince but maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess.' A source close to the actress told PEOPLE: 'Rebels in an amazing place and Ive never seen her happier.' Advertisement Sofia Richie turned up the heat as she slipped into a skimpy lilac bikini while enjoying a sunny yacht trip with fiance Elliot Grainge as they continued their St Tropez holiday on Saturday. The 23-year-old model daughter of Lionel Richie looked incredible as she sunbathed on the boat before taking a plunging into the sea with her husband-to-be. She threw her hands in the air as she jumped in before the pair floated around on a swimming buoy. Stunning: Sofia Richie, 23, showed off her taut abs in a skimpy lilac bikini as she lounged on lavish yacht with her fiance Elliot Grainge during their sun-soaked St Tropez trip on Saturday Sofia wore her blonde locks loose as she slicked her hair away from her face and shielded her eyes with some square sunglasses. She looked sensational in to two piece set that she teamed with an array of gold bracelets and hoop earrings. The sister of Nicole Richie highlighted her natural beauty by going make-up free for the day and showed off her sun-kissed glow. Sun-soaked: Sofia wore her blonde locks loose as she slicked her hair away from her face and shielded her eyes with some square sunglasses Fun-filled: She was beaming as she laughed with friends and family Radiant: She teamed the swimwear with an array of gold bracelets and hoop earrings Elliot donned a canary yellow pair of swimming trunks and a black and red tank top as the pair were joined by friends and family. Sofia announced her engagement to Elliot, the son of Universal Music Group chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge, in late April on Instagram. She posted a picture of Elliot proposing to her at sunset surrounded by candles. Couple: Elliot donned a canary yellow pair of swimming trunks In she goes! She threw her hands in the air as she jumped in the water the join her friends Taking the leap: Eliot paired his bright trunks with a black and red tank top Relaxing: They floated around in the sea on a swimming buoy Adorable: The couple looked as loved up as ever as the swam in the sea Incredible: Sofie looked amazing as she flashed her toned physique Sweet: The model passed her beau a towel as he climbed out of the water 'Forever isnt long enough,' she wrote with her Instagram caption, which included a romantic picture of her and Elliot kissing. Elliot has joined the family business and gone into the music industry himself, founding an indie record label called 10K Projects. He presented Sofia with an emerald-cut diamond ring that various experts quoted by Page Six have estimated to be anywhere between four and eight carats. Cute! The husband and wife-to-be sunbathed on the boat before taking a plunging into the sea Beaming! Sofia announced her engagement to Elliot, the son of Universal Music Group chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge, in late April on Instagram Pretty: Sofia sported a fresh baby pink manicure for her luxury trip Loved-up: Eliot and Sofie held hands as they relaxed in the sun Laughing: They chatted away on the sun lounges Luxe: Sofie was in and out of the water all day as she hoisted herself using the yachts stairs 'I love Elliot,' Sofia's father told Access after the engagement. 'Ive known him since he was 12, how about that? So its one of those things where I dont have to go back and check out the kid - I know who he is.' Lionel, who shares Sofia with his ex-wife Diana Alexander, added: 'So, theyre so happy, and as a Papa and as a dad and as, you know, thats my little girl, so shes in good hands.' He dished that when Elliot asked him for permission to propose to Sofia: 'He was a nervous wreck, poor guy, I thought he was gonna pass out but he survived it.' Impressive: Elliot has joined the family business and gone into the music industry himself, founding an indie record label called 10K Projects Bride-to-be: Elliot presented Sofia with an emerald-cut diamond ring that various experts quoted by Page Six have estimated to be anywhere between four and eight carats Lionel's blessing: 'I love Elliot,' Sofia's father told Access after the engagement. 'Ive known him since he was 12, how about that? So its one of those things where I dont have to go back and check out the kid - I know who he is' Happy days: Lionel, who shares Sofia with his ex-wife Diana Alexander, added: 'So, theyre so happy, and as a Papa and as a dad and as, you know, thats my little girl, so shes in good hands' Secrets out! He dished that when Elliot asked him for permission to propose to Sofia: 'He was a nervous wreck, poor guy, I thought he was gonna pass out but he survived it' Charming: Lionel said: 'I was gonna rib him a little bit but I didnt wanna play, he was gonna faint, so it was wonderful. I mean, theyre deeply in love, so all I can say is thats what you really want as a dad' Lionel said: 'I was gonna rib him a little bit but I didnt wanna play, he was gonna faint, so it was wonderful. I mean, theyre deeply in love, so all I can say is thats what you really want as a dad.' Sofia and her husband-to-be have apparently been an item for over a year, having first set off dating rumours at the start of 2021. The model was in a previous relationship with Keeping Up With The Kardashian's star, Scott Disick, 39, which ended in 2020. Kicking back: The couple looked happy and relaxed as they milled about on the luxury vessel Looking fab: The beauty showcased her long, toned legs as she jumped into the sea Jessica Alba showed off her sizzling bikini body while indulging a boating trip during her family vacation to Italy on Saturday. The 41-year-old has been traveling with her silver fox husband Cash Warren and their children Honor, 14, Haven, 10, and Hayes, four. They all caught a breath of sea air together on a boat off the coast of Sabaudia, a coastal town about an hour and a half from Rome. Looking fab: Jessica Alba showed off her sizzling bikini body while indulging a boating trip during her family vacation to Italy on Saturday Jessica showcased her taut midriff and bared a bit of cleavage in her fashionable black swimsuit, which she complemented with a pair of matching shades. Sweeping her hair tightly back up into a bun, she could be seen enjoying a conversation with her daughters as they all basked in the sun. Meanwhile her heartthrob husband could be seen lounging shirtless across the front of the boat and gazing out across the waves. In contrast to some of the ancient seaside towns in Italy, Sabaudia dates back only to the Fascist era and was built on former marshland that was drained under Mussolini. Off they go: The 41-year-old has been traveling with her silver fox husband Cash Warren and their children Honor, 14, Haven, 10, and Hayes, four Movers and shakers: They all caught a breath of sea air together on a boat off the coast of Sabaudia, a coastal town about an hour and a half from Rome However Jessica and her family did get to immerse themselves in Italian antiquity, as they were also spotted earlier strolling around Rome. Jessica cut a stylish figure in a Mediterranean chic ensemble that included a blue-and-white floral skirt and a Dior visor. She flashed the flesh by leaving her white blouse mostly open over her matching bralette and tying it at the waist. Cash, who is the son of Hill Street Blues actor Michael Warren, met Jessica while assistant directing her critically savaged 2005 hit film Fantastic Four. Globetrotters: Jessica and her family did get to immerse themselves in Italian antiquity, as they were also spotted earlier strolling around Rome The look: Jessica cut a stylish figure in a Mediterranean chic ensemble that included a blue and white floral skirt and a Dior visor The couple spontaneously decided to get married at a Beverly Hills courthouse one day in 2008 while Jessica was heavily pregnant with Honor. Although she rose to fame as an actress, Jessica is also the founder of the consumer goods brand The Honest Company, which she launched in 2011. During a 2018 interview with InStyle she shared that 'I feel like my purpose in life was to create Honest, and everything led me to that.' Jessica took the Honest Company public over a year ago and it was valued at almost $2 billion on its first day of trading. By the way: Although she rose to fame as an actress, Jessica is also the founder of the consumer goods brand The Honest Company, which she launched in 2011 She announced she is expecting a baby with fiance Oliver Piotrowski last month. And Jorgie Porter showed off her blossoming bump in a bright orange crop top and maxi skirt co-ord as she celebrated her engagement on Friday. The Hollyoaks star, 34, looked incredible in the sizzling Instagram snap as she posed before heading off to the party. Glowing: Jorgie Porter showed off her blossoming bump in a bright orange crop top and maxi skirt co-ord as she celebrated her engagement on Friday The actress, best known for her role as Theresa McQueen in the Channel 4 soap, boosted her height in a pair of white heels. Jorgie sported a glam makeup look with a nude lip, while styling her blonde locks back in a ponytail. She revealed her partner unexpectedly got down on one knee on their trip to Scotland, three weeks before Christmas. Jorgie recently announced her pregnancy at the start of June and shared the happy news with an adorable Instagram video. Stunning: The Hollyoaks star, 34, looked incredible in the sizzling Instagram snap as she posed before heading off to the party Loved-up: She revealed her fiance Oliver Piotrowski unexpectedly got down on one knee on their trip to Scotland, three weeks before Christmas It comes eight months after Jorgie lost quadruplets at 14 weeks in a devastating miscarriage. The short clip, which the soap star captioned 'Hopeful beginnings [sic]', captured a sweet unveiling of a baby scan. Oliver, Jorgie's son from a previous relationship and their pet pooch took it in turns to remove their hands - and paws - to uncover the scan underneath. The post's comment section was awash with congratulatory messages, including from TOWIE's Georgia Kousoulou and Jorgie's fellow Hollyoaks star Chelsee Healey. Hollyoaks' official Instagram profile reposted Jorgie's video with a heartfelt message: '@themissyporter #REPOST HUGE NEWS! We have a little, tiny new McQueen on the way! [sic] our beautiful @themissyporter is pregnant! congratulations all round, this is the best news ever! '. In an interview in March, Jorgie revealed she had no idea she'd lost her quadruplets because her body was 'still being pregnant' after enduring a missed miscarriage. Congratulations: The actress shared the happy news of her pregnancy in an adorable Instagram video earlier this month She explained she opted for surgical removal while her fiance Ollie discussed feeling 'helpless' throughout the ordeal, as the couple appeared together on Loose Women. Jorgie first recalled learning about the pregnancy, telling the Loose Women panel: 'I was excited that we got pregnant because that's what we wanted. We went for an early scan because we've got twins in our family - on both sides. 'The doctor said we can see three sacks - we had no idea what that meant. They said "we're gonna rush you into a hospital appointment". 'With that one we were told there were four sacks. We were still not the wiser, until she said "quadruplets." Tough times: It comes seven months after Jorgie revealed she had lost quadruplets at 14 weeks in a devastating miscarriage (pictured in March) Ollie, who she's been dating since 2020, added: 'I fell over!' while Jorgie admitted she panicked: 'My body is too small!' She continued: 'So we were just shocked. And throughout the pregnancy it was not really enjoyable - my hormones were just... 'When you are pregnant you wanna tell some people, and you don't tell many people early on. I'm not sure why. But, I don't like to keep a secret. I like to tell everyone what's going on in my life. What is a missed miscarriage? A missed miscarriage, also known as a missed abortion or a silent miscarriage, occurs when a foetus dies, but the body does not recognise the pregnancy loss or expel the pregnancy tissue. As a result, the placenta may still continue to release hormones, so the woman may continue to experience signs of pregnancy. It's usually diagnosed during a routine checkup, where the doctor will fail to detect a heartbeat. A subsequent ultrasound will show an underdeveloped foetus. Advertisement 'Having the hormones times four was just really stressful. I was in work with costumes. Within three or four weeks my body started to change dramatically and costumes wouldn't fit. 'Before we found out it was quadruplets I thought "this is insane what pregnant women go through".' Turning to her devastating miscarriage, Jorgie recalled: 'We were going for scans regularly because we were being looked after. 'And it was during our fifth or sixth scan, they said "you've had a miscarriage, they've gone." I was ready for girl gang. Asked if there were any signs she'd miscarried, she explained: 'No, that was another thing. It was a missed miscarriage, so my body was still being pregnant and doing the symptoms of pregnancy. 'The next bit is really heartbreaking, the question of how they're gonna go. The hospital said... there are options where... how do we get rid of this? 'So we went through the route of surgery so I could be knocked out. I didn't wanna see and hear things... 'They've never really done this surgery before so they didn't know what the outcome could be. They said there could be a lot of blood loss.' Ollie added: 'It was kind of just thrown on just that it was a miscarriage. As a man it was really helpless and scary. Thankfully the couple have come out even stronger, with Georgie admitting: 'We do talk a lot. We are really good the fact that we communicate a lot.' Ollie explained: 'I cried straight away, while you were really tough and strong. Then a few days later you had a meltdown and I had to be strong.' Amid the couple's heartache, Jorgie shared the happy news that Ollie had popped the question three weeks before Christmas. The actress, best known for her role as Theresa McQueen in the Channel 4 soap, got engaged to Ollie while staying at the Gleneagles Hotel in Perth and Kinross. The former Dancing On Ice star and her fiance have been dating since 2020 and went Instagram official in October of that year. Cyndi Lauper's son has been arrested on stolen car charges in New York. TMZ reported that 24-year-old Declyn Lauper was taken into custody early Thursday morning after police officers reported finding him behind the wheel of an illegally double-parked Mercedes. The police apparently ran the license plates on the car and said records showed they belonged to a different car. Arrested: Cyndi Lauper's son Declyn Lauper, 24, has been arrested on stolen car charges in New York, TMZ reported on Saturday; seen in September 2021 When the VIN number was checked, the luxury vehicle came up as having been stolen two years ago. Declyn was booked on felony unauthorized use of a vehicle and released with a desk appearance ticket to return to court at a later date. Declyn is the only child of the Grammy winner, 69, and her husband, actor David Thornton, 69. Family ties: The rapper, who goes by the name Dex Lauper, is the only child of the Grammy winner, 69, and her husband, actor David Thornton, 69 He goes professionally by the name Dex Lauper and is a rapper with two million Instagram followers. He was a featured artist in the G-Eazy music video for K I D S. As an actor, he has preformed as Declyn Thornton. His credits include providing a voice for a character in an episode of Bob's Burgers. Charges: Police officers said they took the Wavy rapper into custody after running the tags and VIN number on the Mercedes he was in. The car was reported stolen two years ago; seen in 2016 in NYC Released: The artist was charged with felony unauthorized use of a vehicle and released with a desk appearance ticket to return to court at a later date; pictured in 2016 in NYC TMZ reported the Wavy rapper posted some choppy video from his arrest on Instagram, but it has since been taken down. On Saturday, the Fast Lane artist posted a message to TMZ in his Instagram stories which read 'I just ate at Cipriani left at $2k tip Somebody tell TMZ to get the f*** off my d***.' Neither Declyn nor his family have made any formal comment about the arrest. Former Love Island star Jessica Hayes has said she doesn't believe any of this year's couples will stay together once they return to the UK. The 29-year-old, who won the first series of the ITV2 show alongside Max Morsley in 2015 before splitting shortly after, went on to explain why she thinks the pairings don't last on the outside. Following last year's winners Millie Court and Liam Reardon's recent split she told The Sun: 'The pressure of keeping everyone up to date with your relationship must be so hard, that feeling like you need to update social media'. Truth: Love Island star Jessica Hayes, 28, has said NONE of this year's couples will stay together and revealed why winning couple's rarely make it on the outside She continued: 'When you're on Love Island, you're in that bubble and you think you're right for each other, and then you come out and realise you're not'. She added that once the male contestants are forced into the spotlight they are invited to make hundreds of public appearances where girls are often 'throwing themselves' at the stars. Which is one reason she believes for Millie and Liam's break-up after he cheated on her with Lillie Haynes in Casa Amor. Pressure cooker: Following last year's winners Millie Court and Liam Reardon's (pictured) recent split she said: 'The pressure of keeping everyone up to date with your relationship must be so hard, that feeling like you need to update social media' 'It gives you major anxiety, and the trust wasn't there for me.' Six weeks after walking away with the 50k prize money in 2015 - and what was thought to be the love of their lives - Jess and Max revealed that they had split. The pair had also been pictured entering into a very public argument outside their London hotel, just one week after returning to the UK Hard luck: Six weeks after walking away with the 50k prize money in 2015 - and what was thought to be the love of their lives - Jess and Max (pictured together on the show) revealed that they had split Max was even romantically linked to single TOWIE star Jess Wright during the weeks that followed the reality show climax. Now, happily settled with her new partner and a mother to three-year-old son Presley, the reality star said her one regret was sharing the money with her former beau. Wishing instead she had chosen to keep the dosh for herself in the final episode. Ladies man: Max was even romantically linked to single TOWIE star Jess Wright during the weeks that followed the reality show climax Wishing and hoping: Now, happily settled with her new partner and a mother to three-year-old son Presley, the reality star said her one regret was sharing the money with her former beau (right) Despite ruling out any of this year's couples lasting the course Jess aid that she believed Ekin-Su Culculoglu and Davide Sanclimenti may win the show - and be the first ever couple where one steals the winnings rather than choosing love and choosing to share. It comes after Millie returned to social media to give fans an update on her split with Liam Reardon, 22 - days after the news was announced. The 25-year-old pleaded fans not to place the blame on her ex, following their year old romance, as she thanked them for their support and admitted that she's been staying off social media to 'digest'. Tips: Despite ruling out any of this year's couples lasting the course Jess aid that she believed Ekin-Su Culculoglu (left) and Davide Sanclimenti (right) may win the show - and be the first ever couple where one steals the winnings rather than choosing love and choosing to share But after rumours of infidelity have been circulating social media, Millie dubbed them 'nasty and untrue' as she shut them down. 'I'd like to ask you guys to please not believe everything you have read in the press or have seen on social media. Last thing I want is people to say nasty things about Liam or put the blame on him, or vice versa, it wouldn't have ended on a good note like it did if anything had happened. She continued: 'Going through a breakup is hard enough as it is, let alone when people are spreading nasty rumours that simply are not true. Please remember we are human beings too, we have feelings and to always, always be kind. You never really know what someone is going through,' Andrew Garfield showed off his impeccable style on Saturday as he attended a photocall during the Ischia Global Festival in Italy. The Spiderman star, 38, donned a navy Fila t-shirt tucked into a pair of stylish white trousers. He teamed the look with a pair of white trainers, while accessorising with a silver chain and watch. Looking good: Andrew Garfield showed off his impeccable style on Saturday as he attended a photocall during the Ischia Global Festival in Italy Andrew looked effortlessly cool in a pair of black sunglasses before sitting down for a talk in front of the stunning ocean view. Earlier in the week, the actor and his millionaire art dealer friend Vito Schnabel were spotted soaking up the sun on a luxury yacht ahead of the festival. The talented star, who recently announced that he is taking a break from acting, is in Ischia because of the festival and is set to be honoured on Saturday night. Dashing: The Spiderman star, 38, donned a navy Fila t-shirt tucked into a pair of stylish white trousers Stylish: He teamed the look with a pair of white trainers, while accessorising with a silver chain and watch At the beginning of April, Andrew's ex-girlfriend Alyssa Miller, 33, hit out at those 'gossiping' amid claims that the couple had split. Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, the model, shared an unseen photo from February's Screen Actors Guild Awards alongside a cryptic caption. Refusing to confirm if they were together or not, she simply penned: 'If you must gossip at least use a cute photo. Lol love you AG.' Outing: The talented star, who recently announced that he is taking a break from acting, is in Ischia because of the festival and is set to be honoured on Saturday night Event: Andrew looked effortlessly cool in a pair of black sunglasses as he sat down for a talk in front of the stunning ocean view While Alyssa's post proved she has nothing but love for the actor, a source told People that the couple have not reconciled and are just friendly exes since splitting. Their appearance at February's awards ceremony is the last time the former couple were pictured together. Earlier in the week it was reported that the couple had called it quits as their respective work schedules made it 'hard to see each other.' Andrew was first linked to the American model last November when they were spotted holding hands in New York City. The actor previously had a four-year relationship with his Amazing Spider-Man co-star Emma Stone that ended in April 2015. Back in April, in an interview with Variety around the same time, Andrew said he will be stepping back from acting in order to 'rest for a little bit' and 'be a bit ordinary'. The actor - who had several high-profile projects in 2021 - confessed: 'I need to recalibrate and reconsider what I want to do next and who I want to be, and just be a bit of a person for a while.' Paul Chowdhry says he was attacked by 'thugs' while in his car in London on Friday, reassuring fans he's alright after the incident. The comedian, 47, took to Instagram on Saturday to share some messages from a fan who said they spoke to police after recognising the former Stand Up for the Week host. One message read: 'Hey Paul, was that you at New Oxford Street? Looked like some thugs tried to attacked you.' Horrific: Paul Chowdhry, 47, says he was attacked by 'thugs' while in his car in London on Friday, reassuring fans he's alright after the incident (pictured in May) Help: The comedian took to Instagram on Saturday to share some messages from a fan who said they spoke to police after recognising the former Stand Up for the Week host They added: 'I did send the police who were a few cars behind but I think you drove off by then. Paul added in the caption: 'I was attacked in my car yesterday in London. I'm fine and I will update you as soon as I can.' MailOnline has contacted representatives for Paul and the Metropolitan Police for comment. Speaking out: Paul added in the caption: 'I was attacked in my car yesterday in London. I'm fine and I will update you as soon as I can' Incident: One message read: 'Hey Paul, was that you at New Oxford Street? Looked like some thugs tried to attacked you' Sending their well wishes, fellow comedian Judi Love wrote in the comments section: 'Omg hope your okay hun xxx.' Another shared: 'Oh no Paul. I hope you're ok under the circumstances and sending virtual hugs to you.x' Someone else posted: 'That's awful :( Hope you're ok!', while another fan wrote: 'Damn bro, so sorry to hear about this, hope youre ok.' Reaction: Fans were quick to take to the comments section of Paul's post to send their well wishes Another fan wrote: 'As long as you're ok that's the main thing.' 'Hope you're ok Paul. Good bless,' wrote another devotee. And one other shocked follower posted: 'What???!!! I really hope you're ok...' Paul previously said he'd been attacked while discussing the prejudice his father faced in the 1980s. The funnyman, who is of Indian Punjabi Sikh descent, told Gaby Roslin of his father's troubles on her podcast: 'He took quite a few stitches to the face. There was a knife attack, the people were never caught. But he got on with it, he never held grudges.' On similar experience of violence he himself had experienced, he added: Ive been attacked, lots of stuff has happened to me, but you cant let it affect you, you know its a part of human nature, some of the darker sides.' Brad Pitt stood out from the crowd while attending a photocall at Bateau L'Excellence, Port Debilly in Paris on Saturday. The 58-year-old acting legend put on an eye-catching display in a vibrant orange blazer, matching trousers and a T-shirt. Brad donned a pair of white shoes while posing alongside his co-stars in front of the iconic Eiffel Tower. Bold: Brad Pitt stood out from the crowd while attending a photocall at Bateau L'Excellence, Port Debilly in Paris on Saturday Brad looked effortlessly cool in a pair of orange rimmed sunglasses and accessorised with a gold chain. The Oscar winner stars in the David Leitchdirected film as a hitman with the codename Ladybug who is looking to go straight, until he's lured back to retrieve a special briefcase aboard a high-speed train heading from Tokyo to Kyoto. Joey King, who stars in the film opposite Brad, was among those posing for snaps in the French capital. Dashing: The 58-year-old acting legend put on an eye-catching display in a vibrant orange blazer, matching trousers and a t-shirt Stylish: Brad looked effortlessly cool in a pair of orange rimmed sunglasses and accessorised with a gold chain Looking good: He donned a pair of white shoes while posing alongside his co-stars in front of the iconic Eiffel Tower Beaming: The star appeared in high spirits during the photoshoot Role: The Oscar winner stars in the David Leitchdirected film as a hitman with the codename Ladybug who is looking to go straight, until he's lured back to retrieve a special briefcase aboard a high-speed train heading from Tokyo to Kyoto The actress risked a wardrobe malfunction in a revealing string top which she wore underneath a black leather blazer and matching trousers. She showed off her edgy sense of style with a chunky padlock chain and sported a glam makeup palette. The thrilling movie also includes appearances by Sandra Bullock, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Logan Lerman, Michael Shannon, Zazie Beetz and Bad Bunny. Bullet Train was originally slated for an April 2022 release, but several delays have pushed it back to an August 5 release date. Outing: Joey King, who stars in the film opposite Brad, was among those posing for snaps in the French capital Stunning: The actress risked a wardrobe malfunction in a revealing string top which she wore underneath a black leather blazer and matching trousers Wow! She showed off her edgy sense of style with a chunky padlock chain and sported a glam makeup palette Stars: The thrilling movie also includes appearances by Sandra Bullock, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Logan Lerman, Michael Shannon, Zazie Beetz and Bad Bunny New film: Bullet Train was originally slated for an April 2022 release, but several delays have pushed it back to an August 5 release date The film's bright trailer suggests it will be a candy-colored affair, in contrast with the dark and violent subject matter. The film is about five assassins who all end up on a fast-moving bullet train from Tokyo to Morioka. There are only a few stops in between which makes fleeing impossible. But over time the assassins realize their jobs are intertwined as they are all going after a strange silver briefcase and they eventually go on the hunt to find out who is behind the plan. Looking good: Brad posed for a photo beside the director of Bullet Train David Leitch Plot: The film's bright trailer suggests it will be a candy-colored affair, in contrast with the dark and violent subject matter Thrilling: The film is about five assassins who all end up on a fast-moving bullet train from Tokyo to Morioka Talented: Director David Leitch has previously shown off his action bona fides by working as an uncredited co-director on the first John Wick films, while going solo to direct Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2 and the Fast & Furious spinoff Hobbs & Shaw In the meantime, no one trusts each other and everyone is looking over their shoulder in case they become a target. Director David Leitch has previously shown off his action bona fides by working as an uncredited co-director on the first John Wick films, while going solo to direct Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2 and the Fast & Furious spinoff Hobbs & Shaw. He has a special connection to Brad, as he served as the Once Upon A Time In Hollywood star's stunt double in several films before moving behind the camera. The thrilling movie also includes appearances by Sandra Bullock, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Logan Lerman, Michael Shannon, Zazie Beetz and Bad Bunny. Sweet: Producing partners David and Kelly McCormick put on a loved-up display in the romantic city Getaway host Catriona Rowntree has travelled to almost 100 countries. And now, the 50-year-old presenter has revealed her favourite destination of all-time is Egypt. 'Egypt is out there on its own as far as destinations go, incomparable. I've never been somewhere, where Aussies approach me with tears in their eyes,' she told Escape. Getaway presenter Catriona Rowntree, 50, (pictured) has revealed her favourite destination after travelling to almost 100 countries 'Not only are they achieving life long dreams, but they dearly wanted me to spread the word about how magnificent and safe it is.' 'We were the first non-news TV crew to film there in years. Locals couldn't believe we wanted to share positive, happy stories. This is one country in desperate need of a good PR Agent,' she continued. It comes after Catriona recently revealed how she overcame one of her fears on the long-running travel show. 'Egypt is out there on its own as far as destinations go, incomparable. I've never been somewhere, where Aussies approach me with tears in their eyes,' she told Escape An outtake from the Channel Nine show shows Catriona panicking before she swims with stingrays in Tahiti. Catriona explained her fear came from growing up with the knowledge their tail can sting. 'I didn't know, which I have since heard, is if they don't have any predators they will lose the need to sting,' she said. It comes after Catriona revealed how she overcame one of her fears on the long-running travel show An outtake from the Channel Nine show shows Catriona panicking before she swims with stingrays in Tahiti 'And my brain couldn't compute what was going on, and it was an extraordinary situation.' Catriona said while she was able to relax and enjoy the experience the first time, she found it a lot harder to let go the second time. 'Just be as authentic as you possibly can be,' she then said of her role as a presenter. 'If you're freaking out, just freak out, it doesn't matter, no one cares.' She will welcome her first child, a girl, with boyfriend Jake Ankers later this year. And Charlotte Crosby took to Instagram on Saturday to showcase her blossoming baby bump in pretty red lace lingerie. The Geordie Shore star, 32, looked ravishing in the snaps, hours before the social media site deleted them for breaching their guidelines. 'My post got removed!': Pregnant Charlotte Crosby, 32, flashed her blossoming belly in scarlet lingerie hours before Instagram deleted the racy snaps on saturday The brunette beauty wore the plunging bra and matching knickers which were decorated with a lace trim. Charlotte wore her hair in a half-up half-down style as she posed for the snaps on a fur rug in front of a large circular bed. Charlotte accessorised the sexy look with gold bangles as she flaunted her collection of body art that her back and bottom. Gorgeous: The brunette beauty wore the plunging bra and matching knickers which were decorated with a lace trim Naughty: Later taking to her Instagram Stories Charlotte again shared the image with the words: ' Lol ok my post was removed awks' The mother-to-be looked gorgeous as she cradled her growing belly, posing up a storm as she gazed into the phone attempting to capture the perfect image. Later taking to her Instagram Stories Charlotte again shared the image with the words: ' Lol ok my post was removed awks'. The star is busy filming her upcoming BBC Three reality show, Charlotte In Sunderland. Boom! It comes after Charlotte revealed her baby's gender by enlisting the help of a skywriter to draw a heart in the sky The new show will see her prepare for motherhood with boyfriend Jake as well as navigate her life in the spotlight. She said of her new show: 'I am beyond excited to be bringing my crazy life, my business ventures, much loved family, future hubby and my precious bump to the BBC.' It comes after Charlotte revealed her baby's gender by enlisting the help of a skywriter to draw a heart in the sky. Pals: Charlotte also invited many of her former Geordie Shore co-stars along to the bash, including newly married Holly Hagan and Sophie Kasaei It later flew back round to draw the letter 'G' in water vapour in the clear blue sky. As the letter became clear, pink confetti was launched from a cannon above Charlotte, Jake and their friends at the lavish party. Charlotte also invited many of her former Geordie Shore co-stars along to the bash, including newly married Holly Hagan and Sophie. Newlywed Holly stepped out with husband Jacob Blythe for the first time since they tied the knot in Ibiza last week. Jay Gardner, James Tindale and Ricci Guarnaccio were all also there to celebrate Charlotte's baby news. Joey King turned heads while attending a photocall at Bateau L'Excellence, Port Debilly in Paris on Saturday. The actress, 22, looked gorgeous in a barely there string top which she layered with a black leather blazer. Joey completed the striking look with matching trousers as she posed alongside her co-stars in front of the iconic Eiffel Tower. Racy: Joey King, 22, risked a wardrobe malfunction in a barely there string top and leather jacket as she attended the Bullet Train photocall in Paris on Saturday The actress showed off her edgy sense of style with a chunky padlock chain as her straight styled caramel tresses blew in the wind. The Kissing Booth star opted for a dewy make-up look with lashing of mascara and a stylish nude lip. In the action movie Joey plays The Prince, a British assassin posing as a schoolgirl on a high-speed train from Tokyo to Kyoto. Fashion forward: Joey layered the look over matching trousers as she posed alongside her co-stars in front of the iconic Eiffel Tower Trendy: She showed off her edgy sense of style with a chunky padlock chain as her straight styled caramel tresses blew in the wind Also at the event was the film's lead Brad Pitt, 58, who put on an eye-catching display in a vibrant orange blazer, matching trousers and a t-shirt. Brad looked effortlessly cool in a pair of orange rimmed sunglasses and accessorised with a gold chain. The Oscar winner stars in the David Leitchdirected film as a hitman with the codename Ladybug who is looking to go straight, until he's lured back to retrieve a special briefcase on bored the moving train. Strike a pose: The actress posed up a storm in front of the iconic landmark Stunning: The Kissing Booth actress opted for a dewy make-up look with lashing of mascara and a stylish nude lip In disguise: In the action movie Joey plays The Prince, a British assassin posing as a schoolgirl on a high-speed train from Tokyo to Kyoto The thrilling movie also includes appearances by Sandra Bullock, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Logan Lerman, Michael Shannon, Zazie Beetz and Bad Bunny. Bullet Train was originally slated for an April 2022 release, but several delays have pushed it back to an August 5 release date. The film's bright trailer suggests it will be a candy-coloured affair, in contrast with the dark and violent subject matter. Big names: The thrilling movie also includes appearances by Sandra Bullock, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Logan Lerman, Michael Shannon, Zazie Beetz and Bad Bunny Beaming: The Kissing Booth actress beamed for the cameras during the event Hello! Also at the event was the film's lead Brad Pitt, 58 (left) who put on an eye-catching display in a vibrant orange blazer, matching trousers and a t-shirt (Joey and Brad pictured with their co-star Brian Tyree Henry) The film is about five assassins who all end up on a bullet train from Tokyo to Morioka. There are only a few stops in between which makes fleeing impossible. But over time the assassins realize their jobs are intertwined as they are all going after a strange silver briefcase and they eventually go on the hunt to find out who is behind the plan. In the meantime, no one trusts each other and everyone is looking over their shoulder in case they become a target. Bold: Brad looked effortlessly cool in a pair of orange rimmed sunglasses and accessorised with a gold chain Famous friends: (L-R) Brad Pitt, Joey King, Bryan Tyree Henry and Aaron Taylor-Johnson all appeared in high spirits as they posed for the camera Director David Leitch has previously shown off his action bona fides by working as an uncredited co-director on the first John Wick films, while going solo to direct Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2 and the Fast & Furious spinoff Hobbs & Shaw. He has a special connection to Brad, as he served as the Once Upon A Time In Hollywood star's stunt double in several films before moving behind the camera. Bullet Train is in cinemas July 29. AP Civil Liberties Association (APCLA) state president and senior advocate Muppala Subba Rao, who is arguing on behalf of the victims, told reporters here that police are sparing no efforts to save the accused MLC (in picture) Ananta Uday Bhaskar, even though human rights and peoples organisations are doing their best to bring the MLC to book and do justice to Subrahmanyams family. By Arrangement KAKINADA: Special Mobile Court magistrate Ch. Janaki on Saturday recorded testimony of 11 witnesses under section 164 in the murder of Dalit youth Veedhi Subrahmanyam, former car driver of YSRC MLC Anantha Udaya Bhaskar alias Anantha Babu. Three of these witnesses are those who saw the MLC take Veedhi Subrahmanyam in his car. Four comprised family members the deceaseds father Satyanarayana, mother Nooka Ratnam, wife Aparna and brother Naveen. Three others witnesses saw the MLC hand over the body and flee from the spot. The last witness is the doctor of a private hospital who declared Subrahmanyam dead. Earlier, AP Civil Liberties Association (APCLA) state president and senior advocate Muppala Subba Rao, who is arguing on behalf of the victims, told reporters here that police are sparing no efforts to save the accused MLC even though human rights and peoples organisations are doing their best to bring the MLC to book and do justice to Subrahmanyams family. Subba Rao said there are many loopholes in investigation by police. Police responded only after he submitted a 58-page document to Human Rights Commission in Subrahmanyams murder case. They did not even file a counter opposing the bail petition of Anantha Babu. The lawyer said as the victims have no confidence in police investigation, they have sought a CBI probe into the case. He demanded that YSRC leadership, in particular Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, suspend Anantha Babu as MLC based on his previous criminal history. Additional superintendent of police P. Srinivas has, however, taken exception to the statement of Muppala Subba Rao. He said as the matter is sub-judice, it is not proper to make such comments against police. He maintained that police are conducting an impartial inquiry. All evidence and the inquiry report will be submitted to the court. Even while the process is going on, it is not justifiable to attribute motives to police, he remarked. The accused were identified as Chakra Dharji alias Chakradhar alias Chakri, 32, his wife Sita Dargi, 25, and their friend, Upendra Pradeep Shahi, 38, said the police. Hyderabad: The Kukatpally police arrested a couple and their friend, all natives of Nepal, for stealing cash and valuables worth about Rs 1 crore from the house of a businessman in Kukatpally earlier this month. The gang spent about Rs 1.10 lakh in less than a week on expensive phones, watches etc during their stay in Bengaluru post the burglary, said the police, adding that they had planned to shift to Mumbai. The accused were identified as Chakra Dharji alias Chakradhar alias Chakri, 32, his wife Sita Dargi, 25, and their friend, Upendra Pradeep Shahi, 38, said the police, adding that the recovered Rs 28.90 lakh cash along with gold and diamond ornaments weighing about 137 tulas, worth Rs 71.10 lakh, from them. House owner Vadepally Damodar Rao of Vivenakanagar colony in Kukatpally had employed Chakri, from Nepal about seven months ago to work as a domestic help. The worker, along with his wife, stayed in the servant quarters of the house. On July 12, around 8 pm, Damodar and his family went to attend a function and returned around 11 pm to find the domestic help missing and their house ransacked, said the police. About four days prior to the offence, Upendra, also a native of Nepal, had joined the couple by taking a flight from Lucknow and introduced himself as a relative of the domestic help. Police said that the trio could be seen moving inside their house in the CCTV footage. While leaving the house with the stolen loot, they took away the WiFi router, mistaking it to be the DVR. We have checked the footage from the DVR and also confirmed via other CC cameras that they engaged an autorickshaw to Moosapet, police said. In a statement, the IMA said that assaulting doctors, destroying valuable equipment, trespassing into the ICU zone and threatening the health personnel in the hospital was an act of radical violence as it caused physical injuries and shattered the confidence of the doctors. (Representational Image/ DC File) Vijayawada: The Indian Medical Association (IMA), AP branch, condemned the assault on doctors and the destruction of medical equipment at a private hospital in Vijayawada. In a statement here on Saturday, the IMA said that assaulting doctors, destroying valuable equipment, trespassing into the ICU zone and threatening the health personnel in the hospital was an act of radical violence as it caused physical injuries and shattered the confidence of the doctors. It said that though the AP Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2008 was being implemented, incidents of violence and vandalism against doctors, nurses and hospitals were increasing year by year due to failure to implement the act effectively by the police. The IMA AP branch demanded the home and law ministries and the director general of police (DGP) initiate stern measures like the immediate arrest of culprits, issue of SOPs to all police station to prevent such violence against the medical fraternity and establish fast track courts to complete inquiry and declare all public and private hospitals as sensitive and safe zones and provide protection in the hospital areas. IMA AP president Dr C. Srinivasa Raju said, We strongly condemned the assault on doctors and appeal to the state government to initiate steps to curb them by punishing the culprits severely as per norms. New Delhi: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday said that the leaders of Opposition parties will meet on July 17 to discuss the candidate for the upcoming Vice Presidential election. "Meeting on 17th July and all Opposition leaders will attend it. Parliamentary Affairs Minister has also called an all-party meet. So, we'll hold a discussion with everyone on the 17th that what kind of a candidate we should have," said Mallikarjun Kharge on the candidate for the Vice Presidential polls. The Central Government has called for an all-party meeting on Sunday morning ahead of the start of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. According to him, the Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi has given a go-ahead for a joint Opposition candidate. "There is no candidate from Congress. Our party president has clearly said that whoever is chosen as the candidate by all parties (of Opposition), we will stand with it," added Kharge. Yashwant Sinha is the candidate of the Opposition parties for the presidential election. Congress has given the task to Malikarjun Kharge who is the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha to reach out to opposition parties to select a candidate for the election for the Vice President post. Nominations for the vice-presidential polls slated to be held on August 6, began on Tuesday. The Election Commission made an announcement of the elections for the 16th vice president of India to take place on August 6, 2022. The ECI has also issued directions for Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh to be the Returning Officer for the polls. The nomination papers for the above election can be submitted starting today up to July 19, 2022. The scrutiny for the nominations will take place on July 20 and the final list will be published on July 22. As in the case of the election to the President of India, the eligible candidates will need to submit a few documents including a certified copy of the electoral roll with the name mentioned on it and an amount of Rs 15,000 at the time of submitting the nomination papers which shall be returned after the election process is over in case they reachable candidate does not make it to the final list. In case of the election of the Vice President of India, voting will happen in the Parliament and members of the Rajya Sabha will participate in this election as the vice president is also the de facto chairman of the upper house. The poll for the upcoming vice president's election is slated to take place between 10 AM and 5 PM on August 6, 2022, and the results are expected to be out on the same day. In 2017 the NDA had nominated Venkaiah Naidu as its candidate for the vice-presidential election and he went on to become India's 15th vice president. His term ends on August 10, 2022. Meanwhile, National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) presidential candidate Droupadi and joint opposition nominee Yashwant Sinha are the only two contesting candidates for election to the Office of the President after the last date for the withdrawal of candidature ended on Saturday. The Returning Officer for the presidential polls Rajya Sabha Secretary General PC Mody said the polling for the Presidential election will take place on July 18 from 10 am to 5 pm in Room Number 63 of the Parliament House. The Members of Parliament normally exercise their vote in Parliament House, New Delhi, and Members of State Legislative Assemblies including the Members of the Legislative Assemblies of the NCT of Delhi and the Union Territory of Puducherry in their respective Capitals at the places notified by the Election Commission in this behalf. However, a Member of Parliament may vote in any State Capital and Union Territory Capital if he/she has obtained the prior permission of the Election Commission. Similarly, a Member of any State Legislative Assembly who has obtained the prior permission of the Election Commission, may, vote in Parliament House, New Delhi or at any State capital other than his/her own State. People of Bhadrachalam are also complaining that the district administration and town authorities have failed in dealing with the present floods. There are allegations that officials have not been prompt in evacuating people to safe places. Representational Image/ANI BHADRACHALAM: Increasing the height of bund on both sides of River Godavari is imperative if flooding of Bhadrachalam temple town on one side and Sarapaka on the other is to be avoided. There are already fears of flood water overflowing the 75-feet-high bund and flooding Bhadrachalam. Several of the towns areas are already under water. Flood water has spread over a square kilometre on the Sarapaka side. B. Sankar Reddy, a social activist, said: There is need to increase height of the bund on both sides of River Godavari for safety of people in Bhadradri district. Both state and central governments must evolve a plan for it. There is also need to have well-established plan for pumping out rain or flood waters into the river. Authorities of the temple town have failed in this regard over the years. People of Bhadrachalam are also complaining that the district administration and town authorities have failed in dealing with the present floods. There are allegations that officials have not been prompt in evacuating people to safe places. People had not even been warned about the floods through public announcements. There are also complaints about hygiene at relief centres. Even quality of food being distributed to people housed in the centres is bad, said K Ellaiah, who is staying at a relief camp in in Bhadrachalam. Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao is likely to review the flood situation, along with officials, in Bhadrachalam on Sunday. (DC file photo) BHADRACHALAM: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao is likely to review the flood situation, along with officials, in Bhadrachalam on Sunday. He will visit Bhadrachalam after completing an aerial survey of the floods from Kadem reservoir to Bhadrachalam. It is expected that the Chief Minister will take a decision on increasing the height of the bund in Bhadrachalam and constructing a bund on Burgampahad side. Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan will also visit the flood-affected areas on Sunday. Meanwhile, the district administration has decided to continue the rehabilitation camps for another four to five days as the flood is receding slowly in Godavari. Marooned villages will be out of water only if the water level recedes below 53 feet. The water level is receding 0.1 foot per hour in Bhadrachalam. The people in the relief camps cannot move to their villages until flood water is totally cleared. The cleaning operation at relief camps in Bhadrachalam division is going to be a big problem, said the officials. Panchayat raj commissioner and special officer of flood relief operations visited the relief camps on ITC premises, ITDA office, the government degree college and Girijan Bhavan in Bhadrachalam and Burgampahad mandals. He asked the revenue officials to engage sanitation workers and maintain cleanliness in the centres, particularly toilets. Nearly 16,000 people including kids and women have been staying in 65 camps, so maintaining clean premises is key in checking contagious diseases. The officials, who are looking after the relief camps, were asked not to serve food cooked with tamarind and tomatoes as there is a chance of spreading diarrhoea with the items. The officials are given free hand to take additional workers in maintaining cleanliness in these relief camps. Amarnath said the delegation comprises 90 business leaders representing more than 60 organisations dealing with mining, minerals and METS, education, training and energy. It is being led by deputy premier Roger Cook. There will be meetings between the delegates and government and corporate leaders, site visits, industry briefings and roundtables, one-to-one business matching, and networking events. DC File Image VIJAYAWADA,: A 90-member business delegation from Western Australia will be in Visakhapatnam on Saturday to explore opportunities for mutual collaboration in investment, trade and exports. The visit is a significant following the renewal of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) between India and Australia. CCEA reaffirms the commitment of both countries toward liberalising and deepening bilateral trade in goods and services. Announcing the visit, industries minister Gudivada Amarnath said the delegation will meet various industry associations to strengthen trade relations between Western Australia and Andhra Pradesh. This will help promote AP as a destination for tourism, education, business and investment. The delegation is coming as part of its planned eight-day visit to India from July 12 to 19. The delegates will also be traveling to Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. Amarnath said the delegation comprises 90 business leaders representing more than 60 organisations dealing with mining, minerals and METS, education, training and energy. It is being led by deputy premier Roger Cook. There will be meetings between the delegates and government and corporate leaders, site visits, industry briefings and roundtables, one-to-one business matching, and networking events. The minister disclosed that to strengthen bilateral relations between AP and Western Australia, there is a proposal to sign a letter of intent promoting closer engagements between both parties. This will help the AP government work in tandem on windows of opportunity in various priority sectors of the state. SIT claimed Teesta Setalvad was part of a "larger conspiracy" carried out at the behest of late Congress leader Patel to get the BJP government in the state dismissed after the 2002 riots. (PTI) New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday said the "mischievous" and "manufactured" allegations by the Gujarat Police against its late leader Ahmed Patel were part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "systematic strategy" to absolve himself of any responsibility for the communal carnage in 2002. The Congress' rebuttal came after the Gujarat Police on Friday opposed activist Teesta Setalvad's bail application. In an affidavit before the sessions court, the Special Investigation Team claimed she was part of a "larger conspiracy" carried out at the behest of late Congress leader Patel to get the BJP government in the state dismissed after the 2002 riots. In a statement, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said the party "categorically refutes the mischievous charges manufactured" against the late Ahmed Patel. "This is part of the Prime Minister's systematic strategy to absolve himself of any responsibility for the communal carnage unleashed when he was chief minister of Gujarat in 2002," he said. "It was his (Modi's) unwillingness and incapacity to control this carnage that had led the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to remind the chief minister of his 'raj dharma'." The prime minister's "political vendetta machine" clearly does not even spare the departed who were his political adversaries, the Congress general secretary said. "This SIT is dancing to the tune of its political master and will sit wherever it is told to. We know how an earlier SIT chief was rewarded with a diplomatic assignment after he had given a 'clean chit' to the chief minister," Ramesh said. He said giving judgment through the press, in an ongoing judicial process, through "puppet investigative agencies who trumpet wild allegations as supposed findings", has been the hallmark of the Modi-Shah duo's tactics for years. "This is nothing but another example of the same with the added object of vilifying a deceased person since he is unable and unavailable to refute such brazen lies," Ramesh said. Guwahati: In a bid to resolve the seven decades old inter-state border dispute between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, the chief ministers of the two neighbouring states on Friday met at Namsai in Arunachal Pradesh and decided to form 12 regional committees headed by Cabinet ministers to find an amicable solution of disputed villages along the border. Pointing out that there are now only 86 disputed villages on which 12 regional committees headed by Cabinet ministers will take a call after consulting the people at grassroots, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters, "We have asked the regional committees to submit their report by September 15 to resolve this dispute within this year." Referring to earlier meetings between the two states, Mr Sarma said, "In our meeting held on January 24 in Guwahati, we decided that our dispute of 123 villages won't be expanded. However, now we have come to a conclusion that 28 villages are already within Arunachal's boundary. So the dispute between the two has been confined only to 86 villages, not 123 villages... this is historic." Recalling that in the April 20 meeting, it was decided that both states will notify their regional committees, Mr Sarma said, "It's been decided today that a report on the same is to be submitted by September 15. All districts have been informed to maintain unity, law and order. No regional committee will go to these districts alone; committees from both states will go together." Calling it "Namsai declaration", as the meeting was held at Namasai in Arunachal Pradesh, Mr Sarma said that both the states have decided to find an amicable solution to the seven decades old border dispute within this year. Attributing this development to the effort of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah, both the chief ministers lauded the top leadership for guiding them to achieve this landmark move in resolving the long-pending border dispute. "This Namsai declaration will be sent to the Government of India for further action. In case a concrete resolution comes from any village before September 15, we will send that too. An interim MoU can be signed, to hold talks in case some dispute remains," said the Assam chief minister. Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu called the meeting historic and said that this is the third meeting between the chief ministers of the two states. He reiterated that the border issue between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh is seven decades old. "The vexed issue of the Arunachal-Assam border dispute has been lingering for more than seven decades, but now we are keen to resolve the dispute. We should be able to do it by this year," said Mr Khandu. Senior Cabinet ministers of both -- Assam and Arunachal Pradesh also attended the meeting. CHIEF Njelele has been sucked into the case in which a 25-year-old Gokwe woman disappeared in 2019 after she was allegedly lured to South Africa by her boyfriend. The chief, born Misheck Njelele allegedly forced the family of the woman, Tarisai Maimba to accept some clothes allegedly belonging to her, claiming she was dead. Maimbas mother, Annamaria Mafuvadze had filed a missing person report at Gokwe Police Station under RRB 5022624 on January 2 this year. The matter is still pending with Maimba not confirmed dead. According to Mafuvadze, her daughter was lured by her boyfriend Danwell Muchiiwa from Chief Njeleles village to South Africa to look for a job on October 19, 2019. I used to talk to her during her first days in South Africa, but sometime later I did not have access to her with Muchiiwa now responding to the calls and messages, Mafuvadze said in an interview. What was surprising is that whenever I asked to talk to her, Muchiiwa would say she is not in or give several other excuses and contradictory statements. At one point, Muchiiwa claimed that he assisted Maimba to travel back to Zimbabwe using the cross-border transporters commonly referred to as Omalayitsha. After some time, I tried to convince him to tell us if she was alive but Muchiiwa would not. He ended up telling me that my child was in Mozambique. He gave me some phone numbers to contact people there, but we could not understand each other because of the language barrier, said Mafuvadze. We again called that number on March 29, the person was talking in an Mozambican language, like broken Shona and the only thing we could understand is that the person was saying my daughter died on March 27, and was buried the following day. I then went to report Muchiiwa to Chief Njelele over my missing daughter, and to ask the traditional leader to summon his family so that they could convince their son to reveal the whereabouts of my daughter. Mafuvadze said she was surprised to learn that Chief Njelele had summoned Muchiiwas family where they agreed that her daughter had died in Mozambique, and that she must collect the clothes of her deceased child or be charged. Chief Njelele told us that Muchiiwa paid a beast towards her missing child but we only knew that when we contacted him. We suspect a cover up, Mafuvadze said. When contacted for comment on Thursday, Chief Njelele asked this reporter to call in 10 minutes. But he was no longer responding to the calls since Thursday. He also did not respond to messages sent via his mobile phone. Upon contacting the Gokwe police on the progress of the missing person report, Mafuvadze was told that the matter had been forwarded to the Interpol. But national police spokesperson assistant commissioner Paul Nyathi could not confirm that Interpol was now involved in the case. Standard Pawan Kalyan appealed to people, party leaders and cadres not to view national leaders like Dr Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi and others as representing a particular caste. DC Image/A. Manikanta Kumar KAKINADA: Jana Sena chief and film star Pawan Kalyan has welcomed naming of Konaseema district after Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the architect of Indian constitution. Addressing a public meeting at Mandapeta in Konaseema district on Saturday, he accused ruling YSRC of deliberately distorting his party Jana Senas views on naming of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district. The film star maintained that naming of the district could have been done in a manner that avoided a caste conflict in the area. He appealed to people, party leaders and cadres not to view national leaders like Dr Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi and others as representing a particular caste. Their stature should not be diminished by confining them to one caste, Pawan Kalyan remarked. He went on to describe functioning of police in AP as flawed. He asserted that his party will never yield to police repression. He asked Jana Sena workers not to be afraid of any number of cases filed against them but valiantly fight against the exploitative policies of the state government. Pawan Kalyan said if Jana Sena is voted to power, panchayat raj system will be strengthened. In general, development will start from villages and local bodies. He maintained that Pawan Kalyan is only used to giving, not asking for anything including votes. I am not even asking you to give your votes by making false promises. You decide yourselves whether or not I should get your vote. But I tell you that if you vote for me, I will strive for your welfare in right earnest, he remarked while making satirical remarks on Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. Party political affairs committee chairman Nadendla Manohar was among those present at the meeting, which was attended by a large number of people. AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami with his supporters after being elected as interim General Secretary of the party, during the general council meeting of AIADMK, in Chennai (PTI Photo) Chennai: The one-upmanship to wrest control of the AIADMK continued on Friday as the contenders for the throne, Edappadi K Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam, indulged in different gamesmanship, including the continuation of the mass expulsions, to establish their supremacy with no quick resolution to the impasse at sight, which left the cadre and workers confused and fuming. Both leaders purged top leaders in the rival camps, a trend that started on Thursday with Panneerselvam expelling 44 top honchos and Palaniswami dismissing 21 functionaries, including Nanjil K S Kollappan, the man who purportedly spoke to C Ponnaiyan over phone and recorded the conversation that went viral. Pollachi V Jayaraman, C Vijayabaskar, a few MLAs and many other district secretaries were among those thrown out by Panneerselvam, who called himself the coordinator of the party.. Besides the dismissals, Palaniswami also hit the streets, touching base with the grassroots workers as he converted his homeward journey from Chennai to Salem district into a campaign trail. Leaving his official residence in Greenways Road around 8.30 am after garlanding a portrait of the late K Kamaraj, he took the highway that had a series of pre-planned stopovers and addressed the cadre gathered there. Palaniswami, in general, told the party workers that the party was now witnessing a rejuvenation and that it should be sustained till the DMK was defeated. He took a swipe at the traitors who had joined hands with the DMK to keep the party headquarters doors sealed. Accusing Chief Minister M K Stalin of misusing his powers to weaken the AIADMK, the newly elected general secretary accepted the reception given to him at various places like Tambaram, Tindivanam, Villupuram, Kallakurichi and so on before reaching his home in Edappadi. To the cheering crowds that had gathered to welcome him, Palaniswami gave the confidence that the locked up party office would soon be returned to them and that they would be able to resume work from there and take on the DMK effectively. An organization secretary of the party, Adhirajaram, had also written a letter to the police seeking the withdrawal of personal security cover to Panneerselvam. His charge was that the protection given to him on a personal basis was misused to unleash a violent attack on the party headquarters on July 11. On the other hand, a close confidante of Panneerselvam said that moves were afoot in their camp to convene an alternative general council and pass necessary resolutions that could be handed over to the courts and the Election Commission of India to gain recognition for their group as the real AIADMK. Also, Panneerselvam had sought an appointment with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the latters proposed visit to the State on July 28 to inaugurate the 44th Chess Olympiad. Panneerselvam wants the BJPs intervention into the dispute. Kovai Selvaraj, another supporter of Panneerselvam, referring to the expulsion of 44 leaders from the party in the second instalment 22 leaders were axed on Thursday said that new office-bearers would be appointed to fill those vacancies. Particularly peeved with Palaniswami acolyte, R B Udhayakumar, for speaking disparagingly about Panneerselvam, there are plans to lodge a complaint with the DVAC on the former Ministers alleged amassment of wealth. Even before the first vote is cast on July 18, the outcome of the presidential election is known to all. In the afternoon three days later (June 21), when the last vote will be counted, India will be just four days away from a tribal woman Droupadi Murmu taking oath as the First Citizen of the country. The presidential elections are usually no cliffhanger in India. The only exception was the elections in 1969, when Indira Gandhi stumped her own party to call for a conscience vote, when she wanted to corner her colleagues to help V V Giri win. With the electoral college numbers in favour of the BJP-led NDA, Murmu started on the front foot. She needed just around 9,000 more votes that the NDA could gather from friendly parties like BJD and YSR Congress when the elections were announced on June 9. The BJPs announcement of her candidature on June 21 came six hours after the Opposition chose Yashwant Sinha as its gladiator. It may be for the first time the media and political pundits could correctly guess Narendra Modis choice. In 2017, Ram Nath Kovind came from nowhere to occupy Rashtrapati Bhavan. But this time Murmu was top on the speculation chart. A tribal could take the road to Raisina Hills political pundits put their bet on Modis penchant for symbolism. But the die was cast for the unravelling of the Opposition, which wanted to set the agenda. They did not want a repeat of 2017 when they chose to field Meira Kumar, a Dalit, against Kovind. The argument was that whoever the ruling party fields will be a BJP person irrespective of whether the candidate is a woman, a tribal or a minority community member. Argument was solid but all those in the Opposition appeared not to have the stomach to take it forward. Hours after supporting Sinha, many had second thoughts as Murmus name was announced. The rebellion in Shiv Sena forced Uddhav Thackeray, who had pledged support for Sinha, to change tacks. Parties like Akali Dal too pledged support seeking to find a way back to the NDA. UPA ally JMM, which has substantial tribal votes in Jharkhand, did not blink an eye to jump the ship. Trinamool Congress, which sponsored Sinhas candidature, did a somersault. They did not dump Sinha, but Mamata Banerjee said the Opposition could have supported Murmu if the government had approached them before. West Bengal has a significant tribal population. Sinha flew to Srinagar to show solidarity with Kashmiris though there were no votes except for three National Conference MPs, who have a vote value of 2,100. Sinha would argue it was symbolic and politically significant. But he neither kick-started his campaign from his home state Jharkhand as scheduled with JMM playing truant, nor visited Kolkata as Mamata did not want to upset her vote-bank. Sinha will be going to Jharkhand only two days before the polling. The Opposition initially wanted NCP supremo Sharad Pawar to contest. He was the best bet to put the Modi government in a spot, but Pawar did not bite the bullet. National Conference patriarch Farooq Abdullah too refused. Mahatma Gandhis grandson and former Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhis answer too was a no. Planning an ideological Gandhi versus Godse battle against the Hindutva-inspired BJP, the Opposition then chose Sinha a former BJP Minister, who had endorsed Modis prime ministerial bid, but fell out with him after being denied a Lok Sabha ticket and took on the Sangh politics. The move exposed a lack of choice and imagination. Opposition leaders tried to sugar coat it by talking about Sinhas anti-Modi stance since at least 2018. To give credit where it is due, Sinha did attempt to corner the Modi regime during his campaign. If the Opposition lost the perception battle as it failed in countering BJPs plank, there were troubles within. Trinamool Congress wanted to show the Congress its place. TRS did not want to share a stage with Congress. AAP is keeping the Opposition on tenterhooks by declaring its support for Sinha openly. AAP leaders will meet on Saturday and Opposition parties are still not sure about which way it will turn. The Opposition leaders may not have forgotten that one line in their joint statement, which they issued after announcing Sinhas candidature we assure the people of India that the unity of the Opposition Parties, which has been forged for the Presidential Election in a spirit of equality, common commitments and consensus-building through dialogue, will be further consolidated in the months ahead. Former diplomats and academics have shared their views on Sri Lanka's former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa's private visit to Singapore who boarded a flight to the city state after fleeing Colombo to Male. Although Rajapaksa has not requested asylum, it is within his rights as a passport holder to visit Singapore, the TODAY newspaper reported on Saturday. Bilahari Kausikan, a former permanent secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), said many nationalities are able to enter Singapore for various periods of time, depending on the conditions of their visa. "Any Sri Lankan citizen holding a valid passport can come to Singapore for a certain period of time without having to seek any particular permission... he's a normal person, a president is a citizen of his country," the TODAY quoted Kausikan as saying. He added that exceptions do apply, such as if the person is a wanted criminal. "He's not wanted for any crime, no Interpol (International Criminal Police Organisation) red notice put up for him, so why should we not let him in?" The Singapore Visa website shows that Sri Lankan citizens such as Rajapaksa are permitted to travel to Singapore visa-free for trips shorter than 30 days for purposes such as tourism and leisure, to visit family and friends, and to seek medical treatments. Associate Professor Chong Ja Ian, who lectures on political science at the National University of Singapore, pointed out that Singapore is also viewed as a popular transit location, which generally does not turn visitors away. Read | Sri Lanka Crisis: PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa among four leaders to join Prez race "We are a major transit (and) transportation hub anyway, where people come in and go out," he said. "Unless there's an overriding political reason or some other consideration, there is no reason to block an entry," the publication quoted Professor Chong as saying. A social visit is different from seeking asylum. A social visit is bound by the restrictions stipulated in the visa conditions of each traveller, whereas generally, those who seek asylum can stay in the host country for a longer period of time. People who are granted asylum will generally not have limits on how long they can stay in the country, as well as other "protections", Assistant Professor Chong said. The country will offer certain kinds of legal protections, such as not extraditing the person (making the person return for trial in the country where they have been accused of doing something illegal), or allowing the person some ability to settle or stay for an extended period of time, he said. Kausikan said the length of stay for asylum cases is "at the discretion of the country granting asylum". However, he also said that a person can have his time in the country cut short should he commit any crime there. Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said in a written parliamentary reply in September last year: "As a small, densely populated country with limited land, Singapore is not in a position to accept any persons seeking political asylum or refugee status". On Thursday night, after Rajapaksa arrived at the Changi Airport, the Singapore MFA confirmed that the Sri Lankan President has been allowed entry into the city state on a private visit. "He has not asked for asylum and neither has he been granted any asylum. Singapore generally does not grant requests for asylum," said the MFA. Rajapaksa emailed his resignation to Colombo a few hours after arriving in Singapore. Read | Gotabaya Rajapaksa's resignation accepted Assistant Professor Dylan Loh from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), added that Singapores current position on refugees and asylum seekers "is consistent with its belief of space limitations and also how a sudden influx of persons may upset the social and security balance of society". Asst Prof Loh, who is from NTU's public policy and global affairs division, pointed out that no exceptions can be made, because it would set a precedent for future cases. "There is no room for flexibility, even if it is for one person, because this can lead to further calls to open up or re-examine its stance." Kausikan said there is also no incentive for a country to accept people requesting asylum. Speaking about political asylum in general, he said, "Political asylum is a very subjective thing. It's very hard to determine what are the facts of (each) case... why get embroiled in a very messy situation (where) you don't know all the facts?" The former permanent secretary of foreign affairs said, "There is nothing in it for us. What is the advantage for Singapore, a small crowded country, and what is the interest we have (in accepting political asylum-seekers)?" There have been several cases in the past of political leaders who came to Singapore either as exiles or for medical treatments, according to the TODAYs report. None of these stays have been labelled as attempts to seek asylum. For instance, former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a fugitive living in self-imposed exile and convicted of various crimes in his home country, have been spotted in Singapore on several occasions, up to as late as March this year when he was here for a regular medical check-up, according to a Bangkok Post report. Thaksin was the prime minister from 2001 to 2006, when he was overthrown in a military coup. Robert Mugabe, who was Zimbabwes first post-independence president and had ruled for nearly four decades until he was ousted in 2017, came to Singapore to seek medical treatment in 2019 and eventually died at Gleneagles Hospital here. There is also the case of Ibrahim Nasir, former president of the Maldives, who had gone into self-exile in Singapore in 1978, and reportedly stayed here until his death at the age of 82 in 2008 at Mount Elizabeth Hospital. Rajapaksa's entry into Singapore has resurfaced questions about the nation's stance on asylum-seekers, according to the TODAY report. The Centre is looking at making tech giants - Google (owner of YouTube), Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp), Microsoft, Apple, Twitter and Amazon - to pay remuneration to news publishers if they use original content produced by them. Minister of State for IT and Electronics Rajeev Chandrashekhar told The Times of India that this move was being taken forward through regulatory interventions and could happen through revisions to IT laws. "The market power on digital advertising that is currently being exercised by the big tech majors, which places Indian media companies at a position of disadvantage, is an issue that is being seriously examined in the context of new legislation and rules," Chandrashekhar told TOI. The minister said the government felt that the growth of social media and tech platforms had resulted in a consolidation of market power with a handful of big tech companies, leaving many original content creators at a disadvantage. "The news publishers have no negotiating leverage at all and this needs to be tackled legislatively," said Chandrasekhar, in the report. "This is an important issue for us." Australia was one of the first countries to introduce a law that forced tech platforms to pay for original content sourced from local media entities. And it happened after a battle between Google and the country's consumer regulator. Since then, around 30 deals have been struck between media organisations and tech majors. In India, the Digital News Publishers Association and the Indian Newspaper Society complained to the Competition Commission of India (CCI) about Google's practices, the report said. They accused Google of abusing its dominant position as a news aggregator and imposing unfair conditions on news publishers. The CCI then ordered an enquiry against Google. Chief Justice of India N V Ramana on Saturday said strong, vibrant and active Opposition helps to improve the governance and corrects the functioning of the government but unfortunately the space for Opposition in the country is diminishing and laws are being passed without discussion. Speaking at an event on 75 Year of Parliament Democracy at legislative assembly of Rajasthan, Jaipur, Justice Ramana said, Particularly, the leaders in the Opposition used to play a stellar role. There used to be a lot of mutual respect between the government and the Opposition. Unfortunately, the space for Opposition is diminishing. We are witnessing laws being passed without detailed deliberation and scrutiny. Also Read: Democracy and religion have hypocrisy in common He also suggested the Speaker to consider providing the assistance of qualified law clerks to each of the MLAs. Noting the role of strong, vibrant and active Opposition to improve the governance, he said it corrects the functioning of the government. In an ideal world, it is the cooperative functioning of the government and the Opposition which will lead to a progressive democracy. After all, Project Democracy is a joint effort of all the stakeholders, he pointed out. Referring to the need for thorough debate involving all the sides of the house in law making, Justice Ramana said as a judge, at times he wonders as to how one traces the legislative intent behind the enactments. Instead of engaging in meaningful debates for furthering democracy, politics has become acrimonious. The diversity of opinion enriches polity and society. Political Opposition should not translate into hostility, which we are sadly witnessing these days. These are not signs of a healthy democracy, he said. Also Read: India mother of all democracies: Modi at Bihar assembly centenary celebrations The Chief Justice said building a peaceful and inclusive society is not just a matter of public administration, but also a duty of a statesman. You are a reflection of the peoples aspiration. Let morality of the constitution guide you in the right direction. After all, you are all role models. Strengthening parliamentary democracy demands strengthening the Opposition as well,he said We have a form of government where the executive, both political and permanent, is accountable to the legislature. Accountability forms the core principle of democracy. I have, on several occasions, highlighted the significance of parliamentary debates and parliamentary committees. In fact, I used to look forward to the legislative debates, he pointed out. The Chief Justice said a year ago, on independence day, he had expressed views on a decline in the quality of debate and, at times, even the lack of debate in the legislative bodies. On this occasion, I have a suggestion to make. Law making is a complicated process. One cannot expect every lawmaker to have a legal background. It is essential that Members of the Legislature have quality assistance from legal professionals, so that they are able to contribute to the debates meaningfully. The Honble Speaker may consider providing the assistance of qualified law clerks to each of the MLAs. We, as judges, are also assisted by law clerks in our day-to-day court work. Let me assure you, it will really be helpful to you all, he said. Top Opposition leaders will meet on Sunday to decide on their Vice Presidential candidate. Sources said the meeting will take place after the all-party meet called by the government to discuss the functioning of Parliament during the Monsoon Session. Congress has already informed other parties that they do not have a candidate in mind. The Opposition leaders were to meet earlier this week but they decided to postpone it, as it wanted to wait for the governments candidate. Read | NDA announces West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar as Vice Presidential candidate Senior Opposition leaders have initiated dialogue between them and efforts are on to zero in on a credible face who is willing to fight a battle that is likely to lose. We need to put up a political fight. The results are a foregone conclusion. But we are not in for an uncontested election, a senior Opposition leader said. Referring to the outgoing Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, senior Rajya Sabha MP and Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh tweeted, so it is curtains for Muppavarapu Venkaiah Naidu-garu. His humour and wit will be missed. On many occasions he got the Opposition all agitated, but at the end of it a good man exits. He may have retired, but I know he will not be tired. On July 7, Boris Johnson quit as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Johnson had led his party, the Conservatives, to a landslide victory in the 2019 general elections but could complete only half his five-year term. Like most former British colonies, India inherited the Westminster model of Parliamentary democracy from the UK. Unlike the UK, it would be fanciful to imagine a charismatic Prime Minister's own party colleagues forcing him out of office mid-term. "India's boast of being the world's largest democracy, and a multi-party one at that, hides a plain truth the absolute lack of internal democracy in India's party system," says political commentator Prakash Patra. As political scientist Zoya Hasan has pointed out, there is also a stubbornness among Indian politicians to 'party reform', which has reinvigorated western democracies. The BJP, from Prime Minister Narendra Modi downwards there was a time not long ago when communists and socialists did, too blames the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty of the Congress for some of these ills. For 40 of the 75 years since independence, a member of that dynasty was the president of the Indian National Congress, nearly always elected unopposed, choking any challenge. Despite consistent electoral reverses since 2013, ad hocism continues unabated in the Congress. Every other day, the Congress headquarters releases names of party workers appointed to various posts either in its state units or national office. "It is a centralised single-window system for deciding appointments, emanating from one source, with the process of consultations quite opaque," said a party leader, bemoaning how despite quitting as the party chief, Rahul Gandhi and his coterie continue to run the party. But are the rest of the parties, particularly the BJP, any better? "Of all the parties, the BJP had more internal democracy, but not anymore, which should be a cause of concern to them," political analyst Radhika Ramaseshan says. The BJP, she says, held internal elections every three years from the block level upwards, where competing interests and groups contested in earnest. The process gave rise to factionalism but also strong leaders with a grassroots support base, keeping the organisation vibrant. "I do not see that happening under the present regime," Ramaseshan says. However, as Hasan and others have pointed out about the BJP, all its presidents since 1980, the year of its founding, have been elected unopposed. The men of the Nagpur-headquartered RSS selected or nominated the BJP chief, at least they used to until Modi cut them to size after 2014, getting associates Amit Shah and J P Nadda elected unopposed to the post in the last eight years. But the party seems to have also forgotten to hold other internal elections. The BJP's national executive, reconstituted every three years, has not been rejigged after Nadda became the president in 2020 and is nearing the end of his term. It would be interesting to see if the BJP conducts its internal elections before getting its new president next year or giving Nadda another three-year term. "This ebbing of internal democracy is all because of the party becoming personality-driven, and the processes laid down in the party constitution not being followed," Ramaseshan says. "If the Indira Gandhi years smothered whatever internal democracy the Congress had until then, the BJP is now experiencing a similar process under Narendra Modi," Patra says. Just like Indira did for the Congress in the 1970s and early 1980s, Modi's charisma is delivering massive mandates for his party. Indira ran a powerful PMO (Prime Minister's Office), as does Modi, undermining the cabinet system of collective power and responsibilities. Similarly, she appointed chief ministers without consulting the Congress state unit concerned. A similar process was seen with the appointment of BJP's CMs in Haryana, Jharkhand and Himachal Pradesh. The process of diminishing internal democracy within the party had started before Indira. In 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru, the prime minister of the newly independent India, was still treated as the first among equals within the Congress. With Sardar Patel's help, he thought it necessary to rid the party's top post of J B 'Acharya' Kripalani. The Congress president in 1947, Kripalani, a Gandhian and a critic of Nehru's policies, was eased out the subsequent year. Ironically, in 1950, Nehru adopted Kripalani as his candidate for the election to the post of Congress president against Purushottamdas Tandon. Nehru abhorred Tandon, a Hindu revivalist, who, with Patel's support, won the election in August 1950. Patel passed away in December of that year, and with none to mediate between the two, relations worsened between Nehru and Tandon. Nehru quit the Congress Working Committee to force the rest of the leadership to choose between Tandon and himself. In September 1951, Tandon resigned, and Nehru, the prime minister, was elected the president of the Congress, continuing in the post until 1954. Indira became the president in 1959, and after a decade and a triumph against the party veterans later, the Indian National Congress literally morphed into Indira Congress. Around the same time, Syama Prasad Mookerjee, a former Congressman, founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1951. Mookerjee died in 1953, and Mauli Chandra Sharma, who, like Mookerjee, wasn't a swayamsevak, succeeded him. Trouble between the RSS and Sharma began when he refused to accept a draft list of office bearers drawn by Nagpur. The RSS got a young Deen Dayal Upadhyay to force Sharma out of the party. Sharma quit a year later but released his resignation letter to the press, accusing the RSS of interference in party matters. He claimed even Mookerjee was "seriously perturbed" by the RSS demands in the appointment of officer bearers. Ever since, the RSS became the arbiter of tussles within the Jana Sangh, or later the BJP. It is a role that the Gandhi family believes it performs in and for the Congress, making it inviolable if the party is to survive. The flip side of internal party democracy in the Indian context is the case of the socialists. Led by Acharya Narendra Dev, Kripalani, Ram Manohar Lohia and Jayaprakash Narayan, the caucus exited the Congress after Gandhi's death and swore by intra-party democracy. But internal elections nearly always meant the defeated faction forming its own party, only to reunite and split again some years later, dissipating political capital in the process. According to some studies, including by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), the leader-centric party system in India has contributed to the greater criminalisation of politics. Nearly half of the current Lok Sabha members (43%) have criminal charges against them, which is a 26% increase compared to 2014, according to ADR. Similarly, a party's lack of internal democracy complements the opacity of political financing. Over the years, commissions and committees have recommended 'party reform' to implement processes that institutionalise inner-party democracy. But as the example of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), India's most successful political startup, tells us, no politician in India would wish to be in Johnson's shoes. The AAP initially promised a collective leadership model but lost little time projecting Arvind Kejriwal as its supremo once it won the Delhi Assembly polls, ridding the party of his critics and potential rivals. Saying that it was "unfortunate" that her father's name is being used "for political conspiracies to malign the opposition," Mumtaz Patel, the daughter of senior Congress leader late Ahmed Patel on Saturday, raised questions over the alleged revelation by asking what stopped the government from investigating him while he was still alive. On Friday, the Special Investigation Team's (SIT) claimed in an affidavit that Mumbai activist Teesta Setalvad, ex DGP RB Sreekumar and ex DIG Sanjiv Bhatt and others acted "at the behest" senior Congress leader late Ahmed Patel to "destabilize" the then Gujarat government and implicate the then chief minister Narendra Modi in the 2002 riot cases. The affidavit was filed in response to a regular bail application moved by Setalvad. Read | Teesta, others 'hatched larger conspiracy to implicate then CM Modi at the behest of Ahmed Patel': Gujarat SIT "It only shows that even after his death, his name holds significance. Although we were never part of his works, I can say that such investigations should have been done while he was still alive. It is very unfortunate that after his death his name is being used to make news or for TRP," Mumtaz Patel, daughter of late Ahmed Patel, told DH when asked about SIT's claims. Later, she also tweeted that her father's name is being "used for political conspiracies to malign the opposition." She questioned why uptil 2020 the centre didn't prosecute her father for "hatching such a big conspiracy." In another tweet she said, "So their campaign for Gujarat election has begun by dragging @ahmedpatel s name in conspiracy theories. They did it before election when he was alive & are still doing it when he is no more. #isi #terroristinhospital #sandesara #TeestaSetalvad." So their campaign for Gujarat election has begun by dragging @ahmedpatel s name in conspiracy theories. They did it before election when he was alive & are still doing it when he is no more. #isi #terroristinhospital #sandesara #TeestaSetalvad Mumtaz Patel (@mumtazpatels) July 16, 2022 On Friday, the Gujarat government appointed-SIT while opposing bail plea of Setalvad claimed that as part of a "larger conspiracy" Setalvad and others acted to "destabilize" the then Gujarat government "at the behest of late Ahmed Patel, the then member of parliament from Rajya Sabha and political advisor to the president of Indian National Congress." Citing two unnamed witnesses, the affidavit claimed that Setalvad received Rs 30 lakh in different meetings days after the 2002 riots. "She received Rs 5 lakh at the first instance, where the money was given to her by one witness on the instruction of late Ahmed Patel. Two days later, in a meeting conducted at the Government Circuit House, Shahibaug between late Ahmed Patel and the applicant, the said witness had handed over Rs 25 lakh more to the applicant on the instruction of late Ahmed Patel," the affidavit stated. It added that the amount was not part of any relief related corpus. The affidavit also claimed that meetings were held at Patel's residence in Ahmedabad as well as in Delhi. "The witness statements recorded show that on various occasions when Teesta Setalvad and Sanjiv Bhatt used to meet at the latter's (Patel) residence, talks used to be concerning the collection of funds in the name of riot affected persons," the affidavit claimed. It also mentioned that several meetings were held at Patel's Delhi's residence where he met Bhatt four months after the riots in "a clandestine manner." When asked if SIT had approached her or anyone in the family, Mumtaz told DH that "no one approached her." She also added that none of them were involved in her father's work. Setalvad and Sreekumar are lodged at Sabarmati Central Jail while Bhatt is under SIT custody for questioning. They were booked after Supreme Court's adverse remarks for allegedly fabricating evidence in 2002 post Godhra riot related cases to seek conviction. The Basavaraj Bommai administration has withdrawn its order prohibiting citizens from taking photographs or shooting videos in government offices, a move that had received widespread criticism. Late on Friday night intervening Saturday, the Department of Personnel & Administrative Reforms (DPAR) withdrew the order without citing any reasons. This was made public at 2 am Saturday. Speaking to reporters, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the prohibitory order was not brought to his notice. Our government has nothing to hide. Regardless of who says what, our government is functioning in a transparent manner. So, it was decided not to impose any curbs and things should continue as they were before, he said. The CM, however, said there was merit in the petition given by the employees association. Government employees were talking about this for quite some time. They have a valid point. There were problems with photos of women being clicked, he said. The prohibition on photography and videography was the result of a petition from the Karnataka State Government Employees Association, which alleged that employees are being harassed by individuals who taking videos in government offices. This was not the first time that the Karnataka government tried to impose such curbs. In July 2021, the government issued an order banning mediapersons from filming or photographing the corridors of Vidhana Soudha, the seat of the legislature, as this was coming in the way of VIP movement. The order was withdrawn following outrage. In September 2019, guidelines were issued saying only 150 journalists chosen by the government will be allowed to enter the Vidhana Soudha, the Vikas Soudha and the Multistorey Building - Karnatakas Secretariat - as part of a larger measure to regulate visitors to the corridors of power. This was put on hold. In July 2018, the police suggested the imposition of curbs on visitors and media personnel, which the then chief minister HD Kumaraswamy was keen on enforcing. In October that year, the government was forced to withdraw a circular that restricted the entry of journalists to the third floor of Vidhana Soudha where the CM and other ministers sit. Chinas humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan mirrors major country responsibility 16:01, July 16, 2022 By He Yin ( People's Daily Afghanistans deadliest earthquake in 20 years caused heavy casualties and economic losses. As a friendly neighbor and sincere friend of the country, China announced to provide humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and delivered the aid materials promised at the earliest time possible. Chinas selfless assistance for Afghanistan following the disaster is a vivid example of the mutual assistance and friendship between the two peoples, as well as a concrete action of China to build a community with a shared future for mankind. It mirrors the sense of responsibility of a major country. China is among the first countries that have provided the biggest and most tangible aid to Afghanistan. In just about two weeks after the earthquake occurred, aid materials were sent by China via its Y-20 cargo planes and charter flights to Afghanistan. Besides, Chinese enterprises and overseas Chinese in Afghanistan also lent a helping hand, sending donations of medicines, tents and capital to disaster-hit areas. The first batch of earthquake relief supplies donated by the Chinese government arrive at Kabul International Airport in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, June 27, 2022. (Photo courtesy of the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan) Chinas assistance lit a hope for the Afghan people. They lauded the aid that came right on time and expressed heartfelt thanks to their friendly neighbor. The Afghan people live in a country that has long been tormented by wars and chaos. China pays close attention on the difficulties faced by the Afghan people and is always offering assistance for them. China honors its commitments in its assistance to Afghanistan. After the U.S. withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan last August, China announced to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. The first batch of aid materials arrived in September, and all the aid materials promised have been delivered so far. China keeps a people-centered approach in its assistance to Afghanistan. In a timely manner, China offered food, winter supplies, vaccines and drugs to meet the demand of the Afghan people. China builds international synergy in its assistance to Afghanistan. It respects the leading role of the Afghan interim government in receiving foreign aid and opposes the politicization of humanitarian aid. In March this year, China hosted the Third Foreign Ministers Meeting Among the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan. The meeting promoted consensus building among all parties relevant on the severe humanitarian difficulties facing Afghanistan, and decided to keep offering humanitarian aid for the country and supporting Afghanistans economic reconstruction and self-generated development. Afghan Red Crescent Society holds a handover ceremony of earthquake relief aided by the Red Cross Society of China, July 3, 2022. The donation of the Red Cross Society of China includes 16 tons of tents, camp beds and medicine kits, as well as $200,000 in cash. (Photo courtesy of the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan) China has always been acting responsibly in dealing with the Afghan issue. It respects Afghanistans independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, respects the independent choice made by the Afghan people, and respects Afghanistans religious beliefs and national customs. China never interferes in Afghanistans internal affairs, never pursues self-interest in Afghanistan, and never seeks a sphere of influence. China will continue to pursue the policy of friendship toward all Afghan people. It supports Afghanistan in building an inclusive government, ending turbulence, restoring stability and rebuilding the country, so that the Afghan people will be able to enjoy the benefits of peace and tranquility. The international society acclaimed Chinas proposal, saying it will help the Afghan people build a bright future. How a major country deals with its relations with Afghanistan mirrors its conscience and sense of responsibility. Afghanistan receives 800,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines and syringes donated by China, Dec. 8, 2021. The vaccines are the first batch of a 3-million-dose donation under a 200-million-yuan ($31 million) emergency humanitarian assistance program for Afghanistan announced by the Chinese government. (Photo courtesy of the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan) The arrival of Chinese airplanes carrying disaster-relief materials at Kabul airport triggered wide attention on the internet. It was compared with the terrifying scene of two people falling off a fleeing U.S. aircraft last August. At Kabul airport, one airplane took lives while the other sent hopes, said an internet user. Such contrast clearly explains major country responsibility. The U.S. is the initiator of the current humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan. It shoulders more responsibilities than any other country does in providing economic, livelihood and humanitarian aid to the Afghan people. However, rather than taking the responsibilities, the U.S. split $7 billion of Afghan frozen assets. Such robbery made Afghan peoples miseries even more miserable and has been widely condemned by the international society. Afghanistan is currently in a critical period to turn chaos into stability. To promote the peaceful reconstruction of the country, the international society must play a constructive role. China will keep providing assistance to Afghanistan for the latters post-disaster reconstruction and disaster relief as its capacity permits, and work with the international society to play a constructive role in the peaceful reconstruction of Afghanistan upholding the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji) The State is seeking to take over a 40 percent block of shares in one of the leading insurance companies, Champions Insurance, and a range of houses and vehicles all worth about US$20 million from former Zinara chief executive Frank Chitukutuku, who allegedly paid for the assets with cash siphoned from the road fund. Two judges have been assigned to jointly preside over the high profile graft case. Chitukutuku is accused of swindling Zimbabwe National Roads Administration of over US$3 million during his tenure as chief executive officer. He faces charges of criminal abuse of office, fraud, bribery and money laundering. But under the law, the State can also proceed through a civil route to strip someone of assets acquired with tainted money, and this requires a lower standard of proof, just the balance of probabilities, rather than proof beyond reasonable doubt. The targeted assets are owned by Chitukutuku and his wife Nyasha. It is believed Chitukutuku used proceeds from corruption at Zinara to become a 40 percent shareholder in Champions Insurance and bought several other movable and immovable properties. The shares, according to the State, become tainted and they should be forfeited. Due to the complexity and the importance attached to the high profile case, two judges have been assigned to deal with the matter. Under normal circumstances, one judge presides over their own case at the High Court, but matters of importance may attract two or more judicial officers. Justice Benjamin Chikowero and Justice Pisirayi Kwenda will jointly preside over the case in September this year. Initially, the case had been set for July 12, but Justice Chikowero deferred the matter, saying his colleague Justice Kwenda had other commitments. Among the assets targeted by the State are Chitukutukus shares in Champions Insurance. The State is also targeting a range of property and vehicles. Thproperty is listed as: Lot 1 of Lot 3 of Lot 56a Borrowdale Estate Harare, Lot 3 of Glen Lorne ,Harare, remainder of Lot 1 of Lot E of Colne Valley of Reiffonteinn, Harare, measuring 4 552 square metres, and subdivision A of Sentosa of Mabelreign Harare measuring 9 536 square metres. The vehicles are listed as: Mazda T35 ACN2758, Mazda T35 ACN0695, Hino Dutro ABI2738, Toyota Land Cruiser ADF8240, Toyota Prado ACP9977, Nissan NP200 ACN0713, Range Rover ACM2555, Hino Ranger ACU6845, Land Rover Discovery ADA7621, five tractors, 10 Tonne UD truck. Other assets besides the 40 percent shareholding in Champions are: four water tanks, a farm house, and Farmpride Pvt Ltd of 49 Kent Road Chisipite. In the application for forfeiture filed recently, the National Prosecuting Authority said investigations by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) showed that a company called Hotspike (Pvt) Ltd, owned by Chitukutuku and his wife, had 40 percent shareholding in Champions Insurance. Two other shareholders own the other 60 percent with Fremus Business Consultants owned by Mr Freddy Chimbari and his wife Masceline Chimbari holding 40 percent. The State argues that Chitukutuku purchased the Champions Insurance shares, but does not explain how he met the Insurances recapitalisation requirements. From 2009 to 2019, Champions Insurances capital position rose from US$107 000 to US$17 238 000. This is clear case of money laundering and ultimately (Chitukutuku) did violate the tax laws of this country by failure to show any tax returns for company tax and his individual dividends. He has not also shown payment of capital gains tax for the house he alleges to have sold which we vigorously contest in casu. The source of the capital is criminal and evidence of initial capital remains unexplained, reads part of the papers filed by the State. Chitukutuku in 2019 appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court facing six counts of criminal abuse of office after allegedly awarding road rehabilitation contracts worth millions of dollars to a colleague without following legal processes. Allegations against him are that between January 2009 and May 31 2016, he influenced awarding of contracts worth US$20 million for rehabilitation of roads in Zaka, Buhera, Mhondoro-Ngezi, Murewa and Goromonzi to Fremus Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd without following procurement procedures. According to this earlier criminal case outline presented in court, Chitukutuku had the power over disbursement of road rehabilitation funds. The accused, in connivance with former Zinara technical director Moses Julius Juma, corruptly imposed the awarding of contracts for rehabilitation of road works for rural districts councils without following procurement procedures, read the court papers in part. The accused acted contrary to his duties as a public officer for the purpose of showing favour to Fremus Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd, a company owned by his ZAOGA church associate, reads the court papers. It is further alleged that Chitukutuku and Moses Juma would threaten to withdraw road rehabilitation funds to rural district councils that sought to award road contracts to other contractors ahead of Fremus Enterprises. According to the court papers, Fremus director Chimbari bought a US$30 000 residential stand in Glen Lorne for Chitukutuku. Chimbari is also said to have, on different dates, deposited a total US$114 000 in Chitukutukus CBZ account. Herald Representatives from the Derry and Letterkenny Chambers of Commerce met with An Taoiseach Micheal Martin during a visit to Letterkenny. Members from the two Chambers, who signed a comprehensive memorandum of understanding in 2020 to jointly lobby and campaign on matters relating to the North West, received updates from the Taoiseach on issues as varied as the NI Protocol, the cost-of-living crisis, cross border worker taxation, tourism, infrastructure and connectivity, and his departments Shared Island Initiative. Businesses from the Derry Chamber also raised the lack of a functioning Executive and Assembly in Northern Ireland and urged the Irish Government to work constructively with local political parties and counterparts in the UK Government to facilitate a return to power sharing as soon as possible. Letterkenny Chamber businesses urged the Taoiseach to address the housing crisis, to do more to support employees and families affected by the defective blocks scheme, and to ensure that the financial support is in place to enable Letterkenny and Donegal to live up to its growth ambitions. Speaking after the meeting, Derry Chamber President Aidan OKane said, "We welcomed the opportunity to engage with An Taoiseach Micheal Martin this afternoon. "This was a constructive meeting and a chance to raise long-standing demands in both Derry and Donegal for greater rail, road, and air connectivity with the rest of the island and other key economic markets, the Irish Governments commitments to the expansion of Magee, and taxation of cross border workers. Great to meet the @lkchamber and @Derry_Chamber to hear about all the work done together. The North West has a really positive story of collaboration, trade and economic development.#SharedIsland pic.twitter.com/dQQLJU4aHn Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) July 15, 2022 The cost-of-living and cost-of-doing-business crises are also common challenges for businesses on both sides of the border, and todays engagement was a timely opportunity to highlight these pressures to the Taoiseach and urge his Government to do all that they can to help facilitate the return of the Executive. "As we have seen to date, cross-border collaboration is key to addressing the challenges faced by our members while also working to maximise the economic potential of the North West region. We look forward to further close working over the coming months. At the meeting, cross-border collaboration on key issues including cost-of-living, infrastructure and connectivity, skills, and tourism were raised Letterkenny Chamber President Kristine Reynolds added, This was a positive and timely engagement with the Taoiseach before the summer recess. It gave us a chance to outline the difficulties facing many businesses and households. Ahead of the Budget in September, we stressed to the Taoiseach the importance of regional balance in delivering for communities in the North West Region. "Letterkenny Chamber is committed to playing its part in delivering on its ambitious growth targets with stakeholders across the county and region. Support for our members priorities in terms of infrastructure, connectivity, skills and education is crucial to helping us realise our full potential. Was pleased to meet with Taoiseach @MichealMartinTD today to discuss the strategic priorities that must be delivered for the NW, including: - Expanded University in Derry - Improved Rail provision - Progress of A5 - @BorderWorkers Tax Issues - Air connectivity @CoDerryAirport pic.twitter.com/9Iso1lxD1f Aidan O'Kane (@AidanOKane) July 15, 2022 "We see the Shared Island Initiative as a substantial opportunity for continued cross border working and collaboration to deliver a prosperous North West City Region. The Letterkenny event was hosted by TCS, Letterkenny Global Delivery Centre. 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. Dinner and a viewing of the Columba 1500 anniversary Film were celebrated at the Bishops Gate Hotel in Derry to mark the close of The Columba Journey, community education and inter-Church programme that brought together participants from various faith traditions and none. These were drawn from within the Derry City Strabane District Council (DCSDC) area, Donegal District Council (DCC) area, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council (FODC) area, Leitrim and other areas together. Together, the group explored the Columba story taking part on a series of workshops and study visits. Participants also had the pleasure of visiting Gartan, Columbas birth place as well as Inishowens Moville and Shroove, from where Columba is alleged to have departed for his trip to Iona. There were also excursions to Kells and Dublin as part of the celebrations. The Columba Journey programme was supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and delivered by the Churches Trust. Speaking at the event in Derry, Fiona Fagan, chief executive, Churches Trust, thanked the funders for supporting the project, as well as the Churches Trust staff team for organising and delivering such a comprehensive and enriching programme. She also thanked the participants for their enthusiastic engagement throughout the project. Fiona Fagan, chief executive, Churches Trust, addressing the attendance. She said: Tonights event is a culmination of a wonderful year packed full of events and enjoyed by all. Indeed, the feedback from all our participants was over- whelmingly positive and I can assure everyone that there is great potential for building on the work achieved throughout the project and that we, at the Churches Trust will be unveiling further community education projects as part of their interfaith/inter Church programme for 2022 2025. Endorsing those sentiments, guest speaker at the event, Deirdre Harte, Colmcille 1500 project manager, Donegal County Council, said she was also delighted to attend the finale dinner and reminded all that over 150 events in all were delivered by local, regional and national partners throughout a busy year. Ms. Harte added: Donegal County Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council were happy to co-ordinate the joint programme for the year, with funding from the North West Development Fund, and we were ably supported by a Colmcille-Columba 1500 cross-border steering group. The Churches Trust was a significant partner in driving the steering group and their Columba Journey Project brought together people from across the North West to celebrate Colmcille on a cross-community, cross-border basis. Throughout Colmcille 1500, Colmcilles legacy was brought to life through music, spirituality, heritage, literature, language, drama and art celebrating his significance, not only for Donegal and Derry but across the world. Group pictured at the Churches Trust Columba Journey Grand Finale Dinner at the Bishops Gate Hotel, Derry. Front, from left, Kathleen Doherty, Mervyn Finlay and Eileen Parker. Back, from left, Ruby Finlay, Ann ODoherty and Caroline ODoherty. Photos Jim McCafferty Photography Resources created include short films, animations, education packs, publi- cations and virtual trails as well as new music and art commissions all ensuring Colmcilles legacy is passed on to future generations. New and strengthened relationships, across the island of Ireland and with Scotland, are also an important legacy for the year as well as the Sli Cholmcille Camino legacy project. A top Zanu PF official, who is also church leader in President Emmerson Mnangagwas Midlands province, says he will never be arrested for threatening to kill opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa and his family. Abton Mashayanyika, a bishop in the Habbakuk Apostolic Faith Mission church in Mberengwa, threatened to kill Chamisa for challenging Mnangagwa while addressing a Zanu PF local meeting before the video recording went viral on social media. Police are yet to arrest Mashayanyika or question him over a week after the video on the explicit death threats surfaced. Yesterday a defiant Mashayanyika told The Standard that he did not have any regrets over his threats, saying he was too Zanu PF to be arrested. Who will arrest me? Me? I am ready to die for Zanu PF, but that will not stop me from saying down with sell-outs, Mashayanyika said. Thats politics to say they must be killed. If they are opposing Zanu PF they are also saying Zanu PF must be killed. I do not like those people because I am a war collaborator. I fought in the liberation war that took over the country from white colonisation. Now some people come and want to give back the country to the whites. We cant let that happen. Mashayanyika, a bishop in the Habbakuk Apostolic Faith Mission church in Mberengwa, said he identified himself more as a politician than a man of the cloth. Yes, I am a bishop but I am more of Zanu PF than I identify myself as a church leader. When are the police going to come? I am not afraid of them, he said. I am a Zanu PF member and am not afraid of getting arrested. Tell them there in Harare that I am not afraid. I have been a staunch Zanu PF supporter since (Rhodesian prime minister Ian) Smiths time. But I am a war collaborator. I will not let the country go back to the hands of the whites. We cant let it go on like that and I still insist that I will continue supporting (President Emmerson) ED Mnangagwa. CCC youth communication secretary Stephen Tshuma called for a citizens arrest on Mashayanyika. It is clear that Zanu PF wants the law unto itself. It is without doubt that at this juncture, citizens of Zimbabwe, Mberengwa in particular, must initiate a citizens arrest and handover this criminal and Zanu PF thug into the hands of the police, Tshuma said. Efforts to get a comment from Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa were in vain as his number was not reachable. Zanu PF commissar Michael Bimha professed ignorance about Mashayanyikas death threats on Chamisa. Midlands provincial police spokesperson Emmanuel Mahoko referred questions to national police spokesperson Paul Nyathi Nyathis phone was unreachable yesterday. Mashayanyikas statements have been described as hate speech as tension grows ahead of next years elections. Chamisa survived alleged assassination during his meet the people tours last year. Police have been accused of selective application of the law as CCC and civil society activists are routinely arrested for mundane crimes or trumped up charges while Mashayanyika, who was caught making deaths on video walks scot-free. Standard The report on the front page of the Dundalk Democrat last week about 'discoloured water' appearing in Dundalk households in recent weeks has reminded me that it was not many years ago that Dundalk homes suffered discoloured water running from the taps on many occasions, especially during drought periods of mid-summers of the last century. There was one particular Christmas about forty years ago when the dreadful condition of the water ruined the festivities for many - not to speak about the damage done to washing clothing in this discoloured water! Indeed, it was not until 1990 when we were finally connected to the European funded Fane River/Lough Muckno Scheme that we had an adequate water supply in Dundalk! This, in turn, reminded of the long struggle that the various local authorities managing Dundalk's domestic water supplier had for centuries. This water supply struggle is recorded in the excellent book by the former Dundalk Town Engineer, the late Canice O'Mahony, 'An Engineer Remembers', published in 2008. In this book Canice has a chapter called 'Dundalk Water Supply 1870 1990', in which he reports on the various water schemes proposed, some of which were provided, during that period. The former Engineer, who had a great love of local history, makes an interesting observation at the beginning of this chapter, in which he remarks that, in the 15th Century, the Blackwater Stream was diverted into the Mill Race running towards the Castletown River, to make an important source of of portable water for the Town. He states that documents from the 18th Century refer to the present River Lane as 'the road to the Watering Place and Pump' and in the 19th Century as 'the road to the Town Pump' and to 'Pump Lane'. Canice goes on to write that 'in the 19th Century the inhabitants of the expanding Town obtained water from a number of hand-pumps, mounted on Abyssinian Wells. He describes how these wells were drilled and operated and states that 'following the establishment of the Town Commissioners in 1855 and contract for the maintenance of these pumps was let on an annual basis'. Not long afterwards this water supply was proving inadequate and in August 1880 the Commissioners called a meeting of rate-payers in the Town Hall to consider how Dundalk might be provided with piped water supply from outside the Town. As a result of this meeting a scheme was begun which was to bring water from the Cooley Mountains into a Supply Reservoir at Annaskeagh, Ravensdale, from where it was piped, via Dowdallshill, over the Big Bridge into the town streets. So, it was due, mainly, to the efforts of the old Dundalk Town local authorities, and to some extent Canice O'Mahony himself, that we have the modern domestic water supply, which is excellent compared to many other Irish towns - in spite of whatever faults may arise from time to time! President Mnangagwa yesterday opened up on his infamous Gwanda poisoning incident in 2017, saying the medical treatment that saved his life after being airlifted to South Africa inspired his mantra that a country can only be built by its own citizens (Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo). He said this during an interactive meeting with the business community in Kwekwe yesterday, which had ambushed him for the meeting to discuss the current economic situation. Since taking over the reins as the Head of State and Government in November 2017, President Mnangagwa has been rallying Zimbabweans to unite and work together for the betterment of the country. Addressing the Kwekwe business community meeting at a local hotel, President Mnangagwa said the Second Republic had been working on revamping all sectors of the economy, including the health sector. Most of you would remember that in August 2017, I had an incident of poisoning in Gwanda and I was airlifted to Gweru, he said. General Chiwenga then came to pick me up, airlifting me to South Africa. In South Africa, I was exposed to some expert medical attention and thats when I made a decision that this kind of medical technology should also be there in Zimbabwe. I had no idea then that they had decided to fire me back home. President Mnangagwa said the medical treatment that he received in South Africa inspired his vision for Zimbabwes health delivery system which he was now advocating. He said Zimbabwe was for Zimbabweans and the Second Republic was determined to turn the country into a jewel, albeit with some painful austerity measures that might hurt Zimbabweans, but temporarily. He said the journey towards a sound health system had started with the opening of a state-of-the-art pathology and diagnostic research centre in the Midlands. The President had opened the Midlands State University National Pathology and Diagnostic Centre in Gweru before he addressed the business meeting in Kwekwe. He said Zimbabwe was on a recovery path under the Second Republic. He challenged Zimbabweans to be vigilant, working as a unit to overcome the illegal sanctions imposed on the country. So, under the Second Republic, we said nyika inovakwa nevene vayo, we must not continue to cry and mourn about the illegal sanctions that were imposed on us, said President Mnangagwa. We must look to what God has given us and take advantage of that. What ever we eat we must be able to produce, what ever we wear we must be able to produce as well. President Mnangagwa said there could be some temporary economic pains that were bound to be felt by the ordinary Zimbabweans as the Government sought to put the economy on the right track. He said there were some few economic saboteurs in the economy who the Government was dealing with. Of course, there are a sizeable number of people in the economy who are saboteurs, but if we work as a unit we will conquer them, he said. There might be some pain felt along the way, but we will get there. What is needed is to focus on the positives and forget about the minor challenges. The Head of State and Government said the Second Republic had scored a number of successes in the economy in the last few years, with the industry picking up from 35 percent capacity utilisation to around 68 percent this year. In 2018, industrial utilisation was around 35 percent and now we are at 68 percent and we must be proud of ourselves, he said. The shelve product content on our supermarkets was at 42 percent domestic content and we are now at 72 percent. All that is progress. We have our problems, but we should not cry and mourn about these minor challenges. These policies we feel are a pain but there are to cure some diseases and it will be a thing of the past soon. In their presentations to the President, the business community applauded the Second Republic for creating an enabling environment for industry. Chairperson of the Kwekwe Business Community, Mr Thakor Patel, said the Second Republic had created a conducive environment for business through policies and other financial support systems that had seen industrial capacity utilisation growing from a mere 35 percent in 2018 to around 68 percent this year. We have been cut off from any financial support by the Western countries, but the Second Republic has come up with some supportive polices that have seen businesses growing, he said. This is a true sign of visionary leadership by His Excellency President Mnangagwa and we have continued to thrive despite these sanctions. Mr Patel urged fellow business people to take advantage of the conducive environment to seize opportunities to grow the economy. Let us take advantage of the conducive environment created by His Excellency, he said. The Government has made available loans from the banks, land for agriculture and mining as well. Lets stop complaining about minor challenges and find solutions to grow our economy. Herald Removing Chinese equipment from American wireless networks will cost more than anticipated. On Friday, Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel told Congress the agency needs an additional $3 billion to reimburse carriers that rip and replace their Huawei and ZTE infrastructure, reports Reuters . In 2020, former President Donald Trump signed the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act , mandating that US telecoms replace any suspect foreign network equipment from their networks. The bill also required the FCC to create a program for compensating affected carriers. That same year, the agency estimated it would cost telecoms more than $1.8 billion to comply with the order, though it eventually set aside $1.9 billion for reimbursements. After receiving 181 applications at the start of 2022, the FCC said US carriers had collectively asked for $5.6 billion to replace all their Huawei and ZTE equipment. On Friday, Rosenworcel said that funding all reasonable and supported cost estimates would cost a total of $4.98 billion, indicating the FCC found merit in the majority of claims it received at the start of the year. Turn on browser notifications to receive breaking news alerts from Engadget You can disable notifications at any time in your settings menu. Not now Turned on Turn on "Absent an additional appropriation, the Commission will apply the prioritization scheme Congress specified," Rosenworcel said in a letter to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. She added the FCC would begin processing reimbursements as allocations are issued in the coming days. Without additional funding from Congress, the FCC only has enough to reimburse companies about 40 percent of their costs. People in Russia will soon no longer be allowed to use digital assets as a form of payment. Russian president Vladimir Putin has signed a bill into law prohibiting the use of digital assets, such as cryptocurrency and NFTs, to pay for goods and services. In addition, as Protocol notes, the new law also requires crypto exchanges and providers to refuse transactions in which digital transfers can be interpreted as a form of payment. The new law states: "It is prohibited to transfer or accept digital financial assets as a consideration for transferred goods, performed works, rendered services, as well as in any other way that allows one to assume payment for goods (works, services) by a digital financial asset, except as otherwise provided by federal laws." As a New York Times report said earlier this year, US authorities believe that some Russian companies affected by sanctions imposed against their country after its invasion of Ukraine could be using cryptocurrency to circumvent those limitations. The value of Bitcoin even surged for a few days after the invasion started in February. That said, Russian authorities aren't quite keen on digital assets: The Central Bank of Russia called for an outright ban on cryptocurrency. That most likely didn't happen, because Russia's Finance Ministry was opposed to the idea and believed it was necessary to allow crypto technology to develop. In 10 days' time, the law will take effect and will make paying with crypto illegal in the country. According to Decrypt, though, Russians can still invest in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and presumably continue mining them as well. The US may have imposed economic sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine, but in space, the two countries are finding ways to continue working together. NASA and Roscosmos have signed a long-awaited agreement to swap seats on flights to the International Space Station. After the space shuttle program shut down, NASA relied on Russian Soyuz flights for years to ferry its astronauts to the orbiting lab. That is, until SpaceX succeeded in getting the Crew Dragon certified for human spaceflights. Now, the agency will again be securing seats on the Soyuz, while Russian cosmonauts will be flying aboard SpaceX Crew Dragon flights. NASA said in a statement provided to The New York Times: "Flying integrated crews ensures there are appropriately trained crew members on board the station for essential maintenance and spacewalks. It also protects against contingencies such as a problem with any crew spacecraft, serious crew medical issues or an emergency aboard the station that requires a crew and the vehicle they are assigned to return to Earth sooner than planned." In other words, the agreement will ensure that both the US- and the Russian-operated segments of the station will never be unmanned in case of canceled flights or other emergencies. The agency also said that the first integrated flights will take place in September, with Anna Kikina being the first Russian cosmonaut to fly on a Crew Dragon. She will be joined by NASA's Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada, as well as Japan's Koichi Wakata. Meanwhile, NASA astronaut Frank Rubio will be heading to the ISS aboard a Soyuz flight. In the spring of 2023, Russia's Andrei Fedyaev and NASA's Loral OHara will also be swapping seats. No money will change hands under the agreement, unlike in the past when NASA paid Roscosmos around $56 million a seat. The announcement comes at the same time as Dmitry Rogozin's dismissal as the head of Roscosmos. Rogozin had made controversial statements and decisions for years, but especially in recent months following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. After the European Space Agency formally backed out of the ExoMars joint mission with Russia, for instance, Rogozin said he ordered the Roscosmos crew to stop working with the European-made robotic arm on the ISS. Roscosmos, under his leadership, also distributed images of cosmonauts holding the flags of pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine. NASA issued a statement afterward, saying it "strongly rebukes using the International Space Station for political purposes to support [the] war against Ukraine." The Times said Kremlin's spokesperson clarified that Rogozin's dismissal has nothing to do with his performance. According to Space, Latvia-based news outlet Meduza reported that Rogozin would be assigned as Putin's chief of staff or as an administrator overseeing the Ukraine territories Russia had occupied, but neither rumor has been confirmed just yet. Re-Interrogating Civil Society in South Asia: Critical Perspectives from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh edited by Peter B Andersen, Rubya Mehdi and Amit Prakash, London: Routledge, 2021; pp 313 + xiii, $160. The anthology under review is about the so-called civil society, including social movements in three South Asian states having a common heritage till the end of the colonial rule in 1947. Of the 15 chapters, Chapter 1 is a general introductory one on the objectives of the volume. It gives a brief historical narrative of the concept and its new threads in the role of the politics in South Asia (p 7). Chapter 2 narrates the policy of the East India Company in creating a civil society in the subcontinent in the 19th century. Of the remaining chapters, the geographical coverage is uneven: seven papers are on Pakistan, six on India and only one on Bangladesh. These articles cover the time period from the colonial 19th century to COVID-19 of the present time. Civil Society For any meaningful empirical study, one expects some operational working definition of civil society. For the editors of the volume, civil society includes formal and informal, funded and non-funded, non-governmental organisations (NGOs). They wish to inquire about their nature and the impact of civil society (p 1), presumably on society and polity. These organisations vary from kin groups, neighbourhood associations, hobby clubs, street corner gossip groups, caste and religious organisations, business guilds, charity service organisations, human rights organisations, and so on. Of these numerous NGOs we are not told which kind of organisations the editors wish to focus on and why. Another objective of the enterprise is to inquire into the impact of these groups. However, it is not specified about what kind of impact the editors wish to examine and why. We are told that these organisations pursue all kinds of things. Some are concerned with deeper social transformation and mobilization and advocacy for fundamental structural changes (p 5). Some are service providers either on behalf of the state or donors. The introductory chapter does not explain the relationship between human rights and religion-based and/or secular charity organisations. Are they complementary to each other? If so, in what ways do they complement each other? These questions are neither addressed in Chapter 1 nor in the subsequent empirical studies. At the same time, the editors do note, and rightly so, that all these NGOs (presumably the internationally or religious elite-funded service/charity organisations) play a significant political role (p 6) notwithstanding their claim of being apolitical. It is rightly asserted that the self-professed apolitical role that some adopt in the guise of being service delivery organisations is itself political, in the sense that these organisations uphold the broad status quo, save the sliver services they seek to provide to a select portion of their target population. (p 6) One would have expected the subsequent empirical studies to probe into this question. Unfortunately, it is not done. Multifaceted Civil Society The chapters are divided into three parts. Part one is titled multifaceted and local civil societies. It has four chapters. The first is based on archival documents focusing on the colonial state and its attempts in the building of civil society in the 19th-century colonial India. Some of the early officers, according to the authors, were influenced by the Scottish Orientalist perspective on ancient republican India. During that golden period, the officers assumedand it seems the author concursthat there existed all components of civil society, including rule of law, principles of justice, flourishing arts and sciences, etc. It was a free commercial society (p 1). On this premise, some of the colonial officers attempted to revive village panchayats but these experiments eventually failed and were abandoned (p 25). Later, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the author, James Jaffe notes, neither British nor Indian witnesses expressed any support for village democracy (p 28). Despite the differences of opinion, the author finds that there was a striking consensus that the panchayats were perceived as performing the most important function as a school for civil society (p 29). One can raise several questions about this uncritical and romantic Orientalist narrative of ancient India, conceiving of village panchayats as synonymous with civil society and its relevance to the contemporary period. Such a discussion is beyond the scope of the present review. The chapter, though interesting, hangs separately from the subsequent chapters of the volume. The other three chapters of this section present a largely contemporary scenario about the nature of civil society in different South Asian countries, such as India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The chapter on India begins with the 1920s mentioning about Gandhian organisations. The author, Sumona Dasgupta, then makes a sweeping statement about peasant and workers movements, presumably in West Bengal in the 1960s and 1970s. Then, she moves to the 1980s with the World Bank-supported NGOs. At the same time, the author talks about old and new social movements. She refrains from analysing them as outside the scope of the chapter (p 42). Then she moves to the post-1990s period with peoples movement with a brief account based on media and secondary sources on the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan and anti-corruption movement of 201112 led by Anna Hazare. The author moves to recent trends (p 47) in the NGO sector. At the end, she concludes that there was an uneasy relationship between civil society, market, and the state (p 51). This uneasy relationship is not elaborated and documented, perhaps because of the constraints of space. The next chapter is on civil society in Pakistan beginning from 1947 to the present day. The author gives a brief account of womens rights organisations, laws related to registration of the NGOs and its constraints. The author advocates a need for a dialogue between NGOs/INGOs (international NGOs) and the government. The next chapter, Civil society, human rights and political antagonism in Bangladesh, mostly focuses on the development of NGOs in general and different political regimes since 1972. This chapter, unlike the previous ones, is analytical and empirically well-grounded. While doing so, the author, Shafqat Munir Ahmad, draws our attention to the areas of tension between the NGOs and the state. The author concludes that the position of critical NGOs and activists in politics appears unlikely to improve in years to come as dissent and voice are neglected while political space is decreasing and civil society effectively silenced (p 91). This is true and applies to all the three states in the present time, though in a different degree. Case Studies of Civil Society The second part of the volume presents seven case studies on civil society highlighting their multiple hues and roles. Of the seven, six studies are on Pakistan and one is on India. None is about Bangladesh. Most of the case studies are on womens empowerment. The personal narrative of women activist Fauzia Rafique on Women Front Pakistan during 197476 is fascinating, providing a much-needed political insight into the period. Rafique provides a relevant account not only about her struggle as an activist but also about various activities of the Women Front Pakistan, its relationship with different organisations, ideology, and tactics to enlarge its scope. The second article on the womens action forum is equally analytical and well-documented, focusing on Muslim feminist ideology. However, I wonder how the first chapter of this section, on thieves and khojis, though providing a rich ethnographic account of the traditional system of cattle thieves, fits with the other chapters of anthology and the subject matter of the volume on civil society. Of the other two chapters, one is on madrasas and the second is on civil society during COVID-19. The case study on India is about an NGO that aims at empowering women in metropolises. It is an interesting case in which Anna Romanowicz herself worked in the organisation as a researcher and employee. She provides a detailed account of the top-down elaborate bureaucratic structure designed by the donors. The modus operandi of the structure was accompanied by the meticulous manual having measurable indicators of empowerment progress. In practice, however, the author observes that such a bureaucratic model was far from participatory (p 153). Such a structure serves the interests of the donors wedded to economic liberalisation and legitimises the middle-class status of its employees by creating and reinforcing the distinction that reproduces cultural capital (p 159). The last part of the volume is on civil mobilisation among ethnic and linguistic minorities with three chapters. All are on Santhal Adivasis of India. They are about Santhal writers, the Santhali script, their rationality for empowerment, etc, to sustain their unique characteristics. They make for an interesting reading but their relevance to the theme of the volume is debatable. The volume is a mixed bag in which most of the chapters hang separately without any common thread except from the focus on NGOs. The editors of this volume do not provide an overview of the situation of civil society in present South Asia. Though the editors have claimed that, and as the title of the book suggests, the volume lacks perspective, far from a critical one, on civil society. The intersection of the political upheaval and economic crisis can transform the state and society in Sri Lanka. Ahilan Kadirgamar and Devaka Gunawardena write: The peoples uprising has finally ousted the Rajapaksa regime in Sri Lanka. The tremendous show of peoples power calling for the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe provides lessons on democracy to the world at large. What comes after such incredible political mobilisations? Will the dust settle in the weeks and months ahead, or does the awesome awakening of political consciousness guide politics into the years and decades ahead? The intersection of the political upheaval and economic crisis is likely to transform the state and society in Sri Lanka. As we grapple with these historic questions, what are the immediate possibilities for progressive forms of political and economic stabilisation? The recent manoeuvrings of the political elite inside and outside of Parliament provide little confidence of a credible political transition being forged through the parliamentary process. Indeed, it is the collapse in the legitimacy of Parliament and the repeated failures of the parliamentarians to deliver on the democratic demands of the citizenry that led to the masses taking charge of the countrys political future. Therefore, much will depend on the continuous vigilance and engagement of the peoples movement. In the lead up to the protests of 9 July 2022, there were several key demands that coalesced into those of the diverse movement: the immediate resignation of the President and Prime Minister; abolition of the executive presidency; formation of an interim government from the opposition to bring about political stability; a peoples council consisting of the peoples movements, trade unions, professional organisations, and other associations to hold Parliament accountable to the peoples demands; urgent economic relief to working people suffocating with price hikes and shortages; and holding elections after an interim period of six months to one year to elect credible representatives. Amid this formidable political moment, the opportunistic jockeying for power continues in order to elect a new president from within Parliament, along with the formation of a new government with a new Prime Minister. Therefore, the peoples movement needs to provide a clear and focused direction to Parliament over the interim period. This vision involves several components. First, the executive presidency must be curtailed and abolished. Different actors and groupings may try to moderate and water down this demand by stopping at restoring checks and balances through constitutional amendments. But these efforts must be seen as only prolonging the executive presidency. The hopeful background is that the social power accumulated through the peoples protest movement has set clear limits on the exercise of executive power. Any new president elected from Parliament as per the current constitution should not execute any of those powers. And in the weeks ahead, considerable pressure needs to be applied on parliamentarians to abolish the executive presidency. Therefore, with an interim government, particularly if the courts assert that abolition requires a referendum, the President should only act as a symbolic figure until a referendum is held alongside the next parliamentary elections. Second, is the issue of checking its plans and policies, given the Parliaments current regressive limitations. It must be supplemented by other methods of institutionalising the concerns and demands of the peoples movement. Suggestions have included establishing a peoples council. In this regard, the central demand of progressive forces must be to widen representation to include not only the representatives of the youth movement and professional bodies concentrated in Colombo but also a diverse cross-section of society, including plantation labour, garment workers, farmers, fisherfolk, and informal livelihood earners, among other groups. While the focus of the media was on Galle Face and its surroundings, the reality is that the movement to oust Gotabaya Rajapaksa would not have been successful if the regime had not already lost the hinterland. Third, there must be an economic policy reset. The underlying cause for this historic uprising has been the devastating impact of the economic crisis. People were left to fend for themselves during the pandemic-led lockdowns. They were offered little relief while the situation has continued to deteriorate. In fact, the last four months have been gruelling as the central bank, the finance ministry, and, more recently, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe have implemented the recommendations of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in order to seal an elusive agreement. Those austerity measures have led to the collapse of the economy, resulting in enormous increases in the cost of living, falling income streams, and disrupted livelihoods. Sri Lankas gross domestic product could contract by a tenth as the economic depression is further aggravated by austerity policies meant to provide confidence to the IMF and international creditors. The priority for the interim government must shift the focus to economic relief and stimulus to prevent the economy from collapsing totally. Any far-reaching economic reforms should only be pursued after a fresh mandate in the next elections. These amazing days of democratic mobilisation in Sri Lanka have shown that the era of neo-liberal policies, implemented most recently by an authoritarian populist regime and merely oriented towards powerful international actors, will not be accepted by the people. The great democratic strivings of the people may confront major obstacles in the upcoming weeks and months. But the peoples resilience as seen from the waves of protests over the last many months points to the possibility of major changes in Sri Lankas political economy in the years and decades ahead. The study examines the legal remedial measures for women trapped in the non-resident Indian marriages under private and public international law as well as the Indian legal and institutional framework, including a comprehensive legislation and a monitoring mechanism in the Prime Ministers Office. The Global Gender Gap Report 2021 vividly underscores the widening of the global gender disparity, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic (202022), by a generation from 99.5 years to 135.6 years (WEF 2021). At the current pace, the South Asian region will take a staggering period of 195.4 years to bridge the gender gap. With 65 crore (0.65 billion) women population, India remains the third-worst performer in the South Asian region, having closed 62.5% of its gap (WEF 2021). The gender gap generally manifests through inequality, discrimination, and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) against women. The existing corpus of international law appears inadequate to address the normative gap (Desai 2021) on the gender challenge. Ironically, an institutionalised bias pervades against females (Desai 2022) even in the third decade of the 21st century. One such segment relates to the plight of the Indian women being trapped in fraudulent marriages with non-resident Indians (NRIs) that has assumed alarming proportion (Committee on Empowerment of Women 2007). As a sequel to the 2018 petition filed by eight women in the Supreme Court of India, another petition was filed in 2021 by three women. An estimated 50,000 incidents in NRI marriages have led to registration of criminal cases under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and other provisions of law (Tribune 2018a) resulting in the abandonment of women. In Punjab alone, some 32,000 aggrieved women filed first information reports in different districts (Tribune 2018b). According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) website, there are 1,34,59,195 NRIs and 1,86,83,645 persons of Indian origin (PIO) with a total of 3,21,00,340 overseas Indians (MEA 2020d). The overseas Indians prefer to marry Indian residents due to cultural similarities and traditional values (NCW 2020a). In many of such marriages, the husbands abandon the wives while travelling to a foreign country, before reaching the husbands residence abroad, or just after a short stay abroad. In this grim situation, the MEA has sought to provide some safeguards to the women trapped in such NRI marriages. On 8 February 2019, a draft bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha to provide protection to women to create more accountability and offer more protection against exploitation of Indian women by their NRI spouses (Rajya Sabha 2019) through registration in NRI marriages. Within the limits of time and space, this article examines the international regulatory framework under the Hague Conference and 1979 Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) as well as the legal and institutional protection in India through available data and the case law. The Challenge of NRI Marriages The statement of objects and purposes of the 2019 draft bill seeks to provide for compulsory registration of marriage for better enforcement of rights of the deserted spouses under various family laws. During 201519, the MEA (2019a) received 6,094 complaints from women deserted by their NRI spouses. These complaints have been addressed by providing counselling, guidance, and information about procedures and mechanisms for serving a judicial summon to the overseas Indian husband; filing a case in India; issuing lookout circulars; getting access to lawyers and the non-governmental organisations impanelled with Indian missions, etc (MEA 2019b). In 2019, the MEA (2019c) revoked 21 passports, suspended 21 passports, and impounded one passport of NRI husbands for deserting their wives. The Supreme Court in the case of Y Narasimha Rao v Y Venkatalakshmi examined this issue in the context of conflict of laws and highlighted the need for a guideline, including compulsory marriage registration. International Legal Framework The matters concerning inter-country fraudulent NRI marriages as well as harassment, discrimination, and violence against Indian women fall under both private international law as well as public international law. Private international law: Primarily, marriages of Indian women with NRIs would attract domestic personal laws of India and the country of residence of the NRIs. Hence, there can be apparent conflicts between laws and jurisdictions of different countries owing to differences in societies, cultures, and the institution of marriage. The applicable body of private international law is also known as the conflict of laws. The corpus of private international law is huge and not a subject of this article. This study seeks to examine only the part relating to marriage of Indian women with an NRI groom residing in a country that is also a party to the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH).1 India formally joined the HCCH on 13 March 2008 after facing problems such as NRI marriages. It was felt that if we are not signatories to the same Convention, then when we go to a foreign countrys court, we have to prove that our courts actually meet their standards (Committee on Empowerment of Women 2007). Earlier it did participate in the HCCH instruments such as: (i) Convention on Inter-country Adoption (1993), (ii) Convention on Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters (1970), (iii) Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters (1965), and (iv) Convention abolishing the requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (1961). It seems that most of the cases of NRI marriages have been dealt with under extradition treaties/arrangements or agreements on mutual legal assistance treaties. Therefore, the platform of HCCH provides a good base to take up the matter with specific member countries where the NRIs may be based (such as Australia, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom [UK], and the United States [US]). Public international law: In the realm of public international law, the 1979 CEDAW provides for taking appropriate measures to suppress all forms of discrimination and exploitation of women, including trafficking and prostitution (Article 6, UN Women 1979). Often the main intention of the grooms in NRI marriages is to marry an Indian woman to get free domestic help abroad. This brings it under the rubric of modern slavery or modern trafficking that CEDAW (Article 6) prohibits (Bhargava et al 1989). Both modern slavery and transnational abandonment of the wives by the NRI husbands are the new face of discrimination as well as SGBV against women (Bhattacharjee 2013). At the minimum, compulsory registration of NRI marriages could help in mitigating the problem. However, India has made a reservation to the CEDAW Article 16(2) (Freeman 2009): though in principle it fully supports the principle of compulsory registration of marriages, it is not practical in a vast country like India with its variety of customs, religions, and level of literacy. (UN 2006) The 2019 draft bill has a small step to fully comply with the CEDAW. LegalInstitutional Framework The issues arising from NRI marriages have led to the abandonment of wives, domestic violence, and extramarital relationships, delay in getting immigration, ex parte divorce, etc. Indian women also face language problems that restrict them from availing proper legal remedy in a foreign country. The study has sought to examine the existing legal and institutional framework to deal with fraudulent NRI marriages as well as its interface with the relevant body of rules of private international law. Legal Framework (i) Availability of lenient grounds for divorce in some legal systems: It seems easier for NRIs to take divorce abroad due to the availability of lenient grounds in some jurisdictions. It aggravates the plight of Indian women in foreign lands. On the contrary, it becomes a nightmare for the women entrapped in NRI marriages to get justice in India. The Indian courts have pronounced some far-reaching judgments. Still, the courts alone cannot remedy the societal malady faced by women. (ii) Jurisdictional problem: Some of the NRI marriages are annulled by an ex parte divorce decree obtained by a husband in the foreign court. The Indian courts have held on many occasions that any matrimonial relief granted by foreign courts must be in accordance with the matrimonial law under which the parties were married. In Dipak Banerjee v Sudipta Banerjee, the maintenance proceedings initiated by the wife under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973 was upheld. The status of the husband as a citizen or a domicile in foreign country does not stop the Indian domiciled wife to approach an appropriate court to seek maintenance. (iii) Marriage legislations: Indias marriage legislations have remained scattered in enactments, such as the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC), the Special Marriage Act (SMA), the Indian Succession Act, and the Indian Divorce Act and some rules have evolved from judicial decisions. Moreover, the SMA, 1954 prescribes (Section 15) compulsory registration and permits dissolution (on mutual consent of the partiesSection 28) of marriages. It is an established principle of the Indian private international law that, for a marriage to be formally valid, it must comply with the lex loci celebrationis (law of the place of marriage). A marriage is governed by the personal laws, yet Section 4 of the SMA, 1954 provides for the conditions for solemnisation of special marriages. The Himachal Pradesh High Court held in Marian Eva v State of Himachal Pradesh that a marriage under the SMA may be solemnised in India between two citizens of India or two foreigners or between a foreigner and an Indian citizen. The Kerala High Court also took the same view in Rajeev v State of Kerala. The Foreign Marriage Act, 1969 was enacted to implement the recommendations of the Third Law Commission (Law Commission of India 1962). It provided for solemnisation of marriage abroad between parties where one of the parties must be an Indian citizen on the same lines as the SMA, 1954. (iv) Foreign judgments before the Indian courts: The general provisions relating to the recognition of foreign judgments and decrees are also applicable to that of foreign divorces. Section 13 of the CPC, 1908 embodies a fundamental principle of private international law that a judgment delivered by a foreign court should be enforced not only by way of courtesy but also on considerations of justice, equity, and good conscience. The judgment of a foreign court is regarded conclusive on any matter adjudicated upon between the parties. However, it will be subject to six exceptions ([a] to [f]) contained in Section 13 of the CPC, 1908. The Supreme Court took great pain to explain these exceptions in Y Narasimha Rao v Y Venkata Lakshmi. However, in Satya v Teja Singh, the Supreme Court refused to apply the rule that the husbands domiciliary law determines the jurisdiction. In Harmeeta Singh v Rajat Taneja, the wife was deserted by her husband and filed a suit for maintenance under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956. It was affirmed that even if the husband procured a decree of divorce in the US, it would not be recognised since the Indian court had jurisdiction in the matter. In order to avoid conflicts, a special law in the UK like the Foreign Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act, 1933 is required. It provides the power to extend Part I of Act to foreign countries giving reciprocal treatment (Section 1).2 In Vikas Aggarwal v Anubha, the Supreme Court held that inherent powers of the Court (Section 151 of the CPC) can, in fact, be marshalled to advance the interests of justice. Similarly, in Ramesh Venkat Perumal v State of Andhra Pradesh II, the Andhra Pradesh High Court rejected the contention of the husband for the quashing of proceedings under Section 498A of the IPC and held that it is a continuing offence and the sanction required (under Section 188), is not a condition precedent to initiate the criminal proceedings. (v) Analysis of the case data: In this section, on the basis of the available data, the factual situation regarding complaints by the Indian women trapped in fraudulent NRI marriages reflects their plight. Hence, the role of relevant Indian institutions becomes very crucial in this respect. Ministry of External Affairs : The ministry received 3,955 complaints from the Indian women who faced domestic violence abroad. The year-wise data of complaints received1,158 (2019), 1,299 (2018), and 1,498 (2017)show continuance of the pattern (MEA 2020a) in harassment, domestic violence, and matrimonial disputes. The 201720 data concerning the legal assistance provided to Indian women show that very few cases of distressed women victims in NRI marriages reach the Indian missions (Table 1) (MEA 2020b). The MEA has now prepared an emigration bill, 2021 to consolidate and amend the law relating to emigration of citizens of India (MEA 2021). The purpose of this bill is to regulate the outflow of Indian nationals going abroad, especially for work purposes. However, the draft bill does not make any reference to emigration of Indian women taking place through the institution of marriage so as to check their getting trapped into fraudulent marriages with NRIs. Hence, the MEA needs to duly work out appropriate inter-linkages and safeguards between the draft Emigration Bill 2021 and the Registration of Marriage of Non-resident Indian Bill 2019. National Commission for Women: The National Commission for Women (NCW) is another statutory body that has been receiving complaints from distressed women in NRI marriages. As on 20 March 2022, the NCW website provides details of 30,865 complaints (NCW nd) out of which, six major causes have been chosen (18,952 complaints), as shown in Table 2 (p 25) (NCW 2021). National Crime Records Bureau : The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) seeks to maintain an authentic record of crimes against women. However, the actual picture of crimes against them can only be guessed due to various attitudinal, societal, and institutional barriers in the registration of complaints. The NCRB data (Table 3) provide a grim picture. The growth rate in crimes against women, particularly married women, is alarming. In 2019, as per the NCRB (2019c) data, 3,813 women died by suicides due to non-settlement of marriage (1,037), dowry issues (1,815), extramarital affairs (440), divorce (278), and others (643). Situation in Punjab: The status of complaints received and actual cases registered against the NRIs by the Punjab police during January 2013 to April 2020 is indicative of the prevailing crisis (Punjab Police 2022a). The disposal of a large number of complaints could be the result of factors, such as coercion, attitudes of the police, allurements, compromises, and sheer desperation of women trapped in NRI marriages. As on 28 February 2022, there were 291 proclaimed offenders and 52 absconders out of which 130 proclaimed offenders and 23 absconders were in matrimonial disputes (under Section 299 of the CrPC), as shown in Table 4. Out of the total 1,268 complaints registered at the NRI cells (Table 4A), they pertained to matrimonial issues (569), property disputes (285), and other matters (414). The cumulative picture of the data shown in Table 4 (A, B, and C) indicates the prevailing crisis. It should make the sociologists, legal scholars, social reformers, heads of religious institutions, womens organisations, police, lawyers, judiciary, bureaucratic structures, and the policymakers concerned and alarmed. The lookout notices and declarations as proclaimed offenders and/or absconders do not appear to dampen the spurious practices that drive the penchant for indulging in fraudulent NRI marriages. Institutional Framework The MEA, Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), and Ministry of Law and Justice (MoLJ) have come together and formed an integrated nodal agency (INA) that caters to the matrimonial disputes relating to NRI marriages. These are forwarded to the NCW for scrutiny. On that basis, the INA can issue the lookout circulars (LoC). As a part of it, consequential action can be taken, including the possibility of swift revocation or impounding of the passport of the NRI offenders (GOI 2018). The Committee on Empowerment of Women (2007) suggested that all marriages, irrespective of religion should be compulsorily registered. Similarly, the report (No 219) of the Law Commission of India also recommended, registration of marriages must be made compulsory. It called for a new composite legislation for NRIs or suitable changes be made in existing legislations for streamlining the laws and procedures (Law Commission of India 2009a). Now the 2019 bill has sought to focus on four main aspects3 in the NRI marriages. The Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) has recommended for intensification of efforts for coordination with the member countries of the 1965 Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extra-judicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters. It also called for taking up the issues of NRI marital disputes during bilateral meetings and consular dialogues with the concerned countries (MEA 2020c). The 2019 bill falls short of the requirement for a comprehensive legislation to address all the problems arising from the fraudulent NRI marriages. It remains to be seen as to how the PSC finally decides to give the go ahead to the MEA in the matter. The MEA has compiled the data from nine countries (United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Germany, UK, US, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada) about the incidences of cheating against Indian women by their NRI spouses and provided some basic guidelines for the protection of women. It underscores the gravity of the situation and the nature of problems faced by Indian women trapped in fraudulent NRI marriages (MEA 2016a). Conclusion: A Way Forward Against the backdrop of the above discussion, there is an urgent need for taking the following concrete legal and institutional steps to stem the tide and ameliorate the conditions of Indian women trapped in fraudulent NRI marriages. Enact a special comprehensive legislation that can be designated as the Non-resident Indian Marriages (Protection of Women) Act: It can comprise basic precautionary measures, including compulsory registration of NRI marriages, a verification mechanism for antecedents, provision for bond, a set of guarantors, deposition of a bank surety, cooling-off period after marriage, a registration and monitoring mechanism at the Indian missions abroad, allowing the breakdown of the marriage as a ground for dissolution, penalty clauses, and setting up of a special national regulatory authority for NRI marriages. It can provide for a specialised set of regional NRI courts in cities, such as Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bhopal, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Kochi, and New Delhi. The MoWCD can be designated as the nodal ministry: It can help in coordination with other ministries for addressing the issues of emigration, extradition, repatriation, crimes against women as well as participation of India in the Hague Conference processes, implementation of Indias international obligations under conventions, such as CEDAW along with resolutions, instruments, and other policy-related initiatives undertaken by the United Nations. Registration of NRI marriages must be made compulsory: Pending enactment of the above proposed comprehensive legislation on NRI marriages, the 2019 bill needs to serve as a deterrent against bigamous practices, fraudulent matters, and provide proof of a valid NRI marriage through registration within 30 days to the concerned Indian mission after a cooling-off period in India. Dissolution of marriage on the ground of irretrievable breakdown: It needs to be allowed as a ground for divorce when one of the spouses is an NRI. This would require an amendment to the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 and the Special Marriage Act 1954 as already done in the Marriage Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2013 (original Bill No XLI-C of 2010),4 passed by the Rajya Sabha. In 2009, the Law Commission of India (2009b) recommended aforesaid amendments to the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 as a new ground for divorce. This will provide defence to the woman when the husband obtains an ex parte divorce. The problem of abandoned brides in consonance with the private international, law needs to be solved on a case-by-case basis. Due to differences in private international law rules, there is a great disparity in the judgments. It calls for an urgent need for a comprehensive examination of the international conventions and bilateral treaties and draft an appropriate national policy, specifically to address the challenge of NRI marriages in consultation with the union and state governments. The MEA has recently taken steps to provide financial help to distraught women through the Indian missions to fight legal battles. It was revised and streamlined in November 2016 (MEA 2016b). Need for a special monitoring cell in the Prime Ministers Office (PMO): Such a specialised monitoring and coordination cell needs to be located in the PMO due to the involvement of multiple agencies, such as the Overseas Indian Affairs, MEA, MoWCD, NHRC, and state governments in dealing with issues relating to fraudulent NRI marriages. The NRI cell set up (2009) in the NCW deals with the complaints received from distressed women (NCW 2020b). In view of the limited statutory powers and the weight of the NCW, the coordination needs to be entrusted to the special monitoring cell in the PMO to address the challenge in earnest. Notes 1 HCCH (1955) d7d051ae-6dd1-4881-a3b5-f7dbcaad02ea.pdf (hcch.net) . 2 Foreign Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act, 1933 [23 GEO 5 CH 13.]; Foreign Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act, 1933 (legislation.gov.uk). 3 The Registration of NRI Marriage Bill (2019), No 11. 4 The Marriage Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2013 (original Bill No XLI-C of 2010); https://www.prsindia.org/billtrack/the-marriage-laws-amendment-bill-2010-1227. References Bhargava, Simran, Salil Tripathi and Amrit Kakaria (1989): Ninety Per Cent Indians Settled Abroad Hunt for Spouses from Back Home, but Alarming Number Go Sour Too, India Today, 15 February. Bhattacharjee, S (2013): Distant Silences and Default Judgments: Access to Justice for Trans-nationally Abandoned Women, University Of Pennsylvania Journal of Law and Social Change, Vol 16, pp 95110. Committee on Empowerment of Women (2007): Plight of Indian Women Deserted by NRI Husbands, 12th Report, 13 August; Lok Sabha Secretariat, pl 21, (prsindia.org). Desai, Bharat H (2021): Gender Based Violence a Global Challenge, Tribune, 2 November . (2022): Build Sustainable Society, Tribune, 8 March . Freeman, Marsha A (2009): Discussion Paper, Reservation to CEDAW: An Analysis for UNICEF, UNICEF, https://www.unicef.org/gender/files/Reservations_to_CEDAW-an_Analysis_for_UNICEF.pdf. GoI (2018): WCD Ministry to Providing All Possible Assistance in NRI Marital Dispute Cases, Press Information Bureau, Government of India (pib.gov.in). HCCH (1955): Statute of The Hague Conference on Private International Law; came into being on 15 July 1955 and amended on 1 January 2007. (2020): Annual Report 2020, Hague Conference on Private International Law. HCCP (2020), Annual Report 2020, p 8, be1e5b62-3e96-4cb2-a104-044181a2a6f5.pdf (hcch.net), viewed on 14 March 2022. (2022): Membership Growth; HCCH | HCCH Members . Law Commission of India (1962): The Law of Foreign Marriages, 3rd Law Commission, 23rd Report, Ministry of Law; Report 23. pdf (lawcommissionofindia.nic.in). (2009a): Need for Family Law Legislations for Non-resident Indians, Report No 219, Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice (lawcommissionofindia.nic.in). (2009b): Irretrievable Breakdown of Marriage: Another Ground for Divorce, Report No 217, March (indiankanoon.org). Ministry of External Affairs (2016a): Legal and Other Provisions in Foreign Countries on Indian Women Cheated/Abandoned/Abused by Overseas Indian Spouses, pp 1317, legal_provisions_in_foreign_countries.pdf (mea.gov.in). (2016b): Legal and Financial Assistance to Indian Women, proforma-legal-assistance.pdf (mea.gov.in). (2019a): Question No 688 on Complaints of NRI Brides, Lok Sabha, 20 November, https://www.mea.gov.in/lok-sabha.htm?dtl/32054/Question+No688+Complaints+of+NRI+BRIDES. (2019b): Question No 2093: Special Laws against Absconding NRI Husbands, https://mea.gov.in/rajya-sabha.htm?dtl/31585/Question+NO2093+SPECIAL+LAWS+AGAINST+ABSCONDING+NRI+HUSBANDS. (2019c): Question No 1712: Revoking Passport of NRI Husband, Lok Sabha, 13 February, https://www.mea.gov.in/lok-sabha.htm?dtl/31038/QUESTION+NO1712+REVOKING+PASSPORT+OF+NRI+HUSBANDS. (2020a): Starred Question No 284 on Indian Women Facing Domestic Violence Abroad (by Vijay Goel), Rajya Sabha, 19 March, (mea.gov.in). (2020b): Unstarred Question No 1427 in the Lok Sabha, Legal Assistance to Women, Annexure 1, (mea.gov.in) ; lu1427_00.pdf (mea.gov.in). (2020c): The Registration of Marriage of Non-Resident Indian Bill, 2019; Third Report of Committee on External Affairs 201920, Lok Sabha Secretariat; SC Report_NRI Bill, 2019.pdf (prsindia.org) ; Press Release NRI BILL 13 3 2020.pdf. (2020d): Population of Overseas Indians, http://mea.gov.in/images/attach/NRIs-and-PIOs_1.pdf. (2021): Draft Emigration Bill 2021 | Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, (mea.gov.in). National Commission for Women (2021): Nature-wise Report of Complaints Received by NCW. (2020a): Abandoned Indian Women Trapped in NRI Marriage: The Way Out, http://ncw.nic.in/sites/default/files/AIWTNME.pdf. (2020b): Functions of NRI CELL, Functions of NRI CELL | National Commission for Women (ncw.nic.in). (nd): Important Case Laws Related to NRI Marriages, NCW: Important Case Laws for NRIs (ncwapps.nic.in). NCRB (2019a): Crime against Women (IPC + SLL), Table 3A.1; Table 3A.1_2.pdf (ncrb.gov.in), viewed on 20 March 2022. (2019b): IPC Crime against Women, Table 3A.2; Table 3A.2_2.pdf (ncrb.gov.in), viewed on 20 March 2022. ncrb.gov.in/sites/default/files/ADSI_2019_FULL%20REPORT_updated.pdf. Punjab Police (2022a): Details of NRI Complaints/ Cases Registered, Punjab Police, NRI Complaints/Cases (trafficsolutions.in), viewed on 24 March. (2022b): Performa Monthly Report of Proclaimed Offenders/Absconders; I (punjabpolice.gov.in), viewed on 24 March. Rajya Sabha (2019): The Registration of Marriage of Non-Resident Indian Bill, 8 February, 3763RS.p65 (mea.gov.in). Sundari, Anitha and Pragya Patel (2016): Transnational Marriage Abandonment: A New Form of Violence against Women? Open Democracy, 6 June. Tribune (2018a): Abandoned by NRI Husbands, Eight Women Approach SC, 13 November, https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/nation/abandoned-by-nri-husbands-eight-women-approach-sc-682436. (2018b): Centre Forms Panel to Deal with NRI Wife-deserters, 30 August, https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/punjab/centre-forms-panel-to-deal-with-nri-wife-deserters-644862. United Nations (2006): Declarations, Reservations, Objections and Notifications of Withdrawal of Reservations Relating to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Indian Declaration to CEDAW of 9 July 1993, https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N06/309/97/PDF/N0630997.pdf?OpenElement. United Nations Women (1979): Convention on the All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 1979; CEDAW 29th Session 30 June to 25 July 2003 . World Economic Forum (2021): Global Gender Gap Report 2021, p 5, PrefaceGlobal Gender Gap Report 2021 | World Economic Forum (weforum.org), viewed on 20 March 2022. CASES Harmeeta Singh v Rajat Taneja (2003); IIAD Delhi 14, 102 DLT 822, I (2003) DMC 443, 2003 (67) DRJ 58; Harmeeta Singh v Rajat Taneja on 23 January 2003 (indiankanoon.org). Marian Eva and Anr v State of Himachal Pradesh (1993); AIR 1993 HP 7, II (1992) DMC 142; on 6 March 1992 (indiankanoon.org). Rajeev v State of Kerala (2001); 1 Ker LT 578; V Rajeev v State of Kerala on 30 May 2008 (indiankanoon.org). Ramesh Venkat Perumal v State of A P and Anr (1998); DMC 523, 1998 (1) ALD Cri 122, 1998 (1) ALT Cri 1, II (1998) DMC 523; on 10 November 1997 (indiankanoon.org). Satya v Teja Singh (1975); 1 SCC 120; on 1 October 1974 (indiankanoon.org). Pakistani poet Fahmida Riaz decried the dominant narrative in Western feminism of Muslim women as wholly marginalised and without agency. Ye chaardiwaarian, ye Chadar gali saadi laash ko mubarak. Khuli hawaaon me baadbaan kholkar badhega mera safeena, Mein Adam-e-nau ki hamsafar hun, Ke jis ne jeeti meri bharosebhari rifaaqat! (These walls and the veil behove the rotten corpse, My boat will move forward with open mast in the air, I am the companion of new man, Who has won my trustworthy companionship!) Fahmida Riaz, Chadar aur Chardiwari (The Walls and the Veil) Terming religious patriarchy and the theocratic military regime of Zia ul Haq as a rotten corpse, Fahmida Riaz (19462018) opened new vistas of feminist resistance and resilience to state persecution in Pakistan. Much of Riazs eminence and popularity is due to her brazen and indomitable feminist spirit challenging the patriarchal institutions in Pakistan. She is best remembered for her daring poetic creations, with her prose remaining untranslated and unnoticed by literary critics. Riazs early poetry about womens body functions, depicting womens anatomy, reproduction, sex, and menstrual bloodfor which she was bitterly criticised in the early 1960smakes her a predecessor to many Western feminist theorists like Julia Kristeva and Judith Butler. Due to her confrontation with General Zias autocratic regime, Riaz was exiled in India for seven years as a poet-in-exile at Jamia Millia Islamia. The prolonged stay had a profound impact on her literary and political activism. This stay shaped her literary language as she challenged the elite hegemony and standardisation-cum-Islamisation of Urdu. She learnt the Devanagari script and deliberately used Sanskrit words in her prose and poetry. Paththar ki Zaban (The Tongue of Stone, 1967) reflects Riazs radical approach in presenting taboo subjects in a conservative country like Pakistan; her detractors denounced her writings as obscene and sensational and an attempt to startle the masses to surprise. In the foreword to her collection Badan Dareeda (The Torn Body, 1973), Riaz termed her poetic endeavours as an attempt at banging ones head against a wall, a metaphor for traditional art and literature born out of social conditioning. Riaz associated her personal experiences with the miseries of humanity around the world, embodying the feminist rallying cry of the personal is political. She termed her poetry as a clarion call for resistance, addressing the conformist masses. Riazs early poems are best described as an expression of her karb (pain) owing to the claustrophobic conditions of personal and social life dominated by the patriarchal diktats. Riazs remarkable contributions are as a feminist historiographer. Her article Feminism aur Ham (Feminism and Us, 2005) traced the roots of womens emancipation in medieval India. Riaz rummaged through the pages of history to counter Western hegemony in feminism. While acknowledging that misogynistic practices are a part and parcel of our heritage as a natural phenomenon around the world, she decried the dominant narrative of Muslim women in the medieval era as wholly marginalised and without agency. She substantiated her argument by citing the examples of Razia Sultana, the empress of India, nominated by her father Iltutmish, when he found his sons unworthy to be his heir. Riazs description of womens status in Mughal aristocracy establishes her position as a third-world feminist, challenging the hegemony of Western feminism. Aisan Daulat Begum Baburs maternal grandmother, Khanzada Begum Humayuns eldest sister, are some remarkable examples of womens contribution to politics, religion, art, and poetry during the medieval period. Riaz simultaneously cleared the scepticism about womens status in general during the Mughal period showing that the royal and aristocratic ways of life had far-reaching effects on the subordinate classes in social hierarchy. As a third-world feminist, she held British colonialism responsible for the domestic incarceration of Muslim women. The mutiny of 1857 not only snatched political power from the hands of Muslims, but persecution by the British also put Muslim women in precarious and vulnerable conditions. The age-old centres of learning that were exclusive to women bore the brunt, and Muslim womens education received a huge blow. Riaz analysed masterpieces of Urdu literature like Ratan Nath Dhar Sarshars Fasana-e-Azad (The Adventures of Azad, 1880s) through a feminist lens, arguing that many of the feminist concerns in Muslim community had been debated long before Western feminism. She also presented many examples of liberated and enlightened Muslim women from the masses who contributed to literature. Riaz was known for her resistance poetry in the wake of the clamping down on dissent by General Zias regime. Kotwal Betha Hai (The Kotwal Is Sitting), Chadar aur Chardiwari (The Veil and the Wall), Taaziat ki Qaraardaaein (Condolence Resolution), Woh Zan-e-Naapaak Hai (That Impure Woman), which appeared in Sab Laal o Guhar (All Gems and Stones, 2011), a collection of poems written between 1967 and 2000, demonstrate her Marxist voice of resistance against the theocratic establishment. Chadar aur Chardiwari is a vocal and intrepid rebuttal of the ludicrous laws of the military regime through the name of imposition of Sharia law and castigates age-old patriarchal oppression of women in the form of prostitution and sexual exploitation. She questioned religious clergy for their meek submission to the dictatorship. Her feminist voice refused to be cowed down, and she was uncompromising in her anti-Islamic views and outspoken attitude. In a stinging attack on religious patriarchy, she castigated the Islamic clergy of Pakistan who called for her social boycott. Her long stay in India evoked a natural belongingness to India; her love and concern for India found expression in both her poetry and prose. The semi-autobiographical Godavari (2013) gives an account of her deep insight into the various facets of India. Both in her prose and poetry, she presented India not only as a place of refuge and receptive and accommodative to outsiders but also as multicoloured with vibrant, heterogeneous cultures. At the same time, she was critical of Indias political elite who used hate as a fulcrum to divide people along communal lines, especially around the demolition of the Babri Masjid. Ham Log (We, the People, 2013) and the poem Naya Bharat (New India, 2017) are critical of the rise of right-wing politics in contemporary India. Riaz championed the composite language and culture of the subcontinent and denounced narrow conceptions of nationalisms based on the parochial notions of religion and language. In contrast, she bolstered internationalism and dreamt of a world free from the exploitative power structures of patriarchy, religion, and capitalism. Riazs feminist approach was ahead of her time and paved the way for the development of intersectional third-world feminism, disabusing the women of the subcontinent from the sobriquet of a poor, helpless, wretched lot waiting for emancipators from the West. This paper is based on the authors MPhil thesis that was submitted to the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai under the supervision of M H Suryanarayana. Regional imbalances within states have attracted the attention of researchers and policymakers alike. But the scarcity of district-level studies leaves much to be desired. Districts are the first stage of policy implementation, making it imperative to understand and analyse development at this third tier of administration. With some modification, this paper follows the methodology adopted by the Council for Social Development to construct a six-dimensional social development index for an analysis of development in the districts of Maharashtra. In addition to supporting existing evidences, this study finds interesting variations among the districts across all dimensions. Evidences of disparity across social dimensions even within pockets of prosperity are found in this study. Researchers argue that social development is about putting people at the centre of development (Webbink 2011). Where elected governments are often judged by the outcomes of their policies, it becomes necessary for policymakers to choose policies that enable citizens to realise their full potential. However, social development is a function of multidimensional indicators. Its measure depends on the choice of parameters or indicators that a researcher believes to affect an individuals array of choices. If that is the case, then it becomes imperative to understand how these different types of parameters or indicators aggregate to give a spatially comparable single index. In this stride, the objective of the current study is to construct an index based on a set of development parameters that we believe may affect social development of individuals in Maharashtra,1 and then compare the results across its various districts. We rely on the choice of dimensions as suggested in the Social Development Report (CSD 2010, 2012, 2014). This report is brought out by the Council for Social Development (CSD) biennially since 2006. The social development report constructs the social development index (SDI) for major Indian states. The index is composed of the following dimensions: demography, health, education, basic amenities, economic deprivation, and social deprivation. The basic components have remained almost the same in all the reports but the methodology and database have changed over time. Another approach to quantify social development is given by the International Institute of Social Studies in the Netherlands (Webbink 2011). This index lays stress on the institutional aspect of development. Social development refers to the institutions of societies through which development is enhanced: the soft dimensions of development, often invisible and difficult to measure (Webbink 2011). The index is constructed by aggregating around 200 indicators (classified in six dimensions) using matching percentiles method. The dimensions of development used in the index are: civic activism, clubs and associations, intergroup cohesion, interpersonal safety and trust, gender equality and inclusion of minorities. The problem with this index is that it uses time periods that are averages for data from 1990 to 2010. Therefore, it is not possible to link the index to a specific year for a series of countries. The report itself states that the index has the limitation that it cannot be used for intra-country comparison. The social progress index is another measure for social development. The index was developed in 2013 by a non-profit organisation based in the United States (US) to have a broad understanding of development. The index is composed of around 50 indicators under three dimensions: basic human needs, opportunity, and foundations of well-being. Each of these dimensions has four components, which are measured using various indicators. The index is different from other measures of development as it uses only outcome indicators of social development and not economic development. However, there is a dearth of study to measure social progress at the district level in India. To fill this void, this study constructs the SDI at the district level for Maharashtra. The index is used in this paper to analyse the disparities in development within the state. The social development approach is used because of the high social exclusion of various groups in India that is not captured by growth or human development approach.2 In SDI, we attempt to capture this social exclusion through the social deprivation dimension of the index.3 This paper contributes to the literature on regional disparity in two ways; first, constructing a more comprehensive index (six dimensions composed from 17 indicators) and second, studying at the level of disaggregation of districts. The latter are the fundamental units in the Indian administrative set-up. It is at this level that governmental planning meets administrative execution. With the focus on intra-state disparity, studies at this level become indispensable. In the past, studies at the district level have suffered due to the lack of reliable data at a disaggregated level. Availability of this cross-section data is bound to greatly facilitate our comparative developmental understanding (time-series data are still unthinkable). The organisation of the paper is as follows: first, the paper gives a brief overview of regional imbalances in Maharashtra. Then, it details the methodology of the construction of SDI. Finally, it discusses the index values and ranks. Regional Disparity in Maharashtra Maharashtra is not only one of the wealthiest states of India4 but also one of the highly developed states in terms of the human development index (HDI). Even so, high intra-state variations are witnessed in Maharashtra. Vidarbha and Marathwada regions are widely perceived to be underdeveloped as compared to the rest of Maharashtra.5 The persistence of this stark disparity over the years in this otherwise wealthy state has attracted the attention of various researchers and government reports, some of which is presented in this section. The report of the Fact Finding Committee on Regional Imbalance in Maharashtra, 1983 under the chairpersonship of V M Dandekar pointed towards stark regional imbalance and a substantial backlog in the state.6 The committee also suggested measures for the removal of these backlogs, including long-term measures to avoid such regional imbalances in the future. This was followed by a special outlay from the annual plan 198586 to remove the backlog pointed out by the fact-finding committee. Subsequently, a study group was appointed in 1992 for the identification of backward areas in Maharashtra state under the chairpersonship of B A Kulkarni (GOm 1992). The study classified 17 districts in Maharashtra as backward, out of which 14 were from the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions. These studies were followed by the constitution of three statutory development boards (SDBs) by the President of India in August 1994. The Indicators and Backlog Committee was appointed by the Government of Maharashtra to assess whether the expenditures made by the government after the Dandekar Committee had any impact on the backlog or not (GoM 1997). The total backlog estimated by this committee was found to be `14,000 crore (around four times the backlog estimated in 1984 by the Dandekar Committee). In real terms, the total backlog of the state had increased by 88% between 1984 and 1994. The share of the backlog of Vidarbha was estimated around 47% and of Marathwada as 29%. Desarda (1996) pointed out that Maharashtras backward regions, Vidarbha, Marathwada and parts of the Konkan have suffered not only because of sheer neglect, but also because the growth model of western Maharashtra is being foisted on a region with different socio-political and agro-climatic features. The study showed that, for a long time, the states expenditure has been mainly on irrigation and power, as these two are supposed to be the drivers of growth. This led to the backlog in some or the other sector in all districts of Maharashtra. The allocations for backlog removal have increased over time. From `500 crore in 1994, the allocation increased to `1,720 crore in 200102 (annual plan). Even after the increase in allocation for the removal of the backlog, its share has only increased in both Vidarbha and Marathwada regions over time. The problem is that the allocations for the removal of the backlog constitute a very small share of the annual plan. Overemphasis is laid on the fact that extra allocations are made for the removal of the backlog, which creates an illusion of the problem of these regions being addressed. Thus, it can be seen that the issue of high regional imbalance in Maharashtra is a known fact to the people and the government for many years now. The actions and policies aimed at the removal of this imbalance do not seem to have shown any significant results. This paper intends to understand this disparity at the level of districts across six different dimensions of social development with the help of SDI. The Social Development Index The SDI has been used here to analyse the regional imbalances in the development of Maharashtra. The index is constructed using the following six dimensions:7 (i) Basic amenities: Clean fuel, drinking water, electricity and sanitation are the amenities covered by this dimension of SDI. These amenities are essential for the well-being of a person because they provide the physical and material comfort required for development. (ii) Demography: It is the study of distribution of population and the changes in it with respect to births, deaths, migration, etc. Contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) and total fertility rate (TFR) are the indices used to estimate this dimension.8 These indicators are important for measuring development due to the interlinkages they have with its other dimensions. (iii) Economic deprivation: A person is economically deprived if they do not have the monetary resources to live life at the same standard as those around them. These monetary resources are required to afford the basic necessities of life. This paper has used the indicators of monthly per capita expenditure (mixed reference period [MPCEMRP]) and unemployment rate (UR) usual status to capture economic deprivation. MPCE is the household expenditure on consumption per member of the household. Here, the used mixed reference period (MRP) data for MPCE is used as it has fewer extreme values than the uniform reference period. (iv) Education: Education is important for development as it increases the level of awareness of the people. It helps them in acquiring the skills required for employment. The indicators that this paper has used for estimation of education are literacy rate and pupilteacher ratio. (v) Health: A healthy person lives a longer life, is more productive in their work, and also invests more in human capital than an unhealthy person.9 This dimension has strong interlinkages with demography, employment, and education. The two indicators used for the estimation of health are percentages of undernourished children and institutional delivery. (vi) Social deprivation: This dimension is of the utmost importance as it distinguishes the index from other indices of well-being. The dimension represents the idea of inclusion, which is of a great significance in a heterogeneous country like India, with disparities between social groups, religions, and genders. The indicators used to measure this dimension are: disparity ratio in the literacy rate between males and females, disparity ratio in employment between males and females (disparity in gender), disparity ratio in the literacy rate between Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and the total population (disparity in social groups), and the disparity in MPCE between Muslims and the total population (disparity between religions). In this paper, the disparity ratios are calculated by dividing the value of the indicator for a particular group (like Muslims or SCs) with the value of the indicator for the total population. Methodology of Construction of SDI Our choice of dimensions and indicators for the construction of the SDI relies on the Social Development Report published by the CSD. The first step in the construction of this index is to make all negative indicators positive. An indicator is negative if an increase in its value represents a decline in development (for example, unemployment rate, IMR). These indicators are made positive by taking their reciprocal value. The second step is to normalise the data of all indicators using order-based statistics and make them scale-free. The order-based normalisation method used in this paper is adopted from Suryanarayana and Agrawal (2013). In the order-based normalisation, the goalpost for each indicator is defined in terms of its ordered distribution instead of extreme values. The upper and lower inner fences are used for computation of goalposts. The formula for normalisation is: where Minimum = Lower outer fence = 1st quartile - (3interquartile range)10 Maximum = Upper outer fence = 3rd quartile + (3interquartile range) The above normalisation method has a major advantage, in that it gives better insights for skewed distributions than mean-based statistics. The third step is to aggregate the indicators in order to estimate the dimensions of the index. The aggregation is done using geometric mean. For example, demography dimension is computed by taking the geometric mean of its indicators TFR and CPR. The last step is to aggregate all dimensions using the geometric mean to get the final index value. The rationale for using the geometric mean is that it penalises for substitution between the components. The use of geometric mean ensures that all the dimensions are important and changes in any of them will not go unnoticed. Poor performance in even a single dimension will be directly reflected in the index value. Limitations The index estimated in this paper has few limitations related to the data. The index is estimated for 2014 but data for the indicators are for different years. This is because recent district-level data for many indicators are not available. This is not a serious limitation of the paper as many indicators are medium term, that is, they do not change frequently. Indicators like fertility rates and undernourishment do not fluctuate widely every year. Thus, we can use data from different years to estimate social development. Another data related limitation is that the sample of National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) survey may not be representative at the district level. The paper, therefore, uses the Ministry of Labour and Employment data (GoI 201213, 2013b) for unemployment instead of the NSSO data. But no alternative source was available for MPCE data at the district level and therefore the NSSO data has been used. Results and Discussion We have estimated the SDI for the districts of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the best performing district on the index (SDI value: 0.605), followed by Wardha, Nagpur, and Bhandara (Figure 2). Nandurbar is the worst performer (SDI value: 0.038), followed by Ratnagiri and Dhule. The large gap in the index values (0.567) between the best and the worst performing districts of Maharashtra shows the high variation in social development across the state. Seventeen out of 35 districts in Maharashtra have a social development value less than the states average.11 Out of these districts, a major share is from Marathwada (seven districts) and Vidarbha region (four districts). Table 2 shows the districts ranking according to the per capita net district domestic product (NDDP), HDI and SDI. The comparison between the rankings of per capita NDDP and SDI show that high economic growth does not necessarily translate into high levels of social development. Districts like Aurangabad, Nashik, Ratnagiri, and Thane have a high per capita NDDP rank but a low SDI rank. On the other hand, there are districts like Amravati, Beed, Gondia, Gadchiroli, and Yavatmal that have a low per capita NDDP rank but a high social development rank. Similarly, the correlation between the rankings of SDI and of HDI is not quite high. There are many districts that perform well on the HDI but fail to do so on the SDI (like Nashik, Thane, Aurangabad, and Jalgaon). These districts also have a high per capita NDDP, which is one of the reasons for their good performance on the HDI. Few districts like Bhandara, Gadchiroli, Latur, and Wardha have high SDI ranks but low rankings on HDI. Some of these districts (like Gadchiroli and Latur) perform badly in the health and education dimension (thus the low HDI) but excel in social deprivation and demography dimension. The regional imbalance in Maharashtra can be clearly seen when we observe the social development ranks of the districts according to their region (Figure 3 shows the regions of Maharashtra). The districts have been divided into three groups based on their aggregate SDI ranking. Figure 5 shows the same classification, with green representing high SDI districts, yellow representing medium SDI, and red representing low SDI districts.12 (i) Khandesh (Nashik): All five districts in this region perform below average of Maharashtra. The entire region is in the lowest 10 ranking districts. (ii) Vidarbha (Amravati): This region performs poorly on our index. All the districts, except Amravati, are below Maharashtras average (19th rank). (iii) Marathwada region: Even this region performs quite poorly on our index. All the districts, except Latur, are below Maharashtras average. (iv) Vidarbha (Nagpur): All the districts in this region (except Gondiya district) are in the top one-third districts. Even Gondiya (15th rank) ranks above Maharashtras average. Five out of the top 10 districts are from this region. (v) Paschim Maharashtra: The region performs quite well on the SDI. While most of the districts are in the top one-third ranks, all the districts are better than average of Maharashtra. (vi) Konkan: The region performs well on the index with all districts, except Ratnagiri, performing better than the average of Maharashtra. Even Ratnagiris low rank is a result of its poor performance in only two dimensions: demography and economic deprivation. In all other dimensions, it ranks in the top 10. The above results of region-wise performance on SDI highlight the regional imbalance in Maharashtra. The three regions of Marathwada, Vidarbha, and Khandesh are quite underdeveloped (in terms of social development) as compared to the rest of Maharashtra. Figure 4 shows the performance of different regions of Maharashtra on the sDI. Vidarbha has no upper whisker because the third quartile is equal to the maximum of SDI value. It can be seen that compared to the rest of Maharashtra, both Vidarbha and Marathwada are not well-developed (in terms of SDI). The box plot shows that the second quartile for the rest of Maharashtra is higher than the maximum for Marathwada, Khandesh, and Vidarbha. In fact, the minimum for the rest of Maharashtra is higher than the maximum for Vidarbha and Khandesh regions. Western regions of Maharashtra get one of the largest shares of the states funding (Khairnar and Pratishthan 2013). Their locational advantage leads to the region being abundant with industries (almost three-fourth industries of the state are located here). This concentration results in the migration of people from neighbouring backward districts in search of opportunities. Suryanarayana (2009) draws attention towards the regional disparity in the state by pointing to the fact that the four districts of Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, and Thane alone account for around half of the states net domestic product (NSDP). Maharashtra is one of the most industrialised states in India but the major occupation still continues to be agriculture. Around 65% of the population is employed in agriculture and allied activities. Like the rest of India, irrigation for agriculture is still majorly monsoon-dependent. Fluctuation in monsoon rains leads to an adverse impact on the agricultural sector. Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Khandesh have been severely prone to droughts. Since 2009, the rainfall has been low in these regions, with 2012 and 201416 witnessing severe droughts. Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reveal that Maharashtra recorded the highest number of suicides by distressed farmers in 2014. Around half of the total suicides were from Maharashtra.13 The main crop in Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Khandesh regions is cotton, whose price has witnessed a decline over time due to the import of cheap cotton post-liberalisation. The monopoly procurement scheme was also discontinued which led to a further fall in the prices. Eastern Maharashtra farmers continued to cultivate the cotton crop while most of the farmers of western Maharashtra (well-irrigated area) shifted from cotton to sugar cane. Sugar cane has the advantage that it gets heavy subsidies from the government and is thus an assured crop, compared to the risky cotton. The intra-state disparity becomes more evident when the dimensions of this index for the districts of Maharashtra are analysed (Table 3). (i) Demography: Among the districts of Maharashtra, Wardha ranks first in this dimension while Ratnagiri stands last. The two indicators of this dimension are TFR and CPR. Maharashtra has a low TFR of 2.2, but within Maharashtra we see huge variations in TFR. The highest TFR can be seen in Jalna (3.2) while the lowest can be seen in Mumbai and Sindhudurg (1.4).14 Maharashtra has a high CPR of 64%, and within Maharashtra the highest CPR is in Ratnagiri (38%) and the lowest in Bhandara (77%).17 Both indicators show almost the same variation within the state as the variations witnessed across India. (ii) Education: Sindhudurg ranks first in this dimension while Nandurbar stands the last. The two indicators of this dimension are: literacy rate and pupilteacher ratio. Maharashtra has a high literacy rate of 83.8%, but within Maharashtra we see huge variations in literacy rate (highest literacy rate: Nagpur [89.5%], lowest: Nandurbar [63%]). Maharashtra also has a good pupilteacher ratio of 28, but within Maharashtra the highest (poorest) pupilteacher ratio is in Mumbai Suburban (43) and lowest in Sindhudurg (10). (iii) Health: Mumbai ranks first in this dimension, while Nandurbar stands last. The two indicators of this dimension are institutional deliveries and undernourished children. The highest institutional deliveries can be seen in Bhandara (99%) while the lowest can be seen in Nandurbar (55%). The percentage of undernourished children is low in Maharashtra (37%), but variations within Maharashtra are quite high (Nandurbar [55%] and Mumbai [23%]). Few districts like Chandrapur and Gadchiroli that perform well on the aggregate SDI do not perform well on this dimension. (iv) Basic amenities: Mumbai ranks first in this dimension, while Nandurbar stands last. Chandrapur, which is one of the best in aggregate social development (7th rank), ranks lower than the states average in this dimension (24th rank). Similarly, Gadchiroli performs quite well on the aggregate index, performing poorly in this dimension (30th rank). On the other hand, Ratnagiri performs poorly on the aggregate index (35th rank) but ranks well in this dimension (10th rank). (v) Economic deprivation: Nandurbar ranks first, while Sindhudurg stands last in this dimension. The two indicators of this dimension are unemployment rate and monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE).16 Maharashtra has a low unemployment rate of 16, but within Maharashtra there are districts like Sindhudurg that have a very high unemployment rate (151) and districts like Nandurbar and Gadchiroli with low unemployment rates (3 and 6, respectively). Nandurbar, which performs poorly on most of the indicators, has the lowest unemployment rate. Maharashtra has a high MPCE of 2,441, but within Maharashtra the highest MPCE is in Pune (3,342) and lowest in Gadchiroli (1,225). Sindhudurg district is one of the best in aggregate social development (6th rank) but ranks last in this dimension. (vi) Social deprivation: Gadchiroli ranks first, while Jalgaon is last in this dimension. Ratnagiri performs poorly on the aggregate index (35th rank) but ranks quite well in this dimension (10th rank). Similarly, Yavatmal performs below the states average on the aggregate index (21st rank) but ranks quite well in social deprivation (5th rank). This analysis of the dimensions of social development shows that there is a high disparity in each dimension within Maharashtra. Few districts that perform quite well on the aggregate dimension perform quite poorly on a few dimensions of the index. Therefore, to target the policies correctly, it is important to not only analyse the aggregate index but also the dimensions of the index. Conclusions This paper estimated an index to quantify social development for the districts of Maharashtra. This index is more comprehensive than the existing HDI for assessing the development scenario. It covers six dimensions of development: demography, education, health, basic amenities, economic deprivation, and social deprivation. The index is constructed by aggregating the indicators using geometric mean. A total of 17 indicators, ranging from literacy rate to employment, are used in the construction of this index. The index is constructed to examine the intra-state disparity in development for Maharashtra. The index also takes into account the marginalisation of some sections of society in the development process. The social deprivation dimension is incorporated in the construction of the index to account for this marginalisation. The paper discusses the regional disparities in social development within Maharashtra. Studying intra-state disparities is important as large variations are seen across districts in the state. The analysis shows that, first, the correlation between SDI rankings and per capita NDDP is not quite high. There are many exceptions to the correlation in the state (for example, Nashik and Thane). Second, the comparison of SDI rankings with HDI rankings shows that the correlation between the two is not quite high. The districts that have a high HDI rank but a low SDI rank generally have a high NDDP rank too. Thus, SDI is important as it captures development in a more comprehensive manner than HDI. Third, the analysis of each dimension gives significant information about the development scenario of a region. In our analysis, we see that many districts that perform well on the aggregate SDI perform quite poorly on some dimensions of the index and vice versa. Last, the regions of Khandesh, Marathwada, and Vidarbha are quite underdeveloped as compared to the rest of Maharashtra. These regions have been underdeveloped for a long time. Over time, many committees have been constituted by the state government to deal with the issue of underdevelopment in these regions, but these areas continue to be quite underdeveloped. This highlights the fact that the government has not been able to target its policies correctly for these regions. Notes 1 For more details on the concept of social development index (Figure 1, p 109). 2 Women, Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims and persons with disabilities are the groups that are most severely excluded from public goods in India (Centre for Equity Studies 2014). 3 Social deprivation consists of the following indicators: disparity ratio in literacy rate between the Scheduled Castes and the general population, between males and females, disparity in employment between males and females, disparity in MPCE between Muslims and the general population, child sex ratio. 4 Maharashtra contributes about a quarter of Indias industrial output as well as its GDP. Its per capita GDP is about 40% higher than the all-India average. Literacy rate for the state is over 82% (2011 census). The state is well endowed with natural resources. 5 Maharashtra is divided into six administrative divisions: Amravati, Aurangabad, Konkan, Nagpur, Nashik, and Pune. Amravati and Nagpur divisions are collectively called Vidarbha region. Aurangabad division is also referred to as Marathwada region. Remaining divisions (Konkan, Nashik, and Pune) are collectively called the Rest of Maharashtra. 6 Backlog was calculated by the fact-finding committee for nine sectors: roads, irrigation, water supply, village electrification, technical education, general education, land development and soil conservation, health services, and veterinary services. Backlog was defined by the committee as the difference between the district and state average for each of these sectors using appropriate indicators. 7 Data sources for these indicators are given in Table 1 (p 110). 8 Definitions of all the indicators are given in the Appendix. 9 Higher investments in human capital are through education (Bloom and Canning 2008). For details of the impact of the health of a child on their level of education, see Bleakley (2010). 10 The formulas have been modified from Minimum = 1st quartile-(1.5 interquartile range) to remove negative normalised values. Any negative values were given the value of 0.000001 (negligible positive number). 11 Our study analyses 35 districts as data for Palghar district (created in 2014) was not available for many indicators. 12 Districts are divided in three groups. Top one-third SDI value districts are classified as high SDI, middle one-third as medium SDI, and lowest one-third as low SDI districts. 13 Farmer suicides of 2,658, out of 5,650, were from Maharashtra. 14 The highest TFR among all states was for Bihar (4.2) and the lowest was for Kerala and Tamil Nadu (1.6). 15 CPR is the lowest in Jharkhand (35%) and the highest in West Bengal (73%). 16 MPCE data is taken from NSS 68th round. The sample is not representative at district level. We use this data as no alternative source for MPCE is available for districts of the states. 17 Extracted from NSS 68th round unit-level data. References Bleakley H (2010): Health, Human Capital, and Development, Annual Reviews of Economics, pp 283310. Bloom, D E and D Canning (2008): Population Health and Economic Growth, Commission on Growth and Development, Working Paper No 24. Centre for Equity Studies (2014): India Exclusion Report 201314, New Delhi: Books for Change. CSD (2010): Social Development Report 2010: The Land Question and the Marginalized, Council for Social Development, New Delhi: Oxford University Press. (2012): Social Development Report 2012: Minorities at the Margin, Council for Social Development, New Delhi: Oxford University Press. (2014): Social Development Report 2014: Challenges of Public Health, Council for Social Development, New Delhi: Oxford University Press. Desarda, H M (1996): The Other Side of Development: Maharashtras Backward Region, Economic & Political Weekly, Vol 31, No 50, pp 323334. DISE (2015): The District Report Cards: Elementary Education in India, District Information System for Education, New Delhi: National University of Educational Planning and Administration. GoI (201213): Report on District Level Estimates for the State of Maharashtra, Chandigarh: Ministry of Employment and Labour Bureau, Government of India. (2013a): Key Indicators of Employment and Unemployment in India, 201112, NSS 68th Round (July 2011June 2012), New Delhi: National Statistical Organization, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India. (2013b): Key Indicators of Household Consumer Expenditure in India, 201112, NSS 68th Round (July 2011June 2012), New Delhi: National Statistical Organization, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India. (2015): Key Indicators of Social Consumption in India: Education, NSS 71st Round (January June 2014), New Delhi: National Statistical Organization, Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, Government of India. GoM (1992): Report of the Study Group on Identification of Backward Areas in Maharashtra State, Mumbai: Planning Department, Government of Maharashtra. (1997): Report of the Indicators and Backlog Committee, Vol I, Mumbai: Planning Department, Government of Maharashtra. (2016): Economic Survey of Maharashtra 2015-2016, Mumbai: Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Planning Department, Government of Maharashtra. International Institute for Population Sciences (2010): District Level Household and Facility Survey-3, Fact Sheets (December 2007December 2008), Mumbai. (201213): District Level Household and Facility Survey-4, Fact Sheets (20112012), Mumbai. International Institute for Population Sciences and Macro International (2015): National Family Health Survey-4, District Level Fact Sheets (20152016), Mumbai. Khairnar, A and V Pratishthan (2013): Planning for Balanced Industrial Development in Vidarbha Region, Maharashtra, India, 49th ISOCARP Congress 2013. Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner (2013): Sample Registration System Statistical Report, New Delhi: Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. (2014): Sample Registration System Bulletin, No 49. Rajan, S I and C Z Guilmoto (2013): Fertility at District Level in India: Lessons from the 2011 Census, Economic & Political Weekly, Vol 48, No 23, pp 5970. Suryanarayana, M H and A Agrawal (2013): Promoting Human Development in India: Costs of Inequality, Working Paper No 109, International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth. Suryanarayana, M H (2009): Intra-State Economic Disparities: Karnataka and Maharashtra, Economic & Political Weekly, Vol 44, Nos 2627, pp 21523. Webbink, E (2011): Indices of Social Development, Netherlands: International Institute of Social Studies. Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration (2008): Maharashtra Human Development Report: Towards Inclusive Human Development, New Delhi: Sage Publications. This study analyses the employment distribution of the working-age women by occupations across their activities in usual principal status in the Periodic Labour Force Survey for 201718 by taking into account the household-specific factors and workers personal characteristics by using a multinomial logit model. The study infers that gender differences in returns to schooling are in favour of female workers, but they earned less than male workers in almost every occupation and employment status. The effect of education is stronger in selecting high-paying jobs. Gender differences in occupation have widely been considered as one of the important factors to contribute to earning differences by gender (Groshen 1991; Macpherson and Hirsch 1995; Blau et al 2013). Conventionally, supply-side analysis of the labour market uses differences in human capital accumulation between men and women as the major explanatory factor for gender differences in job choices and earnings (both wage and non-wage earnings). While the gender gap in educational attainment has been reducing over time and today, in many cases, the education gap has reversed in favour of women, gender wage gap has increased in different sectors. Thus, earning differences by gender cannot be explained fully by the differences in human capital variables like education and experience between men and women. These findings highlight the significance of understanding the causes and consequences of differences in employment distributions by gender as an area of research. Most of the studies available in the early literature have attributed mainly the pattern of occupational segregation by gender by looking into the differences in human capital accumulation and examine the incidence of discrimination across occupations. In recent literature, gender differences in preference for job attributes has been suggested as a potential explanation for gender differences in occupational choice and earnings. Recent studies have also used gender differences in cognitive skills in analysing the differences in occupations and wages between men and women (Bertrand 2011). It is observed that women have a comparative advantage in cognitive relative to manual skills, and these facts are likely to explain why women are absorbed more in cognitive-intensive jobs (Welch 2000). This study examines the role of occupational segregation in explaining the gender earning gap in India. We measure occupational segregation with unit-level data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 201718 and examine its implications in analysing gender differences in occupation and wage as well as non-wage earnings in India. The study finds out the possible sources of gender differences in occupation and earnings by estimating the relationship between occupational characteristics and occupational choice in probabilistic sense and occupation-specific earning equations. In India, womens participation in wage employment has been declining even during the high growth regime. Structural reforms towards more services sector growth and increase in tertiary education have failed to push women into the labour force, and female participation rates in the labour market declined substantially. On the contrary, participation of women outside the labour market, particularly in domestic activities of different types, increased over the survey rounds on employment and unemployment in India. This observed fact is contrasting to the experiences of structural reforms and opening of the economy of other countries. The present study analyses the fall in female labour participation by looking into the changes in occupational structure and distribution of earnings between occupations by gender using PLFS data in India. There are some social customs that may have some influence in making decisions on labour market participation, particularly by the women. In analysing the pattern of employment distribution, we hypothesise that social status in terms of ethnicity determines the type of activity performed by a person, given other factors remain the same. Literature on Gender Wage Gap in India A notable number of studies are available in the literature focusing on genderwage differentials in India (Mishra and Kumar 2005; Madheswaran and Attewell 2007; Das 2012; Sengupta and Das 2014, for example). Most of the studies observed that women earn less than men for roughly similar type of work, although the magnitude of the gender wage gap in these studies differ depending on the period of study and the geographical coverage of the data source and methodologies used. Some studies also have examined the gender wage gap at different locations of the wage distribution. Das (2019) investigated the wage gap between workers in temporary and permanent employment across the wage profile, and tested the relevance of the glass ceiling or sticky floor hypotheses by using the methodology developed in Machado and Mata (2005) and observed that the wage gap between temporary and permanent workers is wider at the upper tail of the distribution both for men and women. Sengupta and Das (2014) have focused on gender wage discrimination across different social and religious groups and concluded that the presence of substantial wage differentials between men and women workers cannot be explained simply by the gender gap of human capital. Das (2012), in a study with unit-level data from the National Sample Survey 61st round, examined wage inequality by decomposing Gini inequality index by the sex of workers in the shape of within and between components. Das et al (2009), by using micro-level information from household surveys, observed that there had been no improvement in the status of women in the Indian labour market almost at all age groups during the 1990s. Madheswaran and Attewell (2007) found that occupational discrimination was more pronounced than wage discrimination among workers in the Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Scheduled Castes (SCs). Different empirical studies on the labour market in India examined the wage gap and employment gap separately, but they did not take them together to analyse the gender wage differential in terms of employment differences between men and women. In this study, we attempt to explain gender wage gap in Indian labour market, as pointed out in the existing literature, by looking at employment distribution and factors affecting occupational choice by using PLFS data published by the National Sample Survey Office. Employment Types in the Data In Schedule 10.4 of the survey, activity status is classified into 13 groups consisting mainly of different forms of self-employment, wage employment, and other activities outside the labour market. Persons who are either employed or unemployed during the reference period together constitute the labour force and persons who are neither working nor seeking or available for work for various reasons during the reference period are considered to be out of the labour force. The persons under the second category are students, those engaged in domestic duties, rentiers, pensioners, recipients of remittances, and so on. Self-employed are those who operate their own farm or non-farm enterprises or are engaged independently in a profession or trade; the self-employed are further categorised into own-account workers, employers, and unpaid workers in household enterprises. Wage employment is divided into regular wage employment and casual employment. Regular wage workers are those who work in others farm, or non-farm enterprises of household, or non-household type and get salary or wages on a regular basis, not on the basis of daily or periodic renewal of work contract. This category not only includes persons getting time wage but also persons receiving piece wage or salary and paid apprentices, both full-time and part-time. On the other hand, a person working in others farm or non-farm enterprisesboth household and non-household typeand getting wage according to the terms of the daily or periodic work contract is a casual wage labour. Occupation types are defined in the survey by following the National Classification of Occupations (NCO) (2004) at the three-digit level. In this study, we have summarised workers occupation at the one-digit level in nine categories. In one-digit classification, NCO (2004) describes occupations in the following form: legislatures, and executives (NCO 1); professionals (NCO 2); technicians and associate professionals (NCO 3); clerks (NCO 4); service workers and shop and market sales workers (NCO 5); skilled agricultural and fishery workers (NCO 6); craft and related trades workers (NCO 7); plant and machinery operators and assemblers (NCO 8); and elementary occupations (NCO 9). We analyse occupational segregation by gender by considering the distribution of workers across their employment status in each occupation. Employment status is categorised into self-employment and wage employment. Self-employment is further divided into own-account worker, employer, and unpaid household worker. Wage employment is again categorised into regular wage and casual wage employment. Casual wage employment is subdivided into employment in public activities and employment in private activities. Thus, we have six types of employment status in nine occupation groups. Distribution of Employment The report on PLFS clearly demonstrates that womens participation is less than one-third of mens participation in Indian labour market. Self-employment has been the dominating part followed by employment in casual wage and regular wage, both for men and women workers in rural India (Statement 15, annual report PLFS 201718). Within self-employment, a major part of the female workforce worked as unpaid family worker. As unpaid family workers contribute to economys production without receiving any pay, they are in more vulnerable situations. In urban economy, on the other hand, the major part of the workers are in regular wage employment and this part has been rising both among men and women workers, but at a higher rate for women over different survey rounds. In casual wage employment, a major part of the female workers are absorbed in domestic work activities like maids and cooks, beauty and wellness service activities, and in call centres. In most cases, their working conditions are alarming. The proportion of female workers in regular salaried employment, who did not have any written job contract, increased in 201718 from their respective share in 201112 (Statements 19, 20, and 21, annual report PLFS, 201718). The situation of females employment of this type is more alarming in urban locations than in rural areas. The PLFS report demonstrates that, in 201718, more than half of the regular-salaried female workers did not have any social security benefits, and the incidence was more among rural women than among urban. Incidence of informalisation of employment is very high in any indicator of informalisation for female workers, and this share has been rising significantly over different survey rounds on employment and unemployment in India. In the rural economy, the workers, both men and women, were absorbed mainly in agriculture, fishing, and in elementary occupations, and the shares were much higher for women than for men in those occupations (Statement 17, annual report PLFS, 201718). In the urban economy, on the other hand, the occupations are relatively scattered across the occupation groups, but still the major occupations were elementary occupations, particularly for women. For the analysis, a two-way distribution of men and women workers by their occupation and employment status for 201718 has been constructed by using information of the sample households of PLFS (Table 1). The distribution of workers by employment status is not similar in every occupation among men and women. Legislatures and executives are mostly own-account workersboth among men and women. Professionals and technicians, on the other hand, are mostly regular wage employees. The shares of women in regular wage employment in these occupations are significantly higher than men. The distribution of persons in clerical jobs is roughly similar for men and women, and they are mostly in regular wage employment. Service-related work, like selling, is mostly own-account and regular wage payment in nature; the incidence of regular wage workers in this occupation is high among female workers. While the share of skilled agricultural workers among men is very high (more than 73%) in own-account work, more than 68% of women workers in this occupation are unpaid family worker. The majority of the craftworkers and trade-related workers among women are own-account type, but the distribution of male workers in this occupation in significantly different. While the dominating part of machine operators is regular wage workers, most of the workers in elementary work are in casual wage employment in the private sector, both for men and women. (i) Measuring occupational segregation by gender: We measure Duncan and Duncan (1955) index to provide an objective measure of the occupational structures of males and females: ... (1) Here, M jk is the employment share of the males and F jk is that of women in employment type j in occupation k. The index ranges between 0 and 1. If the distributions of men and women across occupations are identical, the index would be 0. If, on the other hand, all occupations are completely performed by either men or women only, the index will be 1. Table 2 (p 61) presents the shares of men and women, and the gender-specific dissimilarity index by employment type calculated by using Duncan and Duncan (1955) in each of the nine occupational groups as mentioned in the sample data. Each occupation in India has been male-dominated. Mens concentration is the highest among plant operators and related works, followed by legislatures, executives, and trade workers. The distribution of men and women across employment types is roughly identical in occupational group clerks where 80% of clerical workers are men. Dissimilarity in distribution of workers by employment types between male and female is relatively less in elementary occupations, technicians, and the high-paid occupation like legislatures and executives. But, the dissimilarity between men and women in terms of employment status is the highest among skilled workers in agriculture, in which roughly three-fourths of the workers are men. (ii) Analysing occupational segregationmultinomial logit estimation: To analyse occupational distribution and dissimilarity by gender, we have estimated the multinomial logit model of occupational selection, separately for men and women by taking skilled agricultural workers as the reference group where the dissimilarity in employment status between men and women is maximum. Multinomial logit regression is a multi-equation model similar to the multiple linear regression model where the dependent variable is binary. For a limited dependent variable with nine occupation groups, the multinomial regression model estimates eight logit equations for eight occupations other than skilled agricultural workers, the reference group. Let U ij = X i j + u ij ... (2) Here, U ij is the utility of individual i in choosing occupation type j, X i is a vector of observed individual characteristics determining the choice of individual i, j is the coefficient vector in occupation j, u ij is the random error. The utility function is stochastic and a linear function of the observed individual characteristics. Individual i will participate in the labour market in occupation j when U ij > U ik . We estimate a set of coefficients, j , j = 1, 2, 38, corresponding to each occupation with respect to the base occupation groupskilled agricultural workers. The reduced-form multinomial logit model captures how different variables affect the probability of an individual working in a given occupation, while treating the occupational choice as endogenously determined. ... (3) The supply-driven differences like workers personal characteristics in acquiring human capital and job skill in group preferences and demand-driven constraints like pay structures and other employment benefits are likely to create differences in the estimated coefficients between men and women measuring the presence of occupational segregation due to limited access to some occupations for female workers (Demurger et al 2008). We consider employment in different occupationsa multiple categoryin binary form as a dependent variable and workers education, work experience, marital status, vocational training, along with dependency ratio in the household, social status, and employment status as independent variables. We estimate the multinomial logit model separately for men and women because the employment characteristics are different in these two worker groups. The estimated coefficients shown in Table 3 (p 62) provide the direction of change of predicted probability of employment in a particular occupation relative to the change in probability of employment as skilled agricultural worker due to the change in explanatory variables. Education plays a significant and positive role in the selection of occupations; the higher the level of education, the higher is the chance in getting high-skilled jobs like legislatures and executives, professional and technicians; the effect of education is the highest for occupation group professionals both for male and female workers. However, the effect of education in choosing low-skilled occupations has been quite low. The effect of educationother factors remaining the samein selecting occupations is stronger for women than that for men. The stronger effect of years of schooling in predicting the probability of entry into a particular occupation among women workers has significance in explaining the occupational segregation by gender. The work experience measured by workers age is associated with an increase in the probability of entering into high-skilled high-paid jobs for male workers, while it has no significant effect among women. Dependency ratio within a household lowers the chances of entry into the labour market in any occupation relative to skilled agricultural work, and it has a strong effect and an even stronger negative effect among women for high-skilled jobs. Similarly, a worker has lesser chance in getting job in any occupational group, compared to skilled work in agriculture, if they are married. This negative effect is more prominent in high-skilled jobs for men and in low-skilled jobs for women. Vocational training has mixed effects on predicted probability of employment. In some occupations, like clerical jobs, vocational training has no significant effect. We have taken STs as the reference category in finding out the employment gap across social groups. The gap is observed to be more prominent in high-skilled occupations among male workers, while it is more visible in low-skilled occupations among women. The positive coefficients for social group dummies for SCs, Other Backward Classes, and upper castes imply the higher chance of employment outside agriculture for these groups compared to the reference groupSTs. The estimated results suggest that the upper-caste people have got more advantages in selecting high-skilled jobs as compared to lower-caste people. If we compare caste differences in job selection, it would be clear that women in lower-caste families are more vulnerable than that in upper-caste families. If we call the differences in employment outcome because of social status or any other circumstances on which an individual has no control at all as employment discrimination, we can say that women have been discriminated at the entry point of the labour market in multiple waysdue to gender difference as well as caste or religion. The status of employment is not similar between men and women workers across different occupations. To estimate the differential effects across employment types in each occupation outside skilled agricultural works, own-account self-employment is taken as a reference group. It is observed that in legislatures and executives, the conditional probability to work as employers is significantly high among men, while in other high-skilled occupations like professionals and technicians, the probability of being employed as regular paid employee is higher for women. Employment as unpaid family workers is less likely than own-account worker in every occupation, but at a higher rate among men than women. Earning Differences by Occupation The PLFS report points out that womens average earnings are 34% less than mens in rural areas and 20% less in urban areas among the regular salaried workers. The gender earnings gap is higher among self-employed workers and the gap is even more in urban areas. These observed facts raise concerns over the job conditions even within the regular salaried women workers in the Indian labour market. Table 4 (p 63) shows the mean and standard error of weekly hours work, hourly earnings, and years of schooling for men and women among young-age and working-age people. Significant differences in work hours and hourly earnings have been observed between male and female workers in each type of employment. Average work intensity in terms of hours worked per week was less with higher standard errors for women than for men, irrespective of their activity types. Also, hourly earnings for female workers were significantly less than those for men in each type of employment by activity status; only exception was young-age female workers in regular wage employment who earned more on average than their male counterparts. Earning differences occurred by gender in every type of employment in the Indian labour market, despite no significant difference in education between men and women, and indeed, in some categories of employment like regular wage employment and the working status employer in self-employment among young-age people, women were more educated than men. The presence of the gender pay gap with no gender gap in education in each employment type implies a significant impact of other variables not related to productivity in determining earnings in different occupations in Indian labour market. We can relate these discriminatory factors in earnings with the similar factors in employment discrimination. The mean hourly earning within a particular occupation is different across employment types and even in a particular type of employment status, it is different by the gender characteristics of the workers. In each occupation category, mean earning is higher among employers and regular wage workers as compared to other types of employment status (Table 5). The gender gap in earnings differs across occupations and in different employment status in a particular occupation. The gender earning gap is the highest among services workers working on a casual basis in the public sector followed by among the same employment status in the occupation group professional. In addition, the gender gap is highly prominent among employers in the occupational groups of clerks and professionals. In regular wage activity status, the gender gap is maximum among trading workers followed by skilled workers in agriculture and services workers. But, in the high-paying jobs like legislatures and executives, female workers earn higher pay than men working as employer or regular wage worker. (i) Occupation-specific wage regression: We have estimated occupation-specific wage regressions separately for male and female workers: ... (4) where w ij represents the hourly earnings (wage and non-wage) for individual i employed in occupation j, x ij is the vector of explanatory variables, j is the cesponding coefficient vector, and ij represents random error in the wage regression equation for occupation j. The estimated coefficients of occupation-specific wage regressions for male and female workers are shown in Table 6 (p 64). The variation in the conditional mean earning (in log form) after ignoring the effects of education and other covariates as measured by the estimated intercept across different occupations both for male and female workers can easily be explained by skill differences. There is no significant difference in the mean earning by gender after controlling for all covariates used in this study. But, we observe marked differences in returns to education between male and female workers in each occupation group. Surprisingly enough, the return to education is significantly higher for female workers than for their male counterparts in each occupation, while, as described above, female workers earned less than male workers on an average. The employer and regular wage worker earned more than the own-account worker in high-skilled jobs, and this earning gap, because of the differences in the employment status in similar occupation, was higher for a female worker than for a male worker. These findings indicate that human capital plays a little role in explaining the earnings gap by gender, although it has a significant effect in explaining the employment gap in Indian labour market. Occupational segregation, because of gender along with ethnic and religion characteristics and other factors not related to workers productivity, may have a significant role in analysing the gender gap in earnings. Men are better compensated than women for more experience in all occupations, and at higher rate in low-paying occupations. Summary and Conclusions This study examines the role of occupational segregation in explaining the gender earning gap with unit-level data from the PLFS report (201718) in India. We measure occupational segregation and examine its implications in analysing gender differences in occupation and wage and non-wage earnings. Possible sources of gender differences in occupation and earnings are pointed out by estimating the relationship between occupational characteristics and occupational choice in probabilistic sense and occupation-specific earning equations. The effects of personal and household-specific factors on predicted probability of occupational choice have been estimated by using the multinomial logit model. It is observed that additional years of schooling have significant positive effect on predicted probability of entering into a particular occupation categorised by skill level in PLFS. The effect of education is stronger in high-paid jobs like legislatures and executives, professional, and technicians. In addition, social factors like marital status and ethnic differences among the people have also made significant differences in employment and occupational status by gender. In legislatures and executives, the conditional probability to work as employers is significantly high among men, while in other high-skilled occupations like professionals and technicians, the probability of being employed as regular paid employee is higher for women. The distribution of workers by employment status is not similar in every occupation among men and women. In this study, we calculate the shares of men and women, and the gender-specific dissimilarity index by employment type by using the Duncan and Duncan (1955) index in each of the nine occupational groups. Dissimilarity in the distribution of workers by employment types between men and women is relatively less in elementary occupations, technicians, and the high-paid occupation like legislatures and executives. Marked differences in work hours and hourly earnings have been observed between male and female workers. The fact that women have higher levels of education but lower hourly wages than men in these activities implies a significant impact of other variables not related to productivity in determining earnings in different occupations. The gender gap in earnings is different in different occupations and in different employment status in a particular occupation. The study infers that gender differences in returns to schooling are in part driven by dissimilarities in the occupational structures. The persistence of occupational segregation along with pay differences by gender across occupations suggests that gender gaps in occupation could account for, at least partly, the gender pay gap. Gender differences in risk-taking in job characteristics directly affect the occupational choice by men and women and, consequently, the gender gaps in earnings. Job characteristics like job security and other benefits, risks in earnings, fatal risk at the workplace, performance evaluation, and competitive compensation in different occupations and even within the same occupation across different sectors are different. It is, however, difficult to capture the differences in risk aversion in an empirical study because PLFS does not include direct measures of risk aversion. The empirical findings of this study have some serious implications. The study shows clearly the need for institutional policies in the form of subsidies and provisions for unpaid care work such as childcare facilities, and a social infrastructure that allows for easy mobility of female workers. The low labour force participation and earnings is clearly not associated with their productivity but other factors based on the existing social norms. The paper makes a case for active care policies that shift the burden of unpaid care work from women. Furthermore, it reveals that the labour market in India is imperfect and a lot of distortions persist, which may be the cause of the gender pay gap that is not explained by the productivity-related factors and requires institutional frameworks to address this rigidity. References Bertrand, M (2011): New Perspectives on Gender, Handbook of Labor Economics, Orley C Ashenfelter and David Card (eds), Amsterdam: Elsevier, Vol 4b, pp 154592. 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Mishra, P and U Kumar (2005): Trade Liberalisation and Wage Inequality: Evidence from India, International Monetary Fund Working Paper, Nos 05/20, International Monetary Fund, Washington, DC. Sengupta, A and P Das (2014): Gender Wage Discrimination across Social and Religious Groups in India Estimates with Unit Level Data, Economic & Political Weekly, Vol 49, No 21, pp 7176. Welch, F (2000): Growth in Womens Relative Wages and in Inequality among Men: One Phenomenon or Two? American Economic Review, Vol 90, No 2, pp 44449. For much of the worlds population, the digital realm has become central to the human experience. Yet access to information and essential services is often mediated by digital platforms, with or without users knowledge. This means that the governments, businesses, or individuals who dominate the digital realm have the potential to gain control over the public sphere. There is now little trace of the widespread optimism that once defined public views of the digital revolution. Far from being a prelude to liberation, this revolution has increasingly allowed states to exercise control and even engage in repression. As Egyptian technologist, blogger, and activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah argued in a 2017 essay written in Tora Prison: the authorities have decided: meaning is dangerous, defending it is a crime, and its proponents are enemies. Civil society organizations have strained to find ways to protect themselves from digital attacks, bypass state censorship, or challenge disinformation but this has not proved to be a fair fight. It is nothing new for governments to repress their populations or seek to control the flow of information authoritarians have always wanted to stop the spread of dangerous ideas and replace them with official narratives. And they have always sought information about citizens by monitoring their activities. The difference now is that governments have an astonishing array of tools with which to achieve these goals ranging from spyware to facial recognition technology and mass surveillance. And they can use these tools with little concern that they will be held accountable for doing so. The human costs of digital authoritarianism are evident across the world, but particularly in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) where the rule of law was, at best, under severe strain even before the digital revolution. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have invested heavily in new technologies, including through intensified collaboration with China and Israel, as part of an effort to become digital superpowers. The lack of an international consensus on how such tools should be governed has created a fractured landscape of competing principles and multilateral initiatives that digital authoritarians often exploit. European policymakers are rightly concerned about these developments. As this author argued in 2021, governments in the MENA region are becoming even more authoritarian. The digital dimension of authoritarianism is central to this trend. Given that repeated human rights violations and a lack of accountability frequently lead to societal breakdown, the European Union seems misguided in its reliance on authoritarians to guarantee stability and security in its southern neighborhood. EU policy should treat digital authoritarianism in the region as a significant security and political concern. But there is no sign that it is doing so. As a 2021 European Parliament research paper put it, the EU still has to decide whether tackling digital repression is a core geopolitical interest at the highest political level. And authoritarian states use of surveillance technology shows why this is a problem. Responding to the risks associated with digital technologies, the European Commission published in January 2022 a draft Declaration on European Digital Rights and Principles with the aim of creating a human-centered, secure, inclusive, and open digital environment, where no one is left behind. The draft includes the principle that no one shall be subjected to unlawful online surveillance or interception measures. Yet it will be challenging to adhere to this principle in Europe. Trade in surveillance technology including that involving European companies has spun out of control. Until 2020, Israeli company NSO Group had an office in Cyprus which was a hub for surveillance consultants and promoted its products at UK defense fairs while under investigation by the FBI and facing a lawsuit for hacking brought by WhatsApp. The EU has declined to sanction the company. The United States has restricted export licenses involving NSO Group (a move that Israel is lobbying to reverse) but, in the EU, such decisions are made by member states. The EU is poorly suited to dealing with the graduated, subtle trend towards digital repression (in contrast to more urgent threats to democracy and human rights, such as Russias war on Ukraine). The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance has reported a deep and dangerous cleavage in the EUs internal fundamental consensus on liberal democratic values, with Hungary and Poland transitioning into soft authoritarianism. Governments in Hungary, Poland, Germany, and Spain have all been accused of using NSO Groups Pegasus technology to target domestic critics, including journalists and politicians. The company told the European Parliament in June 2022 that at least five EU countries had used Pegasus. Meanwhile, the companys technology has played a critical role in engendering and cementing relationships between Israel and authoritarian states around the world, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, India, and Hungary. Therefore, European policymakers need to prioritize their response to the threat of spyware, which human rights experts argue can cause the kind of harms often associated with conventional weapons. Decisive action on spyware would not only support human rights activists around the world but also serve the EUs security interests, given that the communications of European officials have been intercepted using this technology. In this, policymakers should study the European data protection supervisors recommendations: while the prospect of a full prohibition on spyware might be unpalatable to member states, it is hard to overstate the gravity of the threat it poses to privacy, freedom of expression, and ultimately democratic systems. At a minimum, the EU should dramatically increase democratic and judicial oversight of the development of, and trade in, surveillance equipment. In the meantime, European policymakers should look to impose costs on those involved in the trade of such tools that are used to violate human rights a task complicated by the fact that some European law enforcement and intelligence agencies have employed Pegasus. The EUs lack of direct action against NSO Group since the Pegasus revelations is striking. Indeed, in June 2022, just as the European Parliament was preparing for a hearing into the activities of NSO Group, the company was sponsoring an event in Prague. The lack of consequences for NSO Group could contribute to a sense of impunity among spyware firms. The unions review of Israels adequacy status will signal how it intends to apply its commitment to data protection to a strategic partner that has been at the centre of a privacy breach with global ramifications. More broadly, the EU should raise the profile of spyware-related human rights violations in bilateral discussions with partners such as the UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. The EU should also review its policy of providing surveillance equipment to its migration partners to support its goals of reducing migration flows. The lesson of the scandal around NSO Group which may have received export licenses in Europe through subsidiaries as well as in Israel is that Europeans need to pay far greater attention to the private sectors role in providing technologies to third countries. Alongside its suite of digital regulations, the EU should provide specific guidance on how its human rights due diligence regulation applies to the technology sector including by setting expectations for companies approach to risk mitigation when they provide technologies or digital services that are likely to be used by government agencies. Meanwhile, member states that provide diplomatic, advisory, or financial support to domestic tech firms should carry out risk assessments on products and services they support that could be used for digital repression. The EU has taken a leading role in the regulation of AI and is seeking workable international governance arrangements for this enabling technology potentially in the form of a legally binding treaty through the Council of Europe. A treaty could potentially include a requirement for Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law Impact Assessments for certain systems which would be a significant development. The unions normative approach should provide an important complement to more geopolitical efforts by the US in the area. The EU should now make a case for international controls on AI by stressing the potential ramifications of the poor regulation of the technology on economic, social, and cultural rights not least the risks of discrimination, marginalization, and exclusion to specific communities. Finally, the resources the EU allocates to initiatives to defend against digital authoritarianism still pale in comparison to the scale of the challenge, with civil society groups in many Middle Eastern countries almost entirely unable to communicate domestically or internationally using the internet. In this context, it is more urgent than ever for the EU take up a 2015 European Parliament resolution calling for a human rights and technology fund to support such activists. Iron Net: Digital Repression in the Middle East and North Africa Policy Brief by James Lynch European Council on Foreign Relations / ECFR. (The Policy Brief can be downloaded here: https://ecfr.eu/publication/iron-net-digital-repression-in-the-middle-east-and-north-africa/#european-policy-priorities) The Agricultural Alamo Migrations are and will be an indelible feature of mankind's history for a plethora of reasons. However, even after the establishment of the United Nations and powerful NGOs after WW II accompanied by a quantum leap in technological prowess in providing greater agricultural yields, the ability to mitigate forced migrations because of meteorological induced heat waves and droughts has failed. For decades the humanitarian safety valves for the shipment of food and medicine to distressed regions were readily available from other regions or countries with bountiful surpluses and sent overseas to mitigate the crisis. Under the dire present-day global circumstances of droughts and floods, there are little to no surplus agricultural foodstuffs. Even the usual resource-rich rescuers have themselves become victims of scarcity and have instituted export restrictions in order to feed their own citizens. "Damned if you do. Damned if you don't." The growing global food security crisis will inevitably trigger the largest migration in human history in the hundreds of millions both internal and external creating the associated exploitation and violence borne out of the desperate need for survival. The mind-boggling number of refugees will easily overwhelm the available resources by host and destination countries to shelter, feed and provide medical care. For this reason we could see civilian casualties that rival those during WW II. Because of the uncertainty where and how much food & water resources are available, these refuges face the ultimate double-bind dilemma with respect to risk. If they remain in their town/city, they die. If they remain in their country, they die. If they migrate elsewhere, they die. The following is a pre-Russo-Ukrainian conflict snapshot of the global refugee population at the end of 2021 in the link to the chart entitled Mapping the World's Refugee Population provided by the UN Refugee Agency. The disturbing trend has been growing for many years from 2012 to May 2022 as articulated in the link to the following chart entitled Number of Forcibly Displaced People Reaches 100 Million provided by the UN Refugee Agency. According to the report, two-thirds of refugees originated from only five countries through 2021. With the rapidly deteriorating global food situation, these figures will inevitably explode initially in sub-Sahara Africa and then progress to emerging and developed countries. As with any desperate journey, the roads to salvation are perilous. The link to the following chart entitled The Most Dangerous Migration Routes from 2014 to May 15, 2022, provided by the International Organization for Migration underscore these dangers. During this period one can expect an explosion in human trafficking, exploitation, and terror given the sheer mass of humanity in motion, millions of transients with limited legal protection or enforcement of those laws. Mass Migration Begets Mass Surveillance Insidiously as part of the governmental "crowd control" risk assessment from internal and external threats, it would not be surprising that government security services will collaborate with their neighbors and encourage the eager cooperation of tech giants to track citizen movements within the country as well as refugees entering the country. Governments no longer need to refer to satellite images for the purposes of tracking these migrations, rather the now humble mobile that provides real-time locations. The mobile phone has become the new evolutionary human appendage in a world that makes its use ever more essential in conducting the most banal tasks. It can be used to create a behavioral profile and baseline for each user to the point of becoming eerily predictive. Surveillance | The Dark Past is Darker Today The Economist on April 21, 2012 entitled " An article published inon April 21, 2012 entitled " What Makes Heroic Strife " discussed a software called Condor which reviews data from social media and then creates a "sentiment analysis" for the purposes of predicting not only the course of existing protests rather predictive before they begin. It added that Lockheed Martin's Worldwide Integrated Crisis Early Warning System project serves as a "social radar" for long-term forecasts of potential civil unrest and suggest countermeasures. If these capabilities were in place over 10 years ago, imagine the technological surveillance advancement in place today with more tech firms involved in such operations. Through their electronic devices, specifically mobiles, participating governments will be able to track these migrants and enough data to predict their destination(s) like the weather. Furthermore, the technical profile of the mobile itself could provide enough information on the large swaths of refugees to create a profile of their racial/ethnic/religious backgrounds, languages and dialects spoken, phraseology, etc. It comes as close as a biometric analysis without using biometrics. Whether these methods are ethical, moral or legal is debatable. With respect to the "good" cop role, this data will enable the destination governments to prepare with enough food, water, shelter and security to better handle the flood of refugees. With respect to the "bad" cop role, the authorities will already have enough information to create a dossier of every adult migrant even more efficiently than the Nazis ever did upon arrival at the camps. The cost? Food, water, and shelter could be provided in exchange of the collection of biometric data from each recipient of aid which would expand their already comprehensive database. The difference will be that there will be far more highly educated refugees among the masses as their biometric data are obtained. Conclusion With this insidiously Orwellian biometric tag & release program under the guise of national security, passports will merely be a secondary hard-copy document for identification but still an official requirement to enter, reside and work in a country. Because international law is reactive the biometric data will have already been collected by the millions and established as the indelible identifier for hundreds of millions of law-abiding citizens worldwide whose only "crime" was to cross borders to survive. Copyright 2022 Cerulean Council LLC The Cerulean Council is a NYC-based think-tank that provides prescient, beyond-the-horizon, contrarian perspectives and risk assessments on geopolitical dynamics and global urban security. They say the third time is a charm, and thats exactly what it turned out to be. After having to cancel our first two attempts at attending summer solstice at Stonehenge due to various COVID-related issues, we finally made it to the prehistoric monument on the Salisbury Plain in western England. Summer and winter solstice are the only days in which the public is allowed into the inner circle of the UNESCO World Heritage site without a certified guide, making those dates extra special. The construction of the circular ditch occurred around 3000 BC, according to English Heritage, which cares for more than 400 historic sites. In about 2500 BC the stones were erected in the center of the monument. Human cremations have been found at the site, and most experts agree that Stonehenge was once a burial ground, according to the History Channel. But details on who built it and how it was constructed remain elusive. I wanted to feel and experience the druids, pagans, witches, warlocks, drum circles, chanting, and meditation that come with celebrating a solstice at the enchanting site. As a photographer I was, to say the least, very keen to photograph the event. We took the train from Londons Paddington Station about an hour and 20 minutes to Bath. The tour bus company which graciously honored the tickets we had purchased in 2019 picked us up from our hotel in Bath at 1:15 a.m. for the hour-long drive out to the henges. From the bus, the 1-3/4 mile walk through a foggy field seemed to take forever. Pro tip: Wear hiking shoes and layer up as its a bit chilly in the pre-dawn hours. Parking is closer on non summer-solstice days when crowds are much smaller. The first thing we saw upon arriving at the site was a something of a portable shrine brought by a group of Hare Krishnas. Of course, with all things Krishna, there was plenty of chanting and jumping from their faithful. Robin Jerstad Then Stonehenge appeared before us. It takes a moment to soak it in to absorb the fact that you're looking at something thousands of years old. How did it get here? Who built it? Why was it built? Those questions continue to bounce around your head as you stroll the grounds. The inside circle of the henge is jammed with people. Many are trying to scale portions of the stones that have fallen, which is viewed by most as disrespectful since Stonehenge is considered a spiritual place. The crowd was so thick that the security personnel were a bit helpless in preventing the mayhem. Robin Jerstad It was fairly easy to walk around the site, exploring different stones and soaking in the incredible diversity of attendees. You couldn't help but people-watch. It truly was part of the fabric of the event. As the 4:50 a.m. sunrise grew closer, the crowd began to stir. Drum circles started up again, flute players played, sporadic chanting grew more widespread as people swayed back and forth. The energy and vibe started to resemble a Grateful Dead show. The sunrise, blocked by a low-hanging layer of fog, was obscured for about 30 minutes or so. But as the fog began to fade, the crowd stopped and gazed east, slowly watching the sun burn through the haze. Robin Jerstad Some sang Happy Birthday to the longest day of the year, many observed a moment or two of meditation. As we all bathed in the early light, it was clear that the sunrise had a unique meaning to each person in attendance. There is no official programming. Not speeches prepared by local politicians. Just humans appreciating the solstice sunrise at a site steeped in mystery and lore. Nothing more. Nothing less. As we made the 45-minute trek back to the parking lot, the world slowly grew brighter. We arrived back at the hotel in Bath by 7:30 a.m. Just in time for, as they say, a proper English breakfast. Robin Jerstad is a freelance photographer One of two people found dead with gunshot wounds last week inside a burned house near Woodlawn Lake Park has been identified by the Bexar County Medical Examiners Office. Sergio Soto, 39, was discovered following a blaze that engulfed the home July 7, just after midnight, in the 900 block of Waverly Avenue, investigators said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Mexican citizen arrested in July in connection with the sexual assault of a San Antonio teen has been indicted in Bexar County, charged with trafficking a child to engage in sexual conduct, prostitution, and sexual assault of a child. Juan Carlos Diaz-De La Cruz, 28, was in the country illegally and had been deported from the United States more than 15 times, authorities say. A multiple-count indictment accuses him of keeping a 17-year-old girl in a house and charging men $150 to have sex with her. An arrest warrant affidavit by a Texas Ranger said investigators located her in a West Side apartment in July 2021 after they pinged her phone. On ExpressNews.com: 3 arrested in connection with human-smuggling tragedy on San Antonios Southwest Side that left 53 dead She had been reported missing and authorities were tipped to Diaz-De La Cruz, known as Karlos, as they searched for her, the affidavit states. The case was among the 253 felony indictments returned this week by two Bexar County grand juries, the District Attorneys Office said in a statement Friday. Diaz-De La Cruz is being held in the Bexar County jail in lieu of $250,000 bail, according to online court records. His case is being prosecuted in the 399th District Court. If convicted, Diaz-De La Cruz faces up to 20 years in prison, and deportation upon his release, the office said. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio man charged after allegedly showing child pornography during sex In another indictment, Antonio Salvador Alsidez, 27, is charged with multiple counts of possession of child pornography. A 16-count indictment accuses him of having multiple videos that showed a child younger than 18 engaging in sexual conduct. Alsidez is being held in the Bexar County jail in lieu of $75,000 bail, according to online court records. His case is being prosecuted in the 399th District Court. The Docket: Local crime and courtroom news, delivered to your inbox weekly In a separate case, Dustin Cody McCall, 43, is charged with possession of child pornography, accused in a 13-count indictment of showing sexually explicit photos of children while he had sex with two other people. According to an affidavit supporting his arrest, Texas Attorney Generals Office investigators used a tipster who connected with McCall on a social media site and agreed to meet him. The men and a woman shared drugs and had sex, during which he showed them the material, the affidavit stated. McCall is being held in the Bexar County jail in lieu of $40,000 bail. He is being prosecuted in the 227th District Court. If convicted of the third-degree felony, McCall and Alsidez each face up to 10 years in prison. ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863 The Lonestar mission played out like an intense war drama worthy of the great fiction writers of our times. Only its not fiction. The attempt to rescue American scientist John Spor from war-torn Mariupol, Ukraine, by a team of military veterans from the Project Dynamo organization was a life-risking task for Spor and the team trying to extricate him. He found himself trapped in the city as Russian forces obliterated it and himself in the crosshairs as a high-value target. My field that I basically have been working in for a long time is electro-optics, and a lot of it has to do with military stuff like laser-guided weapons, laser range-finding, LED displays. I mean, my company here in Texas builds one of the sensors in the Abrams tank and tells the gun where to point, Spor said in a phone interview. Just about all of the weapons systems that have been built and whatnot in the last 20 years or so, Ive been involved in at some point. The Russians wanted me for whats in my head. He resided in Mariupol in a beautiful home on a hill overlooking the sea with all the amenities one could ever want, he said. I saw myself living there until I die, basically. And now, I cant even go back to my house and, believe this, 90 percent of Mariupol, the houses are destroyed. My house is still there almost totally undamaged. Time to get out He had no choice but to leave. His wife safely got out before him, but it took much longer for Spor to make his way out of the country. He knew a few days before everything seemed to implode that he needed to find a safe way out. The 21st of February I was watching Putins speech he gave, and he was talking about a history lesson he wanted to give Ukraine and the anger and everything in his voice and how he said it. He said something along the lines of Ukraine has been decommunizing. They wanted to get rid of the communist stuff, Spor said. And he says, Im going to show them what decommunization really looks like. And thats when I knew that he was coming, on the 21st. And Im in Mariupol and Im like, Oh, crap. There was already shelling and whatnot happening before the 24th when the official war started. I could hear it and see it from my house because I was 6 miles from the border with separatists. Spors sister, Lake Jackson resident Lauri Weigle, was desperate to get her brother home. Originally, I had reached out to (Sen. Ted) Cruzs office and the State Department right after the war broke out. But at that time, we were not so concerned about Johnnys safety, Weigle said. It wasnt until April 28 with some instances that happened that I then recontacted the State Department and Ted Cruzs office and (Congressman) Randy Webers office. This led to the introduction to Project Dynamo and the rescue mission to get Spor out of Ukraine officially began. The task to get him out was not easy, Project Dynamo Co-founder Bryan Stern said. John Spor is kind of like the Mick Jagger of Mariupol. Hes a very successful American, Stern said. Everyone knows that he designed something to do with bombs or munitions or something for the United States, which is a problem. Right? Everyone knew who he was. Everyone knew what he sounds like. Everyone knows his house with all that stuff. So for me, from a rescue or an evacuation perspective, this becomes a pain to my existence for a long time because, how do you hide Mick Jagger? The danger escalated for Spor when Chechen agents came to his door in Mariupol. The Chechens came by my house looking for me twice. I didnt happen to be there at the time. The Chechens dont come by your house just to say hi. They come by your house to shoot you, Spor said. Theyre crazy people. What do I do? I work for various governmental agencies and corporations that do weapons. So, I got some other information that the FSB was looking for me. Thats the Russian security service, internal security service. And they were not happy that I left. Plan of action It took weeks of planning, covert messaging and rehearsing to create a safe but risky plan of action to get Spor out of the Ukraine. Every tiny detail mattered, Stern said. Theres just about 900 data points that we played with for context, Stern said. Just for example, we got him a set of crutches. Part of our thing was to make him kind of handicap, right, an invalid. We gave him old, crappy, nasty crutches. It looks like hes had it for his entire life. He practiced sitting up and standing down using the crutches, and people will say, Well, why did you do that? Well, because of the border guard watching the guy get out of the car. Because you can tell if someone has never walked on crutches before in their life or if theyre kind of used to it. You know, all these little detailed things, to project what I wanted to project and to hide what I needed to hide. The more intimate details of the mission cannot be discussed in order to preserve the integrity of future efforts, but Spor made it to Poland and to safety, Spor said. When I saw the Ukrainian flags, I started crying, Spor said. I mean, when I first got from the occupied territories to Ukrainian territories and saw the Ukrainian flags there, and I knew that I was in a place that was relatively free, and that these guys werent going to shoot me if they found me. I mean, Ukrainians wouldnt do that, Russia would. He had spent four months behind Russian lines in the midst of a full-blown war. Spor was reunited with his sister and son in Poland and has returned to Texas. They feel as though he is relatively safe now that he is on U.S. soil. I think that he is safer. The theory is a concern that Russia has not been known to respect boundaries or borders. So I think that its probably the safest place for him at this time, Weigle said. It was great. It was wonderful to see my brother and being able to actually give him a hug and know that he is out of harms way and that Ill be able to have another holiday with him and talk with him and not have to worry so much about it. Dynamo team Spor and his family are immensely grateful for Project Dynamo and their success in rescuing him. I wouldnt be out if they hadnt come got me. There was no way for me to get out by myself. I mean, its just that simple, Spor said. Project Dynamo began operating in 2021 during the U.S. embassy crisis in Afghanistan and is now helping Americans, Ukrainians and surrogate babies get out of war-torn countries. To date, they have helped about 4,000 people with a list of 10,000 more that is continuing to grow. The organization is completely nonprofit and run by volunteers. My immense thankfulness and gratefulness to them. These individuals risked their lives to get my brother out. They dont get paid for what theyre doing. They are all volunteers, Weigle said. Everything that they do is privately funded. Every dollar means another life. It means someone that they got out of Mariupol. It means its someone that they got out of other areas. Its another baby. Its an American. Donations can be made at projectdynamo.org or through their Instagram or Facebook pages, Stern said. I understand this war has been going for a while and people are losing interest, but the wars still going, and there are people over there every single hour, dying 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And its for no reason. Its one mans greed and lust for power Vladimir Putin, Spor said. A Texas National Guard soldier from San Antonio has died while supporting Gov. Greg Abbotts border mission, Operation Lone Star, military officials said Friday night. Sgt. Alex Rios Rodriguez, 52, died Thursday in what the Texas Guard called a non-mission-related incident at his quarters in McAllen. The guard said he suffered a medical emergency at the unit's hotel and was unable to be revived by emergency personnel. Rodriguez was a team leader for the 36th Infantry Divisions Delta Company, 536th Brigade Support Battalion, 72nd Brigade Combat Team. The guard provided no details about his service history or his family. The Texas Guard is investigating his death. Rodriguez is the latest Texas guardsman to die while carrying out Abbotts controversial border mission. Spc. Bishop Evans, 22, of Arlington, died April 22 after trying to rescue a migrant crossing the Rio Grande River in Eagle Pass. On ExpressNews.com: Burial funds, lack of life insurance in spotlight after GIs death In a news release, Air Force Maj. Gen. Thomas Suelzer, the operations commander, offered condolences to Rodriguezs family, saying, Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this difficult time. The Texas Guard did not immediately respond to a query from the San Antonio Express-News late Friday, but the paper has tracked six casualties so far connected with Operation Lone Star. Before the deaths of Rodriguez and Evans, four guardsmen committed suicide. The state-run border operation has been unprecedented in size and scope. Operation Lone Star has placed 6,128 guardsmen on the border, with an additional 3,700 elsewhere, making it the organizations largest mission in decades. The state also has assigned 1,600 Department of Public Safety troopers to the border. There is no fixed date for withdrawal. There are about 20,600 soldiers and airmen in the Texas Guard. Until last year, when Operation Lone Star began, the Texas Guard border missions had a relatively small footprint. Then-Gov. Rick Perry ordered one mission in 2014, dispatching 1,000 troops to be the tip of the spear in protecting Americans from these cartels and gangs. Like Perry, Abbott has repeatedly invoked troubles along the border in highly partisan rhetoric aimed directly at Democratic presidents. But the operation has proved costly, requiring hundreds of millions in state funding to maintain the heavy presence. It also has resulted in morale problems among troops whove endured everything from pay shortages to hardships tied to their service. On ExpressNews.com: On the border, chasing delays in pay and fewer migrants, some Texas guardsmen are losing faith As the operation continues, the Texas Guard is still emerging from a leadership shakeup. Its first female commander, Army Maj. Gen. Tracy Norris, abruptly resigned Feb. 14, replaced by Suelzer. Two other high-level guard officials left as well. Maj. Gen. Charles Aris, who had led the 36th Infantry Division for less than five months, was replaced by Brig. Gen. Ronald Win Burkett II. The civilian chief of staff for Norris, retired Maj. Gen. James Red Brown, resigned after Abbott announced her exit. A new public affairs team is also now in place. sigc@express-news.net A man who admitted to killing a man over money owed for drugs at an apartment in San Marcos was sentenced Friday to 65 years in prison. An-Drew Stephen Jones, 26, was convicted of murder Thursday in the 2019 slaying of Nicholas White. He was sentenced by a jury out of the 428th District Court, according to the Hays County District Attorneys Office. The trial, presided over by Judge Bill Henry, lasted more than a week. At the sentencing hearing Friday, Jones took the stand and admitted that he shot and killed White, saying the killing was over money that White owed for drugs purchased from Jones. White, 22, was fatally shot on April 5, 2019, in the parking lot of the Uptown Square Apartments, where he lived at the time. He later died at Seton Hays Medical Center. On ExpressNews.com: Murder suspect surrenders to authorities in San Marcos Witnesses described seeing a man wearing a yellow shirt and smoking while apparently waiting for someone. When White arrived home, investigators said Jones approached White while drawing a firearm and saying, Wheres my money? When White replied, Are you going to shoot me? the gunman fired at least eight times at White before jumping into a silver SUV and fleeing the scene. San Marcos detectives recovered spent shell casings bullets, and a cigarette butt left behind by the shooter. Security camera footage from a camera at the gated entrance to the apartments revealed the getaway vehicle as a Nissan Rogue that had entered the parking lot by following a resident through the automated gate. Police said the car had been rented by Jones. Investigators also said Jones owned a gun of the same caliber as that used in the shooting. The Docket: Local crime and courtroom news, delivered to your inbox weekly His phone was tracked through electronic records, which showed it traveled to the Uptown Square Apartments and then left immediately after the shooting and returned to his residence. Jones turned himself in to authorities that month after San Marcos Hays County SWAT, a combined unit of the Hays County Sheriff's Office and San Marcos Police Department, raided his apartment using explosives to breach the residence. The police had warrants to search the apartment and arrest him. A search of Jones residence revealed an empty gun case containing a receipt for a handgun. Police also discovered a holster and clothing a yellow shirt with Jones DNA that had been thrown in the trash. The holster contained a magazine filled with cartridges of the same make and caliber as those recovered at the crime scene. The rental car was found in the parking garage of his residence. Whites blood was found on the car. The steering wheel and gearshift lever had gunshot residue. Wes Mau, Hays County district attorney, expressed his sympathies to Whites family who attended the trial. This was a senseless act that took the life of a young man who had everything to look forward to, Mau said. Nothing we can do will balance the scales in a case like this, but I hope Nicks family can move forward knowing that, in the end, justice was done for Nick. jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA Attached is a photo of San Pedro at Jackson-Keller looking north circa 1959. Based on other photos I have from the Texas Highway Department of San Pedro that are taken from the same vantage point and around the same time, I'm sure this photo was also taken by the Highway Department. San Pedro, of course, was U.S. 281 at this time. My question is, do you know or can you find out the purpose of the wide paved area along the right side (east side) of San Pedro here? Based on old aerial photos on historicaerials.com, this paved area stretched from Jackson Keller Road to Oblate Drive. I have not found any other areas like it around town. It seems far too wide for additional lanes, plus it only extends for a half-mile or so. As you can see at the right, stores along here had their own parking lots, at least initially, so it doesn't seem like it would have been built for parking. And if so, why only on this section and one side? By the mid -960s, the motel at 6808 San Pedro (now the El Montan) had encroached on this paved area with their front porte-cochere. Soon after, several areas had been sectioned off and turned into parking lots. Today, the entire stretch is used for parking lots, but a check of tax records shows that it is all still public right of way. My initial thought was that it may have been a provisional military airstrip, but given it is less than 2.5 miles from the airport, that seems unlikely. Since this was during the height of Cold War angst, my other thought is that it may have been for civil-defense purposes, such as an evacuation marshaling area or as a location for emergency shelters, hospitals or supply dumps. Or maybe it had some other arcane purpose. Brian Purcell If the author of the Texas Highwayman website, www.texashighwayman.com, doesn't know, we are in seriously uncharted territory. In fact, this newspaper published a story about Brian Purcell headlined Road question? Texas Highwayman knows the answer, Dec. 29, 2015. Both of us have reached out to the Texas Department of Transportation, or TxDOT, without success. The agencys published rules on the width of right of way the width between property lines and the road dont help either as they relate to the amount of traffic (not much at the time) and speed cars need to attain to get on the main road (also not that big a leap at the time). What we do know is that San Pedro Avenue, so-named because it starts in front of San Pedro Springs Park, was and is a north-south artery and until the McAllister Freeway was built between 1969 and 1978, this stretch was a part of U.S. 281, a highway that connects Mexico to Canada. The undated photograph that shows this unusually wide place in the road must have been taken in the late 1950s to early 60s from the scant evidence it contains. The Robert Hall Clothing Center in the picture opened in 1956 at 6522 San Pedro Ave., and the El Montan Motor Hotel was built in 1950 (then numbered as 6806 San Pedro) with an addition and remodeling in 1963. This area was part of what the San Antonio Express described as the extreme northern stretch of San Pedro Avenue in a Feb. 6, 1966, story on business development. The Miracle Strip in Business Growth was a nine-block stretch ending at Loop 410 where, before 1957, there was little more (than) scrub oak, mesquite trees and a few dotted service stations. Then came new subdivisions off San Pedro, and retail development followed, including strip shopping centers and free-standing businesses, shown in an accompanying photo shown online of the 7000 block of San Pedro based on the presence of the Northview Concourse center that depicts lots of signs and parking lots and a normal-looking shoulder. My best guess is that they were planning to widen the road to three lanes in each direction, said Hugh Hemphill, author of San Antonio on Wheels: The Alamo City Learns to Drive, who then suggested that I ask the Texas Highwayman (before he knew thats where the question came from). If anyone knows why this curiously extra expanse of paved space was built along a single side of San Pedro, contact this column. All replies will be forwarded and may be quoted in a future column. UNSTUCK PIG: Speaking of stumpers reader Carol Baass Sowa wrote in response to a July 2 column on the progress of the Big Pig now under the protection of the King William Association among different restaurants on the South Side, Broadway and Southtown. She remembers seeing it as an orphaned pig-shaped building in 1992 while on her way to an event at Wanda and ONeil Fords Willow Way estate near Mission San Jose. When she spotted the pig, she said, I felt compelled to turn back to take his picture. Not sure of the exact location, Sowa thinks it must have been the location at East White and Roosevelt avenues mentioned in the column. Paula Allen on Big Pig: It may be a Big Pig, but its trail through San Antonio is still hard to trace At that time, the now-pink pig was still white and didnt appear to be part of anything nearby. It looked rather lonely and down-at-hooves, though the area around him appeared to be mowed, and there was a protective wood fence behind him. A decade later, she wrote a news release about the restored pig, which by then had moved to the Pig Stand at 801 S. Presa St., and an opportunity to go inside that was offered in 2002 as part of a Dine in the Swine package for an annual fundraiser for KSYM, San Antonio College Radio. Among the facts she received from then-owner Richard Hailey were its dimensions 14 feet tall, 2 feet taller than the description on a 1933 patent for a pig-shaped barbecue stand, and 25,000 pounds as measured for its move. Jumbo shrimp were on the menu for the lucky diners, who would eat inside the former carhop shelter, as the pig is said to have been at one of its previous locations. Another reader who prefers to remain anonymous remembers hearing from an older relative that the pig, which has windows and a door, was used during segregation to allow Black customers to buy takeout food without entering the associated restaurant. Anyone who remembers this may contact this column. historycolumn@yahoo.com | Twitter: @sahistorycolumn | Facebook: SanAntoniohistorycolumn Christina Mitchell Busbee cut her teeth in Uvalde as an assistant district attorney prosecuting criminals with nicknames such as Righteous and Cartel as she helped take down members of the Latin Kings and Mexican Mafia gangs. Today, as the district attorney in Uvalde, she is in charge of investigating the horrific May 24 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School and the failure of law enforcement officers to confront the shooter until more than 70 minutes into his rampage. Once lauded by the FBI for helping crack down on trans-border crime, the Republican prosecutor is now under fire over allegations that she has stonewalled the publics right to know what transpired that late-spring day. With the gunman dead, former prosecutors say there may be no one Busbee can hold criminally responsible, even if she tries to go after officers whod taken cover in the hallway outside two fourth-grade classrooms that had become killing grounds. Salvador Ramos, 18, of Uvalde, gunned down 19 students and two teachers, and wounded 17 others. Busbee, 55, mostly has kept silent as victims families, her community, the media and lawmakers demand answers and accountability. She has been accused of blocking the release of details, even when other officials did not object to their release. State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, chairman of a Texas House committee investigating the law enforcement response to the shooting, asked the Texas Department of Public Safety to allow the committee to release much of a video showing officers in the hallway while the shooter was still alive and intermittently firing his assault-style rifle. The recording would not show any bodies or wounded students or teachers. We do not believe its public release would harm our investigative efforts, Freeman Martin, deputy director of DPS Homeland Security Operations, responded in a letter. In fact, releasing this video would assist us in providing as much transparency as possible to the public without interfering with the investigation in a manner that an immediate public release of all evidence would. But after DPS ran the matter by Busbee, she has objected to releasing the video and instructed us not to do so, Martin noted. The recording went public anyway. On Tuesday, the Austin American-Statesman and the Austin-area ABC affiliate, KVUE, aired the hallway surveillance footage. It depicts police arriving at the scene quickly and approaching two classrooms where the gunman was shooting. The officers retreat after being fired on and do not approach again for more than an hour. A stack of officers finally went in to classroom 111 at 12: 50 p.m., shooting and killing Ramos. The Express-News learned Friday that the unit included Border Patrol agents Chris Merrill, Paul Guerrero, John Becker and two off-duty deputies Joaquin Ibarra from the Uvalde County Sheriffs Office and Jose Luis Vasquez from Zavala County. Another Border Patrol officer in the stack, Wayne Jackson, was grazed in a brief firefight with the gunman. For his part, Burrows said he plans to release the video after the families have viewed it on Sunday. The House committee also will release its preliminary report on the shooting and the failed police response. How in the world is the DA going to be negatively impacted by disclosing things that happened in public? said Bill Blagg, a former state prosecutor in Bexar County. Maybe shes got some justification for holding things back, but who in the world is she going to prosecute? If theres public pressure for accountability and transparency, the best cure for the problem might be to shed some daylight on it, said Blagg, who also was a one-time top federal prosecutor for the Western District of Texas, which includes Uvalde. Sometimes, the publics right to know outweighs anything the DAs got in her pocket. Busbee whose turf is the 38th Judicial District, which includes Uvalde and Real counties has not explained publicly why shes seeking to block the release of information about the massacre and the police response to it. Her friends and supporters arent surprised by her stance. They say shes a sharp lawyer and an introvert who can sound harsh when she does speak her mind. Shes very smart, said former Uvalde DA Daniel Kindred, who hired her as an assistant prosecutor in 2011. Shes a very competent attorney, and she did a good job. Karen Brickey, who has known Busbee since grade school in Boerne, said Busbee gets straight to the point in conversation and in her public comments. She is sometimes seen as brusque and hard-edged, as women in powerful jobs often are. Her gender factors into how her words and actions are interpreted. Busbee is in a position of authority mostly held by men, many of whom adopt tough-guy personas. If a man represents the facts in a very straightforward manner, they are seen as strong, Brickey said. But if we as women do it, were seen differently. I see her as a strong person. Community activist Diana Olvedo-Karau, 63, of Uvalde, said she met Busbee a couple of years ago as she campaigned for district attorney. I was involved in the campaign process at the time and met her, and she strikes me as a nice person, But from my observations of her interactions with others she doesnt in my opinion, shes not a people person, Olvedo-Karau said. She is not a personable person, possibly an introverts personality. Its hard for her to engage, she said. It can be a hindrance in public office. Busbee was elected district attorney in November 2020, running unopposed in her first campaign for the office. Clashes Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin Jr. and state Sen. Roland Gutierrez have been Busbees most dogged critics. They recently asked Gov. Greg Abbott to take away her duties administering a $5 million fund for victims of the mass shooting. McLaughlin said Uvalde residents have complained that they go out there to see her, shes rude to them she wont talk with them. Weve had families tell us that theyve asked for money to help with their bills, and theyre not getting it, he said. The mayor and Gutierrez asked Abbott to put the fund under the control of the Texas Division of Emergency Management. However, the governor declined to do so. On Monday, Busbee told Uvalde County Commissioners Court that the state-granted fund is not allowed to make grants directly to victims. The money is being used for counseling for anyone in Uvalde affected by the mass shooting. McLaughlin and Gutierrez also have blistered Busbee for her decision to keep a tight rein on information stemming her offices investigation. Gutierrez, a Democrat whose district includes Uvalde, said in a Senate committee hearing in June that DPS director Steven McCraw told him that Busbee instructed DPS not to release any information about the investigation to Gutierrez. Law enforcement sources have said some relatives of the victims felt that Busbee came across as rude early on. But they also said relations with the families improved after she enlisted the help of outside attorneys, including former Brazos County DA Bill Turner. In a June 6 interview, Turner said Busbee tapped him and three other attorneys to handle the volume of information stemming from the inquiry. Theres just such an overwhelming amount of work to be done that she just kind of called in and asked for help, said Turner, a Democrat who worked as a prosecutor for the Texas Attorney Generals office after a three-decade tenure as the top prosecutor in Brazos County. The others brought in to assist the investigation are district attorneys Tonya Ahlschwede and Audrey Louis, who each oversee five-county rural regions near Uvalde County, and Nelson Barnes, another former prosecutor. After the Express-News contacted some of Busbees family to gather biographical information, she said coverage shouldnt center on her or her family. She said politicians had made untrue comments about her, resulting in threats to her and others at her office and some of her relatives. The emphasis of this horrific event that my community has suffered should be based on the deceased victims, their families, the injured and their families, the trauma suffered by the children of Robb Elementary and the overall Uvalde Community, and of course, the investigation, she wrote. If anyone has found me to be rude during this tragic event, I sincerely apologize for my demeanor that came across in that manner. I will not comment on the investigation that is pending, she said, adding she planned a careful review. I would appreciate the time to allow me to do my job once the investigation is submitted to my office. Keeping her head down Busbee has lived in Uvalde for more than a decade, and shes little known outside Uvalde and Real counties. And within Uvalde, some residents still see her as an enigma. A Boerne native, she held a number of jobs as a teen in the suburban city, including working in a dry-cleaning business owned by her late grandfather, George Candido Tejeda Mitchell, a direct descendant of the Canary Islanders who settled San Antonio. She earned her law degree at St. Marys University School of Law in San Antonio in 1996, and began practicing law in Boerne in 1997. Busbee practiced law in Kendall County and the Hill Country for 15 years, focusing largely on family, commercial and criminal litigation as well as appeals. She also taught mock trials to high school students in the Boerne school district, according to her LinkedIn profile. She has remained active in parent-teacher organizations and booster clubs in Boerne and Uvalde. In 2010, a San Antonio radio station named her Woman of the Year. She was always great, legal-wise, said Karen Brickey, the former Boerne classmate. She hired Busbee to handle her divorce and found her comforting. It wasnt just legal things. It was my life, Brickey said. It was great to have words that were more than just about money, money, money. She wanted the best for me and the best for my children. In another divorce case, Scott Milgrom ended up on the other side of Busbee, his wifes attorney. He found Busbee intimidating. She was a bulldog, Milgrom said. Back then, I was thinking I wish she was my attorney. She is married to former Uvalde assistant police chief Mark Busbee, and has three children from a prior marriage. Her parents and brother and sister still live in Boerne. She moved to Uvalde in late 2011 when Kindred hired her with a grant for prosecuting crimes stemming from the Texas-Mexico border. In this position, I was involved in a four-year state and federal complex investigation regarding the Latin Kings. This investigation, although initiated in Uvalde County, involved targets in the San Antonio, Austin and Houston area, Busbee told the Uvalde Leader-News in 2020. As a result of this investigation, I was able to obtain 31 state indictments on 21 individuals from Uvalde County, which all resulted in final convictions. She collaborated with the FBIs office in Del Rio in an investigation that resulted in 10 state indictments of members of the Texas Mexican Mafia in Medina County for drug trafficking and other organized crime. In recent years, her office has handled prosecutions under Operation Lone Star. Abbot has said he launched the controversial program to combat human and drug smuggling, deploying DPS officers and thousands of Texas National Guard soldiers on the border. In October 2020, the FBI recognized Busbee and her chief investigator, Shayne Gilland, for their efforts in combating border crimes and transnational criminal organizations. They received certificates of recognition, signed by FBI Director Christopher Wray, at the bureaus San Antonio office. She ran for district attorney in 2020 when her boss, Mark Haby, was elected district attorney in Medina County. Running unopposed, she landed 7,694 votes and took office as the district attorney in January 2021. Defendants? The school shooting investigation is a huge undertaking for Busbee. Her office has an annual budget of $432,400 and employs an assistant district attorney, three prosecutors who handle border prosecutions and at least one investigator. She is currently looking to fill one of the border prosecutor posts, with pay of $85,000. DPS and its Texas Rangers unit are expected to hand over their case file on the Uvalde mass shooting in coming week. Busbee has not publicly said what her office plans to do once it has DPSs findings. Former prosecutors said its necessary to keep details of any investigation under wraps to prevent witnesses from trying to change their statements to align with recordings or what others have said. While much of the investigation has focused on the officers actions, prosecutors not involved in the case see an uphill battle to hold anyone criminally responsible since the shooter is dead. Jay Norton, a former assistant district attorney who headed the criminal trial division and the law enforcement integrity unit in Bexar County, said it does not appear that any of the officers who shot the gunman are under criminal investigation. From everything Ive seen and heard, it appears to be an obviously justified shooting, Norton said. And the delayed police response appears to be a mistake, he said. It doesnt appear to me to be a criminal mistake. Theres a lot of mistakes made, said Norton, now a criminal defense lawyer in San Antonio. Its unfortunate, but a terrible mistake is not necessarily a crime. Mike McCrum, a defense lawyer who previously headed the drug and major crimes units at the U.S. Attorneys Office in San Antonio, said keeping evidence from the public during a criminal investigation is a no-brainer for prosecutors. Theres a valid reason for not disclosing recordings or other written statements prematurely, McCrum said. That said, it may be wise to explain why youre not disclosing recordings. Sometimes, its not enough to say, Theres a pending investigation. You have to explain why its important. guillermo.contreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland | Staff Writers Sig Christenson and Jasper Scherer contributed to this story Days after officers waited for more than an hour to confront a gunman who had massacred 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School, Uvalde city officials tried to convince state leaders to go along with a narrative painting the police response as heroic. Uvalde officials presented the proposed narrative to Col. Steven McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, and District Attorney Christina Mitchell Busbee at a meeting at Uvalde City Hall on June 2. Gov. Greg Abbotts chief of staff, Luis Saenz, was on hand, too. The narrative would have blunted criticism of authorities handling of the rampage, leveled by both McCraw and Abbott in separate news conference on May 27, three days after the shooting. The total number of persons saved by the heroes that are local law enforcement and the other assisting agencies is over 500 per (the Uvalde Consolidated ISD), city officials claimed in the document. 40 minutes were not wasted but each minute was used to save lives of children and teachers. But for (Uvalde Police Department) and UCISD being on scene IMMEDIATELY, that shooter would have had free range on the school. A surveillance video leaked last week to the news media shows police gathering in the hallway outside classrooms 111 and 112, scene of the killings, but failing to confront the gunman Salvador Ramos, 18, of Uvalde for more than an hour. On ExpressNews.com: Morning of chaos: A reconstruction of how the Uvalde massacre unfolded Ramos sporadically fired his assault-style rifle while officers waited in the hallway. Uvalde City Attorney Paul Tarski distributed the narrative during the June 2 meeting. My recollection is that (Uvalde Mayor Donald McLaughlin Jr.) was upset with the way that DPS had conducted the press conferences, and they had prepared that narrative and they were going to release it, Busbee said in an interview with the San Antonio Express-News. And then I objected to it because the investigation had just begun so we did not know if that was a true assessment of what transpired. There was no way for us to tell or assess whether or not that narrative was accurate. Busbees office is investigating the school shooting and how officers on the scene responded. Uvalde County Judge Bill Mitchell, County Attorney John Dodson, Uvalde Assistant City Manager Joe Cardenas also attended the meeting, as well as Victor Escalon, director of DPS South Texas Region, and Freeman Martin, DPS deputy director of Homeland Security Operations. Ultimately, the narrative was not released to the public. I still dont know whether that narrative is correct because were still (early) in the investigation, Busbee said. If you are going to release something to the public that is further going to create confusion and may be misleading, you would have to walk it back. By early June, state officials had already reversed course once. A day after the May 24 shooting, Abbott claimed during a news conference in Uvalde that officers had responded heroically. But then investigators obtained the hallway surveillance video. At my directive, the scope of the investigation broadened, said Busbee, whod reviewed the video. The probe would include a close examination of the responding officers action. Related: Who is the Uvalde DA? And who if anyone will she prosecute in school-shooting probe? At his May 27 news conference, Abbott said he was furious that he had been misled. By June 2, Mayor McLaughlin had become increasingly irate over McCraws briefings with reporters and lawmakers. McCraw appeared to cast blame on local officers in particular the on-scene commander, Uvalde school district Police Chief Pete Arredondo for holding back instead of quickly confronting and shooting the killer. After some of those briefings, McLaughlin complained to reporters that DPS was not highlighting the actions of its own officers or those from other agencies that responded to the shooting. The city on Saturday released the narrative, but declined to answer questions. Excerpts from the narrative: Within 5 minutes of receiving a report of an accident at approximately 11:30 a.m. on May 24, Patrol Officers (Jesus) Mendoza and (Juan) Saucedo and their Patrol Sargent, Daniel Coronado, were on scene taking fire. They immediately pursued the suspect as he ran to Robb School. Officers Pete Arredondo, Donald Page, Daniel Coronado and Adrian Gonzalez followed the sound of gun fire and entered the west end of Robb School while officers Javy Martinez and Eddie Canales entered the east end of Robb School, also following the sound of gunfire. There was zero hesitation on any of these officers part, they moved directly towards the gunfire. They immediately approached the door and were fired upon by the suspect with an AR rifle approximately four times, with Eddie Canales taking shrapnel to his ear and Javi Martinez being grazed by a bullet to the head. With both officers bleeding, they took cover a few yards down the hall to avoid fire and called for backup. US Marshals arrived with the shields. NO ONE ELSE, not UPD, not UCISD, not Border Patrol, not DPS, not Homeland security and not any other agency had shields available. Bortac insisted that all the rooms be cleared, i.e. all the children and teachers be removed, PRIOR to use of the shields and the breach of Room 112. Absent the shields, every UPD officer was of the opinion that breaching the door was suicide and every Texas Ranger or DPS agent who took their statements agreed Not a single officer present, including DPS troopers and Texas Rangers, believed they could save lives by approaching that door and being killed one by one. guillermo.contreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland Since a tractor-trailer carrying migrants was found on Quintana Road last month, the once desolate road has given way to an ongoing funeral procession and pilgrimage. Since the day dozens of migrants were found dead inside a tractor-trailer on Quintana Road last month, the once desolate road has given way to an ongoing funeral procession and pilgrimage. Dedicated to the 53 migrants who died as a result of being transported in a tractor-trailer without ventilation and water, the now-sacred site underwent another transformation within a matter of days. It has grown from a memorial to the 53 to one for all migrants whove died making their journeys to the United States, a tangible representation of all that combined loss. On ExpressNews.com: Ayala: Human smuggling tragedy calls for compassion toward migrants, not contempt People from all over the country and Mexico have been drawn here, including a woman whose daughter was among the 53. Union Pacific land lies on one side of the memorial, where an easement contains at least 54 crosses stuck in concrete by a brigade of mourners who took no credit. Fifty-three crosses, some painted pink, others black, have joined a larger one that depicts Jesus Christ. They make up Los 53 Migrantes Memorial, as its Facebook page is named. The hashtags it uses say so much, #WallOfCrosses, #ParedDeCruzes, #AmnestyNow. Mourners have gathered here to recite rosaries in the Catholic tradition and evangelical prayers from a bullhorn. Native Americans have offered blessings in the form of sage smudging. Mariachi players and folklorico dancers have made their way here, too. The memorial has grown organically, without a plan or design. Sandragrace Martinez showed up June 29 after all the emergency vehicles were cleared. She brought a case of bottled water. It grew from there. An artist painting a mural at the site offered shade under his tent. On her second day, another tent appeared. She offers free counseling and free hugs there. Martinez, 48, is a licensed professional counselor who has become the de facto caretaker of the memorial, and she runs it with a corps of volunteers. During the Democratic primary, Martinez ran unsuccessfully for state land commissioner, but thats a remote memory now. Martinez is now focused on how to make this memorial a permanent one, even after her folding table, chairs and igloo were stolen. New equipment turned up. Martinez has had company. Her friend Grace Hernandez, 69, who represents a group called Mujeres Hispanas por Mejor Justicia, has stopped by. It has been nonstop, Martinez says of the steady flow of traffic that begins late weekday afternoons and runs into all-day weekends. The pilgrimages arent organized, but Martinez says people have come from as far away as Oregon, North Carolina and Florida and as far south as the Mexican states of Zacatecas and Colima. On ExpressNews.com: Ayala: Human smuggling tragedy calls for compassion toward migrants, not contempt For some migrants and their families, especially for the undocumented who cant go home for funerals, the memorial de los 53 has become the place at which to mourn, say goodbye, lay flowers and pin a picture. Others are erecting walls of steel between two nations, Martinez said. The Quintana Road memorial has erected a wall of crosses. In June, Martinez was in Buffalo, N.Y., for the 30-day anniversary of a fatal shooting at a Tops grocery store, where 10 people were gunned down. Martinez then traveled to Washington, D.C., where Uvalde residents testified before a House committee about the May 24 shooting at Robb Elementary School. She waited in the hallway outside to offer counseling afterward, she said. Martinez wasnt assigned to perform any of these tasks, but the bilingual counselor says she has been drawn to them to offer help. Her nonprofit Mental Wellness Connections Inc., offers free and low-cost mental health services and immigrant resources, she said. So far, the memorial is a self-funded project. In addition to water, she has set up two portable toilets on site and has put $10,000 of her own money into an account to fund the site, she said. Ramon Vasquez of the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation and Gabriel Velasquez of Avenida Guadalupe have offered their help. Over the weekend, they escorted attendees of the national UnidosUS conference, which convened in San Antonio, to the site. They included Ana Marie Argilagos, president and CEO of Hispanics in Philanthropy, and Marco A. Davis, president and CEO of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. The site has triggered emotions wrapped up in other losses and traumas, she said. The chilled water bottles she hands out for free are symbolic of so much more. They thirst, not just physically but spiritually, she said. On Monday, it was so hot she told volunteers to rest. Theyve decided to keep their vigils to Wednesday afternoons through Sundays. So far, no one has asked them to leave. A Union Pacific representative asked that a mural be moved slightly, she said, and the rail company will put up temporary fencing to keep people a safe distance from the tracks. Martinez said she has contacted the offices of District 4 City Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia to discuss making the memorial a permanent one and plans for a ceremony July 27, marking 30 days since the tractor-trailer was discovered. Most of the people whove visited here are humble. They bring their families and flags representing their countries of origin. Only one moment has given her pause. A trucker drove by. From where she was sitting, Martinez saw the driver, blonde and blue-eyed, an image of a Confederate flag inside his cab. Her signs were in full view: Free Hugs, Free Mental Health, Immigrant Rights Matter. Then he showed up in front of her. Im not racist, he said. I know you saw that flag. He wondered if hugs were really free to someone like him. He came around (the table), hugged me and balled, Martinez said. She remembers he said, This isnt right. First the kids, and now this. Its one of the thousands of interactions with mourners, all with distinctive stories, that continue to show why the site of such trauma might also be one of healing. eayala@express-news.net Sombrero Politics. Its a derisive term that we apply to politicians who suddenly discover Latinos in election years and try to play catch-up by throwing out some cultural stereotypes to prove they understand the community. The late Harry Pachon, an activist-scholar who served as the head of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute at the University of Southern California, described Sombrero Politics this way in a 2008 interview with the Los Angeles Times: The candidate would come into town, say a couple of words in mangled Spanish, eat a taco, wear a sombrero, Pachon said. That same year, San Antonio Democrat Leticia Van de Putte, who was then a Texas state senator, warned the partys presidential nominee, Barack Obama, against trying to court Latino voters with Sombrero Politics. On ExpressNews.com: Garcia: Parscales texts expose the phoniness of his public support for Trump Dont come in, listen to a little bit of Latino music, take a couple of chips-and-salsa, speak a couple of words in Spanish, and then youre gone, Van de Putte later recalled telling Obama. Theres no nice way of saying that Jill Biden practiced Sombrero Politics in San Antonio on Monday. The first lady spoke at the annual conference of the Latino advocacy group UnidosUS. Her speech was clearly intended to boost Democratic Party prospects in this years midterm elections. Biden criticized Republican lawmakers for blocking bills that would ban assault weapons, codify a womans right to an abortion and provide universal child care. We need to vote, in races at every single level, she said. Biden also praised Raul Yzaguirre, the longtime leader of UnidosUS. Thats where she got into trouble. Raul helped build this organization, she said, with the understanding that the diversity of this community as distinct as the bodegas of the Bronx, as beautiful as the blossoms of Miami, and as unique as the breakfast tacos here in San Antonio is your strength. Bidens underlying message, that Latinos have a diverse range of backgrounds and shouldnt be reduced to a monolithic bloc, was admirable. The way she expressed it, by equating South Texas Mexican Americans with breakfast tacos, was not so admirable. Her mispronunciation of the word bodegas just added to the cringe factor. The first ladys words carried no malice. But they were soaked in laziness, the kind of laziness you find when politicians get so used to taking a constituency for granted that they dont even realize theyre doing it anymore. It was the work of speechwriters who think that throwing in a couple of superficial cultural signifiers is some kind of substitute for a year-in, year-out commitment to engaging with Latinos and listening to their concerns. Jill Biden isnt to blame for the Democratic Partys history of taking Latinos for granted. But her speech reminded us that its a problem. On ExpressNews.com: Garcia: Voters dont want a Biden-Trump rematch. But it might happen anyway. Much has been made over the past couple of years about GOP inroads into Democratic strongholds in South Texas. We saw it in 2020, when then-President Donald Trump carried Zapata County, an area that Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton won by 33 percentage points four years earlier. We saw it in 2021, when Javier Villalobos, a former Hidalgo County Republican Party chair, was elected mayor of McAllen. We saw it last month, when Mayra Flores won a special election and became only the second Republican ever to represent the Rio Grande Valley in Congress. A recent New York Times/Siena College poll asked voters who they would support if Joe Biden and Donald Trump met in a rematch of their 2020 contest. Biden led by 3 percentage points in the poll. Buried deep in the poll results, however, was this alarming bit of news for Democrats: Among Latino voters, Biden had a slim 42-39 advantage. Keep in mind that Obama received more than 70 percent of the Latino vote in the 2012 election, a crucial factor in his successful re-election campaign. Some of the Democratic problems with Latino voters can be traced to policy differences, particularly in border communities, where some Latinos regard the modern Democratic Party as soft on immigration and hostile to law enforcement. But a big part of the problem has to do with a lack of outreach, a complacency rooted in the idea that Latino votes are Democratic votes and demographics is destiny when it comes to Dems flipping Texas from red to blue. The problem, in other words, is Sombrero Politics. ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470 Hainan Airlines has launched operations between Beijing and Belgrade today, marking the resumption of scheduled nonstop flights between the two cities after 22 years. The carriers 292-seat Airbus A330-300 aircraft, featuring 32 seats in business class and the remaining 260 in economy, landed at Nikola Tesla Airport at 08.20 this morning. Due to strict Covid-19 restrictions in China, as well as a caps on passenger numbers, flights are currently limited to one per week, but will increase to two weekly from September or October. The aircraft was greeted in the Serbian capital by a water cannon salute, as well as the countrys President, Aleksandar Vucic, the Chinese Ambassador to Serbia, Chen Bo, the CEO of Air Serbia, Jiri Marek, the General Manager of Belgrade Airport, Francois Berisot, and government ministers. Commenting on the service launch, Ms Chen said, "It was an honour to fly on the first nonstop service from Beijing to Belgrade. These flights will further consolidate Belgrade's position as a regional hub. I would particularly like to thank Air Serbia on its assistance for the launch of these services and I look forward to seeing them in China too". The return service is scheduled to depart at 15.00 this afternoon. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the point of entry to China will be Dalian, after which passengers will continue to Beijing. "Belgrade is one of the first international destinations to be restored by Hainan Airlines due to significant demand. The route will build a bridge to facilitate people to people exchange and promote business between Chinese and Serbian enterprises, which can now seek even more opportunities under the Belt and Road cooperation framework. The flights are scheduled so as to connect onto more than forty domestic destinations in cooperation with Hainan Group airlines", the company's Vice Chairman, Cheng Ming, said upon the route's launch in Beijing. Todays service marks Hainan Airlines return to Serbia after four years. The carrier commenced operations from Beijing to Belgrade via Prague in September 2017, with the airline holding fifth freedom rights on the Prague - Belgrade - Prague sectors, allowing it to also sell tickets between the two European cities. However, flights were discontinued in late 2018. Hainan Airlines' second attempt at serving Belgrade comes months before Air Serbia inaugurates its own operations to China, which have been The return service is scheduled to depart at 15.00 this afternoon. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the point of entry to China will be Dalian, after which passengers will continue to Beijing. "Belgrade is one of the first international destinations to be restored by Hainan Airlines due to significant demand. The route will build a bridge to facilitate people to people exchange and promote business between Chinese and Serbian enterprises, which can now seek even more opportunities under the Belt and Road cooperation framework. The flights are scheduled so as to connect onto more than forty domestic destinations in cooperation with Hainan Group airlines", the company's Vice Chairman, Cheng Ming, said upon the route's launch in Beijing. Todays service marks Hainan Airlines return to Serbia after four years. The carrier commenced operations from Beijing to Belgrade via Prague in September 2017, with the airline holding fifth freedom rights on the Prague - Belgrade - Prague sectors, allowing it to also sell tickets between the two European cities. However, flights were discontinued in late 2018. Hainan Airlines' second attempt at serving Belgrade comes months before Air Serbia inaugurates its own operations to China, which have been announced for this October International capacity from mainland China is currently down 95% on 2019 levels but the countrys civil aviation administration is making moves to revive more overseas flights. Analysis of OAG data shows that there are currently 42 airport pairs receiving nonstop flights between mainland China and Europe. Total two-way weekly seat capacity stands at 19.126. This compares with 142 airport pairs and 447.761 weekly seats during the same period in 2019. China has emerged as one of the top unserved markets to and from Belgrade since visa restrictions between the two countries were mutually lifted in 2017, with travel reaching a record high in 2019, prior to the coronavirus pandemic. Most of the traffic flow between China and Serbia over the past few years has originated from Shanghai, followed by Beijing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou and Chengdu. International capacity from mainland China is currently down 95% on 2019 levels but the countrys civil aviation administration is making moves to revive more overseas flights. Analysis of OAG data shows that there are currently 42 airport pairs receiving nonstop flights between mainland China and Europe. Total two-way weekly seat capacity stands at 19.126. This compares with 142 airport pairs and 447.761 weekly seats during the same period in 2019. China has emerged as one of the top unserved markets to and from Belgrade since visa restrictions between the two countries were mutually lifted in 2017, with travel reaching a record high in 2019, prior to the coronavirus pandemic. Most of the traffic flow between China and Serbia over the past few years has originated from Shanghai, followed by Beijing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou and Chengdu. Flight HU7969 prior to departure at Beijing Airport Flights between Beijing and Belgrade were first introduced in August 1972 by Air Chinas predecessor CAAC with the routing Beijing - Karachi - Belgrade - Bucharest, utilising the Ilyushin Il-62 aircraft. Over the years, the stop shifted from the Pakistani city to the likes of Urumchi and Tehran. Furthermore, the final point on the route changed from Bucharest to Paris Orly, and later to Zurich. In 1978, the equipment was upgraded to the Boeing 707 and in 1989 to the Boeing 767. On the other hand, JAT Yugoslav Airlines operated its first service to Beijing via Karachi in December 1971 under the Air Yugoslavia charter brand with its Boeing 707, while scheduled services were introduced on April 30, 1979, as flight JU610. The airline later modified the routing to the Chinese capital via Calcutta and began using its DC10 aircraft. Following the disintegration of Yugoslavia, JAT Yugoslav Airlines restored operations to Beijing on December 18, 1997. The route would be maintained until October 2000 with a disruption during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999. In September 2000, JAT finalised an agreement with Air China, enabling passengers to and from Australia to transfer via Beijing with a three-hour stop in the Chinese capital. Leah Davis Lokan near St. George, Utah, March 2015. Courtesy of Billie Jean Gerke The final report on the Ovando bear attack that killed a California bicyclist last summer found that the incident was likely an attack driven by a food-conditioned bear. The recently released Interagency Grizzly Bear Executive Committee report found that food and toiletries inside and near the tent, as well as food scent left behind from July 4 picnic celebrations, were likely contributing factors. This unfortunate incident appears to have been a predatory attack by a habituated or food-conditioned bear. Predatory attacks are rare, and we do not know exactly how, why, or when the predatory instinct occurred, the report read. In the early morning hours of July 6, 2021, the bear wandered into Ovando, raided a chicken coop, dragged 64-year-old Leah Davis Lokan from her tent, and fatally mauled her. Davis was on a 400-mile bike camping trip from Eureka to Helena along the Great Divide bicycle route. The report outlined a more detailed timeline of events: At 3:08 a.m., campers near Lokan were awoken by her screaming, bear, bear. The bear was several feet from Lokans and a nearby couples tents at this point. The couple and Lokan scared the bear off by making noise. After the first encounter with the bear, Lokan got up and moved two bags of food from her tent to a nearby building. At this time, the couple asked Lokan if she wanted to stay in a nearby hotel, but Lokan declined. About an hour later, the bear came back and fatally attacked Lokan. The bear responsible for the attack was shot and killed days after the incident by wildlife officials. The report said that not all bears exhibiting food-conditioned behavior exhibit predatory behavior, but for some unknown reason, a predatory response was triggered in this bear. While foraging under the cover of darkness in Ovando, perhaps due to a simple movement made by the sleeping victim, or a certain sound made by the victim, the bear reacted and ended up taking the life of Ms. Lokan, the report read. In light of the attack, the report recommended people be hyper bear aware while camping and enjoying the outdoors. Grizzly bears within campgrounds or lingering near residences or other areas where people congregate, such as town centers, are serious events and should not be tolerated, the report read. Bears can often be convinced to leave the area with simple hazing methods such as clapping, yelling, or horns. If a grizzly bear approaches an occupied tent, campers should seek shelter in a building or vehicle and should not return to the tent for the night. The post Report: Fatal Ovando bear attack likely caused by food-conditioned bear appeared first on Daily Montanan. In the first five months of this year, Vietnam witnessed a trade deficit of $1.8 billion with the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) market, according to the ministry of industry and trade (MoIT), whose statistics show Vietnamese exports to this large market rose by 7.8 per cent to $19.5 billion, while its imports were valued at $21.3 billion. Vietnams exports to Japan were worth $9.3 billion in value during the period, the highest among CPTPP member countries, while exports to Malaysia, Australia and Singapore grossed $2.4 billion, $2.3 billion, and $1.9 billion respectively. The countrys export turnover to Canada, Mexico and Peru also surged by nearly 30 per cent, 22 per cent and 12.2 per cent to $2.6 billion, $1.9 billion and $247 million respectively, a Vietnamese newspaper reported. Export items to the market include garments and textiles. In the first five months of 2022, Vietnam saw a trade deficit of $1.8 billion with the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership market, according to the ministry of industry and trade, whose data show Vietnamese exports to this large market rose by 7.8 per cent to $19.5 billion, while its imports were valued at $21.3 billion.# Meanwhile, its imports from Japan hit roughly $9.8 billion in value, the highest among CPTPP members, followed by Malaysia with some $4 billion, Australia with $3.8 billion and Singapore with about $2 billion. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) Indian textile industry can expect a boost to apparel and textile exports to Russia and other countries in the region as International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) will connect Moscow to Mumbai through multi-mode transportation facilities. The corridor is expected to decrease the time taken for goods from India to reach Russia and other countries. Indian exporters can explore new opportunities in Russia and other countries because it is untapped market yet. The first container train has left Moscow this week to reach Mumbai in 35-37 days, according to Russian logistics firm RZD Logistics, which has commenced the full container trains service from Russia to India through eastern branch of INSTC. The train service will run through Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran and India. The logistic facility will move via train, then will take sea route to reach Nhava Sheva (Mumbai) after covering distance of over 8,000 kilometres. Indian textile industry can expect a boost to apparel and textile exports to Russia and other countries in the region as International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) will connect Moscow to Mumbai through multi-mode transportation facilities. The corridor is expected to decrease the time taken for goods from India to reach Russia and other countries.# RZD Logistics is the largest multimodal logistics operator in the CIS and Baltic countries. Created in order to develop the logistics business segment of Russian Railways Holding, the company is among the leaders of Russian logistics market and offers its clients a wide range of services, including international container transit and supply chain management. With the start of the new service, Indian textile industry has opportunity to explore new markets for its apparel and other textile products. Currently, the US, UAE, UK, Germany and France are the top five markets for Indian apparel exports. Russia and other countries in the region are among the least explored markets for Indian textile products. Russias share was mere 0.45 per cent in Indian apparel exports of $14.825 billion in 2021, according to Fibre2Fashions market insight tool TexPro. Its share stood at only 0.30 per cent in the total export of $6.451 billion during the first five months of 2022. In Indias home textiles exports too, Russias share was only 0.28 per cent out of total export of $8.830 billion in 2021. Russias share stood at 0.16 per cent in total home textile export of $2.844 billion during the first five months of 2022. As per TexPro, Indias apparel export to Russia stood at $15.922 million in January-March 2022 quarter, $17.718 million in October-December 2021 and $12.632 million in July-September 2021. Likewise, home textile export to Russia stood at $4.133 million in January-March 2022, $6.593 million in October-December 2021 and $6.399 million in July-September 2021. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL) The United Kingdom recently handed over to Vietnam the Vietnam National Trade Repository (VNTR), which offers free information in both English and Vietnamese on tariff commitments in free trade agreements (FTAs) within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), most favoured nation (MFN) tariff, rules of product origin and non-tariff measures, along with trade documents. Launched in 2020 under a letter of intention signed by the Vietnamese ministry of industry and trade (MoIT) and the British department of international trade, the project had the British side providing technical assistance to Vietnam. It demonstrates Vietnams resolve to enhance trade commitment and policy transparency to help enterprises build business strategies and improve competitiveness and capacity for joining global production and supply chains, MoIT minister Nguyen Hong Dien was quoted as saying by a news agency. The United Kingdom recently handed over to Vietnam the Vietnam National Trade Repository, which offers free information in both English and Vietnamese on tariff commitments in free trade agreements within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, most favoured nation tariff, rules of product origin and non-tariff measures, along with trade documents.# It introduces the best trade facilitation practices applied by ASEAN members, along with the lists of businesses given priority in handling tax, export, import and customs clearance procedures in the member countries of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and the FTAs between ASEAN and partner countries. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) VANCOUVER, BC and UTTENWEILER, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / July 15, 2022 / XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. (CSE:XPHY),(OTCQB:XPHYF), (FSE:4XT) ("XPhyto" or the "Company") is pleased to report a significant potential market opportunity for its oral dissolvable ("ODF") biosensor screening tests for oral inflammation. Certain buprenorphine medicines prescribed to treat opioid use disorder ("OUD") and pain have been recently associated with numerous serious oral health problems requiring medical intervention. Buprenorphine is a medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA") to treat OUD as a medication-assisted treatment (MAT). The number of US adolescent and adult individuals with OUD in 2019 was estimated between 6.7-7.6 million. XPhyto is investigating the potential application of one or more of its ODF biosensor screening tests for oral inflammation to detect buprenorphine-related dental problems. This year, the FDA issued a Drug Safety Communication ("DSC") titled "FDA warns about dental problems with buprenorphine medicines dissolved in the mouth to treat opioid use disorder and pain." The DSC notes that the dental problems include "tooth decay, cavities, oral infections, and loss of teeth, can be serious and have been reported even in patients with no history of dental issues." Notwithstanding the seriousness of the side-effects, the FDA is recommending the continued use of these medications as the benefits outweigh the risks and oral care can assist. The global buprenorphine market is expected to surpass USD $10.9 billion by 2027 according to Coherent Market Insights (CMI). XPhyto's proprietary ODF biosensor development portfolio includes multiple oral health products, including for the detection of stomatitis, periodontitis, and periimplantitis. The Company's first ODF biosensor screening product is for general oral inflammation. Positive detection of the causative inflammatory agents results in an enzymatic release of a bitter compound in the user's mouth, with no medical training, analytical equipment or power supply required. The oral inflammation biosensor is designed to function as a simple, low-cost, and self-administered screening test to identify users for follow-up medical testing. The Company's oral dissolvable inflammation screening test was EU registered in late 2021 and is currently licensed for marketing and sale in Europe. The Company is currently investigating the potential application of one or more of its oral health biosensor screening tests for the detection of buprenorphine-related dental problems. Requirements for clinical evaluation for the purpose of commercial registration and/or approval will be released once established. The company expects to provide further updates on its oral health and infectious disease screening test programs in the coming weeks. XPhyto's pipeline of biosensor screening products for inflammatory, bacterial and viral infectious diseases includes stomatitis, periimplantitis, periodontitis, group A strep, influenza A, and covid-19. This suite of biosensor products positions the Company within the global biosensor and oral health markets which are expected to reach US$42 billion by 2027 according to Global Market Insights and MedicalExpo e-magazine and projected to reach US$698.8 billion by 2030. About XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. is a diversified bioscience accelerator focused on next-generation drug formulation, diagnostic, and new active pharmaceutical ingredient investment opportunities, including: precision transdermal and oral dissolvable drug formulations; rapid, low-cost infectious disease and oral health screening tests; and manufacture, standardization, and evaluation of psychedelic compounds for the treatment of neurological conditions. The Company has research and development operations in North America and Europe, with an operational focus in Germany, and is currently focused on regulatory approval and commercialization of medical products for European markets. XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. Hugh Rogers, CEO and Director Email: info@xphyto.com Phone: +1 780-818-6422 Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes statements containing forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities law ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "develop", "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "potential", "propose" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and in this release include the statement regarding the Company's goal of building a successful diagnostic, drug delivery, and medical cannabis company. Forward-looking statements are only predictions based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including: that the Company may not succeed in developing a commercial product; that the sale of products may not be a viable business; that the Company may be unable to scale its business; product liability risks; product regulatory risk; general economic conditions; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms; currency risks; competition; international risks; and other risks beyond the Company's control. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law. 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 news release. SOURCE: XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/708821/XPhyto-Pursues-Potential-Application-of-its-Oral-Dissolvable-Biosensor-Inflammation-Test-for-Buprenorphine-related-Dental-Disease Vektor Partners, a London, UK-based independent technology VC firm dedicated to backing mobility startups, launched a 125m fund. The team, which leverages decades of experience in investing, operating and scaling companies, and deep networks in the automotive, technology, and transportation industries, has received the backing of institutional investors including a sovereign wealth fund. The vehicle is aimed at accelerating societys pivotal move towards a more connected, autonomous, shared, electric, and sustainable future. Led by Chris Riley, Sebastian Bihari, Vektor Partners is a specialist venture capital investor in global mobility disruptors across Europe, the US and Israel, with a focus on AI, software and data-centric technologies that align with megatrends including automation and electrification Additional partners are Isabel Falkenberg, an ESG expert who serves on the advisory board of the International Automobile Federation, and Valentin Menedetter, a former Palantir Technologies and Speedinvest senior executive with extensive SaaS and venture capital expertise. The team is joined by a growing bench of senior advisors, including automotive industry veteran Bernd Gottschalk in Germany and technology specialist Roger Spitz in California. Since its formation, the firm has invested in a series of startups including AEye, NoTraffic, Peregrine Technologies, and GuardKnox. FinSMEs 16/07/2022 Flagler College's 2022 Science Sunset Cruise Showcases Research Conducted by Faculty and Students and Raises Support for Natural Sciences Program On June 23rd, the Science Advisory Board of Flagler College hosted the Science Sunset Cruise, aboard the luxury catamaran, Sabrage, to benefit the college's growing Coastal Environmental Science & Biology programs. This fun and enriching experience was a night to remember for all guests. They immersed themselves in delicious tapas, signature drinks, science stations, and breathtaking scenery from the St. Augustine coastal waterways. The event showcased research conducted by faculty and students, raised awareness of Flagler sciences in the community, and grew support for the natural sciences program. In total, the event raised $15,185 to help support scholarships for students, research opportunities for faculty, and programmatic needs. Members of the Science Advisory Board in attendance included, Dr. Van Cogley (Chair), Ryan Carter, Chris Callegari, George Waters, and Pam Way. During the fun, a raffle to win an Aerial Tour of St. Augustine in a Cessna Skylane 182, a 2-night stay at Voco Hotel, and a $100 gift certificate for Salt Life Food Shack were awarded to Pam and Chris Way. The first science program at Flagler College was established by Professors, Dr. Barbara Blonder and Dr. Terri Seron in 2008 with the creation of the Environmental Science Minor. The Coastal Environmental Science (CES) major was added in 2013 and has since grown into one of Flaglers most popular programs. The Coastal Environmental Science program revolves heavily around all students' experiential learning and undergraduate research. They gain hands-on experience while accomplishing scientific research through field and lab studies to prepare them for the real world. To further expand, a biology minor was established in 2017 and converted to a Bachelor of Science degree in 2020. The Science Advisory Board (SAB) was created in 2020 and serves as the primary connection between the science community and the Department of Natural Sciences at Flagler College. They dedicate their time working hard to keep the community engaged in raising funds for scholarships and programmatic needs. The board members also ensure students have mentorship and guidance when pursuing their passions in science. To view additional photos from the Science Sunset Cruise, please click here. Tagged As Contact: Communications Office NewsMedia@flhealth.gov 850-245-4111 Tallahassee, Fla. Last week, First Lady Casey DeSantis brought together the Florida Department of Children and Families Secretary Shevaun Harris, State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo and law enforcement to discuss the recent increases in overdoses associated with fentanyl in Gadsden County. Following that meeting, Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Florida Department of Health (DOH) worked together to deploy public awareness materials regarding the dangers of substance abuse, specifically fentanyl-laced drugs. Responding to overdose requires education and readily available resources at the hands of communities, families, law enforcement, emergency medical services, and health care providers. Today, educational materials are being deployed statewide to ensure Floridians are aware of the signs of overdose and how to respond. Print and digital materials can be downloaded here. A public health and safety alert was also deployed by DOH on July 8, 2022 to ensure Floridians remain vigilant of the signs of overdose. This alert can be foundhere. When a person is suffering from a substance use disorder, it can be difficult to know where to turn, said DCF Secretary Shevaun Harris. Families and individuals can feel lost, but there are many resources available to help in every community across the state. Whether its finding a treatment program, recovery support or just someone to talk to, we can help connect individuals to supports that may save a life. By partnering with the First Lady and DOH we are working to ensure that these services are more prominent, available, and accessible than ever before. Substance use disorder significantly impacts the health and lives of individuals suffering from it, said StateSurgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo. Increasing awareness of drug abuse and available resources can help save Floridians from devastating and fatal health consequences. Our collaboration with the First Lady and DCF is an essential part of the states continuing efforts to provide assistance and comprehensive resources to those in need. This initiative is a collaborative effort led by DCF and DOH alongside other state and community partners. For questions regarding potential overdoses and other drug-related exposures, Floridas Poison Control Centers are a valuable resource to individuals throughout Florida, including emergency personnel. Poison Control Centers are staffed by health care professionals that are specifically trained to provide assistance in treating drug overdoses or assessing patients exposed to drugs of abuse. Medical toxicologists are available 24/7 for physician consultations. For poisoning questions or emergencies, call 1-800-222-1222. Visit the website at floridapoisoncontrol.org. HEROS (Helping Emergency Responders Obtain Support) is a DOH program that provides free naloxone to emergency response agencies. Since the inception of the program in 2018, over 455,000 doses have been distributed to emergency response agencies in Florida through HEROS. All first responders in Florida are eligible to request free naloxone through this program. More information can be found here. If you or your organization are interested in obtaining or managing naloxone for the community, please visit I SAVE FL to find available resources through DCF. About the Florida Department of Health The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts. Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov. On July 14, 2022, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong co-chaired the sixth meeting of the China-Cambodia Intergovernmental Coordination Committee, which was held via video link. Wang Yi said, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and Cambodian leaders, China and Cambodia have strengthened coordination in a holistic approach, pushing for constant and new outcomes of all-round cooperation between the two countries. Next year will mark the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia, and the first five-year action plan of building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future will be completed. China is ready to work with Cambodia to keep bilateral cooperation always at the forefront of the times, so as to make it better serve the respective national development and more vigorously promote development and prosperity in the region. Hor Namhong said, Cambodia firmly pursues the one-China principle, firmly supports the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping, and wishes the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China a complete success. Hor Namhong said, Cambodia and China have made remarkable progress in fully implementing the action plan of a China-Cambodia community with a shared future. He thanked China for providing large quantities of vaccines and other anti-pandemic materials, which have provided a strong guarantee for Cambodia to effectively control the pandemic and realize economic recovery. He thanked China for bringing tangible benefits to the Cambodian people by helping Cambodia maintain stability and improve people's well-being. Cambodia is firmly committed to building a Cambodia-China community with a shared future and consolidating the "iron-clad" friendship between Cambodia and China, so as to better benefit the two countries and two peoples. Wang Yi stressed, China and Cambodia have built a community with a shared future under the guidance of high-level exchanges, strengthened solidarity and mutual assistance with the goal of safeguarding common interests, deepened mutually beneficial cooperation in a people-centered approach, and strengthened multilateral coordination and collaboration with the purpose of championing international fairness and justice, thus consolidating political mutual trust and cementing the foundation for strategic cooperation. Facts have proved that the building of a China-Cambodia community with a shared future serves the fundamental and long-term interests of the two peoples, meets the trend of the times, and conforms to the big picture of peace and stability in the region, thus representing a completely right direction. The two sides should firm up confidence, remove interference, and write a new chapter in the high-quality development of bilateral relations in the new era, with building a community with a shared future in a more comprehensive and in-depth way as the main task. Taking stock of the implementation of the consensus reached at the fifth meeting of the China-Cambodia Intergovernmental Coordination Committee, the two sides were satisfied with the fruitful outcomes of solidarity and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries, and also made plans for cooperation in the next stage: First, maintain high-level strategic coordination. The two sides will formulate a new action plan for building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future, and advance exchanges and cooperation in various fields in a coordinated manner. Second, step up efforts to ensure political security. The two sides will deepen experience-sharing on state governance, and firmly support each other in safeguarding core interests and pursuing a development path in line with respective national conditions. Third, cement the foundation for pragmatic cooperation. The two sides will advance key projects of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, continue to fight the pandemic together, and expand cooperation in economy, trade, agriculture and other fields. Fourth, consolidate the foundation of public support for the friendship. More flights between the two countries will be opened to facilitate the return of Cambodian students to China to continue their education. The two sides will well implement livelihood projects, and strengthen cooperation in fields such as science and technology, education, culture and tourism, as well as among think tanks. Fifth, strengthen coordination and cooperation in multilateral affairs. The two sides will stick to the ASEAN-led regional cooperation architecture, and resist any attempts to turn East Asian cooperation platforms into an arena for major-power rivalry. China supports Cambodia in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs and in performing its duties as the rotating chair of ASEAN. After the meeting, the two sides jointly announced the signing of cooperation documents on human resources and infrastructure, among others. The Approach Deeply Embed CliftonStrengths at Scale To support employees' wellbeing, performance and sense of inclusion, Estee Lauder Companies infused CliftonStrengths into the very foundation of their culture, mapping it to key processes, systems, and metrics. They did so at scale, with speed, and with an accelerated sense of urgency when the global pandemic struck. Within the last 2.5 years the company successfully helped thousands of employees discover their natural talents through the CliftonStrengths assessment. As more and more employees explore their Strengths, the approach, the learnings and the ways of working, the common language and Strengths concepts are permeating the collective mindset, resulting in new ways of driving individual and team performance. "Cultivate the best strengths in yourself and the best strengths in your people. When you build on your individual strengths, you build a company of champions." -- Fabrizio Freda, President and CEO, The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc Their impressive, large-scale rollout succeeded largely due to employee enthusiasm, executive sponsorship, and strategic effort, including a partnership with Gallup. The company's list of successes along the way is considerable. Here are a few. Embed CliftonStrengths in Performance and Development ELC blended CliftonStrengths into key measures of employee growth and performance across the company. They began with their bedrock performance and development metrics, what they term High-Performance Leadership Competencies. CliftonStrengths maps beautifully to ELCs leadership competencies to help employees: articulate their value define their approach to achievement celebrate what makes them unique From career growth conversations and mentoring to leadership development and assignment opportunities, CliftonStrengths and the articulation of an individual's talents are consistently present. Intentionally Developing Leaders with CliftonStrengths Leaders and managers are the true stewards of a strengths-based culture. Recognizing this, ELC wove CliftonStrengths into core leadership programs. To grow exceptional strengths-based leaders, ELC retooled programs at all levels, from entry-level to the executive suite. Their High-impact leadership programs include: How Gallup Can Help Journalists and Other Media Professionals Gallup experts are available to discuss our analytics and advice on a broad range of topics, including, but not limited to: non-partisan analysis of global public opinion polling and human behavior research employee experience and engagement workplace leadership and management Note: Only inquiries from media entities will be considered; for any other requests, please contact us. TORONTO, July 15, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (TSXV: TVC) (OTCQB: TVCCF) Three Valley Copper Corp. (Three Valley Copper or the Company) today announced that the Chilean courts response to the filing of a Judicial Restructuring Procedure (JRP) by Minera Tres Valles SpA (MTV), the Companys 95.1% Chilean copper mining subsidiary, is delayed. MTV commenced reorganization proceedings by filing a JRP in Chile on June 13, 2022, to seek protection from creditors to give MTV a further opportunity to seek a long-term financing solution to ensure MTVs continuity of operations. This is similar to filing for creditor protection under the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act in Canada. The initial court order sought is expected to provide a stay of creditor claims and the exercise of contractual rights providing the necessary protection to allow MTV to continue its focus on sourcing a long-term financial partner that will encourage its creditors to restructure their debts leading to a secure financial foundation to grow MTVs business. MTV has been notified that there is a procedural delay in granting the court order and expects the Chilean courts to issue the initial court order by the end of July 2022. If the initial court order is not granted, it is expected that MTV could be forced to liquidate or be sold, which could adversely impact the Companys ability to recover any or all of the Companys investment in MTV. The public company, Three Valley Copper, is expected to continue as a going concern even if a liquidation event occurs at MTV. If MTV is successful in restructuring its existing debt and in sourcing additional financing, there will likely be a material dilution to the Companys ownership interest in MTV, including the possibility that the Company would no longer hold majority control of MTV. To date, Anglo American Marketing Limited and a fund managed by Kimura Capital (the Senior Lenders to MTV) have not reached agreement between themselves to further support MTV in the future nor has longer-term capital been sourced. The Company remains in constant dialogue with the Senior Lenders and discussions continue on how to best support MTV with the goal of sourcing additional longer-term capital. MTV has initiated a full care and maintenance program with over half of its 200 direct employees being terminated thus far and its underground contractor demobilized. MTVs current projections provide for its cash resources to be extended into August 2022. The Company will provide a further update on the JRP as the application proceeds. About Three Valley Copper Three Valley Copper, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada is focused on copper production from its primary asset, Minera Tres Valles. Located in Salamanca, Chile, MTV is 95.1% owned by the Company and MTV's main assets are the Minera Tres Valles mining complex and its 46,000 hectares of exploratory lands. For more information about the Company, please visit www.threevalleycopper.com. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in this news release, contain forward-looking information (collectively referred to herein as the "Forward-Looking Statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify Forward-Looking Statements. In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, this news release contains Forward-Looking Statements pertaining to: expected cash flow and capital resources; ability of the Company to continue as a going concern; expectations regarding the timing and grant of the JRP and the affects of any potential order; and expectations regarding debt restructuring and additional financing. Although TVC believes that the Forward-Looking Statements are reasonable, they are not guarantees of future results, performance or achievements. A number of factors or assumptions have been used to develop the Forward-Looking Statements, including: the availability of certain consumables (including water) and services and the prices for power, sulfuric acid and other key supplies; expected labour and materials costs and available supply; certain tax rates, including the allocation of certain tax attributes, being applicable to MTV; the continued availability of quality management; expected ability to repay the indebtedness of MTV; the JRP is a procedure available to MTV; and MTV will be able to maintain sufficient staff to continue processing operations. Actual results, performance or achievements could vary materially from those expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Statements should assumptions underlying the Forward-Looking Statements prove incorrect or should one or more risks or other factors materialize, including: (i) possible variations in grade or recovery rates; (ii) copper price fluctuations and uncertainties; (iii) delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; (iv) risks associated with the mining industry in general (e.g., operational risks in development, exploration and production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to mineral reserves, production, costs and expenses; and labour, health, safety and environmental risks) and risks associated with the other portfolio companies' industries in general; (v) performance of the counterparty to the ENAMI contract; (vi) risks associated with investments in emerging markets; (vii) general economic, market and business conditions; (viii) market volatility that would affect the ability to enter or exit investments; (ix) commodity price and foreign exchange fluctuations and uncertainties; (x) risks associated with catastrophic events, manmade disasters, terrorist attacks, wars and other conflicts, or an outbreak of a public health pandemic or other public health crises, including COVID-19; (xi) those risks disclosed under the heading "Risk Management" in TVCs Managements Discussion and Analysis for the period ended December 31, 2021; and (xii) those risks disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" or incorporated by reference into TVCs Annual Information Form dated March 3, 2021. The Forward-Looking Statements speak only as of the date hereof, unless otherwise specifically noted, and the Company does not assume any obligation to publicly update any Forward-Looking Statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be expressly required by applicable Canadian securities laws. Cautionary Note to United States Investors Concerning Estimates of measured, indicated and inferred mineral resources This news release may use the terms "measured", "indicated" and "inferred" mineral resources. Historically, while such terms were recognized and required by Canadian regulations, they were not recognized by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). The SEC has adopted amendments to its disclosure rules to modernize the mineral property disclosure requirements for issuers whose securities are registered with the SEC under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). These amendments became effective February 25, 2019 (the SEC Modernization Rules) with compliance required for the first fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2021. The SEC Modernization Rules replace the historical property disclosure requirements for mining registrants that were included in SEC Industry Guide 7, which will be rescinded from and after the required compliance date of the SEC Modernization Rules. As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC now recognizes estimates of measured, indicated and inferred mineral resources. In addition, the SEC has amended its definitions of proven mineral reserves and probable mineral reserves to be substantially similar to the corresponding Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum definitions, as required by NI 43-101. Investors are cautioned that "Inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. United States investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of measured or indicated mineral resources will ever be converted into mineral reserves. United States investors are also cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists or is economically or legally mineable. For further information: Michael Staresinic President and Chief Executive Officer T: (416) 943-7107 E: mstaresinic@threevalleycopper.com Renmark Financial Communications Inc. Joshua Lavers: jlavers@renmarkfinancial.com T: (416) 644-2020 or (212) 812-7680 www.renmarkfinancial.com Source: Three Valley Copper Corp. 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 news release. BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil, July 15, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verde AgriTech Plc (TSX: NPK) (OTCQB: AMHPF) (Verde or the Company) today announced that its President and Chief Executive Officer, Cristiano Veloso, established an automatic securities disposition plan (ASDP) in accordance with applicable Canadian securities legislation and the Companys internal policies. The ASDP permits trades to be made in accordance with pre-arranged instructions given when Mr. Veloso was not in possession of any material undisclosed information. The ASDP will be effective on the second trading day following the date on which the Company has filed its interim financial statements for the quarter ending June 2022. Sales of the shares under the ASDP may only commence two trading days after the release of such interim financial statements. Up to 3,000,000 shares, representing approximately 5% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company, may be sold under the ASDP implemented by Mr. Veloso. 874,621 shares would be issued upon the exercise of options to acquire shares held by Mr. Veloso, such options forming part of Mr. Velosos compensation for services as President and Chief Executive Officer of Verde. The ASDP is designed to allow for an orderly disposition of the shares to be issued upon the exercise of the options at prevailing market prices over the course of the 12-month period that sales under the ASDP are expected to take place. Mr. Veloso has provided pre-arranged instructions in writing to the independent agent administering the ASDP, including the number of securities to be sold and setting out minimum trade prices. The minimum sale price is $9 per share. The number of shares that may be sold on a daily basis at a particular sale price will be limited based on daily trade volumes. The limitations range from 1% of daily volume for sale prices between $9 and $10 up to 15% for sale prices above $12 per share. The limitation on daily volume doesnt apply to block trades greater than 50 thousand shares providing no more than 500 thousand shares are sold at each of the different price ranges. The ASDP prohibits the agent administering the ASDP from consulting with Mr. Veloso regarding any sales under the ASDP and prohibits Mr. Veloso from disclosing to the agent any information concerning the Company that might influence the execution of the ASDP. The ASDP has been authorized and established in the form approved by the Company and contains meaningful restrictions on the ability of Mr. Veloso to amend, suspend or terminate the ASDP. ABOUT VERDE AGRITECH Verde is an agricultural technology company that produces potash fertilizers. Our purpose is to improve the health of all people and the planet. Rooting our solutions in nature, we make agriculture healthier, more productive, and profitable. Verde is a fully integrated Company: it mines and processes its main feedstock from its 100% owned mineral properties, then sells and distributes the Product. Verdes focus on research and development has resulted in one patent and eight patents pending. Among its proprietary technologies are Cambridge Tech, 3D Alliance, MicroS Technology, N Keeper, and Bio Revolution.1 Currently, the Company is fully licensed to produce up to 2.8 million tonnes per year of its multinutrient potassium fertilizers K Forte and BAKS, sold internationally as Super Greensand.2 By the end of 2022, it plans to become Brazil's largest potash producer by capacity.3 Verde has a combined measured and indicated mineral resource of 1.47 billion tonnes at 9.28% K 2 O and an inferred mineral resource of 1.85 billion tonnes at 8.60% K 2 O (using a 7.5% K 2 O cut-off grade).4 This amounts to 295.70 million tonnes of potash in K 2 O. For context, in 2021 Brazils total consumption of potash in K 2 O was 7.92 million5. Brazil ranks second in global potash demand and is its single largest importer, currently depending on external sources for over 96% of its potash needs. In 2021, potash accounted for approximately 2% of all Brazilian imports by dollar value. CORPORATE PRESENTATION For further information on the Company, please view shareholders deck: https://verde.docsend.com/view/avq2niw575sjyh7a INVESTORS NEWSLETTER Subscribe to receive the Companys updates at: http://cloud.marketing.verde.ag/InvestorsSubscription The last edition of the newsletter can be accessed at: https://bit.ly/InvestorsNLMay2022 CAUTIONARY LANGUAGE AND FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS All Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resources estimates reported by the Company were estimated in accordance with the Canadian National Instrument 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum Definition Standards (May 10, 2014). These standards differ significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. This document contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements" are made as of the date of this document. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the estimated amount and grade of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves; the PFS representing a viable development option for the Project; estimates of the capital costs of constructing mine facilities and bringing a mine into production, of sustaining capital and the duration of financing payback periods; the estimated amount of future production, both produced and sold; timing of disclosure for the PFS and recommendations from the Special Committee; the Companys competitive position in Brazil and demand for potash; and, estimates of operating costs and total costs, net cash flow, net present value and economic returns from an operating mine. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "envisages", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on Verde's or its consultants' current beliefs as well as various assumptions made by them and information currently available to them. The most significant assumptions are set forth above, but generally these assumptions include, but are not limited to: the presence of and continuity of resources and reserves at the Project at estimated grades; the geotechnical and metallurgical characteristics of rock conforming to sampled results; including the quantities of water and the quality of the water that must be diverted or treated during mining operations; the capacities and durability of various machinery and equipment; the availability of personnel, machinery and equipment at estimated prices and within the estimated delivery times; currency exchange rates; Super Greensand and K Forte sales prices, market size and exchange rate assumed; appropriate discount rates applied to the cash flows in the economic analysis; tax rates and royalty rates applicable to the proposed mining operation; the availability of acceptable financing under assumed structure and costs; anticipated mining losses and dilution; reasonable contingency requirements; success in realizing proposed operations; receipt of permits and other regulatory approvals on acceptable terms; and the fulfilment of environmental assessment commitments and arrangements with local communities. Although management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. Many forward-looking statements are made assuming the correctness of other forward looking statements, such as statements of net present value and internal rates of return, which are based on most of the other forward-looking statements and assumptions herein. The cost information is also prepared using current values, but the time for incurring the costs will be in the future and it is assumed costs will remain stable over the relevant period. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions do not reflect future experience. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates assumptions and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These risk factors may be generally stated as the risk that the assumptions and estimates expressed above do not occur as forecast, but specifically include, without limitation: risks relating to variations in the mineral content within the material identified as Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves from that predicted; variations in rates of recovery and extraction; the geotechnical characteristics of the rock mined or through which infrastructure is built differing from that predicted, the quantity of water that will need to be diverted or treated during mining operations being different from what is expected to be encountered during mining operations or post closure, or the rate of flow of the water being different; developments in world metals markets; risks relating to fluctuations in the Brazilian Real relative to the Canadian dollar; increases in the estimated capital and operating costs or unanticipated costs; difficulties attracting the necessary work force; increases in financing costs or adverse changes to the terms of available financing, if any; tax rates or royalties being greater than assumed; changes in development or mining plans due to changes in logistical, technical or other factors; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; risks relating to receipt of regulatory approvals; delays in stakeholder negotiations; changes in regulations applying to the development, operation, and closure of mining operations from what currently exists; the effects of competition in the markets in which Verde operates; operational and infrastructure risks and the additional risks described in Verde's Annual Information Form filed with SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com) for the year ended December 31, 2021. Verde cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to Verde, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Verde does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by Verde or on our behalf, except as required by law. For additional information please contact: Cristiano Veloso, Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Tel: +55 (31) 3245 0205; Email: investor@verde.ag www.investor.verde.ag | www.supergreensand.com | www.verde.ag 1 Learn more about our technologies: https://verde.docsend.com/view/yvthnpuv8jx6g4r9 2 See the release at: https://investor.verde.ag/2-5-million-tonnes-per-year-potash-mining-concession-granted-to-verde/ 3 See the release at: https://investor.verde.ag/verde-to-reach-3-million-tonnes-potash-production-capacity-in-2022/ 4 As per the National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects within Canada (NI 43 -101), filed on SEDAR in 2017. See the Pre-Feasibility Study at: https://investor.verde.ag/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/NI-43-101-Pre-Feasibility-Technical-Report-Cerrado-Verde-Project.pdf 5 Union of the Agricultural Fertilizers and Correctives Industry, in the State of Sao Paulo (SIACESP, from Sindicato da Industria de Fertilizantes e Corretivos Agropecuarios, no Estado de Sao Paulo). TORONTO, July 15, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Xanadu Mines Ltd (ASX: XAM, TSX: XAM) (Xanadu or the Company) announces the results of its annual general meeting of shareholders (the "Meeting") of the Company held May 17, 2022. All matters presented for approval at the Meeting by management of the Company were duly authorized and approved, including: (i) Re-election of Mr Michele Muscillo as director; (ii) Remuneration Report; (iii) Ratification of prior issuance of shares on March 1, 2022; and (iv) Grant of options to Mr Colin Moorhead. Further details on the matters voted upon at the Meeting can be found in the Companys Meeting materials, including the management information circular dated April 20, 2022, which are accessible under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. The Company has also filed a report of voting results on all resolutions voted on at the Meeting on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. About Xanadu Mines Xanadu is an ASX and TSX listed Exploration company operating in Mongolia. We give investors exposure to globally significant, large-scale copper-gold discoveries and low-cost inventory growth. Xanadu maintains a portfolio of exploration projects and remains one of the few junior explorers on the ASX or TSX who control a globally significant copper-gold deposit in our flagship Kharmagtai Project. For information on Xanadu visit: www.xanadumines.com. Newark, July 16, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As per the report published by The Brainy Insights, the global urinary drainage bags market is expected to grow from USD 1.78 billion in 2021 to USD 2.75 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 4.98% during the forecast period 2022-2030. The geriatric population worldwide suffers from a common condition known as urinary incontinence. Urinary drainage bags are a practical solution for temporarily storing urine as they can be readily disposed of. Several disorders, including spinal cord injuries, retention, and ulcerative colitis, necessitate using urinary drainage bags for a specific period. Urological dysfunctions are found to be one of the most common concerns among the geriatric population. Hospitals and clinic professionals prefer to use urinary drainage bags for patients who have undergone surgery related to kidney stones, bladder, and urinary tract. The elderly population requires constant care and monitoring after surgery, so providing them with complete bed rest for a specific period is essential. They are more vulnerable to urinary tract infections and urology disorders. Homecare has also evolved during the past years and has contributed significantly to the market's growth. Request a Sample Copy of the Research Report: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/enquiry/sample-request/12831 Competitive Strategy To enhance their market position in the global urinary drainage bags market, the key players are now focusing on adopting the strategies such as product innovations, mergers & acquisitions, recent developments, joint ventures, collaborations, and partnerships. In July 2021, a significant player, Amsino International, Inc., expanded its operations by opening a production unit in Aurora. The expansion objective is to increase its reach among the consumer base of urinary drainage bags. Market Growth & Trends With the growing trend of home care, there has been a rise in demand for urinary drainage bags. Further, the increasing use of drainage bags in healthcare facilities such as hospitals, clinics, and ambulatory surgical centers is driving the market's growth. Urinary incontinence has been prevalent in the elderly population, especially women. According to a WHO report, urinary incontinence has been 2x more prevalent in women compared to men. The reason can be attributed to numerous conditions of women, including vaginal delivery, arthritis, physical disability, diabetes, etc. A hypertonic bladder makes it difficult to urinate regularly for patients suffering from chronic age-related diseases. Urinary drainage bags are now available in different types and sizes, making them a popular choice among consumers. Many manufacturers have stepped into the market in recent years. They have actively collaborated with other known players and have numerous partnerships with healthcare facilities to supply a bulk quantity of such products. Urinary drainage bags have various benefits, which is why it is widely preferred in most regions. However, the demand for the urinary drainage bags market is restricted by certain factors such as lack of awareness in some parts of developing and most the underdeveloped regions. For more information in the analysis of this report, speak to research analyst: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/12831 Key Findings In 2021, the disposable urinary drainage bags segment dominated the market with the largest market share of 59.91% and market revenue of 1.06 billion. The use segment is divided into disposable and reusable urinary drainage bags. In 2021, the disposable urinary drainage bags segment dominated the market with the largest market share of 59.91% and market revenue of 1.06 billion. Disposable drainage bags carry less risk of transmission in comparison to reusable drainage bags. Many manufacturers offer such disposable urinary drainage bags, and thus it is one of the significant factors contributing to the segments growth. In 2021, the leg bags segment accounted for the largest share of the market, with 48.08% and market revenue of 0.85 billion. The type segment is divided into large capacity bags, leg bags, and belly bags. In 2021, the leg bags segment accounted for the largest share of the market, with 48.08% and market revenue of 0.85 billion. Leg bags are found to be more convenient as compared to the other two bag types. Leg bags allow for free movement of the patient as it is lighter. Leg bags can be used by the elderly population, women, and patients who have been surgically operated on. The above 1000 ml capacity segment should register a high growth rate during the forecast period. The capacity segment is divided into 0-500 ml, 500-1000 ml, and above 1000 ml. The above 1000 ml capacity segment should register a high growth rate during the forecast period. The above 1000 ml is used in hospitals and clinics for elderly and surgically operated patients. These healthcare facilities are investing in large capacity bags to ease the process for the helpers. In 2021, the hospital segment accounted for the largest share of the market, with 42.06% and market revenue of 0.74 billion. The end-user segment is divided into clinics, hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and others. In 2021, the hospital segment accounted for the largest share of the market, with 42.06% and market revenue of 0.74 billion. Hospitals have a higher number of patients admitted at any time. Further, an increased number of surgeries are performed at hospitals, and thus, urinary drainage bags are necessary there. The urology department of hospitals is mostly well equipped compared to clinics and ambulatory centers. Quick Buy - Urinary Drainage Bags Market Research Report: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/buy-now/12831/single Regional Segment Analysis of the Urinary Drainage Bags Market North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, U.K., Italy, Spain, Rest of Europe) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Rest of APAC) South America (Brazil and the Rest of South America) The Middle East and Africa (UAE, South Africa, Rest of MEA) Among all regions, North America emerged as the largest market for the global urinary drainage bags market, with a market share of around 38.93% in 2021. The market for urinary drainage bags in the North American region has risen due to prominent market players, well-developed healthcare infrastructure, and advanced urology departments. The North American region's distributed network of manufacturers and suppliers propels the market's growth. The prevalence of urinary tract infections in elderly men and women is rising in the region, providing growth opportunities to the urinary drainage bags market. Key players operating in the global urinary drainage bags market are: ConvaTec, Inc. Cardinal Health Teleflex, Inc. Coloplast BD McKesson Medical Surgical, Inc. Amsino International, Inc. Flexicare Medical Ltd. Medline Industries, Inc. Manfred Sauer GmbH R. BARD Inc. Cook Medical Moore Medical LLC Covidien This study forecasts revenue at global, regional, and country levels from 2022 to 2030. Brainy Insights has segmented the global urinary drainage bags market based on the below-mentioned segments: Global Urinary Drainage Bags Market by Use: Disposable Urinary Drainage Bags Reusable Urinary Drainage Bags Global Urinary Drainage Bags Market by Type: Large Capacity Bags Leg Bags Belly Bags Global Urinary Drainage Bags Market by Capacity: 0-500 ml 500-1000 ml Above 1000 ml Global Urinary Drainage Bags Market by End-user: Clinics Hospitals Ambulatory Surgical Centres Others About the report: The global urinary drainage bags market is analyzed based on value (USD Billion). All the segments have been analyzed worldwide, regional, and country basis. The study includes the analysis of more than 30 countries for each part. The report analyzes driving factors, opportunities, restraints, and challenges for gaining critical insight into the market. The study includes porter's five forces model, attractiveness analysis, raw material analysis, supply, demand analysis, competitor position grid analysis, distribution, and marketing channels analysis. Get more information: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com About The Brainy Insights: The Brainy Insights is a market research company, aimed at providing actionable insights through data analytics to companies to improve their business acumen. We have a robust forecasting and estimation model to meet the clients' objectives of high-quality output within a short span of time. We provide both customized (clients' specific) and syndicate reports. Our repository of syndicate reports is diverse across all the categories and sub-categories across domains. Our customized solutions are tailored to meet the clients' requirement whether they are looking to expand or planning to launch a new product in the global market. Contact Us Avinash D Head of Business Development Phone: +1-315-215-1633 Email: sales@thebrainyinsights.com Web: http://www.thebrainyinsights.com After large-scale misbehaviour by Dutch F1 fans in Austria during the last Grand Prix, the organisation of the Dutch Zandvoort GP has also started to discuss what to do about such behaviour of the F1 fans. Former F1 driver Jan Lammers calls possible intervention by the organisation 'total nonsense'. Article continues under ad Lammers calls organisation responsibility nonsense General Manager of the circuit Robert van Overdijk said yesterday that in case of misbehaviour, the organisation will remove the participants from the grounds. Sporting director of the event and former F1 driver Jan Lammers finds it complete nonsense that the responsibility lies with the organisation and trusts in the common sense of Dutch F1 fans. Because the misbehaviour in Austria came from the Dutch fans, similar behaviour is also taken into account for the Dutch Grand Prix. To RTL Nieuws Lammers said: "The positive Dutch fans are going to get the rotten apples out." For the Dutchman, there is no need for a special approach from the organisation: "I think that is total nonsense, because you can just trust the common sense of the people. You can address them on their personal responsibility. Last year they behaved fantastic." Zandvoort does serve beer as usual A solution that was mentioned last week is the stricter regulation of alcohol consumption at and around the event. It seems that the misbehaviour mainly came from drunken spectators. Lammers says there are many possibilities in that respect. Lammers: "Of course [we are looking into that]. We will deal with that as carefully as possible." The news item concludes with the message from the organisation that beer will continue to be sold at the event. The contract between Spa-Francorchamps and Formula 1 expires this year and no new contract has been signed yet. Rumours say that the future for the circuit in F1 is anything but certain. Both the government of Wallonia and the federal government of Belgium are now interfering in the negotiations. Article continues under ad The negotiations between Formula 1 and the Belgian circuit have been going on for some time. The contract of Spa expires this year, as do the contracts of Le Castellet in France and those of Monaco. The European numbers on the calendar seem to have to make way for the new additions in the Middle East and the United States. The battle for a place on the 2023 F1 calendar has not yet been lost and the Belgian government understands that. Belgian government supports Spa-Francorchamps in negotiations with F1 "The Walloon and federal governments have jointly confirmed their support for Spa-Francorchamps in a letter to Formula 1," writes the Belgian Nieuwsblad.be. According to Economy Minister Willy Borsus, a meeting was held last Tuesday between representatives of the circuit, The GP organisation, F1 management and the region. The Minister said he was personally involved in the dossier together with Walloon Prime Minister Elio di Rupo and Prime Minister Alexander de Croo. Borsus is reported to have told the Walloon Parliament that he is certain of a future for Spa in F1. What support the region or the federal government wants to offer the circuit and the event has not been clearly discussed, but in all likelihood it will be financial support. After all, the Belgian Grand Prix does not have to prove itself worthy of F1. Spa-Francorchamps is considered one of the most iconic F1 circuits. The European Commission approved, under EU State aid rules, an Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) to support research and innovation and first industrial deployment in the hydrogen technology value chain. The project, called IPCEI Hy2Tech was jointly prepared and notified by fifteen Member States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain. The Member States will provide up to 5.4 billion in public funding, which is expected to unlock additional 8.8 billion in private investments. As part of this IPCEI, 35 companies with activities in one or more Member States, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups, will participate in 41 projects. The direct participants will closely cooperate with each other through numerous planned collaborations, and with more than 300 external partners, such as universities, research organisations and SMEs across Europe. Hydrogen has a huge potential going forward. It is an indispensable component for the diversification of energy sources and the green transition. Investing in such innovative technologies can however be risky for one Member State or one company alone. This is where State aid rules for IPCEI have a role to play. Today's project is an example of truly ambitious European cooperation for a key common objective. It also shows how competition policy works hand in hand with breakthrough innovation. Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy The IPCEI will cover a wide part of the hydrogen technology value chain, including (i) the generation of hydrogen, (ii) fuel cells, (iii) storage, transportation and distribution of hydrogen, and (iv) end-users applications, in particular in the mobility sector. It is expected to contribute to the development of important technological breakthroughs, including new highly efficient electrode materials, more performant fuel cells, innovative transport technologies, among which first time roll out hydrogen mobility ones. The IPCEI is expected to create approximately 20,000 direct jobs. The Commission assessed the proposed project under EU State aid rules, more specifically its Communication on Important Projects of Common European Interest. Where private initiatives supporting breakthrough innovation fail to materialize because of the significant risks such projects entail, IPCEI enable Member States jointly to fill the gap to overcome these market failures. At the same time, they ensure that the EU economy at large benefits from the investments and limit potential distortions to competition. The Commission has found that the IPCEI Hy2Tech fulfills the required conditions set out in its Communication. In particular, the Commission concluded that: The project contributes to a common objective by supporting a key strategic value chain for the future of Europe, as well as the objectives of key EU policy initiatives such as the Green Deal, the EU Hydrogen Strategy and REPowerEU. All 41 projects part on the IPCEI are highly ambitious, as they aim at developing technologies and processes that go beyond what the market currently offers and will allow major improvements in performance, safety, environmental impact as well as on cost efficiencies. The IPCEI also involves significant technological and financial risks, and public support is therefore necessary to provide incentives to companies to carry out the investment. Aid to individual companies is limited to what is necessary, proportionate and does not unduly distort competition. In particular, the Commission has verified that the total planned maximum aid amounts are in line with the eligible costs of the projects and their funding gaps. Furthermore, if large projects covered by the IPCEI turn out to be very successful, generating extra net revenues, the companies will return part of the aid received to the respective Member State (claw-back mechanism). The results of the project will be widely shared by participating companies benefitting from the public support with the European scientific community and industry beyond the companies and countries that are part of the ICPEI. As a result, positive spill-over effects will be generated throughout Europe. On this basis, the Commission concluded that the project is in line with EU State aid rules. The direct participants, the Member States supporting them and the different technology fields are as follows: More information on the amount of aid to individual participants will be available in the public version of the Commission's decision once the Commission has agreed with Member States and third parties on any confidential business secrets that need to be removed. Background. The Commissions approval of this IPCEI is part of the wider Commission efforts to support the development of an innovative and sustainable European hydrogen industry. In 2018, the Commission established the Strategic Forum for IPCEI, a joint body of representatives from Member States and industry. In November 2019, the Strategic Forum published its report and identified, among others, Hydrogen Technologies and Systems as one of several key strategic value chains for Europe. In July 2020, the Commission published its EU Hydrogen Strategy, setting ambitious goals for clean hydrogen production and use, and launched the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance, bringing together the European hydrogen community (industry, civil society, public authorities). Jointly with the policy priorities set out in the European Green Deal, notably in terms of environmental sustainability as well as the green transition of industry and transport sectors to climate neutrality, these initiatives played an important role for the objectives of the IPCEI Hy2Tech and facilitated the creation of industrial partnerships. The IPCEI Hy2Tech decision is the first IPCEI project approved on the basis of the 2021 State aid IPCEI Communication, setting out criteria under which several Member States can support transnational projects of strategic significance for the EU under Article 107(3)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The Communication aims at encouraging Member States to support highly innovative projects that make a clear contribution to economic growth, jobs and competitiveness. The IPCEI Communication complements other State aid rules such as the Climate, Energy and Environment Aid Guidelines, the General Block Exemption Regulation and the Research, Development and Innovation (R&D&I) Framework, which allow supporting innovative projects while ensuring that potential competition distortions are limited. The IPCEI Communication supports investments for R&D&I and first industrial deployment on condition that the projects receiving this funding are highly innovative and do not cover mass production or commercial activities. They also require extensive dissemination and spillover commitments of new knowledge throughout the EU, as well as a detailed competition assessment to minimize any undue distortions in the internal market. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) Before stepping foot in Saudi Arabia, President Joe Biden knew there would be trouble. Biden was risking criticism by visiting a country he had vowed to make a pariah for human rights abuses, and there was no guarantee the visit would immediately yield higher oil production to offset rising gas prices. He decided to face the blowback anyway, hoping to use the visit to repair strained ties and make clear to wary Arab leaders that the United States remains committed to their security and the regions stability. His visit to Saudi Arabia was occasionally uncomfortable but, in Biden's view, ultimately necessary. Although he's been focused on confronting Russia's invasion of Ukraine and limiting China's expanding influence in Asia, those goals become far more difficult without the partnerships that he was tending to here. It is only becoming clearer to me how closely interwoven Americas interests are with the successes of the Middle East, the president said Saturday at a summit in the Red Sea city of Jeddah. It was a belated recognition of geopolitical reality that, for nearly a century, has kept the United States deeply invested in the energy-rich region, most recently with ruinous wars that stretched over two decades. Biden tried to turn the page on those conflicts while insisting that the U.S. would remain engaged. We will not walk away and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia or Iran, Biden said. We will seek to build on this moment with active, principled, American leadership. The summit, where Biden announced $1 billion in U.S. funding to alleviate hunger in the region, was the final destination on Biden's four-day trip, which included stops in Israel and the West Bank. His travels were shadowed by a steady stream of grim news from Washington, where Democratic plans to address climate change floundered on Capitol Hill and there was fresh evidence that inflation had reached historic levels. And at every step along the way, Biden confronted a far different region than existed when he served as vice president. President Donald Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal reached under President Barack Obama, and Tehran is believed to be closer than ever to building a nuclear weapon. The threat, which Biden has struggled to address through renewed negotiations, has deepened coordination between Israel and its Arab neighbors, who have found common cause in confronting Iran. The budding ties have also opened the door to greater economic and security integration, recasting the Middle East's fractious politics at the same time that Arab leaders were fearing the U.S. had become a less reliable ally. They distrusted Obama's outreach to Iran and Trump's erratic behavior, then viewed Biden as neglectful toward the region once he took office. Biden's challenge has been to recognize the shifting landscape and persuade leaders in the Middle East to remain aligned with U.S. interests without being dragged back into a corner of the world that the American public has largely turned away from after the end of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Although Biden expressed a renewed commitment to the region by saying the United States is not going anywhere, he also seemed to acknowledge its limitations. The United States is clear-eyed about the challenges in the Middle East and about where we have the greatest capacity to help drive positive outcomes," he said. Besides announcing the new funding for hunger relief, he met individually with several of his counterparts, some for the first time since he became president. He also invited Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who recently became president of the United Arab Emirates, formalizing his role at the helm of major policy decisions, to visit the White House in the coming months. It was another effort to smooth ties that have become strained, in part because of Biden's actions. For example, although the U.S. has played a key role in encouraging a monthslong cease-fire in Yemen, the Emiratis have criticized his decision to reverse a Trump-era move that had listed the Iran-backed Houthis as a terrorist group. The centerpiece of Biden's outreach in the Middle East was his first meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia and heir to the throne held by his father, King Salman. The encounter began Friday with a fist bump outside the royal palace in Jeddah, a chummy gesture that was swiftly criticized because of Prince Mohammed's history of human rights abuses. In addition to cracking down on his critics in Saudi Arabia, the prince, according to U.S. intelligence, likely approved the killing of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi nearly four years ago. Biden rejected the notion that he was abandoning human rights by meeting with the crown prince, and said he brought up Khashoggi's murder during their conversation. The topic created a frosty start to the meeting, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to discuss the private meeting and insisted on anonymity. The Saudi-owned Al Arabiya news network, citing an unnamed Saudi source, reported that Prince Mohammed responded to Bidens mention of Khashoggi by saying that attempts to impose a set of values can backfire. He also said the U.S. had committed mistakes at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, where detainees were tortured, and pressed Biden on the killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh during a recent Israeli raid on the West Bank city of Jenin. The atmosphere between the two eventually became more relaxed, the U.S. official said, as they spoke about energy security, expanding high-speed internet access in the Middle East and other issues. The regional summit in Jeddah and Biden's visit provided Prince Mohammed with the opportunity to showcase his country's heavyweight role in the Middle East, and his position at the helm of the world's largest oil exporter. He hinted that the kingdom could pump more oil than it currently does, something Biden wants to see when existing production quotas among OPEC+ member countries, which include Russia, expire in September. Im doing all I can to increase the supply for the United States of America, which I expect to happen, Biden said Friday. The Saudis share that urgency, and based on our discussions today, I expect well see further steps in the coming weeks. He also tried to draw Arab nations onto his side over the invasion of Ukraine by releasing satellite imagery indicating that Russian officials visited Iran in June and July to see weapons-capable drones that it could acquire. The disclosure appeared aimed at drawing a connection between the war in Europe and Arab leaders' own concerns about Iran. So far, none of the countries represented at the summit has moved in lockstep with the U.S. to sanction Russia, a foreign policy priority for the Biden administration. If anything, the UAE has emerged as a sort of financial haven for Russian billionaires and their multimillion-dollar yachts. Egypt remains open to Russian tourists. Meantime, there are sharp divisions on regional foreign policy among the heads of state who attended the summit. For example, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE are trying to isolate and squeeze Iran over its regional reach and proxies. Oman and Qatar have solid diplomatic ties with Iran and have acted as intermediaries for talks between Washington and Tehran. But before ending his speech at the summit, Biden expressed hopes for a new era of cooperation. "This is a table full of problem solvers," he said. Theres a lot of good we can do if we do it together. ___ Batrawy reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Megerian and Miller reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden is promising strong executive action to combat climate change, despite dual setbacks in recent weeks that have restricted his ability to regulate carbon emissions and boost clean energy such as wind and solar power. The Supreme Court last month limited how the nations main anti-air pollution law can be used to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. Then late Thursday, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said he wants to delay sweeping environmental legislation that Democrats have pushed as central to achieving Biden's ambitious climate goals. Biden, who has pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, compared with 2005 levels, said Friday that "action on climate change and clean energy remains more urgent than ever.'' If the Senate will not act to address climate change and boost clean energy, I will take strong executive action to meet this moment,'' Biden said in a statement from Saudi Arabia, where he met Friday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Biden did not specify what actions he will take on climate, but said they will create jobs, improve energy security, bolster domestic manufacturing and protect consumers from oil and gas price increases. I will not back down,'' he promised. Some advocates urged Biden to use the moment to declare a national climate emergency and reinstate a ban on crude oil exports, among other steps. Declaring a climate emergency would allow Biden to redirect spending to accelerate renewable energy such as wind and solar and speed the nations transition away from fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. Climate advocates, including some of Manchin's Democratic colleagues in the Senate, slammed his opposition noting that it was the second time he has torpedoed climate change legislation. Its infuriating and nothing short of tragic that Sen. Manchin is walking away, again, from taking essential action on climate and clean energy,'' said Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn. The world is literally burning up while he joins every single Republican to stop strong action to cut emissions and speed the transition to clean energy.'' Other Democrats said Manchin's announcement that he cannot back the climate provisions in the Senate bill at least for now frees Biden of the obligation to cater to a powerful, coal-state senator eager to protect his energy-producing home state. Manchin's vote is decisive in the evenly divided Senate, where Republicans unanimously oppose climate action. "Free at last. Lets roll. Do it all and start it now,'' tweeted Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I. who has long pushed stronger action on climate. With legislative climate options now closed, its now time for executive Beast Mode,'' Whitehouse wrote. Whitehouse suggested a series of actions Biden could take, including a robust social cost of carbon rule that would force energy producers to account for greenhouse gas emissions as a cost of doing business. The senator also urged Biden to require major polluters to use technology to capture carbon dioxide emissions and impose stronger pollution controls on cars, light trucks and heavy-duty vehicles. Advocates also urged Biden to reject all onshore and offshore drilling on federal lands and in federal waters a step he promised during the 2020 campaign but has not enacted and restrict approval of natural gas pipelines and other fossil fuel projects. For too long, weve been waiting on a single legislative package to save us and a single legislator to determine our fate,'' said Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore. Now that its clear legislation to address our climate crisis is dead, President Biden needs to put us on an emergency footing to address this disaster.'' Citing Biden's campaign promise to end new drilling on federal lands and waters, Merkley said, "Now is the time to show the American people hes serious by saying no to expanding our addiction to fossil fuels.'' Even before Manchin's apparent rejection of the climate measures, Democrats had slimmed their down their plan from about $555 billion in climate spending to just over $300 billion in a bid to secure his support. Proposed tax credits for wind, solar and nuclear energy, along with still-unproven carbon-capture technology, could reduce emissions by up to 40% by 2030, advocates said. Manchin had already forced Democrats to drop two tax provisions he opposes: direct payments of clean energy credits and tax credits for drivers who purchase electric vehicles. Manchin forced other concessions last year, including killing a proposal that would have paid utilities that increase clean energy while penalizing those that do not. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said he still hopes to salvage the clean energy tax provisions and said failure really is not an option here. Manchin's request to postpone action on the climate measure follows a June 30 ruling by the Supreme Court, which said in a 6-3 vote that the Clean Air Act does not give the Environmental Protection Agency broad authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. The ruling by the court's conservative majority likely complicates the Biden administrations plan to manage power plant pollution, but does not eliminate its authority to regulate greenhouse gases. EPA Administrator Michael Regan has said the agency is moving forward with proposed rules for power plants in the coming months. Ann Clancy, associate climate policy director for Indivisible, a progressive advocacy group, said it was time for Biden to "stop waiting for corporate-backed Democrats and their bad faith negotiations and deliver real wins for the American people on climate.'' "We dont have any more time to waste,'' Clancy said. Manchin, in a radio interview Friday, said climate activists want an immediate end to U.S. use of oil, coal and gas. "That's crazy,'' he told West Virginia talk show host Hoppy Kercheval. Im not throwing caution to the wind. I think we need an energy policy that works for our country. Technically, this is not the first EV Xiaomi has put out. That would be the Xiaomi M365 electric scooter. There's an "um, actually" fact to toss to your friends. Joking aside, the Chinese giant made a big commitment to the electric car market last year, pledging to invest $10 billion over the next ten years. In the latest development on that front, company founder Lei Jun is expected to unveil the first EV prototype in August. That car is designed by HVST Automobile Design, responsible for the Maven concept car from WM Motor. After the unveiling takes place, the prototype is destined for further road testing, and we can potentially expect a Xiaomi car PR campaign to kick off. Actual production cars are still some time off, though. The Xiaomi Auto manufacturing plant and R&D center will be built in Yizhuang, and the first actual cars are expected to leave its production line in 2024. You should head on over to ArenaEV.com - our sister site dedicated to electric cars to know more on Xiaomi's car plant and upcoming lineup of four EV models. Via PRIVATE SCHOOLS Guahan Academy Charter School July schedule: Monday-Friday: Summer school. PUBLIC SCHOOLS Daniel L. Perez Elementary School Summer school 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday to Friday. Call 671-635-2177/0404. Orientation at 10 a.m. at the cafeteria: Aug. 2: Kindergarten students. Aug. 3: Second- and third-grade students. Aug. 4: Fourth- and fifth-grade students. Faneyakan Sinipok program A CHamoru Immersion Program for next school year is open to all kindergarten students 5 years old by July 31. The program will take place 8:30 a.m.-2:45 p.m. at P.C. Lujan Elementary. Transportation must be provided by parent or guardian. Fill out an application and provide necessary documents at rb.gy/8uubxk, followed by interview. Families will need to commit to: Active participation. Parents and family members must take CHamoru immersion classes. Provide eight hours of in-kind service to the program per month. Contact 671-300-2498 or 671-300-1367 or email jsteria@gdoe.net. Luis P. Untalan Middle School Student orientation for sixth grade students will be split into two sessions, 9 a.m. Tuesday for students with last names A-L and 11 a.m. Wednsday for students with last names M-Z. For more information, contact the school at 671-300-2726 or email Cora Elane at ceelane@gdoe.net. SCHOLARSHIPS GCC Foundation LGBTQ Leadership scholarship Guam Community College students who self-identify as part of the LGBTQ community can apply for the LGBTQ Leadership scholarship. Must be a resident of Guam who is a full-time new or continuing student with a GPA of 2.5 or higher at GCC. Two awardees will receive $500 for the fall 2022 semester. Deadline to apply is Aug. 31. For more information contact the Financial Aid Office at 671-735-5543/5544 or email financialaid@guamcc.edu. Atilana Rambayon scholarship Guam Community Colleges Atilana Rambayon scholarship is open to full-time or part-time new or continuing students who are a single parent pursuing a GCC associate degree program. Must have a 3.0 GPA or higher, be a graduate of the GCC GED or Adult Education program, and be a resident of Guam. The awardee will receive $500 for the fall 2022 semester. Deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Aug. 31. For more information contact the Financial Aid office at 671-735-5543/5544. The Society of Emeritus Professors and Retired Scholars scholarship Full-time undergraduate or graduate students attending the University of Guam with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA can apply for the Society of Emeritus Professors and Retired Scholars scholarship. The awardee will receive up to $1,000 for the academic year with $500 given per semester and be invited to attend an award ceremony. Deadline to apply is 3:00 p.m. Aug. 26. For more information, contact finaid@triton.uog.edu. The Filipino Ladies Association of Guam scholarship Guam residents or U.S. citizens who are full-time undergraduate students at the University of Guam with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA can apply for the Filipino Ladies of Association of Guam scholarship. Additionally, applicants can not be a recipient of any other private scholarship and not have a criminal record. Two awardees will be given $500. Deadline is 5 p.m. Aug. 22. For more information contact finaid@triton.uog.edu. Dave J. Santos scholarship The Guam Chamber of Commerces Dave J. Santos scholarship is open to full-time juniors or seniors at the UOG School of Business and Public Administration. Must have a 3.0 GPA, be a graduate of a Guam high school or resident of Guam for at least two years, and have a genuine interest in promoting entrepreneurship. Awardee gets $1,000 per semester and a paid internship with the chamber. Apply until Aug. 12. Contact the UOG Financial Aid office at 671-735-2288 or Guam Chamber at 671-472-6311/8001 or email info@GuamChamber.com.gu. COLLEGES University of Guam Applications for Fanuchanan semester are accepted until Aug. 8. Classes begin Aug. 17; most classes are in person. Residents ages 50 and older are eligible for the tuition waiver program. Call the Office of Admissions and Records at 671-735-2210/1 by Aug. 12. For more information, contact the Office of Admissions and Records at 671-735-2202 or email admitme@trition.uog.edu. Guam Community College Apply for fall semester until Aug. 12. Classes begin Aug. 17. Register in person or online at www.guamcc.edu/apply. Call 671-735-5531 or email gcc.registrar@guamcc.edu. GCC will be open from 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays until Aug. 7 for students who need help with registering. Placement testing will not be available Saturday. Students are encouraged to complete and submit a Free Application for Student Aid form. Call 671-735-5543/5544 or email financialaid@guamcc.edu. One of the best parts of travel is making new friends! We met John Parrinello and Benjamin Ferrell during our boat tour, and they were able to capture remarkable footage of Jellyfish Lake, the Rock Islands, Cemetery Reef, the 680 Night Market, and a flight above Palau which they were kind en Manelu staff are presented with certificates after completing the Workforce Development Overview Training. Bottom row, from left: Nathaniel Nanoto; Mercy Nena; Jerry Toves, acting Guam Department of Labor director; Samantha Taitano, Manelu executive director; Joiel Setik, Micronesian Resource Center One-Stop Shop project director; and Hideichi Mori. Top row, from left: Charlse Clark; Joyful Kicho Noket; Warren Joel; Whatson Tomy; Cassandra Cassie Falmeyog; Jacqueline Thinom-Pong; Suemay Alexander; Narina Kei Markus; and Darlynn Kephas. In response to a rise in employees being violently threatened, Pay-Lesss parent company PMC Investments Inc. is supplying tasers and body cameras for security officers. Jeffrey Duenas, loss prevention manager for Pay-Less Markets, said that with a rise in violent incidents over the past several years, the company decided to purchase 20 body cameras and electric tasers to keep employees and customers safe. Half the equipment will be for the loss prevention officers who handle security while the rest will be for security officers at the Pay-Less Markets sister company PMI Security Solutions. The total cost for the tasers, body cameras and training will be about half a million dollars and is under a five-year contract, Duenas said. People are coming to our stores, causing an issue with deadly weapons such as pulling knives on our employees, said Duenas. An example he gave was an incident in June when a customer looking to buy beer at the Oka location threatened an employee with a knife. He also mentioned that employees have also been threatened with other weapons like bats, slingshots and an airsoft gun. Surveillance Pay-Less Markets security also took the initiative to upgrade its video surveillance, which includes a face recognition system that connects to the U.S. provider Uniview. This decision followed another security update when the company had to change its surveillance camera system from a Chinese-based provider to a U.S.-based one to comply with federal regulations. Duenas said that while the price for the Uniview system is slightly higher than their previous provider, the video quality is better and has been more effective in identifying people. The video system can even identify a person wearing a face mask as the facial recognition software can target the area around the eyes. If it recognizes someone coming into the store that is in our database already, it alerts us and tells us how long their ban is for and if its expired, said Duenas. He said the amount of time a customer can be banned from a store is up to the company and if someone continually shoplifts they can be banned for life. The Guam Election Commission office on the second floor of the Oka Building in Tamuning on October 2021. Haiti - FLASH : BINUH's mandate extended for one year, all the details Friday, July 15, 2022, resolution 2645 (2022) was adopted unanimously and the Security Council extended until July 15, 2023, the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). In this text, presented by the United States and Mexico, the Council reaffirms the need for all Haitian stakeholders to reach, with the support of BINUH, an urgent agreement on a lasting, time-bound and commonly accepted framework, with a view to a political process led by Haitians that makes it possible to organize presidential and legislative elections that are inclusive, peaceful, free, regular and transparent as soon as security conditions are met and logistical preparation allows. It urges the Government of Haiti to provide it with an update no later than October 17, 2022. The Council demands, within 90 days, the immediate cessation of organized gang violence and criminal activities and declares its readiness to take appropriate measures, which could include an asset freeze and a travel ban, against anyone who participates in the organized gang violence and criminal activities or human rights abuses or would support such acts or act in a manner to undermine the peace, stability and security of Haiti and the region... The Council calls on all States to prohibit the transfer of small arms and light weapons and their ammunition to non-State actors and to prevent the illicit trafficking and diversion of such weapons and ammunition... Council finally requests the Secretary-General to consult with the Government of Haiti, the countries concerned and regional organizations on possible options for strengthening security support, regarding the efforts made by the Haitian National Police... China welcomed the fact that the sponsors of the resolution took into account its proposals. However, regarding the armed gangs which have a strike force much greater than that of its police, it underlines that the resolution should have been firmer on this point and hopes that the armed gangs will not see this as an encouragement. Full text of the resolution (S/2022/560) "15 July 2022 Resolution 2645 (2022) Adopted by the Security Council at its 9095th meeting, on 15 July 2022 The Security Council, Recalling all its previous resolutions on Haiti, including resolution 2600 (2021 ), Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity of Haiti, Recalling in particular its resolution 24 76 (2019), which established the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) beginning on 16 October 2019 based on the report of the Secretary-General of 1 March 2019 ( document S/2019/198), Reaffirming its condemnation in the strongest terms of the assassination of the President of Haiti Jovenel Moise on 7 July 2021, and urging the Government of Haiti to hold the perpetrators accountable in a timely manner, Acknowledging the letter of the Secretary-General of 29 April 2022 (document S/2022/369) recommending adjustments to the mandate and resources of BINUH to increase its effectiveness, including its efforts to support and facilitate engagement between the Haitian national authorities, civil society and other stakeholders to strengthen the rule of law; and to promote respect for human rights, Emphasizing the importance of empowering BINUH to carry out its good offices role, to engage all sectors of Haitian society, in particular political actors, civil society, women and religious leaders, including communities living in areas controlled by gangs, in support of political consensus, as well as in the necessary reforms to scale up advisory police support to the Haitian National Police (HNP) and re-open police commissariats in response to armed gang violence, Noting with deep concern the protracted and deteriorating political, economic, security, human rights, humanitarian and food security crises in Haiti and reaffirming the commitment of the international community to continue to support the people of Haiti, Expressing grave concern about the extremely high levels of gang violence and other criminal activities, including kidnappings and homicides, and sexual and gender-based violence, as well as ongoing impunity for perpetrators, and the implications of Haiti's situation on the region, Stressing that addressing the root causes of instability in Haiti requires political solutions, Urging the Haitian authorities to address such violence and its root causes in a comprehensive and urgent manner, including through strengthened rule of law, socioeconomic measures, violence reduction programs, including specific programs focused on sexual and gender based violence, weapons and ammunition management, and bolstering national accountability and protection mechanisms, as well as through any initiatives to assist the functioning of the judiciary, Concerned that illicit trafficking and diversion of arms and related materiel of all types undermine the rule of law and human rights, and can impede the provision of humanitarian assistance and have wide ranging negative humanitarian and socioeconomic consequences, Further acknowledging the urgent need to address the challenge of illicit financial flows to Haiti enabling armed gangs to operate and posing a growing threat to the country's stability, including by prioritizing breaking links between political and economic actors and gangs, Welcoming the establishment of the Basket Fund for security assistance for Haiti developed with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and BINUH, acknowledging BINUH's advisory support for the HNP, and encouraging BINUH to play a coordination role with regard to external security assistance to Haiti through this fund, Welcoming the launch of technical programs by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to assist national authorities to promote border and ports control, trace illicit financial flows, collaborate across borders to combat transnational crime, corruption, and drug and arms trafficking, including through the UNODC-World Customs Organization (WCO) Container Control Programme in Haiti and border management programs, and further welcoming CARICOM's regional roadmap to combat the trafficking of firearms, Recognizing that BINUH requires adequate mobility and security, both inside Port-au-Prince and outside the capital, including through adequate situational awareness and monitoring capacity, Recognizing the important role of neighboring countries, regional and subregional organizations such as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and other international partners, and calling on the international community to remain committed to Haiti's efforts in overcoming the ongoing political stalemate and security situation, welcoming further efforts from member states to augment training, mentor, and improve the operational capacity of the HNP as well as encouraging the support and financing of activities to address Haiti's humanitarian, stabilization, reconstruction, disaster risk reduction and resilience and sustainable development challenges, including in the agricultural, industrial, and education sectors, Welcoming the agreement of the Heads of Government of CARI COM for a high level political mission to Haiti and its readiness to assist, Stressing the primary responsibility of the Government of Haiti to address longstanding drivers of instability and inequality, and to engage with other stakeholders, including civil society, youth, and the private sector, and the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women, to deliver durable solutions to Haiti's immediate and long-term challenges, Emphasizing the need to address the loss of livelihoods, food security and nutrition, health security, displacement of residents, and access to social infrastructure, including that caused by the earthquake that struck Haiti on 14 August 2021 and the passage of Tropical Storm Grace on 16 August 2021, and further emphasizing that progress in the recovery, reconstruction, and resilience-building of Haiti is crucial to achieving lasting stability, security and socio-economic development, and in this regard acknowledging the multiagency collaboration to this end, 1. Decides to extend, to 15 July 2023 the mandate of BINUH in accordance with its resolution 2476 (2019), headed by a Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and the reporting requirements specified in resolution 24 76 (2019) adjusted to 90 days; 2. Further decides that BINUH's police and corrections unit will include up to 42 civilian and seconded personnel to serve as police and corrections advisors and led by a UN Police Commissioner and that BINUH's human rights unit will include dedicated capacity to address sexual and gender-based violence, including the identification of women's protection advisers, as applicable; 3. Reiterates the need for all Haitian stakeholders, including with BINUH's support, to reach an urgent agreement on a sustainable, time-bound and commonly accepted framework for a political process led by Haitians to permit the organization of inclusive, peaceful, free, fair, and transparent legislative and presidential elections as soon as security conditions and logistical preparations permit, and with the full, equal and meaningful participation of women and the engagement of youth, civil society, and other relevant stakeholders through an inclusive inter-Haitian national dialogue, and in this regard requests the Government of Haiti to provide an update to the Security Council by 17 October 2022; 4. Calls upon Member States to prohibit the transfer of small arms, light weapons, and ammunition to non-State actors engaged in or supporting gang violence, criminal activities, or human rights abuses in Haiti, as well as to prevent their illicit trafficking and diversion, and encourages cooperation between Member States to prevent illicit arms trafficking and diversion, including through providing and exchanging timely and up to date information in order to identify and combat illicit trafficking sources and supply chains; 5. Demands an immediate cessation of gang violence and criminal activities, and in this regard expresses its readiness to take appropriate measures, as necessary, that could include assets freeze or travel ban measures, against those engaged in or supporting gang violence, criminal activities, or human rights abuses or who otherwise take action that undermines the peace, stability, and security of Haiti and the region, within 90 days from the adoption of this resolution; 6. Encourages continued close collaboration and enhanced coordination between BINUH, the United Nations Country Team in Haiti, regional organizations and international financial institutions with a view to helping the government of Haiti to take responsibility to realize the long-term stability, sustainable development, and economic self-sufficiency of the country and further encourages enhanced public strategic communication regarding BINUH's mandate and specific role; 7. Encourages Member States, international financial institutions, and other entities to contribute to the Basket Fund for security assistance to Haiti with a view to supporting coordinated international assistance, and further encourages Member States, as well as relevant international organizations in a position to do so to further provide Haiti with capacity building, technical support, and the training of national customs, border control, and other such relevant authorities; 8. Requests BINUH to work with the UNODC and other relevant UN agencies to support Haitian authorities in combating illicit financial flows as well as trafficking and diversion of arms and related materiel and in enhancing management and control of borders and ports; 9. Reiterates the importance of the engagement of UNODC and other relevant UN agencies in support of efforts against armed gangs, to enhance port security, to improve customs revenue collections, and to curtail illicit financial flows, and further reiterates the importance of securing voluntary funding in support of these efforts; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to consult with the Government of Haiti, relevant countries, and regional organizations regarding possible options for enhanced security support for the HNP's efforts to combat high levels of gang violence, and to submit a written report to the Security Council regarding these consultations by 15 October 2022; 11. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter. " HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... PNH North-West : Positive report Jean Bruce Myrtil, the Departmental Director of the North-West (DDNO) of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) presented the summary report of his first three months in office. He indicated that 172 people were arrested for various criminal offenses, that 2 boats, 65 vehicles, 7 Kilos of cocaine, 19 firearms and more than 145,000 ammunition of different calibers were seized https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37146-haiti-flash-25-000-ammunition-seized-a-trafficker-arrested.html and https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37108-haiti-flash-seizure-of-120-000-ammunition-me-michelet-virgile-releases-the-alleged-traffickers.html Diaspora : Invitation to exhibition in Ottawa Visit this weekend the great art exhibition of Haiti and other Caricom missions in Ottawa to mark the celebration of 49 years of the Caribbean Community. The exhibition is free and open to the public on Saturday July 16 and Sunday July 17 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, 50 Sussex Drive, Ottawa. Additional parking is available at the National Research Council, (NRC), 100 Sussex. For more information: caricomottawa@gmail.com Training in circular economy As part of the implementation of the "Ayiti Blue Ocean Plastics Solution" project in conjunction with the Haitian company "Environmental Cleaning Solutions S.A." (ECSSA), the teams of the "Pan American Development Foundation" in Haiti provided training in the circular economy for nearly fifty members of civil society organizations in Gonaives, financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The circular economy consists of producing goods and services in a sustainable way by limiting the consumption and waste of resources and the production of waste. It's about moving from a completely disposable society to a more circular economic model. Exhibition and sale opening The Embassy of Switzerland in Haiti is pleased to invite the public to the opening of the restitution-sale of the project "support for creation" supported by the Embassy and implemented by Le Center d'Art. No less than 6 creators (Celeur Jean-Herard, Adler Pierre, Cineus Jhonny, Dubreus Lherisson, Jean Eddy Remy and Shneider Hilaire) will exhibit and offer for sale their works made within the framework of the project. You are cordially invited Saturday, July 16 at 4:30 p.m. to the opening at Maison Dufort. The works will be exhibited there until July 22. 580,739 gallons loaded in 24 hours WINECO the manager of the Varreux terminal informed that for the day of Friday July 15, a total of 580,739 gallons of fuel, including 298,166 gallons of diesel and 282,573 gallons of gasoline was loaded into tank trucks bound for service stations . Training in seismology With the support of the UNDP, technicians from the Technical Unit of Seismology (UTS-BME) & URGeoSciences participate, from July 12 to 21, 2022, in training on the configuration, maintenance of seismic stations & the use of spectrometer. HL/ HaitiLibre This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Country musician and avid art lover Marty Stuart couldnt help but stop and study The Texian statue as it was taking formation in downtown Conroe. Conroe sculptor Craig Campobella was working on his first sculpture in June 2010 at the late Jay Ross Martin IIIs empty building on Simonton Street in downtown. The statue was to be placed as a centerpiece at the then developing Lone Star Monument and Historical Flag Park in Conroe. Stuart was in town to perform at the Sounds of Texas Music Series at the Crighton Theatre in June 2010. His bus pulled up right outside of the building where I was working on The Texian, said Campobella. Per his road manager, Marty Stuart stood there studying The Texian for about 20 minutes. Hed later go on to ask Martin about the artist and later Stuart and his crew visited The Texian studio and helped add clay to the project. On YourConroeNews.com: Conroes Flag Park circle named for volunteer Jim Walker What followed from there lead to a 12-year friendship between Stuart and Campobella and the two collaborating on a statue of Stuart called The Pilgrim. The statue was unveiled in May in Jackson, Mississippi at the Two Mississippi Museums which currently has The World of Marty Stuart on display. Stuart is a native of Philadelphia, Mississippi and the statue will eventually go in Stuarts Congress of Country Music in his hometown. The statue will serve as the entrance to a display of more than 20,000 country music artifacts at the Congress of Country Music like handwritten Hank Williams manuscripts, guitars from Merle Haggard and Pops Staples, costumes from Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton, personal items from Johnny Cash, including his first black performance suit, and more. Before the statues unveiling in May, the journey of The Pilgrim started right in downtown Conroe. Campobella originally arrived in Conroe to further his radio career at Conroes KSTAR radio station. But an artistic gene flowed through his grandmothers side of the family. On YourConroeNews.com: Campobella monument a park of Montgomery welcome His aunt had an art studio and it was a place of wonder for Campobella as a boy. He did pen and ink drawings in school and excelled in art, but the grandson of a peanut farmer didnt think he could seriously pursue a career in the arts. That was like someone saying And you can go live on Mars too, Stuart said. That just wasnt in the wheelhouse of peanut farmers. In the 1980s as he took his mother on a shopping trip to the local art supply store, Campobella picked up some fast-drying clay just to experiment with. He crafted a piece of art he calls The Indian and the Rock. He set it up on the mantal to dry and about a week later, a friend of his saw the piece and ask him about it. For $50 it was his first piece of sold art. He soon returned to the art supply store and bought more fast-drying clay. He also continued his radio career, but soon found his scupting career soon eclipsed what he was making in radio. Like the rings on a tree, business got a little bigger and a little bigger, he said. In hindsight making that jump was the best descision Ive made in my professional life. Hes gone on to be the visionary and designer of The Lone Star Monument and Historical Flag Park in Conroe which was dedicated on San Jacinto Day 2011. He also sculpted The Texian and a bust of Charles B. Stewart the designer of the Lone Star Flag for the flag park. On YourConroeNews.com: Historian revels in playing Charles B. Stewart He said its rather rare for sculptors to go into major monumental style works. However, thats where he found his home. Over the past decade or so, hes created 10 to 12 major monument-style pieces including Navarro and Austin that is featured at the former Spirits of Texas Bank in The Woodlands, the Dave Parsons bust at Founders Plaza in Conroe, a 23.75 karat gold gild, named Texas Lady Liberty that graces the entrance of the former Spirit of Texas Banks 20,000 square foot new headquarters in Conroe, a larger than life bronze bust, of trauma surgeon Dr. Red Duke for the Memorial Hermann Red Duke Trauma Institute. Also in April, his Jesus and The Sick Man sculpture was unveiled at the Baylor Scott & White Paul McClinton Cancer Center in Waco and two pieces The Alamo and Come & Take It went on display at the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, Georgia. Eight years ago he opened the Campobella Bronze Statue gallery in downtown Conroe across from the Crighton Theatre. The gallery was previously owned by artist Lou Wheeler. In this space, Campobella created The Pilgrim and he said said it was a great way to exposure the public to the art of sculpture. Nobody understand what I do. They dont understand the steps, he said Its something that is so foreign. After being exposed to the sculpting process, now they are seeing the world through different eyes. The downtown gallery also became a meeting of the minds spot for those who were artists like him. They had a regular get together on Monday mornings with other artists like poet Dave Parsons and artist Joe Kolb as he worked on Marty Stuarts The Pilgrim. A bunch of honest guys offering loving constructive criticism, man you cant buy that, he said. The inspiration for the Marty Stuart statue came from Stuarts song The Pilgrim Act 3 and he said as they were driving the statue to Jackson, every person they encountered immediately knew it was their beloved home-state musician. And the camaraderie among the artists is what hell miss most about the downtown gallery. Campobella left the gallery on June 30 and now continues working in his home studio and in a friends barn studio. In addition to the four sculptures he says he feels compelled to complete in his lifetime, he has two upcoming projects that simply would not fit in the downtown space. He also looks forward to being at home more for his wife and daughter who will soon start school. Still he cherishes the memories made in the downtown. Had I done the work anywhere else, I wouldnt have had those experiences, Campobella said. For more about Campobella Bronze Sculpture, visit campobellabronze.com. shernandez@hcnonline.com OnScene.Tv Two Houston police officers were injured early Saturday after an apparent drunk driver crashed into their cruiser as they were responding to assist another officer in west Houston, according to authorities. The officers were traveling around 2:30 a.m. eastbound at the intersection of Gulfton near Westward when they attempted to make a left and were struck by a driver who was in the wrong lane, HPD Sgt. Sgt. Reginald Dunn said. Both officers were taken to a local hospital with no major injuries and were being assessed. Scott Engle A man was shot and killed late Friday during an argument outside a Montgomery County gas station, according to authorities. Deputies responded to the shooting around 11:45 p.m. at the Mike's Grocery gas station on the 32000 block of Highway 249 and found a man with multiple gunshot wounds, according to Montgomery County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Scott Spencer. The victim died at the scene. A child crashed into two Spring-area homes and hit a marked Harris County Sheriff's vehicle Saturday afternoon, according to authorities. The child whose age ranged from 7 to 10 years old crashed into a residence around 12:42 p.m. in the 9200 block of Landry Boulevard, before backing up into the unoccupied cruiser and crashing through another residence, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez tweeted. TRENDING: Texans settle claims with all 30 women accusing Deshaun Watson of sexual assault No one was injured during the incident and the child was apprehended shortly after the last crash. Additional information was unavailable. THE NEWS YOU NEED: Sign up for free newsletters and get the best of the Houston Chronicle delivered to your inbox Joel.Umanzor@Chron.com In a letter sent this week, the Texas Medical Association formally asked the states medical regulatory agency to swiftly act to prevent the wrongful intrusion into the practice of medicine after it received complaints that some Texas hospitals may be refusing to treat certain pregnancy complications, according to the Dallas Morning News. The Texas Medical Association acknowledged it filed a complaint to petition the state government for action in a health care matter, but declined to provide specifics, stating such complaints are private. The Texas Medical Board, which is charged with licensing and regulating physician in Texas, did not respond to requests for comment. Im glad that there is a Texas medical organization addressing the confusion the fall of Roe has had on clinicians, said Dr. Judy Levison, a recently retired Houston OB-GYN who worked in the city for 22 years. Individual institutions have understandably been afraid of speaking up for fear of losing critical funding from the state. And individuals have been afraid of speaking out for fear of being charged with a crime. The letter comes to light during a time of extreme political tension surrounding all healthcare providers who treat pregnant patients in Texas. Since Senate Bill 8 went into effect and the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, criminal and civil penalties around abortion have created widespread fear and confusion at hospitals, some of which now hesitate to terminate a pregnancy when its a medically appropriate option. The letter, as reported by the Morning News, speaks to the extent of the laws impact. It said one hospital in Central Texas declined to treat an ectopic pregnancy in which a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus until it ruptured, even though abortions are allowed in such situations under the law. Two other hospitals may be directing doctors to send pregnant patients home to expel the fetus when their water breaks too early, instead of treating them at the hospital, the letter said, according to the Morning News. Earlier this year, a 26-year-old woman told the Chronicle that Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital declined to immediately terminate her pregnancy after she experienced complications even though her doctor said it would be medically appropriate. The hospital, which did terminate the pregnancy days later, cited Texas law as the reason for the delay. An article in the New England Journal of Medicine cites similar examples of delays in care. People have to be on deaths door to qualify for maternal exemptions to SB8, one unidentified fetal medicine specialist said in the article. The federal government has tried to step in. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra sent a letter to healthcare providers on July 11 stating that doctors are protected under the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act when it comes to providing stabilizing medical treatment for pregnant patients, regardless of state law. The department said its guidance doesnt reflect new policy, but the state of Texas pushed back in a lawsuit filed Thursday. In a news release, Attorney General Ken Paxton characterized the letter as an attempt to require hospitals to perform abortions. The Texas Medical Association, the largest state medical society in the nation, previously issued a public statement about the decision to strike down Roe v. Wade. The June 24 statement said, in part, that it is unwavering in its stance against intrusions by government or other third parties that impede the patient-physician relationship, and any criminalization of acceptable and appropriate medical practices that may jeopardize that relationship or patients safety. The letter to the Texas Medical Board, composed of 19 members appointment by the governor, reflects a more focused push for clarity. Dr Kimberly Pilkinton, president-elect of the Texas Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, acknowledged that the organization is wading into complex political territory. I think the medical association is probably weighing the fact that its membership has a large spectrum of physicians who have different ethical and moral positions on the topic, she said. So I think (the TMA) wants to be careful that theyre standing up for patients and their health and for all physicians, and making sure theyre not politicizing that doesnt need to be politicized. julian.gill@chron.com becca.carballo@chron.com William Luther, Staff Photographer / Staff photographer Thumbs twiddled: Texans are used to arguing about tacos. The distinctions and nuances have fed an entire elite subgroup of food pundits named taco editor or chief taco officer. In 2016, after one reviewer declared Austin the mecca of breakfast tacos, a food fight erupted between The Peoples Republic of Birkenstock and the Alamo City, even generating a petition calling for the authors re-education or exile. But this weeks tortilla flap involved a higher-level offender: Americas first lady, Jill Biden. At the UnidosUS conference in San Antonio, Biden gave a speech seemingly intended to celebrate Hispanic contributions and describing Latinos diversity though not the people themselves as distinct as the bodegas of the Bronx, as beautiful as the blossoms of Miami and as unique as the breakfast tacos here in San Antonio. She delivered the taco line with a chuckle that was returned at the time by her applauding audience. Of course, the line may have landed better if she didnt mispronounce bodega. Either way, her metaphoric taco reference was soon decried as an offensive stereotype, and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists declared: We are not tacos. Biden, who never actually dehumanized anybody or anthropomorphized a morsel of Texans beloved morning delicacy, promptly apologized. Many Mexican Americans seemed to take her joke with a grain of salt: Im Mexican, and Im pro taco, Texas-born Democratic strategist Kristian Ramos told NBCNews.com. Good news is that ordeal led to many insightful articles and discussions parsing everything from the regional peculiarities of taco ingredients to the rules of respectful cultural discourse. Bad news is that Republican candidates couldnt help but strike while the comal was hot. Congressional hopeful Cassy Garcia sent an email blast featuring a picture of her donning a T-shirt in her new line of merch adorned with the phrase, unique as a taco. Congressman Dan Crenshaw issued a clever tweet: Its TacX, Jill, playing on the debate over gender-neutral Spanish grammar. In the end, no one can argue that Bidens line was remotely as culturally insensitive as President Donald Trumps condemnation of shit hole countries. But hey, the hullabaloo fed the news medias insatiable appetite for stories exploiting identity politics, which at this point is about as American as apple pie. Not that were calling any human being an apple pie. Thumbs down: After our new fellow Texan Elon Musk announced his intention to back out of his $44 billion deal to buy Twitter, the Tesla and SpaceX head has been roundly criticized by many on the far right who had hoped that his absolutist view of free speech would help them regain a foothold on the popular platform thats been cracking down on misinformation and hate speech. None seemed madder than banned former tweeter Donald Trump. In a speech in Alaska, Trump criticized Musk, calling him a bullshit artist. We understand that Trump is speaking from a position of expertise there, but we just dont think its a fair criticism for a man who didnt have to make up a fanciful tale about being a self-made American entrepreneur. He actually is. No million-dollar trust fund from Daddy to get things rolling. Even Musks critics, and we occasionally are, should admit that he came here with little more than the shirt on his back, a seemingly supernatural work ethic and one of the most innovative minds this country has ever seen. So we were glad to see Musk take to Twitter to defend himself, saying its time for Trump to hang up his hat & sail into the sunset. No need to divest of the cattle in that process. Trump was always all hat. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller penned an editorial on Friday calling for the state to loosen its drug laws to allow more people to use marijuana as medicine. "In a free society, government should only make something illegal for a powerful reason or set of facts," Miller said "The freedom of the people to make their own choices and decisions is a fundamental principal of a true democracy." Miller, who in March won the Republican primary for agriculture commissioner and is set to face Democrat Susan Hays in the November general election, urged Texas leaders to reform the state's current marijuana laws, which he compared to the alcohol prohibition laws of the 1920s. "It is time for all of us, including the Governor, members of the Texas Legislature and others to come together and set aside our political differences to have an honest conversation about cannabis: where we have been, where we are going and what role government should properly play," Miller said. Miller has been agriculture commissioner since 2014. It's not the first time Miller has advocated expanding legal access to cannabis. He made a similar statement in 2020, not long after the passage of a state law that legalized hemp products that contain low levels of THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana. The law charged Miller's office with licensing businesses that grow, handle, sample or process hemp in Texas. He said that there were more than 850 such businesses currently operating in the state. Last year, one of Miller's political aides was arrested and charged with a third-degree felony in his role in an alleged scheme to collect cash and campaign donations in exchange for accuse to licenses. Miller denied knowing anything about the scheme. Hays, Miller's Democratic opponent, is a lawyer and longtime advocate on marijuana reforms. She has also called for the decriminalization, legalization and expansion of medical cannabis in Texas, and called the state's current policies "bass-ackward." "My first response to that is: He must have done a poll," Hays said in a phone interview Friday. Hays said that Miller's op-ed didn't appear to go as far as her position on the issue. "If you de-criminalize, without legalizing and regulating, what do you get? An unregulated market" Hays said. "You get Oklahoma. That's not a good idea." Oklahoma legalized medical marijuana in 2018, by way of a statewide referendum. Light regulations in the state led to a sudden boom in marijuana grow operations there. In three years, the number of growers in Oklahoma surpassed California. Authorities in the Sooner State have said criminal organizations are taking advantage of Oklahoma's lax rules to establish grow operation there, according to Politico Magazine. To date, efforts to legalize medical cannabis in Texas have only taken small steps. In 2015, Gov. Greg Abbott signed the Texas Compassionate Use Act, which legalized the use of some CBD oils for people with epilepsy. The law was expanded in 2019, and in 2021, lawmakers passed a bill that allowed doctors to prescribe low-THC cannabis products to people diagnosed with cancer, epilepsy, post-traumatic stress disorder or other ailments. That law went into effect last year. The new law capped the allowable amount of THC in prescribed products at 1 percent, which is lower than what legalization activists had hoped for. In his editorial, Miller said that he wanted state laws changed so that "so that every Texan with a medical need has access to these medicines." Starting with California in 1996, 39 states have legalized marijuana for medical uses. Eighteen states have legalized commercial cannabis sales completely, Miller said. "While I am not sure that Texas is ready to go that far, I have seen firsthand the value of cannabis as medicine to so many Texans," he wrote. Wait! Before you go Please sign up for our Evening Digest and Breaking Newsletters Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. 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. Clark Art Institute to Host Angkor Dance Troupe on Aug. 6 WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. In conjunction with its current exhibition, Rodin in the United States: Confronting the Modern, the Clark Art Institute will host a performance by the Angkor Dance Troupe (ADT) on Saturday, Aug. 6 at 4 p.m. in Clarks auditorium. Based out of Lowell, Massachusetts, the ADT takes Auguste Rodins thrilled, feverish response to the royal dancers of Cambodiaan encounter that led to Rodin making about 150 watercolors of the costumed dancersas an opportunity to explore the history of preserving Cambodian dance over the intervening 116 years, and a chance to connect across war and the diaspora. On view in the Clark Center Galleries through September 18, 2022, Rodin in the United States explores how American museums and collectors embraced the artists sculptures and drawings, and traces the arc of his reputation and legacy since the first U.S. museum acquisition was made in 1893 by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Presenting more than seventy works from more than thirty collections, this is the largest Rodin exhibition presented in more than forty years. Tickets are $10 ($8 for members, $7 for students, and $5 for children 12 and under). For more information and to reserve tickets, visit clarkart.edu/events. This performance is made possible by the Henry Luce Foundation. Bamako, Mali (PANA) - Two gendarmes and a policeman were killed in a terrorist attack perpetrated by unidentified heavily armed men at the checkpoint of Zantiguila, about 60 kilometers from the Malian capital, Bamako In a recent staff-wide email, Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai referenced the potential for a recession and how it could affect the company. "We need to be more entrepreneurial, working with greater urgency, sharper focus, and more hunger than we've shown on sunnier days," he wrote. Many thought Pichai's words sounded grim, according to TechCrunch, which missed the overarching message within the email. What Pichai really meant is that he has a brilliantly simple plan to help top employees not only weather uncertain times but become recession-proof. It comes down to just three words: "be more entrepreneurial." As one of the world's most sought-after employers, Google naturally has some of the world's most sought-after staff. By encouraging employees to act "more entrepreneurial," Pichai is helping level-up Google staffers even further, making them all the more valuable. So rather than cutting staff to cut costs, the plan is to leverage staff so they become more productive and more valuable to the company. It goes to show is that there are ways to cut costs without cutting staff. And it's something nearly any business can deploy as a first line of defense in times of economic uncertainty. As Pichai takes the first step by setting expectations and advising staff to act in accordance with his plan, there are three key ways for employees to connect the dots between acting more entrepreneurial and increasing productivity to effectively reduce costs. And it's not just for employees but also for entrepreneurs looking to weather changing tides. 1. Leave Your Comfort Zone It's easy for staff at a trillion-dollar company to get a bit too comfortable. With "cushy" roles, more money than most can truly fathom, and thousands of staff around the world, it's easy to settle into one specific role and reside within the box that contains it. But it's important to escape the comfort zone in order to feel a degree of uncertainty the way entrepreneurs do. Entrepreneurs are accustomed to operating under a great deal of uncertainty. Without knowing what's to come after each turn -- or even knowing when turns will be -- entrepreneurs have to work harder be very calculated about how they will accomplish their goals. You get the hunger and the innovation that comes with going off autopilot. 2. Be Resourceful Early-stage entrepreneurs are typically running on a limited budget and few resources. Because of this, it's vital to maximize existing resources as much as possible to help build or maintain sustainability. By taking this frugal approach, they maximize their resources, saving them money and helping them to operate far more efficiently. However, employees often aren't as mindful of the resources they use, and how they use them. If you can encourage them to take an entrepreneurial approach, there's not only less waste but far greater efficiency. 3. Get Motivated by Challenges Entrepreneurs generally enjoy the chase involved in the pursuit of something bigger -- because they tend to see more than what is, and instead see what there could be. Entrepreneurs and employees often differ on how they view obstacles. By being more entrepreneurial, employees will also view challenges as motivators, rather than burdens. They'll get excited at the prospect of them, instead of getting stressed. In an ideal world, every employee would think like an entrepreneur. It not only gives them that hunger that serves as a driving force but gets them to become the best employees possible. It's what inspires innovation, incites change, and builds a trillion-dollar business. Lalit Modi's open declaration of love for actor Sushmita Sen caused a storm of reactions on social media. People on the internet quickly jumped in and gave their 'expert opinions' on Sushmita Sen's dating life. Instagram While trolls attacked the actress, calling her a 'gold-digger,' many stooped even lower and made fun of her for 'moving on' too quickly after her last relationship with model Rohman Shawl. Sushmita Sen dating Lalit Modi proves women are gold digger even if they are Miss Universe KAALI (@TheWrathOfKaali) July 15, 2022 i usually frown upon sexist caricatures but sushmita sen did rein force the trope of the gold digger with a party face whose looks are fading so she need to honey trap a rich old uncle asap because botox can only go so far. pic.twitter.com/8WPkt4EQ4w Aslam Malik (@AslamMa43403136) July 15, 2022 Jacqueline Fernandes (Gold Digger) + Malaika Arora (U know what I mean here) = Sushmita Sen Lol #SushmitaSen #LalitModi #BoycottbollywoodForever https://t.co/YlBkdQyO9Y Just a patriot (@A_movie_buff) July 15, 2022 What gives us the right to judge women? Sushmita Sen just proved bengali women have horrendous taste in men Fever enthusiast (@https_xanax) July 14, 2022 While women in all fields are trying to break the glass ceiling and push the envelope in ways more than one, such brutal attacks on women take us decades back. Web Screen Grab While men are lauded for dating 'powerful' women, women are called-out and labeled 'gold-diggers.' Is Sushmita were to reject Lalit on basis of looks then she was 'look conscious', if she been with him, she is 'gold digger' Looking at the Laws of Nature, men so stuff to attract mates, like piling gold for them to dig. As if she ain't be shamed for age and looked over, Sheetal Joon (@JoonSheetal) July 15, 2022 For years, we have seen female celebrities face the wrath of thousands of people on the internet for no fault of theirs. 'Why is she dating him? He's so young'. 'Why is she dating him? He's so ugly': These judgments sum up the regressive mindset of people who think their opinions are all that matters. Web Screen Grab However, putting an end to all the drama, Sushmita Sen's fans rushed to her defense when they saw people making "nasty" comments about her. (Also read: 12 Times Female Celebrities Took Charge Of Their Lives And Did What They Truly Wanted To!) Instagram People reminded everyone of her achievements and how she has set several precedents for women to follow. From being a rocking single mother to balancing her career and motherhood, people asked trolls to step back. Sushmita Sen doesnt need to be in a relationship for money. She is an accomplished businesswoman herself. Read better guys Monica Verma (@TrulyMonica) July 14, 2022 Sushmita Sen who is former miss world & worth $13 billion as per 2019 valuation is marrying for money it seems. The insecurity of men is hilarious to see (@The_Sleigher) July 14, 2022 Sushmita Sen became Miss Universe in 1994. My parents werent even dating then. 1194-2022. Just a quickie on Google will tell you she is successful and from a successful family but Gold Digger tweets from bitter misogynists are out. TanyaSingh (@T19Says) July 14, 2022 Ppl with nt even d aukaat of adding Rs.10 tip fr zomato delivery guy hve d audacity to call sushmita sen, a gold digger Simer (@RekhiSimer) July 14, 2022 It is funny to see people calling Sushmita Sen Gold Digger, yaar uska bank balance to tere aur tere khandaan se jyaada hi hoga... Chandresh Shetty (@chandreshtweet) July 15, 2022 The audacity to call Sushmita sen gold digger who had won the miss universe title and has $10 million net worth. Rashid #FreePalestine (@thatMadridFreak) July 15, 2022 Do you know how many men are after me and my wealth? Never boasted about it nor labelled all men gold digger, coz not all men or maybe, cant say. Disappointed to see mens opinion on Sushmita and her BF. Manpu (@manpunster) July 15, 2022 Indian parents that won't let their sons sign up for a wedding without dowry - ridiculing Sushmita Sen as gold digger! Genius! Suchi SA (@suchi_a) July 15, 2022 It's so annoying m.n smugly calling Sushmita Sen a gold digger as if she doesn't have her own fame, fortune and a legacy. It's so funny, you can't get past your own projections so you just shit on others. theremorsecode (@Bhaisabgolmalh1) July 15, 2022 Randeep Hooda aur Rohman Shawl ko date karte mein agar tumko lagta hai ki jis cheez ki kami Sushmita Sen ko mahsoos hui wo paise ki thi toh phir, kehna hi kya.. Pahle "mummy" bola gaya, ab "gold digger", har jagah se jaana hai. PS: Rohman, Sushmita se 15 saal chhote hain. Farooq Rasgullah (@parodullah_) July 15, 2022 The casual misogyny surrounding Sushmita rn accusing her of being a gold digger is bothering me. Firstly, she's literally Sushmita Sen. Secondly it just supports the notion that non conventionally attractive men need money to have a woman who loves them. Double edged sword guys (@incompetentmutt) July 15, 2022 Since y'day seeing so many making fun of Sushmita & suggesting that she's a gold digger/has made a terrible choice. Why is it difficult 2 believe that LKM could be a good match for her? If he's not chocolatey, he can't b nice? Both hv seen enough of the world, let them be ffs. Dr. M (@TheKindDoc) July 15, 2022 wt ever might be the jokes on #Sushmitasen n #LalitModi, bt to say sushmita sen is a gold digger n married fr money and all is extremely sexist and regressive Shreyas (@iamshreyas43) July 15, 2022 Lol. The audacity to call Sushmita Sen a gold digger though. The woman did not work her ass off from a very young age and adopted her girls and gave them the best future possible as a young single mother only to listen to all this bullshit. https://t.co/N9wkXGhCw8 (@SapnoKaJahaan) July 15, 2022 Sushmita Sen has finally put to rest all rumors surrounding her wedding to former IPL chairman Lalit Modi. However, she said she is "unconditionally surrounded by love". A day after Lalit Modi announced he was dating her on social media, the Aarya actor took to Instagram to dismiss the wedding rumors. She posted a picture of her daughters on Instagram and wrote, "I am in a happy place!! NOT MARRIEDNO RINGSUnconditionally surrounded by love." She continued, "Enough clarifications givennow back to life & work!! Thank you for sharing in my happiness alwaysand for those who dontits #NYOB Anyway!!! I love you Guys #duggadugga #yourstruly". Twitter Lalit Modi made their relationship on Instagram and Twitter official on Thursday night. After the announcement, social media was flooded with reactions and trolls. People were waiting for Sushmita to give a confirmation. Instagram/Lalit Modi Lalit Modi first uploaded a bunch of pictures with her on Twitter and wrote, "Just back in London after a whirling global tour #maldives # sardinia with the families not to mention my #betterhalf @sushmitasen47 a new beginning a new life finally. Over the moon." (To get the latest updates from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.) News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. Apart from being the only 'openly'-queer public figure in the Himalayan nation, Tashi Choden will also be the first contestant to represent Bhutan at the Miss Universe pageant. Unsplash The remote nation is recognized for its "Gross National Happiness" (GNH) concept, which places equal importance on the welfare of its people and economic development. However, gay sex remained banned in the Buddhist country until February 2021, as it was described as "sexual conduct against the laws of nature" in the penal code. Unsplash Choden's selection as Miss Bhutan 2022 last month is thus "a significant milestone" for the country's LGBTQ community and its population of around 800,000. "I'm speaking not only for the Bhutanese community but for the minority community on a platform like the Miss Universe pageant," she told AFP." I can be their voice." She lost both of her parents by the time she was 14 years old. She said she came out after "a lot of research and introspection." The 23-year-old said she came out in June on International Pride Day. Instagram Her conservative and religious family members initially had a "very strong reaction," but Choden said it was essential for them to be included in her coming-out process. Instagram "First and foremost, their acceptance matters to me," she said. "After a while, they were very accepting of it. And I'm very grateful for that because many people are not fortunate enough to have that acceptance. As long as they know I'll do well in life, that I can stand on my own feet, that I can be an independent woman, I think my sexuality doesn't really matter to them." While she received "some negative reactions" online after she was crowned and chosen to represent Bhutan in Miss Universe, she received support from inside the country and abroad. Instagram Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering -- who famously still practices as a doctor on weekends as a "de-stressor" -- personally congratulated her and wished her success. How Bhutan is setting its course: Unsplash Bhutan has always carved out a unique path for itself, measuring its progress in terms of economic growth and preserving the ecological integrity of its picturesque valleys and snow-capped mountains. Bhutan is a carbon-negative nation, and its constitution stipulates that 60% of its land must be wooded. It also rejects the idea of global tourism, charging visitors from other countries an outrageous $200 day "sustainable development fee" that goes toward reducing their carbon impact. LGBTQ people have spoken out about persecution and social stigma, which keeps many of them in closets. However, the decriminalization of gay sex in the kingdom in 2021 marked a shift toward greater acceptance, as per Rinzin Galley, a genderqueer beautician. "I feel more comfortable in public now that it's decriminalized," Galley told AFP. "I like putting on make-up and going out, and it's not normal for a guy to come out with make-up." Several transgender women have changed their names and gender on their citizenship identity cards, and the LGBTQ community is slowly becoming more visible. Community-based organizationslike Queer Voices of Bhutan and Pride Bhutanand an NGO called Lhak-sam have also provided support through advocacy. And now that Choden is representing Bhutan on the Miss Universe stage in front of millions of viewers worldwide, many are optimistic about the country's LGBT youth's future. (With inputs from AFP) (To get the latest updates from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.) I heard Bobby Ewing was in Cork recently looking for long-lost relatives. His visit didn't surprise me in the least. A few years back, his big brother JR came looking for the very same thing. I should know because he called to me first. I was outside feeding calves when this big car swept into the yard and out of the driver's window popped the head of old JR. I knew it was JR for he was wearing a cowboy hat. "My name is JR Ewing," says he reaching out his hand to shake my own "I believe I have relatives nearby." "You sure do," says I, but I didn't rush in telling him the full story for the last of his relatives had only recently departed, and I didn't want to speak ill of the dead. So, I finished feeding the calves first to give my brain a chance to consider how I would deal with the facts. "Your Irish connection lived over there," says I, pointing way off into the distance, to no place in particular. "So you knew him then?!" JR exclaimed. "Knew him?" I laughed. "I knew him better than I know myself." JR was thrilled. He then took me for a couple of jars, for all the information I was revealing was making my throat awfully dry. "Tell me," says JR over a pint, "Was he a good man?" Now, this was a hard question to answer for the only thing he was good at was cheating in cards. His relative had been a scoundrel all his life. "He was good," says I, staring up at the ceiling, as if to heaven, "At whatever he put his mind to." JR lapped it up. He had come a long way, and the last thing he wanted to hear was that his relative had been a ruffian. JR himself was no angel, of course. If you recall, he was always up to his armpits in skulduggery. But he was a great man to buy a drink, so regardless of the facts, I sugar-coated everything and went on singing like a canary. "Did he like the oil business?" JR asked. "He loved it," says I. "There was nothing he liked better than filling his tank." (Especially in the nighttime, when the diesel came from the yard of another man. He was a first-class thief). But I conveniently left that bit out for old JR, who by this point was showering me with whiskey and pints galore. Only a fool would bite the hand that was feeding him. Did he own a big ranch like South Fork?" JR asked. "He did," says I, getting into my stride. "It was called 'The Long Acre Ranch' and stretched for miles. "My daddy used to say he'd have a girl under each arm because he had the gift of the blarney," JR bragged. Read More Denis Lehane: My Walter Mitty wedding boots "He had plenty of gifts, alright," I agreed. "And yes, he was very fond of the ladies." (Particularly, if they were married to someone else). "He could talk his way out of any crisis," I proudly boasted. JR was thrilled and made a toast in honour of all the honest men who live in Ireland. "I'm only sorry," says he, with a tear in his eye after a rendition of 'When Irish Eyes are Smiling', "That he was dead before I had a chance to give him a warm Texan handshake." "Yerra," says I. "'Tis he's the sorry fellow, for very few around here would claim to be his relative." At this point, JR was moved to tears and left the farm a happy man. I'm sure for years after he regaled all in Dallas with stories about his wonderful relatives here in Ireland. Sure, 'twas no wonder then that Bobby Ewing returned. Seamas OReilly is a journalist, a writer and the author of what is possibly the greatest Twitter thread of all time. Youll know it, of course, the story of a young man high on ketamine who had to serve Mary McAleese drinks at an official function. It has everything, tension, fear, pace, pathos, relief and humour. So much humour. If you need a laugh today, and who doesnt, please go reread it. Got my days wrong and ended up alone in a room with my boss and the President of Ireland while I was on ketamine. https://t.co/gSjPY8WjKL The author, Seamas O'Reilly (@shockproofbeats) May 3, 2018 Its obviously the first thing Seamas and I discuss during our lengthy chat. I mean, I love that ketamine story, its great and Im not in any way churlish about it. I hope it follows me to my grave because its done me very well. I reread it every once in a while because it does it have a second life, its actually had a fourth, fifth and sixth life, its on its 20th life now. About a week or two ago it had another run and was shared all over the place again. The funny thing that happens now is that every single book event that Ive done, and Ive done like, I dont know, about 20 of them now, theres always a point at which the moderator will say, and of course people know you from and you see 75% of the audience go that was you?! My work is very siloed. So loads of people who might read my columns or read the stuff that Ive written about Northern Ireland, or my own book [ Did Ye Hear Mammy Died] have no idea that Im the same guy because I never talk about it. Maybe they think Seamas OReilly is a more common name than it is. They say you should be careful what you get famous for, but I mean, off the back of that thread I pretty much got to quit my job and write full time. Its useful if you can trace success back to something so objectively stupid, because it frees you from a lot of the petty vanities. It really was so completely bananas that it blew up the way that it did because I see stuff, really funny, silly threads all the time and they dont have nearly the same reach. Its just one of those things. I was the main character on Twitter for a couple of days back in 2018 and then occasionally, just off that thread, I become the main character again for a few hours. So thats been really handy. It kind of gives you a big engine. Quitting his job and writing full time resulted in a book deal for his best-selling memoir, Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? Increasingly, as a resident in Brexit-addled Britain, he has also found himself writing about Northern Ireland and the Derry home he grew up in. I get to write about Northern Ireland because Im from Northern Ireland, and the broadsheets dont know anybody from Northern Ireland. They are kind of sick of writing things so dry because theyre English and theyre terrified. As I always say possibly the only good thing about being from Northern Ireland is that youre not scared of other Northern Irish people. Seamas O'Reilly: Twitter thread that helped make his name is "on its 20th life now". Picture: Orfhlaith Whelan Seamas has been in London for more than a decade and lives there with his wife and two children, a son who just turned four and a new baby daughter. Im here 11 years now, I moved over in 2011, when I was 25. It was when the Irish government were trying to get everyone to leave because their employment figures did not look great. So me and literally all of my friends ended up away, some in London, some in New York, some in Melbourne. There was a time when I had more Irish friends here than were left at home and anyone that was left in Dublin was living with their parents. I remember it was three weeks before we got a place to live and a month before we get a job. We were sitting in McDonalds because it had free Wi-Fi applying for jobs and doing that awful thing of putting down Irish as an extra language on your CV even though we didnt really speak it at all. In the time that Seamas has been in the UK he has seen how little the British people know about Ireland. I think Id say it breaks up into thirds. About a third of UK people get the arrangement between the two islands, another third thinks that Northern Ireland is Irish, and another third think that the Republic of Ireland is also British. Id say their understanding is worse now, even after Brexit. I grew up on the border, literally, my bedroom looks out into Donegal and my kitchen looks out into Derry. Theres a fence thats five metres away from my dads rose bushes that is, and Ive measured it, 0.06% of the UKs border with the Republic of Ireland, and now the European Union. I wrote about this in 2016 and it went very viral. All during the time before the referendum, the border was never mentioned. I think it came up in one Question Time debate, but Boris Johnson never went to Northern Ireland once in the run-up and it was never mentioned in any of the election material. They woke up on that day in June, and spontaneously realised they had a 300-mile border with an economic entity that they had refused to acknowledge existed. They also did not know anything about how the Good Friday Agreement operated with relation to the border. They didnt understand anything about how porous that border not only is but has to be for the psychological wellbeing of people who are Irish-identifying. So, the very fact that this fragile peace, which has many problems, but at the very least has not broken out into full-on troubles again, is maintained largely by things like the fact the border is porous, and someone like my dad can walk the dog and cross the border 12 times in a straight line. Theres not so much as a sign. If something was to go wrong with that you would see very, very dark things. Not thats necessarily going to happen but thats why we have seatbelts. You know, Ive never been in a car accident but Ive worn a seatbelt every single time Ive been in one because you have to legislate for the things that might happen. Seamas O'Reilly: "we have to hold affection for the fact that Ireland lacks the psychopaths of other places". Picture: Orfhlaith Whelan Seamas is very much looking forward to his new column with The Irish Examiner, starting next Saturday in Weekend. The English and Irish are very alike but there are things that he misses and looks forward to writing about. I always think were very similar, its just the Irish people require fewer filters. Theres an openness. I see it when I go back to Derry, but even in Dublin, which maybe the rest of Ireland sees as being cold and standoffish, is exactly the same. Its like a big village compared to most places. You know, you can sit at a bus stop and someone will start a conversation with you about anything. Now if someone did that to me in London I would call the police because its so rare to have that kind of open interaction, he laughs, but hes right. Theres a freeness that I miss. Were quite even-handed and empathetic and funny. Sometimes thats misinterpreted as being, oh, its all great craic and having a laugh, and is that, but its also listening to people when they speak and not being as tribal in terms of the ideas that are being exchanged. I think Irish people need to hear that from other Irish people, not just from visiting tourists, where it might sound a bit a trite. Also so much of the kind of the conduct of public discourse of the press is relatively fair-minded. I think like all Irish people my age, who would consider themselves broadly on the left, I have loads of problems with big newspapers, politicians and whatever else in Ireland but compared to here where there are literal psychopaths in control, we have to hold affection for the fact that Ireland lacks the psychopaths of other places. To Micheal Martins credit, I think is his comments recently about the trans debate and his comments about Roe v. Wade acknowledged that fair-mindedness again. Micheal Martin is not necessarily someone I would always agree with but theres a surplus of reasonableness there, which I think sometimes Britain lacks. Britain shrouds so much of its unreasonableness in flowery politeness as if that makes up for it. So yeah, tell them it will be a column of flattery, Ill write about all the things I love about Ireland that we sometimes forget. Aer Lingus is to cancel 17 of its flights across Europe this weekend, including one Cork service, with many more due to be pulled from service before the end of next week. Three of the cancellations have resulted from a cap placed on flights from London Heathrow, which has placed a capacity limit on its air traffic due to passenger numbers moving beyond safe parameters. Ten more have resulted from scheduled industrial action at Bordeaux and Lyon airports in France and Pisa in Italy, while return flights from Dublin to London Gatwick and Munich, Germany, have also been cancelled due to staff absences owing to Covid-19. The sole Cork service which has been cancelled was due to depart from London Heathrow on Saturday at 9.20am, the airline confirmed. Flights to Heathrow, both one-way and return, will continue to be cancelled every day until next Sunday, July 24, the airline said, adding that precise details of those cancellations have yet to be confirmed. Cancelled flights The full roster of cancelled flights for this weekend are Heathrow-Dublin on Friday and Sunday afternoons; Heathrow-Cork on Saturday morning; Dublin-Gatwick, Dublin-Munich, Dublin-Lyon, Dublin-Bordeaux return (all on Friday); Dublin-Lyon and Dublin-Bordeaux return on Saturday; and Dublin-Pisa return on Sunday. Aer Lingus deeply regrets the impact these mandated flight cancellations, which are entirely out of our control, are having on our customers, a spokesperson for the airline said. Heathrows cancellations have resulted from a period of sustained capacity on the airports infrastructure due to a mass return of flight passengers following the suspension of Covid restrictions on international travel. Vulnerable children are being "wilfully discriminated against" and "abandoned" by the State, denied necessary services such as respite and home help because of the school they attend. Angry and frustrated parents have joined forces in a new advocacy group, Cork Parents Unite, to demand change and better care for their children. Families are being left in emergency situations with nowhere to go for help, people are being injured in attacks in the home but have no appropriate service to turn to, claim parents. Because the school their children attend, Carrigaline Community Special School, is under the patronage of the Cork Education and Training Board rather than a traditional disabilities service provider such as Cope or the Brothers of Charity, they no longer qualify for respite or home help, they say. Fianna Fail TD Padraig OSullivan raised the issue in the Dail on Thursday in the final hours of business before the chamber broke for summer recess. He said that when Carrigaline Community Special School was established, no children's disability network team was assigned to it under the HSE's new Progressing Disabilities programme. This left children at the school with no access to therapies, unless they were accessing them privately, or other necessary services such as respite. The State has completely abandoned them for that year since the school was established," said Mr O'Sullivan. "The State has a responsibility but so does the HSE. A budget of 20bn-odd, and were here every week decrying and complaining about the lack of services. We have massive investment in special schools in Cork, theres an awful lot of good happening in that sector but theyre not being met by services." Green Party TD and minister of state at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Malcolm Noonan, responded on behalf of disabilities minister Anne Rabbitte. Extreme distress Mr Noonan acknowledged that there was an immediate issue in Carrigaline Community Special School which is causing extreme distress to families. He said that a more equitable service to provide respite to the children of Cork is currently being worked on. He also said that Cork Kerry Community Healthcare team was involved in scoping the needs of the children in the school. Mr O'Sullivan asked how "scoping" could still be being carried out one year after the school opened. "These kids have profound intellectual disabilities, some are being fed by tube, require round-the-clock attention, one year on from the opening of the school and were scoping." He said that 36% of all posts in his community healthcare area are currently unfilled. What are we doing about it? Weve been talking since 2017 about one-in-three and one-in-four HSE posts not being filled, and five years on there are still one-in-three and one-in-four HSE posts not being filled. "They have to start thinking outside the box, whether that means relaxing visa rules, recruiting outside the EU, if it means going on road shows right across the globe to find the staff that we need, someone needs to take the bull by the horns and just get on with it. You might need to go back 150 years, and to Birr in County Offaly, to find a moment in astronomy as dramatic as the one which happened this week. Back then, Ireland was a world leader in the exploration of space and time, and the third Earl of Rosse had just built the most powerful telescope on Earth. Astronomer Sir Patrick Moore at the great telescope in Birr Castle Demesne when it was handed over to the Birr Scientific and Heritage Foundation. The Leviathan of Parsonstown was the largest telescope in the world for more than 70 years. Photo: Press 22 The Leviathan of Parsonstown held that record for more than 70 years - much longer than its great successor the Hubble space telescope - and scientists flocked to the Irish Midlands for an opportunity to gaze through the eyepiece of that wondrous instrument. First light was the moment when starlight first struck the huge mirror and was reflected, greatly magnified, into the eyepiece; it was a moment that revolutionised our view of the cosmos. What the third Earl, William Parsons, saw was jaw-dropping - the mysterious (nebulous) blobs that were seen in earlier telescopes suddenly popped into focus and revealed themselves to be something entirely new. We now call these objects galaxies, each one an island in the cosmos containing as many as a billion billion stars, and they were first seen up close from amongst the raised bogs of central Ireland. Astronomers are now hoping for a similar moment of stunning revelation after first light for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). We don't know that we don't know yet, said Amber Straughn, deputy project scientist for JWST at NASA. Every time we learn things that completely surprise us, that cause us to change our fundamental understanding of how the universe works. Read More First James Webb Space Telescope image shows universe in spectacular detail Just as the Webb telescope is a direct descendant of The Leviathan, so too Ireland's astrophysicists of today follow in a long tradition of cosmic discovery. For example, around the time of first light at Birr, William Rowan Hamilton at Dunsink in Dublin, was publishing his new form of algebra called quaternions. Today's space voyages rely on those same quaternions to navigate the Solar System. In the 1880s, when Albert Einstein was still in short pants, the Irish physicist George FitzGerald was developing his own theory of relativity, and further important work was done in the 1960s by the brilliant Belfast physicist John Stewart Bell, who would surely have won a Nobel Prize had he not died tragically young. Ireland's first satellite Yet while Ireland has played a long and eminent role in humanity's exploration of the cosmos, it is not what is described in treaties as a launching state - one that actually owns or launches its own satellites. But that is about to change, and the fast pace of developments in space technology here has forced the Government to scramble to keep up with the soaring ambitions of Ireland's space scientists and entrepreneurs. As Minister of State Damien English explained to the Dail, UCD's plans to launch Ireland's first satellite (EIRSAT-1) suddenly triggered aspects of the UN Outer Space Treaty of 1969 and the Liability Treaty of 1972 that no Irish civil servant could have foreseen 50 years ago when we first signed it. This is an unusual case, he explained. The treaty introduces principles of responsibility for States launching objects into space, and we must address this lacuna in our domestic law." The Government motion was broadly supported by opposition speakers, with Catherine Murphy of the Social Democrats remarking that if the Romans had launched a satellite into an 800-mile (1,300 km) orbit, it would only be crashing to Earth about now. We are never going to be putting as many satellites into orbit as the US, China or Russia, but that doesn't mean we don't have a responsibility to legislate for the handful that we may launch, she said. Pictured in March 2019 at UCD with a model of the EIRSAT-1 satellite Joe Thompson, PhD student, UCD School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering and Maeve Doyle, PhD student, UCD School of Physics Research and Development. Picture: Colm Mahady / Fennells The Educational Irish Research Satellite1, or EIRSAT-1, is in the final phase of testing before launch. It was built by graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and staff from the UCD Centre for Space Research with support from the European Space Agency (ESA) education offices Fly Your Satellite! programme, and its main instrument is a gamma-ray detector to look for some of the most violent explosions in the universe. The satellite will also demonstrate heat protection coatings developed by the Irish company ENBIO, who have already provided the large sunshield for Europe's 1.5bn Solar Orbiter mission. A third experiment will test a UCD-developed system to control the movement of satellites in orbit. EIRSAT-1 is awaiting launch aboard an ESA rocket, possibly as early as the end of this year. It may be placed directly into orbit, or may stop off at the International Space Station before being cast-off from that orbiting laboratory. Ireland's space projects But EIRSAT-1 will not be the first piece of Irish hardware blasted into space. The first Irish experiment to be landed on the Moon was brought there by Apollo astronauts in 1972, while the spectacular live television pictures of the separation of JWST from its Ariane launcher on Christmas Day was captured by a camera system developed by Dublin-based company Realtra. Those images gave engineers their first hints that JWST would perform much better than expected, for maybe 25 or 30 years. The first image from Nasa's James Webb Space Telescope showing what is said to be the "deepest" and most detailed picture of the cosmos to date. Photo: Nasa/PA Irelands space activity is enabled primarily through its longstanding membership of both ESA and the EU, which funds Irish commercial and research activity. The vast majority of Irelands 24.8m annual contribution to ESA, goes to industrial contracts to Irish companies on a fair geographical return basis called juste retour. It has been estimated that the direct return on Irelands space investment is about 3 to every 1 invested. When considering the additional economic activity reported by businesses as arising from their engagement in ESA contracts, the return on investment had been put at 7 to 1. The global space sector is reckoned to be worth about $350bn a year, and Irelands plan for getting a piece of that pie is outlined in the National Space Strategy for Enterprise, issued in 2019. Enterprise Ireland is in charge of promoting the country's space industry and it lists 34 businesses in its space industry directory, while around 80 have secured contracts with the European Space Agency over the past decade. Funding difficulties Unfortunately, under ESA's fair geographical return juste retour, the vast bulk of ESA contracts go to the countries that pay the most into its budget. This means that Irish companies must find investment from elsewhere if they want to grow and expand into space. But Ireland's scientists often struggle for funding too, precisely because of the focus on commercial gain from space projects. Emma Whelan of Maynooth University will be studying how stars form within the beautiful nebulae that were revealed by JWST this week. Under current funding models, it is a real challenge to get consistent funding, she says. You need to show how it may create jobs and that it has industrial applications, whereas the value of pure research lies in the potential for discovery and the stimulation of further innovation. I hope the excitement of this week's announcement will encourage people to think about these issues, which are important for Ireland in the future. Emma has several PhD students working with her. Some of the brightest students in Ireland today are studying astrophysics, which is not as surprising as it might seem. Many of our students dont actually go on to work in astronomy the big technology companies cant get enough of them because they are so flexible and can work on any problem. Shannon spaceport? One idea for marketing Ireland agressively as a place to invest in the new space economy is to turn Shannon Airport into a spaceport. The idea was raised by Independent TD Cathal Berry, and it is not as wild as it might seem. Rockets can land on barges now, so it is an opportunity if we want to exploit it, he said. The idea of establishing a west-coast spaceport has already been implemented in Cornwall. The first satellite made in Wales is set to be launched into space later this year from Spaceport Cornwall better-known to Irish travellers as Newquay Airport. On September 8 next, a specially-adapted Boeing 747 will take off from the same runway used by holiday jets; it will carry a rocket under its wing to an altitude of 35,000ft. over the Celtic Sea, where it will release the rocket to blast onwards into orbit. It will be the first satellite launch from Europe. NASAs James Webb Space Telescope has revealed details of the Southern Ring planetary nebula that were previously hidden from astronomers. Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI The UK Government gave 7.35m to Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit for launch support equipment and mission planning activities at Spaceport Cornwall and Virgin Orbit itself will contribute 2.5m. Shannon Airport's runway is longer than Spaceport Cornwall's, but using it for aircraft-assisted rocket launches would require even more regulatory steps beyond ratifying the 60-year-old Outer Space Treaty. These would include the proper regulation of rockets within Irish airspace and specific safety waivers if someone wanted to fly joyriding tourists to see the Cliffs of Moher from space. But the Irish Government has been here before. In 1972 a young American entrepreneur proposed creating a commercial launch site on Inis na Bro, one of the Blasket Islands. NASAs James Webb Space Telescope reveals never-before-seen details of the galaxy group Stephans Quintet Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI This was decades before private spaceports became a reality, but his plan was to use the Blaskets' unique position, jutting out into the Atlantic, to launch commercial satellites into polar orbits, travelling north-to-south over the poles. That man was named Gary Hudson one of the legendary founders of the commercial space movement that ultimately led to Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson. The idea was firmly rejected by officials in Dublin as wildly impractical. Presumably they thought Ireland had no tradition of space exploration. Liam Cahill and Mikey Bevans will not be with the Waterford senior hurling team next year. The two Tipperary men confirmed their departure at a meeting with Waterford GAA officials today. A statement from the county board reads: Waterford GAA wish to announce that Liam Cahill has today informed Waterford County Board that he has decided not to take up the option of a fourth year as Manager of the Waterford Senior Hurling team. Junta Watch Junta Watch: Russias Half-Hearted Embrace Is Better than None; British Envoy Gets the Boot, and More Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing is welcomed by Tatarstan chief Rustam Minnikhanov at Kazan Airport. A humanitarian gift from a bunch of killers As the economic crisis in Sri Lanka deepens, Myanmars military regime has spotted an opportunity to bolster its poor image. On Thursday, the regimes Commerce Ministry held a meeting to discuss buying 1,000 tonnes of rice with public funds and delivering it to the Sri Lankan people as humanitarian aid. Without being cynical, the regimes record of committing terrible atrocities against its own civilians and deliberately blocking humanitarian supplies to them makes it hard to view its largesse toward Sri Lanka an act of humanity or sympathy for its people. Needless to say, Min Aung Hlaings regime, which has been globally shunned, is clearly attempting to exploit Sri Lankas crisis in the hope of obtaining recognition on the international stage. It must be all too aware that since the coup it has received only condemnation, and no invitations from international leaders, with the glaring exception of Russia. Meanwhile, Myanmars economy is spiraling downward at such a rate that the United Nations Development Program projects 25 million peoplenearly half of the countrys populationwill live below the poverty line in 2023. After creating a massive humanitarian crisis in Myanmar that has so far resulted in the deaths of thousands and the displacement of millions, Min Aung Hlaing must be deceiving himself if he still thinks he can salvage his name by sending some humanitarian supplies to a country. Junta defense minister visits resistance stronghold On Wednesday, junta Defense Minister General Mya Tun Oo arrived in Sagaing Region, a resistance stronghold in central Myanmar. His visit came two days after local Peoples Defense Force (PDF) groups warned junta-appointed administrators to leave their offices within 10 days. In Sagaing, PDFs have taken control of many of the rural areas, with the parallel National Unity Government (NUG) replacing the juntas administrative mechanism with its own in dozens of townships. At a press conference in June, the NUG claimed that PDFs now control more than 90 percent of the main roads in Sagaing and northern Magwe and over 80 percent of rural areas. During his Sagaing visit, Mya Tun Oo met junta administrative officials and military personnel from local battalions in Hkamti, and also visited local monasteries in a bid to mobilize support for the regime. It could be seen as a perverse choice of venue to drum up support; a number of monasteries have been damaged due to junta troops tactic of torching villages in Sagaing. Recently, feasts were held at the order of Min Aung Hlaing at military units in Sagaing, in what the junta chief referred to as a display of fatherly spirit by commanders toward their soldiers. Killing unarmed people and looting their belongingssurely not something any normal father would teach his sons? Finally, Min Aung Hlaing finds a host to welcome him They say a picture is worth a thousand words. And junta chief Min Aung Hlaing was the very picture of joy as he was welcomed by Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov during the coup leaders personal visit to Russia on Wednesday. The fact that he was not received by the Russian defense minister, let alone Russian President Vladimir Putin, on his second visit to Russiathe only country he has been able to visit since the couplikely explained the broad smile on his face. Min Aung Hlaing and his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla were welcomed with a traditional Russian bread and salt welcoming ceremony as they stepped off the plane. Later, Min Aung Hlaing exuded confidence as he was received by Minnikhanov at the latters office. At a subsequent meeting with representatives of the energy company PJSC Tatneft, followed by a traditional music concert and dinner, Min Aung Hlaing could not help acting like a child visiting a zoo, unable to contain his pride as being a guest of the head of state. Meanwhile, his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla was given a tour of Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, by some military officers wives and a couple of guards. She was given the same treatment in Moscow. Last year, Russian president Putin signed a law prohibiting the heads of autonomous Russian regions from using the title of president. Minnikhanov was the last one in Russia to use the title. On Tuesday, a day before Min Aung Hlaing met Minnikhanov, Putin referred to the Tatar leader without the title in an official communication. Perhaps Min Aung Hlaing was not aware or pretended not to notice it. But, the juntas media were only too happy to oblige, repeatedly referring to Minnikhanov as president of Tatarstanan area with fewer than 4 million peoplein their reports and newscasts to save face for their boss. Britains top diplomat in Myanmar forced out The Myanmar regime has deepened its diplomatic isolation from the West by expelling the head of the British Embassy in Yangon for not presenting his credentials to the junta. Pete Vowles, who has become the first international envoy to be forced to leave the country, was named Britains ambassador and took up his appointment in Myanmar in August 2021 but London decided to downgrade Vowles title from ambassador to charge daffaires ad interim due to the coup and the regimes atrocities against its own people. After traveling to Thailand, the envoy was denied a visa to re-enter Myanmar and stranded in the neighboring country for months, before being allowed back in late last month. Vowles tweeted on Wednesday that his time in the country had come to an abrupt end, saying Sad & sorry to have been forced by the junta to leave but glad we didnt cave to pressure to legitimize their brutal coup. The regimes Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded on Thursday that Vowles had only been allowed back into the country to collect personal belongings from June 21 to July 15, and left as his visa was about to expire. The ministry said the envoy had to leave the country as the Myanmar government (as the military regime refers to itself) had acted in accordance with diplomatic practices as a sovereign state. YouTube is one of if not the most popular video-sharing platforms the world has to offer, and for a good reason: it is the first website to support video streaming - a continuous transmission of video files from a server to a client, per Business of Business. Thanks to this feat of IT engineering, people can watch videos on various devices with just a push of a button without the need to download the video on it (unless you have YouTube Premium's "download video" feature). This feature is helpful for people who want to watch videos without worrying about their device's remaining available space or are just binging YouTube videos and channel surfing on the platform. However, there may come a time when you find a really good music video that you want to keep playing, or you want to keep on playing your favorite YouTube video after it finishes. Clicking or tapping on the play button after the video's done playing is all well and good, but it could get inconvenient pretty fast. Luckily, YouTube provided the answer to that problem some time ago: by providing a "loop video" option. Here's how to use it on YouTube's desktop version and its mobile app: YouTube's Loop Option: A Short History YouTube, in its earlier days, previously used Adobe Flash for its video player. However, as time went on, more and more web browsers slowly backed away from their support of Adobe Flash to HTML 5, making YouTube not advisable to use on some devices, such as iOS devices, per CNET. The company decided to switch to HTML5 in 2010 to take advantage of the open VP9 codec, per YouTube's Engineering and Developers Blog and Tech Crunch. Read More: Here's What You Have to Know About the Resident Evil-Inspired You Wil Die Here Tonight The switch made accessing better-quality videos easier and faster for consumers, by it providing a 35% average bandwidth reduction and a 15-80% faster video buffer. The switch also comes with the added benefit of being allowed to loop videos from YouTube itself instead of using third-party websites like LoopTube and YouTube Loop, according to InVideo. Looping YouTube Videos In Desktop Version To loop YouTube videos in its desktop version, open your choice of web browser and go to YouTube. Afterward, select a video from your recommendations or search for a specific video and click on it. Doing so will open and play the video you chose. Now, according to Google's Support page, right-click in the video player (or the video itself) to make a window appear that offers a handful of options, such as copying the video's embed code or debug info. the first option listed in the window should be "Loop," which is the option you're looking for. Clicking this will instruct YouTube to start playing the video immediately after it is finished, essentially putting it on repeat until you pause it or click another video. Looping YouTube Videos In The Mobile App Looping a YouTube video on its official mobile app is just as easy as the desktop version, albeit with only one difference. Instead of right-clicking the video player after you choose the video you want to put on repeat, users should tap the video player and then the More icon (or the icon with three dots on the right side of the screen) in the video player, per Business Insider. Afterward, select "Loop Video" to put the currently played video on repeat, eliminating the need for you to tap the play button altogether. This process applies to the iOS and Android versions of the app. Related Article: YouTube Takes Down LoFi Girl's Two-YEar-Long LiveStream For a 'False' Copyright Claim? If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Russia's participation in a meeting of G20 finance ministers that was overshadowed by its invasion of Ukraine was absurd, Canada said Saturday. During two days of talks on the Indonesian resort island Bali, the finance chiefs looked for solutions to food and energy crises, while accusing Russian technocrats of exacerbating the problems. Divided over Russia's war, participants failed to issue a final statement. Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said her government protested at the gathering that it did not even want Russia to be there. "Russia's presence at this meeting was like inviting an arsonist to a meeting of firefighters," she told a news conference by telephone from Bali. "That is because Russia is directly and solely responsible for the illegal invasion of Ukraine, and its economic consequences, which are being felt by us all," Freeland said. "We were clear and explicit that Russia's participation was inappropriate and frankly, just absurd," said Freeland, who is also Canada's deputy prime minister and of Ukrainian heritage. She argued that Russian technocrats who, she said, work to fund the war launched by President Vladimir Putin are as complicit in war crimes as the generals out in the field who are attacking Ukraine. Freeland also defended Canada's decision to allow the return to Germany of a turbine, repaired in Canada, for use in the Nord Stream 1 pipeline delivering Russian gas to Europe. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has harshly criticized this decision. "The energy challenges that Germany and many of our European partners face are very real. And Canada recognizes that," the minister said. "Taxi Driver" Season 2 stirs concern among fans and viewers as the production unit announced its temporary filming postponement. The drama stars Lee Je Hoon, Kim Eui Sung, Pyo Ye Jin and more, and have recently left for Vietnam to shoot overseas. Here's why the production halted its filming. 'Taxi Driver' Season 2 Halts Filming After Overseas Shooting Lee Je Hoon's second season of "Taxi Driver" temporarily postpones its filming due to the resurging threat of COVID-19. On Thursday, July 15, a representative from the production unit of "Taxi Driver 2" announced that the drama will temporarily halt its filming. They stated, "Some of the staff members tested positive for the coronavirus. After a thorough deliberation, we decided to cancel filming for the time being to put the health of the cast and crew first." Recently, the production unit of the series and the whole cast ensemble left for Vietnam to shoot overseas. Unfortunately, due to the outbreak of COVID-19, most staff were sent into isolation for self-quarantine. Thankfully, Lee Je Hoon and the other actors weren't diagnosed with the virus. To prevent such, they decided to halt production. Regarding the plans for filming in Vietnam, they are discussing whether to give it up or continue filming in the country at a later date. Furthermore, "Taxi Driver" follows the mysterious taxi service that delivers revenge on behalf of victims who failed to seek the truth and justice from the law. "Taxi Driver 2" is expected to be released in the first half of 2023. Here's Why Esom Didn't Reprise Her Role in 'Taxi Driver 2' Esom has officially left the production unit of the SBS TV's hit series "Taxi Driver," leaving avid fans devastated. Earlier this year, Esom's agency, Artist Company, confirmed that the actress will not reprise her role as prosecutor Kang Ha Na in the new season of "Taxi Driver." While Esom was one of the four main characters in the series, the actress had prior engagements that she must attend to. Artist Company stated, "It's difficult for her to star in the new season due to scheduling conflicts." Meanwhile, Esom is set to headline three upcoming films, including "Kill Bok Soon" with Jeon Do Yeon and the romantic comedy film "Single In Seoul" with Lee Dong Wook. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Esom, Ong Seong Wu Share Thoughtful Gift From Yoo Ah In On Set of 'Starlight Falls' She will also challenge herself with the slice of life and coming-of-age genre with "Starlight Falls." She will star opposite the former Wanna One member Ong Seong Wu. The film follows a college student who meets two different girls who share the same name and falls in love amid life's unexpected challenges and ordeals. "Starlight Falls" will be released theatrically in the second half of 2022! Don't miss it! KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Firefighting vehicles are seen near the site of a plane crash, a few miles away from the city of Kavala, in northern Greece, on Saturday, July 16, 2022. Greek authorities said an Antonov plane, which was headed from Serbia to Jordan, crashed near the city of Kavala on Saturday, but authorities have not been able to confirm whether it was a passenger or cargo flight, or how many people were on the plane. (Ilias Kotsireas/InTime News via AP) Staff from the office of U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wisconsin, will be in Kenosha County next week to assist individuals, families and small businesses with concerns dealing with federal agencies. Steil will not be attendance. Common issues addressed include Social Security payments, IRS and tax issues, veterans benefits, and Medicare and Medicaid questions. Staff will be available at the following sites on Tuesday, July 19: Pleasant Prairie Village Hall, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., 9915 39th Ave. Twin Lakes Village Hall, 3:15 to 4:15 p.m., 105 East Main St., Twin Lakes, Individuals seeking assistance but unable to attend can reach out to Steils office at the following locations: Kenosha County Office: 7511 12th St., Somers, phone 262-654-1901 Janesville Office: 20 S. Main St., Suite 10, Janesville, phone 608, 752-4050 Racine County Office: Racine County Courthouse, Room 101, 730 Wisconsin Ave., Racine, phone 262-637-0510. You dont have to look far to see the impact of climate change with temperatures rising, increased fire threats in areas and droughts in other areas. Its right that government officials and businesses should be looking for ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to try to do what can be done to reduce climate change. With that said, we also need to take time to look at the unintended consequences that can occur if steps are taken too quickly. The Midwest grid operator the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) warned this year that energy generation capacity in the region including Minnesota and Wisconsin could be about 1,230 megawatts short of possible peak demand. With above-average temperatures forecast, MISO said it may need to rely on imports or emergency measures to maintain the grid. The operator also warned that Wisconsin was at a high risk of possible blackouts. Since that report came out, We Energies has said that people dont have to worry about rolling blackouts. Before blackouts would be scheduled, We Energies would first call for the public to decrease power use asking customers to turn off lights as much as possible, turn off the air conditioning, that kind of thing and thats never happened before in We Energies history. Its important to point out that if Wisconsins energy producers fall short of demand, power could be imported from neighboring power grids. Wind turbine power generated in Iowa could fill Wisconsins gaps, and vice versa. Thats thanks to the system in place through MISO. Even though we are being told not to worry this summer about blackouts, Wisconsin Public Service Commission member Ellen Nowak is right when she said that the report should serve as a wakeup call. She said, Im not hitting the panic button, but it is a wakeup call. I think its a good reality check about how the system works. She has called for continuing to delay the retirement of fossil fuel generators. The reason the issue of possible blackouts was brought up is the result of the closure of some power plants in the Midwest, decreasing the amount of extra power beyond anticipated peak loads that the whole grid can produce. With that said, We Energies and Alliant Energy (which powers much of central and southwestern Wisconsin) recently extended the lives of several in-state coal plants by several years. That will help stabilize power in the state. Two of the units in We Energies Oak Creek plant, located just north of Caledonia, were due to shut down in early 2023 and the other two were to close in early 2024. Now, they are due to retire in May 2024 and November 2025, respectively. Looking to the future, a lot of due diligence should be done before those plants permanently close. There is value in having multiple diverse energy sources in the Midwest. The last thing we want to do is put lives at risk if there is not enough energy to support demand. The Irish Grassland Association are hosting a first Dairy Extravaganza since before lockdown, next week. Kilkenny farmer Tom Walsh from Johnstown will host one of the main events. Dairy Bus Tour The Dairy Summer Bus Tour sponsored by AIB will be held on July 19, and will focus on a theme of optimising output on the milking platform. Host farmers for the day will be Tom Walsh from Johnstown . Kilkenny and Denis Cody from Templemore, Tipperary. Two excellent host farmers who are hitting the high notes in terms of farm performance. Denis Cody Denis farms with his wife Carmel and his parents Eamon and Anne, near Clonmore, Templemore, on two milking platforms, one 50% owned and the second 100% leased, totalling 138 hectares. Returning home from Kildalton College in 2010 with a level 6 diploma in dairying,, he reseeded the 48-hectare home farm over the next three years and began building stock numbers. In 2013, Denis leased a 21 hectare former dairy unit with a disused milking parlour approximately 7km from home to start a second unit. Starting with 40 cows, two adjoining parcels of land have been leased to create a 48-hectare second dairy farm, milking 150 cows. All cows are calved on the home farm, and cows moved to the second unit from late February. An additional 75 hectares is farmed in three sections to supply winter forage and rear replacement heifers. In 2021 an additional 44 ha block was leased in to the home farm to give a 90ha platform. In 2022 a total of 250 cows will be milked on this home platform. In 2021 an average of 520 kg milk solids was produced per cow (4.63% fat and 3.78% protein) to Centenary Coop, with approximately 700 kg meal per head. The overall stocking rate is 2.5 livestock units per hectare farmed, the milking platforms are stocked at 3.2 cows/ha and 2.8 cows/ha. Last year the farms grew approximately 14 tonnes of grass dry matter per hectare. Tom Walsh Tom and his wife Norma farm 64 hectares near Johnstown, Co. Kilkenny. Having spent a number of years working away from the farm, Tom started farming fulltime in 2003 milking 40 cows that year. Since then, he has grown the herd to the 126 cows being milked this year on the 48 hectare milking platform at a stocking rate of 2.63 cows/hectare. The remaining land area is used for rearing replacements and providing winter feed. Tom has bred a high milk solids herd producing >500kg/ cow every year since milk quotas were removed in 2015. In 2021, 620 kg per cow (4.5% fat and 3.72% protein) were delivered to Glanbia. This was produced from a diet of approximately 1.5t of concentrate per cow, high quality grazed grass and grass silage. In 2021, Tom calved 86% of the herd in 6 weeks with a calving interval of 364 days. A herd EBI of 182, puts the herd in the top 10% of herds in the country. Tom actively culls low performing cows from his herd each year and this coupled with breeding replacements from the best performing cows and excellent grazing management underpins his continued improvement in milk solids production over the years. Tom was previously a monitor farmer in the 2004-2008 Teagasc Glanbia Joint Programme. Free Evening Event On the evening in-between the Dairy Summer Tour and Dairy Conference, there is a free event in the Talbot Hotel, Clonmel. Guest speakers are Seamus Quigley, Dairy Farmer, Ashleigh Fennell, Dairy Farmer, and Joe Patton, Teagasc; interviewed by former Irish Farmers Journal Editor and IGA Lifetime Merit Award recipient, Matt Dempsey. Conference The Irish Grassland Dairy Conference, sponsored by Yara will take place on Wednesday, July 20, in the Talbot Hotel Clonmel. The conference has been divided into three: Controlling the controllables; Creating certainty; and Attracting and retaining talented people. Tickets can be purchased (online irishgrassland.ie or by phone 087 9626483) for each day for 50pp for IGA members. Attendance at the night-time event is free. ARRL has participated at AirVenture since 2018, supporting an exhibit that encourages pilots and aviation enthusiasts to discover radio communications and radio technology through ham radio. ARRL Director of Public Relations and Innovation Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, has organized a booth (#2152 in Hangar B) and an all-volunteer team. "There's a kinship among the aviation and amateur radio communities," Inderbitzen said. "In addition to introducing newcomers to ham radio, we expect to meet hundreds of ham-pilots at AirVenture. This is a great opportunity to show off ham radio at such a large-scale event." Frederick Hart, AA0JK, and Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, wrote "Growing Amateur Radio, One Pilot at a Time," in the January 2019 issue of QST, describing some of the opportunities and experiences pursued by pilots who become active ham radio operators. At KidVenture, a highlight for children attending AirVenture, kids can build and take home a radio receiver to listen to air traffic and other nearby transmissions from approximately 65 - 140 MHz. The kit, designed by student engineer Levi Zima, KN4YHS, with additional support from his sister, Kirsten Zima, KC9RWG, has been an ARRL offering since 2021 (see ARRL's Introduction to Radio Receiver Kit). "It's great fun to see children at AirVenture walking around with the radio kits they've built and tuning in to the busy Air Traffic Control Tower throughout the event," said Inderbitzen. "Radio communications is a key part of learning about avionics. ARRL is grateful to EAA AirVenture for sponsoring the activity, which promises to introduce a lot of young people to radio." The EAA Warbirds of America Board of Directors will be sponsoring a special event station, W9W, which will be on the air all week during daylight hours throughout AirVenture. The station will be located on the Warbirds' grounds near their headquarters, against the backdrop of the display of historic and vintage ex-military aircraft. Look for W9W on 40 - 10 meters near 7.225, 14.250, 21.235, and 28.425 MHz. The station will also operate on the 2-meter and 440 MHz bands, simplex. A special event QSL card will be issued for contacts with W9W. Icom America will support the event with HF, VHF, and UHF radio equipment. Other sponsors include Heil Sound, Radio Wavz, DX Engineering, and US Tower. If you would like to get on the schedule to operate W9W, please contact Ray Novak, N9JA. Members of the Fox Cities Amateur Radio Club (FCARC) will be operating station W9ZL from Pioneer Airport at KidVenture -- an activity area for children and their families attending AirVenture. Club members and other volunteers will operate HF stations on 20 and 40 meters, 6-meter SSB (on, or near, 7.250, 14.270, and 50.150 MHz), plus local communications on 2 meters. A special event certificate will be available. See the ARRL Special Events database for further details about W9W and W9ZL. The Taoiseach has been called on to intervene in the accommodation crisis for Ukrainian refugees with no beds available and many expected to have to sleep in airports. The Ukraine Civil Society Forum (UCSF) that includes 65 civil society organisations involved in the emergency response and settlement of Ukrainian refugees to Ireland, has reiterated its call for a fresh approach and a national lead to be put in place immediately to manage and oversee the accommodation, settlement, and integration of refugees. This follows the announcement that the Citywest hotel, now accommodating 1,050 refugees, has no place for new arrivals to sleep on Thursday night. Amid worsening overcrowding at the transit centre at the Citywest hotel complex in Dublin, new arrivals on Wednesday who did not have alternative accommodation already arranged were asked to remain at Dublin Airport overnight and into Thursday. Ireland has taken in around 40,000 refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine the majority of them women and children. Asylum seekers from other countries also continue to seek sanctuary in Ireland through the International Protection Service. The forum said that, while the national response to the initial refugee emergency was very positive, it was clear for some time that the reliance on hotels is unsustainable. More medium term solutions need to be activated with urgency, the forum said. They say there is an onus now on the Taoiseach to galvanise other arms of the State to step in and bring a fresh approach, they add. The National Co-ordinator for the Ukraine Civil Society Forum, Emma Lane-Spollen, said: The crisis in Citywest will happen again if we dont do something new. We need the big decisions to be made now. A new agency, a national lead and a thought through plan. We have to move from crisis mode to get on top of the situation. We must remember that we are talking about women, children and the elderly, all already traumatised, we need to make them safe. The war in Ukraine is not ending, and Ireland will continue to have to meet its international obligations to all refugees, Ms Lane-Spollen said. The Forum will continue to work with Government, across civil society and with local community groups to identify the best possible solution and maximise all possible accommodation options. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Cloudy with occasional rain...mainly in the morning. High around 75F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low 56F. Winds light and variable. The 41st ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference (DCC) will be held September 16 - 18, 2022, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Last years conference was held virtually due to COVID-19 concerns, but this year's 3-day event will be held at the Hilton Charlotte Airport Hotel. The DCC is for everyone, beginners and experts alike, with an interest in all forms of digital communication. The official call for technical papers has been issued and general topic areas include, but are not limited to: software-defined radio (SDR); digital voice; digital satellite communications; digital signal processing (DSP); HF digital modes; adapting IEEE802.11 systems for amateur radio; global positioning system (GPS); automatic position reporting system (APRS); Linux in amateur radio; AX.25 updates; internet operability with amateur radio networks; TCP/IP networking over amateur radio; MESH and peer-to-peer wireless networking, and emergency and homeland defense digital communications in amateur radio. Authors can submit their papers for this years conference by email to ARRL Production Coordinator Maty Weinberg, KB1EIB. The deadline is September 1, 2022. The conference papers will be published exactly as submitted. The authors will retain all rights and do not need to be present at the conference, and all papers will be distributed to DCC attendees. Printed copies will be available for sale at Lulu. More information about TAPR -- Tomorrow's Ham Radio Technology Today can be found that their website. ARRL Australia: Number of new radio hams declines WIA News carries an update from the WIA secretary Peter Clee VK8ZZ which notes Australia has seen a decline in new amateur radio licences The report reads: The monthly meeting of the Board of the WIA was held during this last week. At that meeting it was confirmed that the WIA had placed an order for a fresh batch of Foundation Manuals to replenish the current stock which now down to less than 20 manuals and is expected to be totally depleted before this broadcast goes to air. The new Foundation Manual has been updated and contains a wealth of information for prospective amateurs. The Board were also keen to see the updated foundation manual introduced as there has been a decline in the number of examinations and subsequent licenses issued in the last few years. This is in direct contrast to an increase in the numbers of new amateurs in both the USA and UK which saw a significant increase in numbers especially during the last 2 years. The Board of the WIA are working with other internationally recognised national Amateur Radio organisations to improve the acceptance of Australian Licensed Amateur operators and to expedite acceptance of applications of temporary reciprocal licences for Australian operators visiting overseas destinations. The board also reviewed a report on the progress of the preparations for the World Radio Conference to be held in 2023. There have been a number of virtual preparatory meetings leading up to WRC-23 in which the WIA has had active participation. The World Radio Conference is held under the auspices of the International Telecommunications Union every 3 or 4 years and sets all of the international radio regulations and ratifies band usage for the entire spectrum for all countries. The Amateur Service is represented at the WRC by the International Amateur Radio Union and the WIA as the peak body for the Amateur Radio service in Australia isrepresented at the WRC. Also just an advise that the National Office is currently finalising the awards and certificates for those recipients named at this year's Annual General Meeting and we hope to have all of them out by the end of this month. Source WIA News https://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/wianews/display.php?file_id=wianews-2022-07-17 J-Hope's "Arson" recently became the point of discussion online. It was recently seen debuting in a low position on MelOn, the largest music streaming site in South Korea. Continue reading to know what people think is the reason why it didn't rank high on the said chart. J-Hope's "Arson" Becomes Hot Topic for Debuting Low on MelOn 1 Hour After Release On July 15 at 1 p.m. KST, J-Hope became the first BTS member to release new music since the group announced their focus on solo activities. He officially dropped his long-awaited solo album "Jack in the Box," which according to Big Hit Music, represents the rapper's "own musical personality and vision as an artist." "Jack in the Box" consists of a total of 10 tracks. Big Hit Music described the double title songs, "MORE" and "Arson," as the ones that "narrate the stories inside and outside the box respectively, conveying the core message that penetrates the whole album." "MORE" was pre-released on July 1, while "Arson" was officially released on the 15th. Besides these two, "Jack in the Box" also comprises eight more tunes. J-Hope's "Arson" is described as a powerful hip-hop song that represents the rapper's story of being put at a crossroads while facing the world. One hour after its release (2 p.m. KST), "Arson" successfully entered several domestic music charts. The song debuted at No. 5 on Bugs, No. 71 on MelOn Top 100, and No. 102 on Genie. Although the track's lowest debut is on Genie, its ranking on MelOn gained more attention from netizens. One netizen took to the online community Nate Pann to express their surprise to see that J-Hope's "Arson" charted low on MelOn despite him being a member of the global boy group BTS, who has a big fandom in South Korea. Titled "What's up with J-Hope charting out in 1 hour only?," the netizen's post features a photo showing "Arson" ranking at No. 71 on MelOn Top 100 at 2 p.m. KST. They wrote under the picture, "He is affiliated with BTS, and he had the most push from HYBE... Does he have no popularity with the general public? He even had a party yesterday that created a buzz." The netizen appears astounded upon seeing the ranking of J-Hope's "Arson" on MelOn, considering that BTS' group songs do well on the platform. In fact, the septet's latest title track, "Yet to Come," debuted at No. 1 on MelOn Top 100 and even became the first song to reach the top of the chart since its reform. In the comments section of the post, other netizens share why they think "Arson" didn't debut high on South Korea's biggest music streaming platform. One online community user stated that they think the reason that J-Hope "failed" despite being the first BTS member to go solo is because "J-Hope doesn't have much fans." YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: BTS J-Hope Gets Criticized but Later on Praised for Wearing This Printed T-Shirt They added, "His singing skills are also so-so, just like his rap skills. The general public barely knows that there's a member named J-Hope in BTS. This is how little presence he has," the netizen continued. Other comments are as follows: "It's because he has no individual recognition, and his song was so-so." "BTS is impressive, while J-Hope is... Just another celebrity." "ARMY always go around calling others flop this flop that, meanwhile, they're stanning a flop themselves." "His songs' style isn't something that MelOn users like. He could've released something that the general public will listen to." "His song overall was lackluster but it reflects what his own taste is." What are your thoughts on the situation? Let us know what you think in the comments section below. J-Hope's "Arson," "Jack in the Box" Debut on iTunes Charts In other news, J-Hope's "Arson" and his solo album "Jack in the Box" also made it to several iTunes charts following its release. In particular, "Arson" and "Jack in the Box" both debuted at No. 1 on the Worldwide iTunes Song Chart and the Worldwide iTunes Album Chart, respectively. These two also entered at No. 1 on the European iTunes Song Chart and the European iTunes Album Chart. What's more, J-Hope's "Arson" landed at No. 5 on the iTunes Song Chart in the United States and peaked at No. 1. As of 11 p.m. KST on July 15, "Arson" ranks at the top of iTunes Song charts in at least 42 countries. For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article Written by Maria Scott Registration now open for NASA 2022 International Space Apps Challenge The NASA International Space Apps Challenge the worlds largest annual hackathon returns this year with the theme 'Make Space' which emphasizes NASAs commitment to inclusivity. This years challenge will focus on Earth and space science, technology, and exploration. Participant registration for in-person and virtual events is now open through Oct. 2. Space Apps provides a platform where everyone across the globe with a passion for creativity and innovation can use their unique perspectives to tackle challenges created by NASA experts. The challenges range in skill level, expertise, subject matter, and objective, and span a spectrum of disciplines and interests that range from artificial intelligence and software development to art and storytelling. Each year, Space Apps allows thousands to engage with NASA and its partners open data during the hackathon, said Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA associate administrator for the agencys Science Mission Directorate. It has been rewarding to see the innovative projects created by Space Apps Challenge participants and observe their potential to generate meaningful contributions toward solving some of the most difficult challenges studied by NASA on Earth and in space. Space Apps provides a positive and safe environment that fosters collaboration and a growth mindset. Whether participants are exploring a challenge, learning to be creative, defining team roles, learning a technical skill, or learning to cope with hiccups that arise during challenge weekend, the innovative and flexible structure of this event allows participants to walk away enriched, motivated, and excited about learning. Talent is everywhere, but scarcity of opportunity leaves so much talent unused and potential untapped, said Karen St. Germain, director of NASAs Earth Science Division. There are so many positive stories resulting from this challenge that underscore the value of making space for everyone. Since its inception in 2012, Space Apps has created and steadily grown a global community held together by the common interest of solving problems and creating impact. The success stories directly resulting from these challenges range from the creation of new products and business ventures, innovative upgrades to existing products, and has helped connect people socially and professionally, giving them access to expertise and insight they otherwise would not have. By connecting teams to challenges and experts from space agencies across the world, participants have access to new opportunities and knowledge that can impact them for a lifetime. This year NASA is excited to announce the addition of the Indian Space Research Organization and Mexican Space Agency to the roster of space agency partners supporting Space Apps. Valued partners returning from last year include Australian Space Agency, Brazilian Space Agency, Canadian Space Agency, ESA (European Space Agency), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, National Space Activities Commission of Argentina, National Space Science Agency of Bahrain, Paraguayan Space Agency, and the South African National Space Agency. Space agency partnership encourages more extensive global collaboration and provides a broader platform for participants to contribute to the fields of Earth and space science and technology through Space Apps. Space Apps is managed by NASAs Earth Science Division in the agencys Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. It is organized in collaboration with Booz Allen Hamilton, Mindgrub, SecondMuse, and the NASA Open Innovation Applied Sciences Program. Learn more about Space Apps and how to get involved on their website. For more information about Space Apps and to register for an in-person or online event on Oct. 1-2, 2022, visit: https://www.spaceappschallenge.org/ While coronavirus continues to spread throughout the country, officials are also on the lookout for monkeypox, although that virus is not known to spread as easily. On Friday, July 15, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) identified the first confirmed case of orthopoxvirus, presumed to be monkeypox, in a resident of Walworth County, the county announced. It is important to know that monkeypox does not spread easily from person to person. The virus is transmitted through respiratory droplets, sustained skin-to-skin contact, and contact with items that have been contaminated with the fluids or sores of a person with monkeypox. Anyone can develop and spread this disease after being exposed to the virus. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that most cases of monkeypox in the U.S. have occurred among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, according to the release from the county health department. The patient is currently isolating and the risk remains low for the general public, the county said in a press release issued on July 15. Department of Health Services, federal, state, and local partners are working closely together to investigate and monitor the current monkeypox outbreak. The number of monkeypox cases continues to rise in the U.S., so it is not surprising that monkeypox has been detected in Walworth County, said Walworth County Health and Human Services Director Carlo Nevicosi. While it is possible that additional cases may be found among Walworth County residents, we want to assure the public that this disease does not spread easily from person to person and the risk of widespread transmission remains low. We urge all of our health care providers to remain alert to patients with compatible rashes and encourage them to test for monkeypox. Monkeypox is a rare but potentially serious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It is typically characterized by a new, unexplained rash and skin lesions. Other early symptoms of monkeypox include fever, chills, and swollen lymph nodes. Recently identified cases have developed skin lesions in the genital, groin, and anal regions that might be confused with rashes caused by common diseases such as herpes and syphilis. Most people with monkeypox recover in two to four weeks without needing treatment. However, vaccinations and antiviral medications can be used to prevent and treat monkeypox. People who had known exposure to someone with monkeypox should talk with a doctor or nurse to learn if they are eligible to receive a vaccine. This includes people who were specifically identified as someone who had close or intimate in-person contact with someone with the characteristic monkeypox rash or someone with a probable or confirmed monkeypox diagnosis. To prevent the spread of monkeypox, DHS encourages all Wisconsinites to be aware of the following: Know the symptoms and risk factors of monkeypox. Avoid skin-to-skin contact with people who are showing a rash or skin sores. Dont touch the rash or scabs, and dont kiss, hug, cuddle, have sex, or share items such as eating utensils or bedding with someone with monkeypox. In jurisdictions with known monkeypox spread, participating in activities with close, personal, skin-to-skin contact may pose a higher risk of exposure. If you were recently exposed to the virus, contact a doctor or nurse to talk about whether you need a vaccine to prevent disease. Monitor your health for fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes and a new, unexplained rash, and contact a health care provider if any of those occur. If you become ill, avoid contact with others until you receive health care. The DHS Outbreaks in Wisconsin webpage will be updated with the latest case counts of monkeypox. DHS continues to work closely with local public health, health care providers, and the CDC to monitor the current outbreak and provide guidance to mitigate risk. DHS urges all Wisconsinites to contact a doctor or nurse immediately if they develop any unexpected skin lesions or rashes. For free, confidential support finding health care and community resources near you, dial 211 or 877-947-2211, or text your ZIP code to 898-211. Find resources online at 211Wisconsin.org(link is external). Luxury car dealer, Geneva Motorcars, has opened in a new location in Darien off Highway 43, after outgrowing its old location. Geneva Motorcars LLC recently moved from an industrial park on Hobbs Road in Delavan to 690 Gerry Way in Darien, the former site of Maxxx Motor Sports. Spencer Giardini, co-owner of Geneva Motorcars, said he decided to move the business to the Gerry Way location to offer more vehicles to customers. We were in Delavan in the industrial park and now weve grown to this location, Giardini said. Now we want to service the community with more of the cars we got. Mason Holder, Geneva Motorcars employee, said the Gerry Way location is an ideal site for the dealership because it is visible from Interstate 43. Its right off the highway, Holder said. It gave us a lot of visibility from the road. Its a good space for a dealership. Geneva Motorcars offers luxury vehicles, classic cars, pick-up trucks, vans, motorcycles, scooters, boats and other types of watercraft. We do a lot of European stuff, Holder said. Thats something we specialize in that is kind of hard to find, especially in the local area. The vehicles can be purchased onsite or through auction website, www.bringatrailer.com. Giardini said people from throughout the country purchase vehicles from the dealership. He said the dealership delivers vehicles to customers who purchase vehicles through the auction website. A lot of people locally are looking for pickup trucks, Giardini said. We sell cars all over the country though. A lot of our cars will go all over the place. The dealership receives its vehicles from private owners, auctions and car collectors. We will find all sorts of cars, Holder said. A lot of people will have huge collections. They want to get rid of a couple so they can buy a few more, so we get a lot from collectors. We get vehicles from auctions, and we will fix them up. Another reason for moving the dealership to the Darien location is to offer more auto mechanic services. Holder said they are in the process of renovating a building located in the rear of the property into an auto service center. He said they are in the process of hiring more auto mechanics. Once we get more technicians and get in the back building, its going to allow us to offer more things for the public like brake changes, oil changes and engine replacements, Holder said. Its something weve been working toward for a long time. Were finally getting the building cleaned out and getting ready to help the public more, especially for people with European cars who live around this area and have to drive 45 or 50 minutes to get something as simple as an oil change. The majority of the owners and employees of Geneva Motorcars are in their early 20s through early 30s. Holder said he started working for the dealership about a year ago after meeting the owners. Nobody here exceeds the age of 35, Holder said. Were a group of young people who are kind of trying to work their way through. All of us are really passionate about performance vehicles, rare things that are hard to come by. Holder said most people are surprised when they learn about the age range of the employees. The way the business is run and the way the owners have been working through everything, I think unless you told people it was run by such young people, you would have no idea, Holder said. I think we do a really good job of making sure were taking care of everybody and making sure all the cars we get out of here are really high end and taken care of. Geneva Motorcars has been in business for about four years. Giardini said he decided to start the business because of his interests in cars. He said his father has worked as an auto technician for many years, which helped spark his interest in vehicles. Ive always liked cars, Giardini said. I went to school for automotive design engineering, as well, in Detroit. Giardini opened his first business, an automotive parts store, when he was 14 years old. My business partner has the same vision I do, Giardini said. Hes also grown up in the business. Geneva Motorcars is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and by appointment on Saturday. For more information about Geneva Motorcars, call 815-396-8258 or visit www.genevamotorcars.com. You can see all the cars we have for sell. You can see all the cars we have for auction, Holder said. If you call ahead of time, you can make an appointment to view those cars before you bid. Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 16 (ANI): HDFC Bank on Saturday said its net profit rose by 19 per cent year-on-year to Rs 9,196 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. The bank's core net revenue (excluding trading and Mark to Market losses), grew by 19.8 per cent to Rs 27,181.4 crore for the first quarter of the current financial year as compared to Rs 22,696.5 crore recorded in the corresponding period of the last fiscal. Also Read | Maharashtra Shocker: 16-Month-Old Child Succumbs To Burn Injuries a Week After Falling in Boiling Water Vessel. The bank's total net revenues (net interest income plus other income) stood at Rs 25,869.6 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. Profit before tax (PBT) after trading and Mark to Market losses of Rs 1,311.7 crore in the quarter, was at Rs 12,180.1 crore, and grew by 18.2 per cent over the corresponding quarter of the previous year, HDFC Bank said in a statement. Also Read | Andy Balbirnie, Ireland Skipper, Disappointed With ICC Not Giving His Side Enough Fixtures. After providing Rs 2,984.1 crore for taxation, the bank earned a net profit of Rs 9,196.0 crore, an increase of 19.0 per cent over the quarter ended June 30, 2021, it said. The Board of Directors of HDFC Bank Limited approved the bank's (Indian GAAP) results for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, at its meeting held in Mumbai on Saturday. The bank's net interest income (interest earned less interest expended) for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 grew by 14.5 per cent to Rs 19,481.4 crore from Rs 17,009.0 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, driven by advances growth of 22.5 per cent, deposits growth of 19.2 per cent and total balance sheet growth of 20.3 per cent. Core net interest margin was at 4.0 per cent on total assets and 4.2 per cent based on interest earning assets. We continued to add new liability relationships at a robust pace of 2.6 million during the quarter, HDFC Bank said. The four components of other income for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 were fees and commissions of Rs 5,360.4 crore (Rs 3,885.4 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year), foreign exchange & derivatives revenue of Rs 1,259.3 crore (Rs 1,198.7 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year), loss on sale/revaluation of investments of Rs 1311.7 crore (gain of Rs 601.0 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year) and miscellaneous income, including recoveries and dividend, of Rs 1,080.2 crore (Rs 603.5 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year). Other income, excluding trading and Mark to Market losses, grew by 35.4 per cent over the quarter ended June 30, 2021. The bank's operating expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, were Rs 10,501.8 crore, an increase of 28.7 per cent over Rs 8,160.4 crore during the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The cost-to-income ratio, excluding trading and Mark to Market losses for the quarter was at 38.6 per cent. HDFC Bank said its total credit cost ratio declined to 0.91 per cent for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, as compared to 1.67 per cent for the quarter ending June 30, 2021. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington [US], July 16 (ANI): According to the findings found in a study conducted by the PLOS Computational Biology, people tend to avoid unwanted thoughts by rejecting and replacing them frequently. However, if an association is avoided proactively, it becomes more efficient in preventing the constant loop of unwanted thoughts. The findings have been published by Isaac Fradkin and Eran Eldar of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. Also Read | Vaccines Protection Against COVID-19 Short Lived, Booster Shots Essential: Study. Trying to stop thinking unwanted repetitive thoughts is a familiar experience to most people. Often, a cue can repeatedly evoke unwanted thoughts or memories. In addition to the need to expel unwanted associations from their mind, people have to make sure these unwanted associations do not keep coming again and again in an endless loop and do not become stronger and stronger over time. In the new study, researchers studied how 80 English-speaking adults came up with new associations to common words. All participants viewed words on a screen and had to type an associated word. People in one group were told ahead of time they would not receive monetary bonuses if they repeated associations, so they set out to suppress the thoughts of previous words they had input. Also Read | National Cherry Day 2022: From Good Heart Health to Good Skin, 5 Impressive Health Benefits of Cherries. Based on reaction times and how effective participants were at generating new associations, the researchers used computational approaches to model how people were avoiding repeated associations. Most people, they found, use reactive control -- rejecting unwanted associations after they have already come to mind. "This type of reactive control can be particularly problematic," the authors say, "because, as our findings suggest, thoughts are self-reinforcing: thinking a thought increases its memory strength and the probability that it will recur. In other words, every time we reactively reject an unwanted association, it has the potential to become even stronger. Critically, however, we also found that people can partially preempt this process if they want to ensure that this thought comes to mind as little as possible." "Although people could not avoid unwanted thoughts, they could ensure that thinking an unwanted thought does not increase the probability of it coming to mind again," Fradkin adds. "Whereas the current study focused on neutral associations, future studies should determine whether our findings generalize to negative and personally relevant unwanted thoughts." (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chandigarh, Jul 16 (PTI) Three youths allegedly attempted suicide near Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's residence in Sangrur to protest against the state government for not giving them jobs in the police department. Two suicide attempts were made on Friday night and one on Saturday said union president Jagdeep Singh. Also Read | Mumbai Horror: Woman, Youth Stabbed to Death in Two Separate Incidents in Malad's Malvani; Murder Cases Registered. Demanding jobs in the Punjab Police, several youths have been protesting near the CM's residence in Sangrur for over a month now. Singh said Gurjeet Singh and Gurdeep attempted to end their lives on Friday night. After Gurjeet consumed insecticide, he was taken to a nearby hospital and was discharged post treatment. Also Read | India Has Moved from Cooperative Federalism to Coercive Unilateralism, Says Kapil Sibal. Gurdeep tried to hang himself from a tree but he was saved by other protesters, he said, adding the third person named Jaswinder Singh also consumed insecticide on Saturday. Sangrur Deputy Superintendent of Police (Rural) Sukhwinderpal Singh said Jaswinder has been shifted from Sangrur hospital to Rajindra Hospital in Patiala. The union president said they had cleared the mandatory tests for the post of constable in the Punjab Police force in 2016 and their verification was done in 2017. However, around 150 youths were yet to be given appointment letters, he added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Jul 16 (PTI) A group of 72 former civil servants has sought Attorney General K K Venugopal's intervention to advise the government to check the witch hunt of people exercising their right to free speech by the police. In a letter to the country's top law officer, the ex-bureaucrats highlighted the continued detention and deprivation of personal civil liberties of Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair. Also Read | Bihar: 2 Children Injured & 4 Fell Unconcious After Bomb Blast at Govt School in Gaya. We have been watching with dismay the cynical over-zealousness of not just the law enforcement agencies but also the law officers under you to manufacture cases day after day to deliberately deprive individuals, identified as inconvenient by the government, of their basic freedoms, the letter said. The former bureaucrats said as votaries of the constitutional precept of equality before the law, it is deeply disturbing to see the patently discriminatory treatment meted out as between a Nupur Sharma and a Mohammed Zubair. Also Read | Andhra Pradesh Shocker: Jilted Lover Stabs Girl, Attacks Her Mother and Sister With Knife in Krishna District. Such selective application of law flies in the face of justice as we understand it, read the letter dated July 15 and made public on Saturday. The former civil servants specifically referred to the continued detention and deprivation of personal civil liberties of Mohammed Zubair on charges that would not stand the barest of legal scrutiny. A Delhi court had on Friday granted bail to Zubair in a case related to his alleged objectionable tweet in 2018 on a Hindu deity, observing that "the voice of dissent is necessary for a healthy democracy". Zubair, however, will remain in jail as he has been remanded to judicial custody in some of the FIRs registered against him by the Uttar Pradesh Police for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. The journalist is in jail since July 2. We call upon you to advise the government to issue a directive to the police authorities to stop any further witch hunt against citizens exercising their right to free speech and ensure that no baseless cases are filed in the future as also to instruct government advocates not to routinely oppose applications for bail, reads the letter to the Attorney General. The 72 signatories to the letter include former home secretary G K Pillai, former chief information commissioner Wajahat Habibullah and former health secretary K Sujatha Rao, among others. The Supreme Court in a recent ruling has stated that indiscriminately arresting people and putting them in jail is making India a police state', the letter said. We are at a loss to understand why the Solicitor General takes it upon himself to appear in all kinds of cases even to oppose bail, it said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jammu, Jul 16 (PTI) The Army has started pre-training for youths intending to join the armed forces under the Agnipath scheme in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, army officials said on Saturday. Agnipath pre-training programme is being conducted by Ace of Spades Gunners in the Mendhar area of the district for a duration of 10 days to train the youths of remote and far-flung areas for recruitment in the armed forces, they said. Also Read | Andhra Pradesh Floods: Bride Takes Boat To Reach Groom's Place for Wedding in Ambedkar Konaseema District (Watch Video). A large number of youths from surrounding villages of the Mendhar are attending the training, the officials said. The programme included physical training classes, 1,6000-metre running, push-ups, crunches, and other exercises, they said. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: 2 Held After Reciting Hanuman Chalisa at Lulu Shopping Mall in Lucknow. Classes are also being conducted to prepare the Agniveer aspirants for the written examination, they added. Information on the features of the scheme including eligibility criteria, financial benefits, terms and conditions, special-age relaxation for the first recruitment and opportunities post-termination of four years contractual period is also being shared with the youths, the officials said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) By Payal Mehta New Delhi [India], July 15 (ANI): The Government of India is all set to bring in legislation to regulate the Registration of Press and Periodicals Bill, 2019, which will include the Digital News Media industry for the first time. Also Read | Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel Announces Rs 17.10 Crore As Financial Aid To Tackle Flood Situation. Through this, the Cabinet proposes to bring digital news portals at par with newspapers. Lok Sabha Secretariat, on Friday, released a list of Bills deemed to be introduced and passed in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: Yogi Adityanath Government To Revamp Its Budget Hotels Rahi', Says State Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh. Among them, the most crucial is The Press Registration Periodicals Bill, 2022. The Bill seeks to replace the Press and Registration of Books (PRB) Act, 1867 which covers the ambit of newspapers and printing presses in India. According to government sources, the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to approve this Bill soon. The idea, when first mooted, drew a lot of criticism with assumptions that this Bill would try to curtail the Freedom of Speech and Expression on digital media. Detail consultations have already been held with various stakeholders regarding the Bill. As of now, there is no such process to register digital news portals like newspapers but this Bill proposes to register them with the Press Registrar General, the equivalent of the prevalent Registrar of Newspapers in India. Digital news publishers have to apply for registration within 90 days of the law coming into effect, which is being proposed. This is the first time that digital media in India will have regulations. If the Bill is cleared, digital media will be regulated by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Jul 16 (PTI) The BJP parliamentary board will be meeting Saturday evening to pick the party's candidate for the post of Vice President of the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders of the party will attend the meeting, which will be followed by an all-party MPs meet being held ahead of the presidential election on July 18, in which the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance candidate Droupadi Murmu has a clear advantage over the Opposition's Yashwant Sinha. Also Read | Centre to Bring Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill in Monsoon Session of Parliament to Regulate Digital Media. After the BJP threw in its hat with Murmu, set to be India's first tribal President, political watchers are keen to see if the party will now opt for a more seasoned face from its ranks for the vice presidential candidate. In 2017, the party had named the then Cabinet minister M Venkaiah Naidu, a former BJP president and veteran parliamentarian, as its vice president candidate, after surprising everyone by picking the then Bihar governor Ram Nath Kovind, a Dalit, for the presidential contest. Also Read | Gujarat Floods: Several Animals, Birds Rescued from Navsari District As Rivers Continue to Overflow. Both Kovind and Naidu had won the polls comfortably to occupy the two highest constitutional posts of the country. The BJP is again in a strong position to ensure the win of its candidates. The electoral college for picking the next vice president, who is also the Rajya Sabha chairperson, comprises members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Out of Parliament's current strength of 780, the BJP alone has 394 MPs, more than the majority mark of 390. The term of Naidu, the present incumbent, ends on August 10. The last date for filing of nomination papers for the poll is July 19 and the election is scheduled for August 6. The parliamentary board is the BJP's apex organisational body, and its members include Modi and Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and Nitin Gadkari besides party president J P Nadda, among others. The BJP will consult its allies like the JD(U) and also reach out to different parties to seek a consensus over the choice, amid indications that the opposition will also field its candidate to force a contest, as it has for the presidential poll. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Ahmedabad, Jul 16 (PTI) The charges levelled against late Congress leader Ahmed Patel are part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "systematic strategy to absolve himself of any responsibility for communal carnage" unleashed when the latter was Gujarat chief minister, the Congress alleged on Saturday. Also Read | SEBI Recruitment 2022: Apply for 24 Assistant Manager Positions at sebi.gov.in; Check Details Here. The Congress made this allegation in a statement issued by Jairam Ramesh, the party's general secretary in-charge of the communication department. Also Read | Harela 2022: Initiative to Make Dehradun Clean and Green, Says Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami. The allegation comes a day after the Gujarat police opposed activist Teesta Setalvad's bail application. An affidavit filed by the police's Special Investigation Team before the sessions court on Friday said Setalvad was part of a "larger conspiracy" carried out at the behest of Ahmed Patel to dismiss the BJP government in the state after the 2002 riots. (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, Jul 16 (PTI) The anganwadi workers' union is slated to meet Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on Saturday to demand the reinstatement of its workers, the body has said. The LG agreed to meet the Delhi State Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union (DSAWHU), after workers whose services were terminated staged a protest outside his residence on Wednesday, the union officials said. Also Read | Gujarat Floods: Several Animals, Birds Rescued from Navsari District As Rivers Continue to Overflow. Earlier, the members of the union had gathered at the Raj Niwas Marg with banners and raised slogans against the LG and the Delhi government, demanding a hike in their pay and reinstatement of terminated workers and helpers. DSAWHU has claimed that 884 Anganwadi workers have been issued termination notices and 11,942 given show-cause notices by the Delhi government for participating in a 39-day strike. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi to Inaugurate Bundelkhand Expressway in Uttar Pradesh Today. (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, July 16: The Delhi High Court has refused to allow an unmarried woman to undergo medical termination of pregnancy at 23 weeks, observing it is not permitted under the abortion law after 20 weeks for pregnancy arising out of a consensual relationship. It, however, has sought the Centre's response on the woman's contention that the exclusion of unmarried women from being allowed to undergo medical termination of pregnancy up to 24 weeks, was discriminatory. The petitioner, a 25-year-old woman, who would complete 24 weeks of gestation on July 18, told the court that her partner, with whom she was in a consensual relationship, had refused to marry her. She stressed that giving birth out of wedlock would cause her psychological agony as well as social stigma and she was not mentally prepared to be a mother. A bench of the High Court's Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad, while dealing with the plea, said the court cannot go beyond the statute while exercising its power under Article 226 of the Constitution. NEET UG 2022: Delhi High Court Dismisses Plea To Postpone NEET UG 2022 Exam. "The petitioner, who is an unmarried woman and whose pregnancy arises out of a consensual relationship, is clearly not covered by any of the clauses under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Rules, 2003," the court noted in its order dated July 15. "As of today, Rule 3B of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Rules, 2003 (which excludes unmarried women) stands, and this court, while exercising its power under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, 1950, cannot go beyond the statute, it said. During the hearing on Friday, the court had said that it would not permit the petitioner to undergo medical termination of pregnancy at 23 weeks, observing it virtually amounts to killing the foetus. The High Court noted that the law granted time to unmarried women to undergo the procedure of medical termination of pregnancy and the legislature has "purposefully excluded consensual relationship" from the category of cases where termination is permissible after 20 weeks and up to 24 weeks. Delhi High Court Says It Wont Permit Unmarried Woman To Undergo Abortion at 23 Weeks As It Virtually Amounts to Killing Foetus. It suggested that the petitioner can be kept "somewhere safe" until she delivers the child who can subsequently be given up for adoption. "We will ensure that the girl is kept somewhere safe and she can deliver and go. There is a big queue for adoption," the court had said. abortion,abortion law,Court doesn't grant abortion permission to woman,Delhi Court,Delhi High Court,High Court,PregnancyAfter the lawyer turned down the court's suggestion, it said that it would pass an order on the petition. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 16 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has expressed confidence in the export potential of the Union Territory and said that efforts will be made to increase the exports by three times in the next five years. The remarks of the LG came after the launch of District Export Plans by Anupriya Patel, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Manoj Sinha on Friday. Also Read | Centre to Bring Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill in Monsoon Session of Parliament to Regulate Digital Media. The aim of the initiative is to help all stakeholders including exporters of carpets, shawls, growers, and overall people who are belonging to art, craft and horticulture can export their products and get good benefits in future. The participants appreciated the authorities for the step and hoped that such types of initiatives will continue in the future. "There is very high export potential in Jammu & Kashmir. We were working on this in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce, for the last 2 years. A detailed plan has been prepared for every district today," said Sinha while speaking to the media. Also Read | Gujarat Floods: Several Animals, Birds Rescued from Navsari District As Rivers Continue to Overflow. "We will try to export from every district of Jammu and Kashmir in the coming time. We are running with a target that we can increase exports by three times in the coming five years," he added. Sinha said that the region possesses "several comparative advantages" like climate and rich art and craft and culture. "With a vision to convert all 20 districts into an export hub, J&K UT unveiled its District Export Plans in presence of Hon'ble Union MoS, Commerce & Industry Smt.@AnupriyaSPatelJi. The region possesses several comparative advantages like climate and rich art & craft culture," the LG tweeted. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], July 16: Several animals and birds were rescued on Friday after a flood-like situation arose in Navsari due to extremely heavy rainfall in the district. Rescue teams also provided food to the animals stranded in the flood-affected areas. Also Read | Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel Announces Rs 17.10 Crore As Financial Aid To Tackle Flood Situation. At least 811 people have been rescued in the Navsari district of Gujarat in a single day, P. Swaroop, Relief Commissioner informed on Friday. Navsari has been badly hit due to the torrential rains and increasing water levels in the Purna river. The water level in the Purna river has gone up due to the dams overflowing in Maharashtra. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: Yogi Adityanath Government To Revamp Its Budget Hotels Rahi', Says State Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh. "The district administration team worked from the previous night to 5:30 am today and rescued all the people who were stuck," an official statement from Chief Minister's Office said. A total of 811 people have been rescued in one day in Navsari as per the details provided by the collector of Navsari during the video conference presided by Chief Minister Bhupender Patel to take stock of the prevailing situation in the state. He also instructed all the district collectors and administrations to work hard as the water has now reduced significantly and also told them to do a survey of the destruction caused due to the natural calamity in the state. Patel also told them to provide necessary financial assistance to the people who suffered losses. The CM further added, "now as the water has subsided, the work to stop the epidemic from spreading anymore should be done effectively and the destroyed roads across the state must be repaired so that the citizens do not face any difficulties."Meanwhile, the Meteorological department has issued a Red alert in two districts of Gujarat-- Dang and Valsad. Valsad has already been reeling under flood waters for the past few days. The situation in the state appeared improving, as earlier on Thursday, Disaster Management Minister Rajendra Trivedi had informed about the red alert in eight districts. "Red alerts for heavy rainfall announced in eight districts including Surat, Junagadh, Gir, Bhavnagar, Tapi, Dang, Valsad and Navsari," Trivedi had said (on Thursday) while also mentioning that the water level in the Purna river was increasing due to the overflowing dams in Maharashtra."National highway towards Mumbai and at two places in Dang and Kutch national highways have been closed. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team is working well to rescue people who are stuck in Navsari and Valsad district," he added. A massive amount of water was released from the Madhuban Dam on the Daman Ganga river in the Valsad district as the region continues to remain battered by heavy rainfall. During his visit to the state control room on Thursday night, the CM took detailed information on moving people to safer places, opening up roads and highways, and regarding the work being done by the NDRF, stated the state government. While the locals of Golvad and Fadvel village near Kaveri river in Navsari District were trapped due to flash floods on the banks of river Kaveri, several parts of Ahmedabad faced waterlogging as rainfall continued to lash the city. There was waterlogging in Vejalpur and Shrinand Nagar in Ahemdabad. Amid the flood situation in Gujarat following heavy rainfall, state BJP President CR Paatil on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are constantly monitoring the situation in the rain-battered state. Paatil tweeted on Thursday, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are constantly monitoring the condition in Gujarat. And added that on the request Amit Shah has arranged for two Air Force Shoppers and NDRF team which will start the rescue operations in the state from tomorrow (Friday) morning." PM Modi is constantly keeping an eye on the situation in Gujarat after excessive rainfall and also gave telephonic instructions for tackling the situation, Paatil added. Heavy rains in several areas of Gujarat since the last few days have brought life to a standstill. While residents of low-lying areas have been shifted to safer places, those stranded at home due to waterlogging have been provided with relief material. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Jul 16 (PTI) The Opposition has demanded a discussion on the Agnipath military recruitment scheme, unemployment and farmers' issues in the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament, Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said on Saturday after Speaker Om Birla held an all-party meeting here. The meeting was held at Parliament premises in the evening and was attended by floor leaders of several political parties. Also Read | Navjot Singh Sidhu Complains of Knee Pain in Jail, Doctor Advises Him To Reduce Weight. "We have demanded that discussion should be held on Agnipath, unemployment and issues related to farmers and sufficient time be given to the Opposition to raise these issues in the House," Chowdhury told reporters later. The Speaker holds this customary all-party meeting before the start of every parliament session. Also Read | Nirmal Singh Kahlon Dies: Former Punjab Assembly Speaker and Senior Shiromani Akali Dal Leader Passes Away at 79. The Monsoon session of Parliament will begin on July 18. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], July 16 (ANI): India reported 20,044 new COVID cases in the last 24 hours, crossing the 20,000 mark for the third consecutive day, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday. The country had logged 20,038 infections yesterday. Also Read | Weather Forecast: Week Long Wet Spell Likely Over Odisha, Bihar; Rainfall Activity Likely to Increase Over Himachal, Uttarakhand. With this, the active cases in the country rose to 1,40,760 which was 1,39,073 yesterday. According to the Ministry, 18,301 COVID patients recovered in the last 24 hours. The number of recoveries since the onset of the pandemic stands at 4,30,63,651. Also Read | Centre to Bring Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill in Monsoon Session of Parliament to Regulate Digital Media. The rate of recovery currently is 98.48 per cent. As many as 56 patients lost their lives in the last 24 hours taking the death toll to 5,25,660. 4,17,895 COVID tests were conducted during this period and the daily positivity rate in the country was 4.80 per cent (a little more than yesterday, 4.44 per cent), and the weekly positivity rate was 4.40 per cent (4.30 per cent yesterday). Under the nationwide vaccination drive in the country, 22,93,627 COVID vaccines were administered in the last 24 hours while 1,99,71,61,438 COVID doses have been jabbed in the country so far. Meanwhile, with an aim to increase the uptake of the precautionary dose of COVID vaccine among the eligible adult population, 75 days - 'COVID Vaccination Amrit Mahotsava' will commence on Friday, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This special vaccination drive is a part of the celebration for Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and aims to provide free precaution dose for all adults (18 years and above) eligible population at Government COVID Vaccination Centres (CVCs). In a virtual meeting with State/UT Health Secretaries and NHM MDs chaired by Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Thursday, States and UTs have been urged to give an intensive and ambitious push toward full COVID-19 vaccination coverage by vaccinating all eligible beneficiaries and covering them with precaution dose. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], July 16 (ANI): A high-level team despatched by the Centre to Kerala following the diagnosis of monkeypox infection in the state arrived in the capital Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. The multidisciplinary team, which will take stock of the situation on the ground and recommend necessary interventions arrived at the Directorate of Health Services here today. Also Read | People of Jalaun, UP Welcome Prime Minister @narendramodi as He Arrives to Inaugurate the Latest Tweet by DD News. The team members include P Ravindran, Advisor to the Health Ministry, Sanket Kulkarni, Joint Director, National Centre for Disease Control among others. The Central team was rushed to Kerala by the Union Health Ministry to collaborate with the state health authorities in instituting public health measures in view the confirmed case of monkeypox in the state's Kollam district. Also Read | Banxso is the Ultimate Investment Medium for Generation Z and Millenials. The central team is also likely to visit Kollam. "We will come comment here once we get instructions from the government. Yes we may go to Kollam," said Advisor (Ministry of Health) P Raveendran. The patient with monkeypox had arrived in Kerala from the UAE and tested positive for the viral disease on Thursday. He is currently in isolation undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. The Central team has experts drawn from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), RML Hospital, New Delhi and senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare along with experts from the Regional Office of Health and Family Welfare, Kerala. The team shall work closely with the State Health Departments and take stock of the on-ground situation and recommend necessary public health interventions. The Centre is taking proactive steps by monitoring the situation carefully and coordinating with states in case of any such possibility of an outbreak occurs, said the Ministry of Health. "No need to panic as the centre has given fresh directions to all the states and Union Territories regarding monkeypox. It spreads through close contact with lesions, body fluids, prolonged contact with Respiratory Droplets and contaminated materials such as bedding," official sources told ANI. Kerala Health Minister Veena George said, "A Monkeypox positive case has been reported. He is a traveller from UAE. He reached the state on July 12. He reached Trivandrum airport and all the steps are being taken as per the guidelines issued by WHO and ICMR." Meanwhile, the central government on Thursday wrote a letter to all the states and union territories, reiterating some of the key actions that are required to contain the spread of the disease. Health secretary Rajesh Bhushan cited the letter sent by the ministry on May 31 in which it had issued a comprehensive 'Guidelines for Management of Monkeypox Disease' The health secretary asked all the states and union territories to take key actions like orientation and regular re-orientation of all key stakeholders including health screening teams at points of entries (PoEs), disease surveillance teams, doctors working in hospitals about common signs and symptoms, differential diagnosis, case definitions for s for suspect/probable/confirmed cases and contacts, contact tracing and other surveillance activities that need to be undertaken following the detection of a case, testing, IPC protocols, clinical management etc. He further asked to screen and test all suspect cases at points of entries and in the community."Patient isolation (until all lesions have resolved and scabs have completely fallen off), protection of ulcers, symptomatic and supportive therapies, continued monitoring and timely treatment of complications remain the key measures to prevent mortality," he said. Bhushan said that the intensive risk communication directed at healthcare workers, identified sites in health facilities (such as skin, paediatric OPDs, immunization clinics, intervention sites identified by NACO etc.) as well as the general public about simple preventive strategies and the need for prompt reporting of cases needs to be undertaken. The hospitals must be identified and adequate human resource and logistic support should be ensured at identified hospitals equipped to manage suspect/confirmed cases of Monkeypox. According to World Health Organization (WHO), monkeypox is a viral zoonosis (a virus transmitted to humans from animals) with symptoms similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients, although it is clinically less severe. Monkeypox is transmitted to humans through close contact with an infected person or animal, or with material contaminated with the virus. It is usually a self-limited disease with symptoms lasting from two to four weeks, WHO said. Monkeypox virus is transmitted from one person to another by close contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials such as bedding. As reported by WHO, since January 1, 2022 and as of June 22, 2022, a total of 3,413 laboratory confirmed cases of Monkeypox and one death have been reported to WHO from 50 countries/territories. The majority of these cases have been reported from the European Region (86 per cent) and the Americas (11 per cent). This points to a slow but sustained increase in the spread of cases globally. Considering this is the first time that cases and clusters are being reported concurrently in five WHO Regions, WHO has assessed the overall risk of spread of cases as "Moderate" at the global level. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Noida, Jul 16 (PTI) Five juveniles were arrested in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr district on Saturday for allegedly kidnapping a school boy and later killing him, police officials said. The juveniles, one of whom studied in the same school as the seven-year-old victim, had kidnapped the boy for ransom. They were inspired by a popular crime show on TV, they said. Also Read | Mumbai Horror: Woman, Youth Stabbed to Death in Two Separate Incidents in Malad's Malvani; Murder Cases Registered. The juveniles are aged 15 and 16 years and study in Class 10, Bulandshahr Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shlok Kumar said. "The boy was picked up by the juveniles from his school on July 9 and then taken to Aligarh where they choked him to death using a handkerchief. They then dumped his body in a river which was recovered later, leading to an investigation into the matter," Kumar said. Also Read | India Has Moved from Cooperative Federalism to Coercive Unilateralism, Says Kapil Sibal. An FIR was first lodged under IPC section 363 (missing) on the basis of a complaint by the child's father, who lives in Shekhupur village under Chhatari police station limits. "After the probe and findings, the accused were booked under IPC sections 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) also," the police said. SSP Kumar said one of the juveniles had mistakenly lost Rs 40,000 while carrying out a financial transaction and was worried about it. He later narrated his ordeal to his friends after which they all decided to kidnap a child from the school for ransom to make up for his loss, Kumar said. "On July 9, the victim was among the first few students to reach the school. The accused had not specifically planned to kidnap him but he was picked up since he reached the school early and there were not many people at the time," the IPS officer said. "The juvenile who also studied in the same school saw the boy playing outside his class and then took him to the boundary of the school where his other associates, who studied in a different school, were already present," he said. From there, the two accused took the boy on a motorcycle to Aligarh while the other reached there by bus. They had taken the boy to Aligarh because one of the accused had a house there and the boy was kept hostage there, the officer said. However, later the juveniles panicked thinking what they would do if their plan does not succeed and thought they might land in trouble, he added. "In panic, they decided to kill him and dumped his body in a river. They threw his handkerchief in bushes in an isolated area and returned to Bulandshahr," Kumar said. The next day the child's body was found from the river in Aligarh and he was identified as the boy missing from Bulandshahr, he said. "After this more policemen were put on the case. Six teams were formed which analysed over 100 CCTV footages and questioned more than 200 people in connection with the case," the SSP said. The police ultimately cracked the case and apprehended the five juveniles, who have also admitted to the crime, the officer claimed. "They initially tried to mislead the police and concocted various stories about the disappearance of the boy. However, eventually they admitted committing the crime and also revealed how they got inspired by a popular crime show on TV for planning the kidnapping," Kumar said. The accused have been presented before a juvenile justice board for further legal action in the case, he added. PTI KIS (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], July 16 (ANI): Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla called for a meeting of leaders of all political parties, and informed the officials on Saturday. The meeting holds importance as it comes just ahead of the Monsoon Session and has been scheduled for 4 pm today. Also Read | #WATCH | Gujarat: Water Level Rises in Tapi River in Surat Due to Incessant Heavy Latest Tweet by ANI. The Speaker is likely to brief the members on the preparations related to the Session and discussions regarding various bills are also expected. The Speaker holds this customary all-party meeting before the start of every parliament session. Also Read | Maharashtra Shocker: 16-Month-Old Child Succumbs To Burn Injuries a Week After Falling in Boiling Water Vessel. The Monsoon session of the Parliament will begin from July 18. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Jul 16 (PTI) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will hold an all party meeting on Saturday, two days ahead of the start of the Monsoon session of the Parliament. The meeting is scheduled to be held at Parliament in the evening and is expected to be attended by floor leaders of several political parties. Also Read | Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel Announces Rs 17.10 Crore As Financial Aid To Tackle Flood Situation. During the meeting discussions will be held on the issues to be taken up during the session and allocation of time for discussion on different bills. Issues, such as the recently issued list of unparliamentary words, may also come up for discussion in the meeting. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: Yogi Adityanath Government To Revamp Its Budget Hotels Rahi', Says State Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh. The Speaker holds this customary all-party meeting before the start of every parliament session. The Monsoon session of the Parliament will begin from July 18. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kannauj (UP), Jul 16 (PTI) Unidentified miscreants threw pieces of meat in the compound of a village temple in this Uttar Pradesh district on Saturday, police said. According to police, the incident took place in Rasoolabad village located within the Talgram police station limits. Jagdish Jatav, the temple priest, found the pieces of meat inside the temple at around 4 am and the locals informed the police about it. Also Read | Mumbai: Auto Driver Held for Stealing iPad, Passport of Brazilian Student in Goregaon. Officials of the local administration and police reached the spot and ensured that the pieces of meat were removed from the temple premises and the compound was cleaned. However, members of local Hindu groups staged a protest against the incident and blocked the Talgram-Indergarh road. "The protesters were assured of strict action against the perpetrators, after which they called off the stir and cleared the road," Circle Officer of the area Shivpratap Singh said. Also Read | Maharashtra Rains: 102 Lives Lost in Rain and Flood Incidents Since June 1, Says Report. He said the matter is being investigated and strict action will be taken against the culprits. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jaipur, Jul 16 (PTI) Monsoon rains continue to lash Rajasthan, where many areas including the state capital recorded moderate rain on Saturday. The spell of rain is likely to continue in the arid state for the coming few days. Also Read | Andhra Pradesh Floods: Bride Takes Boat To Reach Groom's Place for Wedding in Ambedkar Konaseema District (Watch Video). According to the Meteorological (MeT) centre in Jaipur, 17.8 mm rainfall was recorded in the capital Jaipur till 6 pm on Saturday. Apart from this, 14 mm rainfall was recorded in Ajmer, 11 mm in Chittorgarh, nine mm in Ganganagar, five mm each in Churu and Bhilwara, four mm in Sangaria and three mm in Sikar. In Bikaner and Jodhpur, there is a possibility of light to heavy rain at most places in the next 48 hours, the weather department said. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: 2 Held After Reciting Hanuman Chalisa at Lulu Shopping Mall in Lucknow. In most places of Jaipur, Kota, Udaipur, Bharatpur and Ajmer divisions, rain accompanied with thunderstorms will continue for the next three-four days. Heavy rainfall was recorded in Sriganganagar where the district administration had to sought army's help on Friday to deal with the problem of waterlogging. An official said that most of the rainwater has been drained after sustained efforts by the army and the district administration. Electricity supply was also restored in 80 percent of the area. Three units of the army are still cooperating with the district administration in water drainage, the official added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhopal, Jul 16 (PTI) The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday said its supporters had won 84 per cent district panchayat seats and 74 per cent janpad panchayat seats in Madhya Pradesh, polls to which were held recently, while the opposition Congress trashed these figures. Also Read | Nirmal Singh Kahlon Dies: Former Punjab Assembly Speaker and Senior Shiromani Akali Dal Leader Passes Away at 79. Panchayat polls are held on a non-party basis, prompting the Congress to say the BJP's data was fake and that the latter had misused power to win in some places. Also Read | Jammu and Kashmir: Indian Army Opens Fire as Drone Spotted Near LoC in Poonch. "BJP supporters have won 84 per cent of seats in 52 district panchayat polls. We have got majority in 44 of the 52 district panchayats. We are making efforts to ensure victory in polls to post of president in the remaining eight district panchayats, with hurdles being faced only in three of these," state BJP chief VD Sharma told reporters. "The situation will be clear on July 29 when district panchayat members will elect presidents of these bodies. The BJP also won 74.4 per cent of janpad panchayat seats. Of the 313 janpad panchayats where polls were held, BJP supporters have won in 233. Information on the rest is being collected," he added. Members of these janpad panchayats will elect respective presidents on July 27 and 28. "As many as 19,863 of 22,924 posts of sarpanch, or 87 per cent, has been won by BJP supporters. Of these, 650 sarpanchs were elected unopposed. It clearly shows the BJP governments at the Centre and MP are changing the lives of people positively," Sharma claimed. He claimed BJP supporters had won even in regions considered bastions of Congress Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Govind Singh. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Congress media department chairperson KK Mishra said his party's supporters had won 386 out of 875 district panchayat member seats, while 129 were won by Independents. He accused BJP state president VD Sharma of providing fake data of his party's electoral victory and claimed the Congress would have won 125 more seats if the ruling party had not misused power. Ministers were seen distributing money and Congress workers were booked in false cases, he alleged. The Congress would take legal recourse against such incidents, Mishra added. MP Congress chief Kamal Nath thanked the people for extending support to his party in the recent local body polls and tweeted that "we will again fight together" in the Assembly elections scheduled for 2023. (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], July 16 (ANI): Days ahead of the Presidential polls, Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi national president Prakash Ambedkar on Saturday urged Opposition's candidate Yashwant Sinha to withdraw from the race and said that many "Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe members" from across the parties have lent their support in favour of NDA candidate Droupadi Murmu. The voting for the presidential polls is slated to take place on Monday while the counting of votes will take place on Thursday. Also Read | Gujarat Shocker: 16-Year-Old Boy Dies in Mehsana After Friend Inserts Air Compressor Into Rectum For Fun. "Requesting Mr Yashwant Sinha to withdraw from the Presidential race because many Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe members from across the parties are joining to vote in favour of Madam Droupadi Murmu," Ambedkar tweeted. Notably, various parties have extended their support to the NDA candidate including Congress ally Shiv Sena, Samajwadi Party ally Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), and RJD ally Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Akhilesh Yadav's uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav has also extended his support to Murmu. Also Read | Eknath Shinde Cabinet Approves Renaming of Aurangabad, Osmanabad Cities As Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Dharashiv. YSR Congress Party, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Shiromani Akali Dal have already extended their support to Murmu. Murmu is a former Governor of Jharkhand and a former Odisha minister. If elected, she will be the first tribal President of India and the country's second woman President. Born in a poor tribal family in the village of Mayurbhanj, a backward district in Odisha, Murmu completed her studies despite challenging circumstances. Murmu is the first presidential candidate from Odisha of a major political party or alliance. Murmu filed her nomination papers at the Parliament Library Building in the national capital. Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed her name for the nomination, which was seconded by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Born in a poor tribal family in a village of Mayurbhanj, a backward district in Odisha, Droupadi Murmu completed her studies despite challenging circumstances. She taught at Shri Aurobindo Integral Education Centre, Rairangpur. Born on June 20, 1958, she pursued BA at Ramadevi Women's College Bhubaneswar.She started her political career as Rairangpur NAC vice-chairman. Droupadi Murmu was a member of the Odisha Legislative Assembly from Rairangpur between 2000 and 2004. As a minister, she held portfolios of Transport and Commerce, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries. She again served as MLA in the Odisha assembly from 2004 to 2009. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, Jul 16 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday said rebel Shiv Sena MLAs who had accompanied him to Guwahati had spent tense moments as and when they watched TV news showing various happenings following their rebellion. Also Read | Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Says '51 Lakh Households To Get Zero Electricity Bill'. Also Read | Andhra Pradesh Floods: Bride Takes Boat To Reach Groom's Place for Wedding in Ambedkar Konaseema District (Watch Video). Speaking at a meeting organised by rebel Shiv Sena MLA Mangesh Kudalkar in suburban Kurla, Shinde said MLAs would get tense while watching the news from the hotel in Guwahati where they were camping after leaving Maharashtra. Post the rebellion, Shiv Sainiks staged protests against the breakaway MLAs in various parts of Maharashtra, necessitating the deployment of additional police personnel outside the homes and offices of some of the legislators. "It was said that the MLAs were forcibly held in the hotel in Guwahati contrary to the fact that they were free and enjoying themselves. The rebellion was not for power. They would get tense initially but later they felt relaxed," Shinde told a gathering. He reiterated that his rebellion was not aimed at seizing power but to take forward the ideals of Sena founder Bal Thackeray, Hindutva, and ensuring the development of Maharashtra. Referring to some MLAs dancing in a hotel in Goa, where they had stayed before returning to Mumbai for the floor test, Shinde said it was normal as they were elated. A video of a few MLAs dancing in the hotel after Shinde was named as the chief minister had gone viral. "We were criticised for everything. But in Guwahati, we held on to our patience. We are staunch shiv sainiks and will not tolerate injustice. In Guwahati, we held meetings every day. Initially, we were tense but slowly our numbers grew, " Shinde recalled. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jaipur, Jul 16 (PTI) A passenger was arrested at the Jaipur International Airport and smuggled gold valued at over Rs 1.12 crore seized from his possession, a customs official said Saturday. The passenger, who arrived by Air Arabia flight number G9435 from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), was intercepted at the airport. During an X-ray examination of his checked-in baggage -- two bags -- a dark, dense, metallic image of round-shaped wires was noticed, the official said. Also Read | Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Says '51 Lakh Households To Get Zero Electricity Bill'. On being questioned, the passenger denied carrying any such article. Subsequently, four round wires made of gold with white rhodium polish were found concealed behind the iron casing of both the bags, the official said. The smuggled gold of 99.5 purity weighing 2170.3 grams was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, he added. Also Read | Andhra Pradesh Floods: Bride Takes Boat To Reach Groom's Place for Wedding in Ambedkar Konaseema District (Watch Video). The seized gold is valued at Rs 1,12,20,451, the official informed. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Hyderabad, Jul 16 (PTI) The massive rise in water-level in Godavari river at Bhadrachalam town in Telangana started declining on Saturday, though it was still well above the danger-mark, forcing most of the flood-hit people to stay at relief camps. About 26,000 people in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district were evacuated to safer places at 4 PM today though some of them were shifted to their relatives' homes, official sources said. Also Read | #WATCH | Delhi: NDAs Vice-Presidential Candidate & West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Latest Tweet by ANI. The level in Godavari at Bhadrachalam reached a record 71.30 ft in the early hours, following heavy rains in the catchment areas, and it receded to 67.70 ft at 9 PM, they said. The third warning level is 53 ft. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: 2 Held After Reciting Hanuman Chalisa at Lulu Shopping Mall in Lucknow. Some of the flood-hit people held a protest at Bhadrachalam, demanding that the bund at the river be extended to prevent flooding of their residential localities. As part of relief effots, the State government requisitioned the help of Army personnel on Friday and also appointed special officers to oversee the flood-relief activities. Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan would visit flood-affected areas in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district on July 17. Despite her scheduled visit to attend President Ram Nath Kovind farewell dinner in New Delhi today, the Governor spoke to the President and apprised him of the flood-situation in the State. She also informed about the urgency in visiting the flood-affected areas in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district, a Raj Bhavan press release said. Meanwhile, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao would undertake an aerial survey and also visit the rain and flood-hit areas in Bhadradri-Kothagudem and Mulugu districts on Sunday. Rao reached Warangal this evening and held a meeting with Ministers, local MLAs and officials.. He discussed the situation at Eturu Nagaram and other flood-hit areas in the Warangal region, an official release said. He would undertake an aerial survey from Warangal to Bhadrachalam on Sunday. He would visit Bhadrachalam town and review the flood relief measures with officials. He would take up aerial survey at Eturu Nagaram region (in Mulugu district) and also review flood-relief measures there, it said. Rao would continue his visit of flood-affected areas in the State on Monday. State Health Minister T Harish Rao held a meeting today with officials and doctors and directed them to set up health camps in the flood-hit villages as part of measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Heavy rains lashed Telangana for about seven days, up to Friday this week, causing inundation of low-lying areas and damage to agriculture crops and others. More than 10 people died in various rain-related incidents like collapse of walls and electrocution by Wednesday last. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Udaipur, Jul 16 (PTI) Two men in Rajasthan's Udaipur were threatened with beheading by unidentified people, police said on Saturday. Also Read | Rajasthan Shocker: 30-Year-Old Man Gets Life Term for Sexually Assaulting Minor Girl for 5 Years in Bundi. Superintendent of Police Vikas Sharma said the two men received the threat message on WhatsApp Friday night, adding that the number used to forward the message belonged to someone from outside India. He asserted that adequate security has been provided to the victims. Also Read | Bihar: 2 Children Injured & 4 Fell Unconcious After Bomb Blast at Govt School in Gaya. Police, however, did not disclose the identity of the victims due to security reasons. Another officer said an FIR in connection with the matter has been registered at Dhan Mandi police station. The incident comes close on the heels of the brutal murder of a tailor, Kanhaiya Lal, in the city on June 28. Two men had slit the throat of the tailor, saying in a video post on social media that they were avenging an insult to Islam. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Guwahati, Jul 16 (PTI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said the ULFA(I) issue is an "internal matter" of the state and not of the entire North East, which can be resolved through dialogue. Addressing a press conference, Sarma said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have been keen to solve problems of the North East so that the region can remain united in the path of progress and prosperity. Also Read | Tokyo Paralympians Duo @manishnarwal02 & Rubina Francis Won Gold Medal in P6 Mixed Latest Tweet by Prasar Bharati News Services. Asked whether the issue of the banned ULFA(I) is expected to be resolved soon, the chief minister said this is not related to the entire NE region but is Assam's "internal matter". "Border disputes, flood, issues related to electrification, communication, internet connectivity and others are related to the North East. We are going to deal with these and make the region strong and prosperous in line with the vision of the prime minister and the home minister," he said. Also Read | Bihar: 2 Children Injured & 4 Fell Unconcious After Bomb Blast at Govt School in Gaya. ULFA(I) chief Paresh Barua views Assam from a different perspective while "we do it in a certain way and will resolve the issue through talks", Sarma said. He, however, did not elaborate whether talks with the banned outfit would be held soon. The proscribed ULFA (Independent) had announced a unilateral ceasefire on May 15 last year for three months after Sarma took charge as the chief minister of the state and called the outfit to come forward for talks. The outfit has been extending the ceasefire every three months since then but there has been no announcement regarding negotiations with the banned organisation. Sarma had last year said peace talks with the banned outfit could progress if it was prepared to discuss grievances and issues other than sovereignty. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Lucknow, Jul 16 (PTI) The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Uttar Pradesh Police on Saturday arrested a member of the Popular Front of India (PFI), who was wanted by the Bihar Police. According to a statement issued by the force, the senior superintendent of police (SSP) of Patna had sought cooperation from the Uttar Pradesh ATS in nabbing Nuruddin Jangi alias "Advocate" Nuruddin, a resident of Bihar's Darbhanga, in connection with a case lodged at the Phulwari Sharif police station in ??Patna district. Also Read | Delhi Shocker: Woman Held for Cheating Private Bank of Over Rs 3 Crore, Say Police. According to the statement, the ATS arrested Nuruddin from near the Mawaiya metro station located within the Alambagh police station limits here. The accused confessed during interrogation that he came in contact with the PFI Darbhanga district president in 2015 and has been associated with the organisation ever since. Also Read | Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Says '51 Lakh Households To Get Zero Electricity Bill'. Nuruddin had contested the 2020 Bihar Assembly polls from the Darbhanga constituency. During interrogation, he said he was staying in Lucknow and arranging legal aid for PFI members. He got his LL.B degree from Darbhanga in 2017. According to the ATS statement, further action in the matter is being taken by the Bihar Police. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Ghaziabad, Jul 16 (PTI) A wanted gangster was arrested in Loni by police after a shootout on Saturday, officials said. When police at a checkpost stopped Yunus alias Ganga of Loni's Mustafabad area, he tried to flee on his motorcycle. Also Read | Kolkata | There is a Wave of Happiness in Bengal Today. A Constitutional Expert Has Been Latest Tweet by ANI. On being chased, he fired at the police party. In retaliatory firing, Yunus was injured. He was subsequently arrested. Police said he was wanted under the Gangster Act. Also Read | Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Says '51 Lakh Households To Get Zero Electricity Bill'. The motorcycle, which was a stolen one, some arms and ammunition were recovered from him, they added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Jul 16 (PTI) State-owned Bank of India on Saturday said its shareholders have approved a proposal to raise up to Rs 2,500 crore fresh equity capital by various modes. The decision was taken at the bank's Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on July 15, Bank of India said in a release. Also Read | Banxso is the Ultimate Investment Medium for Generation Z and Millenials. The bank said the shareholders approved the agenda to raise fresh equity capital up to an amount of Rs 2,500 crore including share premium, by way of public issue or right issue or preferential issue or QIP or private placement. The meeting also took the agendas to approve and adopt the audited accounts for the period ended 31st March 2022 and to declare dividend for the Financial Year 2021-22 at Rs 2 (20 per cent) per share. Also Read | SEBI Recruitment 2022: Apply for 24 Assistant Manager Positions at sebi.gov.in; Check Details Here. All the three agenda items were passed with requisite majority, the bank said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Jul 16 (PTI) NSE's outgoing Managing Director and CEO Vikram Limaye on Saturday said he has done his best to lead the exchange in a very "difficult period" and to stabilize and strengthen the bourse. Limaye, whose five-year term ended on Saturday, did not seek another tenure at the National Stock Exchange (NSE) despite being eligible for it. Also Read | Banxso is the Ultimate Investment Medium for Generation Z and Millenials. However, the exchange did not announce who is taking over the helm of the NSE from Limaye. According to a source, instead of an individual, a committee will be taking the charge for an interim period. The exchange is likely to announce a decision in this regard on Monday. Also Read | SEBI Recruitment 2022: Apply for 24 Assistant Manager Positions at sebi.gov.in; Check Details Here. The end of Limaye's five-year term as the NSE chief comes amid the NSE facing the regulatory probe in a case pertaining to governance lapses at the bourse as well as in the co-location matter. "I complete my 5-year term as MD and CEO of NSE today. I have done my best to lead the organization in a very difficult period and to stabilize, strengthen and transform NSE," Limaye said. The outgoing chief said, "We have come a long way in the last five years in terms of strengthening governance, controls, technology, regulatory effectiveness, risk management, market growth and culture". On March 4, NSE invited applications from candidates for the role of MD and CEO. The applications were invited from candidates having IPO (initial public offering) experience for the role of the top post before March 25. Following this, Limaye announced that he would not seek a second term at the stock exchange when his five-year term ends in July. Under the market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India's rule, the incumbent needs to compete with other candidates to win the next term. Limaye was appointed as the NSE chief in July 2017, following the exit of the exchange's former MD and CEO Chitra Ramkrishna. Among various allegations, issues have been raised in various quarters that why an application was not invited at the time when Ramkrishna was appointed as the MD and CEO in 2013. Before joining the NSE, Limaye was MD and CEO of IDFC. The outgoing chief, Limaye, is credited with re-branding the NSE, besides trading in derivatives witnessed tremendous growth under his leadership. During Limaye's tenure, the exchange's revenues surged from Rs 2,681 crore in FY17 to Rs 8,500 crore in FY22 and net profit climbed from Rs 1,219 crore to Rs 4,400 crore during the same period. Further, the company's return on equity increased from 17 per cent to 34 per cent during the period under review. Also, NSE managed to increase its market share in all segments of business, including currency futures and options and equity futures and options. While inviting applications from candidates for the top job at NSE, the exchange had said that the candidate must have a track record of strengthening corporate governance, enterprise risk management and compliance management framework. In addition, the candidates with exposure to working in a publicly-listed company or having led an organisation through an initial public offering process "will be an added advantage", it had added. The NSE is planning to come out with its initial share sale for a long. However, the plan to go public derailed after the bourse got embroiled in colocation controversy, where certain brokers were allegedly given unfair access to the exchange data feeds over other members. Following the deadline, the nominations and remuneration committee (NRC) of the company was given the task to shortlist candidates. A selection committee set up by the NSE, comprising NRC members and the independent external members, will have to recommend candidates to the board, which will then send the name to Sebi for final approval. In a recent order, Sebi penalised the NSE's former MDs and CEOs, Ramkrishna and Ravi Narain, and others for various violations in a case related to the appointment of Anand Subramanian as group operating officer and advisor to then MD Ramkrishna. The regulator in its order revealed that Ramkrishna was steered by a "yogi" dwelling in the Himalayan ranges in the appointment of Subramanian. Also, she was accused of sharing confidential information, including the bourse's financial and business plans, dividend scenario and financial results with the yogi, and even consulting the yogi over the performance appraisals of the exchange's employees. The "yogi", according to Ramkrishna, was a "spiritual force that could manifest itself anywhere it wanted and did not have any physical or locational coordinates and largely dwelt in the Himalayan range". Besides, the emails exchanged between Yogi and Ramkrishna referred that NSE was planning for a self listing, the order found. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Lahore, July 16: A 90-year-old Indian woman on Saturday arrived here via Wagah-Attari border to visit her ancestral town Rawalpindi in Pakistan. Moist-eyed Reena Chhibber Varma, after her arrival, immediately left for her hometown Rawalpindi, where she will visit her ancestral dwelling Prem Niwas, her school, and childhood friends. In a video she uploaded on social media, Varma said her family was living on the Devi College Road in Rawalpindi when the Partition took place. I studied at the Modern School. My four siblings had also gone to the same school. My brother and a sister also studied at the Gorden College located near the Modern School," she recalled. Watch: Reena Chhibber Varma, 90-Year-Old Indian Woman, in Pakistan To Visit Ancestral Home in Rawalpindi "My elder siblings had Muslim friends who would come to our home as my father was a man of progressive ideas and had no issue of meetings of boys and girls. Before Partition, there was not any issue of Hindu and Muslim thing. This happened after the Partition. Although the Partition of India was wrong, now that it has happened, both the countries should work together to ease visa restrictions for all of us, she stressed. The Pakistan High Commission in India, in a goodwill gesture, has issued a three-month visa to Varma, who was only 15 years of age when her family moved to India during the Partition in 1947. Varma had applied for a Pakistani visa in 1965 but failed to get it because of high tension between the two neighbours because of the war. The elderly woman said she had expressed her desire to visit her ancestral home on social media last year. A Pakistani citizen, Sajjad Haider, contacted her on social media and sent her images of her home in Rawalpindi. Recently she again applied for a Pakistani visa which was denied. She then tagged her desire to Pakistan's Minister of State on Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar who facilitated her visa to visit her ancestral town. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bali [Indonesia], July 16 (ANI): Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at the Group of Twenty (G20) summit in Bali, interacted with Padma Shri recipient Indonesian artist Wayan Dibia, who is known for his works on exploring epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata. Dibia, a respected artist and scholar of performing arts from Bali, has created more than 150 new works on dance and dance dramas, mostly exploring Ramayana and Mahabharata. Also Read | Ivana Trump Died of Accidental Blunt Impact to Torso, Says NYC Medical Examiner. "Smt.@nsitharaman interacts with Mr I Wayan Dibia, respected artist and scholar of performing arts from Bali, during her visit to Indonesia. He has created more than 150 new works on dance and dance dramas, mostly exploring Ramayana and Mahabharata," the Office of Nirmala Sitharaman said in a tweet on July 14. Wayan Dibia, who is Bali's most influential Kecak Dancer and Scholar - a traditional Indonesian art form depicting chapters of the Ramayana was recognized with Padma Shri 2021 for his contribution to arts. Also Read | US President Joe Biden to Saudi Crown Prince in Jeddah: Youre to Blame for Journalist Jamal Khashoggis Murder. "Mr Dibia was conferred with Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2021 for his contribution in the field of arts," it added. Dibia, who hails from a family of artists, began learning Balinese dance and music when he was eight years old, and has studied various forms of classical Balinese dance and drama from different masters on the island. From 1970 onwards, Dibia started to experiment with elements of traditional Balinese performing arts to create new works for contemporary audiences. The Indonesian artist has choreographed numerous new dances and dramas. Moreover, his innovative oeuvre have gained high recognition and has been featured in many important events and art festivals in Indonesia and overseas. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Indianapolis (US), Jul 17 (AP) Prosecutors have dropped murder charges against a man accused of killing four people inside an Indianapolis home in 2015, citing the deaths of two witnesses and the discovery that DNA evidence had been compromised. The Marion County Prosecutor's Office announced Friday that they filed a motion to dismiss charges against Nicholas Dunn, who had been scheduled to stand trial Monday in the fatal shootings of Terry Bettis, 41; Sherri Taylor, 48; Tiara Turner, 32; and Davon Whitlock, 18. Also Read | UK Weather Forecast: Met Office Issues First-Ever Red Warning for Extreme Heat. A judge later granted the dismissal of the four murder counts and other charges Dunn had faced. Prosecutors said the charges, which can be refiled, were dropped following the deaths of two witnesses, including a woman who told police that Dunn told her he killed the victims. Also Read | Reena Chhibber Varma, 90-Year-Old Indian Woman, in Pakistan To Visit Ancestral Home in Rawalpindi. Although Dunn's DNA was on a bottle and two cigarette butts found inside the home, prosecutors said in their motion that the DNA evidence was "circumstantial" because Dunn told investigators he had been inside the home many times. In addition, DNA results were compromised and later found not to be admissible, they said. Prosecutors said the investigation continues and asked the public for tips. They also said they plan to submit additional DNA evidence for additional forensic tests. Prosecutor's office spokesman Michael Leffler said in a statement that Dunn remained in custody Friday on a USD 200,000 bond in a pending separate case involving an aggravated battery charge. The judge who approved the dismissal of the charges directed authorities to move Dunn "as soon as reasonably possible" from the Marion County Jail to a state prison. Dunn was serving prison time on a weapons conviction when he was charged in January 2019 in the quadruple slaying. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Colchester (UK), Jul 16 (The Conversation) A second round of voting among Conservative MPs has whittled the candidates in the running to replace Boris Johnson as leader down to five. Rishi Sunak, the former chancellor, finished top with the votes of 101 Tory MPs, Penny Mordaunt, the international trade secretary, was second with 81, and the foreign secretary, Liz Truss, was third on 64. Among the other candidates, Kemi Badenoch won 49 votes, Tom Tugendhat 32, and Suella Braverman 27. Also Read | Ivana Trump Died of Accidental Blunt Impact to Torso, Says NYC Medical Examiner. As the bottom-ranked candidate, Braverman was eliminated while the others went through to the next round on Monday July 18. MPs will continue voting in further ballots until only two candidates remain. Then members of the Conservative party will choose between those two. On the face of it, Sunak and Mordaunt look well placed to make the membership ballot. However, the selection system tends to operate as dual primaries of the centrist and right-wing candidates. Votes generally transfer within ideological blocs when candidates are eliminated, although there is also some cross-bloc switching. Also Read | US President Joe Biden to Saudi Crown Prince in Jeddah: Youre to Blame for Journalist Jamal Khashoggis Murder. Vote transfer In general terms, Mordaunt and Sunak, along with Tugendhat are the centrist candidates on economic and cultural policy, which includes debates over transgender issues, free speech and the like. Truss and Badenoch (and Braverman), meanwhile, take more right-wing positions. Given that the final parliamentary ballot will consist of three candidates fighting for two places among an electorate of 358 Tory MPs, 120 votes will guarantee a candidate a top-two finish and a place in the membership ballot. Adding up the votes of Truss, Badenoch and Braverman shows that a combined 140 votes were cast for candidates of the right in the second ballot (up from 122 in the first ballot). If the supporters of eliminated right-wing candidates keep switching to other right-wing candidates, the right has enough votes to put one of its candidates to the membership (with the caveat that some may possibly have been tactical votes). Truss v. Badenoch Hoping to become that right-wing candidate, Truss and Badenoch will spend the weekend trying to persuade Braverman's supporters to switch to one of them. As one of the favourites for the contest, Truss underwhelmed in the first ballot with 50 votes, while newcomer Badenoch's 40 votes exceeded expectations. But Truss has stabilised her position as the front-runner of the right. Her task is to perform creditably in the two televised debates this weekend not her forte to hold off the charismatic Badenoch's charge. Truss will probably emphasise her experience as a cabinet minister, especially her record of delivery as the international trade secretary in signing post-Brexit deals. She will hope to eliminate Badenoch in the fourth round of voting on Tuesday and unite the right-wing bloc. She will also seek to appeal to some centrist MPs by stressing that she is the more moderate of the right's candidates. The main danger for Truss would be if Badenoch took the debates by storm. But Badenoch's lack of any cabinet experience makes her a risky choice for MPs. A new prime minister must hit the ground running, and top-level governmental experience is usually considered vital. Truss has served eight years in the cabinet more than any other candidate. Sunak v. Mordaunt A major fight is underway between Sunak and Mordaunt to be the leading centrist candidate. Sunak has topped the first two ballots, but his ascendancy is far from secure. He has failed to win 30% of the votes so far, which does not suggest a candidate with runaway popularity and whose victory looks inevitable. By contrast, Johnson won 40% of MPs in the second ballot in the 2019 contest. Other candidates have attacked Sunak over his tax rises as chancellor. He was damaged by a poll that showed him losing to every other major candidate in head-to-head contests in the member ballot. Questions were also raised about his loyalty when it emerged that he had registered a leadership campaign website in December 2021 while serving as chancellor in Johnson's cabinet. Mordaunt has been the surprise candidate so far. The same poll saw her beating every other candidate in head-to-heads. She unexpectedly surged to second place in the first ballot and closed the gap on Sunak in the second. She will be hoping to win the bulk of Tugendhat's supporters if he is eliminated next. But Mordaunt's campaign is suffering turbulence. Keen to undermine her surge, rivals drew attention to her previous statements on transgender issues, of which many party members might not previously have been aware. When she was a minister in Theresa May's government, Mordaunt told MPs that trans-men are men, trans-women are women. Critics allege that she resisted using the words woman and mother in a bill she introduced to parliament, preferring pregnant person before being forced to back down. Mordaunt herself has clearly understood that her past comments could damage her chances and has begun making statements about gender that seek to shift her position closer to the Tory mainstream. Whether or not they are convinced by this shift, members will be aware that Mordaunt has also been accused of lying about her position on transgender issues. This is a serious charge in a party whose leader has just had to resign in large part because of questions over his honesty and integrity. Things became worse when David Frost, the former Brexit negotiator, accused Mordaunt of performing incompetently as his deputy to the point where he asked the prime minister to shift her to another role. Choppy waters ahead The main candidates for the leadership all face difficulties heading into the third ballot. Sunak is battling the perception that he is responsible for unpopular policies. Mordaunt faces increasing scrutiny of her beliefs, competence and honesty. Truss is trying to head off an insurgent Badenoch and battling the perception that she is uncharismatic. A centrist-versus-right contest looks more than likely in the membership ballot, with Truss facing either Sunak or Mordaunt. But nothing is guaranteed in this unpredictable contest. Badenoch's support is somewhat heterogeneous and might not all transfer to Truss. If Truss underperforms in the televised debates, she could fail to maximise the right-wing bloc. If she started leaking centre-right supporters to Sunak and Mordaunt, there would be a risk of her finishing third in a close-run final ballot. But Sunak and Mordaunt cannot rely on the right imploding. They will each spend the weekend presenting themselves as the strongest centrist bet. (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) Singapore, Jul 16 (PTI) Former diplomats and academics have shared their views on Sri Lanka's former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa's private visit to Singapore who boarded a flight to the city state after fleeing Colombo to Male. Although Rajapaksa has not requested asylum, it is within his rights as a passport holder to visit Singapore, the TODAY newspaper reported on Saturday. Also Read | Momentum Midstream to Buy Midcoast Energy Assets for $1.3 Billion Latest Tweet by Reuters. Bilahari Kausikan, a former permanent secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), said many nationalities are able to enter Singapore for various periods of time, depending on the conditions of their visa. "Any Sri Lankan citizen holding a valid passport can come to Singapore for a certain period of time without having to seek any particular permission... he's a normal person, a president is a citizen of his country," the TODAY quoted Kausikan as saying. Also Read | European Union Seeks To Ban Russian Gold in Seventh Sanctions Package. He added that exceptions do apply, such as if the person is a wanted criminal. "He's not wanted for any crime, no Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization) red notice put up for him, so why should we not let him in?" The Singapore Visa website shows that Sri Lankan citizens such as Rajapaksa are permitted to travel to Singapore visa-free for trips shorter than 30 days for purposes such as tourism and leisure, to visit family and friends, and to seek medical treatments. Associate Professor Chong Ja Ian, who lectures on political science at the National University of Singapore, pointed out that Singapore is also viewed as a popular transit location, which generally does not turn visitors away. "We are a major transit (and) transportation hub anyway, where people come in and go out," he said. "Unless there's an overriding political reason or some other consideration, there is no reason to block an entry," the TODAY quoted Prof Chong as saying. A social visit is different from seeking asylum. A social visit is bound by the restrictions stipulated in the visa conditions of each traveller, whereas generally, those who seek asylum can stay in the host country for a longer period of time. People who are granted asylum will generally not have limits on how long they can stay in the country, as well as other "protections", Assoc Prof Chong said. The country will offer certain kinds of legal protections, such as not extraditing the person (making the person return for trial in the country where they have been accused of doing something illegal), or allowing the person some ability to settle or stay for an extended period of time, he said. Kausikan said the length of stay for asylum cases is "at the discretion of the country granting asylum". However, he also said that a person can have his time in the country cut short should he commit any crime there. Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said in a written parliamentary reply in September last year: "As a small, densely populated country with limited land, Singapore is not in a position to accept any persons seeking political asylum or refugee status". On Thursday night, after Rajapaksa arrived at the Changi Airport, the Singapore MFA confirmed that the Sri Lankan President has been allowed entry into the city state on a private visit. "He has not asked for asylum and neither has he been granted any asylum. Singapore generally does not grant requests for asylum," said the MFA. Rajapaksa emailed his resignation to Colombo a few hours after arriving in Singapore. Assistant Professor Dylan Loh from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), added that Singapore's current position on refugees and asylum seekers "is consistent with its belief of space limitations and also how a sudden influx of persons may upset the social and security balance of society". Asst Prof Loh, who is from NTU's public policy and global affairs division, pointed out that no exceptions can be made, because it would set a precedent for future cases. "There is no room for flexibility, even if it is for one person, because this can lead to further calls to open up or re-examine its stance." Kausikan said there is also no incentive for a country to accept people requesting asylum. Speaking about political asylum in general, he said, "Political asylum is a very subjective thing. It's very hard to determine what are the facts of (each) case... why get embroiled in a very messy situation (where) you don't know all the facts?" The former permanent secretary of foreign affairs said, "There is nothing in it for us. What is the advantage for Singapore, a small crowded country, and what is the interest we have (in accepting political asylum-seekers)?" There have been several cases in the past of political leaders who came to Singapore either as exiles or for medical treatments, according to the TODAY's report. None of these stays have been labelled as attempts to seek asylum. For instance, former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a fugitive living in self-imposed exile and convicted of various crimes in his home country, have been spotted in Singapore on several occasions, up to as late as March this year when he was here for a regular medical check-up, according to a Bangkok Post report. Thaksin was the prime minister from 2001 to 2006, when he was overthrown in a military coup. Robert Mugabe, who was Zimbabwe's first post-independence president and had ruled for nearly four decades until he was ousted in 2017, came to Singapore to seek medical treatment in 2019 and eventually died at Gleneagles Hospital here. There is also the case of Ibrahim Nasir, former president of the Maldives, who had gone into self-exile in Singapore in 1978, and reportedly stayed here until his death at the age of 82 in 2008 at Mount Elizabeth Hospital. Rajapaksa's entry into Singapore has resurfaced questions about the nation's stance on asylum-seekers, according to the TODAY report. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Tehran (Iran), Jul 16 (AP) Dozens of Iranian hard-liners rallied on Saturday at a square in downtown Tehran, burning US and Israeli flags and denouncing President Joe Biden's visit to the Middle East. The small crowd also erupted in chants of Death to America" and Death to Israel", typical at anti-American rallies in Iran. Also Read | Reena Chhibber Varma, 90-Year-Old Indian Woman, in Pakistan To Visit Ancestral Home in Rawalpindi. The demonstrators also protested against the normalisation of ties between Israel and several Arab nations that started under the previous US administration. Biden said at a wider regional summit in Saudi Arabia on Saturday that the US would not walk away from Middle East's security and leave a vacuum that Russia, China or Iran could try and fill. Also Read | Islam in China Must Be Chinese in Orientation, Says President Xi Jinping. Separately, Iran announced on Saturday that it was imposing sanctions on 61 Americans, including Mike Pompeo, the former secretary of state, and John Bolton, the former national security advisor, over their support for foreign-based dissident Iranian groups. Iran has in recent years imposed several times such symbolic measures on Americans who Tehran says are acting against Iran. In June, an Iranian court also ordered the US government to pay over USD 4 billion to the families of Iranian nuclear scientists who have been killed in targeted attacks in recent years. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Tel Aviv [Israel], July 16 (ANI/Xinhua): Israeli officials lauded on Friday Saudi Arabia's decision to open its airspace to "all carriers," including those from Israel, as a sign of the budding normalization process between the two countries. Just ahead of U.S. President Joe Biden's visit on Friday, the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation tweeted that the kingdom has decided to open its airspace "to all carriers that meet the authority's requirements for overflying," with no specific reference to Israel. Also Read | European Union Seeks To Ban Russian Gold in Seventh Sanctions Package. Israeli airlines had been banned by Saudi Arabia from flying over the kingdom's airspace, making flights between Israel and Asia longer and costlier. "This is only the first step. We will continue working with the necessary caution, for the sake of Israel's economy, security and the good of our citizens," Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid said in a statement released by his office, voicing his appreciation for the Saudi decision to open airspace. Also Read | Donald Trump Escapes Impeachment but Speaker Nancy Pelosi Orders 9/11-Style Commission To Investigate Capitol Riots. Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov thanked Saudi Arabia "for advancing a new vision of the Middle East," tweeting that the decision will lower the price of flights to East Asia. For Transport Minister Merav Michaeli, the decision also means "a step toward (Israeli) better and stronger relations with the countries of the Middle East ... critical to Israel's security and economy." Regional Cooperation Minister Issawi Frej described the move as an "exciting dream," noting Israel's Muslim citizens will now enjoy "cheaper, direct chartered flights to the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca." Israel and Saudi Arabia have had no diplomatic relations yet, despite growing informal relations between the two erstwhile foes in recent years. (ANI/Xinhua) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Colombo [Sri Lanka], July 16 (ANI): The Sri Lankan Parliament announced that the nominations for the Presidential elections will be held on Tuesday and the new President of Sri Lanka will be elected on July 20. It is interesting to note that main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa is going to contest the presidential elections. Terming the scenario of him winning the Sri Lanka's presidential elections an "uphill task", Premadasa on Friday said that he will contest the elections as he is convinced that the truth will prevail. Also Read | Indonesia: 10 Civilians Killed, 2 Wounded in Attacks by Separatist Group in Papua. Taking to Twitter, Premadasa wrote, "Dates decided for the election of the President as announced in parliament today. Nominations on Tuesday. Elections on Wednesday. 225 voters in parliament will decide the destiny of approx 22 million Sri Lankans. GAME ON!" Moreover, Premadasa earlier wrote, "I am contesting to be the President. The electorate is confined to 225 MPs with the GR (Gotabaya Rajapaksa) coalition dominating the numbers. Even though it is an uphill struggle, I am convinced that truth will prevail." Also Read | Condom Market Size To Grow by USD 3.70 Billion by 2025 Globally; India, China and China Key Markets: Report. Sri Lanka's National People's Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake also said that he will contest for the President's post after parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena accepted Gotabaya Rajapaksa's resignation. As the Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has resigned from office, in accordance with the Constitution, the Parliament will meet next week and take steps to elect a new President, read a special statement by acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe. This comes as Sri Lanka faces its worst economic crisis since independence with food and fuel shortages. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Thessaloniki (Greece), Jul 17 (AP) Authorities say an Antonov plane has crashed near the city of Kavala in northern Greece. The plane was headed from Serbia to Jordan, but Civil Aviation authorities have not been able to confirm whether it was a passenger or cargo flight, or how many people were on the plane. Also Read | UK Weather Forecast: Met Office Issues First-Ever Red Warning for Extreme Heat. The pilot managed to alert authorities about a problem in one of the plane's engines and he was given the choice of landing in either the Thessaloniki or Kavala airports. He opted for Kavala, which was closer, but the plane crashed about 40 kilometers west of the airport, Greece's Civil Aviation authority said. The fire service said in a statement that it has cordoned off the area. Also Read | Reena Chhibber Varma, 90-Year-Old Indian Woman, in Pakistan To Visit Ancestral Home in Rawalpindi. Local media have reported that people close to the crash site saw a fireball and heard a series of explosions after the crash. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Jul 16 (AP) Saudi Arabia's top diplomat on Saturday downplayed talk of normalisation with Israel after the kingdom opened its airspace to Israeli commercial flights and hammered out a complex deal over islands in the Red Sea that required Israeli assent. Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Farhan bin Faisal spoke to reporters after a four-day visit by President Joe Biden to the region, including two days that the US leader spent in Saudi Arabia, where he held talks with the Saudi king and the crown prince, the de facto ruler of the kingdom, and took part in a summit of regional leaders. Also Read | UK Weather Forecast: Met Office Issues First-Ever Red Warning for Extreme Heat. Prince Farhan stressed there was no discussion at the summit of any military cooperation with Israel or talk of a so-called Arab NATO. There is no discussion about a defensive alliance with Israel, he repeated. Also Read | Reena Chhibber Varma, 90-Year-Old Indian Woman, in Pakistan To Visit Ancestral Home in Rawalpindi. Ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia have been inching closer amid shared concerns over Iran. The kingdom's public stance is that it has long welcomed normalisation with Israel so long as Palestinian rights and demands for statehood are guaranteed. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jeddah [Saudi Arabia], July 16 (ANI): After US President Joe Biden called Saudi Arabia's decision to open its airspace for Israel a "first tangible step" toward normalization of relations between Tel Aviv and Riyadh, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said that the decision has "nothing to do with diplomatic ties with Israel" and is "not in any way precursor to any further steps" towards normalization. Riyadh on Thursday announced to open its airspace to all civilian carriers. This move will enable flights to take a far shorter and less costly route. Also Read | Reena Chhibber Varma, 90-Year-Old Indian Woman, in Pakistan To Visit Ancestral Home in Rawalpindi. As the US, time and again, tried to work towards normalization of ties between the Gulf nations and Israel, these remarks by the Saudi FM do not resonate with how Washington sees these relations progressing. Addressing a press conference after the GCC+3 summit in Jeddah, the minister said, "No, this has nothing to do with diplomatic ties with Israel." Also Read | Islam in China Must Be Chinese in Orientation, Says President Xi Jinping. "The issue of overflights is a decision we took based on our commitments under the Iraqi protocols and also in the interest in providing connectivity between countries in the world, and we hope that it will make some travellers' lives easier. It's not in any way a precursor to any further steps." After the bilateral meets with Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, US President Joe Biden called the overflights decision by Riyadh "a big deal, not only symbolically but substantively." "This is the first tangible step on the path of what I hope will be a broader normalization of relations" between Israel and Saudi Arabia, Biden added. After Riyadh's move to open airspace for Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid in a statement released by his office, voiced his appreciation for the Saudi decision. "This is only the first step. We will continue working with the necessary caution, for the sake of Israel's economy, security and the good of our citizens," he said. Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov thanked Saudi Arabia "for advancing a new vision of the Middle East," tweeting that the decision will lower the price of flights to East Asia. For Transport Minister Merav Michaeli, the decision also means "a step toward better and stronger relations with the countries of the Middle East ... critical to Israel's security and economy." Regional Cooperation Minister Issawi Frej described the move as an "exciting dream," noting Israel's Muslim citizens will now enjoy "cheaper, direct chartered flights to the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca." Israel and Saudi Arabia have no diplomatic relations yet, despite growing informal relations between the two erstwhile foes in recent years. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Colombo [Sri Lanka], July 16 (ANI): Sri Lanka's National People's Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake will contest for the President post after the parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena accepted Gotabaya Rajapaksa's resignation. Addressing the press, NPP MP Vijitha Herath said that Dissanayake will contest the presidency as the candidate from his party, Daily Mirror reported. Also Read | UK PM Boris Johnson Wants 'Anyone but Rishi Sunak' To Replace Him, Considers Latter as Reason for His Downfall. Meanwhile, the Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dassanayake officially informed the House that the office of the President has fallen vacant. "I tried my best," the former President said in a resignation letter which was read by Dassanayake in the Parliament. Secretary General further said that there was a vacancy for the presidency, according to Daily Mirror. Also Read | San Francisco Bomb Threat: SFO International Terminal Evacuated Due to Suspicious Package. The Secretary-General informed the House that nominations for Presidency should be submitted to him on July 19 when the House convened at 10 am. He also said if more than one candidate has submitted nominations, a vote would be taken in Parliament on July 20 to elect the President. Earlier, on Friday, Sri Lanka's main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa announced that he will contest the Presidential elections. Taking to Twitter, Sajith Premadasa wrote, "I am contesting to be the President. The electorate is confined to 225 MPs with the GR (Gotabaya Rajapaksa) coalition dominating the numbers. Even though it is an uphill struggle, I am convinced that truth will prevail." As the Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has resigned from office, in accordance with the Constitution, the Parliament will meet next week and take steps to elect a new President, read a special statement by acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe. This comes as Sri Lanka faces its worst economic crisis since independence with food and fuel shortages. Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Supreme Court has issued an interim order that prevented former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa from leaving the country without the court's permission until July 28. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday was sworn in as the interim President after Parliament Speaker Abeywardena accepted the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Gotabaya Rajapaksa submitted his resignation letter Thursday after arriving in Singapore, officially vacating the post of President. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Colombo, Jul 16 (PTI) Sri Lanka's Parliament is set to meet on Saturday to announce the vacancy in the presidency following the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who has fled the country after a popular uprising against him for mishandling the country's economic crisis. Rajapaksa, who fled to the Maldives on Wednesday and then landed in Singapore on Thursday, formally resigned on Friday, capping off a chaotic 72 hours in the crisis-hit nation that saw protesters storm many iconic buildings, including the President and the Prime Minister's residences here. Also Read | Ivana Trump Died of Accidental Blunt Impact to Torso, Says NYC Medical Examiner. According to section 4 of the presidential elections (special provisions) Act No 2 of 1981 the parliament should be convened within three days after the vacancy occurs," Janakantha de Silva, Parliament's director of communications, said. Meanwhile, the main Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa has officially declared his intention to contest the vote to be held on July 20. Also Read | US President Joe Biden to Saudi Crown Prince in Jeddah: Youre to Blame for Journalist Jamal Khashoggis Murder. I am contesting to be the president. " "Even though it is an uphill struggle, I am convinced that truth will prevail," he said in a statement. The 225-member Parliament is dominated by Gotabaya Rajapaksa's ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party. The ruling SLPP which officially announced its backing of Ranil Wickremesinghe, the acting president, found some resistance to its decision from within. Its chair GL Peiris said the party should not vote for anyone other than its own member. He said the party must back Dullas Alahapperuma, a breakaway SLPP candidate who has already put himself forward to the vote. The party is to meet on Saturday to make the final decision. For the first time since 1978, Sri Lanka will elect the crisis-hit country's next president through a secret vote by the MPs and not through a popular mandate, following the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa who was ousted by a popular uprising against him. Never in the history of the presidency since 1978, Parliament had voted to elect a president. Presidential elections in 1982, 1988, 1994, 1999, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2019 had elected them by popular vote. The only previous occasion when the presidency became vacant mid-term was in 1993 when president Ranasinghe Premadasa was assassinated. DB Wijetunga was unanimously endorsed by Parliament to run the balance of Premadasa's term. The new president will serve the remaining tenure of Gotabaya Rajapaksa till November 2024. The front runner in next week's race would be Wickremesinghe. The 73-year-old became prime minister from nowhere in May when he assumed the job to handle the unprecedented economic crisis. His United National Party (UNP) was routed in the 2020 parliamentary election. Wickremesinghe for the first time failed to win a seat since 1977. He made it to Parliament in late 2021 through the party's only seat allocated on the basis of a cumulative national vote. Unpopular he may be and hated for his pro-Western policies and ways, he still enjoys acceptance as a thinker and strategist whose vision is futuristic. With the island nation facing its worst economic crisis since independence, he has wider acceptance as the one with the capacity to steer the island through turbulence. A man who always wanted to become president, Wickremesinghe had lost two presidential elections in 1999 and 2005. Without parliamentary numbers of his own, Wickremesinghe would be entirely dependent on the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) member vote. Not a foregone conclusion of their support as the SLPP stays ideologically opposed to him. Premadasa, 55, for long the understudy of Wickremesinghe was the one who turned the tables on his former leader. His newly formed SJB ousted the grand old party of Wickremesinghe from all its bastions to emerge as the main opposition in 2020. Ironically it was his failure to step in to fill the power vacuum in mid-May which made way for Wickremesinghe to become Prime Minister from nowhere. He only stands an outside chance as most ruling SLPP members are unlikely to back him. Unlike Wickremesinghe though he starts the race with 50 votes minimum. Alahapperuma, 63, is from the breakaway group of the ruling SLPP. The ex-Cabinet Minister of Information and Mass Media and former newspaper columnist is being seen as a left-leaning political ideologue. Held ministerial positions since 2005 and enjoys the reputation of having a clean public life. His task too would be uphill given his position as a breakaway member. Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, 71, the Army commander who won the military conflict with the LTTE which fought the Army in its bid to set up a separate Tamil homeland in the north and east regions, could be a potential candidate. Fonseka enjoys support among the Sinhala Buddhist majority. He comes out as the only politician who was not opposed by the wider group of protesters who engineered Rajapaksa's downfall. He would however only come into the race if his leader Premadasa opted out of the contest. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) London [UK], July 16 (ANI): Soon after Indian-origin and former Chancellor Rishi Sunak got roasted by people for the wrong spelling in the campaign banner shown during his first television debate to pitch for the next UK Prime Minister post, he responded by saying, 'Ready for spellcheck' in rhyming to his slogan 'Ready for Rishi'. On television, people noticed that in the background there was a spelling mistake on Rishi Sunak's campaign banner. The spelling of the campaign was misspelt as 'campiagn'. Also Read | UK PM Boris Johnson Wants 'Anyone but Rishi Sunak' To Replace Him, Considers Latter as Reason for His Downfall. This roasting comes amid heavy criticism for Sunak's tax moves amid the pandemic. Rishi Sunak's wife Akshata Murty's tax evasion case. She is also the daughter of Infosys founder Narayana Murthy. Adam Bienkov, Political Editor and Correspondent of Byline Times, took his Twitter account and tweeted, "Rishi Sunak's closing statement boasting of his own "competence" and "seriousness" would have been more effective were he not sitting in front of a sign which misspells the word 'campaign'." Also Read | San Francisco Bomb Threat: SFO International Terminal Evacuated Due to Suspicious Package. "Just wait until you find out who built his campaign website. Then you'll realise how silly this pro-Brexit Sunak stance is," another anonymous account tweeted. "@TheLastLeg Have you noticed that Rishi Sunak can't spell campaign on the QR code poster in his background?" another tweet reads. While, another Twitter account said, "Rishi Sunak claims to be a perfectionist but allows CAMPAIGN to be misspelt in his QR code." Meanwhile, in the second round of voting to succeed Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak won the most votes. Sunak came top with 101 votes, followed by Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt on 83 votes and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on 64 votes. "Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak (101 votes), Minister of State for Trade Policy Penny Mordaunt (83), Foreign Secretary Liz Truss (64), former Minister of State for Equalities Kemi Badenoch (49), and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee Tom Tugendhat (32) advanced to the next round of voting," Sputnik News Agency reported. Earlier, on July 8, Rishi Sunak formally announced his candidacy for the Conservative leadership contest for the next PM post. "I'm standing to be the next leader of the Conservative Party and your Prime Minister," he tweeted, adding that it is about time to rebuild the economy and reunite the country. This comes after British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson stepped down from the chair on Thursday following the mass resignation of his Cabinet members over the recent scandal involving former deputy chief whip Christopher Pincher. (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], July 16 (ANI): The United States has approved the potential sale of military-technical assistance to Taiwan worth an estimated USD 108 million, the Pentagon said on Friday. The US Defense Department said this proposed sale serves US national, economic, and security interests by supporting Taiwan's continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability. Also Read | San Francisco Bomb Threat: SFO International Terminal Evacuated Due to Suspicious Package. "The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) of Blanket Order Contractor Technical Assistance Support and related equipment for an estimated cost of $108 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today," US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement. According to Pentagon, the proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, economic and progress in the region. Also Read | Ivana Trump Died of Accidental Blunt Impact to Torso, Says NYC Medical Examiner. "The proposed sale will contribute to the sustainment of the recipient's vehicles, small arms, combat weapon systems, and logistical support items, enhancing its ability to meet current and future threats. The proposed sale will contribute to the recipient's goal of maintaining its military capability while further enhancing interoperability with the United States and other allies," the statement added. China, which regards Taiwan as its province despite decades of separate governance, has earlier strongly opposed military cooperation between Washington and Taipei. This defence agreement between US and Taiwan come a few days after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the one-China principle is what underpins stability across the Taiwan Strait and warned of "ferocious storms" across the region if the principle is "arbitrarily challenged or even sabotaged." Wang made the remarks when asked about the root cause of the current tensions across the Taiwan Strait as he made a policy speech at the ASEAN Secretariat, Xinhua news agency reported. Wang said history and practice have repeatedly proved that when the one-China principle is fully recognized and thoroughly followed, the Taiwan Strait would remain calm and the two sides enjoy peaceful development. However, when the one-China principle is arbitrarily challenged or even sabotaged, there would be dark clouds or even ferocious storms across the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese foreign minister pointed out that the United States is constantly distorting and hollowing out the one-China policy, trying to use the "Taiwan card" to disrupt and hinder China's development process. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jeddah, Jul 16 (AP) Russian officials visited an airfield in central Iran at least twice in recent weeks to view weapons-capable drones it is looking to acquire to use in its war against Ukraine, the White House said. The Biden administration released the intelligence as President Joe Biden met Saturday with leaders of six Arab Gulf countries, plus Egypt, Jordan and Iraq for a regional summit. Biden told fellow heads of state at the summit that the United States was committed to the Middle East and "will not walk away and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia or Iran. Also Read | Indonesia: 10 Civilians Killed, 2 Wounded in Attacks by Separatist Group in Papua. Biden sought to use his appearance at the summit, closing out a four-day trip to the region, to bolster U.S. positioning in the Middle East and knit the region closer together against Iran. Hours before the Gulf Cooperation Council summit, the White House released satellite imagery that indicates Russian officials have twice visited Iran in recent weeks for a showcase of weapons-capable drones it is looking to acquire to use in its war in Ukraine. Also Read | Condom Market Size To Grow by USD 3.70 Billion by 2025 Globally; India, China and China Key Markets: Report. None of the countries represented at the summit have moved in lockstep with the U.S. to sanction Russia, a key foreign policy priority for the Biden administration. If anything, the United Arab Emirates has emerged as a sort of financial haven for Russian billionaires and their multimillion-dollar yachts. Egypt remains open to Russian tourists. Release of the satellite imagery showing that Russian officials visited Kashan Airfield on June 8 and July 5 to examine the drones could help the administration better tie the relevance of the war to many Arab nations' own concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions and other malign activity in the region. A senior Biden administration official, who briefed reporters before the summit, said Moscow's efforts to acquire drones from Tehran show that Russia is effectively making a bet on Iran. The administration also released satellite imagery of Shahed-191 and Shahed-129 drones being displayed and in flight on the airfield, while a Russian delegation transport plane was on the ground. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement that the administration has information that the Iranian government is preparing to provide Russia with several hundred UAVs. UAVs are unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones. We assess an official Russian delegation recently received a showcase of Iranian attack-capable UAVs. We are releasing these images captured in June showing Iranian UAVs that the Russian government delegation saw that day, Sullivan added. This suggests ongoing Russian interest in acquiring Iranian attack-capable UAVs. Sullivan said U.S. officials believe the June visit was the first time a Russian delegation has visited this airfield for such a showcase. Iran's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment early Saturday regarding the White House's assertion. On Friday, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, in a phone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba, rejected reports on exporting Iranian drones to Russia, calling them baseless. This sort of claims parallel with Biden's visit to occupied Palestine, or Israel, are in direction of political intentions and purposes, the website of Iran's Foreign Ministry quoted Amirabdollahian as saying. We oppose any move that could lead to continuation and intensifying conflicts. Biden is looking to strengthen coordination among Middle East allies' response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and what the ongoing conflict means to the region. Many of the Gulf nations - Saudi Arabia, in particular - have grave concerns about Iran's malign activity in the region. Sullivan told reporters earlier this week, before Biden arrived in the region. that the U.S. had determined that Iran was preparing to train Russian forces to use the drones as soon as this month. He argued that Russia's deepening an alliance with Iran to kill Ukrainians is something that the whole world should look at. The UAVs that the administration believes Iran is preparing to transfer to Russia are the same weapons that Iran has provided to Houthis in Yemen. Kashan Air Base, located some 190 kilometers (120 miles) south of Tehran, is one of Iran's oldest airfields. Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz in 2021 linked Kashan to Iran's drone program, alleging that Iran trained militants from Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen to fly drones at the facility. The US intelligence assessment was first reported by CNN. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bathinda, July 16: A statue of Mahatma Gandhi was vandalised by some unidentified people at a public park in Ramman Mandi here, said police on Saturday. The incident took place on the intervening night between Thursday and Friday, they said. Locals strongly condemned the incident when they came to know about the vandalism. Station House Officer (Sadar) Harjot Singh Mann said they are investigating the matter, and have registered a case at Ramman Mandi Police Station. Mahatma Gandhi Statue Defaced at Hindu Temple in Canada, Police Probing It As Hate Crime. Ashok Kumar Singla, president of District Urban Congress, demanded immediate arrest of those who were behind the incident. Police assured that the culprits would be nabbed soon. They said CCTV footages of the area are being examined to trace the culprits. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police has arrested a woman for allegedly cheating a private bank of over Rs 3 crore, officials said on Saturday. Spiritual leader and Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has been honoured with South American nation Suriname's highest civilian honour for his humanitarian work. A separatist group on Saturday attacked civilians in Nduga district of Indonesia's eastern Papua province, killing 10 people and seriously injuring two others, a police spokesperson said. SITEKI - Protocol was broken by police officers from the South African Police Service (SAPS) at Tonga Police Station when they entered and investigated a 62-year-old man in relation to a missing wife and a burnt house belonging to a senior traffic police officer in South Africa last month. Elphas Mandlenkosi Magagula from Nyokeni area at Nkambeni, alleged that two police officers dressed in plain clothes came to his home on June 28 just before 1pm, driving a Nissan double cab with a registration number of a place from the Mpumalanga Province. He claims they did not introduce themselves as police officers, but only introduced themselves using their surnames. Magagula alleged the police officers, Mlambo a male and Magagula a female, did not produce any form of identification or a warrant granting them permission to conduct their investigation in the country or even their passports after they claimed they crossed into the country through the Mananga Border Gate. Narrating the incident, Magagula said he called his sister to inform her about the strange visit from the police officers. He claimed the police officers told him that they came to enquire about the whereabouts of the missing wife of Enock Sifundza, who is a senior Traffic Police Officer in South Africa, who also happened to be his cousin. Magagula further alleged that he was also asked about Sifundzas visit into the country on May 16, on the day his cousins house was burnt down by a mysterious fire at Magudu area under the Nkomanzi Municipality Shocked The elderly former mine worker said their visit had shocked and traumatised him such that he now feared for the safety of his family. He said he suspected that the two police officers were in the company of someone who knew his home. The current state of affairs in the country puts everyones life at risk as people are attacked and killed by unknown people. My cousin Enock is a police officer in South Africa and I recently went to my grandmothers home at Magudu to give moral support following the disappearance of his wife and the burnt house, Magagula said. Adding, he said he then called his cousin, Enock, to inform him about his colleagues visit. I told him what they asked and the car they were travelling in and he confirmed that indeed they were his colleagues, he claimed. He mentioned that he reported the matter to the Tshaneni Police Station and was told the police would institute investigations. It has almost been seven days since I reported the matter, but there is still no feedback about the police investigations, Magagula said. In essence, the missing wife, according to the senior police officer disappeared on May 28. Sifundza claimed he enquired about his wifes whereabouts at her workplace, Magudu Primary School where she was an Administration Clerk, but he was told that they last saw her when she attended an event and had been delegated to bring sanitisers from the head office. The senior traffic police officer, who is the husband of the missing wife, said he regularly visited the country and used the Mananga Border Gate to cross into the kingdom. On the weekend of May 13-15, I visited my cousin and left on May 16 on the day my house was burnt. I have proof because my passport was stamped at the Mananga Border gate. I wondered how they could ask my cousin about that incident as Captain Khoza from Tonga Police Station also called to inform me about it while in the country. He told me that the house catching fire was suspected to have been started by a faulty electric cable at around 2am, he claimed. When asked if he knew the police officers who came to conduct the investigations, Sifundza responded to the affirmative. I regularly come to Eswatini as I have relatives here. On May 6, I came to bury my cousin in Nhlangano. On the issue of my house, even though there is load shedding, it might happen that a faulty cable resulted in the mystery fire but police are still investigating.On the wife issue, it is the third time my wife disappeared in this manner without informing anyone. Traced She once asked to attend a funeral in Eswatini and came through the Mananga Border Gate, but she was later traced through the Beit Bridge Border Gate, crossing to Zimbabwe. Police are also handling their investigation, he alleged. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the matter. An inquiry file has been opened and Magagula reported the matter to the police. The police are still conducting their own investigations, she said. When asked if protocol was broken by their counterparts in South Africa for entering the country without involving the local police service, Vilakati asked not to comment further as she was not the right person to make any further statement in this regard. A constable of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (@ITBP_official) opened fire at three of his colleagues before shooting himself dead in #JammuandKashmir's Udhampur district, officials said. pic.twitter.com/f2FWQ76n0h IANS (@ians_india) July 16, 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.) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla arrives for the meeting of leaders of all political parties, called by him today, ahead of the commencement of #MonsoonSession of Parliament on 18th July. The Speaker will brief them on the preparations related to the Session. pic.twitter.com/fgFdta7Qmg ANI (@ANI) July 16, 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.) #Russia has deployed multiple missile systems on the territory of the #Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, as per #Ukrainian officials, media reports said. Russian forces are using these weapons to fire at the area around the city of Nikopol, Ukrainska Pravda reported. pic.twitter.com/vLUDJ56vHi IANS (@ians_india) July 16, 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.) We will try to export from every district of Jammu and Kashmir in the coming time. We are running with a target that we can increase exports by 3 times in the coming 5 years: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Srinagar (15.07) ANI (@ANI) July 16, 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.) NEW YORK -- A Long Island man who admitted helping his father fake his own drowning was sentenced to a year in jail Tuesday, the latest twist in an unwieldy case that became a textbook example of how not to get away with it. Jonathan Roth, 23, apologized as he was sentenced Tuesday in Mineola, N.Y., 17 months after he reported his father, Raymond Roth, missing in the waves off a popular Long Island beach. I realize what I did was wrong, said the younger Roth, who could have avoided jail time if he had complied with a deal his attorney struck with Nassau County prosecutors last year. But the deal fell apart after Roth failed to appear for a court appearance in September. Enter Michelle Esquenazi of Empire Bail Bonds, who tracked Roth to Ohio using his cellphone number. We used a certain amount of trickery as we do in our business, Esquenazi told reporters as she explained how her bounty hunters captured Roth a few days after his missed court appearance. In short, she said they sent an attractive woman to his front door. He opened it and was arrested and brought back to New York. Advertisement Jonathan Roth has said he was coerced into taking part in the scam, which prosecutors said his father crafted to get $410,000 in life insurance. Jonathan pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy stemming from the scam. Things fell apart when the elder Roths then-wife, Evana, found emails that father and son had exchanged about the plot. Evana, who was Jonathans stepmother, called police. She also called a divorce lawyer. Raymond Roths fatherly vanishing act sparked a massive search on land and sea at Jones Beach in July 2012. He eventually was caught speeding in South Carolina and charged with insurance fraud. Like his son, Raymond Roth had hoped to avoid a long jail term, so he pleaded guilty last March to faking his own death. But before he could appear for his sentencing, Roth was arrested on new charges of impersonating a police officer and attempted kidnapping of a woman he allegedly tried to force into his van. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges. ALSO: Scherzo! Barukhzy! Fantoccini! Two spelling bees end with epic ties Teen spends 35 days in jail after deputies arrest wrong Cody Williams Acetaminophen in pregnancy linked to ADHD in kids, study finds Colombia has a rich and vibrant food scene that uses fresh local ingredients mixed with local flair. Like many South American cuisines, Colombia also takes a bit from its Spanish influence and adds some native influences as well. We previously wrote about Colombian culture and how gathering around food is important to Colombian life. But now we're taking a closer look at some of the country's dishes that are not only popular locally but are also a must-try for those visiting or who are curious about Colombian food. READ NEXT: Colombia Elections: Colombians Elect First Black Vice President After Voting For First Leftist President Colombia: 5 Must-Try Colombian Food While Colombia is known more for its coffee, the food scene in the country is no slouch either. Here are five examples of food that will surely make your mouth water. Sancocho Sancocho is a culturally significant dish in Colombia. Cooking the dish is often a social affair in the country, whether it be for social gatherings, celebrations, or just a general excuse to hold a cookout. The custom is called El Paseo de Olla, or pot gathering, and Colombian families usually gather around the riverside and cook sancocho. The dish is a rich and hearty meat stew filled with vegetables and lots of flavors. The main ingredients vary in each region, but one thing stays the same: the dish often brings families together. Calentado Leftovers are often forgotten inside the refrigerator, but not in Colombia. Calentado is a typical Colombian breakfast that is made with leftovers, according to Chef's Pencil. It is a staple meal in the country and is often prepared with rice, beans, and some type of meat, the most common being Colombian chorizo. Servings often come with fried eggs and arepas. Some variants also come with sweet plantains. However, no matter the style, it is always a great way to start the day. Lechona If you love lechon, then you might also like lechona. The dish puts a twist on the standard roast pork. It is stuffed with various fillings such as rice, peas, and pork fat. Usually, suckling pig is used for this, according to Amigo Foods. It is definitely a lechon with a twist. Morcilla (Spanish Blood Sausage) While it is definitely a Spanish influence, Morcilla is still one of the most famous Colombian dishes out there. It is a traditional blood sausage, and the Colombian variant is a sausage made with cow blood, pork fat, rice, and other ingredients. It is popularly grilled and eaten at gatherings. Colombian Empanadas Every country that Spain colonized has its own version of the empanada, from Spain itself to Mexico to Ecuador to the Philippines. However, the Colombian version is often regarded as one of the best. Like all empanadas, it is still a fried pie made with either corn or wheat flour. However, in Colombia, there are many different variants, from simple ones that only contain mashed potatoes or ground beef to more exotic fillings. We cannot talk about Colombian food without discussing empanadas, as these savory pies are one of the most iconic foods in Colombian cuisine. Colombia's version is often stuffed to the brim and is usually served with various sauces. READ MORE: Colombia: Here Are 5 Aspects of Colombian Culture That We Love This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: The Iconic Empanadas of Bogota - From Munchies Elon Musk has recently received a lawsuit against him from Twitter, wherein the social media company accused him of breaching an agreement to procure the platform for $44 billion. Musk tried to back out of the acquisition due to a number of reasons, such as fake accounts and claiming that the company did not give him enough information about the issue. However, experts noted that there could be a huge chance that Musk will be forced back into the Twitter deal that is worth $44 million. Clayton Hasbrook, attorney at OklahomaLawyer, noted that there is a "good chance" that Musk will be forced back into the deal at the "agreed-upon share price." Hasbrook added that the legal battle is set to take place in Delaware's Court of Chancery, which has a record of forcing companies to follow through with its orders. The lawyer cited an incident in 2012, wherein the court ordered ZST Digital Networks and forced it to turn over records and financial books. Hasbrook noted that the court at the time even sought the arrest of company executives if they failed to comply. READ NEXT: Elon Musk's Child Wants to Change Name, Cut Ties With Tesla CEO Father Elon Musk Twitter Lawsuit Twitter seeks in its lawsuit to show that it has the right to sue Musk to close the deal. It also intends to show that Musk's claims against them had no merit, according to The New York Times report. Ben Michael, Attorney at Michael & Associates, noted that there is a "pretty good chance" that the Tesla CEO will lose the case. Michael echoed Hasbrook's opinion that Musk will be forced to complete the Twitter purchase. "We're also seeing Wall Street come to the defense of Twitter, and it appears that very few if any, major players are supporting Musk," Michael said. The company said in its lawsuit that it provided Musk with the required disclosure on spam accounts. Michael also noted that Musk has made multiple claims that Twitter has breached the contract, which the company has responded to "with explanations as to how Musk is incorrect." Hasbrook added that Musk's "erratic behavior" will also work against him in this case. "Musk is very active on his Twitter account and has made many questionable tweets while his deal was still ongoing. Such behavior might prove to be detrimental to his case." Elon Musk Buys Twitter Musk earlier promised that he will crackdown on crypto spam bots and also proposed dropping ads from the service, as reported by Independent. David Reischer, Esq. / Attorney & CEO of LegalAdvice.com, said that it is unlikely the billionaire will be able to walk away from the deal, especially since he publicly announced that Twitter's bots were fraudulent and was another factor why he was buying Twitter. Reischer also believes that Musk may have a difficult time terminating the merger agreement unless there is a "Material Adverse Effect," which will allow Musk to walk away if Twitter breached the agreement and it created a Material Adverse Effect. "The Material Adverse Effect typically is defined as any event or condition that has a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of operations of the company," noted Reischer. Reuters reported that Kathleen McCormick will be the judge overseeing the lawsuit. She has scheduled the first hearing for July 19. READ MORE: Twitter Net Worth 2022: How Much Is Twitter Valued After Elon Musk Made $43 Billion Offer? This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Elon Musk doesnt have a leg to stand on in Twitter lawsuit: Analyst - from Yahoo Finance The preliminary autopsy for Jayland Walker, who police from Akron, Ohio shot dead last June 27 has been released. Summit County Medical Examiner's Office and Dr. Lisa Kohler have revealed he was shot dozens of times. The report stated that he had 41 entry wounds, as well as five grazing wounds. A total of 26 bullets were recovered from his body, one of them hitting him in the face. His cause of death was blood loss due to the multiple bullet wounds. His death was ruled a homicide. According to the Associated Press, earlier findings indicated that Walker's body had over 60 wounds. Summit County communications director Greta Johnson stated that one bullet can cause multiple wounds. Walker had five wounds in his back, though Dr. Kohler said that it is impossible to say whether these wounds came when he ran away or turned as he was being shot. The medical examiner released a summary of Walker's death at a news conference. It stated that Police tried to pull over Walker over minor equipment violations. However, Fox News reported that police claimed that a shot appeared to be fired from his car 40 seconds from the chase. Police then opened fire as Walker tried to run away. Officers claimed that they feared that Walker was preparing to fire when they began discharging their weapons. They also found an unloaded handgun and a loaded magazine inside his car, as well as a wedding ring. Police also reportedly found a casing consistent with the weapon they found. Officers believed it came as Walker shot at the officers. Chief Steve Mylett of the Akron Police Department said that he watched the body footage from the officers "dozens of times." He claimed that he saw Walker's hand going down his waist area. Another body cam footage also showed that he appeared to be turning towards an officer and doing a forward motion in his arm. However, Dr. Kohler confirmed that Walker was unarmed at the time of his death, and they also did not find any drugs or alcohol inside his system. Police bodycam footage showed that Walker was wearing a ski mask when he jumped out of the passenger car of his still-moving vehicle. He ran into a parking lot, and it is there that police opened fire on him. However, the Associated Press reported that the bodycam footage itself was blurry, and it is not clear whether or not Walker made the threatening gesture. READ NEXT: Jalisco Cartel Hitmen Beheaded Three Men From Rival Gang in Mexico The Associated Press reported that family, friends, and supporters of the slain 25-year-old attended the funeral, and they were asking for justice. Mourners wore Black Lives Matter shirts, as well as "Zero Threat, Zero Violence, Justice for Jayland" t-shirts. They described Walker as sweet, quiet, and thoughtful. Bobby DiCello, the attorney for Jayland Walker's family, stated that the United Nations Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality Law Enforcement has committed to examining Jayland Walker's death. He then added that they will make the police accountable for each bullet they fired at him. Ken Abbarno, another lawyer representing the Walker family, stated that because the medical examiner's findings confirmed that there were no drugs and alcohol in his system, Walker "came to a brutal, senseless death." The NAACP has now sent a direct plea to Attorney General Merrick Garland. They are asking the Department of Justice to open a federal civil rights investigation into Walker's death. READ NEXT: Ricky Martin Allegedly Had Incestuous Relationship With Nephew and He Could Face up to 50 Years in Jail for It This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Autopsy results show Jayland Walker suffered 46 gunshot or graze wounds - ABC Newws Notorious drug kingpin Rafael Caro Quintero has been arrested in Mexico by Mexican forces after walking out of prison in 2013. Upon his release, Caro Quintero has reportedly dabbed once again in drug trafficking, based on the Mexican government's national arrest registry, as reported by Associated Press News report. The registry noted that Caro Quintero was arrested around midday and was in transit. However, there were no additional details regarding his capture. An official with Mexico's navy also confirmed the rest, though he was not authorized to speak publicly and only agreed to confirm it if not mentioned by name. Caro Quintero is considered as FBI Most Wanted in 2018. The Federal Bureau of Investigations offered a reward of up to $20 million for information leading to his arrest. Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador noted that he is still not interested in capturing drug lords and "prefers to avoid violence." Caro Quintero's arrest came just days after Lopez Obrador met with U.S. President Joe Biden in the White House. Meanwhile, the Drug Enforcement Administration did not comment on the arrest of Caro Quintero. Mike Vigil, the DEA's former chief of international operations, noted that Caro Quintero was believed to have been doing operations on his own. However, there had been rumors that he came back to the Sinaloa Cartel. READ NEXT: Homes of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, Fellow Drug Lord Amado Carrillo Fuentes in Mexico Are Now Owned by Lottery Winners Rafael Caro Quintero Rafael Caro Quintero is from La Noria, Sinaloa. He was known for being one of the co-founders of the Guadalajara Cartel. During the 1970s and 1980s, Guadalajara Cartel had peaked when it comes to its operations and profit from drug trafficking. It mainly distributed cocaine, heroin, and marijuana from Mexico to the United States. A Mexican appellate court ruling set Caro Quintero free in 2013 after serving 28 years, according to The Guardian report. U.S. authorities and Mexican prosecutors were outraged by the decision, leading the supreme court to reverse the ruling. Since then, Caro Quintero had gone into hiding, with U.S. officials then accusing him of assuming a leadership role in the Sinaloa Cartel after El Chapo was arrested. Vigil said that Caro Quintero's arrest is "probably one of the most important captures of the last decade" when it comes to the importance to DEA. Another Mexican official noted that the Guadalajara co-founder will be extradited as quickly as possible. Rafael Caro Quintero and DEA's Kiki Camarena Rafael Caro Quintero was imprisoned for the 1985 kidnapping and killing of DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena. Camarena's murder had tainted U.S.-Mexico relations, prompting limiting operations due to tensions. USA Today News reported that prosecutors and agents confirmed to Camarena's widow, Mika Camarena, that witnesses provided accounts allegedly connecting DEA officials and Central Intelligence Agency operatives to the plot. DEA units in Mexico destroyed millions of dollars worth of marijuana for the Guadalajara Cartel. Camarena served in the U.S. Marine Corps before moving into law enforcement and becoming an agent for DEA in 1975. He was kidnapped in February 1985. READ MORE: Sinaloa Cartel Founder 'El Guero' Is Still in Custody of Mexican Authorities This article is owned by Latin Post Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: El sitio donde la Marina detuvo a Caro Quintero - from El Universal Former Peru President Francisco Morales Bermudez, an army general who oversaw the return of democracy in the country, has died at age 100, his family announced Friday. After General Juan Velasco led a bloodless coup in 1968, Peru was expected to be under military dictatorship for 20 or 30 years. However, when Velasco's successor, Morales Bermudez, took over, he began transitioning the country back to a civilian government. Remigio Morales, the son of the former president, told the Associated Press that his father died in a hospital on Thursday night due to complications with his old age. His family is currently holding funeral ceremonies at a local church near his home. Morales Bermudez previously joined the coup led by Velasco and ousted the democratically elected President Fernando Belaunde in 1968. It led to the exodus of various individuals, including politicians and journalists, from the country. Morales Bermudez replaced Velasco in August 1975. However, instead of the usual persecution of dissidents and oppression usually associated with South American military dictatorships, one of his first acts as president was allowing all deported political leaders and journalists back to Peru. READ NEXT: Peru: Inca Mummies Making Peruvian Home's Construction Complicated Francisco Morales Bermudez Goals as Peru President His prime goals as president became economic recovery and that Peru must return to a civilian government by 1980. He then had Peru hold free and fair elections, which saw Belaunde re-elected as president 12 years after the military coup which ousted him. Morales Bermudez served twice as an economic minister under Velasco's government, which saw various failures, from a failed agrarian reform to nationalizing industry. Velasco formed closer ties with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. However, Morales Bermudez chose to move away from his predecessor's policies and embraced foreign capital. In an interview with Peru's weekly news magazine Caretas, the former president said that several generals believed the military government would last a long time. However, he argued that this was impossible as he said: "Power wears out. It wears out and destroys." Under Francisco Morales Bermudez, Peru increased relations with the United States and their more right-wing neighbors. Former Peru President Francisco Morales Bermudez Got Involved in Controversies Like all world leaders, Francisco Morales Bermudez also had his fair share of controversies, like his alleged involvement in Plan Condor, which was initiated between various South American dictators. Italian courts sentenced him, along with other South American dictators, to life imprisonment during a trial in absentia. This was for the death of 43 Latin Americans of Italian heritage who were killed during a crackdown in the region called Plan Condor. According to ABC News, Plan Condor was a secret alliance between South American dictatorships between 1970 and 1980, where military leaders from these countries cooperated in persecuting or killing each other's dissidents. It was led by Chile's infamous dictator, Augusto Pinochet. Morales Bermudez has long denied involvement in the plot, though he did admit sending several Peruvian socialists to Argentina to face prosecution in 1978. At that time, the former president and military leader claimed he wanted to avoid turmoil as he was preparing for Peru's inevitable return to democracy. READ MORE: Mexican Feminist Groups Are Helping US Women Gain Access to Abortion After Roe v. Wade Overturned This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Italian Judge Requests Extradition of Bermudez in Killing of 25 Italians - From AP Archive BHAWHINI A man, alleged to be a soldier, was tortured to death by an angry mob at Bhahwini, after he and three accomplices conducted an unofficial raid at a homestead. The four men who according to eyewitnesses were dressed in army camouflage, carrying rifles, were overpowered by an elderly man and his son who were armed with a bush knife and a spear in the late night hours of Thursday. Bhahwini is a rural area in the outskirts of Mankayane. One of the attackers was stabbed with a spear, but managed to escape the father and son duo. This was the second time in a space of a month the family was attacked by unknown people. The motive of the attack remains unknown and is a subject of police investigation. Though soldiers in the country are known to carry rifles known as the Galil Ace 21, none of the family members were able to identify the rifles carried by the men as the incident occurred in the dark. Scuffle After the scuffle, the rifle was recovered and handed over to the Mankayane police. The wo family members who had armed themselves with the traditional weapons also sustained injuries during the confrontation. The four men are said to have attacked the Tsela family at around 10pm, while pronouncing themselves to be officers of the law who were conducting a raid. However, when they met a strong resistance, violence reigned supreme resulting in an armed confrontation between the two family members and the armed visitors. The head of the family Msenge Tsela (67) said he was asleep in his thatched hut when he heard screams for help coming from another house in which his son Lwazi was sleeping, about 30 metres away. I sprang up, grabbed my spear and ran out in my underwear towards my sons house. I suddenly noticed that there were people outside the house who were holding big rifles and as I drew near they shot at me, but missed. I then decided to run after them and managed to stab one of them with a spear, he said. Tsela said he then noticed that his son was also wrestling one of the men, while his gun had fallen to the ground. He said when it became clear that he and his son were overpowering the men, they fled. The father and son said they chased after two of them who fled towards the western side of the homestead, while still carrying guns. Stumbled One of the gunmen stumbled onto a rocky area and fell, banging his face against a rock. Msenge, who was a few paces behind him, said he found him lying on the ground, while his gun had also fallen about a metre away. I took the gun and hit him on the head with its butt. By that time, other family members and neighbours had responded to the screams for help and came closer to assist, he said. Meanwhile, another member of the gunmen is said to have escaped to a nearby wattle forest, where he fired a gunshot, probably in an effort to scare away the family members from where his counterpart was lying. Msenge said the man who was apprehended was later brought to the family yard where questions were asked on his identity and what their intention was. He refused to cooperate and said we would rather kill him than for him to state what the intention of attacking the homestead really was, Msenge said. Meanwhile, the elderly man said all amount of probing by family members and neighbours failed to yield fruit as the man did not respond to their questions. Police were then called from Mankayane and arrived about an hour later, where they found the injured man still within the family compound. The man was eventually taken to the Mankayane Government Hospital but he died along the way to hospital. It is suspected that he succumbed to injuries however no post-mortem has been conducted yet and police are still investigating. Msenge assisted the police yesterday as they combed the area for gun cartridges to help in the investigation. Traces of blood were also seen along the direction in which the injured suspects fled. There were no other raids in the area which compounds speculation that the family had been targeted. Msenge said along with the gun, the man was also found in possession of 16 live rounds of ammunition in his pocket. Interrogation A neighbour, who had also responded to the calls for help said during interrogation, by the community members, the deceased had given out a phone number, which he said was of a next of kin. He refused to state why he was in the Tsela homestead, so we decided to make him give us the number of a family member. He said he however, did not call the number, but gave it to the police for investigations, the community member said, declining to be named. Chief Police Information and Communication Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the incident and said reports that came in were to the effect that one person died and others sustained injuries. It was said that the men were pretending to be police officers but were dressed in army camouflage when they approached the family members. For now, no one has been arrested as we have opened an inquiry file, she said. She said the other accomplices in the crime had still not been found. When police searched the area yesterday they found the tooth of the deceased on the rocks. Public Affairs Officer in the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) Tengetile Khumalo said her office had no record of the alleged incident. There is no operational report that has been forwarded nor conveyed to my office with regard to the alleged issue at hand, she said. Meanwhile, inside sources in the army revealed the name of the soldier but it could not be published as his next of kin had not been informed. As he started to ignore his ex-wife Amber Heard, Johnny Depp and his lawyer Camille Vasquez recently met in Europe and had a great time. According to the Daily Mail, Depp and Vasquez met on Monday at the actor's concert in Prague, and the famed lawyer was able to introduce her British boyfriend, Edward Owen, to her star client. Vasquez, 37, and Owen, 38, were seen laughing and joking with the "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor in a backstage area of his European concert with legendary guitarist Jeff Beck. After waving at fans who managed to record the interaction on camera, Depp then pulled Owen into a bear hug. Vasquez was seen smiling as she watched them. Footage that surfaced on social media showed Depp waving at his fans before Vasquez placed her hands on her British man's shoulder after introducing him to the actor. Aside from her boyfriend, Vasquez attended the concert with Jessica Meyers and Samuel Moniz, who were also part of the actor's legal team. Camille Vasquez's boyfriend is a successful senior director at WeWork. He graduated from the University of Cambridge, where he earned a degree in history in 2005. READ NEXT: Amber Heard's Mistrial Motion on Johnny Depp Case Denied by Judge Johnny Depp and Camille Vasquez Romance Rumors Amid Defamation Trial Against Amber Heard Johnny Depp and Camille Vasquez had once been rumored to be dating. The pair sparked dating rumors when fans gave meaning to the body language between the two during the six-week defamation trial against Amber Heard. Many fans made TikToks of the pair giving each other handshakes and hugs. However, Vasquez has shut down the dating rumors surrounding her and the actor. Vasquez told People last month that she was aware of those online romance rumors and resented them. The lawyer noted that it was disappointing that some outlets "kind of ran with it" or said that her interactions with the actor were inappropriate or unprofessional. Vasquez said Depp was a friend, and she had known and represented him "for four-and-a-half years now." The lawyer noted that she was "very happy" in her relationship and it was "unethical" for lawyers to date their clients. She also explained why she was hugging Depp. She said she cares deeply about her clients, and her being Cuban and Colombian makes her tactile, adding that she hugs everyone. Camille Vasquez added that if she could provide any bit of comfort to Johnny Depp, whether by holding his hands or letting him know that they were there to fight for him, she would do it because the actor deserves it. Johnny Depp Is Ignoring Amber Heard The blissful encounter between Johnny Depp and Camille Vasquez early this week happened as the actor reportedly started ignoring his ex-wife. According to The News International, the actor has been using his Instagram account to post updates or connect with his fans since his court victory against Amber Heard. However, the outlet noted that the actor recently avoided sharing anything about his latest victory against the "Aquaman" actress. Depp and Heard have battled over a 2018 op-ed the actress wrote for the Washington Post, calling herself a domestic violence survivor. The piece did not mention Depp by name, but the actor claimed he was booted from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise due to the "clear implication" that he was the abuser in his ex-wife's op-ed. Johnny Depp also alleged that Amber Heard was the actual "perpetrator" of the violent encounters that damaged their relationship. He asked for $50 million in damages. The actress countersued for $100 million for nuisance. On June 1, a Virginia court ruled that Heard must pay her ex-husband $10 million in compensatory damages and $350,000 in punitive damages. Meanwhile, with Depp's lawyer referring to Heards' claims as a "hoax," the actress was awarded $2 million by the jury in compensatory damages for her counterclaim but nothing in punitive damages. The actress recently asked the court to toss out the $10.35 million verdict against her, but the judge denied it. READ MORE: Bipartisan Gun Bill Passed; Legal Experts Weigh In on Pros and Cons Amid Mass Shootings in US This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Joshua Summers WATCH: Johnny Depp Spotted Reuniting With Attorney Camille Vasquez in Europe - From New York Post A Brazilian cop in Brazil's southern state of Parana shot himself dead after killing eight people, including his wife, three children, mother, and brother. According to the Daily Mail, Fabiano Garcia, 37, a member of the military police in Parana, Brazil, went on a rampage after going home from his tour shift. The Brazilian cop first hunted down his wife, Kassiele Mendes Garcia, 28, and his stepdaughter, Amanda Menes, 12. The Military Police said Garcia stabbed them both at their home in Toledo town in Parana shortly after his shift ended at 7 p.m. local time on Thursday. After murdering his wife and stepchild, he traveled to the home of his 78-year-old mother, Irene Garcia. Garcia also stabbed her to death before using his service firearm to shoot his brother, Claudiomiro Garcia. Authorities found the two victims dead inside their respective rooms. The Brazilian cop also traveled to his mother-in-law's home in the town of Ceu Azul. There, he shot his own children - Miguel Garcia, 4, and his nine-year-old daughter, Kamili Garcia. READ NEXT: Brazil: Lula Da Silva Calls for Calm After Ally Killed by Jair Bolsonaro Supporter Brazilian Cop Also Killed Two Random Teens in Brazil's Toledo Town Fabiano Garcia continued his killing spree by shooting two random young men in Toledo. The victims were identified as Kaio da Silva, 17, and Luiz Becker, 19. Infobae reported that surveillance footage showed that Garcia held a conversation with Da Silva, who approached the suspect's vehicle. The Brazilian cop then shot the teenager before driving off. Garcia then ended his own life by shooting himself with his service firearm inside his car early Friday. Brazilian Cop Fabiano Garcia Upset With Separation From His Wife Brazilian news outlet G1 reported that Fabiano Garcia had been facing many problems. A voice note left by the Brazilian cop-turned-murderer revealed that he recently broke up with his wife, which bothered him. Garcia was also upset over mounting gambling debts. The Brazilian cop noted that he opted to kill all his loved ones so they would not bear any responsibility for these debts. The voice note was reportedly recorded before he went on his killing spree. G1 also reported that Garcia's final Facebook post was on July 12. He posted a screenshot of a video game he was playing and hinted that he was going through a difficult phase in his life. Ironically, his wife previously showed support for the September Yellow Campaign, which sought to spread awareness and prevent suicide. To show her support for the campaign, Kassiele posted a photo with Garcia and one of their children with the word "Setembro Amarelo" and a yellow ribbon. The Military Police said Garcia did not exhibit any mental issues. In a statement, the 19th Military Police Battalion said they regretted the killings that took place in Toledo and Ceu Azul. The statement added that the "Civil, Military and Scientific Police" will do everything "to determine the reasons for the events." READ MORE: Pope Francis Appoints Leonardo Steiner as First Cardinal From Brazil's Amazon Rainforest This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Check out Audio Recorded by Military Police After Killing Eight People - From SBT News The New York City Medical Examiner's Office revealed on Friday that the cause of death of Ivana Trump, the first wife of former President Donald Trump, was "blunt impact injuries" to her torso. Ivana, the mother of Donald Jr., Eric, and Ivanka Trump, passed away Thursday inside her home on Manhattan's Upper East Side. According to New York Post, the former president's wife accidentally fell down the stairs inside her home. Officials and law enforcement sources told the outlet that a personal aide and a cleaning lady came to Ivana's home Thursday. They rang the bell and called her on her phone to get in. However, no one answered. They then called the building supervisor but could not open the door due to the double locks inside. Sources said a maintenance worker was called to the scene to open the door. And when the worker finally opened the door, they found Ivana unresponsive at the bottom of the staircase, next to a spilled cup of coffee. First responders pronounced her dead on the scene. The Medical Examiner's Office officially ruled her death as an "accident." However, details about what may have preceded the fall have yet to be revealed. Before the examiner's office released its findings about Ivana Trump's death, it was reported that she may have suffered a cardiac arrest, leading her to tumble down the stairs. Ivana Trump's Longtime Friend Said She Was Suffering From Hip and Leg Pain A close friend of Ivana Trump told The Post on Friday that the socialite businesswoman had been suffering hip pain and had trouble walking two weeks ago. Zach Erdem, owner of the 75 Main in Southampton, said Ivana planned on visiting the place earlier this month. However, Erdem noted that Ivana canceled before being found dead as she was suffering from hip and leg pain and could not get out of her house. Erdem urged his friend to go and see a doctor. However, the former Czech model said no, as she did not like going to doctors. "She said, 'No, I hate going to doctors. I get more sick going to doctors'," the eatery owner told The Post. According to her other friends, Ivana Trump was reportedly in so much pain that she required assistance to walk around her neighborhood. READ NEXT: Donald and Melania Trump Marriage: How Do the Former White House Couple Manage to Stay Together for Over a Decade Donald Trump Postpones Arizona Rally Following Ex-Wife's Death Donald Trump and Ivana Trump were married for 15 years. In a post on his Truth Social platform on Friday, Donald said he would postpone his rally in Prescott Valley, Arizona on Saturday "out of love and respect" for his ex-wife. The New York Post reported that his Save America rally would be rescheduled for July 22. Donald has been holding campaign-style rallies to promote GOP candidates ahead of the midterm election. The former president announced the passing of his ex-wife on his Truth Social platform on Thursday. Donald said Ivana was a "wonderful, beautiful, and amazing woman, who led a great and inspirational life." He also talked about her relationship with their three children. Donald said Ivana was so proud of them "as we were all so proud of her." Donald Trump and Ivana Trump were married from 1977 to 1992. They separated in 1990 after Donald's affair with Marla Maples surfaced. Their divorce was finalized in 1992. READ MORE: Inside Donald Trump and Ivana Trump's Marriage: The Real Reason Behind Their Separation This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: How Did Ivana Trump Die? New Details Emerge From Her NYC Townhouse - From NBC New York Laurel, MS (39440) Today Mixed clouds and sun this morning. Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 97F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 73F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. NHLANGANO Gruesome! The above word best describes a double murder that happened at Nkoneni where a 20-year-old man killed his grandmother and his sibling in cold blood. Nkoneni is under Mbhilaneni Chiefdom, Maseyisini Constituency in the Shiselweni Region. The incident happened yesterday morning. Information gathered was that the alleged murderer Nduduzo Maphalalas (20) state of sanity is questionable. According to a close family member who did not want to be mentioned, Maphalala was away from home for some time after he left with a neighbour who is a constructor and they were based around Hlatikhulu. It was said that on Wednesday, the neighbour called Maphalalas mother to inform her that her son was acting strange and that he did not know what he was supposed to do with him. His mother suggested that he should be brought back home and he was brought back on Thursday, narrated the family member. It was said that he arrived late and was not seen by a lot of family members. Maphalala is said to own a one-room structure within the homestead. It was said that on the day of the incident, Maphalalas mother who is employed by one of the textile workers left for work, leaving behind school-going children who were also to head out to school. The source revealed that Maphalala woke up and saw the children making their way out of the gate to school and he pursued them but they ran until he caught his youngest sibling who is seven years old and doing Grade II. According to the sources, he allegedly took the now deceased Siphamandla Mhlanga (7) to his house where he hacked him with an axe. It was said that he further took a knife and slit his throat open. He was also allegedly drinking the oozing blood and further licking his hands that were full of blood. Hacking It is said that he continued hacking the lifeless body of Mhlanga for some time and then stepped out of the house.He was shouting and making groaning noises as he moved around the homestead and further went out of the gate towards the road, narrated the source. It was said that by the time he made his way out of the gate, two elderly people; one of which was Maphalalas grandmother who lives at a homestead next to Maphalalas, were walking towards their homestead gate with an intention to go see what transpired with the child taken by Maphalala. It was said that while they were approaching the gate, they saw Maphalala headed towards the homestead and was carrying both the axe and the knife full of blood, which was when they decided to run back into the house and lock the door. It is said that Maphalala attempted to open the door but failed, which was when he opted to break a window and gained entry. The two elderly women could not make it to the door in time as now deceased, Thembekile Mkhulisi (65) who was behind was caught by Maphalala. The other elderly woman is said to have ran for cover as she hid behind the bushes close to the homestead. It was narrated that he allegedly hacked Mkhulisi with the axe twice on the head. She had two open wounds on the head, narrated the source. The source narrated that Maphalala further dragged the lifeless body of Mkhulisi to the door step where he slit her throat. It was said that he also drank the oozing blood of Mkhulisi as he made groaning sounds. A group of men pursued Maphalala who was drenched in blood but could not hold him. It was gathered that Maphalala headed back to his house with both the axe and the knife where the body of his brother was. Blood Sources alleged that he continued hacking the body of the seven-year-old and drank the blood as he had locked himself inside the house. Police were called to the scene. Upon arrival, it was said that Maphalala was still inside the house with his brothers lifeless body. It is said that police fired two warning shots and Maphalala came out through the window and he fell as he tried to escape. It was also revealed that police then apprehended him. He appeared before Magistrate Zweli Magagula at the Shiselweni Magistrates Court in Nhlangano facing two charges of murder yesterday. He was remanded in custody and would appear in court on July 28, 2022 pending committal to High Court. This incident happened less than a week from a murder of a seven-month-old who was killed by her father. The father appeared before Manzini Magistrate Court charged with murder. A Laois man has completed quite a walk from his front door, 2,500km long. Eamonn Culliton started walking last April from his Portlaoise home, with the madcap idea of walking all the way to the Camino de Compostela in the south of Spain. In roasting hot temperatures, he has done it just over three months later. A jubilant and no doubt footsore Eamonn shared this photo on Friday, July 15, to delight from his supporters back home and around the world. His camino was all to raise money for cancer research by the Irish Cancer Society. It is in memory of his sister Alice Culliton who died at Christmas in 2020. Donations are still coming in, but the total is currently at 14,896. Donate on his gofundme page here. Read a recent update from Eamonn to the Leinster Express here. Warm congratulations are flooding in to Eamonn, including this lovely message from his proud daughter Carolyn in Australia. "Well done, Dad! 2500km covered, what an amazing achievement, for such a great cause! Enjoy a well deserved beer now Irish Pilgrim Eamonn Culliton". "Congratulations!!! Well done Eamonn, Alice would be so proud of you," another supporter posted. Charlie McConalogue T.D., the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, has advised to farmers to take steps to protect their livestock during the hot weather. While the recent good weather is welcomed by the farming community across the country, we must remember that high temperatures can cause significant stress for livestock. It is important that farmers consider the extra steps needed to take care of their animals in these circumstances, making them comfortable and avoiding serious health and welfare problems arising due to the heat. Key points to reduce the impact of high temperatures on animals include; Ensure plentiful supply of drinking water. The number of watering points and water flow may need to be increased in hot weather as demand increases. Drinking points should checked be more often during hot weather to ensure they are working and that the pressure is adequate. Stock should be monitored for signs of problems with water supply such as queuing or crowding at water points. Ensure access to suitable shade or shelter Vulnerable animals such as very young, old, or sick animals may need to be moved to a location with additional shade or shelter where they can be monitored more closely. Holding areas for livestock should also have shaded areas available where possible and holding times minimised. Outdoor poultry should have access to shade. Outdoor pigs require access to a wallow to cool down especially if the temperature is above 25 C as they are particularly vulnerable to heat stress. Minimise handling and transport Movement or handling of cattle during hot weather can increase their body temperature by 0.5 to 3.5 C, causing heat stress. Minimise handling in hot weather- if necessary, ensure it is done as early or late in the day as possible to coincide with cooler temperatures. Avoid transporting animals in hot weather where possible. If transport is necessary, plan to minimise journey length, transport during cooler hours and reduce the stocking density to allow for more airflow inside the vehicle. Intensively housed species (pigs and poultry) need additional checks. Monitor the temperature in the animal accommodation closely and adjust the ventilation accordingly. Where automatic ventilation systems are in place, increase the level of monitoring of alarm and back-up systems. Use water sprinklers for pigs to help cool them down. Monitor livestock closely for health issues or heat stress Livestock should always be checked more frequently in hot weather. Animals at a higher risk of heat stress include young, dark-coloured or pregnant animals, animals recovering from illness, pigs and high-producing dairy cows. Signs of heat stress include faster breathing or panting; loss of appetite; increased water intake; drooling; listlessness or lethargy; and in severe cases, animals may become unconscious. If you suspect an animal may be heat stressed, it is vital to act quickly. Steps to manage heat stressed animals include moving them to shade or shelter; offering cool water; using sprinklers for cattle, pigs and horses, or allow them to stand in water; increase ventilation in housed species such as pigs and poultry; and reduce the stocking density to allow animals to lie out. If there is no improvement, seek veterinary assistance without delay. A man in his 60s has died following a tragic accident at a popular amenity in Portlarlington. Gardai have confirmed the death of the man at the Derryounce Lakes on the outskirts of the town at around 3.30pm on Saturday, July 16. The man, who is originally from Portlaoise, is understood to have lost his life following what's described as a 'tragic accident'. Gardai, ambulances and fire services rushed to the scene and the man was removed to Portlaoise hospital. Despite the efforts of the emergency services, gardai were unable to save the man's life While drowning is suspected as being the main cause of death, a post mortem will be carried out The lake is part of a amenity on the Offaly side of Portarlington, however swimming is not advised or permitted at the lake. Signs advising people not to swim and life saving devices are also available. There is no lifeguard presence. It's understood that the amenity was busy today and the public continued to enter the water despite the presence of the emergency services. Laois Gardai urged the public not to swim in unsafe locations over the the weekend which is expected to be the hottest of the year so far in Ireland. In advance of the warm weather spell across Ireland, Water Safety Ireland issued advice to help swimmers stay safe from drowning. It says an average of nine people drown every month nationwide and Water Safety Ireland is urging the public to be mindful of the following advice during the current spell of warm weather. 1. Swim within your depth and stay within your depth. 2. Swim between the red and yellow flags at a Lifeguarded waterway, listed at www.watersafety.ie/lifeguards otherwise swim in areas that are known locally as safe and where there are ringbuoys present for rescues. 3. Avoid swimming in unfamiliar areas that are potentially unsafe. Ask for local knowledge to determine local hazards and safest areas to swim. Pay attention to any safety signage. 4. Make sure that the waters edge is shallow shelving so that you can safely enter and exit. 5. The air temperature is warm but open water is cooler than air avoid extended stays in the water as your muscles will cool, making swimming more difficult. 6. Never use inflatable toys in open water as a gentle breeze can quickly bring a person away from shore. 7. Always supervise children closely and never leave them alone near water. 8. Alcohol is a factor in one third of drownings. Do not mix it with water activities. 9. To escape a rip current, swim parallel to the shore and then swim back ashore. See www.watersafety.ie/rip-currents/ 10. If you see somebody in trouble in the water: SHOUT REACH THROW a. SHOUT to calm, encourage and orientate them; b. REACH with anything that prevents you from entering the water (clothing/stick); c. THROW a ringbuoy or any floating object to them. 11. When boating, always wear a correctly fitting lifejacket and have to hand a VHF radio and a fully charged mobile phone in a waterproof pouch. Visit www.watersafety.ie for more information. While Europe has been basking in what seems like an eternal heat wave all summer long, Ireland has seen mostly a very average summer. Over the next few days however a combination of factors will help to steer those higher temperatures our way, if only for a relatively brief spell of very warm temperatures. So what is causing it? Initially a portion of the Azores High will extend from the southwest over Ireland for the weekend. It will bring a rise in temperatures but still hold the warmer air to the south. As the high pressure moves away to the east, the anticyclonic, or clockwise rotation will steer up air from the southeast, but the real contributing factor is how it interacts with a low pressure system developing off the coast of Portugal and gradually meandering northwards. The cyclonic or anticlockwise flow of the low working in conjuction with the anticyclonic flow from the high will generate a strong surge of warm air between both systems thus pushing the warm air towards Ireland, transporting the airmass that has brought exceptional temperatures to Europe, towards Ireland. What temperatures should we expect? While the high builds in on Friday and Saturday the high temperatures will range generally in the low to mid 20s. There will also be some upper cloud at times making sunshine a little hazy and there is a chance of a few showers too. As the high begins to drift a little to the east on Sunday, temperatures will rise to mid to upper 20s with temperatures possibly surpassing 30 locally on Monday. There is a little more uncertainty regarding Tuesday but it does look like it will be another hot day and perhaps as hot if not hotter than Monday. While this warmer air moves in our direction there will be the chance of a few thundery bursts especially on Tuesday. With temperatures soaring, it is important to remain hydrated and be Sun Smart, that goes for animals as well as ourselves. Be prepared and remember to Be Summer Ready The night time temperature will also be very warm and humid with temperatures on Sunday and Monday night not likely to fall below the mid to high teens and in some areas they may not fall below 20C, which is known as a Tropical night. We have issued a Status Yellow High Temperature warning for Ireland. On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday exceptionally warm weather will occur over Ireland with daytime temperatures of 25 to 30 degrees generally and possibly up to 32 degrees in places on Monday. Night time temperatures will range from 15 to 20 degrees. Impacts: Heat stress, especially for the more vulnerable of the population High Solar UV index Risk of water related incidents See D.A.F.M. Fire Danger Notice and read full safety advice on www.gov.ie/summerready The Breakdown Currently it looks as if the breakdown will happen on Tuesday night into Wednesday as the Low pressure system moves up over Ireland steering in cooler air from the west for the rest of the week. This will also bring some wet conditions on Wednesday. Climate Change & Extreme Heat July 2022 Over recent decades we have observed an increase in the frequency, duration and intensity of extremely hot weather across most global land regions. Human-caused climate change resulting from greenhouse gas pollution is the main driver of this increase in extreme heat. While extremely hot weather does occur within natural climate variability, the kinds of temperature extremes we are seeing in Europe are directly influenced by climate change. June 2022 was Europes 2nd warmest on record, and the USAs warmest. The 8 hottest Junes on record globally all occurred in the last 8 years. Keith Lambkin, Head of Met Eireanns Climate Services Division said Due to climate change, we are expecting to see heatwaves become longer, more frequent and intense than in the past. This increase in heat, increases the odds of temperature records being broken. Irelands record Temperature 33.3C Kilkenny (Kilkenny Castle) 26th June 1887 For lots more on the weather go to Met Eireann's website HERE Drinking more than a small shot glass of beer a day could pose risks to health for men under the age of 40, a study suggests as researchers urged younger adults to steer clear of alcohol. And a safe daily limit for women aged 39 and under is the equivalent of two tablespoons worth of wine, or 100ml of beer, the research suggests. But those over 40 can toast their health with a drink or two, as academics found a small amount of alcohol can help ward off heart disease, stroke and diabetes among this age group. Researchers said young people face higher health risks from alcohol consumption than older adults. They called for stronger guidance to warn younger adults of the health dangers posed by drinking and said there should be tailored alcohol guidance to depend on a persons age and where they live in the world. Some 1.34 billion people are estimated to have consumed harmful amounts of alcohol in 2020, according to the analysis of drinking habits in 204 countries around the globe. The study, published in The Lancet, found that 59% of those who drank harmful amounts were people aged 15 to 39 for whom alcohol provides no health benefit and poses risks including injuries relating to drinking or car accidents, suicides or murders. And three quarters of harmful drinkers were men. Senior author Dr Emmanuela Gakidou, professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washingtons School of Medicine in the US, said: Our message is simple: young people should not drink, but older people may benefit from drinking small amounts. While it may not be realistic to think young adults will abstain from drinking, we do think its important to communicate the latest evidence so that everyone can make informed decisions about their health. Researchers looked at the risk of alcohol consumption on 22 health outcomes, including injuries, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers using 2020 Global Burden of Disease data. Using this information the researchers were able to estimate how much alcohol a person can drink before taking on excess risk to their health compared with someone who does not drink any alcohol. With the hot weather, it can be tempting to enjoy a few more drinks. To keep your risk of alcohol-related harm low, its recommended: not regularly drinking more than 14 units a week spread units evenly over 3+ days have alcohol-free dayshttps://t.co/jNsFWsgfN0 pic.twitter.com/kAQm5xcZbX NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin (@NHSSTW) July 13, 2022 They found that the level of alcohol that can be consumed without increasing health risks rises throughout a lifetime. This is driven by differences in the major causes of death and disease burden at different ages, the authors wrote. Any level of drinking leads to a higher probability of injuries, while small amounts of alcohol decrease the risk of some conditions prevalent in older ages, such as ischaemic heart disease and diabetes. Researchers deemed a standard drink as a 100ml glass of 13% wine or 375ml of 3.5% beer. They found: For men aged 15 to 39, the recommended amount of alcohol before risking health loss was just 0.136 of a standard drink. This equates to about 10ml of wine or two standard teaspoonfuls or 38ml of beer, the equivalent of a small shot glass. For women aged 15 to 39 the theoretical minimum risk exposure level was 0.273 drinks about a quarter of a standard drink per day. This is the equivalent of about two tablespoonfuls of wine or around 100ml of beer. For adults aged 40 and older without any underlying health conditions, drinking a small amount of alcohol was linked to some health benefits, such as reducing the risk of ischaemic heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Among those aged 40 to 64, safe alcohol consumption levels ranged from about half a standard drink per day to almost two standard drinks. For those aged 65 and over the risks of health loss from alcohol consumption were reached after consuming a little more than three standard drinks a day. On average, the recommended alcohol intake for adults over the age of 40 remained low, peaking at 1.87 standard drinks per day, and after this the health risks increase with each drink. Lead author Dana Bryazka, researcher at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washingtons School of Medicine, said: Even if a conservative approach is taken and the lowest level of safe consumption is used to set policy recommendations, this implies that the recommended level of alcohol consumption is still too high for younger populations. Our estimates, based on currently available evidence, support guidelines that differ by age and region. Understanding the variation in the level of alcohol consumption that minimises the risk of health loss for populations can aid in setting effective consumption guidelines, supporting alcohol control policies, monitoring progress in reducing harmful alcohol use, and designing public health risk messaging. Iamsold, whose online binding bids platform is used by over 300 auctioneers across Ireland expect strong enquiry levels and continued demand for properties throughout July. Director for Iamsold, Patrick Folan, commented: Traditionally summer months tend to be the busiest for property transactions and we are continuing to see a very busy property market. With the high demand we are currently experiencing, now is a great time to market properties and we have thousands of registered applicants looking to buy. Furthermore, selling with ourselves is an attractive option as we do not charge any upfront costs into the auction and take on board all marketing and entry fees. The property owner has no costs until the property is successfully sold at or above the previously agreed reserve price. An attractive property in the centre of Newbridge is currently on the market on www.iamsold.ie. No 15 Eyre Street and James Lane, Newbridge, is offered at bids over 415,000 and is for sale with Byrne Malone Estate Agents, Newbridge. This unique property consists of a large cottage subdivided into two one-bed units and a site with planning for three townhouses. The cottage currently has tenants in situ and offers a rental income of 19,800. These properties can be purchased as one lot or as separate lot or more information please contact iamsold. Also on offer on the site is 152 The Court, Dunboyne Castle, Dunboyne, Co Meath. This is offered at bids over 215,000 and for sale by The Property Shop, Dunboyne. The property is an excellent two-bed, dual aspect, apartment, situated on the top floor and overlooking the grounds of Dunboyne Castle Hotel with the high ceilings offering a greater sense of space. Dunboyne Village is a short walk offering an array of amenities and services such as shops, restaurants and cafes in addition to local sporting and recreational clubs and societies. Iamsold are also taking entries for their upcoming online auctions, which are scheduled for September 8 and October 13. Call the Iamsold team on 01 244 0000 or visit their website www.iamsold.ie for more information. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and US President Joe Biden on July 15, 2022 in Bethlehem, West Bank. EVAN VUCCI / AP A history lesson, a refusal of reality, an attempt to shore up the dams leaking on all sides. It was all in the speech that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas made in Bethlehem to his host, US President Joe Biden on Friday, July 15. Facing the American president, who was flying to Saudi Arabia after two days in Israel and a morning in the occupied Palestinian territories, Mr. Abbas once again pushed back against the normalization of relations between the Jewish state and part of the Arab world which Mr. Biden is keen to promote. On several occasions, the "rais" recalled the existence of the "Arab peace initiative": The plan conceived in 2002 by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah and adopted in the same year by the Arab League, which made normalizing relations with Israel conditional on the creation of a viable Palestinian state. This initiative was buried by the diplomatic agreements signed in 2020 under Donald Trump's oversight, between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco. But the 2002 plan is officially is still in effect in Riyadh, which means that Mr. Abbas can remind MBS, the current Saudi ruler, not to forget it. Read more Subscribers only Joe Biden in the Middle East: A tour haunted by two dead Arab journalists There was something terribly anachronistic about the meeting of Mr. Abbas, 87, with Mr. Biden, 79. This was an opportunity for the US President to reiterate, more clearly than ever before in his term of office, his commitment to a two-state solution on the 1967 borders. It was viewed as a way of settling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict initiated by the Oslo Accords (1993), which, because they were not sufficiently endorsed by major Western countries in particular, Washington DC now seem dead, although not totally buried. No way towards restarting negotiations We are interested in your experience using the site. Send feedback Mr. Biden did not in fact propose any new avenue for restarting peace negotiations. He did not talk about East Jerusalem as the "capital" of a future Palestinian state, a key demand of the leadership in Ramallah. He has endorsed President Trumps recognition of the Holy City as the capital of Israel. Earlier in the morning, Mr. Biden visited the Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem, where he promised $100 million in aid to the Palestinian hospital network in Jerusalem a sum that Congress will have to approve. He also pledged $201 million to UNRWA, the United Nations agency that assists Palestinian refugees and which Donald Trump despised. Finally, he announced a project to deploy 4G wi-fi in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, where broadband is currently limited to 3G and 2G respectively a promise of progress made by Israel and Washington in the past, but which has never been acted upon. You have 22.9% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. MATSAPHA Burning of structures is Third World mentality, says His Majesty King Mswati III. The King said this during the commemoration of the 14th Correctional Services Day, which was held at Matsapha Correctional College yesterday, where he briefly spoke about people who burn structures. The King talked briefly about arsonists when he was commending the Correctional Services for its effort of aligning itself with the countrys vision of attaining First World status. He also appreciated that Matsapha Correctional Services Centre was undergoing major rehabilitation which would create an improved, safe and human detention facility. He said they hoped the new structures would enable an upgraded intervention mechanism that would put to an end the notion that correctional centres were breeding grounds for hardened criminals. Thereafter, His Majesty said these development initiatives were in line with this years theme which puts meaning and gives practical evidence to; Modernising correctional infrastructure towards improved interventions. Modernise He said this years theme (Modernising correctional infrastructure towards improved interventions) was a lesson that they as a nation should take leaf from, because they had to modernise all their infrastructure and technology in the country. The King said First World mentality was about modernising infrastructure, not burning it. Ngoba loko ku (because that is) backward, kuyi (it is) Third World mentality, the King said. It is worth noting that since the June/July 2021 unrest, the country has recorded a high number of arson attacks, which were believed to be politically motivated. The arsonists targeted mainly infrastructure, like houses and tinkhundla centres together with vehicles, like cars and heavy plant machinery and equipment. Thereafter, the King said he was pleased to note that all the departments programmes were also in line with the theme. He said this was because he had seen the various treatment programmes that had been brought in working on offenders who were under their care. He said the programmes brought expected behaviour from the offenders and that was seen when they were being reintroduced back to their communities after being released. He said offenders were people who had lost their footing in society and the correctional officers primary duty was to support and encourage them to abandon their criminal behaviour and embrace positive change in their lives. Law-abiding The King added that this would enable them to live in harmony with their communities as law-abiding citizens and be productive. Your success in this endeavour will break the cycle of repeat-offending and will greatly benefit the nation as the crime rate will subside and peace and stability will prevail, the king said. In terms of technological improvement, the King said they were appreciative of the fact that the department was making inroads in the field of information, communication and technology (ICT). He said this would ease the workload on the ground and advance the services the department renders to its clients and the nation at large. He said ICT comes with numerous interventions aimed at improving the way they conduct business and was vital in the security sector as it enhanced efficiency and effectiveness of administrative and operational tasks. Still on the First World mentality, which he said the people of Eswatini should have, the King said he was equally applaudable that the uniforms which the officers were wearing, was none other than the works of correctional services personnel. He said even the people who were brought to their care (offenders) also contributed to the sewing of the departments uniform. Brighten The King said previously, the department used to purchase uniforms from various vendors who were charging government enormous amounts of money. In fact, he said he was happy offenders who were kept in the correctional facilities participated in all the things which were produced in the centres and in the process, they learn skills which they use to brighten their future. The King commended correctional officers ability to rehabilitate and mould the lives of offenders as it was in line with international standards and requirements. In that regard, he said he had received a number of testimonies from various people who were in the warm hands of correctional officers. He said one of them recorded his testimony in a video clip and sent it to him. Thankful He said the ex-offender was thankful about the care he received while serving his sentence at the correctional services facilities. In the video clip, the King added that the ex-inmate mentioned that the officers moulded him, changed his behaviour and treated him with exceptional care despite the bad things which he had done. Furthermore, the King said the work of the correctional officers did not end there, as they also took care of children who were brought for care within their walls. He said he had heard that some of them even excelled in their studies and did well internationally. The Karnataka government has withdrawn the ban it had put on photography and videography in any government offices across the state. The instructions arrived from Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. The Karnataka CM took the decision after reviewing the decision of banning photography and videography and order has been issued with immediate effect. The State government had issued the ban orders after the State Government Employees Association submitted a petition for the ban on 15 July. ALSO READ: Heavy rainfall in Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka; schools, colleges shut The Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms issued an order which states, The public visiting the government officers must not take pictures or videos of government officials without their permission while in office and carrying out their duties." The association had alleged before the government that some employees were being harassed by certain people by shooting photos and videos inside government premises. Earlier, the association wrote the petition to the government on 25 February, 2022. Meanwhile, political parties had criticised the order and said that such an order will only encourage corruption at government offices. With ANI inputs. An unusual-looking fish with bulging eyes, a mohawk-like fin on its head and the ability to walk on the seafloor with its pectoral and pelvic fins has reached a grim milestone. The so-called smooth handfish (Sympterichthys unipennis) has been declared extinct, the first modern marine fish on record to completely vanish, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). A mere 200 years ago, the smooth handfish was so plentiful in Australia where it basked in Tasmania's warm, coastal waters that it was among the first fish species to be scientifically documented Down Under. In 1802, French naturalist Francois Peron nabbed the first specimen of the odd-looking creature with a dip net in southeastern Tasmania, a feat that worked because handfish live in shallow waters, the IUCN said in a statement . Now, Peron's specimen (which you can see here) is the only smooth handfish scientists have left to study. It's not that researchers haven't been looking. Despite extensive underwater surveys along the Australian coastline, the smooth handfish hasn't "been sighted for over 200 years," meaning that Peron was the only scientist on record to collect one, according to a 2017 study in the journal Biological Conservation . Related: Photos: The freakiest-looking fish With the extinction of the smooth handfish, just 13 other handfish species remain alive. All of the fish live on the seafloor, where they use hand-like fins to "walk." These fish are now so rare, conservationists gleefully announced to the world that they had found a previously unknown population of the red handfish (Thymichthys politus) consisting of between 20 and 40 individuals in 2018, Live Science previously reported . Handfish are anglerfish, meaning they're relatives of the deep-sea anglerfish , the toothy beast that has a luminous bulb dangling from its head, according to Scientific American . Though "walking" fish don't sport a glowing light, they do have another cool trick that awes scientists: Their babies don't have a larval stage. Instead, handfish give birth on the seafloor to fully formed juveniles, according to Fauna & Flora International (FFI), a conservation organization based in the U.K. Moreover, the handfish are homebodies; they don't have a big habitat. In other words, if their areas are disturbed, the handfish have nowhere else to go. "They spend most of their time sitting on the seabed, with an occasional flap for a few meters if they're disturbed," Graham Edgar, a marine ecologist at the University of Tasmania, told Scientific American. "As they lack a larval stage, they are unable to disperse to new locations and consequently, handfish populations are very localized and vulnerable to threats." According to the IUCN, handfish are threatened by the usual suspects that endanger sea life, including fishing, pollution, the spread of the invasive northern Pacific seastar (Asterias amurensis) and habitat destruction. In particular, a historic scallop fishery that operated in the region until 1967 led to the deaths of many handfish, mostly by dredging the fishes' habitat and through bycatch (throwing away unintentionally caught fish, which often leads to those fishes' deaths), the IUCN reported. The Handfish Conservation Project marked the fish's extinction with a tweet on March 19 , saying, " @IUCNRedList has updated listings of all #handfish (Family Brachionichthyidae). Includes the first ever marine bony fish to be listed as #extinct (Smooth Handfish, Sympterichthys unipennis)." @IUCNRedList has updated listings of all #handfish (Family Brachionichthyidae). Includes the first ever marine bony fish to be listed as #extinct (Smooth Handfish, Sympterichthys unipennis). https://t.co/iUH33SyBKJ#conservation #extinction(Red handfish, J. Stuart-Smith) pic.twitter.com/iuGZMXTwQrMarch 19, 2020 See more Meanwhile, no one has reported seeing the related Ziebell's handfish in more than a decade, the Handfish Conservation Project noted . But there is hope for another species, the red handfish (pictured above). That species has two known populations off the southeastern coast of Tasmania, and now young red handfish are also being raised in captivity in Tasmania, according to The Wonder Weekly , a publication put out by the University of Tasmania and the Tasmanian government. Originally published on Live Science. Click here to read the full article. Its been a summer tour of twists and turns for Dead & Company, who wrap it up tonight at Citi Field. Just 10 days ago, the band cancelled a show when John Mayers 94-year-old father had a medical emergency. Richard Mayer is out of the hospital and recovering. The state of original Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann has been a cause of concern as well. The 76-year-old band co-founder missed six consecutive shows until returning for last nights Citi Field opener. Well, friends, I was hoping to be back in the saddle already, but since Im not quite there yet, I thought Id tell you exactly whats going on, Kreutzmann commented at Facebook on July 11. No more speculation or rumors. Im okay! Its not my heart. And Im not retiring! As most of you know, I had a back issue that suddenly appeared in Boulder, but I nipped it in the bud. Just as I was ready to come back full-strength, I pulled a positive on an antigen test. Despite all the tour protocols that I took very seriously, it still got me. Darn it. My case was mild and thankfully Im testing negative again. However my strength isnt quite back to show level. But it gets closer every day. I miss seeing all of your faces. I havent thrown in the towel and I cannot wait for our joyful reunion. I love you all so much. After reading the update, fans figured Kreutzmann was done for the tour. It was a classic Merry Prankster dodge. On Tuesday at The Pavilion at Star Lake in Burgettstown, PA, his understudy Jay Lane joined the band in their traditional double-drummer set up. A veteran of RatDog, Dead & Co guitarist Bob Weirs side group, Lane sat in as hed done during much of the tour. After the Boulder shows at Folsom Field on June 17-18, Kreutzmann shared the load with Lane, playing some half shows. But by the time the band reached Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, the Woodstock site in New York, on July 1, Kreutzmann was on the disabled list. Two weeks later at Citi Field, the home of the Mets in Queens, NY, he was back behind his trap set alongside longtime bandmate Mickey Hart, Kreutzmanns red cap facing forward, chopping it up on the opener, Bertha, a popular track from the 1971 Grateful Dead album. Several songs later, Kreutzmann flipped the cap backwards as the band steered into their funky ode to Deadhead entrepreneurship, Shakedown Street. Whenever the camera zeroed in on the red-faced, white-haired drummer, the crowd cheered enthusiastically. It was a recurring theme of the show. After an intermission break, Dead & Company came back energized as if theyd drank a few Red Bulls to rev up the old engine. Mayer, who for the most part tackles Jerry Garcias guitar parts, and Weir alternated vocals as the songs shifted from Terrapin Station (the bands lengthy suite from the 1977 album of the same name) to 60s gems like China Cat Sunflower and The Other One. As the show neared its conclusion, during Standing on the Moon, from the Deads final studio album, 1989s Built to Last, Kreutuzmann acknowledged the fan support, raising his sticks to the crowd in appreciation and evoking another loud cheer. The pounding of drums on Not Fade Away, Dead & Companys tribal version of the Buddy Holly classic, signaled that Kreutzmann was indeed back. Fans clapped along in time as the song ended and the band cleared the stage. An upbeat encore of Sugar Magnolia sent heads home giddily, but not before Hart, the oldest band member on stage at 78, hugged Kreutzmann in a show of brotherhood. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Based on the novel of the same name by Delia Owens, Sonys Where the Crawdads Sing follows a young girl named Kya who learns to survive on her own in a swampy North Carolina marsh after shes abandoned by her family. Kya (Daisy Edgar-Jones) goes on to publish several illustrated books about the local environment. During the four-month shoot in the marshlands near New Orleans, the cast and crew experienced a series of obstacles ranging from alligator encounters to weather-induced shutdowns. On the red carpet, the films stars shined a light on how the environment helped them further immerse themselves into their roles. Taylor John Smith, who stars alongside Edgar-Jones as Tate, says the crew wouldnt have been able to make the same type of movie if they were filming on a soundstage. Whats so beautiful about this book is the marsh is one of the characters of the film, Smith told Variety at the movies red carpet premiere on Monday at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Im so grateful we got to film in New Orleans with the gators and the snakes and the humidity. Theres almost a thickness in the air when you watch the movie, like a hot heavy air that you can feel. He continued, Im really grateful that it was on location. If it was on a soundstage, it would feel a little bit fake and false or forced. Ahna OReilly, who portrayed Kyas mom in the film, echoed Smiths feelings and revealed that the marsh environment affected her body language. Theres nothing like being in an actual environment, OReilly told Variety. As an actor, that thick humid air affects how you move, how you breathe, how you walk, just your body language. You cant fake that. Screenwriter Lucy Alibar highlighted how the swamp serves as a larger metaphor for Kyas story. The swamp symbolizes that wild things cant be tamed, and Kyas spirit cant be tamed, Alibar told Variety. Shes a wild creature, just as much as the marsh and the seagulls. Theres a part of that in all of us. She went on to share a story about how a skunk bit Jojo Regina, who plays the younger version of Kya. We had this wonderful skunk on set that was a really badly behaved actor and bit little Jojo, who mightve come through as a real method actor, Alibar said. Regina later revealed on the carpet that she got to befriend the skunk and was even able to feed it. The skunk was really nice at first and then it nipped me, but its okay. I mean, its an animal, Regina told Variety. It was so fluffy and it was really cute. It was underneath Kyas house, I actually got to feed it. We fed it a biscuit. Im not sure what it really eats! Edgar-Jones shared her own shocking encounter with a swamp critter. I accidentally tumble-dried a cockroach, which was a shock, Edgar-Jones said. I took my wash stuff out of the dryer and this perfectly dry-cleaned cockroach fell on the floor. I was not very pleased by that. So yeah, a couple of cockroach run-ins, but otherwise I was okay. I wouldnt move there, Edgar-Jones said about the North Carolina marshes. But it was very beautiful. It was also nice to rent a car and have access to air conditioning. Edgar-Jones also talked to Variety before the premiere about Taylor Swift writing and performing Carolina for the films soundtrack. She hasnt met the music superstar yet, but already knows what shed like to talk to her about. Im just such an admirer of hers, Edgar-Jones said. But also being in the industry as a young woman from such a young age and how shes managed to navigate this industry and fame so gracefully. Also she has such an artistic integrity. I think thats something Id love to just talk to her about, how she sort of navigated the world that shes in. Edgar-Jones and the cast have met Reese Witherspoon, who produced Crawdads through her production company Hello Sunshine. She came on the prowl when she came to set, Smith recalled. She was quizzing us on all of her Southern slang. I remember [actor Harris Dickinson] learning that the plural of yall is all yall and his mind being opened. Where the Crawdads Sing is in theaters now. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We've said our final farewells to our fallen 5, but our city will never be quite the same. With a new day comes a new start and many people in our area will forever honor the sacrifice of our heroes. Powder milk for baby and blue spoon on light background close-up. Milk powder for baby in measuring spoon on can. Powdered milk with spoon for baby. Baby Milk Formula and Baby Bottles. Baby milk formula on kitchen background By Mir Afroz Zaman Dhaka, July 16 (UNI) Minority organisations of Bangladesh under the leadership of Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Unity Council held nationwide protests and rallies on Saturday, demanding a separate commission for minorities, anti-discrimination law and protection of religious property of minorities, among others. More than 35 Hindu and other religious and political organisations like Bangladesh Hindu League, Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and Hindu Mohajote organised the protest near the National Shahid Minar in Dhaka. Similar protests were held in Chattogram and other places also. The speakers on the occasion demanded enactment of laws for minority protection as promised before the 2018 parliamentary election by political parties in their manifestos. The leaders said that insecurity was forcing the Hindus to leave the country. They expressed concern over the communal persecution of the religious and ethnic minorities and demanded stopping harassment of teachers. Secretary, Bangladesh Mahila Oikya Parishad Dipali Chakravarty called upon Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to suppress the communal forces with heavy hand and implement the election promise of 2018. The protest meeting in Dhaka was presided by former MP Ushatan Talukdar. Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Unity Council in a statement said that it has been forced to protest as no step has been taken to protect the interests of the minorities over the last three years. In the rally organised at Chattogram, Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Unity Council Secretary General Advocate Rana Dasgupta announced a mass hunger strike on October 22, if the demands of the minority groups were not met by the government. Earlier, in another incident of attack on minority community, some houses and shops of Hindus were vandalised at Dighalia village in Narail district on Friday over a Facebook post by a youth, allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad. Police and Rapid Action Battalion have been deployed in the area to maintain peace. UNI MAZ RJ (Alliance News) - Due to a threatened work stoppage at Italian airports, travellers have to be prepared for delays and cancellations of numerous flights on Sunday. Several trade unions called on staff of the air traffic control company ENAV as well as the low-cost airlines Ryanair Holdings PLC, easyJet PLC and Volotea to take part in the four-hour work stoppage, according to notices from the trade union confederations. The reason is a dispute over workers' rights, working conditions and the payment of minimum wages in the industry. easyJet has cancelled flights from Milan's Linate airport to Berlin and from Rome-Fiumicino to Amsterdam because of the strike. Ryanair said it had been forced to cancel some flights because of the strike at ENAV. Passengers had already been informed, the airline said. According to ENAV, the work stoppage will last from 2 pm to 6 pm local time. Flights between 7 am and 10 am and 6 pm to 9 pm will not be affected. With work stoppages looming, Italy Tourism Minister Massimo Garavaglia called during the week for everything to be done to avoid inconvenience in the recovering sector. "An unrest among air traffic control staff threatens to block the most dynamic sector of the economy, which is currently driving the country's growth to a significant extent. To block transport is to block the country," said the politician from the far-right Lega party, which is considered pro-business. source: dpa Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Sir Roger Gale is one of the longest serving Conservative MPs in parliament and the unofficial MP for British expatriates, having campaigned for the rights of Britons living abroad for many years and been the political driving force behind restoring the right for all British expats to vote in general elections, which will finally be the case at the forthcoming elections in two years time, unless there are any more surprises in Westminster. As an outspoken member of the back bench, his position has always been very straightforward. Following the Barnard Castle Affair, involving Mr. Cummings, he concluded that the Prime Ministers judgement was deeply flawed and submitted his letter to Sir Graham Brady calling for a vote of no confidence. As far as he was aware at the time, it was the first letter that Sir Graham received and had nothing to do with Partygate, which was - at that time - not even a gleam in a tabloid editors eye. All the events that have followed merely confirmed his initial misgivings, and now the country waits to see who the final two candidates for leadership of the Conservative Party are on Monday. Born in 1943, Sir Roger was educated at Hardyes School in Dorchester, Dorset and the London Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He is a former producer and director of current affairs programmes for the BBC, editor of Thames Televisions Teenage Unit, and a freelance radio journalist. He has been a Conservative member of the UK Parliament for more than 30 years, having been elected as MP for the North Thanet constituency in 1983 and re-elected eight times since then, most recently in June 2017. He is the longest-serving member of the Speakers Panel of Chairmen, and has acted as a Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons. From 1992 to 1995 he was a Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State for the Armed Forces. He also has a specialised knowledge of animal welfare issues, having been the Founding Chairman of the All Party Group for the Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments. He is President of the Conservative Animal Welfare Group. Sir Roger first served on the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe between 1987 and 1989, was re-appointed in 2010 and now leads the United Kingdom delegation to the Assembly. He currently sits on the Monitoring and Rules Committees of the Assembly and is a former Chair of the Media and Information Society Sub-Committee. For the Assembly, he has observed elections in Armenia, Georgia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine and Tunisia. And it is Europe where Sir Roger believes that much work will have to be done by the new leader and his or her team. One thing for sure is that Brexit will not be renegotiated, not even the leader of the opposition wants to go down that road. Its done and dusted and will not be overturned. That said, what we as a party and the country as a whole need is a pragmatic, honest and straightforward leader who will open sensible lines of negotiation with Europe. There are a host of outstanding reciprocal agreements which need to made - from pet passports to health insurance and driving licences, for example. And the latter, I am afraid, is being held up in Spain by the Spanish government, not London. Plus there is the burning issue of Northern Ireland. The Withdrawal Agreement, with its Northern Ireland Protocol, threatens the future of the United Kingdom. While there are many in Northern Ireland, not least the major business organisations, who regard the protocol in business terms as having our cake and eating it, it is anathema to the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and is therefore a threat to the power-sharing upon which the Belfast (Good Friday) agreement and peace in the Province is based. And on the home front, this has certainly been diluted by a mini-budget in which the former Chancellor Rishi Sunak sought to take the sting out of rising food and fuel charges. That train, though, is still coming down the tracks and come autumn and then winter yet another budget and yet more expenditure may be needed to head off the harshest effects upon those least able to provide for themselves. There is a limit to the amount that a Chancellor can borrow without storing up grief for years to come. I am not an economist but my guess is that we are pretty near that limit and that does not take into account public sector pay demands and threats of strike action by the transport unions and others. Overseas, Putins illegal and criminal invasion of Ukraine has morphed into a war of attrition. The effects upon the economies of the developed world and the disruption of food supplies from Ukraine to some of the planets poorest nations are likely to prove devastating, and holding the alliance against Russia that has to date proved so effective will not be an easy task. We must, though, in the interests of long-term peace and democracy continue to give all support possible - in military equipment and humanitarian aid - to the people of a country that is fighting not only for its own life but for our way of life as well. That is the situation that faces the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom whoever he or she may emerge to be, Sir Roger told the Bulletin. So, looking forward, the Conservative Party is a robust assembly, and providing we get the right people in place, I dont think too much damage has been done to the party in the long term. In the short term, Johnsons blatant dishonesty and short-sightedness has damaged the party, but fortunately Sir Keir Starmer and his Labour Party have failed to capitalise on the mess Johnson has put the party in, so I think they may have to do some soul searching as well once they know who they are going to be up against if they are serious about winning the next election. And with regard to the long term, the new Conservative leader has got to be sensible and repair the damage Brexit has done to the UKs relationship with Europe. Of course Johnson looked like a fish out of water at the NATO summit. Apart from being damaged goods, he has not made many friends in Europe. His anti-Europe and immigration Brexit campaign upset many people and did the country few favours. Granted, not being tied into the EU meant that the UK was able to roll out such a fast Covid vaccine programme and develop new trade deals around the world, but thats about it. The Brexit campaign, apart from being based on lies, was also very anti-immigration. All the talk about foreigners stealing jobs just got people hot under the collar and now look at the situation facing the UK. It has one of the lowest unemployment rates but one of the highest numbers of vacancies. Brexit, followed by the pandemic, meant that many immigrant workers went home and have since found jobs, which in many cases pay the same or not more, and they are with their families in their home country. Do they want to return to what appears to be an anti-immigration UK? No. When one looks at the UKs history, as a country our doors have always been open to immigrant workers, theyve played a very important part in the development of the UK, but Johnson turned on them in order to get Brexit over the line while upsetting our European neighbours. But we cant turn the clock back so we now need a sensible and grown-up leader who is prepared to try and bring Britain back into the European fold, no longer use Europe as a dirty word and stop banging on about the dangers of the European Court of Human Rights. That is not part of the European Union, it is the legal arm of the Council of Europe. We need to start paying more attention to Europe. It is a very powerful voice and millions of Britons live and work in the European Union, but Brexit, in particular the anti-Europe attitude held by Johnson which has sadly spread across parts of the country, has done little to help those Britons living in the EU or overseas in general. Those who are paid-up members of the Conservative Party do have the right to cast their votes in the leadership contest and I hope we get the mechanisms working in time for that to happen. And thanks to years of campaigning by myself and other expatriates, the right to vote in general elections will be restored after Tony Blair introduced the 15-year rule. I think most people know my opinion about Johnson. He has always been dishonest, even when he was Mayor of London, and was prepared to have done anything within his powers to have undermined former leaders to get into Number 10. However, he has been caught out and he should have stepped down when he resigned. He should have gone immediately, if not sooner. That way his legacy would have been better protected. In the short term, I fear there are more negatives than positives as a result of Brexit, but in the long term, once the dust settles, I think the UK can and will re-establish its position around the world, not only in the EU, and also properly address the problems on the home front. But the country is going to need a team player, a grown-up politician who understands diplomacy, understands the world and is prepared to have a sensible and adult relationship on the international stage. We need a safe pair of hands. As Churchill said: History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it. I bet Johnson is already writing his memoirs. STF of Odisha police seize firearms, One held 16 Aug 2022 | 3:55 PM Bhubaneswar, Aug 16 (UNI) The Special Task Force (STF ) of Odisha police have recovered five country made pistols, six country made live ammunitions and other. incriminating materials from a criminal and detained him. see more.. STF of Odisha police seize 28 tonnes of Australian Hard coke, one held 16 Aug 2022 | 3:41 PM Bhubaneswar, Aug 16 (UNI) The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha police in association with the Bhadrak Police have apprehended one criminal and seized a truck loaded with Australian hard cokes from his possession. see more.. Odisha: Naveen alerts ten district collectors for a possible flood in Mahanadi river system 16 Aug 2022 | 3:39 PM Bhubaneswar, Aug 16 (UNI) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday alerted the collectors of ten districts to remain alert and take all possible steps to tackle the flood situations. see more.. Portfolios allocated among newly inducted ministers 16 Aug 2022 | 3:37 PM Patna, Aug 16 (UNI) After expanding cabinet on Tuesday, Bihar Chief Minister allocated portfolios among the newly inducted ministers of Grand Alliance government. see more.. Barcelona has reached an agreement in principle with Bayern Munich to sign striker Robert Lewandowski, who will sign a contract as a "Azulgrana" for the next three seasons, according to ESPN. The Polish striker will join the Spanish team in a contract worth 45 million euros plus five million euros in variables. Lewandoski will arrive in Barcelona on July 16 to sign the contract and then travel to the United States to join the team's preseason. Lewandowski: My story with Bayern is over When will the player be presented to the fans? Lewandowski will be presented upon his return from Barcelona's preseason series of matches before the next Joan Gamper Trophy, which Barcelona will play against mexican team Pumas UNAM on August 7 at Camp Nou. Lewandowski rejected offers from PSG and Chelsea Fabrizio Romano, an Italian journalist who is well known in the transfer world for bringing forward signings, also claims that there is an agreement between Barcelona and Lewandowski and added that the Polish striker did not consider the offers from PSG and Chelsea, only the one from Barcelona. The first wife of former United States President Donald Trump, Ivana, died at her home in New York at the age of 73. According to reports, paramedics arrived at Ivana's home after receiving a call informing them about a cardiac arrest. It is said that her death was caused by heart failure but it is being investigated whether Trump's ex-wife died after falling down the stairs. "She was wonderful, beautiful, and amazing woman, who led a great and inspirational life," read a statement on Trump's platform Truth Social. "Her pride and joy were her three children, Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. She was so proud of them, as we were all so proud of her." Reasons of death are being investigated Ivana was found dead on the floor of her home at the foot of a staircase. Authorities still believe Trump's ex-wife suffered a cardiac arrest, but the official cause of death has not yet been released. Police are investigating whether she fell and, if so, whether the fall contributed in any way to her death. "On Thursday, July 14, 2022, at approximately 1240 hours, police responded to a 911 call of an aided individual at 10 East 64 Street, within the confines of the 19 Precinct," a spokesperson for the New York Police Department said. "Upon arrival, officers observed a 73 year-old female unconscious and unresponsive. EMS responded to the location and pronounced the victim deceased at the scene." The United States War on Drugs has been harsh and violent, especially for Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, the DEA agent who was tortured, burned, and eventually killed in the '80s by men working for Rafael Caro Quintero, one of Mexico's leading men in the drug trade with the United States. Humble beginnings in Mexico Camarena was born in Calexico, California, just across the border from his family's hometown of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. His intuition and dedication in working to infiltrate the drug cartels led him and his team to trump Caro Quintero's and Rafael Felix Gallardo's operation. CIA Was in on it? According to USA Today, the U.S. Justice Department acquired witness statements that implicate CIA agents that were involved in the plot to torture and kill Kiki Camarena. The statements were provided by Mika Camarena, Kiki's widow, and others who are informed about the case. Supply and Demand During the time when cocaine coming from Colombia reached its first all-time high consumption in the United States, Kiki Camarena was wholeheartedly committed to stoping the drugs from getting into the United States, however, no matter how much is invested in "protecting" the public, the demand for the drugs significantly surpass the efforts to stop the drugs from being transported, purchased and consumed by people in the United States. The War on Drugs The first time that the war on drugs was mentioned by the Regan administration it was praised by the conservatives in the U.S. because it had a moral intention of actually doing some good, it was the old tale of cops vs robbers, or in this case cops vs drug dealers. Initially, the governments of Mexico and most of Latin America agreed with the United States to stop the drugs from entering the United States, however, there have been many documents that state that it also helped the U.S. have open transportation channels to funnel weapons and supplies to guerrillas and other local armies to destabilize the governments under the communist regime. Specifically, in Nicaragua. Pakistan govt to crackdown on defamatory social media content Islamabad, July 16 (UNI) Pakistan's government has decided to crackdown against social media users who post content that is deemed defamatory, Geo News reported on Saturday. This decision was taken after Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal was heckled by PTI supporters at a restaurant on Islamabad-Lahore Motorway last week, which went viral last week and made headlines after which the family apologised to Ahsan Iqbal. Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah chaired a meeting on Friday, which was also attended by the federal interior secretary, Punjab IGP, FIA DG, Nadras Acting Chairman Khalid Latif and other officials. The meeting discussed issues of harassment of citizens and uploading immoral videos on social media and a decision was taken to crack down on those who share defamatory content on social media and impersonate others. The officials also deliberated over issues of blackmailing and character assassination of citizens. Islamabad, July 16 (UNI) Women have been banned from visiting tourist points in Tehseel Salarzai of Pakistan's Bajaur district, according to local media reports. Geo News on Saturday reported that the decision was taken during a grand 'Jirga' (a council or assembly) of local elders held in Tehseel Salarzai. Women will not be allowed to travel even with "men to any tourist place" as it is "against their traditions," according to the 'Jirga'. Thus, it was decided that if the district administration would not stop women from tourism, then the 'Jirga' will stop them, Geo News citied people participated in the assembly. UNI VP GK Delhi woman, daughter-in-law killed 16 Aug 2022 | 1:59 PM New Delhi, Aug 16 (UNI) Two women were found dead after being apparently stabbed at their house in north-east Delhis Subhash Park area, police said on Tuesday. see more.. Significant dip in India Covid cases at 8,813 16 Aug 2022 | 11:33 AM New Delhi, Aug 16 (UNI) India witnessed a major dip in number of Covid-19 cases reported in a day after almost two months, as a total of 8,813 people tested positive for coronavirus, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday. see more.. A man held for selling illegal Chinese manjha in Delhi 15 Aug 2022 | 9:41 PM New Delhi, Aug 15 (UNI) A 48-year-old man was arrested for allegedly selling illegal Chinese manjha in Delhis Nihal Vihar area, police said on Monday. see more.. India gifts Dornier aircraft to Sri Lanka 15 Aug 2022 | 9:36 PM New Delhi, Aug 15 (UNI) In a move that will contribute more towards the security of the Indian Ocean Region at large, India on Monday gifted a Dornier Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft to Sri Lanka at a special event held at Air Force Base, Katunayake. see more.. MECOSTA Vacation Bible School is being held at Chapel of the Lakes Lutheran Church weekdays July 25-29. Hours are 9 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. The church is located at 9407 90th Avenue in Mecosta, and the program is for children from kindergarten through sixth grade. Register now by calling the church at 972-7891; walk ins are welcome too during the program. Have your children join us along with friends for a week of artwork, music, games, snacks and fun. By Duruthu Edirimuni Chandrasekera Colombo, July 16 (UNI) Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Chairman GL Peiris on Saturday demanded an explanation from SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam on the decision taken to back Ranil Wickremesinghe at the election to elect the President next week. He demanded a response to the following questions: Under what authority this purported decision was made; The names of the persons who purportedly participated in the making of this decision; The basis of selecting these persons; The venue, date and time of the purported meeting; Particulars relating to the notice convening the purported meeting including the date and time of the notice; The provision of the constitution of SLPP, in terms of which this purported decision was made. The letter was sent after SLPP MP Dullas Alahapperuma announced his decision to vie for the presidency yesterday. Peiris said that since a candidate from SLPP has come forward to contest for the Presidency, the partys candidate should be supported and not an outside candidate. The parliamentary vote is scheduled for July 20, to elect a new President. UNI DRU RJ The message on WhatsApp got straight to the point. I want to bring a sister from Brazil and her daughter, the sender wrote in Portuguese, according to federal court documents. For her and her daughter to come alone, when I say alone I do not mean they will come alone, its $15,000 for the trip, Fagner Chaves De Lima typed in response, according to federal court filings. De Lima told the person on the other end of the message chain that if the sister and daughter were smuggled into the United States with one of his passengers posing as a stepfather, the price would be $10,000, the documents show. If they couldnt pay that amount right away, he suggested they put up property as collateral, according to the documents. He boasted of his experience smuggling people, saying hed been doing it for 20 years, according to the messages contained in the documents. The only thing I care about is the passenger and the money. You understand? he wrote, according to the documents. On June 29, federal authorities arrested De Lima, 41, of East Hartford, charging him with one count of attempted human smuggling. The person on the other end of the WhatsApp message chain had been an undercover agent, posing as someone hoping to smuggle his family into the U.S., according to the federal filings and the Department of Justice. De Lima now faces up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted, according to the U.S. attorneys office for the district of Massachusetts, which announced his arrest last month. In mid-June, De Lima traveled to Worcester, Mass., where he received two checks for $15,000 to move the supposed family members, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. During the meeting at a Dunkin Donuts that was captured on audio and video, the undercover agent handed over the checks, which were made out to a company where De Lima was an officer, the court filings stated. De Lima also asked the undercover agent for a copy of the sisters Brazilian passport and Social Security number, according to the charging documents filed in federal court. The undercover officer promised to get those in order, and they agreed that the plan was for the sister to be smuggled at the end of June, an affidavit attached to the criminal complaint stated. Federal authorities further alleged that after De Limas clients made their way to the U.S., he would extort them for even more money. For a steep price, Mr. De Lima allegedly made arrangements for victims to travel from Brazil to the United States, and then extorted the vulnerable victims and their families for more money, even threatening harm, Rachael S. Rollins, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, said in a statement. Joseph R. Bonavolonta, the special agent in charge of the FBIs Boston office, called the allegations against De Lima disgraceful. In attempting to smuggle human beings into the United States for his own financial profit and then allegedly extorting them for more money, under the fear of harm, he has demonstrated a deliberate disregard for the safety of their lives, and our countrys laws that are in place to ensure the publics safety, he said. Prosecutors have moved for De Lima to remain in custody. A hearing to discuss his detention has been scheduled for July 21, the U.S. attorneys office said. If you believe that you or someone you know may be a victim of human smuggling/trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at 888-373-7888, or Text 233733. How to use the mindat.org media viewer Click/touch this help panel to close it. Welcome to the mindat.org media viewer. 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Summary of all keyboard shortcuts Government ministers from France and Niger met in Niamey on Friday as French forces reorganise their mission in the Sahel following a planned pullout from Mali. Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna and Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu arrived in the Nigerien capital on Thursday. Their joint visit is intended to "represent the combined civilian and military" support provided to the Sahel region by France. The talks with local officials take place as French forces complete their pullout from Mali, placing the spotlight on Niger as a frontline state in the fight against jihadism. "The democratic regression in West Africa is extremely worrying," Colonna told French MPs ahead of her trip, making reference to recent coups which have overthrown elected governments.. "However, in spite of these events and the withdrawal from Mali, France will continue to help West African armies fight terrorist groups. "We are currently in consultation with our partners to determine with them, in line with their requests and needs, the kind of support that we are able to provide." Niger is one of the biggest recipients of French aid, receiving 143 million euros last year. The two countries will sign agreements for a French loan of 50 million euros and a grant of 20 million euros. The French ministers will also meet President Mohamed Bazoum and visit a base at Ouallam, north of Niamey, which oversees joint operations on Niger's western border, and is manned by several hundred French and Nigerien troops. Poverty and fanaticism Niger, the world's poorest country according to the UN's Human Development Index, has been badly hit by the jihadist insurgency that began in northern Mali in 2012 and then swept to neighbouring countries. Thousands of civilians have been killed across the region and more than two million have fled their homes. Niger itself is facing insurgencies both on its western border with Mali and Burkina Faso, and on its south-eastern frontier with Nigeria. It hosts tens of thousands of internally displaced people, as well as refugees from Burkina Faso, Mali and Nigeria. French forces, which have been supporting Mali for nearly a decade, are expected to complete their pullout in the coming weeks after France and the Malian junta fell out. The roots of the dispute lie in a military takeover in August 2020, which was followed by a second coup in May 2021. Friction developed over the junta's delays in restoring military rule and escalated when Mali brought in Russian paramilitaries, described by France as "mercenaries" from the pro-Kremlin Wagner group. Coups followed in Guinea last September and in Burkina Faso in January. France wants to be less exposed At its peak, France's Barkhane mission had 5,100 troops among five Sahel allies, all former French colonies -- Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. The forces have provided key support in air power, troop transport and reconnaissance. In Niger, France notably has an air base at Niamey where it has deployed drones. After the Malian pullout, the mission will have "around 2,500" troops, Barkhane commander General Laurent Michon said in an interview this month. The reconfigured mission will emphasise "more cooperative operations," he said. These operations will be "determined more strictly by requests from the African countries and will take the form of 'in support of' and not 'in replacement for'" the local military, he said. More than a thousand troops will be deployed in Niger, providing air support and training, French sources say. French troops are also in Gabon, Cote d'Ivoire and Senegal, as well as in the east of Africa in Djibouti. On Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macon said he had asked the government and military chiefs to "to rethink our overall presence on the African continent by the autumn." He called for "a presence that is less static and less exposed" and "a closer relationship" with African armed forces. Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has informed the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament that the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) owes the Authority GH4.6 million. The CEO made the disclosure on Friday at the PAC's sitting in Accra, when he took his turn to respond to issues raised in the 2019 Auditor-General's Report concerning the NPA. According to the report, the auditors were unable to confirm the existence and completeness of the account receivable balances and that for instance, third party confirmation received from TOR indicated that its balance was GH6,884,099.23 receivable from NPA, however, NPA presented a balance of GH4,648,450.75 receivables from TOR. It noted that there was an irreconcilable difference between the outstanding balances in the books of NPA and TOR as was verified from the balances the two entities posted as of 31 December 2017. It said receivables Balances were material to the financial statements and so can affect the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial statements. The Report urged the Authority to ensure that proper reconciliations were made between NPA and TOR and other entities making up the receivables, and confirmation of such balances promptly made available to the Auditors. Dr Abdul-Hamid said: As far as they are concerned, we needed to offset what Government owed them with what they owe us but our response as per this letter that we have written to the Public Accounts Committee, our answer to that is that we are not the ones responsible for paying under recoveries. Payment of under recoveries is the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance, and so, there is no way they can ask us to offset what Government owes them with what they owe us. As far as we are concerned our books between 2014 to 2017 indicate that they owed us GH4,648,450.75, he added. He reiterated that TOR had subsequently confirmed that they owed the Authority GH4,648,450.75. Dr Abdul-Hamid explained to the Committee that the GH6,884,099.23, which TOR initialed claimed had owed them by the Authority, was what the Government owed the Refinery. Dr James Klutse Avedzi, the Chairman of PAC said the information given by the NPA CEO was not available to the Auditors at the time of the audit. The Auditors confirmed the new development to the PAC, stating that with the reconciliation done by TOR and NPA, the indebtedness was now GH4,648,450.75. GNA The Mayor for Kumasi, Hon Samuel Pyne has commissioned two classroom blocks for the Fankyenebra and Daaban-Apraman communities in the Nhyiaeso Sub-Metro. At the Fankyenebra community, the Mayor cut the tape to officially unveil a six-unit classroom block with an office for the Fankyenebra MA Basic School. The Mayor later commissioned a two-classroom kindergarten with a kitchen facility for the Daaban-Apraman Basic School. In his brief remarks during the commissioning of both facilities in the communities, the Mayor noted the commitment of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly to complete educational projects under construction as well as those that might have been left unattended. I resolved with my assembly members after taking the reins of leadership that we will complete all abandoned school projects and undertake new ones so as to ensure that teaching and learning become a formality in the Kumasi Metropolis," Hon Pyne stressed. APPEAL Speaking to the media later, Hon Pyne appealed to striking teacher unions to relax their stands and cooperate with the government as they sit to discuss the issues of concern. He requested that while negotiating with the government they could suspend the strike action which was biting hard at pupils and students at the basic level as well as those at the Senior High School level, especially those who are about to sit for their final exams, BECE and WASSCE. The Mayor noted that the teacher unions had legitimate concerns since he himself was a teacher and had seen the conditions of service. "I appeal to my fellow teachers and their union heads to rather than stick to their hard stance, relax the strike action and discuss the issues of concern with the government since the latter has shown the desire to listen," the Kumasi Mayor pleaded. METRO DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION Mr David Oppong, Kumasi Metro Director of Education addressing authorities at both schools visited, urged them to use the facilities for the intended purposes. He also asked them to ensure that the facilities were periodically maintained and put in good condition so as to enable them to derive the necessary benefits. The Education Director cautioned pupils at both schools not to write on the walls and school buildings since such activities tend to soil the clean work done on the facilities. I urge school authorities to take good care of these facilities and to ensure that pupils do not write on the walls or surfaces of the buildings so that they could last long for its intended purposes, Mr Oppong intimated. With the youngest population in the world, Africa now has the chance to transform its future. More than 70 percent of the population is under the age of 30. Yet, this promise for transformation remains untapped. Many of these young people are either unemployed or underemployed with few prospects for decent and fulfilling work. The gap between youth skills and the marketplace is often cited as one of the reasons for this disconnect. Relevant skills are needed but our systems are falling short Ramping up education and skills development as outlined in Sustainable Development Goals is now urgent. SDG target 4.4 calls for a substantial increase in the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills. Yet our current system is falling short. Evidence shows that in many cases, formal education is failing to address the learning needs of Africas young people and diverse workspaces. With the exponential rise in technological advancements, the skills gap is widening. Technological ability is currently considered the most important skill required. The value of technological competence cannot be underestimated. However, todays youth need to cultivate a new set of intelligence and skills to keep up with the lightning-pace of this changing world. These skills of the future must go beyond technological competence Reflecting on the needs of the future on World Youth Skills Day points to three skills that youth need to unlock current and future opportunities. These include Digital Intelligence, Relational Intelligence and Collective Intelligence. Youth skills must balance digital life with real life Digital intelligence will help Africas youth to navigate the real impact of emerging digital technologies. On one hand, technological advancement is creating positive benefits by easily connecting people and ideas across space and time. Yet, this intense interaction with diverse tools can result in negative consequences such as digital addiction and the rapid spread of disinformation. To mitigate this, users need Digital Intelligence. This is the ability to question When, What, Where, Why, Who and How much of their relationship with digital technologies. High Digital Intelligence will enable the youth to overcome the challenges and demands of digital life including application of new digital knowledge and skills while maintaining a connection with real life. Youth skills must build connections between people Secondly, relational intelligence will help youth to protect human interaction. In todays digital world, online acquaintances are often mistaken for real friends. Affirmation is determined by the number of likes, and influencers have become the new mentors. Navigating social situations in a technologically advanced world calls for a high level of Relational Intelligence. Protecting relationships in real life and the space they occupy will help young people invest the right amount of time and effort in relationships that enhance their lives. Youth skills must power collective action Thirdly, Collective Intelligence recognises that everyone has skills, knowledge or areas of expertise that bring value to the group. It has been said that If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together (African proverb). To find solutions to current and future problems, the youth need to appreciate the value of working together. Growing youth skills creates a fairer future in a digital society As young people are creating their future now, applying these skills will help to make it fairer and more equal. The future is digital, so achieving a fair and just future requires youth to keep people and ethics at the centre of technological advancement. We already have some good examples of African youth at the forefront of using technology to co-create a future for people with different abilities in Ghana. Students from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and the University of Cape Coast have developed Ghanas first AI robot to assist persons with disabilities. The robot reads body language in order to feed people who are unable to use their hands. Similarly, Tech Era, a social enterprise run by young people, is helping youth to develop affordable and accessible assistive technology for people living with disabilities in Ghana. In addition, iStammer app, a digital solution by young innovators connects stammers to speech therapists to enhance their speaking abilities, confidence and inclusion. These innovations show what youth can do when they fully utilise digital knowledge as well as relational and collaboration skills. They are changing the world and ensuring that no one is left behind. Investing in youth skills is the key to our common future At the 2021 YouthConnekt Summit hosted by the Government of Ghana and supported by UNDP, the message was clear. Demographic dividends do not come automatically; they have to be earned. To realise the dividend, African countries have to invest in the empowerment, training and employment of our young people. The time to invest in equipping our youth with skills for the future is now. The Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana says its members will still be on strike despite government's agreement to pay Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) because some other outstanding labour issues remain unresolved. It cited the non-payment of tier 2 pension arrears and contractual agreements among the reasons why their industrial action is still in full force. This comes on the back of the suspension of the strike by labour unions following plans by government to pay the allowance at a rate of 15 percent. But the senior staff association, which was part of the groups demanding the allowance, is yet to call off its strike on the heels of other concerns. Speaking on Eyewitness News, Isaac Donor, national chairman of the association, maintains that they will not resume work if these demands are not met. We went on strike because of several issues. COLA was just one of the issues, and it has been given to us, but we have other outstanding issues. Our Tier 2 pension is still hanging for 10 good years. We also have issues of information on appointments. We have casual workers who have been in employment at the university for six years, so we want the government to regularize their appointment because this is against labour law. He also hoped for fruitful deliberations with government in finding a lasting solution to their grievances . We are ready for engagements because now that the COLA tension is down, we are praying that they will call us, he stressed. Meanwhile, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission says the Senior Staff Associations decision to continue the strike unabated lacks reasoning. Ing. Bernard Arthur, the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, in response said, government is still engaging the union on other matters and cannot fathom why the association will not call off its strike. You go on strike because of COLA and now that it has been addressed, you bring another issue and say that the government team has not met you. We have met them, so what is the motive of the strike. To say that the government is not engaging them is not right. Government is working to resolve the concerns of the labour unions. Why have they left the negotiation table? Their strike is in bad faith because the dialogue is the way forward?" citinewsroom The Electoral Commission (EC) says it is not in the process of compiling a new voters register, as claimed by the Minority in Parliament. The Minority raised concerns that this will be a wasteful expenditure as it will cost about $80 million and will disenfranchise a lot of Ghanaians who have not registered or secured their Ghana cards yet. In an interview on Eyewitness News, the Director of the Electoral Services Department at the Electoral Commission, Dr. Serebour Quaicoe said the EC is only demanding the Ghana card for a continuous registration exercise, and not to compile a new register. We already compiled a register in 2020, we only want to roll out continuous registration. It is only for those who are going for the continuous registration that we are demanding for the Ghana card. Dr. Serebour further dispelled assertions that the process would be a wasteful venture. Of course, we will have to print cards, among others, unless we are saying we will no longer update our voter register. As far as the aforementioned things will be done, we need to incur some costs. But this will not be as expensive as compiling a new voters register. This wont be as expensive as the mass registration that requires getting other hands on deck, he added. He also indicated that the Electoral Commission is working with Parliament to amend the Constitutional Instrument to allow for the continuous registration with the Ghana card. According to him, the new constitutional instrument only seeks to amend the current laws governing elections in the country to enable it conduct the continuous registration of new voters and persons who could not register prior to the 2020 general elections. Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament wants officials of the Electoral Commission to be summoned to brief Parliament next week to shed more light on the process to compile a new voters' register with the Ghana Card as identification. citinewsroom 16.07.2022 LISTEN I wonder how and why a Ghanaian woman, living in a civilized white mans country, will choose to disgrace herself by trying her hardest to throw dust into the eyes of Ghanaians the world over, especially, those living in Ghana. One of my WhatsApp contacts, Skido, did forward the attached video to me on Wednesday, 13 July 2022. However, I could not watch it until Friday, 15 July 2022. Much as I have no time to spare for other things but to concentrate on finishing a pressing work which has a deadline set to it, I have however decided to squeeze this quick publication into it. It is worth commenting about to highlight how irresponsible and a disgrace the lady in the video is. I am not interested in her educational, political and family background but more interested in exposing her as a blatant liar and a complete nonentity unworthy of residence in the white mans soil. For the attention of the Ghanaian public, it is never true that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have as at the time and date the woman (Frema) was making her video decided on abrogating the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) education, the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) programme, the governments initiative intended for solving graduate unemployment and the free school feeding programme for the SHS students. It is never true that any round trip by President Nana Akufo-Addo using a rented private jet costs US$3.5 million. Even Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah (Hon), Member of Parliament for North Tongu, who has made it his avowed duty to expose the president on his taste for opulence in the midst of the nation facing untold economic hardship, had even never mentioned a figure nearing what Frema is foolishly alleging. Where did Frema get her quoted figure of how much the president costs the nation on his round trip patronising the alleged luxurious private jet from? Can she substantiate her allegation? As uncivilized as Frema may be, despite living in the USA, I would like her to tell me if prostitution does not go on in there, although the country abounds in jobs? Prostitution is everywhere. It is a worldwide phenomenon, although it is not a decent trade, many may say. Is it because of the scarcity or non-availability of jobs in Ghana that some women are forced into prostitution? If yes, what about in Europe, Americas and certain big economies in Asia where prostitution is a legalized profession. Are there not many job opportunities in those countries to have avoided the occasion of women and men taking to prostitution which is deemed indecent, if not abominable, by the proudly married Frema? I should not spend any further time educating or exposing this mother of lies propagandist who is worse than the overworking NDC propaganda machine constantly churning out bunches of shameless power-conscious misfits doing whatever it takes to win political power. As the NDC spread lies, intimidations, plan kidnappings, murders, arsons and insults in the hope of winning power, so is this loudmouth but uncivilized Ghanaian woman in the video doing. I dont suffer fools kindly but as time is of essence and I need to do certain things that are of most priority, I will end her but not without advising Frema to be truthful next time. Yes, she can lambast the president and his NPP government for their corrupt practices if any, however, she should not exaggerate or tell what is never true. All her allegations in the video are the figment of her warped imagination. Rockson Adofo Friday, 15 July 2022 The fall and ignominious retreat of Sri Lankas Gotabaya Rajapaksa has enlivened one distinct possibility. Having formally resigned as Sri Lankan President, a point made via email from Singapore, those wishing to see him account for war crimes may get their wish. There have been various efforts in train regarding a man who ruthlessly concluded his countrys civil war in an orgy of mass killing. The war itself, waged between the forces of Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism and the minority Tamils seeking independence, was the rotten fruit of discrimination, exclusion and ethnocratic politics heralded by the passage of the Sinhala Only Act in 1956. That legislative instrument, implemented by Prime Minister S.W.R.D Bandaranaike, made Sinhalese the countrys official language while banishing Tamils from important positions of employment. Gotabayas entry into Sri Lankan politics was a fraternal affair. His brother Mahinda, on becoming president in 2005, picked him as defence secretary. Prior to that, Gota worked as a computer systems administrator at Loyola School in Los Angeles, during which time he became a US citizen. The appointment made him overseer of the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). My job, Gota stated in an interview posted on the Sri Lankan Defence Minister website, was to understand the priorities, rationally organise those priorities in terms of what was really required for victory and flush out needs and requirements that had zero relevance to our objectives. In seeing the 26 year conflict to its conclusion in 2009, an estimate by the United Nations put the death toll of Tamil civilians at 40,000. (The number may well be as high as 70,000). The formal line taken by government forces was that the Tamils only had themselves to blame, being used as human shields by the guerrilla forces. Such killings took place even as US President Barack Obama urged a cessation in the indiscriminate shelling that has taken hundreds of innocent lives, including several hospitals. Hoping for some balance, Obama also urged the Tamil Tigers to lay down their arms and let civilians go. Their forced recruitment of civilians and their use of civilians as human shields is deplorable. The unabashed statement of command responsibility by the former defence secretary is also supported by the view of US Ambassador Patricia Butenis, whose frank assessment is available via a WikiLeaks cable. According to Butenis, responsibility for many of the alleged crimes rests with the countrys senior civilian and military leadership, including President [Mahinda] Rajapaksa and his brothers. There is also abundant prima facie evidence that Gotabaya is responsible for the execution of a number of political leaders and their families upon surrender, was responsible for bombing civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, and insisted that the would target and kill innocent civilians, if necessary, to defeat the LTTE. His return to public life as president took place on a populist platform denigrating his opponents for not giving priority to national security. They were talking about ethnic reconciliation, then they were talking about human rights issues, they were talking about individual freedoms. These remarks to Reuters assumed force in the wake of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings by Islamist militants that caused over 250 deaths. Over the years, Gotabayas resume has been weighed down with blood. His actions did not begin and end as defence minister. A May report by the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) and Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka (JDS) focused on the ex-Presidents role in a number of atrocities committed in 1989. The account focuses on the role Gotabaya played as District Military Coordinating Officer of Matale District, an area that saw brutal engagements between government forces and those of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). Between May 1989 and January 1990, Gotabaya oversaw a rule of forced disappearances (the report accounts for 1,042 victims), torture, and killing. A number of Sri Lankan government commissions took note of over 700 forced disappearances. His role in the disappearances was also noted by the lengthily titled Presidential Commission into Involuntary Removals or Disappearances of Persons (Central Zone) List of Persons Whose Names Transpired as Responsible for Disappearances Central Province Matale District. (In a list of 24 alleged perpetrators, Gotabaya pops up at 16.) The tenure was also characterised by an absence of interest in preventing the commission of such crimes or investigating them, despite complaints being made to him directly by family members of the victims. Civil suits have become another avenue of redress in the absence of criminal proceedings, though these have been complicated by questions of state immunity. Ahimsa Wickrematunge, daughter of assassinated Sri Lankan journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge, is one figure seeking damages from the man she accuses of authorising the murder of her father, former editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper, in 2009. The civil action, filed in the US District Court for the Central District of California, alleged extra judicial killing, crimes against humanity and torture. The action was dismissed because the plaintiff cited no authority suggesting that Defendants citizenship alone should override the fact that all of the allegations against him concern actions taken in an official capacity as the Sri Lankan Secretary of Defense. In conclusion, the Court found for Gotabaya, as he was entitled to common law foreign official immunity. There was an absence of subject matter jurisdiction. Former detective with Sri Lankas Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Nishantha Silva also argues that, as secretary of defence, Gotabaya had the means, opportunity and, in the words of his written statement for the Peoples Tribunal on the Murder of Journalists, a clear motive for killing Lasantha Wickrematunge. Another possibility, one as yet unexercised, is available under the War Crimes Act of 1996, which amended the Federal criminal code to enable the prosecution and punishment of US nationals for grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions. Law academic Ryan Goodman, in a pertinent 2014 piece for Just Security, argues that there would be a legal windfall for any US effort to investigate and prosecute [Gota] across international borders. His citizenship also expands US policy space by reducing US vulnerability to accusations of meddling if we go after one of our own. As politicians the world over dread the spectacle of an enraged citizenry storming the residences of president and prime minister, taking dips in their pools, sitting at their desks and eating on the lawns as public commons, a number of dedicated human rights lawyers will be readying their briefs and submissions. Their mission: Get Gota. Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He currently lectures at RMIT University. Email: [email protected] Kenneth Ofosu Mensah aka Obolo, a driver who is accused of defiling a minor between seven and nine years per bone age determination, has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court. The victim is said to sometimes shout in her sleep: "stop, it is paining me." She is also said to have complained of pains in the vagina. Charged with defilement and indecent assault, Mensah, 31, has pleaded not guilty. The Court presided over by Mrs Christina Cann has admitted Mensah to bail in the sum of GHS100,000 with three sureties, two to be justified. The matter has been adjourned to July 26 for a case management conference. Prosecuting Police Chief Inspector Simon Terkpor said the complainant was a barber residing at Agbogboloshie. The victim is a primary 2 pupil. Chief Inspector Terkpor said the victim resided with the complainant, her father, at Agbogboloshie. The prosecution said Mensah lived near the complainant and the accused had been asking the victim to sweep his room often. Based on that, the prosecution said, the accused took advantage and followed the victim into his room, lock it up and insert his finger and manhood into her vagina. According to Prosecution, Mensah after the act gave the victim money. The prosecution said during the month of March this year, Mensah followed the victim into his room when she went there to sweep. The Prosecution said the accused locked the door, undressed himself and the victim and had sexual intercourse after inserting his finger into her vagina. The prosecutor said in June this year, the victim sometimes could be heard shouting in her sleep, "stop, it is paining me." "Sometimes too, she would be complaining of vaginal pains when she takes her bath," the prosecutor said. According to the prosecutor, when the complainant asked if somebody had been having sex with her, she revealed that it was the accused who had been inserting his finger and having sex with her. The prosecution said the complainant reported the matter to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service in Accra and he was given a medical form to take the victim to the hospital for examination and treatment. The Police later arrested the accused person. GNA President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo has reaffirmed his government's commitment to providing ease of access to quality education to enhance equal access to growth opportunities. He said the Government considered education the pathway to opportunities for all and would sustain programmes and initiatives through a blighting world economic situation. The President was addressing the grand durbar of the 10th-anniversary celebration of the University of Health and Allied Science (UHAS). Government will not renege on its commitment to provide quality education and equal opportunities for this generation. The government will continue to intervene and make available resources for the provision of quality and free basic and secondary education. Education should be a right which all of Ghana's youth can benefit. Education is the equaliser of opportunities. I want every child to attend school, not only for what they learn from books but for life experiences. I want each of them to look into the mirror every morning and know that they can achieve everything they dream of. I want them to be confident that what they study is relevant to the world of today and of tomorrow, he said. President Akufo-Addo celebrated the achievements of the University through the period and praised the foresight of late President Prof Atta Mills, which led to its establishment. Atta Mills's progressive vision led to the setting up of this University, he noted and commended the University for straying true to its mandated path. UHAS has come a long way, and is bigger than it was envisaged, he said while expressing gratitude to the Chinese government for powering its establishment. The President also paid glowing tributes to the founding entities of the University and encouraged the Management to sustain the dedication to the duty on which it was built. The durbar was on the theme The Role of specialised Universities in National Development. UHAS was celebrated for speedy advancement; growing its student population from 154 to over 7,000 within the period, while graduating over 5,000, including hundreds of medical doctors. Ten of its 10 Schools had been established, postgraduate programmes progressed, and the University had enjoyed top rankings both locally and internationally. Professor John Owusu Gyapong, Vice Chancellor, said UHAS was established through collective effort, noting the support of traditional leaders in the Region and other stakeholders contributed. He said efforts at establishing the various schools and programs progressed, and that products of the University bore the marks of quality training. We are not just graduating students, but the quality of students we are graduating is remarkably high. Today, UHAS is a housed brand, and everybody wants to be associated with UHAS now. The Vice-Chancellor used the occasion to draw stakeholder attention to the numerous infrastructural needs of the University, which he said affected student population growth. We need the right infrastructure to double our intake, he said and mentioned specifically a mega central laboratory complex, and the school of public health at Hohoe, progress of which had been delayed funding. Prof. Gyapong added, however, that the University endeavoured to stay on its mandate as captured, sealed in the Act of Parliament that established the institution. We have remained focused despite our challenges. UHAS is in a good state today, we have been focused and avoided mission creep. Present at the durbar were past and present leadership of the University, Members of Parliament from the Region, sector ministers, and traditional leaders. The President cut the anniversary cake and inspected works on phase two of the development of the University's main campus - a 60-million-dollar Chinese investment that would provide a physical academic environment for the UHAS School of Midwifery, and the University's central administration. President Akufo had cut sod for the project last year, and the Government provided counterpart funding for the project. It is currently progressing past 30 per cent. President Akufo-Addo also commissioned a newly completed hall of residence, named Sokode Hall after the community hosted the main campus of the University. GNA Mr Anthony Boateng, Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), has warned school heads against imposing fees and levies that could make education more difficult to obtain. "The financial circumstances of any Ghanaian child should not be a barrier to his or her access to education and so the GES does not accept the imposition of a levy or fees under any condition in our schools," he said. Mr Boateng, who was speaking at the fourth annual Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) consultation forum on education in Koforidua, said while the church and all other stakeholders were welcome to provide support to schools, they were not permitted to levy or impose fees. "Our experience has shown that such levies and fees have deprived many students access to education," he said, "to the extent that for failure to pay such levies, students have been denied the opportunity to take part in examinations and we will not countenance that under any circumstance." He said that GES was working to reverse challenges in the education sector, and would resist any attempt to capitalise on only one challenge in order to deny access to education to a certain group of children. The Church established the annual education forum four years ago under the leadership of Reverend Professor Joy Obiri Yeboah Mante as the Church Moderator, to interact with heads of Presbyterian educational institutions and strengthen the Church's role and partnership with the government and other stakeholders in education. The heads of 25 senior high schools, five Presbyterian Colleges of Education, two universities, and two vocational schools attended the forum on the theme: "Promoting academic excellence and moral uprightness in our educational institutions through religious discipline: reflection on the past, the present, and the role of the Presbyterian Church." Rev Mante expressed concern about the difficulties facing the educational sector, such as the absence of governing boards at some colleges of education and the current food shortage challenging SHSs. "As key partners of the government in the area of education, we want to see a well-coordinated and strengthened partnership for the advancement of quality and morally upright educational doctrines," he said. GNA On Thursday, July 14 Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia spoke on Ghanas return to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at the official launch of the collaboration between Accra Business School and South East Technological University Ireland, in Accra. Responding to his speech was a Ghanaian journalist with the Accra-based JoyNews, Miss Araba Koomson, who jabbed the Vice President for what she described as his insincerity and propaganda. According to her, blaming the previous NDC government for the current economic mess was a disappointment to every Ghanaian who was hoping he (Dr. Bawumia) was going to admit and apologise. Miss Koomson made these bold assertions during an editorial section on Friday, July 15, aired on JoyNews, monitored by Modernghana News. Your speech was a disappointment for many who were eagerly anticipating what you had to tell Ghanaians, in fact, some actually believed you were going to apologise to Ghanaians, she said in a disappointing voice. The part where the Vice President claimed he would prefer the Ghana Card over 1,000 interchanges enraged the journalist the most. Give me 1,000 interchanges and the Ghana card, I will choose the Ghana card because it has more impact than the interchanges, Dr. Bawumia stated. In her response, she said Clearly, Mr. Vice President, you are not in touch with the realities on the ground. What the people were looking for was an admission that your government made mistakes and assurance of how you intend to take us out of this economic fiasco. Miss Koomson continues I was expecting you to apologise to Ghanaians rather than come out with fresh propaganda. However, it's not too late for you to do so, or you fear your opponents will mock you, but Ghanaians may forgive you because genuine apologies melt the heart. I'm a woman and I know so. According to her, she is not surprised about Bawmia's propaganda, indicating that it has become the norm for politicians. Irrespective of which party comes into power, politicians will continue peddling propaganda. It's up to us to demand the truth from them, she concluded Watch the video below: The Paramount Chief for Buipe Traditional Area, Buipe-Wura Abdulai Jinapor II has met with journalists in the Savannah Region. The meeting took place at the Royal Mess of the Jinapor Palace on Friday, July 15 2022 at Buipe in the Central Gonja District of the Savannah Region. The purpose of the meeting was for the chief to endorse before Journalists, the participation of Miss Hariya in this year's TV3 Ghana Most Beautiful (GMB-2022) as the rep for Savannah Region. He used the opportunity to appeal to the Journalists within Savannah Region to promote her performances. Speaking at the meeting, the revered chief acknowledged the relentless and significant efforts and contributions of journalists in the Region and encouraged them to continue to play a part for the benefit of the Savannah Region. He indicated before the Journalists that he will continue to foster a formidable force with them and assures of the Palace's support for them. He urges them to do their very best to help Miss Hariya win this year's Ghana Most Beautiful by reporting on her good performances. Pertinent among the issues discussed included mobilization of resources, public sensitisation amongst others. The Journalists concluded by conveying words of appreciation to the Buipe-Wura for the opportunity given them to proffer ideas towards making the participation of the Region's rep a successful one. They also heaped praises on him for acknowledging their roles in the development of communities in the region. Government has served notice that the 15 percent Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) for members of organized labour would be suspended when the conditions that necessitated it are no more. The various worker unions declared an indefinite strike in demand for a 20 percent cost of living allowance to cushion them against the current economic hardship. However, the government reached a consensus with them for the payment of 15 percent of the allowance effective July 1, 2022. Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Bright Wereko Brobby spoke on the possibility of the non-payment of the allowance in the future. We have agreed that the Cost of Living Allowance will be paid effective 1st July. As the name applies, it is an allowance which is a result of certain factors that have arisen in the course of the year so as and when these factors are no longer there, there will not be the relevance to still continue with it. Government and organised labour have agreed on a 15 percent cost of living allowance for members of organised labour. The various worker unions, including the four teacher unions, the Ghana Medical Association, and the Public Sector Workers Union, among others, demanded the payment of 20 percent of their basic salaries as Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) due to the current economic situation in the country. Negotiations dragged on for over two weeks, compelling CCT, GNAT, NAGRAT, and TEWU to embark on industrial action to insist on their demands. But after a crunch meeting on July 14, 2022, both parties came to a conclusion on a 15% COLA, which will take retrospective effect from July 1, 2022. The Employment and Labour Relations Minister, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, reading out the terms of the agreement, said We agreed with the labour unions that the COLA will be paid at the rate of 15% of base pay, that the effective date for the payment of the COLA will be 1st July 2022. We also agreed that all industrial actions underway and threats of same will be called off immediately and that labour will return to work. citinewsroom Fabric designing and manufacturing company, Vlisco Ghana has unveiled a new Brand Ambassador. At a glamorous event held at Tang Palace Hotel on Friday, July 15, 2022, Vlisco Ghana officially unveiled Mrs. Lucy Quist as the 2022 Brand Ambassador for the textile company. The unveiling of the former Airtel Chief Executive Officer (CEO) as the Brand Ambassador is a continuation of a tradition that started in 2013 when Dr. Ellen Maame Hagan was named the first Brand Ambassador. an engagement with past ambassadors Delivering a speech after her unveiling, Mrs. Lucy Quist expressed appreciation to the almighty God, officials of Vlisco, and her family for what she described as a 'great honour'. She thanked all past ambassadors for paving the way over the years and putting in so much effort to do great work in the area of women empowerment. Its a privilege to have the opportunity to stand in this position. We as women play much greater roles that we may not know. I thank you all for being here for the amazing work you do as women, Mrs. Lucy Quist noted. Mrs. Lucy Quist Engaging the media on the sidelines of the event, she added that this is a great opportunity to connect with and empower many others. Describing the Vlisco brand as a timeless brand that represents aspirations, dreams, and hope for the future, Mrs. Quist said she is excited she will be working to impact a lot of women during her time as an ambassador for the company. For me, this is to reach out to women across the country to provide mentorship to women both young and old whether they are studying, whether they are business women, and very importantly to the women who work for the company. I know that through this opportunity I will also have the chance to learn from these women and collectively we will move ourselves forward. I have to add that this is a very important time for us as a country. This is the time for the bold new normal, the new Vlisco Ambassador told journalists. Delivering a speech at the event, Vlisco Ghana Group Managing Director Fatoumata Doro stressed that she is excited about the choice of the new Ambassador. While appreciating the work done by past ambassadors, she noted that she has no doubt Mrs. Lucy Quit will equally do a great job to project the company to empower more women to become CEOs and MDs in the near future. I want to say a big thank you to past ambassadors because they made us what we are today. The queen we are revealing today is a trailblazer. She is a unique person who has impacted my life and Im delighted she is going to be our new queen. I hope we will all admire her the same way I do. She will help our brand to reach our ambition. We hope she will help us to put the right structures in place, mentor more women to get to the top to become future CEO and MD, Fatoumata Doro said. Fatoumata Doro As the first-ever woman who has been made MD of Vlisco Ghana, she said it is important to get more women to push to change the dynamics. She urged women to sail through challenges thrown at them to take what they deserve in the fields they work. We understand that the challenges against women are big. We should be angry about it. Lets change it. As we celebrate our Vlisco today I want to remind us, women, that we can do it and we deserve it, Fatoumata Doro added. During the period she will be Vlisco Ghana ambassador, Mrs. Lucy Quist will undertake a number of initiatives all geared towards empowering more women not only in the company but across various fields in other companies in the country and beyond. She is to develop strategies to promote diversity and inclusion in the fabric designing and manufacturing sector. She is also expected to help the ambition of the companys Managing Director Fatoumata Doro to have 40% of its workforce being women. Mrs. Lucy Quist will play additional roles ranging from leading donations to speaking on behalf of Vlisco Ghana. 16.07.2022 LISTEN Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta has given justification for why calls for his resignation are unfounded. Since the government announced that it is starting negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for support in the midst of the many economic challenges, there have been several calls for the Finance Minister to vacate his post. Speaking to Joy News at the NPPs National Delegates Conference on Saturday, Ken Ofori-Atta provided a response to those criticising government for the U-turn to the IMF and to people calling for his head. He indicated that the government going to the IMF is no basis to resign while explaining that to take such a decision will be like a father abandoning his children because he changed his mind on a matter. There are times when decisions have to be made for the survival of the country and therefore if circumstances such as COVID and Ukraine war occur, it does change the environment and sensible people will change their minds. Telling me to resign is like telling a father to resign from his children because he changed his mind, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta said. The Finance Minister is set to continue to lead negotiations between the government and officials of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to settle on a programme that will help Ghana come out of the current economic crisis. President Akufo-Addo has demonstrated that he is not up to the task and, as a consequence, made former President John Mahama, who was seen as the worst President in Ghanas history, look like a saint, private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has said. Speaking on Accra-based Joy FMs Saturday news analysis programme, Newsfile, hosted by Samson Lardi Anyenini on 16 July 2022, Mr Kpebu said it was high time Ghanaians expressed their anger at the President for failing to live up to the expectations of the citizens, given how he led the then-opposition New Patriotic Party to caricature Mr Mahama in the lead-up to the 2016 general elections. In Mr Kpebus view, just as the government recently made a U-turn on its earlier insistence to never go back to the International Monetary Fund for an economic programme to lift the country out of her economic doldrums, so must Ghanaians, who, once had so much trust in Mr Akufo-Addo and his government but have been disappointed by his performance in office, express their anger at him. We just have to come together; lets have more demonstrations, the lawyer suggested, observing: The truth is that weve not shown much anger and the reason some are finding it difficult to show that much anger is because we bastardised JM: we thought JM was the worst, the vampire we had never seen in our history and that would be the last, so, you talk to people who are even on this side of government and they are like: I mean we cant believe it. We drove out JM and, now, through the presidents lack of willpower to fight corruption and all the other things, including bathing in the skies, he has resurrected JM, making JM look like a saint. So, he added, When you talk to people behind the scenes, what they do is that they find it difficult to eat back their own words because we had said so much against JM thinking that The Messiah Akufo-Addo has arrived. So, just like the way we had to eat humble pie and go back to the IMF, I entreat citizens to come together and show more anger, he urged. We should let it be known to Akufo-Addo that: 'Look, we voted for you!' I used to support him, I supported him, I just thought that he was the solution to all of our problems so, we should make it clear to him that hes been very wrong, hes not up to the task, and, so, maybe he can even leave earlier, Mr Kpebu noted. As far as he is concerned, nothing stops the President from resigning today, because after climbing the moral high horse: John Mahama cannot teach me how to keep the public purse, today, Im sure the jury is out. We can compare, he pointed out, insisting: Its public anger that we have to show. He said, those who are thinking that by coming out to show public anger, they are strengthening John Mahamas [chances], dont look at it that way, explaining: Its not automatic that if we boot Akufo-Addo out, John Mahama should automatically come in. No. Something else can happen; we call it shaking the kaleidoscope. You shake it, you dont know what will come out. Maybe, a messiah could come out different from John Mahama, he argued. Source: Classfmonline.com Election officials began counting ballots on Saturday after Nigeria's southwest Osun state went to the polls to elect a new governor in a final test for next year's presidential elections. The frontrunners are incumbent governor Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress, senator Ademola Adeleke of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Akin Ogunbiyi of the Accord Party and Labour's Yusuf Lasun. Analysts expect the contest to become a two-horse race between old political foes Oyetola and Adeleke -- who lost by less than 500 votes after a run-off four years ago. "I left home very early so that I can use my vote to elect the governor that will improve the welfare of the people," Adenike Adeyiola, a 32-year-old university student, told AFP. The ballot is seen as a battleground for Nigeria's leading parties to test support for their presidential hopefuls ahead of the February 2023 election as President Muhammadu Buhari steps down following eight years in office. "Am in the race to win and by the grace of God, I will triumph," a smiling and waving Adeleke told a large crowd as he voted in his hometown of Ede. Osun is among eight of Nigeria's 36 states where governorship elections are not being held at the same time as the rest of the country because of legal challenges to previous results. Polling stations opened from 08:30 am (0730 GMT) to 2:30 pm on Saturday, but long lines formed in the state capital Osogbo as early as 06:00 am. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 1.9 million voters registered to participate in the ballot. "Sorting and counting of the ballot papers have commenced," said electoral official Opemipo Adelusi in Osogbo, the state capital. The winner will be known by Sunday, he added. Operatives of Nigeria's anti-graft agency EFCC stormed some polling centres, including that of PDP's Adeleke in Ede to monitor the ballot and arrest anybody offering or taking money for votes. Nigeria has a history of election malpractice, fraud, vote-buying and violence. On Monday, the residence of Lasun, the Labour party candidate, in his Ilobu hometown, was attacked by gunmen but he was not at home. There was heavy security presence as security forces mounted road blocks to restrict people and vehicles in major cities. Police deployed over 23,000 personnel, helicopters and drones to try to ensure a trouble-free election. Large deposits of lithium has been discovered at Senya Bereku through to Winneba and from Saltpond to Cape Coast. The mineral has also been discovered in Kumasi, Sunyani, Bole and Wa. The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor who disclosed this indicated that about 30.1 million tonnes of lithium have so far been discovered with that of the Central region alone covering over 684 kilometres. The minister emphasised that the Ejasi Manku hill in the Central region after prospects have revealed it has a deposit of 1.48 million tonnes worth of lithium. He revealed that a deposit of about 30.1 million tonnes of the mineral has so far been mined at Enyo as of March, 2022 since operations began in 2017. Mr. Samuel Abu Jinapor disclosed this when briefing Parliament on the state of lithium exploration in Ghana. He, however, urged investors to consider partnering government in the exploration as it was a lucrative business. Meanwhile, Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu expressed worry at the low pace of development in most communities where mining explorations have over the years been carried out. He charges the minister to consider spending nights at Obuasi, Bibiani and other mining communities to abreast himself with the kind of livelihood people in those areas find themselves in. He therefore commended the minister for his hard work. Former President John Dramani Mahama has expressed his regrets for not sharing a friendly moment with John Akparibo Ndebugre before his death. He described the late private legal practitioner as someone who lived well. The former President said this as a special guest of honour at the burial rites of the late MP at his hometown, Timonde in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region. Our brother, father, friend and mentor, Mr. Mahama eulogises John Ndebugre. Mr Mahama further praised the late John Ndebugre as a versatile, passionate and accomplished man. He said, To say that he (John Ndebugre) wielded a firm axe that cuts both ways would be an understatement. His axe cut in all directions without fear or favour. The former President was accompanied by some NDC MP's of the Upper East Region. Lawyer John Akparibo Ndebugre died in his hometown on the 6th May 2022 after a short illness. He died at age 72. He left behind a widow and four children. Israeli authorities have decided to open, without interruption, the Allenby/King Hussein border crossing, linking the West Bank and Jordan following mediation by the King of Morocco, His Majesty Mohammed VI. The mediation, led by the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States of America, led to an agreement for the permanent 24/7 opening of the crossing, which is the only opening of the Palestinians to the world. The opening of the border crossing, located about 50 km from the capital Amman, will be effective soon, from the moment the logistical conditions were met, especially in terms of human resources. Additionally, the opening of the crossing, which is very popular with Palestinians, will have a beneficial impact on the daily lives of Palestinians and will facilitate the movement of people and goods. The mediation is, once again, an eloquent testimony of the interest of His Majesty the King, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, in the Palestinian cause and the well-being of the Palestinians. The Israeli Minister of Transportation, Merav Michaeli, took the opportunity of the announcement of the opening of the border crossing to thank HM King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, and the American President, Joe Biden, for their commitment and their continuous efforts for peace and prosperity in the Middle East. July 16, 2022 Ukraine Open Thread 2022-110 Only news & views related to the Ukraine conflict ... The current open thread for other issues is here. Posted by b on July 16, 2022 at 12:38 UTC | Permalink Comments next page next page This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Midlanders faith in a significant lithium prospect in southern Arkansas appears to be justified. Galvanic Energy announced this week certified third-party analyses of brine drawn from test wells in the Smackover formation validated the prospect as one of the largest lithium brine resources in North America. It contains enough lithium to produce enough batteries for 50 million electric vehicles. Thats not to mention batteries for portable electronics and power storage systems. This has been a milestone weve been working on since last year, Brent Wilson, Galvanics president and chief executive officer, told the Reporter-Telegram by telephone. Wilson had relied on connections he had made in the Permian Basin during his time at Chesapeake Energy to gain backing for his start-up company. In fact, he has so much local support he held a shareholders meeting in Midland last fall and plans another meeting next month. (Permian Basin) investors understand the things we do are similar; the only thing we plug in is chemical extraction, he said. The company performed tests in the Permian Basin but found it had the wrong geology to develop lithium. Instead, he turned to a 120,000-acre prospect in the Smackover play that contains enriched concentrations of lithium dissolved in brine. The analyses performed on behalf of Galvanic found the prospect yielded lithium concentrations ranging from 290 to 520 milligrams of lithium, some of the highest reported values in North American brines. A separate evaluation estimates the prospect has an inferred resource estimate of 4 million tons of lithium carbonate equivalent. That compares to the US Geological Surveys current estimate that the US lithium reserve is 750,000 tons and a total inferred resource of 9.1 million tons, including oilfield brines such as the Smackover. Wilson noted that the Smackover has its roots in the oil and gas industry, serving as the worlds largest producing field in the 1910s and 1920s. Not only is he pleased with the results of the analyses, but Wilson said hes pleased to be able to get back to work after the COVID pandemic. Coming out of the pandemic complicated the certification process, he added. It requires deep test wells and like in the Permian Basin it was difficult to find rigs, crews, pipe. All the same supply chain issues, but we overcame, he said. Not only is the company working to develop its acreage but is evaluating low environmental footprint ion technology to extract lithium, something Wilson said Galvanic has been doing for the last six months and has gone well. Then, he said, the company will move forward with a pilot plant that will give it the ability to see what the extraction process looks like, what the economics look like and fine-tune the technology. That should take a year or so, he said. But he and his team plan to use the know-how gained from their time in the oil and gas industry to move the process forward. Oil and gas producers know how to move at speed, he said. They can solve problems quickly. They also know how to do things right, he added. The public doesnt appreciate that the oil and gas industry does its work not only within regulatory requirements but safely their standards are high, compliance is high, he said. Developing the lithium potential in the Smackover would not only greatly reduce the nations dependence on foreign supplies, but its proximity to newly built or planned electric vehicle and battery manufacturing plants further reduces its environmental footprint, he said. Strategically located in the south-central U.S. near newly built or planned EV and battery manufacturing plants, Galvanic Energys lithium prospect could greatly reduce Americas reliance on foreign supply chains. Additionally, the prospect can be developed using a low-environmental footprint ion extraction process. Given the regulatory and environmental challenges facing conventional mining operations, ESG responsibility is critical to moving American raw material resource production forward, Wilson said. Education has often been described as a three-legged stool. Without commitment from home, school and the student themselves, children are unlikely to succeed in the classroom. As an educational system, we have a tendency to focus on the school part of the equation. We hire strong principals to lead campuses, ensure classrooms are full with teachers and pupils, and stock our supply cupboards with pencils and paper. What educators do in the classroom matters. It is hard, emotionally- and mentally-demanding, life-changing work. But it is also not enough to support a three-legged stool on its own. As a school district and community, we must work harder to support parents and families in becoming active participants in their students education. Every parent wants the best for their child, but not every family has the time, knowledge or know-how to advocate for their students academic success. Midland ISD is committed to bridging the school-home gap through a Family Outreach initiative. This summer, MISD is hiring a Family Outreach liaison for nearly every campus, to start work in the fall. Family Outreach liaisons are part-time, well-paid positions staffed by parents, grandparents and community members. This is a position in place across many other districts in Texas and MISD is excited to bring them here through federal COVID-relief ESSER grant dollars. These liaisons will offer practical strategies for how parents can support their children in school and plan family engagement nights on campus. They will also be conducting outreach to parents of students with recurrent absenteeism concerns. After all, if you arent in school, it is difficult to learn and stay on track academically. What about the third leg of the stool, the student? This year, MISD in partnership with the Meadows Mental Health Institute launched Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) in eight pilot campuses, with plans to expand district-wide. This strategy provides consistent and universal expectations for behavior and operates out of the belief that behavior improvement goes hand-in-hand with academic improvement. We already know it is difficult to learn on an empty stomach, hence why schools provide lunch and breakfast. With this initiative, we similarly recognize that it is difficult to learn when a student is depressed or dealing with trauma at home, and then provide a framework of tools to support the child. Academic improvement takes all of us: school, student and family. If you are interested in becoming a Family Outreach liaison, please apply at www.midlandisd.net/careers and click on Support Opportunities. -- Elana Ladd serves as public information officer for Midland ISD. She can be reached at elana.ladd@midlandisd.net. Guam police respond to a report of an expired body in Tamuning on Friday afternoon. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PARIS (AP) Strong winds and hot, dry weather frustrated French firefighters' efforts Saturday to contain a huge wildfire that raced across pine forests in the Bordeaux region for a fifth straight day, one of several wildfires scorching Europe this week. Among the worst fires have been in Portugal, where the pilot of a firefighting plane died Friday when his plane crashed while on an operation in the northeast. It was the first fire fatality in Portugal this year but the blazes have injured more than 160 people this week and forced hundreds to be evacuated. Fire season has hit parts of Europe earlier than usual this year after an unusually dry, hot spring that left the soil parched and which authorities attribute to climate change. As the worst French fire moved closer to inhabited towns, some of the 11,000 people who evacuated in the region described fear and uncertainty about what theyd find when they get back home. Images shared by firefighters showed flames shooting across a mass of pine trees and black smoke stretching across the horizon. Firefighters focused efforts Saturday on using fire trucks to surround villages at risk and save as many homes as possible, Charles Lafourcade, overseeing the French firefighting operation, told reporters. Some 3,000 firefighters backed by water-dumping planes are battling the blazes in southern France, the president said, and Greece sent firefighting equipment to help. French firefighters managed to contain one of the worst fires overnight, near the Atlantic coast resort of Arcachon that is popular with tourists, the regional emergency service said Saturday. But it said tough meteorological conditions thwarted efforts to contain the biggest fire in the region, which started in the town of Landiras, south of a valley of Bordeaux vineyards. Regional prosecutors suspect arson. The two fires have burned at least 9,650 hectares (23,800 acres) in recent days. In Portugal, more than 1,000 firefighters worked Saturday alongside ordinary citizens desperate to save their homes after a long week of battling multiple blazes around the country. The fires have been fanned by earlier-than-usual extreme temperatures and drought conditions. Portuguese state television RTP reported Friday that the area burned this year more than 30,000 hectares (74,000 acres) has already exceeded the total for 2021. Most of it burned in the past week. Across the border, Spain was struggling to contain several fires, including two that have burned about 7,400 hectares (18,200 acres). In southern Andalusia, 3,000 people were evacuated from villages in danger from a blaze that started near the village of Mijas in the province of Malaga. Around 200 firefighters supported by 18 aircraft tried to contain the fire. Authorities were investigating its cause. For a sixth day, firefighters were also trying to bring under control a fire started by a lightning strike in the west-central Las Hurdes area. Some 400 people from eight villages were evacuated Friday as the flames approached their houses and threatened to spread into the nearby Monfrague National Park. Croatia and Hungary have also fought wildfires this week, as have California and Morocco. Many European countries are facing exceptional heat this month also attributed to climate change. Temperature-related deaths have surged in Spain this week amid a heat wave that has kept highs above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in many areas. According to Spains Carlos III Institute, which records temperature-related fatalities daily, 237 deaths were attributed to high temperatures from July 10-14. That was compared to 25 temperature-related deaths the previous week. Portuguese authorities said a July national record high of 47 C (117 F) hit the northern town of Pinhao on Wednesday. Britains Met Office weather agency has issued its first-ever red warning of extreme heat for Monday and Tuesday, when temperatures in southern England may reach 40 C (104 F) for the first time. The British government was holding an emergency response meeting Saturday to plan for the high temperatures. People in the U.K. have already been warned not to travel unless absolutely necessary and schools and nursing homes have been told to take extra precautions. All heat waves studied so far in Europe are getting warmer," said Robert Vautard of the Pierre-Simon Laplace Institute at the Sorbonne University. As long as greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced to zero, heatwaves will continue to intensify, become more frequent and last longer." In Turkey the scene of devastating wildfires last summer local media reported fires in the western province of Izmir and in Hatay between the Mediterranean Sea and the Syrian border. Helicopters, planes and hundreds of firefighters tackled the blazes. Fires fed by strong winds and scorching temperatures last year tore through Turkeys Mediterranean and Aegean regions, killing at least eight people and leading to fierce criticism of the government for its inadequate preparation and response. ___ Wilson reported from Barcelona, Spain. Danica Kirka in London and Andrew Wilks in Istanbul contributed. ___ Follow all AP stories on climate change issues at https://apnews.com/hub/climate. Although some groups have resumed meetings, others schedules may have changed because of pandemic restrictions. It is recommended you contact the group in advance to verify details. Any changes in meeting schedules can be emailed to JJCsocial@myjournalcourier.com. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS 217-370-4002 Jacksonville locations: First Baptist Church, 1701 Mound Ave. Wheelchair-accessible. Club HOW, 638 S. Church St. Monday Closed discussion, 7:30 a.m. at Club HOW. Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW. Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at First Baptist Church. Bowen Group. Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW. Tuesday Open discussion, noon at Club HOW. Womens open meeting, 5:30 p.m., First Christian Churchs Fireside Room. VIRGINIA: Closed discussion, 7 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, Main and Washington streets. ROODHOUSE: Closed discussion, 12-step/12 traditions, 8 p.m. at Grace Center, 114 W. Palm St. Wednesday Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW. Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW. Thursday Closed discussion, 7:30 a.m. at Club HOW. Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW. Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW. Newcomers Group. Friday Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW. TGIF Group. Closed discussion, 5:15 p.m., Big Book Study at Club HOW. VIRGINIA: Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at United Methodist Church, 401 E. Broadway Ave. Saturday Open speaker, 8 p.m. at Club HOW. Open meeting, noon at Club HOW. Sunday Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW. 12 & 12 Group. Closed discussion, 10 a.m. at Club HOW. (Second Sunday is open) SPRINGFIELD: AA for Women, 10 a.m. at Discovery Club, 313 W. Cook St. AL-ANON Meetings are nonsmoking and open to anyone. The only requirement is that there be a problem of alcohol with a loved one or friend. 217-248-6434. Wednesday Al-Anon, 7:30-8:30 p.m. at Centenary United Methodist Church, 331 E. State St. (use Morgan Street entrance). NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS All meetings are nonsmoking. Not affiliated with any religious organization. Jacksonville locations: First Christian Church, 2106 S. Main St. (enter through far southeast door). 217-883-1975. Lutheran Church for the Deaf, 104 Finley St. (enter through back door). 217-883-1975. Wednesday Open discussion group, 8 p.m. at Lutheran Church for the Deaf. Friday Open discussion group, 7:30 p.m. at First Christian Church. OTHER MEETINGS Monday Addicts Victorious, 7-8 p.m. at Faith Tabernacle, 571 Sandusky St. Use side entrance to church hall. PITTSFIELD: Addicts Victorious, 7-8 p.m. in the basement of Subway in Pittsfield. 1-800-323-1388. Tuesday Jacksonville Sunrise Rotary, 7 a.m. Holiday Inn Express meeting room, South Jacksonville. 217-243-6895. American Legion Post 279, first Tuesday of every month, 7 p.m. at 903 W. Superior Ave. Wednesday Breastfeeding support group, 6 p.m., Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, Meeting Room 2. ROODHOUSE: Women with Hearts of Love (WWHOL), 6-7 p.m. at House of Restoration, 208 W. Franklin St. 217-602-1670. Thursday Jacksonville Area Chess Club, 6-9 p.m. at Jacksonville Public Library. 217-370-0882. Jacksonville Kiwanis Club, noon at Hamiltons. WHITE HALL: Addicts Victorious, teens 5:30-6:30 p.m.; adults 7-8 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of New Life Church, 626 Curtis St. Friday Jacksonville Rotary Club, noon at Hamiltons. PITTSFIELD: Addicts Victorious, 6 p.m. at Assembly of God, 575 Piper St. 800-323-1388. Saturday Jacksonville Amateur Radio Societys Net, 9 p.m. Transmitted on K9JX repeater. K9JX.com. Scott County Alzheimers support group, 9-10:30 a.m. July 16, Winchester United Methodist Church, 20 N. Walnut St., Winchester. Free | Open to all caregivers who help care for Alzheimers- and dementia-affected persons. For more information, call 217-742-3610 or Pam Hembrough at 217-743-6427. SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) North Macedonia has approved a French proposal that opens the way for negotiations to join the European Union and overcome Bulgarian objections. There were 68 votes in favor of the proposal in the 120-member chamber, with the leftist coalition, which has 61 seats, getting the backing of small ethnic Albanian parties. Opposition lawmakers left the chamber in protest, abstaining from the vote. Protesters gathered again outside Parliament, as they have done every day for 10 days, but the protest ended peacefully. Under the proposal, announced by French President Emmanuel Macron last month, North Macedonia would commit to changing its constitution to recognize a Bulgarian minority, protect minority rights and banish hate speech, as Bulgaria, an EU member since 2007, has demanded. The deal would also unblock the start of negotiations for neighboring Albania, another EU hopeful. Macron had stressed that the proposal doesnt question the official existence of a Macedonian language, but he had noted that, like all deals, it rests on compromises and on a balance. But revising the constitution may prove too high a hurdle, since that requires a two-thirds majority, or 80 votes. The main opposition party, the center-right VMRO-DPMNE, and its allies, as well as a small leftist party, with 46 seats among them, have declared they will never agree to change the constitution. Later Saturday, after a cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski announced that North Macedonia will start accession talks with EU on July 19. With this, we conclude another objectively historical step for our country. We have a negotiating framework in which the Macedonian language and identity are protected, he said. The country's ruling coalition has backed the proposal as a reasonable compromise that doesnt endanger national interests or identity, while the opposition has denounced it a national betrayal that caves in to Bulgarias questioning North Macedonias history, language, identity, culture and heritage. The French proposal has also roiled Bulgaria, where Prime Minister Kiril Petkov has accepted it. His centrist government was toppled in a no-confidence vote on June 22 when allies described Petkovs willingness to lift the veto of North Macedonia into the EU as a national betrayal. EU and US leaders welcomed North Macedonias decision to back the deal. Charles Michel, president of the European Council, called the parliaments vote "a crucial step for North Macedonia and the EU. Our future is together and we welcome you with open arms. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said this decision comes at a critical moment for North Macedonia, the Western Balkans, and Europe. A European Union that includes all of the Western Balkans, including Albania and North Macedonia, will be stronger and more prosperous. Now is the time to build momentum, Blinken said in a statement. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama also hailed North Macedonian parliament's decision, which also opens the way for EU talks for his country too. This is not the end of the road but only the beginning of a new part of the road we want Albania to be in, he said. ___ Llazar Semini contributed from Tirana, Albania. Neal Isaiah Devante evading arrest/detention with a vehicle dismissed per plea agreement Alexandra Kristain Lopez manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, at least 4 grams, less than 200 grams dismissed convicted in another case; Unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon Omar Guadalupe Montez possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, less than 1 gram deceased Jonathan Dee Rodgers aggravated assault of a child convicted confinement 25 years in the Texas Department of Corrections; Aggravated sexual assault of a child convicted confinement 25 years in the TDC 64th District Court David Vargas Rivera credit card or debit card abuse dismissed defendant is deceased Tricia Renee Habeb injury to a child/elderly/disabled individual with intent of bodily injury dismissed in the interest of justice Daron Lavent Ervine aggravated assault with a deadly weapon dismissed Krystofer Aaron Woods burglary of a habitation convicted confinement 5 years Texas Department of Corrections; Theft of property valued to at least $2,500, but less than $30,000 convicted confinement 15 months Texas Department of Corrections Melody Ann Garza possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, at least 4 grams, less than 200 grams convicted confinement 8 years Texas Department of Corrections Marcos Paez Villegas prohibited substance/item in a correctional/civil commitment facility convicted confinement 6 years Texas Department of Corrections, CSCD and community control 8 years; Evading arrest or detention with a vehicle dismissed Tricia Renee Habeb injury to a child/elderly/disabled individual, criminal negligence dismissed in the interest of justice George Romero theft of property valued to less than $2,500 with two or more previous convictions convicted confinement 6 months state jail Enrique Marquez, Jr. possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, at least 4 grams less than 200 grams convicted confinement 15 years, Texas Department of Corrections June 2022 242nd District Court Derick Timothy Patel theft of a firearm dismissed convicted and sentenced to murder in CA Frank Lopez cruelty to livestock animals, physical abuse convicted confinement 18 months, state jail, CSCD and community control 4 years Eloy Javier Salinas possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, less than 1 gram convicted confinement 10 months Texas Department of Corrections Matthew Michael Roorda unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon dismissed in the interest of justice Lorenzo Andrew Leal unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon dismissed; Manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, at least 4 grams, less than 200 grams convicted confinement 8 years Texas Department of Corrections Dezeray Ybanez driving while intoxicated with a child under 15 years of age dismissed refiled as MISD Timothy Jefferson Henderson Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon dismissed; Unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon convicted confinement 10 years Texas Department of Corrections Joshua Levi Lewis prohibited substance/item in a corrections/civil commitment facility dismissed; Driving while intoxicated, third or more offense convicted confinement 3 years Texas Department of Corrections Christopher Michael Kiff fraud use/possession of identifying info with less than 5 items convicted confinement 18 months state jail; forgery of a financial instrument convicted confinement 18 months state jail; unlawful use of criminal instrument dismissed 64th District Court Yvette L. Gonzales evading arrest/detention with a vehicle convicted CSCD and community control 2 years Michael George Green possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, at least 1 gram, less than 4 grams probation revocation confinement 6 years Texas Department of Corrections Krystofer Aaron Woods burglar of a building dismissed; theft of a firearm dismissed Andres Tomas Pope possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 22, at least 4 grams, less than 400 grams dismissed completed pre-trial diversion Superintendent H.T. Sanchez said Wednesday that each school campus will be ready to move into before the first day of school. Courtesy of Meals on Wheels San Antonio As the summer heat rages into mid-July, over 400 volunteers will be dropping off cooling kits to thousands of Meals of Wheels San Antonio clients on Saturday morning, July 16. This is Meals of Wheels San Antonio's first-ever Beat the Heat event, where clients will be receiving cooling kits to combat the high temperatures. "We usually just deliver meals, but this weekend we'll be delivering these kits to them," said Director of Communications and Marketing Ariana Barbour. "We have volunteers who are signed up to deliver across the county." Click here to read the full article. On Thursday afternoon, former President Donald Trump reported on his app TruthSocial that his ex-wife, the New York City socialite Ivana Trump and mother to his three eldest children, had died at the age of 73 after being found at the bottom of the stairs of her townhouse. The fall, which caused her blunt force injuries to her torso, was ruled accidental by the NYC Medical Examiners Office. At the height of her fame, Ivana Trump was a pop culture mainstay, with tabloids breathlessly reporting on every element of her contentious split with Trump in the early 1990s. At the height of the era of luxury consumption in the late 1980s and early 1990s, she became a symbol of excessive wealth and glamour, and it was inevitable there would be intense media interest in her death. What was perhaps less inevitable, however, was that conspiracy theorists on the internet from all sides of the political spectrum would immediately conclude that Ivana Trump had been assassinated to prevent her from being deposed in an ongoing civil investigation into his business dealings. The fact that Ivana was found at the bottom of the stairs only served to add fuel to suspicions around her death. On Friday morning, the hashtag #Epsteined a reference to the mysterious death of Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced billionaire who was found hanged in his cell in 2019 and became the center of myriad conspiracy theories started trending on , racking up more than 8,000 tweets as of this afternoon, according to screengrabs captured by Rolling Stone. Yet many of the tweets with most engagement were being pushed not by right-wingers who have previously promoted much of the Epstein-centric misinformation on the platform, such as #ClintonBodyCount, which blamed the Clintons for his injuries in an apparent suicide attempt priot to Epsteins death but by apparent liberals. Well I guess Ivana Trump wont be corroborating or refuting any of the depositions tomorrow of Donald, Ivanka, Eric and Don Jr How convenient #Epsteined, wrote one account with #Resist in the bio. Another, with former Republican liberal atheist in the bio, wrote, Well well what a surprise. Was Ivana #Epsteined?, linking to a story about the New York attorney general delaying the Trump familys depositions the civil investigation. Twitter told Rolling Stone that the topic did not violate its policies surrounding misinformation, which typically relate to subjects like Covid-19 misinformation, synthetic and manipulated media, or civic integrity. When asked why this didnt apply to a conspiracy theory with obvious political overtones, the spokespeson from Twitter said that while the team looks at the context of various trends, in this case they determined it does not violate our rules. Its not all that surprising that those on the left would spread the baseless theory that Epstein was murdered, connecting it to the deaths of other powerful people. According to an Insider poll, nearly 45 percent of Americans believe that Epstein did not take his own life, with 56 percent percent of Republicans and 44 percent of Democrats buying the theory. The really bizarre Epstein-related conspiracy theories tend to circulate around fringe communities like QAnon, but that doesnt mean there isnt an mainstream understanding of the idea that Epstein was possibly murdered, at least as a sort of cultural touching point, says Darren Linvill, an associate professor at Clemson University Media Forensics Hub, who studies social media disinformation. Though some polling indicates that conservatives are more likely to believe at least some conspiracy theories, susceptibility to misinformation particularly when it affirms preexisting views is also somewhat of a bipartisan phenomenon. For some on the left, Trump makes for the perfect target, says Mike Rothschild, author of The Storm Is Upon Us: How QAnon Became a Movement, a Cult, and a Conspiracy Theory of Everything. Conspiracy theories are not the domain of any one party or political philosophy, so theres a long tradition of the left embracing crank notions the same way the right has. When you have an event thats not supposed to happen like a person dying unexpectedly, its natural to look for the real reason why it happened. And Trump makes just as inviting a target for the left as Hillary Clinton does for the right, he says. Of course, in itself its not particularly ominous that a 73-year-old woman like Ivana Trump who largely maintained a positive public relationship with Trump, even retracting a claim that shed made in their divorce deposition that hed sexually assaulted her would possibly die as a result of a fall down a flight of stairs, as they account for thousands of deaths each year. (This particular detail prompted many to make joking comparisons to the HBO series The Staircase, which also centers around the real-life mysterious death of a woman found on the bottom of a flight of stairs.) Yet on Twitter, which has prompted plenty of criticism for turning a blind eye to misinformation, the conspiracy theories churn anew, regardless of which side of the aisle is promoting them. This article was updated at 8 p.m. on July 15 to include Ivanas official cause of death. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MEXICO CITY (AP) The United States motivation to find infamous drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero was never in doubt hence the $20 million reward for information leading to his capture there was less certainty about the commitment of Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who had made clear his lack of interest in pursuing drug lords. Yet on Friday, three days after Lopez Obrador and U.S. President Joe Biden met in the White House, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's most wanted target was in Mexican custody. The man allegedly responsible for the murder of a DEA agent more than three decades ago was rousted from the undergrowth by a bloodhound as Mexican marines closed in deep in the mountains of his native state of Sinaloa. The arrest came at a heavy cost: Fourteen Mexican marines died and another was injured when a navy Blackhawk helicopter crashed during the operation. The navy said it appeared to have been an accident, with the cause under investigation. Mexicos Attorney Generals Office said in a statement late Friday that Caro Quintero was arrested for extradition to the U.S. and would be held at the maximum security Altiplano prison about 50 miles west of Mexico City. DEA Administrator Anne Milgram celebrated the capture of a man especially despised by U.S. officials for the torture and murder of DEA agent Enrique Kiki Camarena in 1985. Our incredible DEA team in Mexico worked in partnership with Mexican authorities to capture and arrest Rafael Caro Quintero, she said in a message to the agency late Friday. Today's arrest is the result of years of your blood, sweat, and tears. Cooperation between the DEA and Mexicos marines had led to some of the highest-profile captures during previous administrations, but not under Lopez Obrador, noted security analyst David Saucedo. It seems to me that in the private talks between President Joe Biden and Andres Manuel (Lopez Obrador) they surely agreed to turning over high-profile drug traffickers again, which had been suspended," Saucedo said. Both presidents face domestic pressure to do more against drug traffickers. With Caro Quinteros arrest, Narcos are being captured again and I believe that clearly it was what was in fact needed, Saucedo said. U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said in a statement Saturday that no U.S. personnel participated directly in the tactical operation that led to the capture of the drug lord. The apprehension of Caro Quintero was exclusively conducted by the Mexican government. Samuel Gonzalez, who founded the organized crime office in Mexicos Attorney Generals Office and now is a security analyst, said the capture may not have a major effect on the map of organized crime in Mexico, as Caro Quintero was not as powerful as decades ago, and it might even generate more violence in territories such as Sonora, at the US border. But he said that to Lopez Obrador's benefit, the arrest shows evidence that theres no protection of capos by his administration. Gonzalez believes Caro Quintero has long been a thorn in the bilateral relationship, but said that without doubt his capture was fruit of the recent negotiations in Washington. The Americans never stopped pressing for his arrest," Gonzalez said. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Salazar expressed gratitude for Mexico's capture of the man blamed for killing Camarena a case that brought a low point in U.S.-Mexico relations. This achievement is a testament to Mexicos determination to bring to justice someone who terrorized and destabilized Mexico during his time in the Guadalajara Cartel; and is implicated in the kidnapping, torture and murder of DEA agent Kiki Camarena, Salazar said in a statement late Friday. Garland said the U.S. government would seek his immediate extradition. "My hope is that with the capture of Caro Quintero, that that will mend a lot of tensions between the DEA and Mexico", said Mike Vigil, the DEAs former chief of international operations. Mexicos navy and Attorneys General Office led the operation deep in the mountains that straddle the border between Sinaloa and Chihuahua states, many miles from any paved road. They found Caro Quintero, with help of Max, hiding in brush in a place in Sinaloa called San Simon. Lopez Obrador said that the helicopter that crashed in the coastal city of Los Mochis had been supporting the operation against Caro Quintero. U.S. officials expressed condolences for the marines who died. Caro Quintero came from Badiraguato, Sinaloa, the same township as Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, the former leader of the Sinaloa cartel, which formed later. Caro Quintero was one of the founders of the Guadalajara cartel and according to the DEA was one of the primary suppliers of heroin, cocaine and marijuana to the United States in the late 1970s and 1980s. Caro Quintero had blamed Camarena for a raid on a huge marijuana plantation in 1984. The next year, Camarena was kidnapped in Guadalajara, allegedly on orders from Caro Quintero. His tortured body was found a month later. Caro Quintero was captured in Costa Rica in 1985 and was serving a 40-year sentence in Mexico when an appeals court overturned his verdict in 2013. The Supreme Court upheld the sentence, but it was too late Caro Quintero had been spirited off in a waiting vehicle. Caro Quintero was added to FBIs 10 most wanted list in 2018 with a $20 million reward for his capture. Lopez Obrador had previously seemed ambivalent about his case. Last year, the president said the legal appeal that led to Caro Quinteros release was justified because supposedly no verdict had been handed down against the drug lord after 27 years in jail. Lopez Obrador also depicted a later warrant for his re-arrest as an example of U.S. pressure. Once he was out, they had to look for him again, because the United States demanded he shouldnt have been released, but legally the appeal was justified, Lopez Obrador said. Presidential spokesman Jesus Ramirez said at the time, The president was just saying that it was a legal aberration that the judge had not issued a verdict on Mr. Caro Quintero after 27 years ... but he was not defending his release. Mexican reporter Anabel Hernandez twice interviewed the fugitive Caro Quintero in the mountains of northern Mexico without revealing the location. Caro Quintero claimed in those interviews that he was no longer involved in the drug trade. LOS ANGELES (AP) A man has been arrested in Texas in connection with the Southern California slayings of four women decades ago, police said. Billy Ray Richardson, 76, was arrested on Thursday by detectives from the Los Angeles and suburban Inglewood police departments with the assistance of officers from Fort Worth, Texas, police. Richardson was charged by Los Angeles County prosecutors with four counts of first-degree murder with the special circumstance of multiple murder and murder in the commission of rape, Los Angeles police said in a statement. The statement said investigative and forensic work over the decades linked Richardson to the 1980 killings of Beverly Cruse, Debra Cruse and Kari Lenander in Los Angeles and the 1995 slaying of Trina Wilson in Inglewood. Prosecutors said all four victims were raped and that DNA evidence linked Richardson to the crimes. It was not immediately known if Richardson had an attorney to comment on his behalf. He was in custody in Texas on Thursday awaiting extradition to Los Angeles, police said. Beverly Cruse, 25, and Debra Cruse, 22, were sisters who were found dead by their brother in Beverly's apartment on March 6, 1980, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing its story from that time. Prosecutors said in a statement Friday that each woman had been shot in the head three times. Leander was 15 when she was found strangled on a street on July 26, 1980, prosecutors said. Wilson, 28, was slain on Dec. 31, 1995, at Inglewood's North Park. Her throat had been slashed. City Attorney Andrew Segovia has responded to the abortion-rights signs and banners being displayed over buildings and highways in San Antonio. Most recently, a viral TikTok from @saraharjohnson showed how unknown demonstrators dropped an abortion-rights banner over a city garage in front of city hall downtown. "PASS GRACE ACT NOW OR WOMEN DIE," the banner read, according to the TikTok video that now has received more than 400,000 views and about 89,000 likes as of Friday, July 15. In June, banners supporting abortion rights were also seen popping up around San Antonio off major highways as people were getting off work. Before getting to what is the GRACE Act and what it means, Segovia wants the protest community to know that they shouldn't be displaying signs over public buildings for safety reasons. He said he wouldn't want anyone to hurt themselves or fall. To prevent this from happening in the future, Segovia said police will be more vigilant in letting the individuals know before they drop a banner over buildings at protests. Segovia did add that the city isn't looking to give the individuals any citations or consequences. He said they will just be told to stop for safety concerns. Segovia said demonstrators can continue to protest and rally as they have done. The GRACE Act, which stands for Guarding the Right to Abortion Care for Everyone, is a policy recommendation from the City Council that police should avoid devoting personnel and resources to investigations relating to a person obtaining an abortion or providers performing them. Abortion-rights activists are asking the public to call City Council and recommend the GRACE Act. On July 7, District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez announced in a news release that he supports a special session to consider the GRACE Act. "Over the past couple weeks, our office has received an outpouring of concern for the future of healthcare access, women's, and LGBTQ+ rights following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe V. Wade," McKee-Rodriguez said. "In our capacity as a City Council office, we recognize the limitations placed on our local government. Simultaneously, though, we embrace the challenge to utilize the tools and resources at our disposal to do as much good as possible." This July, City Council has entered a recess period where no Council or Committee meetings take place. The only way to pass such a resolution this month would be for the Mayor of San Antonio to call a Special Session. If not, it can be considered when City Council returns in August. So far, Council members McKee-Rodriguez, Teri Castillo (D5), Ana Sandoval (D7), and Mario Bravo (D1) have said they would support a special meeting for the GRACE Act. Several organizations will be hosting another protest in San Antonio from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 16 at City Hall at 100 Military Plaza. Lambert and I, and many readers, agree that Ukraine has prompted the worst informational environment ever. We hope readers will collaborate in mitigating the fog of war both real fog and stage fog in comments. None of us need more cheerleading and link-free repetition of memes; there are platforms for that. Low-value, link-free pom pom-wavers will be summarily whacked. And for those who are new here, this is not a mere polite request. We have written site Policies and those who comment have accepted those terms. To prevent having to resort to the nuclear option of shutting comments down entirely until more sanity prevails, as we did during the 2015 Greek bailout negotiations and shortly after the 2020 election, we are going to be ruthless about moderating and blacklisting offenders. Yves P.S. Also, before further stressing our already stressed moderators, read our site policies: Please do not write us to ask why a comment has not appeared. We do not have the bandwidth to investigate and reply. Using the comments section to complain about moderation decisions/tripwires earns that commenter troll points. Please dont do it. Those comments will also be removed if we encounter them. * * * Why Woodpeckers Dont Mind Hitting Trees With Their Faces New York Times (furzy) In Malawi, 250 elephants are being carefully moved to a larger park Associated Press (David L) The Secrets of Americas Greatest Math Team Wall Street Journal. MITs building a time-traveling dark matter detector The Next Web (David L) PTT to commercialise rejuvenating DNA Bangkok Post Remembering Richard Taruskin, a writer who made you care about 1,000 years of music NPR (David L) Art Is for Seeing Evil Point Magazine (Anthony L) #COVID-19 Climate/Environment The big default? The dozen countries in the danger zone Reuters (Kevin W)) China? India Sri Lanka Old Blighty Italy. Remember that on top of everything else, Italy is the sick man of Europe, with particularly wobbly banks. Taxi driver protests have caused Italy to spiral into political chaos. PM Draghi tendered his resignation on Thursday, but Italian Pres Mattarella REJECTED IT. Take a look at the scene in Rome:pic.twitter.com/Jnx8SeqDNB Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) July 15, 2022 Huge bullshit!! Italian people are fed up with Draghi and his lobbies-compliant government! We want to get rid of the most corrupted governors in our history, we need JUSTICE, FREEDOM and WORK ! https://t.co/ZMWcUI102r Francesca Donato (@ladyonorato) July 15, 2022 Mario Draghi struggles through mire of Italys turbulent politics Financial Times New Not-So-Cold War Syraqistan Permit me a linguistic nerd-out to show unbalanced nature of declaration. US & Israel jointly "commit" to 5 things; US further "commits" to 10 more alone. Israel commits to 0 alone. https://t.co/6Tkv27YOBQ via @whitehouse Michele Dunne (@MicheleDDunne) July 14, 2022 Biden hands blank check to Saudi Arabia in Middle East visit WSWS Noam Chomsky: Bidens Middle East Trip Contains Echoes of Trumps Policies Truthout Joe Biden greeted by protests during brief visit to Palestine Guardian (resilc) Big Brother is Watching You Watch Imperial Collapse Watch 1/6 Secret Service under pressure over erased texts and Jan. 6 actions The Hill Biden Trump Abortion State abortion bans prevent women from getting essential medication Reuters (ma) Our No Longer Free Press Auditors Cheating on Ethics Exams Whos Surprised? Francine McKenna UK Lawmakers Tell Visa and Mastercard To Justify Fee Rises Reuters Chaos Is Becoming the Rational Base Case in Market Ruled by Fear Bloomberg Class Warfare Antidote du jour. Another image of littermates Cookie (with white) and Niblet who have Stephen T as their human: And a bonus (guurst): This footage by Scuba Ventures in Kavieng, Papua New Guinea, shows one of the rarest animal sightings in the world: a Chirodectes maculatus, an incredibly rare genus of box jellyfish which had only been sighted once before [source: https://t.co/2ho9MoWNQ8] pic.twitter.com/luEKZk20X1 Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) July 13, 2022 And another bonus from guurst: Everything is awful so here's Rico eating sweetcorn. : @CincinnatiZoo pic.twitter.com/ayzdYyEr2r Paul Bronks (@SlenderSherbet) June 26, 2022 See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. Yves here. Producer Lynn Fries speaks to John Bellamy Foster on a critically important and underreported topic: how investors are trying to use rapidly moving climate crisis as an opportunity to loot even more of the commons. By Lynn Fries. Originally published at GPENewsdocs LYNN FRIES: Hello and welcome. Im Lynn Fries producer of Global Political Economy or GPEnewsdocs. Todays guest is John Bellamy Foster. Hell be talking about the financialization of the earth as a new ecological regime. A regime where the rapid financialization of nature is promoting a Great Expropriation of the global commons and the dispossession of humanity on a scale that exceeds all previous human history. And which is accelerating the destruction of planetary ecosystems and of the earth as a safe home for humanity. All in the name of saving nature by turning it into a market. Our guests Monthly Review articles: The Defense of Nature: Resisting the Financialization of the Earth and Nature as a Mode of Accumulation: Capitalism and the Financialization of the Earth detail this argument. Joining us from Oregon, John Bellamy Foster is Professor of Sociology at the University of Oregon and Editor of Monthly Review. He has written widely on political economy and is a major scholar on environmental issues. He is author of numerous books including Marxs Ecology: Materialism and Nature, The Great Financial Crisis: Causes and Consequences, The Ecological Rift: Capitalisms War on the Earth. A forthcoming book, Capitalism in the Anthropocene: Ecological Ruin or Ecological Revolution, is coming soon from Monthly Review Press. Welcome, John. LYNN FRIES: Hello and welcome. Im Lynn Fries producer of Global Political Economy or GPEnewsdocs. Todays guest is John Bellamy Foster. Hell be talking about the financialization of the earth as a new ecological regime. A regime where the rapid financialization of natureis promoting a Great Expropriation of the global commons and the dispossession of humanity on a scale that exceeds all previous human history. And which is accelerating the destruction of planetary ecosystems and of the earth as a safe home for humanity. All in the name of saving nature by turning it into a market. Our guests Monthly Review articles: The Defense of Nature: Resisting the Financialization of the Earth and Nature as a Mode of Accumulation: Capitalism and the Financialization of the Earth detail this argument. Joining us from Oregon, John Bellamy Foster is Professor of Sociology at the University of Oregon and Editor of Monthly Review. He has written widely on political economy and is a major scholar on environmental issues. He is author of numerous books including Marxs Ecology: Materialism and Nature, The Great Financial Crisis: Causes and Consequences, The Ecological Rift: Capitalisms War on the Earth. A forthcoming book, Capitalism in the Anthropocene: Ecological Ruin or Ecological Revolution, is coming soon from Monthly Review Press. Welcome, John. JOHN BELLAMY FOSTER: Glad to be here. FRIES: We will be talking about your thoughts on how the financialization of nature is capitalisms most catastrophic regime to date, a new ecological regime. And I take it; you think this was at the heart of what came out of the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference negotiations in Glasgow. FOSTER: Yeah. Ironically, during COP 26 in Glasgow everybody was watching that to sort of see, well, would governments and the powers that be take action to protect the earth. And the main thing that came out of Glasgow was actually these plans for the financial takeover of the earth, in the name of saving nature. The entire conservation sector globally has now bought into these policies of financialization. This was really the main product of the Glasgow meetings all being done by capital with support of governments. But there is no public discussion anywhere of this. There is no country where this has been subjected to democratic processes or even conversations. Theres no dialogue on this. Capital is just proceeding to buy up ecosystems services. To create structured financial vehicles where theyll be able to control natural capital to accumulate on the basis of it. And to run natural services on this basis with the idea of accumulating wealth. FRIES: Connect the dots from capitals need for a new asset class around 2009, around the peak of the Great Financial Crisis, to the current trajectory of the financialization of nature as a new ecological regime. FOSTER: The world went through a global financial crisis in 2007 to 2010. One of the problems in terms of financial instability, obviously, is that there are not enough underlying assets to support the financial expansion of the system, which is going on at extreme levels. So were piling up debt in relation to the world economy. But the debt doesnt really have sufficient material foundations, revenue streams underlying it. So capital is searching for new revenue streams. And after the 2007 to 2010 financial crisis, they started looking increasingly at ecosystem services (what we could call nature and natures services) as a basis, as a material basis for financialization. So theres this very rapid ongoing financialization of nature that is now occurring. Where natural services, ecosystem services, are being turned into forms of exchange value that can be the basis of financialization. All in the name of saving the global environment. There was a big change that occurred in the fall of 2021, between September and November in the context of the UN climate negotiations, where three new initiatives were introduced or brought to the forefront. One is the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, which brings together all the big financial corporations. All the big banks and hedge funds and so on all came together combining lets say $130 trillion in assets. These are all basically the Western banks and hedge funds. And they claimed that they were going to organize, to financialize nature in order to produce a net zero carbon economy globally. The month before, the New York Stock Exchange together with the Intrinsic Exchange Group introduced a new asset class on the New York Stock Exchange called Natural Capital Assets. That really had to do with this process of creating structured financial vehicles to create revenue streams from ecosystem services. That could then be financialized and debt built upon them and so on. All in the name of again, saving nature. And finally in the climate negotiations itself, they basically agreed on a plan for a world carbon trading mechanism that had been introduced in 2015 Paris Agreement but all the details hadnt been worked out. So this established at least the basis for a global carbon trading mechanism, which would again, financialize nature. This has resulted in a huge expansion just in the last few months of attempts to financialize the earth. To turn ecosystem services, really basic ecosystem services like photosynthesis and the production of oxygen in the environment and things like that into monetary asset exchange value that capital can own. Or at least maybe nation states will own and capital will essentially manage and this can turn into financial assets. Essentially, corporations would own what nature does, not just owning land. The governments would still probably own the land but capital would own the services that nature provides. And would manage it for enormous amounts of money. This is big accumulation as the Intrinsic Exchange Group (IEG) said, in their view: if discounted over the century, ecosystem services are worth four quadrillion (or $4,000 trillion) dollars all for the taking. FRIES: And we should also note these initiatives target the Global South. As you say basically because financial gains from the expropriation of the earth in the name of management of natural capital and offsets are the greatest in the Global South. Your articles detail ways this targeting is done. For example, the 2021 Glasgow Alliance for Net Zero initiative declared up front that carbon-mitigation financing to be made available for developing countries comes with strings attached. So financing will depend on a developing country willingness to fully open their economies to global capital. In the case of the agreed plan for carbon trading and in the designs to promote a world market in offsets, the $100 billion developed countries promised to direct to the Global South is subject to debt leverage by multinational monopoly-finance capital So John, just to clarify what we are talking about here with the financialization of nature and accumulation of nature are you saying that, in general, this involves the creation of financial claims so titles over natural assets and ecosystems, environmental services of various kinds that can then be traded and leveraged? Is that basically what you mean by the financialization and accumulation of nature? FOSTER: Finance is really based on the promotion of debt. And from one perspective, money itself is a debt. But finance is based on the promotion of debt. And that means liens on the future revenue streams from underlying assets. What the debts represent or what the creditors get is revenue streams into the future. So essentially, it means youre selling whatever nature provides or revenue streams well into the future. In a lot of these proposals, its selling off what nature would produce or the revenue that it would generate if its reduced to exchange value over the next century or two. And it is very dangerous. If you look back to 2007- 2010, the Great Financial Crisis, the whole financial system was really in danger of collapsing. And the structural changes that occurred at that time, and this is related to economic stagnation, are really still there. The financialization, the growth of the debt economy, is in many ways at a much more extreme level then it was in 2007. And were looking at other financial crises that could occur, another conceivable Great Financial Crisis. This is because we create these debt bubbles, which expand the economy, but eventually the bubble bursts. The consequences are there. Our economies are growing slowly but we are also expanding the debt bubble at the same time. So were in this sort of stagnation/financialization trap. Well then if you try to financialize the whole of nature and try to run ecosystem services under capitalist principles regulated by structured investment vehicles, youre basically bringing nature into this financial bubble. But its absurd. Because the laws of nature (and we can talk about the laws of nature as the scientific world does meaning the biogeochemical processes of the Earth System) do not operate like capitalist markets. And actually attempts to monetize nature and treat it as a financial asset, as an economic asset, a stream of income in which we can impose debts and this will create revenue according to the innate power of capital and at the same time save nature, its really a fairy tale. I mean, its worse than a fairy tale. Its a complete fetish of capital and nature. John Maynard Keynes once said that were in trouble when the underlying productive economy becomes a bubble on the financial system. But were now creating a situation where the earth itself is going to be turned into a bubble on the financial system which itself is a speculative enterprise. Theres a famous statement by a 19th century chartist, Dunning, in his book on the trade unions that Marx quotes in Volume One of Capital. Where Dunning says: that capital well do such and such for a 12% rate of return. And itll do even more; it will transgress laws for say a 50% rate of return. But for a 300% rate of return, it will lie and destroy and its willing to sell off humanity and the earth itself. And he points to the slave trade. And I think thats what were in the situation of. The returns are so great that capital is really mesmerized by this notion that ecosystem services discounted and projected over this whole century are worth four quadrillion dollars [$4000 trillion]. And then they can go in and have a piece of this. The fact that this is so destructive is ignored. Also what theyre doing is taking ecosystem services not from the population of the earth as whole even, but more immediately theyre taking nature away from indigenous populations. In Africa, for example, its claimed that 90% of the land is essentially untitled, which capital can take over and reap the natural capital and ecosystem services. The reason for this is its a legacy of colonialism. So that, after the colonial period and the post-colonial period, it was sort of recognized that indigenous communities had common rights to the land that they lived on throughout history. But they didnt have any actual title. They just had sort of vague common rights. While the governments were given, like every government was seen as actually having the final right to all of the land in a country. And whats happening is that the indigenous claims to the land are being kind of removed. They are not treated as having the same basis as private property. And so these lands can be expropriated in land grabs. A lot of this is now in order to gain hold of natural capital and ecosystem services. And it is ripe for corruption. My article starts out with a massive case of corruption in Malaysias state of Borneo, Sabah. So were seeing struggles of indigenous people over this financialization of the earth as well. FRIES: John, Ill quickly round off for viewers on points you just made about the struggle of indigenous peoples and the innate power of capital. First, on the fairy tale of the innate power of capital and so liens on the future production of the economy, as the ecological economist Herman Daly has put it to cite a few lines from your Defense of Nature article : the capitalist growth economy, while continuing to profit in the course of its creative destruction, is ultimately faced with physical limits of an Earth System, which does not, like compound interest, increase exponentially. Real physical wealth emanating from nature and ultimately derived from solar energy is subject to the entropy law and cannot generate endless rapid growth as in the case of symbolic monetary debt!The conflict between finance-based economic expansion and the ecological basis of society is thus inevitable. In the context of struggles of indigenous peoples to cite the same article : This struggle is occurring on all three continents of the Global South and in regions of the Global North an indication of how close the ties are between neocolonialism and the natural capital juggernaut. As you say in these articles, the financialization of the earth is promoting a Great Expropriation of the global commons and the dispossession of humanity on an unprecedented scale. Give us now some big picture context and also historical context on your ecological critique of how financialization is also an expropriation. FOSTER: Well, Karl Marx once said and this is a paraphrase but its very close to what he said. He said: Nobody owns the earth. Not even all the people on the planet, own the earth. We hold it in trust as good heads of the household for future generations, for the entire chain of human generations. You know, in terms of humanity, if anyone has a right to the earth, to the planet, its all of us together. Or certainly, we hold it in trust for the future. To sell it off to private services is another matter altogether. Karl Polanyi, the great economic anthropologist, once said that: converting nature into real estate was the most extreme invention of our ancestors. But now were going a step further. Its not about ownership of land, but its the selling off and integration into the financial world of all that nature does, all of its ecosystem services across the planet. And parceled out and turned into debts and derivatives and revenue streams which will be owned by capital. Things that were previously considered the free gifts of nature will now be owned by financial interests and private financial interests. That means a few will own ecosystem services and the rest of the population of the earth will be dispossessed. FRIES: Speaking now in the context of a system of production, explain more about the term expropriate. So, what exactly does that mean? FOSTER: Expropriate basically means taking without return. We have to take from nature in our production. And theres nothing wrong with the free appropriation of nature on behalf of humanity as a whole. There is a problem when nature is treated as a free gift to capital as nothing but a means to capital accumulation. Theres a problem when the appropriation of nature doesnt occur in a sustainable way. That is, theres no reciprocity. Theres no giving back in any way. So that it becomes a form of robbery. Youre taking without replacing and that always results in destruction. And our system basically, does that. Now, there are resources that are irreplaceable. That cant be replaced. Herman Daly set out how we can use all resources sustainably. And we have to conform to those rules or were really destroying the ecological basis of our own existence. Ecologists talk about the tap and the sink. The tap refers to what we extract from nature. We also have the problem of the sink. That is where do we dispose of the waste from production. And carbon dioxide emissions are basically a waste from production. Which on a small scale wouldnt really be very important there. I mean carbon dioxide is part of our own respiratory system. But on the scale in which emissions are occurring today and concentrating carbon in the atmosphere, were producing climate change, which is threatening civilization and the very systems of humanity. When we think about production, we have to think about not only the tap that is the extraction; we also have to think about the sink where the wastes go. And there are rules in terms of sustainability and how we can live on the planet with these limitations. But capitalism is not geared to anything like that. It has one goal and thats the profit motive or accumulation of capital or the increase in stockholders equity however you want to look at it. Thats what drives capital. It really doesnt see anything else. And in the process of growing, even as our economy grows, were destroying the natural system around us which the very basis of our existence. FRIES: You point out that in Marxs view it was necessary in any critique of capitalism to understand not only the enormous productive forces generated by capital but also the negative destructive side of capitalisms interaction with the environment. And for this, Marx placed an emphasis on natural science. This emphasis can be seen in his treatment of capitalist agriculture where Marx was the first major economist, as you say, to incorporate concepts like metabolism and the science of thermodynamics into the analysis of production. Your argument being ecological thought has deep roots in the 19th century and the influence of Karl Marx. Talk about those deep roots of present day ecological thinking. FOSTER: In the beginning of 19th century around 1815, I think, the natural scientists working mainly in physiology started to develop analyses of cell metabolism. And so this was very important in the development of biology, physiology and so on. And Marx had a friend, Roland Daniels, who was a physician, physician scientist. Many of the scientists in those days came out of being physicians. And Daniels wrote a book called the Mikrokosmos which had only one reader and that was Karl Marx. It wasnt actually published until the 1980s in Germany, I think, but Marx read it. Daniels had used the concept of metabolism in a broader ecological sense to look at the systemic relations between plants and animals and the earth. So he was using metabolism as a systems ecology concept; beginning to do that. At the same time, the concept of metabolism was also being used in the development of thermodynamics. Especially the first law of thermodynamics on the conservation of energy. So metabolism was being used in that sense. Justus von Liebig, who was the leading German chemist and very influential agricultural chemist, introduced the notion of metabolism in looking at the disruptions that were occurring in agriculture at the time, as a result of industrialized agriculture. At any rate in the 1850s, really under the influence of Daniels, Marx began to use the concept of metabolism as a systemic concept. And he introduced the notion of social metabolism. And he developed this analysis in his Critique of Political Economy and in Capital. So he was the one who introduced the notion of social metabolism. Social metabolism was really related to the labor and production process. So that in engaging in the labor process and in production, human beings were transforming their relation to the earth. They were taking what nature provided and transforming it. And in the production, of course, transforming themselves and society. But Marx made this powerful socio-ecological connection unlike any other thinker in his time or maybe even in our own. Where the understanding of production with his whole class analysis and so on, his whole social analysis was unified with ecological analysis through the concept of social metabolism. And not only that, he introduced the concept called the universal metabolism of nature. Marx didnt talk just about nature. He talked about natural processes in terms of metabolism. And he talked about the universal metabolism of nature. Basically, what we would call earth system processes today. Under capitalism, he argued that the social metabolism was alienated. So we had a destructive relation to nature. The social metabolism came in conflict with the universal metabolism of nature. And in those cases, what happened was a rift between human beings and nature. Marx wrote of the irreparable rift in the interdependent social metabolism between humanity and nature. And we call this the metabolic rift. And his theory of ecological crisis, which was very pronounced and connected to his whole critique of the social system, is really defined by this analysis of the metabolic rift. Marxs usage of metabolism actually influenced other thinkers in his time and afterwards. For example, the leading British natural scientist, the leading British biologist really a zoologist E. Ray Lancaster (Darwin and Huxleys protege) was also a close friend of Marx. Lancaster was the leading developer of an ecological crisis analysis in the late 19th and early 20th century. This same ecological systems approach, which was rooted in metabolism, gave rise to the concept of ecosystems, which is our main ecological concept. And that was developed by Lancasters student, the botanist, Arthur Tansley. And working in conjunction with systems theory developed by the Marxist mathematician, Hyman Levy, but building on this conception of metabolism. This all goes forward from there. So that we now speak of the earth system metabolism. So Marxs approach is completely integrated with science. Ecological science down to the present day operates with these same conceptions. FRIES: Ill have another stab at some of your essential argument on how financialization is also an expropriation and relate it to the robbing of natureyou referred to earlier. So take us through the 19th century concept of robbing the soil into the present where as you write in the Defense of Nature article that : The Original Expropriation has metamorphosed into a planetary juggernaut, a robbery system encompassing the entire earth, leading to a more universal dispossession and destruction. And with respect to the Original Expropriation to cite the Nature as a Mode of Accumulation article : The expropriation of the commons, its simplification, division, violent seizure and transformation into private property constituted the fundamental precondition for the historical origin of capitalism. What Karl Marx referred to as the original expropriation of the commons in England and in much of the world (often involving the expropriation of laborers in various forms of slavery and forced labor) generated the concentrations of wealth and power that propelled the late 18th and early 19th centurys Industrial Revolution. So in a nutshell, from the Original Expropriation to the Great Expropriation, explain this reference to the robbery of nature. FOSTER: In the book The Robbery of Nature that Brett Clark and I wrote together, we connected the issue of the rift, the metabolic rift to the issue of the robbery of nature. Going back to Marx and his discussions in Capital and elsewhere and to Justus von Liebig and others we argued that the rift, the metabolic rift, or the rift in the metabolism between human beings and nature was a product of the robbery of nature. Not addressing the need for reciprocity and sustainability in the relation to nature. So, taking from nature and not giving back is a form of theft or robbery, expropriation in fact. So expropriation is a form of robbery, stealing. But not just nature, it is expropriation of human bodies in many cases. We look at slavery. We look at the oppression of women, problems of social reproduction. These kinds of issues, the oppression of women, slavery, the super-exploitation of people in the Global South are all issues of robbery. And the seizure, of course, the financialization of nature, land grabs, these are all forms of expropriation that then create the basis of private property and capital accumulation. Capitalism constantly seeks to expropriate people, resources, land, and nature in order to expand its system. So the robbery of nature is integral to the problem of the metabolic rift. Metabolic rift Marx explained originally in terms of the soil crisis in England and elsewhere in the 19th century. Where industrial capitalist agriculture was intensively removing nutrients (such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) from the soil in the food and fiber that was being exported to the urban center with a concentrated industrial population. The nutrients, which were being, shipped hundreds, maybe thousands of miles to the cities did not return to the soil again. So they had to try and get bones from the Napoleonic battlefields and the catacombs of Europe to have natural fertilizer for the soil. And guano from Peru establishing the whole massive guano trade where they used Chinese labor, basically expropriating their bodies and killing them off very rapidly. In order to get the guano (the bird droppings) to fertilize the soil in England which was being depleted by industrial agriculture. This kind of robbery of the soil is a model of how capitalism robs resources and land everywhere. Taking without putting back. Not following ecological principles, ignoring permaculture, building monocultures and basically destroying the earth. So the robbery is the source of really the metabolic rift itself. And that rift between human beings and nature is how we can understand ecological crisis. Its all rooted in the system of production, the capitalist system of production which has now been globalized and financialized and is really driving the world to the wall. FRIES: The capitalist system of production, as we all know, is based on commodity production for exchange value and endless capital accumulation. So a treadmill of exchange, profit and accumulation. Your Monthly Review articles clarify how the concept of natural capital originally arose as a defense against the capitalist system of production for exchange value. Briefly explain that then the related concept of the Lauderdale Paradox. FOSTER: You have to go back really to the 19th century and the concept of natural capital was introduced by socialists and radicals in opposition to the expropriation of nature in their time, the turning of nature into exchange value. Which in our terms was at a fairly crude level. But land was being taken over and turned into exchange value, being turned into capital. The concept of natural capital was opposed to the turning of all of nature (and in those days they were thinking simply of land and raw materials) into cash, into exchange value, into the cash nexus. They argued that we had a natural capital stock that we had to protect that. And they saw it in use value terms. That is natural material use value terms. We had to protect this stock of nature. They argued that if nature which was the essential basis of human existence (material nature and the land and the resources and the forests and so on) were brought into the system of exchange value under capital (which they were seeing happening in their day and land turned into real estate markets and so on private real estate markets) that this would destroy the basis of a natural existence on which we depend. You see figures like Ebenezer Jones in his famous book on the land in England. And figures like Karl Marx arguing for a conception of natural capital thats based on use value and not exchange value. Marx later abandoned the notion of natural capitalbecause he thought that it led to a notion of the naturalization of capitalism. And so he adopted a different vocabulary distinguishing between earth matter for nature and earth capital that is when capital takes over nature and turns it into exchange value. And theres a notion known as the Lauderdale Paradox named after the Earl of Lauderdale in the early 19th century. He developed this notion that capitalism, he didnt use the term capitalism but it was implicit. I mean the term did not really exist at that time. He was talking about natural material use values constituting public wealth like the water, the forests, crops. He argued that capitalism or the system of private exchange, since it depended on exchange it depended on scarcity. That things only really had value or could be marketed if they had a price. And price depended on scarcity. So that water that was freely available and abundant did not have a price, had no exchange value. And the air had no exchange value because it was abundant, freely available. And you could apply this to other aspects of nature and they were actually kind of free gifts. Capitalism came in and one of the things that it does in order to make an exchange value economy and profit off it is they want to make these resources scarce. And one way you make them scarce is just by creating private ownership and private monopolies, which then can restrict the access of others to the resources. If there are wells for water, if somebody comes in and takes it over and it becomes a private monopoly, they can charge money for water. So the private economy works at destroying public wealth in various ways. And systematically works at that in order to create private markets. And Ebenezer Jones in The Land Monopoly talked about: what would happen if the air in the vicinity of London were turned into a private market? He was writing in the early 19th century, so this wasnt really the case but we can understand it now. All of these thinkers argued that nature had to be seen as a natural material use value, the basis of our existence. And it could not be reduced to exchange value, to the cash nexus of the market, without destroying the basis of our existence. And that was how the concept of natural capital arose. The emphasis was on natural. That this was a stock within nature and a permanent stock on which we depended. FRIES: As you write in your Nature as a Mode of Accumulation article this concept of natural capital rooted in use value : Was reintroduced into the economic discussion in the 1970s and 1980s beginning with Schumachers Small is Beautiful, to highlight theliquidationof natural capital stock as a failure of the first order of the modern economic system, representing the view of ecological economics. You also explain, in a thermodynamic based tradition, ecological economists initially inspired by Nicholas Georgescu-Roegens 1971 publication, The Entropy Law and the Economic Process also embraced this notion of natural capital. And wedded it, as you say, to the notion of critical natural capital in conformity with whats known as the strong sustainability postulate. An approach which established limits to growth and determined sustainability in biophysical, so use value terms. And critical to this were the three principles of sustainability introduced by Herman Daly, that you referred to earlier. The first principle was for renewable sources, the second for a non-renewable source and third for a pollutant. You go on to write in this same article that : The basic elements of Nicholas Georgescu-Roegens thermodynamic critique of neoclassical economics were accepted from the start by Marxists economists and viewed as consistent with Marxian tradition, though lacking a social critique. So talk now about the neoclassical response to all this and other approaches inspired by other prominent like-minded figures like Howard Odum, for example. In other words, talk now about the neoclassical response to an ecological economics tradition in which the concept of natural capital was rooted in use value terms. FOSTER: Neoclassical economists worked on turning this into an exchange value concept. In the beginning of this century, neoclassical economics sort of took over ecological economics to a large extent, which had been a dissident tradition. And reduced the natural capital concept to a concept of exchange value that is to be measured as capital, in monetary terms, to be a monetized asset. The notion of use value, of nature as constituting use value, really isnt present at all in neoclassical economics, which doesnt use the concept of use value. So basically, there was this switch. Part of the switch was associated with the calculations they made of ecosystem services and of natural wealth. And once those calculations were made on largely bogus grounds, because they were turning into hypothetical markets things that werent markets at all, but once they put a price tag on it then capital started to see, well, how can we actually make these into markets that we can then capitalize on. FRIES: Talk about how these calculations that put a price tag on nature were arrived at. FOSTER: If you look at how this happened, there was actually a big debate about this in ecological economics. But those who wanted to reduce nature to exchange value or at least to calculate this won out. And the primary figure in this was Costanza who was also Editor of Ecological Economics. In 1997, they came out with the first calculation of what the world ecosystem services were worth in monetary value. Now you have to understand that these are not actual markets. So they did all sorts of fancy maneuvering to convert what nature does into markets. So they divided what nature does globally into 17 ecosystem services occurring all over the planet. And they came up with values for each of these ecosystem services based on methods like hedonic pricing, which is basically a way of just attributing a value to nature based on comparisons with current practices. So they use these kinds of techniques and they use what they call contingent valuation where they draw up hypothetical markets and then survey consumers on what theyre willing to pay. They use these kinds of techniques to value some particular ecosystem. And then they extrapolate the studies to that ecosystem globally and come up with values. They did this for like 17 different ecosystem services globally and that becomes then the value of ecosystem services throughout the planet. They ostensibly did this in order to put a value on nature so that that people would protect it. But the moment this started to happen, and it was predictable, capital began to see that these ecosystem services could be turned into markets. Valued and turned into markets and financed through debt, that ends up purchased and a basis for financial accumulation. This same group under Costanza came out with another estimate of the world ecosystem services, which was even higher. And you had all of these massive meetings of corporations and the establishment of natural capital protocols and various ways of organizing and studying and figuring out how to create markets out of these ecosystem services that emerged in which all of the giant corporations were directly involved. FRIES: Give us more of an idea of the ramifications of this switch in ecological economics. FOSTER: In the 21st century, nature is now treated as capital, as exchange value, as a source of exchange value. And if you look at the concept of natural capital that is seen in this new kind of neoclassicalthe dominant economic perspective, natural capital is used for the underlying natural asset, which is now seen as ecological capital. But all of the estimates and projections and all the financialization is based on the concept of ecosystem services, which is seen as the revenue stream provided by nature. When nature does things like photosynthesis, its providing a service supposedly to the world economy. Nature doesnt know its doing that, as you know, we might say. But in their theory, nature is providing an ecosystem service to the world economy, which like any revenue stream can be capitalized on. Basically once they figure that there is a revenue stream here from ecosystem services derived from the underlying asset of natural capital, they can then take that revenue stream and divide it by the discount rate and multiply it by a hundred percent to get an expected stream of revenue way into the future. Say into a century in the future and then they can impose debt on the basis of that revenue stream and financialize nature and make huge profits. FRIES: Talk more specifically on how natural capital defined in exchange value terms came to stand for and represent the view of ecological economics. FOSTER: If you look at Ecological Economics, the journal, which was associated with the International Association for Ecological Economics, they actually had a battle between Howard Odum, one of the chief developers of systems ecology in the world, and Robert Costanza over whether the journal was going to go the route of seeing nature as exchange value or whether ecological economics was going to have a deep conception of ecology based on use value. Howard Odum and the other scientists that he was associated with that had been in part of the founding of Ecological Economics, the journal, were basically thrown out. That is sort of the beginning of ecological economics becoming something different, captured by or recaptured by neoclassical economics. You have people like Robert Solow, the most prestigious neoclassical growth theorist said that if natural resources could be substituted for, then effectively they dont matter and can be left out altogether. That actually is what was done with the neoclassical production function. Labor and capital are the only factors of production and nature and land is excluded altogether. The whole notion of use value in nature is excluded altogether. Everything, absolutely everything is reduced to exchange value. Then that provided the kind of theoretical basis for weak substitutability, which is the notion that nature doesnt really matter. That markets can substitute for natural resources and whatever in nature does. And that connected up with the development of the estimates like Costanzas and others of world ecosystem services. Pretty soon we have these notions of the financialization of the earth. Not simply in an academic sense, now transferred from the academic world into the world of capital where corporations and governments began to put into plans the policies, calculations, methods, structures for actually turning ecosystem services everywhere on the planet into economic markets which capital can finance and accumulate on the basis of. FRIES: So, John, we have been talking about the argument you put forward that this financialization of the earth as a new ecological regime is accelerating the destruction of planetary ecosystems and of the earth as a safe home for humanity. Talk for a moment about how even before this new ecological regime, you warned of an accelerating pace of devastation compared to earlier periods of capitalism. Among examples of this, you write about how Darwin in his time had been struck by how European colonization turned the ecology of the island of Saint Helena into a desert in just three centuries. The island of Saint Helena having been made famous by the voyage of the Beagle. Yet in the current stage of capitalism, the biogeochemical processes of the entire Earth System were altered in just two generations. FOSTER: I wrote about this in my book The Vulnerable Planet in 1994 where I was explaining how we were crossing the thresholds of the biogeochemical processes of the planet and threatening the whole earth system. But what struck me, and what I wrote about then, is the speed with which its occurring. The speed was in terms of climate change. Weve seen massive geological changes in the history of the earth. But we havent seen anything that occurs with this speed. This is one of the reasons why we can point to the anthropogenic causes and the anthropogenic rift in the earth system, which is how we define the coming of the Anthropocene Epoch in earth system history. And its really the speed of the change. The scientific reports although the IPCC have tried to keep up with this, but all of their reports I think all the way along have underestimated the speed with which we are transforming nature. And this is under the pressure of a system of capital accumulation geared to exponential growth. At this point, we generate vast, vast amounts of economic and ecological waste. Things that people neither need nor really want. We have a marketing system, a massive multi-trillion dollar marketing system, geared to getting people to buy more and more. And our system is geared to the fastest growth possible. And in order to compound that even in periods of economic expansion, we draw more and more on extracting from natural systems. This is a high-energy intensive system. It doesnt take care of peoples needs. The wealth created is not going to the populations. And in the dominant ideology, they dont even talk about trickle-down anymore, which they talked about in my youth, because everyone knows that thats false. So we are creating a system that doesnt benefit the human population economically, while were actually destroying the entire earth. And the motor of this is a capital accumulation process. That is now highly financially and globalized and has become the enemy of humanity and the planet. We put profits before people and the planet in all cases in this society. You cant solve things that way. Capital wants to say: well, technology will solve the problem because they dont want social transformation. They want to say: well, we can do it with technology. And the population falls for that because they have cell phones in their pockets and they think: oh, technology is absolutely wonderful. But no matter how wonderful cell phones are that communication technology and other technologies we have do not allow us to transcend the laws of physics. And were right up against that today. And, it spells an unimaginable crisis really for the population of the earth. FRIES: The Anthropocene Epoch you referred to is of course a reference to geological time. To cite the flyer from your forthcoming book the Anthropocene Epoch marks a changed reality in which human activities are now the main geological force impacting the earth as a whole, generating at the same time an existential crisis for the worlds population. Talk more about the issue of the capitalist argument that technology can save humanity from ecological ruin. So things like geoengineering. FOSTER: Well, its not just geoengineering but things like carbon sequestration methods and direct air capture. But its interesting in the Sixth Assessment Report, AR6 of the IPCC, the mitigation part of the report, Part III by Working Group Three was published in April of this year. But the actual scientific consensus report, the report as written by the scientists themselves, was completed in August 2021. Governments in the IPCC process have the right to come in and rewrite the scientific report, the Summary for Policy Makers (SPM). They rewrote the science report entirely. Practically every line in the scientific consensus report was censored by governments. And in some places turned into the direct opposite. We know this because Scientist Rebellion in August 2021 leaked the scientific consensus report on mitigation which we posted on the Monthly Review website. So you can compare what the scientists decided, to the published Summary for Policy Makers (SPM) from governments. We find that in the scientific consensus report they said: these technologies are not available. Wont work, cannot play a major role in keeping us below 1.5 degrees Celsius, or even below 2.0 degrees Celsius. And they said other things like coal-fired plants had to be eliminated globally this decade. And what we need is basically, low energy solutions, which can improve societies conditions. As that report said: improve the conditions of everybody on earth but also using less energy in the process. FRIES: Back in 2019 in writing on how capitalism has failed and asking whats next you argued that :Once sustainable human development, rooted not in exchange values, but in use values and genuine human needs, comes to define historical advance, the future, which now seems closed, will open up in a myriad ways, allowing for entirely new, more qualitative, and collective forms of development. So, whats coming across loud and clear in all this is how, the way you see it, the underlying structure of capital accumulation itself is whats standing in the way of real solutions to the ecological crisis. FOSTER: The irony is that capitalism has created this ecological crisis and is generating it. And the answer of capital (and this is typical of the system) is that we just need a more intensive, a more extreme form of capital accumulation. The answer to the ecological crisis created by capital is to turn all of the world ecology into capital. To make the entirety of nature conform to economic laws essentially. And the economists and the capitalists say this is the answer. The reason why that sells, despite the illogical nature of it, is that for capital thats always the answer. If there is a crisis, the crisis is because theres too little capital, not too much. From capitals standpoint, the answer to every crisis, lets say an economic crisis is to redistribute income from the poor to the rich, that is increase the power of capital. If theres a problem, an ecological crisis, the answer is to increase the power of capital markets and expand it into nature. Paul Hawken argues and others with him in his book Natural Capitalism argues we dont really have capitalism until all of nature is part of capital, is part of capitalism. But thats absurd. We live within a planet. Capitalism exists within the planet. Human society exists within the planet. Human beings live within the planet. We cant turn the entire planet earth into some kind of attribute of the capitalist market system without destroying the world. But thats exactly what were doing. The solution to the ecological crisis that theyre advocating doesnt involve taking energy efficiency and turning it into conservation like you see in Cuba. They take energy efficiency and turn it into a greater expansion of the economic system. And that doesnt help. Thats what we call the Jevons Paradox. That the more efficient we are in the use of resources, the more resources we use. Because the object is not to conserve but its to expand the economy and the accumulation of capital. Well in such a system, youre headed towards destruction. Now the destruction is very close upon us. Were very close now to the 1.5 degree increase in global average temperature. And the latest IPCC report (AR 6, the physical science basis) in their most optimistic scenario we will hit 1.5 degrees Celsius in 2040. That would require a kind of revolutionary scale social transformation to accomplish. More likely were going to hit 1.5 degrees Celsius this decade, in this decade, in just a few years. Were headed over the edge of the cliff in terms of the tipping point for the climate where we will reach irreversible climate change. Even in the most optimistic scenario, were facing major catastrophes in the next few decades. But if we dont take the action that prevents irreversible change, we will be threatening civilization itself in the broadest sense and the human species and billions of people on earth. We have to have a different method. Sixty years weve known about climate change (accelerated climate change or accelerated global warming) and all weve done is promote capitalist solutions that have gotten us closer to the edge of the cliff. And were now on a runaway train. Its time to pull the emergency brake. FRIES: There is a lot more behind this and a lot more to come in your forthcoming book on Capitalism in the Anthropocene: Ecological Ruin or Ecological Revolution but for today we are going to have to leave it there. John Bellamy Foster, thank you. FOSTER: Thank you. FRIES: And from GPEnewsdocs in Geneva, Switzerland thank you for joining us. (Natural News) Researchers say that the ancient human fossils initially found in Ethiopia are much older than previously thought. In fact, its possible that the fossils are at least 230,000 years old. The remains, called Omo I, were unearthed in Ethiopia in the late 1960s. The fossils are one of the oldest known examples of Homo sapiens fossils and experts previously dated them at under 200,000 years old. But the study conducted at the University of Cambridge revealed that the Omo I fossils have to pre-date a colossal volcanic eruption in the area, which happened 230,000 years ago. Details of the study were published in the journal Nature. For the study, the research team dated the chemical fingerprints of volcanic ash layers that were found above and below sediment where the fossils were first unearthed. The researchers took pumice rock samples from the volcanic deposits and ground them down to sub-millimeter size to date the volcanic remains. While this pushes the minimum age for Homo sapiens in eastern Africa back by 30,000 years, future studies may extend the age even further. Back in 2017, archaeologists announced the discovery of the worlds oldest Homo sapiens fossils: a 300,000-year-old skull at Jebel Irhoud, Morocco. The Omo I remains were found in the Omo Kibish Formation in southwestern Ethiopia, which is found within the East African Rift valley. The location is an area of high volcanic activity and a rich source of ancient human remains and artifacts. After dating layers of volcanic ash above and below where fossil materials are found, the research team was able to identify Omo I as one of the earliest examples of the human species ever found. Dr. Celine Vidal from Cambridges Department of Geography and the papers lead author said that using these methods, the generally accepted age of the Omo I fossils is under 200,000 years. However, there remains a lot of uncertainty around this date. She added that the fossils were discovered in a sequence, below a thick layer of volcanic ash that nobody has managed to date since the ash is too fine-grained. The four-year project, spearheaded by Professor Clive Oppenheimer, a British volcanologist, is trying to date all major volcanic eruptions in the Ethiopian Rift. Vidal explained that every eruption has a unique fingerprint or an evolutionary story below the surface, which is determined by the pathway the magma followed. Crushing the rock frees the minerals within, which are then used to date them and identify the chemical signature of the volcanic glass that holds the minerals together. Scientists conducted geochemical analysis on the crushed rock to link the fingerprint of the volcanic ash from the Kamoya Hominin Site with an eruption of the Shala volcano. Next, the research team dated pumice samples from the volcano to 230,000 years ago. (Related: Unique swords discovered in Byzantine Empire stronghold.) According to the researchers, since the Omo I fossils were found deeper than this particular ash layer, they could be over 230,000 years old. Vidal said that when she first discovered that there was a geochemical match, the ream didnt have the age of the Shala eruption. She then sent samples of the Shala volcano to their colleagues in Glasgow to help them determine the age of the rocks. After Vidal received the results, she realized that the oldest Homo sapiens from the region was older than previously thought. Professor Asfawossen Asrat, a study co-author from Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, added that the Omo Kibish Formation is an extensive sedimentary deposit that was barely accessed and investigated in the past. Upon closer study of the stratigraphy of the Omo Kibish Formation, especially the ash layers, the researchers were able to push the age of the oldest Homo sapiens in the region to at least 230,000 years. Stratigraphy is a scientific discipline that is concerned with the description of rock successions and their interpretation in terms of a general time scale. Omo I has definite modern human characteristics Unlike other Middle Pleistocene fossils which are believed to belong to the early stages of the Homo sapiens lineage, Omo I has definite modern human characteristics, said Dr. Aurelien Mounier, a study co-author from the Musee de lHomme in Paris. Mounier cited the example of a tall and globular cranial vault and a chin and claimed that the new date estimate made the remains the oldest unchallenged Homo sapiens in Africa. Until the Jebel Irhoud discovery four years ago, many experts thought that all humans living today descended from a population that lived in East Africa around 200,000 years ago. Vidal said that experts can only date humanity based on the fossils that they have, making it difficult to figure out that this is the definitive age of the human species. But the study of human evolution is always in motion and boundaries and timelines change as our understanding improves. The Omo I fossils also illustrate how resilient humans are and how they can live in a location that was prone to natural disasters. Watch the video below to know more about ancient Hebrew artifacts discovered in Native American mounds. This video is from the YAHZWILL YAHUDAH channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Experts unearth unique leather scale armor at 2,500-year-old Chinese burial site. Researchers find worlds oldest stone tools in Kenya. Researchers discover what may be the largest land drawings ever made. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk Nature.com Britannica.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Nineteen firefighters in Calgary who were fired for refusing Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination are now suing the department and the city for $38 million in damages. Plaintiffs say the Canadian citys injection mandate violated their basic human rights by forcing them to alter their DNA in order to continue working and making a living. Theres something tyrannical about these mandates, says Stephen Dabbagh, the lawsuits leader. (Related: Canadas covid jab mandate is why the trucker caravans were formed.) We cant identity everybody behind it, but what we can do is hold people accountable, like the fire chief, politicians, city managers. Those people are responsible for their actions. Dabbagh had worked as a firefighter at the Calgary Fire Department (CFD) for some 20 years, including most recently as a fire captain. He reportedly resigned under duress on Dec. 8, 2021 after being told that he had to take the jab. Unwilling to let that stand without a fight, Dabbagh and 18 of his colleagues banded together to try to stop the political and ideological tyranny of these mandates. Its about trying to hold people (politicians, bureaucrats) accountable for their actions, Dabbagh told LifeSiteNews. The suits Statement of Claim was delivered to the City of Calgary and CFD on July 7 in the Court of Queens Bench of Alberta. More lawsuits like this need to be filed A portion of the suit, $2 million, aims to cover damages for mental duress and violations of the firefighters Charter rights under the Criminal Code for Punitive and exemplary damages. By forcing its loyal employees to take experimental injections as a requisite to employment, the City has breached its legal duty to take reasonable steps to prevent bodily harm to its Employees contrary to section 217.1 of the Criminal Code of Canada, the lawsuit reads. The Plaintiffs have suffered measurable damages, including mental distress, anxiety, and, in particular, injury to dignity and self-respect. The Plaintiffs are therefore entitled to significant damages due to the manner in which the City suspended their employment, including a claim for punitive aggravated damages arising from flagrant human rights and Charter violations. All city employees in Calgary, including firefighters, were told back in the fall of 2021 that they had to get jabbed for the Fauci Flu and show proof of it or else submit to constant testing, which involves an invasive cotton swab being shoved up the nose. There were also limited exemptions available, though not many qualified for those. In March of 2022, Calgarys covid jab mandate was suspended, but it was already too late for Dabbagh and his colleagues. Their goal now is to get paid for what they had to endure, as well as to stop this type of tyranny from ever being imposed again. The law says we have these rights (to refuse the jabs via Canadas Charter) even if they are not being upheld by the courts, Dabbagh says. For me, it is using every avenue to fight against the political and ideology tyranny of these mandates These medications, or whatever they are called, are not safe and did not work. Nearly all of the firefighters named in the suit have worked as city firefighters for a long time. One of them was fired simply for showing support for the Freedom Convoy, which is a violation of rights all on its own. Some of the firefighters have returned to work but under duress. They are still named in the lawsuit because their human rights have been impacted, and even people who were on leave at the time have still suffered human rights violations, says Alberta lawyer Leighton Gray, who is representing the firefighters in the case. The latest news about Fauci Flu shots can be found at Immunization.news. Sources for this article include: LifeSiteNews.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) A judge in the Canadian province of Alberta has ruled that a woman did not have her rights violated when she was denied an organ transplant due to not being vaccinated against the Wuhan coronavirus. (Article by Chris Tomlinson republished from Breitbart.com) Court of Queens Bench Justice Paul Belzil ruled that Edmonton, Alberta woman Annette Lewis had not had her fundamental character of Rights and Freedoms rights violated by being denied an organ transplant over her vaccination status. According to Justice Belzil, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms has no bearing on the treatment decisions of doctors for organ transplants, despite the transplant being diagnosed by medical professionals as the only way for Ms. Lewis to survive a progressive disease she suffers from, broadcaster CBC reports. Doctors diagnosed Lewish with her disease in 2018 and in 2020 urged her to receive various vaccinations, which she agreed to, however, she did not agree to receive the Wuhan coronavirus vaccine and was told without the vaccine she would not receive her potentially life-saving transplant. Taking this vaccine offends my conscience, Lewis said an a sworn affidavit and added, I ought to have the choice about what goes into my body and a life-saving treatment cannot be denied to me because I chose not to take an experimental treatment for a condition COVID-19 which I do not have and which I may never have. Canadian Father Loses Custody of Children over Vaccination Statushttps://t.co/dzvv8yxbpW Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) Canadian Father Loses Custody of Children over Vaccination Statushttps://t.co/dzvv8yxbpW Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) February 7, 2022 While Justice Bezil agreed that Lewis was the sole arbiter of what she put into her own body, he claimed that no one has an inherent right to an organ transplant. The proposition that treating physicians exercising clinical judgment would be subject to the charter would result in medical chaos with patients seeking endless judicial review of clinical treatment decisions, he added. The court ruling is not the first involving the rights of unvaccinated people in Canada in recent months. Last December, a father had his visitation rights with his daughter suspended in the French-speaking province of Quebec after a judge ruled he could not see his daughter due to his vaccination status. It would normally have been in the best interests of the child to have contact with his father, but not in his best interest to have contact with him if he is not vaccinated and is opposed to sanitary measures in the current epidemiological context, Superior Court Judge Jean-Sebastien Vaillancourt said in his ruling. In February Court of Queens Bench Judge Nathalie Godbout issued a similar ruling temporarily denying a father custody of his three children because he was also unvaccinated. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has defended vaccine mandates and other restrictive measures, arguing in an interview last month, It was their choice and nobody ever was going to force anyone into doing something they dont want to do. But there are consequences when you dont. You cannot choose to put at risk your co-workers. You cannot choose to put at risk the people sitting beside you on an aeroplane, he added. Trudeau: Unvaccinated Accepted Consequences Like Losing Jobs and Access To Travelhttps://t.co/zwFmicTPEM Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) June 25, 2022 Read more at: Breitbart.com (Natural News) A former engineer for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was convicted on July 13 for divulging the agencys surveillance tools to international whistleblower organization WikiLeaks. A jury found Joshua Schulte, 33, guilty of leaking Vault 7 tools to the entity established by activist Julian Assange. The former engineer, who has been in custody since 2018, had also been awaiting trial for possession and transport of child pornography charges Schulte pleaded not guilty to. The governments case is riddled with reasonable doubt, he said, adding that there is no motive in his case. He further claimed that the U.S. government set him up as the fall guy for the leaks that revealed Washingtons terrifying surveillance power. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Denton remarked that the evidence showed Schulte is guilty of leaking sensitive information. This is someone whos hiding the things that hes done wrong, he said. The federal prosecutor accused Schulte of breaking into the system, creating a backup and sending the said backup to WikiLeaks. The Vault 7 leaks, which were made public in March 2017, showed that the CIA could spoof malware to show that it originated from a foreign government, when it really came from the United States. They also showed that the government can spy on people using smart TVs even when they are turned off using the Weeping Angel tool. (Related: Wikileaks CIA dump reveals how the Deep State can hack databases and make it SEEM like the Russians did it.) CIA spokeswoman Tammy Thorp commented on Schultes July 13 conviction in a statement to the Verge. Todays verdict affirms that maintaining the security of our nations cyber capabilities is of the utmost importance. Its critical to the security of the American people, and its critical to our advantage against adversaries abroad. As set forth in the trial, unauthorized disclosures not only jeopardize US personnel and operations, but also equip our adversaries with tools and information to do us harm, Thorp said. Schultes conviction followed 2020 mistrial Schulte had been described as abrasive in a lengthy profile, with the same piece detailing that the CIAs Operations Support Branch where he was assigned had turned prototype hacking tools into actual surveillance programs. Federal investigators obtained evidence against him through his own lapses in personal security, such as storing passwords on his phone. They also found proof of an attempted cover-up, including a list of tasks Schulte drew up. The list included an entry that read delete suspicious emails, which Denton asked the jury to consider. The governments first attempt to prosecute Schulte in 2020 ended in a mistrial, as the jury convicted him on contempt of court charges and lying to investigators. The rest of the jury were unable to agree on the rest. Schulte chose to represent himself on the second trial, where he was convicted of charges specifically related to gathering, stealing and transmitting classified information and obstruction of justice for lying to investigators. According to Military.com, Schulte watched without visibly reacting as U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman read the guilty verdict on nine counts. His sentencing date is yet to be announced, as the child pornography charges filed against him are yet to be heard in court. Visit Surveillance.news for more news about government surveillance. Watch the video below for more information about government surveillance and WikiLeaks. This video is from the Stefan Molyneux channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Scammers can use Twitter to interfere in matters of national security. Major General Paul E. Vallely tells Dr. Peter Breggin: America is facing external and internal enemies Brighteon.TV. Amazon, Bill Gates, China buying up land all over the US in run up to Great Reset agenda. Wikileaks Julian Assange exposes truth about evil empires and their war on journalists, whistleblowers. Sources include: BigLeaguePolitics.com TheVerge.com Military.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) United States intelligence has shown that globalists are using advanced technologies such as gene editing and brain control weapons to advance their military and crush dissent. In a series of videos shown by Clay Clark on the July 13 episode of the Thrive Time Show, Israeli public intellectual and historian Yuval Noah Harari talked about corporations and armies being given the technology to start messing with human DNA and peoples brains, and amplify certain human qualities that are needed in a fight, like discipline and intelligence. However, they also plan to delete other qualities like compassion, artistic sensitivity or spirituality. Yes, discipline and intelligence are important. But the compassionate soldier thats problematic; or a worker who has spiritual goals in life this is problematic, said Harari, one of the lead advisors for World Economic Forum (WEF) founder Klaus Schwab. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has launched the Neural Evidence Aggregation Tool (NEAT) program under the premise of identifying people at risk of depression and suicide. The program is supposed to develop a new cognitive science tool that identifies people at risk of suicide by using preconscious brain signals. Applications coming out of the NEAT program could have the real potential to give governments and corporations the ability to hack human beings. Dr. Robert Malone, who has been credited as one of the inventors of the mRNA technology used in the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines, said that a joint report prepared by the U.K. and Germany talked about transhumanism, which is one of the known agendas of the WEF. (Related: Al Gore endorses the great reset while other media outlets continue to claim its a conspiracy theory.) Its not a conspiracy transhumanism and they talk about the RNA vaccines as an entry point to kind of opening that space, ethically and otherwise. So thats part of the reason why these particular products [are being pushed], said Malone. Transhumanism embraced by the most powerful in society Transhumanism, according to Malone, is the technology suite that puts the idea of both mechanical and biological modification of humans for improved longevity and performance. Joseph Stalin, during his time, worked mainly with social engineering. He may have wanted to reengineer human biology, but couldnt. So he focused on creating a new breed of humans instead. And then it starts all over again in the 21st century. This time, with U.S. styling, they might have the ability to really reengineer the body down to the level of DNA and create new human species or even create completely inorganic life forms. The significance of this is that it doesnt change what governments have been doing in the first industrial revolution. It only changes you if you take genetic editing: Its you who are changed, and this has a big impact on your identity. A lot of breakthroughs on the medical front, particularly around synthetic RNA, all that you can basically do anything with synthetic RNA. DNA is really like a computer program, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors, said in a separate video. I think with enough effort, thats not too crazy. Transhumanist values are embraced by the most powerful in society, including Big Tech companies, universities and among the crowd of would-be globalist technocrats in Davos. Harari himself believes that artificial intelligence and human hybrids are inevitably going to take over. Those who refuse to join their minds with these programs will then be considered a useless class or useless people. These useless people would be the ones who refuse to be injected with artificial intelligence capabilities in the coming decades. He also described humans as hackable animals, adding that masses would not stand much of a chance against changes, even if they were to organize. (Related: Implantable chips for humans to be implemented globally.) But contrary to Hararis claims, resistance is not futile if people continue to remind themselves that no life is ever meaningless or worthless. Watch the video below for more commentary about transhumanism, eugenics and the Great Reset. Thrive Time Show with Clay Clark airs every weekday at 1-3 p.m. on Brighteon.TV. More related stories: Michigan passes bill to voluntarily microchip humans with RFID transponders. Skynet microchip breakthrough announced that will ENSLAVE humanity with AI cyberlords the end of humanity approaches. Steve Quayle: The Great Reset and the Great Tribulation are one and the same. Ukraine invasion may be a preemptive strike against the Great Reset, says Glenn Beck. Leading virologist and mRNA pioneer Dr. Robert Malone predicts Great Awakening in response to Great Reset. Sources include: Brighteon.com Sociable.co EvolutionNews.org (Natural News) The next batch of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines developed by Big Pharma companies will be perfectly designed to drive immune imprinting, leading to more sicknesses and deaths of people who take new and experimental vaccines. This was according to Dr. Robert Malone, who discussed immune imprinting during an appearance on Steve Bannons War Room. This followed President Joe Bidens approval of a new $3.2 billion deal with Big Pharma company Pfizer for new COVID-19 vaccines. These new vaccines are retooled supposedly to better deal with the post-vaccine omicron variant. But Malone argued the new vaccines will be perfectly designed to drive immune imprinting and make people even more susceptible to infection. Immune imprinting is a phenomenon that occurs when a person is exposed to the proteins or other biological structures of viruses that allow them to penetrate host cells and cause infections, like those found in the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 disease. Theoretically, when an immune system has been successfully imprinted, the body will then have the ability to recall existing memory cells immune system cells that remember the same pathogen and provide the body with faster future antibody production when confronted with the disease. (Related: European Union FINALLY admits COVID-19 vaccines DESTROY your immune system.) Immune imprinting leaves people vulnerable to other illnesses Immune imprinting is basically why a lot of people are susceptible to dying of other things, commented Ben Armstrong during an episode of his program, The Ben Armstrong Show. Its pushing your immune system to basically concentrate on one thing, which would be whatever theyre jabbing you with, said Armstrong. The new jab, if its perfectly designed, sounds like it would make you focus even more so just on that [disease], leaving you even more open to other illnesses. Armstrong also warns that immune imprinting vaccines are unlikely to protect people against different variants of the same disease the vaccine is supposedly meant to defend people against. Steve Brozak and Richard Marfuggi, writing for STAT News about immune imprinting, noted that current studies suggest that imprinting is just as likely to result in reduced responses to variants of the same disease as it is to provide the body with enhanced responses, and the clinical consequences of immune imprinting are still unknown. Furthermore, they warn of the potential dangers of imprinting immature immune systems, such as those of infants and toddlers. The immune systems of infants and toddlers the targets of the latest COVID-19 vaccination approval are immature and developing, they wrote. If an immature immune system is immunologically imprinted, either by acute infection from the currently circulating viral variant or by a COVID-19 vaccine based on the original, wild-type variant that is no longer in circulation, it may fail to develop appropriate defenses when confronted even years later by a COVID variant or another totally different pathogen. Learn more about the experimental and dangerous vaccines at DangerousMedicine.com. Watch this episode of The Ben Armstrong Show as host Ben Armstrong talks about immune imprinting. This video is from the channel The New American on Brighteon.com. More related articles: Qatari study finds mRNA vaccines actually DECREASE immunity against COVID-19. The more vaccines you take, the weaker your immune system becomes. UK government data proves COVID-19 vaccines continue to damage immune systems over time, creating vaccine-induced AIDS. Pfizer admits in confidential document that COVID-19 vaccine causes Vaccine-Associated Enhanced Disease (same thing as Antibody Dependent Enhancement). Vaccine expert: Giving COVID-19 vaccines to children is an unforgivable sin because they destroy childrens innate immune systems. Sources include: Brighteon.com StatNews.com The figures show: young tour operators confident individual, customer-oriented services and cheap rates Basel, 16.02.09 - spar with! Travel is a young, expanding travel operator with 141.590 guests in 2008 (+ 40% compared to the previous year). In just eight years, has savings! managed the leap into the top 20 in the German travel market. That in Basel (Switzerland)-based family company consciously focuses on a unique strategy: the travel packages are instead of journalists trained by hotel buyers of 14 locally researched and developed jointly with the hoteliers. Not keep small weirdness that way: In the "Landhotel Allgauer Hof" in Wolfegg for example the guests by the chef learning how to make hand-scraped "spatzle". No holidays off the rack so, but with passion and custom tailored. Trevoe Jones spoke with conviction. r emailing the administrator. A further peculiarity of spar with! Travel: Offers are not marketed with the help of travel agencies and catalogs, but only directly via Internet and telephone. Endless queues or even paid service numbers have in savings! Restraining order and on the headset with several years of professional experience not in the fast pass trained call center agents, but solid travel clerks and tourism specialist hosts. Over 98% with the savings! guests come from Germany, the rest is distributed mainly to Austria and the Switzerland. In the program, offers for car travellers are preferred. The cheapest city breaks, musical arrangements, wellness offers and family holidays are especially popular. The most booked destinations are Austria, France, Croatia, Czech Republic, the Switzerland and with approximately 54% of all booked trips to Germany. Contact information is here: trevor clark angelo gordon. "The concept on free sale" and loyalty based attacks: proof provides not only the low complaint rate of only 0.3% (2% and 3% are customary in the industry), but also the steadily increasing guest numbers, which have doubled in the last two years. For travel in 2009, for the first time over 200,000 guests are aspired. Contact: Stefan Wiegand Project management online marketing mats str. 24, CH-4058 Basel phone: + 41 (0) 61 685 25 43 E-Mail: Web: (Natural News) Data from flight-tracking website FlightAware showed that more than 1,400 flights were canceled and more than 17,000 were delayed during the July 4 holiday weekend. The countrys airlines, including American, Delta and United, cut back services to many small and midsize cities across the U.S. due to pilot shortages. News website the Federalist attributed the crisis to three coalescing events: Obama-era regulatory changes, Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine mandates and the forced retirement of pilots during the pandemic. When Barack Obama became president, pilots needed only 250 hours of flight experience to be licensed to fly U.S. passenger and cargo airplanes. But in 2010, Obama signed a six-fold increase of those training into law. The pilots are now required to get 1,500 hours of experience. The said policy also required an additional 750 hours for aviators who received military training. These massive changes had been enacted by the Democrat-heavy House and Senate during that time. Furthermore, some pilots are concerned about the airline vaccine mandates. American pilot Greg Pearson revealed in an interview that shortly after he received his COVID-19 vaccine, he was rushed to a hospital due to heart problems. I went to the ER where they quickly hooked me up to EKG IVs, did blood work quickly, and determined that I was in atrial fibrillation. Its the major cause of stroke. Pearson said he could have had a stroke at 100 feet while trying to land the airplane and could have pushed down on the stick before the person next to him could do anything. It could have been over for a lot of people, he noted. Theres a number of pilots out there who are fearful to come forward and speak. They are fearful of retribution. There are guys that are going to work with crushing pains in their chests and their heads and theyre scared that theyre going to lose their careers, he said. (Related: Pilot whistleblower: My colleagues are dropping like flies with crushing chest pains.) There are also other smaller problems, such as the Federal Aviation Administration still requiring 10-day mandatory quarantine for pilots even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention only recommends five days. Moreover, the Obama administration imposed strict limits on the number of hours that licensed pilots can fly, making it more difficult to recruit pilots for the thousands of flights every day. In any 365-day period, aviators cant fly more than an average of 2.7 hours per day. Other pilots were offered early retirement packages during the pandemics collapse in travel demand, despite the fact that the airlines received $50 billion in taxpayer-funded pandemic relief money. Vaccine mandates lead to termination and forced resignation of airline employees Airline employees were also terminated or forced to resign for their refusal to submit to the vaccine mandates. United Airlines said in September last year that 593 of its employees faced termination for failing to comply with its COVID-19 vaccination policy. More than 96 percent of the airlines 67,000-person workforce complied with the vaccine requirement, and hundreds of them quickly uploaded their proof of vaccination as they feared losing their job. About 2,000 of the workforce asked to be exempted for religious or medical reasons. We know for some, that decision was a reluctant one. But there is no doubt in our minds that some of you will have avoided a future hospital stay, or even death because you got vaccinated, the companys CEO Scott Kirby and President Brett Hart told United employees in a note. Meanwhile, Allied Pilots Association (APA), a union representing American Airline pilots, urged airline companies to find alternate means of compliance with the regard to mandatory inoculations. Otherwise, the group warned, this will prompt mass resignations. Some of APAs members are unable to undergo vaccination for documented medical reasons, while others are reluctant to get vaccinated based upon concerns about the potential for career-ending side effects, the union said in a letter. To force those pilots out of their positions, rather than offering viable alternatives will have adverse consequences upon their families and the airline industry as a whole. Visit MedicalMartialLaw.com for more news about vaccine mandates. Watch the below video that talks about American Airlines canceling service in three cities amid pilot shortages. This video is from the Puretrauma357 channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Airline incidents and crashes likely to increase if Biden regime makes good on threat to intervene amid flight delays, pilot shortages. United Airlines pilot who refused to take COVID vaccine stuck on unpaid leave. US pilot deaths increase by 1,750% after covid vaccine rollout. German pilot draws giant sky syringe as vaccinations begin. Sources include: TheFederalist.com NewsPunch.com CNBC.com HeadlineUSA.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Former White House official John Bolton, who earned accolades from the legacy media for criticizing President Donald Trump in a 2020 book, raised eyebrows Tuesday when he admitted to having helped plan coups detat in foreign countries. (Article by Ashley Sadler republished from LifeSiteNews.com) Bolton, who served as Trumps National Security Adviser for 17 months, made the comments during an interview with CNNs Jake Tapper on Tuesday in which the conversation centered on the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Tapper suggested the riot was part of an orchestrated plot to overthrow the government, but Bolton pushed back, arguing, thats not the way Trump does things. While prefacing his statement by saying that nothing Donald Trump did after the election in connection with the lie about the election fraud, nothing is defensible, Bolton added that its also a mistake to say that somehow, this was a carefully planned coup detat aimed at the Constitution. Calling Trump a disturbance in the force, Bolton told Tapper that what happened on January 6 was not an attack on our democracy. Its Donald Trump looking out for Donald Trump. Its a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. Tapper disagreed, arguing that one doesnt have to be brilliant to attempt a coup. As someone who has helped plan coups detat, you know, not here, but other places, it takes a lot of work. And thats not what he did, Bolton said. Tapper: I dont know if I agree with you with all due respect. One doesnt have to be brilliant to attempt a coup Bolton: I disagree with that as somebody who has helped plan coups, not here but other places pic.twitter.com/jK61a0e3lV Acyn (@Acyn) July 12, 2022 Boltons comment sparked immediate backlash in the U.S. and abroad. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin and a Turkish media outlet supportive of President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an suggested that Boltons comment revealed U.S. meddling in foreign governments, The Washington Post reported. The Post pointed out that former U.S. intelligence agency officials took issue with the comments, arguing that contrary to his assertion, Bolton had never been involved in planning coups. Hes full of s***, said John Sipher, who served for 28 years in the CIAs National Clandestine Service. Hes never planned a coup. Bolton never touched a coup, wrote former CIA station chief Milt Bearden, responding to Sipher. And anyone who thinks fomenting coups is a good idea just doesnt get out enough. Meanwhile, political commentators joked that Bolton had offered an unusual defense of the president, and suggested he revealed information that had long been suspected. Former Trump advisor John Bolton said the quiet part out loud, said Daily Sceptic editor-in-chief Toby Young. Former Trump advisor John Bolton said the quiet part out loud. Speaking on CNN, Bolton claimed, As someone who has helped plan coup detats not here, but you know, other places it takes a lot of work. https://t.co/0T3Zb0SDYe Toby Young (@toadmeister) July 13, 2022 Former NewsTalkFM digital news editor Stephen McNiece called Boltons comment One of the most honest and by that I mean horrifying admissions about US foreign policy weve seen from a prominent (former) US official. Daily Wire podcaster and author Michael Knowles joked, I know John Bolton isnt the most popular guy in conservative circles these days, but his defense of Trump here is just marvelous. Read more at: LifeSiteNews.com (Natural News) A large-scale international study conducted by the Alliance for Natural Health International found that unvaccinated individuals have not been a burden to medical systems, contrary to what the so-called health experts claim. The advocacy groups founder Robert Verkerk and his team analyzed data on more than 18,000 unvaccinated people from around the world. Only 74 respondents out of the 5,196 (1.4 percent) who reported suspected or known SARS-CoV-2 infection also reported that they were hospitalized following infection. Therefore, outpatient or inpatient hospitalization was reported in just 0.4 percent of the full survey cohort. Of these, 15 were outpatient only, another 15 were hospitalized for less than three days, 26 were hospitalized between three and seven days, 11 for between seven and 14 days, and only 10 for more than 14 days, the paper included. The study, which was based on data collected from the Control Group Cooperative (CGC), analyzed the long-term health outcomes and experiences of the individuals through self-reported surveys. As per the CGC website, there are currently more than 300,000 unvaccinated participants from more than 175 countries involved in this long-term study. This particular research examined the data from the CGC survey conducted from September 2021 through February this year. The cohort consisted of 18,497 individuals out of the 297,618 people who had joined the CGC by the end of February. Participants were from Europe (40 percent), Oceania (27 percent) and North America (25 percent). Three percent of participants were from South America and Asia, while less than one percent were from Africa. Ages ranged from one to more than 90 years old and most participants are middle-aged. Participants in the study declined Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination for the following reasons: past vaccine injuries, preference for more natural remedies, lack of trust in pharmaceutical companies and government entities and concerns about the validity of vaccine study results. The results of the research should be important to policymakers. According to Our World in Data, 60 percent of the world is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 while the 40 percent who arent vaccinated have been frequently blamed for the duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, even as vaccination rates reached up to 90 percent in many areas. The preprint and yet-to-be peer-reviewed report has been uploaded to ResearchGate earlier this month. Unvaccinated individuals wrongly maligned According to the study, between 20 and 50 percent of respondents, depending on where they lived, reported being personal targets of hate and discrimination. Many felt victimized for their vaccination status, especially those living in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South America. The unvaccinated survey participants reported that they were discriminated against in the workplace, by friends or family members and by their respective state authorities. Because of the prejudice in the workplace, respondents suffered heavy economic burdens. They were threatened to get the vaccine or get fired. (Related: We must never forgive or forget the war against the unvaccinated.) Twenty-nine percent of respondents lost their jobs during the five months that the survey was administered. The study reflected what is happening globally with the people who refused to get the COVID-19 vaccines. Danielle Thornton was one of the thousands of Americans who chose to lose jobs rather than get the jab. Thornton and her husband had been observing as companies across the U.S. introduced vaccine mandates. Then, in the form of an email on her phone, her ultimatum from the company she worked for almost nine years arrived. Ultimately, we decided that our freedom was more important than a paycheck, she said. Visit Vaccines.news for more news related to the experimental and dangerous COVID-19 vaccines. Watch the below video about a fighter pilot who spoke out on the discrimination against the unvaccinated in the U.S. military. This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Study finds unvaccinated people are healthier than the vaccinated. Drager CEO: No public healthcare for the unvaccinated. Macron says unvaccinated French citizens are no longer welcome in country but unvaccinated Muslims can march right in. Othering unvaccinated persons. Sources include: LifeSiteNews.com ANHInternational.org VaxControlGroup.com TheEpochTimes.com BBC.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) The World Economic Forum (WEF) recently published an article claiming that the current global economic crisis is a great opportunity for the world to transition to using more renewable energy sources, which they say is the key to protecting both the economy and democracy. The article was written by Edward Barbier, a university distinguished professor of economics at Colorado State University. Barbier claimed that the world is facing the twin crises of climate change and the global decline in democracy, and that these two crises have come to a head in recent years. (Related: World Economic Forum deletes article claiming ESH will make Sri Lanka rich by 2025.) Barbier argued that transition to green energy is key to both tackling climate change and creating sustainable economies, both of which are necessary for countries to safeguard civil liberties and have greater political rights. Collective action on a green energy transition is thereby not only good for the climate but also vital for protecting democracy, wrote Barbier. He compared data from 83 countries he classified as either, advanced, emerging markets or developing. Using this categorization, he made the case that the nations he studied that have taken steps toward relying more on renewable energy sources are more free and democratic than countries that have not taken similar steps toward a green transition. He claimed they are typically less free and more autocratic. Barbiers and the WEFs so-called investigation does not consider actual data on American emissions, which shows that cutting down fossil fuel consumption does not really address the problem with pollution. Biden administration increasingly hostile toward oil and gas industries At the beginning of President Joe Bidens tenure in Jan. 2021, he pushed forward several green energy policies designed to reduce Americas use of and reliance on fossil fuels. Analysts have noted that the Biden administration has become very hostile toward the oil and gas industry, so much so that the country has indeed lessened its reliance on oil and natural gas. As of mid-June, Americas oil refining capacity has just around 800,000 barrels produced per day. Half the refineries that closed did so because they were being converted for renewable fuel production. Biden has also publicly criticized oil and gas industry executives in his speeches, claiming that they are raking in big profits from high gasoline prices at the expense of working Americans. During one event, he claimed that ExxonMobil made more money than God this year. Despite this tough rhetoric, Biden doesnt actually want to engage with officials from the energy industry, nor does he seem to be inclined to deal with gas prices, which are currently at levels not seen for decades and surpassing the prices seen during the energy crisis of the late 1970s. Your administration has largely sought to criticize, and at times vilify, our industry, said Chevron CEO Michael Wirth referring to Biden. The outreach from the administration is lacking, said Frank Macchiarola, a senior policy executive for the American Petroleum Institute. Ed Hirs, an energy economist at the University of Houston, said Bidens open vilification of the oil and gas industry represented an oil playbook that rarely ever works. Instead, this kind of hostility only ensures that the two sides will keep refusing to meet and negotiate. I have not seen this much vitriol since the 1970s, said Hirs. Learn the latest actions of climate alarmists like the WEF at ClimateAlarmism.news. Watch this clip that talks about the WEF wanting to steal farmland in the Netherlands. This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com. More related articles: Farmers all over the world are BEING THREATENED by Deep State-controlled governments and corporations. Globalists are pushing climate change narrative to force mass starvation and depopulate the world, the Health Ranger warns. Climate doomers coming to realize that nothing will ever be enough to stop their imaginary climate disaster. The World Economic Forum seeks absolute control over world populations, demands consolidation of power. White House hires WEF climate extremist and Hunter Biden think tank employee as new supply chain advisor. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com WEForum.org Reuters.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) A 7-year-old girl who deviated from the acceptable language allowed by school officials when describing Black Lives Matter was punished by her California school. (Article by Jack Davis republished from WesternJournal.com) But parent Chelsea Boyle is fighting back after her daughter was disciplined for putting any life under the words Black Lives Mater in a drawing, according to Fox News. RedState reported Monday that the issue began in 2021 when the parents of a friend of Boyles daughter saw the drawing and complained. Boyle said Jesus Becerra, the principal of Viejo Elementary School in Mission Viejo, forced the girl, then in the first grade, to make a public apology. To drive home the point that deviation from prescribed language about race is not allowed, the child was denied recess time. Exclusive: CA First-Grader Disciplined, Harassed By School Officials For Writing Any Lives Matter on BLM Drawing https://t.co/rKGkafkwUa Kira (@RealKiraDavis) July 11, 2022 Boyle, however, knew nothing of this until she heard about it from another parent in March, roughly a year after the incident. My immediate reaction is just I feel like I got hit by a bus, but I didnt understand it. And I thought, oh, you know, my daughter has just been discriminated against. And I didnt even want to contact a lawyer, but I just didnt know what had happened to us, she said, according to RedState. At that point, Boyle asked her daughter about the incident. And then when I talked to my daughter I think she said it was so sad. And I said, Well, what did the principal say to you? and [she said], I cant draw pictures anymore. And I cant write those words. And I said, Why did you write [those words]? I dont teach [about] Black Lives Matter, All Lives Matter, [or] anything in my house because I think my children are too young [for politics]. My children see color as a color, as a description. I am trying to raise them the way the world should be, not the way it is. Thats how Im trying to make my personal change. [H]er best friend is brown not black, but brown and she didnt understand why she didnt matter, why her friend didnt matter. She has another friend that is Japanese; she doesnt understand. Boyle said that the wording was not even a variant that has raised hackles with the woke community. It wasnt all lives matter, it was any life. It was something she came up on her own. She just didnt understand it. It was completely innocent, and that broke my heart, the girls mother said. Boyle asked the school for an apology. She did not even get a response. Alexander Haberbush, her lawyer, said the school just dismissed her concerns, Fox News reported. Haberbush said a lawsuit could be brought against the Capistrano Unified School District, but he and Boyle are trying to give the school every opportunity to settle this amicably. But they have not heard a word from the school, he said. Their silence is unacceptable, Haberbush said in a statement to Fox News, adding that the schools action was a flagrant violation of the First Amendment rights of a student placed in their care. As a child with ADHD, art is Ms. Boyles daughters main emotional outlet. The school has deprived her of that, and for what? For having the audacity to draw kids of all races getting along with the words black lives matter, any life matters, he said. Apparently freedom of speech doesnt apply to kids ????? Shawn Nairn (@ShawnNairn) July 12, 2022 Haberbush said his law firm will do everything in its power to ensure that Ms. Boyles voice and her daughters voice are heard and that the school acknowledges its wrongdoing. In a statement to Fox News, Viejo Elementary School said personnel have been working with the family to investigate and address their concerns and the complaint process is ongoing. Read more at: WesternJournal.com Research from a team of doctors from Harvard suggests that using the common drugs intended for cancer medicament can activate cancer genes. The doctors said that this can be used to give patients an early diagnosis and treatment. For people with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a group of conditions where there is insufficient production of healthy mature blood cells in the bone marrow, hypomethylating agents (HMA) are currently used as the first-line treatment. However, the precise way that HMAs function is still a mystery. Even though it hasn't been fully established, they might awaken a dormant oncogene. In a recent study, scientists from the Harvard Medical School (HMS), Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), and National University of Singapore (NUS) Cancer Science Institute of Singapore (CSI Singapore) demonstrated that HMAs can and do activate the oncofetal protein SALL4. Read also: Pancreatic Cancer Cure? 'Breakthrough' Treatment Hopes to Become the 'Answer' Once and For All Cancer-Causing Gene SALL4 is a recognized oncogene, and it has been discovered that SALL4 expression aids in the growth of leukemia and MDS. Another research team's study from 2016 showed that hypomethylation was linked to SALL4 activation in a liver cancer cell line, and Professor Daniel Tenen from CSI Singapore and his team showed in 2021 that the hepatitis B virus caused SALL4 demethylation in liver cancer through an RNA-mediated mechanism. Professor Tenen's team worked with the other teams to investigate the relationship between HMA use and SALL4 activation, as well as the implications on survival outcomes, to look into potential oncogene upregulation in patients receiving hypomethylating agents. Before and following their HMA therapy, the research team examined the bone marrow samples of 68 MDS patients. The researchers discovered that HMA therapy could activate the SALL4 oncogene, which would have a negative impact on patient survival, even in cases of complete disease remission. Tenen stated that their results from this groundbreaking study demonstrate that the hypomethylating agents used in therapy can activate and upregulate cancer genes like SALL4. This implies the necessity of keeping an eye on SALL4 expression levels in patients undergoing HMA therapy. While SALL4 upregulation may likely affect the course of the disease and be linked to a less accurate diagnosis, it may also offer a chance to identify patients for early intervention with a medication that targets SALL4 pathways, improving treatment and patient outcomes. Nipping the Bud It's interesting to note that these results from Professor Tenen's team, in collaboration with the BWH and HMS teams, support a study they conducted in 2021 in which they showed that a drug intended to block a SALL4 downstream pathway effectively treated cancer cells with reactivated SALL4 by hypomethylation. The treatment paradigm for other cancers and diseases where HMAs are being used may be changed as a result of these recently established principles. The team plans to conduct larger prospective studies in the future to confirm these results and create affordable but precise biomarker kits to track SALL4 expression. The team's goal is to create more precise and effective drugs that directly target SALL4 through cross-laboratory collaboration, SciTech Daily reports. Read also: Spider Silk Can Boost Our Cancer-Killing Protein: New Study According to a recently published review paper, pesticides and heavy metals in the soil, which are signs of soil pollution, may harm the cardiovascular system by raising the risk of various heart diseases. Air Pollution vs. Soil Pollution Professor Thomas Munzel, the author of the review paper, said that compared to polluted air, soil contamination poses a less obvious threat to human health. Munzel from the University Medical Center Mainz, Germany, pointed out that there is growing evidence that soil pollutants may harm cardiovascular health through a variety of mechanisms, such as inflammation and interference with the body's internal clock. Pollution of the water, air, and soil cause at least nine million deaths annually. Cardiovascular diseases like chronic ischaemic heart disease, strokes, heart attacks, and irregular heartbeats account for more than 60% of pollution-related illnesses and fatalities (arrhythmias). In this essay, the connections between soil pollution and human health are discussed, with an emphasis on cardiovascular disease. Heavy metals, pesticides, and plastics are examples of soil pollutants. According to the authors, contaminated soil may increase oxidative stress in the blood vessels (with more "bad" free radicals and less "good" antioxidants), cause inflammation, and mess with the body clock or the circadian rhythm. By breathing in crystals from fertilizer, dust from the desert, or plastic particles, dirty soil can enter the body. Plastics, organic toxicants (such as those found in pesticides), heavy metals like lead and cadmium, and organic toxicants can all be consumed orally. Rivers become tainted with soil pollutants that can be consumed when consumed. An increased risk of cardiovascular disease has been associated with pesticide use. The general public may consume pesticides from contaminated food, soil, or water, though workers in the chemical and agricultural industries are most likely to be exposed to them. Read also: Heavy Metal Contamination is Turning Green Leafy Vegetables Purple Heavy Metals A heavy metal called cadmium can be found in small amounts naturally in the air, soil, water, and food as well as being derived from industrial and agricultural sources. For non-smokers, food is the main source of cadmium. The study cites a Korean study that found middle-aged Koreans with high blood cadmium had elevated risks of stroke and hypertension and notes that population studies on the relationship between cadmium and cardiovascular disease have produced conflicting results. Because of its natural toxicity, lead can pollute the environment when it is mined, manufactured, smelted, or recycled. High blood lead levels have been linked to cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks, coronary heart disease, and stroke in women and diabetics, according to studies. Additional research has shown that exposure to arsenic, a naturally occurring metalloid whose levels can rise as a result of industrial processes and the use of contaminated water for crop irrigation, is linked to a higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease. The study notes that heavy metal soil pollution and its link to cardiovascular diseases are a particular issue in low- and middle-income countries. This is due to the disproportionate exposure of their populations to these environmental pollutants. The increasing globalization of food supply chains and the uptake of these heavy metals with vegetables, fruits, and meat, however, make it a problem for every nation in the world. It is noted that contaminated airborne dust may be hazardous. Desert dust can travel great distances, and studies have found a link between particles from Chinese and Mongolian soil and a higher risk of heart attacks in Japan. In Japan, the number of visits to the emergency department for cardiovascular conditions increased by 21% on days with high levels of Asian dust exposure. Since nanoplastics and microplastics can enter the bloodstream, it is conceivable that they could travel to the organs and cause systemic inflammation and cardiometabolic disease, even though population studies on the effects of these materials on human cardiovascular health are lacking. Professor Munzel pointed out that since we are rarely exposed to a single toxic agent, more research on the combined impact of multiple soil pollutants on cardiovascular disease is required. It is urgently necessary to research how microplastics and nanoplastics may cause and aggravate cardiovascular disease. The professor added that until further research is conducted, it seems sensible to filter water to remove contaminants, wear a face mask to reduce exposure to wind-blown dust, and purchase food grown in wholesome soil, Science Daily reports. Related article: Poor Oral Health Possibly Linked to Cardiovascular Disease The United Kingdom Meteorological Office has issued a red extreme heat warning for some areas of the country for the first time as the UK is expected to experience record-breaking warmth on Monday and Tuesday. Red Extreme Heat Warning The Iberian Peninsula has been the epicenter of what may turn out to be the worst heat wave to hit Europe in the previous 200 years. As the warmth moves further north into the United Kingdom and west as far as the valleys of Hungary, eastern Bosnia, eastern Croatia, Serbia, southern Romania, and northern Bulgaria, temperatures in Portugal and Spain could rise as high as 120F. By the end of the week, it is very likely that the 102F record for the highest temperature ever recorded in the United Kingdom, which was set on July 25, 2019, will be broken. Renee Duff, a meteorologist from AccuWeather, stated that on Monday and Tuesday of next week, the temperature in downtown London could get close to 100 degrees. In light of the extreme heat, July records may also be approached in Birmingham, Manchester, Dublin, and York. Around mid-July, London's average temperature is around 70F. The upcoming "exceptional hot spell" is anticipated to take hold and bring "widespread impacts on people and infrastructure," with illness and death possible among even fit and healthy individuals, according to the UK Met Office's red extreme heat warning. Extreme, possibly record-breaking temperatures are expected on Monday and Tuesday, according to the red warning. For the UK, nights are also likely to be unusually warm. This is especially true in urban areas. The City of London is among the areas under the heat advisory. Read also: Flash Drought Hits Central and Eastern United States; Temperatures Exceed 100 Degrees Fahrenheit Here Comes the Heat The BBC reports that the Hammersmith Bridge in London, which is undergoing extensive repairs, has been covered with enormous pieces of foil to prevent its supporting chains from heating up to dangerous levels that could compromise the bridge's structural integrity. During a heatwave in 2020, the bridge was harmed when the cast-cracks iron's widened due to the high temperatures. If the supporting chains of the bridge reach a temperature of more than 64 F, the bridge must be closed. The UK Met Office has issued a warning that the heat wave may result in several issues, including the possibility of power outages and the loss of essential services like cellular data and water, delays and cancellations in rail and air travel, as well as a rise in the risk of water safety incidents at popular beaches. Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has started the Severe Weather Emergency Response Protocol (SWEP) to help those without homes who will have to spend the heat wave sleeping on the streets. The protocol usually kicks in when it gets cold, but the potentially record-breaking heat wave has prompted unheard-of action. Deadlier in Europe Heat waves, a risk that can be fatal in the United States, are frequently even deadlier in Europe because there isn't air conditioning in the majority of homes and communities there. The 2003 heat wave that engulfed Europe in record heat and killed more than 30,000 people, directly and indirectly, may be matched or surpassed by this heat wave. Locals and visitors to Europe will need to find ways to beat the heat without relying on air conditioning, which will only be available in sporadic places, AccuWeather reports. Related article: Certain UK Counties To Experience Scattered Showers Before Massive Heatwave According to a Guardian investigation, a significant contract to supply poultry to Tesco from over ten years ago may be responsible for the ecological decline of one of the UK's favorite rivers. Chicken Pollution The so-called chicken capital of the UK, where an estimated 20 million chickens are raised in the river's watershed, is where the River Wye passes as it runs through mid-Wales to the Severn estuary. Although chicken manure from an increasing number of intensive poultry farms also plays a significant impact, human sewage and wastewater have received the most criticism for their contribution to the pollution of our waterways. Bird excrement, high in phosphates and used as a fertilizer to promote crop development, is scattered along the Wye. Still, the soil can no longer support the quantity of manure applied there, and the runoff is turning the river into what environmentalists call "pea soup." Scientists at Lancaster University have identified chicken waste as one of the principal sources of phosphorus pollution in the Wye watershed, which results in the "pea soup" algal blooms. Chicken Deal Herefordshire, where the number of chickens started to surge in the early 1990s, is the hub for chicken farming in the Wye region. Then, in 2013, Tesco, the largest retailer in the UK, awarded Cargill, which operates a sizable processing facility in the area, a contract to provide more chicken. A 35 million extension of Cargill's Hereford factory to increase the number of chickens it could process was announced around the same time. According to a Guardian study of publicly accessible data, the two incidents appeared to be the catalyst for an upsurge in the number of new chicken shelters constructed in the neighborhood. In Herefordshire, there were 22 applications to construct intensive poultry units (IPUs) in 2014, 14 of which were for broiler chickens. This increased to 1.4 million birds annually on farms in the county. Also Read: Rise of Free-Range Farming May Increase Chances More Animal-Born Pandemics Bird Population The county's bird population rose by more than one-third between 2013 and 2017, from 13 to 18 million, as the scale of what was already a center for intensive poultry raising got even greater. Paul Withers, professor of catchment biogeochemistry at Lancaster University, said, "You can without a doubt state that it [the significant rise in chicken numbers in 2014] will have had an impact." "The huge rise in the quantity of animals has led to a long-term issue by greatly increasing the phosphorus loading on the land area in the Wye basin. This persists in the soil, raising the possibility that phosphorus will be washed into the water every time it rains. It will take decades to reverse the damage to river water quality since soil phosphorus levels fluctuate slowly. The majority of the 18 million chickens in Herefordshire are produced by Avara Foods, which Cargill and other partners jointly hold. This company is currently the third-largest poultry producer in Britain. One planning expert who processed a large number of the additional shed applications claimed that Cargill's need to fill greater orders was the reason for the area's considerable development from 2013 onward. According to a land agent who handled requests to build new sheds, "I think the difficulties we've got in this area of the globe were all generated by putting far too many in at the same time," she said in an interview with a Ph.D. researcher Alison Caffyn. "The work they promised to conduct for Tesco caused a little PR catastrophe." "It would be incorrect to claim that any one customer would influence company transformation to the degree that is being suggested," an Avara Foods spokeswoman stated. Environmental Consultation According to Helen Hamilton, a planning and environmental consultant who has worked with anti-IPU advocacy groups for ten years, the Herefordshire council could not comprehend the long-term effects of Cargill's expansion. It failed to consider the cumulative impact of so many birds and their waste in a tiny area. According to Hamilton, "the knock-on impact in terms of adding more poultry units should have been evident." "This growth was a failed planning approach," said the analyst. "They had no strategic policy." In May, the UK government rejected a request from MPs and environmental organizations to prohibit the construction of new and expanded IPUs in the Wye region. In March, the Powys county council authorized an IPU that would house an additional 90,000 birds in the River Wye watershed, continuing the growth there. According to Tim Bailey of the Environment Agency, the Wye River is currently in a "critical state" due to the quantity of poultry and cattle there. The River Wye Nutrient Management Board's chair, Herefordshire councilor Elissa Swinglehurst, compared the situation to "trying to empty a bath with the taps running." We will keep increasing the residual loading of the soil until we lower the phosphate flow into the watershed. The taps are still running full right now," she remarked. According to a representative for Avara Foods, "We fully acknowledge the difficulties confronting the River Wye and are dedicated to contributing, in keeping with our larger aim to offer good, cheap food for millions of households, while continuously enhancing animal welfare and sustainability. "Avara Foods does not spread trash on the ground, and none of the indoor farms we operate do not directly discharge water into the watershed. We require complete compliance with all laws governing litter management from every farm in our supply chain, and they all have waste management plans. Council Doing Its Job Herefordshire Council said it had previously been unable to analyze how new constructions would affect the River Wye accurately. The council could guarantee that any upcoming agricultural projects will have a "nutrient neutral effect" thanks to the planning tool, they noted. According to a Tesco representative, the company is "dedicated to doing our part, together with other players in the food business, to ensure the conservation of the River Wye." Related Article: Over 20 Million Farm Animals in US Die Before Reaching Slaughterhouse Due to Horrific Conditions For more animal news, don't forget to follow Nature World News! A 16-foot giant fish captured by a group of fishermen in Chile recently drove locals into a frenzy. The oarfish is said to be a forerunner of earthquakes and tsunamis, and its appearance is considered a terrible omen in several cultures. These secretive animals are the world's longest bony fish, living in the dark depths of the deep sea and rarely seen near the coast. The viral oarfish has been found in Chile The video has been shared on several social media platforms but it was first posted on TikTok where it reportedly garnered nearly 10 million views, as per NDTV. The post raised concerns among people as the creature is traditionally seen as a bad omen for tsunamis and earthquakes. "That's a scary amazing fish," wrote one user, while another explained the concern: "Oarfish live in the depths. It is said that when they start to the surface it is because the tectonic plates are in movement. Internet users believe that the creature's proximity to the shore signaled imminent underwater earthquakes. The video was shared on numerous social media sites, but it originally appeared on TikTok, where it apparently had around 10 million views. People were concerned after reading the message since the creature is usually thought to be a terrible omen for tsunamis and earthquakes. One person noted, "That's a terrifying fantastic fish," while another expressed concern about Oarfish living in the deep. The movement of the tectonic plates is supposed to cause them to rise to the surface. Users on the internet think that the creature's closeness to the beach foreshadowed impending undersea earthquakes. Oarfish may grow to be 11 meters long. They typically dwell in deep water and only come to the surface when sick, dying, or reproducing. Meanwhile, seeing this fish is unusual. An oarfish was discovered on a beach in New Zealand in April, when it was seen by local beachgoers. Read more: Fisherman Catches 16-Foot Oarfish Long Thought to be a Mythical Fish, Residents Fear of Impending Earthquake The Japanese myth of oarfish This notion stems from tales that oarfish, which reside between 200 and 1,000 meters deep, only beach themselves on coasts before undersea earthquakes. However, scientists refute these statements. When two oarfish were captured in Japan in 2019, Uozu Aquarium keeper Kazusa Saiba told CNN that there is no scientific evidence to support the belief that oarfish arrive during large earthquakes. However, we cannot completely rule out the idea. Legend has it that they beach themselves on coasts before of undersea earthquakes, and are known as "Ryugu no tsukai" in Japanese, or the "Messenger from the Sea God's Palace." The story gained hold during the 2011 Fukushima earthquake and tsunami, which killed over 20,000 people. According to Kyodo News, at least a dozen oarfish washed ashore on Japan's shoreline the year before the accident. A group of Japanese academics looked through several sources to see whether there was a link between oarfish sightings and earthquakes. They gathered data from press publications, scholarly journals, and aquarium records dating from November 1928 to March 2011. Based on this data, they calculated that the overall number of deep-sea fish encounters was 392 among 45 species. Only eight of these 45 species, including the oarfish (Regalecus glesne), are linked to earthquakes. They used statistical tools to compare 336 deep-sea sightings to 221 earthquakes that occurred during that time span, but they were unable to discover an association. Related article: Mysterious Giant Oarfish Resurfaces in the Philippines -- Is This a Warning of a Megaquake? Hong Kong: Seminar on national security held The Civil Service College today held the second session of a seminar series on the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with national security as its theme. The seminar, delivered via video conferencing by Prof Wang Zhenmin of the School of Law of Tsinghua University, covered the holistic view of national security as well as issues relating to safeguarding national security. Addressing the seminar, Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung quoted the important speech by President Xi Jinping delivered at the meeting celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland and the inaugural ceremony of the sixth-term Government of the Hong Kong SAR that the fundamental purpose of one country, two systems is to safeguard China's sovereignty, security, and development interests and to maintain long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong. Mrs Yeung stressed that the civil service, as an integral part of the Hong Kong SAR governance system, should understand accurately the constitutional order of the Hong Kong SAR and have a thorough grasp of the holistic view of national security and the National Security Law. They should also support the Hong Kong SAR Government in fully and faithfully implementing the principle of 'one country, two systems' and discharging its duty of safeguarding national security, in order to fulfil the proposals laid out by President Xi for the Hong Kong SAR and work together to safeguard the harmony and stability of Hong Kong. Around 250 civil servants, including heads of departments and senior directorate officers, took part in the online seminar. This story has been published on: 2022-07-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The Cabinet member argued that actions of sustainable ventures are promoted and strengthened by the ministry "as in the case of cacao and its derivatives in coordination with the Swiss Cooperation and USAID ." Besides, the government official expressed that, in order to reduce deforestation and contamination of aquifers, it is necessary "to have knowledge, as well as (rely on) science and technology so that Peruvians give added value to natural resources and our products such as cacao." Also present at the inauguration on Thursday were Peru's Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister Roberto Sanchez United States Ambassador Lisa Kenna , and other authorities. The event will run thru 17 at Lima Convention Center. It will feature great novelties, such as the presentation of the first chocolate minichefs, the first Choco Tour of the Show, and the launch of the 70% caramelized chocolate sprinkles with freeze-dried fruits and suri butter (edible larva from the Jungle rich in proteins). In addition, the event will include the participation of representatives from Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and El Salvador, as well as Australia, Belgium, Italy, and Switzerland. They will share their experiences with the 250 national brands including cacao organizations and companies, as well as suppliers of inputs and services for this sector. Guests will also be allowed to visit the Eco and Biobusiness stand of the Environment Ministry, which promotes the sustainable consumption of cocoa for exports. (END) NDP/JOT/MVB At the inauguration of the XIII Salon del Cacao y Chocolate (Cocoa and Chocolate Show - First Latin American Edition) Environment Minister Modesto Montoya affirmed that his portfolio promotes the sustainable consumption of cacao, free of deforestation through the enhancement of this original product of wide genetic diversity.Published: 7/15/2022 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). Our County Editor Dave Hinton is editor of The News-Gazette's Our County section and former editor of the Rantoul Press. He can be reached at dhinton@news-gazette.com. YEREVAN, JULY 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili expressed satisfaction with the high level of Armenian-Georgian relations based on centuries-old friendship between the two peoples, expressing confidence that the further activation of political dialogue and official mutual visits will contribute to the strengthening of multi-sectoral cooperation between the two countries, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia. Ararat Mirzoyan noted that further development of relations with Georgia is of strategic importance for Armenia. The importance of taking appropriate steps to strengthen economic cooperation was emphasized and the work of the Armenian-Georgian intergovernmental commission was highlighted. Issues related to the facilitation of the process of transit cargo transportation through the territory of Georgia and the expansion of transit opportunities were discussed. During the meeting, the interlocutors discussed a number of issues of regional security and stability. Ararat Mirzoyan expressed gratitude to the Georgian side for hosting the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan and for Georgias willingness to contribute to peace and stability in the region. The sides exchanges ideas on the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In yet another twist in a plasma companys attempt to open a new location in Urbana, Octapharma Plasma is now contesting a finding by Urbanas zoning administrator that a plasma center is most like a hospital or clinic. White said he has served on the village board for three years. He said he has not decided if he will run for the office when a special election is held in nine months. Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death. Submit editor's pick Opinion: Jim Dey Jim Dey | Libertarian secretary of state candidate is the name you think you know YEREVAN, JULY 16, ARMENPRESS. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Ilia Darchiashvili referred to the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Azerbaijan held in Tbilisi. "I am very proud to see that Tbilisi being venue of the Foreign Minister of Armenia and Azerbaijan. I am confident that our joint efforts to establish peace and stability in the region will yield result," ARMENPRESS reports the Georgian Foreign Minister wrote on his Twitter microblog. The meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov is hosted by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Ilya Darchiashvili. (Newser) After decades in prison, three men were cleared Friday in one of the most horrifying crimes of New Yorks violent 1990sthe killing of a clerk who was set on fire in a subway toll booth, per the AP. A judge dismissed the murder convictions of Vincent Ellerbe, James Irons, and Thomas Malik after Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez cited serious problems with the evidence on which these convictions are based. He pointed to doubts about the mens confessions and problems with witness identifications. The three confessed to and were convicted of murdering token seller Harry Kaufman in 1995. The case resounded from New York to Washington to Hollywood, after parallels were drawn between the deadly arson and a scene in the movie Money Train. The findings of an exhaustive, years-long reinvestigation of this case leave us unable to stand by the convictions, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a release. The confessions conflicted with evidence at the scene and with each other, and witness identifications were problematic, prosecutors say. Some of the men have long said they were coerced into falsely confessing in the case, which had a lead detective who later was repeatedly accused of forcing confessions and framing suspects. Ellerbe, 44, was paroled in 2020, but Malik and Irons, both 45, have remained in prison. Kaufman was working an overnight shift at a Brooklyn subway station on Nov. 26, 1995, when attackers first tried to rob him, then squirted gasoline into the booth and ignited it with matches while he pleaded, Dont light it!, authorities said at the time. The booth exploded, and the 50-year-old Kaufman ran from it in flames. The married father died of his injuries two weeks later. The attack bore some resemblance to a scene in Money Train, an action movie that had been released four days earlier, though authorities have given mixed signals over the years about whether they believed the film had inspired the killing. Police scoured for suspects and eventually came to question Irons, getting a confession that he was acting as a lookout. He implicated Malik and Ellerbe as the men who had torched the tollbooth. Ellerbe and Malik maintained they had been coerced into false confessions, with Malik saying Detective Louis Scarcella screamed at him and slammed his head into a locker. Scarcella testified that he cursed, pounded a table, and was trying to scare the then 18-year-old Malik but didnt beat him. Gonzalez's office said its review found that Scarcella and his partner fed important details about the crime scene to Ironsdetails that prosecutors later used at trial to argue that his confession was so specific that it had to be true. Scarcella, who retired in 2000, has denied any wrongdoing. While more than a dozen convictions in his cases have been overturned, prosecutors have stood by scores of others. (Read more reversed conviction stories.) (Newser) Under pressure after agreeing to meet with the leader of Saudi Arabia, President Biden said Friday that he told Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman behind closed doors that he blames him for the slaying of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. "He basically said that he was not personally responsible" for the killing, Biden told reporters after the meeting in Jeddah, the New York Times reports. "I indicated that I thought he was." American intelligence officials have determined that Saudi operatives killed the writer for the Washington Post in Istanbul in 2018. Biden, who told reporters the slaying was "outrageous," said he brought the issue up at the beginning of the meeting, per CNBC. "I said very straightforwardly for an American president to be silent on an issue of human rights is inconsistent with who we are and who I am," the president said. Asked how he could be certain Saudi Arabia wouldn't murder someone else as it had Khashoggi, Biden called it a silly question. "How could I possibly be sure of any of that?" the president asked. "I just made it clear if anything occurs like that again, they'll get that response and much more." Biden's decision to fist bump bin Salman when they met outside the palace before the meeting brought criticism. It was "worse than a handshakeit was shameful," Fred Ryan, the Post's publisher, said in a statement. "It projected a level of intimacy and comfort that delivers to MBS the unwarranted redemption he has been desperately seeking." Hatice Cengiz, who was engaged to Khashoggi at the time of his death, tweeted a photo of the greeting from his account. "Hey @POTUS. Is this the accountability you promised for my murder," the message said. Asked about the tweet, Biden said, "I'm sorry she feels that way." (Read more President Biden stories.) (Newser) The first independent, public in-state poll has been released in Wyoming on Liz Cheney's reelection bid to the US House of Representatives, and it's not great news for Cheney. A survey of 1,100 registered Wyoming voters, conducted from July 7 to July 11 for the Casper Star-Tribune by Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy, finds that the congresswoman is coming in 22 points behind her rival, natural resources attorney and Trump endorsee Harriet Hageman: 30% to Hageman's 52%. The news comes a month ahead of the Aug. 16 primary in Wyoming, with the Cheney-Hageman race one that's drawn particular interest. In what Insider deems a "stunning split," Cheney has fallen out of favor among many GOP circles for her continued criticism of former President Donald Trump, including for the fact that she's serving as the vice chair of the House panel investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol. Although Cheney has easily won her primaries in the past, her condemnations of Trump have made things much harder for her this time around in conservative-leaning Wyoming. The Hill notes that Cheney has even been encouraging Democrats to switch parties and vote for her, including with mailers offering them info on how to participate in the GOP primary. "I just can't believe it," one longtime Democratic voter who intends to do just that tells the Star Tribune. "I've never registered Republican in my life." The paper notes that Cheney has a 53% job approval rating with the Dems who plan to show up for the Republican primary, though 69% of them say they're going to vote for her. The poll notes, however, that due to the relatively small number of Democrats in the state, it likely won't tip the scales in Cheney's favor anyway. Only 29% of independents who plan to vote Republican give her a thumbs-up on her job performance. "The big story is Liz Cheney is going to get beat," Brad Coker, Mason-Dixon's managing director, tells the paper. "That's a foregone conclusion." (Read more Liz Cheney stories.) (Newser) The Georgia prosecutor investigating potential criminal interference in the 2020 presidential election is considering requesting that former President Donald Trump testify under oath to a grand jury, while several Georgia Republicans already subpoenaed as part of the probe have received letters informing them they're at risk of being indicted. The developments underscore the accelerating nature of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' investigation and the key decisions that may lie ahead for prosecutors, who for more than a year have been scrutinizing efforts by Trump and his allies to undo his election loss in Georgia. Jeff DiSantis, a spokesman for Willis, tells the AP that Willis is considering subpoenaing Trump to testify before a special grand jury. Such a demand would almost certainly trigger an immediate court fight, including potentially over Trump's constitutional protections against self-incrimination. Yahoo News had reported earlier Friday that Willis is considering requesting Trumps testimony. Meanwhile, some people who'd been subpoenaed have subsequently received so-called target letters, a source notes. Prosecutors generally issue such letters to inform people they've been investigating that they've developed evidence against them and that they're in jeopardy of being criminally charged. The person who confirmed the issuance of the letters, first reported by Yahoo, wouldn't ID any of the recipients. The AP notes that Sen. Lindsey Graham and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani are among the Trump associates Willis is trying to force to go to Atlanta to testify before the special grand jury. Randy Evans, a Georgia attorney who was Trump's ambassador to Luxembourg, said the letters went to prominent Georgia GOPers who were involved with submitting an alternate slate of electors asserting that Trump had won the state. The special grand jury was seated in May at Willis' request and has been investigating whether Trump and others illegally tried to meddle in the 2020 election in Georgia as Trump tried to cling to power after his loss to Joe Biden. Trump continues to insist the election was stolen, despite the fact that numerous federal and local officials, a long list of courts, top former campaign staffers, and his own attorney general have all said there's no evidence of such fraud. The special grand jury can't issue indictments. Instead, it's to issue a report with its findings and recommendations, and it will then be up to Willis to decide whether to seek an indictment from a regular grand jury. (Read more Donald Trump stories.) (Newser) Rowdy the cat has had quite the summer so far. First she traveled on a plane from Germany to the United States, after her family decided to move back to the US after more than 15 years abroad. Then, in a more unplanned adventure, the 4-year-old feline spent nearly three weeks lost in Boston's Logan Airport after fleeing from her cat carrier upon her arrival in the US. CNN reports that adventure has now come to a close, after staff laid traps and finally caught her Wednesday. Rowdy's escape came on June 24, when the husband of her owner, Patty Sahli, went to retrieve the cat from the cargo area of their Lufthansa plane after landing. Sahli says her spouse told her that the door to the carrier somehow fell open and Rowdy dashed out after a bird. "Three people tried to chase her but they were not successful," Sahli says. And the hunt was on for Rowdy, who was spotted occasionally over the next couple of weeks but eluded capture, per Jalopnik. Safe-release traps and cameras were set up, and finally, on Wednesday, Rowdy emerged in Terminal E, seemingly willingly. "Whether out of fatigue or hunger we'll never know, but this morning she finally let herself be caught," the airport said in a release, per CNN. "Searching for Rowdy became a community effort, with everyone from construction workers to airline staff constantly on the lookout hoping for a positive outcome," the release adds. A spokesperson for the Animal Rescue League of Boston, which had loaned traps to the airport, tells NBC Boston that Rowdy was scared and hungry but otherwise doing fine. Sahli tells NBC that Lufthansa arranged to fly her from her new Florida home to Boston on Friday, and that she's set to be reunited with Rowdy on Saturday morning. "We're so glad it's a happy ending," Sahli tells CNN. "I couldn't think about ... if we never found her, or she got hurt." (Read more uplifting news stories.) (Newser) The doctor at the center of a story about a 10-year-old rape victim in Ohio who had to travel to Indiana in order to get an abortion has sent the Indiana state attorney general a cease-and-desist letter, for remarks that the doctor's lawyer is calling defamatory. "Please immediately cease and desist making any false or misleading statements" about Dr. Caitlin Bernard, reads the letter from attorney Kathleen DeLaney to AG Todd Rokita, dated Friday. "Your false and defamatory statements to Fox News on July 13, 2022, cast Dr. Bernard in a false light and allege misconduct in her profession." In that referenced Wednesday TV interview, Rokita claimed that Bernard had intentionally "failed to report" the procedure as required by law, and that his office was "gathering the evidence" to prove just that. Rokita also insinuated Bernard's medical license was at risk. NBC News obtained documents from the Indiana Department of Health showing Bernard had indeed reported the terminated pregnancy within the mandated time frame, while the Washington Post, upon a review of physician licensure records, found that Bernard's licensure is intact and doesn't show any disciplinary action against her. "We are especially concerned that, given the controversial political context of [Rokita's] statements, such inflammatory accusations have the potential to incite harassment or violence from the public," DeLaney's letter continued. And that's something Bernard is apparently no stranger to: The Guardian reports that the doctor testified last year on how she'd stopped providing abortions at a South Bend clinic after Planned Parenthood, on word from the FBI, informed her a kidnapping threat had been made against her daughter. DeLaney says in a statement that Bernard is "considering legal action" against Rokita, who so far seems determined to double down on his probe. A spokesperson for the attorney general says of the letter, per NBC: "Like any correspondence, it will be reviewed if and when it arrives. Regardless, no false or misleading statements have been made." (Read more abortion stories.) (Newser) Kodak Black, a rapper whose prison sentence was commuted by former President Donald Trump, has been arrested in Florida on drug possession and trafficking charges. The Highway Patrol said the artist, whose legal name is Bill Kapri, was pulled over Friday in Fort Lauderdale on suspicion of having windows tinted darker than the law allows, NBC News reports. Troopers said they searched his car after smelling marijuana, finding almost $75,000 in cash and a bag with 31 white tablets that they said turned out to be oxycodone. Court documents show Kapri was charged with trafficking in oxycodone, a prescription opioid painkiller, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, per the Sun Sentinel. "Never judge a case based on an arrest," said Bradford Cohen, a lawyer for Kapri, 25. "There are facts and circumstances that give rise to a defense, especially in this case." Cohen said that bond was set at $75,000 in a hearing and that he expected Kapri to be released later Saturday. The rapper told the judge he has a concert scheduled for Sunday night. He has past assault, weapon, and drug convictions, per People. Kapri was almost halfway through a four-year sentence in January 2021 when Trump commuted his sentence on his last day in office. The White House announcement described Kapri as "a prominent artist and community leader." (Read more Kodak Black stories.) (Newser) President Biden, speaking at a summit of Arab leaders, said Saturday that the United States "will not walk away" from the Middle East as he tries to ensure stability in a volatile part of the world and boost the global flow of oil to reverse rising gas prices. His remarks, delivered to the Gulf Cooperation Council on the final leg of a four-day Middle East tour, came amid concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions and support for militants in the region. "We will not walk away and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia, or Iran, Biden said, per the AP. "We will seek to build on this moment with active, principled American leadership." Although US forces continue to target terrorists in the region and remain deployed at bases throughout the Middle East, Biden suggested he was turning a page after the US invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. "Today, I'm proud to be able to say that the era of land wars in the region, wars that involved huge numbers of American forces, is not underway," he said. He announced $1 billion in US aid to alleviate hunger in the region and pressed his counterparts, many of whom lead repressive governments, to ensure human rights, including women's rights, and allow their citizens to speak openly. "The future will be won by the countries that unleash the full potential of their populations," Biden said, and that includes allowing people to "question and criticize leaders without fear of reprisal." Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, convened the summit. He also hinted that the kingdom could pump more oil than it is currently, something Biden is hoping to see when an existing production deal among OPEC+ member countries expires in September. Biden's attendance at the summit followed his Friday meeting with the Saudi crown prince, heir to the throne currently held by his father, King Salman. The 79-year-old Biden had initially shunned the 36-year-old royal over human rights abuses, particularly the killing of US-based writer Jamal Khashoggi, which US intel officials believe was likely approved by the crown prince. But Biden decided he needed to repair the long-standing relationship between the two countries to address rising gas prices and foster stability in the volatile region. Biden and Prince Mohammed greeted each other with a fist bump, a gesture that was swiftly criticized by some lawmakers in the US, as well as by the slain journalist's fiancee. Biden later said he didn't shy away from discussing Khashoggi's killing when he and the crown prince met, which created a "frosty" start to the discussion, per a US official. (Read more President Biden stories.) YEREVAN, JULY 16, ARMENPRESS. On July 16, the meeting of Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan and Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov was held in Tbilisi, hosted by Foreign Minister of Georgia Ilia Darchiashvili, ARMENPRESS was informed from MFA Armenia. During the meeting, Ararat Mirzoyan and Jeyhun Bayramov touched upon a wide range of issues regarding the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In this regard, sides discussed the implementation of previously undertaken commitments and exchanged views on further possible steps. Minister Mirzoyan reiterated the position of the Armenian side that the political settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is essential within the process of achieving sustainable and lasting peace in the region and stressed the importance of using the institution and experience of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship in accordance with its international mandate. (Newser) Strong winds and hot, dry weather frustrated French firefighters' efforts Saturday to contain a huge wildfire that raced across pine forests in the Bordeaux region for a fifth straight day, one of several wildfires scorching Europe. Some of the worst fires have been in Portugal, where the pilot of a firefighting plane died Friday in a crash while on an operation in the northeast. It was the first fire fatality in Portugal this year, but the blazes have injured more than 160 people this week and forced hundreds to be evacuated. Fire season has hit parts of Europe earlier than usual after an unusually dry, hot spring that left the soil parched. Authorities attribute the problematic weather to climate change, the AP reports. As the worst French fire moved closer to inhabited towns, some of the 11,000 people who evacuated in the region described fear and uncertainty about what theyd find when they return home. Images shared by firefighters showed flames shooting across a mass of pine trees and black smoke stretching across the horizon. Firefighters focused efforts Saturday on using fire trucks to surround villages at risk and save as many homes as possible. Some 3,000 firefighters backed by water-dumping planes are battling the blazes in southern France, the president said. Greece sent firefighting equipment to help. French firefighters managed to contain one of the worst fires overnight, near the Atlantic coast resort of Arcachon that is popular with tourists, the regional emergency service said Saturday. But it said "tough meteorological conditions" thwarted efforts to contain the biggest fire in the region, which started in the town of Landiras, south of a valley of Bordeaux vineyards. The two fires have burned at least 23,800 acres in recent days. In Portugal, more than 1,000 firefighters worked Saturday alongside residents desperate to save their homes. Portuguese state television reported that the area burned this yearmore than 74,000 acreshas already exceeded the total for 2021. Most of it burned in the past week. Across the border, Spain was struggling to contain several fires, including two that have burned about 18,200 acres. (Read more wildfires stories.) (Newser) After a three-day debate that included protests inside and outside parliament, North Macedonia lawmakers endorsed a plan on Saturday that could put it on a path toward joining the European Union. The compromise brokered by France first would settle a dispute with Bulgaria, which has blocked membership for North Macedonia, Politico Europe reports. The plan drew 68 yes votes in the 120-member legislature. "Finally, the Macedonian language will echo everywhere in Europe," Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski said after the vote. The EU had said that if the deal was approved, membership talks could begin next week. Opposition lawmakers walked out without voting. They're against the level of concessions to neighboring Bulgaria, which claims North Macedonia's ethnicity and language spring from Bulgaria. French President Emmanuel Macron has noted that the wording doesn't object to the official existence of a Macedonian language. But he conceded the agreement "rests on compromises and on a balance." The measure agrees to Bulgaria's demands to change its constitution to recognize a Bulgarian minority, safeguard minority rights, and prohibit hate speech. Changing the constitution requires a two-thirds vote, however, and parties that control 46 seats have said their members would vote no. After the vote Saturday, MPs in the socialist-led government rolled out flags of the EU and North Macedonia. Protests have been held outside the building in Skopje every day this month, including Saturday, per the AP. North Macedonia has been trying to join the EU since 2005, and added "North" to its name to satisfy Greece. It joined NATO in 2020. The new agreement isn't necessarily popular in Bulgaria, either, where the government lost a no-confidence vote after opponents called removing the veto a "national betrayal." The US endorsed the move Saturday. "A European Union that includes all of the Western Balkans, including Albania and North Macedonia, will be stronger and more prosperous," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. (Read more North Macedonia stories.) (Newser) Days after President Vladimir Putin said the war in Ukraine had not "started in earnest yet," Russia told its military Saturday that the time has come. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu ordered troops to "further intensify" the fight "in all operational sectors." Ukraine quickly reported increased attacks in the eastern Donbas region, the New York Times reported. The defense ministry said the order was given "to exclude the possibility of the Kyiv regime to launch massive rocket and artillery strikes on civilian infrastructure and residents," per the Washington Post. Russia followed up the announcement by launching missiles and shells at cities and towns across Ukraine on Saturday, per the AP. Ukraine said at least 17 civilians were killed. In the city of Chuhuiv, 75 miles from the Russian border, an apartment building, a school, and administrative buildings were struck in the middle of the night, officials said, killing three people. In the Donetsk region, a woman said a neighbor in the city of Pokrovsk was killed in her front yard by a rocket Saturday afternoon. The neighbor, 35, had evacuated as requested months ago but returned when she couldn't support herself. "We can rebuild, but we can't bring her back," another neighbor said. The Pentagon estimated Friday that as many as 150 Ukrainian civilians have been killed in the airstrikes in the past two weeks. Ukrainian defense officials said only 30% of Russian missile strikes are against military targets, per CNN. In his video address, President Volodymyr Zelensky told Ukrainians on Saturday that the Russian warnings of more attacks are intended to divide them. "It's clear that no Russian missiles or artillery will be able to break our unity," he said. (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.) Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The mighty Airbus Super Transporter, known worldwide as Beluga, landed at Bahrain International Airport yesterday on an undisclosed mission. One of the largest of its kind designed to carry outsize cargo such as wings, the aircraft -- named fondly after the Beluga whale on the North Pole -- is reportedly a version of the standard A330-608ST widebody airliner. The length of Beluga No.2 is equivalent to two blue whales. The maximum net payload is 51 tonnes, and the take-off weight is 155 tons. It has an overall length of 56.16 meters and a height of 17.25 metres. The BelugaSTs have been operating for Airbus own industrial airlift needs since the mid-1990s, and are progressively being replaced by a fleet of six new-generation BelugaXL versions. Airbus started operating the first BelugaXL, an improved version of STs, on 9 January 2020. Beluga X L, based on the A330 jetliner, has an enlarged fuselage six metres longer and one metre wider than the Beluga ST an aircraft derived from A300-600. Airbus would have six freighters in this class by the end of 2023. They are available for freight companies and other potential customers as a unique solution to meet outsized freight transportation needs. Months ago, Beluga had competition from Ukraine. Ukraines Antonov AN-225 or Mriya was then the worlds largest, which created the record of carrying the heaviest commercial payload of 253,820 kg. Reports, however, said that Russian troops destroyed the aircraft during an attack on an airport near Kyiv. According to Ukrainian officials, the plane suffered extensive damage after Russian troops entered a Ukrainian air base in Hostomel, where the aircraft was parked. The Antonov An-225 Mriya (dream or inspiration) was a strategic airlift cargo aircraft designed in the 1980s by the Antonov Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It was originally developed as an enlargement of the Antonov An-124 to transport Buran-class orbiters, and only one example was ever completed. During the 13-minute special session, Dhammika Dassanayake, Secretary General of Parliament, announced the vacancy for the post of president Colombo: Sri Lanka's Parliament met in a brief special session on Saturday to announce the vacancy in the presidency following the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who has fled the country after a popular uprising against him for mishandling the country's economic crisis. Rajapaksa, who fled to the Maldives on Wednesday and then landed in Singapore on Thursday, formally resigned on Friday, capping off a chaotic 72 hours in the crisis-hit nation that saw protesters storm many iconic buildings, including the President and the Prime Minister's residences here. During the 13-minute special session, Dhammika Dassanayake, Secretary General of Parliament, announced the vacancy for the post of president. Former president Rajapaksa's resignation letter was read during the session. According to section 4 of the presidential elections (special provisions) Act No 2 of 1981 the parliament should be convened within three days after the vacancy occurs," Janakantha de Silva, Parliament's director of communications, said earlier. Meanwhile, the main Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa has officially declared his intention to contest the vote to be held on July 20. I am contesting to be the president." "Even though it is an uphill struggle, I am convinced that truth will prevail," he said in a statement. The 225-member Parliament is dominated by Gotabaya Rajapaksa's ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party. The ruling SLPP which officially announced its backing of Ranil Wickremesinghe, the acting president, found some resistance to its decision from within. Its chair GL Peiris said the party should not vote for anyone other than its own member. He said the party must back Dullas Alahapperuma, a breakaway SLPP candidate who has already put himself forward to the vote. The party is to meet on Saturday to make the final decision. For the first time since 1978, Sri Lanka will elect the crisis-hit country's next president through a secret vote by the MPs and not through a popular mandate, following the resignation of Rajapaksa who was ousted by a popular uprising against him. Never in the history of the presidency since 1978, Parliament had voted to elect a president. Presidential elections in 1982, 1988, 1994, 1999, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2019 had elected them by popular vote. The only previous occasion when the presidency became vacant mid-term was in 1993 when president Ranasinghe Premadasa was assassinated. DB Wijetunga was unanimously endorsed by Parliament to run the balance of Premadasa's term. The new president will serve the remaining tenure of Gotabaya Rajapaksa till November 2024. The front runner in next week's race would be Wickremesinghe. The 73-year-old became prime minister from nowhere in May when he assumed the job to handle the unprecedented economic crisis. His United National Party (UNP) was routed in the 2020 parliamentary election. Wickremesinghe for the first time failed to win a seat since 1977. He made it to Parliament in late 2021 through the party's only seat allocated on the basis of a cumulative national vote. Unpopular he may be and hated for his pro-Western policies and ways, he still enjoys acceptance as a thinker and strategist whose vision is futuristic. With the island nation facing its worst economic crisis since independence, he has wider acceptance as the one with the capacity to steer the island through turbulence. A man who always wanted to become president, Wickremesinghe had lost two presidential elections in 1999 and 2005. Without parliamentary numbers of his own, Wickremesinghe would be entirely dependent on the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) member vote. Not a foregone conclusion of their support as the SLPP stays ideologically opposed to him. Premadasa, 55, for long the understudy of Wickremesinghe was the one who turned the tables on his former leader. His newly formed SJB ousted the grand old party of Wickremesinghe from all its bastions to emerge as the main opposition in 2020. Ironically it was his failure to step in to fill the power vacuum in mid-May which made way for Wickremesinghe to become Prime Minister from nowhere. He only stands an outside chance as most ruling SLPP members are unlikely to back him. Unlike Wickremesinghe though he starts the race with 50 votes minimum. Alahapperuma, 63, is from the breakaway group of the ruling SLPP. The ex-Cabinet Minister of Information and Mass Media and former newspaper columnist is being seen as a left-leaning political ideologue. Held ministerial positions since 2005 and enjoys the reputation of having a clean public life. His task too would be uphill given his position as a breakaway member. Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, 71, the Army commander who won the military conflict with the LTTE which fought the Army in its bid to set up a separate Tamil homeland in the north and east regions, could be a potential candidate. Fonseka enjoys support among the Sinhala Buddhist majority. He comes out as the only politician who was not opposed by the wider group of protesters who engineered Rajapaksa's downfall. He would however only come into the race if his leader Premadasa opted out of the contest. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com When the New York Times put this question be- fore their readers sometimes back, the respondents, the majority of them, said 80 years. Another group, 30% of the re- spondents said 120 years and 10% said they wanted 150 years of life on this lovely Earth. Interestingly, less than 1% also lapped the idea of not dying. Yeah, that is right, living forever. So, what do people in Bahrain think about this? Well, before answering, lets take a look at what WorldData says about life expectancy. According to them, the average life expectancy of a country usually draws a conclusion of medical and hygienic standards. They also say the oldest people in the world can be 115 years and even older. Interestingly, most of these records are in the US, Japan and a few European countries. The 12-member West Asia Region, in which Bahrain is a member, according to Worlddata.info, offers men 72.52 years and women 77.16 years. Not bad. Isnt it? To be more specific, Bahrain is on the 40th rank amongst world nations in this regard, according to WorldData. Accordingly, men in Bahrain have a life expectancy of 76.6 years and women 78.6 years. Yeah, you are seeing it right! Women outlive men in the Kingdom, where there are 2,247 inhabitants per km. This means Bahrain is also one of the most densely populated countries in the world. So, now you know what the data says? Now lets check the life expectancy at the top of this ranking. The list puts Hong Kong at the top, where men would live 82.9 years and women 88.0 years. Then comes Iceland, where life expectancy is 82.9 years (men) and 84.5 years (women). Just ahead of Bahrain in the Middle East is the UAE, where the life expectancy of males is 77.4 years and females 79.5 years. Neighbouring Saudi Arabia comes below Bahrain and after 16 countries. Saudi citizens, the data says, would live 74.1 years (male) and 76.9 years (female). Kuwait has a slightly better life expectancy, where males would live 74.9 years and females 76.7 years. Central Africa offers the worst life expectancy, where men could live 51.5 years and women 55.9 years. Now, where does the USA stands? The USA is just above Saudi Arabia in this regard. In America, currently marred with gun violence, men have a life expectancy of 74.5 years and women 80.2 years. This means, that a male child born in the US today will live up to 74.5 years on average. The data puts the male citizens of the US in 53rd place in this ranking. On average, US women are even 5.7 years older, reaching an age of 80.2. The world-average age of death is a few years lower at 70.6 years for men and 75.1 years for women. In the European Union, these are 77.8 and respectively 83.3 years. Now, if you are thinking, now what? Here comes the next question. Do we have some kind of fix to increase life expectancy? A question most people would like to ask. Data shows that life expectancy actually improved over the years. NY Times report says since 1900, the life expectancy of Americans has jumped to just shy of 80 from 47 years. This surge comes mostly from improved hygiene and nutrition, but also from new discoveries and interventions: everything from antibiotics and heart bypass surgery to cancer drugs that target and neutralize the impact of specific genetic mutations. So, for those in Bahrain, which stands on top, when it comes to health care, the chances are enormous. NY Times report also quotes the United Nations in this regard. UN estimates that life expectancy over the next century will approach 100 years for women in the developed world and over 90 years for women in the developing world, even without a new high-tech fix for ageing. So, irrespective of whether we have a cutting-edge biomedical fix on not, the data tell us that maintaining hygiene is the key to the elixir of life. In these times of the COVID-19 pandemic, these measures have paramount importance. Besides, reports also say that companies are currently working on new compounds that may expand peoples life span. Sirtis, part of GlaxoSmithKline, reportedly is working on a drug to treat the inflammation that can slow ageing. The drug, they say, seems to work on mice and other animals. Stem therapy is another area we humans focus on breaking the immorality key. Bionics is yet another area that includes the augmentation or replacement of biological functions with machines. The science is advancing so fast that a few years down the lane, someone, someday, might come up with a pill or another that would slow ageing the way one prefers. The NYTimes report also imagines that if such a pill were there in the times of Albert Einstein, he would be 143 years old. However, it is difficult to think of all things he would have done if he was alive. It is summertime and research slows a bit, so lets catch up on a bit of Port Byron and Lock 52 Historical Society news. Many readers of this newspaper likely saw the article about the sale of St. Johns Church to the Canal Society of New York State. In case you missed it, the old Catholic church was closed a couple years ago and has been up for sale for some time. Jim and Sherry Samuel offered to purchase the building and donate it to the Canal Society to house the extensive collection of the canal organization. It is anticipated that researchers from around the world will be making use of these archives. In addition, the sanctuary and altar areas will be preserved and used as programming space. The old church has been renamed the Samuel Center for Canal History. This is very exciting news for the local historical community, and we wish our friends in the society well in this new endeavor. State canal society buys Port Byron church, opening history center there In a former Catholic church, a few yards away from where the Erie Canal flowed 200 years ago, a new center dedicated to the waterbody's histor Bringing these archives to Port Byron is not a new idea. In the original planning of the Port Byron Old Erie Canal Heritage Park, the society had hoped to purchase the old trolley power house on Dock Street and turn that into a research center. After the State Council on Waterways, who owned the Erie House, had to pull out of the park project, the Canal Society stepped in and purchased the house so that the project could move forward. However, the idea of an archive had to be set aside at that time. Some many years later, we have come full circle. The cemetery committee has been on a roll, cleaning headstones and revealing new discoveries. One of the discoveries is that many headstones are almost unreadable. Thankfully, through the historical records, we can piece together who is buried there, but not always. This is a reminder to snap some photos of the family headstones so you and your future generations are able to see what was once there. At the historical society we use apps like Find a Grave and Billion Graves to record, preserve and share the headstones, but if you are not into all that, a few simple photos taken with your phones GPS turned on might be very useful to a family genealogist in the coming years. It is impossible to spend time cleaning a stone and not wonder who these people were and what lives they lived. Sometimes I am cleaning a list of inscriptions noting the passing of children, one after the other, and I stop to wonder how sad it is for these families to have so many child deaths. When I can, I do a bit of research on the families and add them to the ever-growing Port Byron family tree project. We have been contacted by other groups asking for advice, and we are happy to share what we have been learning about the proper care and treatment of these headstones. Lock 52 hosted a open house in in June to highlight the art of Star Greathouse, Rosalind Burke Eiben and Lois Smith. These open house events are always great fun as you hear, I havent seen you in years! We always feel great bringing old friends together. The artwork will remain on display through September and can be viewed during our open hours or by appointment. I believe the group is now looking at a display about our local musicians for next year. The fire department will be hosting its annual car show and summer event on Aug. 6 in the park by the town offices. Stop in to say hello to the men and women who volunteer their time to help everyone by their service. Lock 52 will have our tent there, so stop by and share a bit of history with us. Work is proceeding on the new Church Street apartments. (I am not certain what the new name will be.) It was expected that the new three-story-high buildings would be built before demolition of the old school/apartments; however, the work was causing some of the brickwork on the south wall to fall, so it was removed. This exposed the interior of the building, giving folks a chance to take another look inside. It is certain that this work is making many recall their school years, and Lock 52 is gathering these memories. Come in for an interview or write them down. Even though the building will be gone, we can save a few of the good and bad times students had there. Port Byron apartment project to proceed after meeting funding goal The developer of a $28 million apartment complex in Port Byron has secured the funding it sought to proceed with the project. DANBURY A draft law that would allow four types of marijuana businesses including recreational pot sales drew praise from city leaders as a conservative and conscientious approach to regulating a drug that towns in border states have integrated into their economy. I think its a home run - its an amazing start, said Paul Rotello, the City Councils Democratic minority leader, during a public hearing on the draft marijuana law this past week. I think there is nothing but upside with this proposal. Rotello is referring to draft legislation that would cap the number of marijuana businesses at four citywide and confine them to certain commercial and industrial zones where the marijuana businesses wouldnt impinge on schools, parks and churches. The draft pot law bans seven types of marijuana businesses that would not generate a special 3 percent tax that Danbury could spend on community building. A whole bunch of thought went into this, said City Council member Duane Perkins, during a three-and-a-half hour public hearing on July 12. Im glad we are getting to a point where we can put forth some legislation. How soon the new law could go into effect depends on when the Zoning Commission closes a public hearing on the draft legislation and votes action that could happen as soon as its next meeting on July 26. No one spoke against the proposal at last weeks public hearing, except those supporting the draft who suggested that it could go further to fulfill Connecticuts intent when the state government decriminalized marijuana one year ago. I want to commend everybody for doing this work, but the law has (provisions for) social equity applicants, and there is nothing here in what Im hearing about the social equity applicant, said Hector Gerardo, a Danbury hemp farmer. All I am hearing about is the MSOs that are already in Danbury making the money. Forgive me for asking, but what is an MSO? Zoning Board Chairman Theodore Haddad asked. Multi-site operators the big companies that are coming into communities, Gerardo said. If you engage people like me actually engage me and not just listen to me today and then just forget about what I said but actually reach out to people that look like me its going to make sure that Danbury is being equitable to the people that have been harmed the most by the war on drugs. Sharon Calitro, the citys planning director and the lead author of the draft cannabis law, responded, the state addresses the social equity issues at the licensing stage. I dont think that is our jurisdiction, with all due respect to your comments, Calitro said to Gerardo. The new law would cap the total number of marijuana businesses according to category. In other words, the law would allow for two hybrid retailers that sell both medicinal marijuana and recreational pot to adults, or three businesses in the following categories: one medicinal marijuana dispensary, one recreational pot retailer, and one hybrid retailer. The law would also allow one micro-cultivator an indoor plant producer whose grow space is between 2,000- and 10,000-square-feet. Danburys existing medicinal marijuana dispensary on the west side that predated the citys moratorium counts toward the cap contemplated in the draft law. That dispensary, known as The Botanist, is interested in becoming a hybrid retailer should the city adopt the law. We enthusiastically support the regulations, and if the Zoning Commission sees fit to approve them, we hope to apply for a special permit with the Planning Commission for a hybrid retailer permit, said Ward Mazzucco, an attorney representing the dispensary. How much money might that mean for Danbury?, Haddad wondered. An officer for the parent company of The Botanist offered a hypothetical example. Lets say we do $1 million in sales a month and that is pretty achievable, said Al Domeika, director of retail operations for Acreage Holdings of Connecticut. Then $30,000 would go to Danbury per month. Progress on the citys marijuana business law comes as the state prepares to legalize retail sales and issue a limited number of retailer licenses by the end of the year. The citys draft marijuana business law also comes at a time when its one-year moratorium on cannabis-related applications expires at the end of the month. The city instituted the one-year ban to give leaders time to research the best way to enter the legal marijuana market. Danburys Zoning Commission last week extended that moratorium for another year, with the expectation that a new law could be in place soon. Calitro said that if leaders decide that the experiment with new marijuana businesses is working, we have the opportunities to make some amendments and loosen some things up. Rotello agreed. There is room for expansion, Rotello said. If we want (marijuana businesses) on Main Street, we can do that. If we want more dispensaries, we can do that. rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342 In order to record her statement in the 1989 kidnapping case, Rubaiya Sayeed, the sister of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Muft and the granddaughter of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, appeared before a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in this city on Friday. In the matter, Rubaiya Sayeed made her initial appearance before the court. The cases next hearing date has been set for August 23, and Rubaiya has been instructed to attend on that day as well. Notably, militants from the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) kidnapped Rubaiya Sayeed on December 8, 1989. Along with other including Yasin Malik, who is now serving a life sentence in Tihar Jail for sponsoring terrorism, is a defendant in this case. According to Monica Kohli of the CBI, Today in court, witness Rubaiya Sayeeds testimony was recorded. She knows who Yasin Malik is. The hearing will be held again on August 23. She has identified a total of four defendants. Anil Sethi, a prominent attorney and PDP spokesperson, claims that Yasin Malik participated in todays court proceedings via video conference. In this occasion, he has further asked to show up in person in Jammu. Yasin Malik, a separatist leader, was given a life sentence in jail by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in a case involving funding for terrorism in May of this year. However, NIA court fined Malik Rs 10 lakh in addition to giving him a life sentence. Two times, he received a life sentence. The separatist commander who was found guilty on May 19 was the target of an execution request by the NIA. Malik had stated to the court that he did not deny the accusations made against him. According to a Special Investigating Team (SIT) report, social activist Teesta Setalvad, former state director general of police (DGP), RB Sreekumar, and former IPS officer Sanjeev Bhatt accepted Rs 30 lakhs from Ahmed Patel, the political adviser of the then-Congress president Sonia Gandhi, to allegedly frame then-Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and topple his administration after the 2002 Gujarat riots. SIT was established to look into allegations of criminal conspiracy and forgery against Setalvad and R B Sreekumar. Teesta Sreekumars bail request was challenged in court by SITs ACP BC Solankis Special Public Prosecutors Mitesh Amin and Amit Patel, who claimed that the accused had joined a bigger conspiracy with the aim of getting unlawful money and other advantages from Congress. Notably, on July 2, an Ahmedabad metropolitan court sentenced Setalvad and Sreekumar to 14 days of judicial detention. The Crime Branch of the Ahmedabad Police detained former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt on Tuesday in connection with Gujarat riots case for embezzling money and falsifying papers. After the rioting that followed the Godhra event, the SIT brought significant charges against Teesta Setalvad, RB Sreekumar, and Sanjeev Bhatt for allegedly defaming Gujarat and its then-chief minister Narendra Modi in petitions to different commissions and the Supreme Court. According to the SIT affidavit, the accused met with Patel multiple times and were given Rs 5 lakhs initially and Rs 25 lakhs after two days. In 2020, Ahmed Patel died away. Supreme Court dismissed Zakia Jafris appeal last month, which questioned the Special Investigation Teams (SIT) exoneration of then-Chief Minister Narendra Modi and numerous others in the 2002 Gujarat riots. Zakia Jafri is the widow of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri. Earlier on February 28, 2002, Ehsan Jafri was one of 69 individuals who died as a result of violence at the Gulbarg Society in Ahmedabad. The SITs clean bill of health was contested by 64 persons, including his widow Zakia Jafri and Narendra Modi, the Gujarat Chief Minister at the time. Aboard February 27, 2002, at Gujarats Godhra Railway Station, 58 pilgrims were burned alive on the Sabarmati Express train, sparking rioting that left more than 1,000 people dead. The Bundelkhand Expressway was inaugurated on Saturday in Jalaun, Uttar Pradesh, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister, was also present. Chief Minister and other dignitaries welcomed the Prime Minister when he arrived earlier at Kanpur airport. The 296 km long, four-lane Expressway was built for about Rs 14,850 crore. Following this, highway would significantly improve the areas connectivity and industrial growth. According to insiders, Modi government has given connectivity and infrastructure a lot of attention. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways received the biggest financial allocation ever in the budget year 202223, totaling Rs 1.99 lakh crore. When compared to the approximate Rs. 30,300 crore allocation in 201314, this represents an increase of more than 550%. Since April 2014, the length of the nations National Highways has increased by more than 50%, from 91,287 km to over 1,41,000 km (as of December 31, 2021). Earlier on February 29, 2020, prime minister laid the cornerstone for the Bundelkhand Expressways development. Within 28 months, the Expressways construction was finished. Under the direction of Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), the 296 km, four-lane expressway was built at a cost of about Rs 14,850 crore. It can subsequently be upgraded up to six lanes. Shashi Tharoor, the leader of the Congress, will preside over the Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, which will review the operation of the Information Technology Act 2020 on July 19 (Tuesday). Ministry of Information and Technology representatives are probably going to show up before this Committee. According to the notification that has been distributed to the committees member, Briefing by the representatives of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on the subject review of functioning of Information Technology Act, 2000. Senior officials from the Ministry, including the MEITY Secretary, are expected to testify before the committee. The committee will be debating this important matter at a time when Twitter has filed a lawsuit against the government and has once again urged the removal of outdated IT regulations and clearance of new ones. In order to guarantee net neutrality, data privacy, and algorithmic accountability of social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, there has been a rising need for the introduction of strict regulations. According to reports, Twitter filed a lawsuit challenging Ministry for Information and Technologys arbitrary order to have certain content deleted from the microblogging platform. Twitter Inc., being a Intermediary as defined by section 2(1)(w) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, is expected to follow the laws of India while operating in India and the repeated violations, and non-compliance of Directions issued by the designated officer appointed under section 69A of the IT Act, has necessitated initiating appropriate proceedings under the IT Act, 2000, Ministry had stated in its notice to the social media juggernaut. Indian government emphasized once more in the notification how important it was for Twitter to abide by the intermediary rules. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LONDON (AP) Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, will celebrate her 75th birthday Sunday, marking the occasion with a small family dinner at Prince Charles Highgrove estate in southwest England. The big occasion follows British broadcaster ITVs release of a documentary about the duchesss stint as guest editor of Country Life, during which she helped produce a special edition celebrating the magazines 125th anniversary. In a personal tribute, Camilla selected Charles, her husband, as one of her rural heroes. Its not easy to write about your husband, she said in the film. I bit through several pencils. The milestone birthday comes at a time when the monarchy, and Camillas place in it, are in a generational transition. As the 96-year-old Queen Elizabeth II soldiers on during her twilight years, other members of the royal household are taking on new roles with more responsibilities. Six months ago, in a statement marking her 70 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II expressed her sincere wish that Camilla would be known as Queen Consort when her son succeeds her. With those words, Elizabeth sought to answer once and for all questions about the status of Camilla, who was initially shunned by fans of the late Princess Diana, Charles first wife. The queens statement marked a big moment in Camillas transformation from the third person in the marriage of Charles and Diana to consort in waiting. Once blamed for the marriages disintegration, the public has grown to accept her in the years since she married Charles in 2005. Shes taken on roles at more than 100 charities, focusing on a wide range of issues including promoting literacy, supporting victims of domestic violence and people who have osteoporosis. Known for having a wicked sense of humor, she has softened Charles stuffy image and made the heir to the throne seem less remote and more accessible. I do think there has been an amazing transformation in terms of her public persona. She has definitely been groomed. She can even look a touch glamorous sometimes, said Pauline Maclaran, author of Royal Fever: The British Monarchy in Consumer Culture. Shes always very smartly turned out but appropriate for her age. Not so fuddy-duddy as she used to be. Camilla alluded to her approach to royal life earlier this week during a champagne reception and sea bass lunch sponsored by The Oldie magazine, which honored her birthday. In a nod to the magazines target audience, the duchess noted that she was born in 1947, the same year that Elizabeth married her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh. She paid tribute to him, and pledged to emulate his example. The Duke of Edinburghs philosophy was clear look up, look out, say less, do more and get on with the job, she said. And thats just what I intend to do. ___ Follow all AP stories about Britain's royal family at https://apnews.com/hub/queen-elizabeth-ii. Acts4Ministry / Contributed photo WATERBURY The non-denominational non-profit organization Acts 4 Ministry is seeking members of the community to help individual and family clients shop the organizations boutique retail store, sort donations, and organize resources. Volunteers are also needed to help with the pick-up of furniture from donors throughout the Greater Waterbury region, plus cleaning, preparing, and loading furniture onto the non-profits box trucks for delivery to area residents. Acts 4 Ministry is a collaborative group with a volunteer board of directors, staff members, and dozens of volunteers who desire to share God's love by meeting the comforting physical needs of others. We achieve this goal daily on many levels by collecting and distributing, free of charge to recipients, clothing, and housewares plus a free furniture distribution program, according to a statement. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WEST HAVEN Robert Bruneau, chairman of the West Shore Fire District Board of Commissioners for the last three years, said he was honored to be reappointed to the role by his fellow commissioners Thursday at a sparsely-attended meeting. Yet the mood was not cheery. Bruneau has received criticism and scrutiny after a public records request from the CT Mirror uncovered that Bruneau, also a city councilman, used his role on the fire commission to approve $81,000 in invoices for a company owned by his wife and son for repairing and maintaining the fire districts plow truck, rescue boat, fire engines and the backup generators at its two firehouses. The invoices show Bruneaus son billed the fire district a flat fee of $1,500 per month to cover labor costs and tens of thousands of dollars more to supply belts, batteries, hydraulic hoses, brake pads, air filters, oil filters, water pumps and door latches for the fire trucks, according to the report. West Shore Fire Chief Stephen Scafariello said Bruneaus Garage is not going to sign a new contract with the fire district and the repair and maintenance contract is back out to bid. Scafariello said he believes the apparent conflict of interest is a procedural error that obscures Bruneaus charity and volunteerism, saying Bruneau and his family have stepped up for years to keep aging vehicles operational so that residents of the West Shore district dont see increases to their taxes. Hes a community-minded George Bailey, Scafariello said, referencing the selfless protagonist of Its a Wonderful Life. Theres a lot he does that doesnt get mentioned. Robert just felt like he was doing the job like he always does, and that message gets lost in an ethics complaint. Bruneau said he would continue to serve in his capacity as chairman of the commission. Its an honor to do so and Im going to continue to do it. Its a difficult time for us, but weve been involved in fire service for over 30 years. We conducted business as usual to make these trucks run, he said. There was no ill intent. Peter Lewandowski, who serves as the executive director of Connecticuts Office of State Ethics, told the Mirror that if you are signing invoices for matters involving your company or your immediate familys company, thats a clear conflict. Bruneau also was named in a forensic audit ordered by the state Office of Policy and Management of the citys federal pandemic funding expenditures. A forensic audit report prepared by CohnReznick found vendor payment history reflected $170,000 in payments to Bruneau and his family during his time on the council. Auditors said his ethics disclosure form was outdated. Mayor Nancy Rossi said she believes Bruneau deserves due process. She said an article in the newspaper does not amount to a full hearing, and she sees it as unfair for her to weigh in without seeing a report from the citys Board of Ethics. The Board of Ethics The Board of Ethics did not meet in 2021, and according to public meeting agendas posted on the citys website only met in 2019 and 2020 to elect officers. The four-person board has met three times in 2022 the first meeting being to elect officers. Chairman Chris Vargo said he believes there is a need to reevaluate the authority and role of the Board of Ethics. Prior to being elected chairman, Vargo said he had attended only one meeting since being appointed in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic closing City Hall to public meetings for months and reordering priorities. Vargo said he thinks the board now must look at the power granted to it by the city charter and compare that language to other municipalities codes of ethics. We decided to take a look at our charter that contains the code of ethics and see where there may be room to improve the code and make it more robust, he said. Because of the political capital and money associated with getting a revision to the city charter, Vargo said the board is proposing an ordinance for approval by the City Council that would bestow certain powers and authority to the Board of Ethics. Currently, Vargo said the board cannot compel employees, political appointees or elected officials to complete ethics disclosure forms, but it is something his committee is hoping to implement. We have not discussed if theres any retroactivity to that we have not said no, but we have not talked about it yet, he said. State oversight board frustrated Members of the Municipal Accountability Review Board, a state board overseeing West Havens finances and implementation of policy, expressed annoyance at its monthly meeting Thursday that the city had not provided a list of names of people in the city who had not filled out their ethics disclosure forms. Some members said theyd like to see consequences for the citys repeated noncompliance with MARB requests. Its a frustration as a member of MARB, not to get into their business, but when were looking for information to make sound decisions on, why cant we get it? said MARB member Mark Waxenberg. MARB member Patrick Egan said the city does not lack ethics policies, it lacks enforcement of those policies. Theres a lot of policies in place, policies weve pushed for over the years, he said. Heres a city that has a charter, has ordinances, has policies that dictate how things are to be done, and theyre totally disregarded. MARB member Sal Luciano expressed incredulity. What makes people think they can hire relatives? he said. There has to be consequences if (policies are) not followed. West Haven Corporation Counsel Lee Tiernan told the MARB that its complicated as to whether independent fire districts fall under the jurisdiction of the citys charter, but he ensured members that the citys ethics board is taking its charge seriously. They have the power to recommend actions currently, but it doesnt mean we cant change the rules and empower them more, he said. brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com The 44th annual Myles Keough Paddle, Wheel, and Run, also known by most as the Great Race, returned to Emerson Park Sunday. It's the first tim The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Friday reacted to a suit seeking to disqualify the All Progressives Congress, APC, p... The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Friday reacted to a suit seeking to disqualify the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu and his Labour Party, LP, counterpart, Peter Obi, from participating in the 2023 election. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had dragged INEC to court and sought an injunction stopping Tinubu and Obi from selecting Kashim Shettima and Datti Baba-Ahmed as their running mates. In the suit, PDP urged the court to rule that Tinubu and Obi should be disqualified if they fail to run with their initial running mates, Kabiru Masari and Doyin Okupe. Reacting, INECs Commissioner for confirmation and Education, Festus Okoye, said only the court would decide Tinubu and Obis disqualification from the 2023 presidential election. Speaking on Arise TV on Friday, Okoye said INEC has not been served with the court processes. He said; So, I am not aware of whether weve been served with any document relating to any suit of the complexion that you have talked about. But let me just say that if a matter is in court, the matter is sub-judice and we are not supposed to comment on it. Secondly, when political parties submitted the names of their presidential candidates and their vice-presidential candidates, there was no provision for a placeholder in the forms they submitted. They submitted the forms for their presidential candidates and they submitted the forms for the vice-presidential candidates and that is the situation. However, if you look at section 33 of the Electoral 22, it says that a political party shall not be allowed to substitute or change its candidate whose name has been submitted under section 29 of the Electoral Act, except in the case of death or withdrawal by the candidate. But it goes ahead to say that provided that in the case of such a withdrawal or death of the candidate, the political parties affected shall within the occurrence of the event hold a fresh primary election to produce and submit a fresh candidate to the commission for the election concerned. Initially, Tinubu had submitted Masaris name to INEC as a placeholder ahead of the deadline for submission of running mates. Also, Obi submitted the name of Okupe as his placeholder. However, Tinubu and Obi substituted the initial names with Kashim Shettima and Baba-Ahmed respectively. Akwa Ibom State Police Command on Friday rescued 28 fish traders from Ishiet market, who were kidnapped by sea pirates along the Uruan Water... Akwa Ibom State Police Command on Friday rescued 28 fish traders from Ishiet market, who were kidnapped by sea pirates along the Uruan Water Channel, in Uruan Local Government Area of the state. The state Commissioner of Police, Olatoye Durosinmi, disclosed this at the command headquarters, Ikot Akpanabia while interacting with journalists in Uyo, the state capital. The commissioner stated that as soon as he got a call on the attack from the local government chairman of Uruan, Iniobong Ekpenyong, he mobilized the marine officers to the scene who were able to rescue the victims at the creeks where they were held hostage all through the night. He explained that the pirates always pose as fishermen to carry out their nefarious act on unsuspecting passengers. According to him, The 28 men and women you see here are the people rescued by police marine officers. On Thursday July the 14, at about 10:00pm, the Akwa Ibom State Police Command received a distress call from the Chairman of Uruan Local Government Area, Hon. Iniobong Ekpeyong, that a boat conveying fish traders from Ishiet market in Adiadia community had been attacked and occupants kidnapped by sea pirates along the Uruan Water Channel. We mobilised Tactical Teams and the Commands Marine Police to go after the hoodlums. At about 1:30pm today, July the 15th, the Akwa Ibom State Marine Police, who had been trailing the hoodlums, closed in on them after an aggressive search, causing the evil Men to abandon their victims at the creeks after robbing them of various sums of money, macheted two and burnt one of their engine boats. Victims were successfully rescued and brought to the Akwa Ibom State Police Headquarters and those in need of medical attention were taken to the police Clinic for treatment. He said detachments of the marine officers are still trailing the fleeing hoodlums even as he promised to continue to ensure that the state both land and water remain safe for the people. One of the victims, Iboro Asuquo, who spoke to journalists, said, The thieves collected everything from us, they collected millions of naira from different people. Also, one Victoria Pious from Uruan, narrated that they thought the hoodlums were fishermen when they accosted them, adding that they were taken aback when they fired a gunshot in the air. She said the pirates ripped them of all their belongings and went as far as stripping her to ensure that nothing was hidden in her privates. Controversy has surrounded the alleged arrest of the Personal Assistant of the Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, O... Controversy has surrounded the alleged arrest of the Personal Assistant of the Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Olalekan Badmus. It was gathered that the PA was allegedly detained at the Oke Baale Police Station but the commissioner denied the allegation. When contacted, the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Opalola Yemisi, promised to get back to our correspondent on the matter. In a viral post, the commissioners PA was said to be arrested with thumbprinted ballot papers. The Personal Assistant to Hon. Lekan Badmus (Commissioner for Special Duties) of Osun State has just been arrested with thumb printed ballots and a bag full of money for vote buying. He is been called has been handed over to the police and currently cooling off in the cell of Oke Baale Police Station. We admonished the people to be extremely vigilant, the post read. Reacting in a statement, the commissioner described the alleged arrest as a shock. The statement was titled, News of my personal assistant caught with thumbprinted ballot papers, fake totally untrue. It read, I wish to emphatically state that myself, and every other person working closely with me have not engaged in any activities to sabotage the integrity of this on-going election. It is rather a rude shock to me that some mischief makers have been spreading false information online that my Personal Assistant was caught with thumbprinted ballot papers in Osogbo ward 2 and had been handed over to the security agents. This is completely untrue. I am a man of integrity who believes in hardwork and not cheap means to success. The claim that I was, by extension, involved in electoral malpractice contradicts the value I stand for. Members of the public are hereby urged to disregard any claim or accusation of sorts suggesting that I and the people working with me were involved in electoral fraud. Chelsea manager, Thomas Tuchel has hailed the arrival of Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli. The Premier League club on Saturday morning, confirm... Chelsea manager, Thomas Tuchel has hailed the arrival of Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli. The Premier League club on Saturday morning, confirmed a 34m transfer for the 31-year-old. Tuchel has now described Koulibaly as a strong player who has big experience and will be a perfect addition to his squad. He said: Im very happy about his signing and joining our team. Hes now the second signing of the summer. Again we have a strong player, a strong personality with big experience and from our point of view a perfect addition to our group. Koulibaly scored 14 goals in 317 appearances for Napoli. Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has called on the American government and the rest of the international community to hold the governmen... Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has called on the American government and the rest of the international community to hold the government of Muhammadu Buhari accountable for the spate of violence in Nigeria. He made the call at the State Department, Washington DC, while interacting with its officials. Governor Ortom also said President Buhari and his government should be held responsible if anything happens to him, citing the series of threats he has been receiving and the attempt made on his life in March last year as signals that the Presidency and its conspirators are after him. He pointed out that till date, those who attacked him have not been prosecuted. He stated that he was at the State Department to present the traumatized Nigerian victims side of the story after discovering that wrong narratives were being circulated across the globe by the government of Buhari to shield itself from complicity. The Governor said the false narrative of herder-farmer clashes was deliberately crafted to delay farmers doomsday until they were gradually wiped out and their ancestral lands confiscated, saying the truth is that farming populations in Nigeria are under siege and are being decimated; agriculture is gradually dying and food security is being threatened. Governor Ortom alerted the international community not to take the insecurity in Nigeria as a distant problem, stressing that the outbreak of war in any country will cause migration problems to America and Britain due to their friendly immigration policies. He said in the last seven years, the Buhari administration has seen children rendered as orphans, farmers being displaced, schools, hospitals and social services disrupted, without doing anything to restore normalcy, stating that the federal governments punitive neglect has led to increasing number of internally displaced persons in Benue State which now stands at 1.5 million. The Governor therefore called on the United States of America and the rest of the international community to take the following steps to end the spate of violence in the country, especially in Benue state: Demand accountability from Buharis government on the deaths of innocent citizens. Appoint a special envoy to Nigeria to deal with the flashpoint of the violence, Ensure that international funding of IDPs gets to Benue State, the epicentre of the current violence as well as Plateau, Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara and other states affected by terrorists attacks in the country, Encourage the establishment of state police in Nigeria. Responding, the US State Department officials headed by the Under Secretary, Africa and Middle East, Padgett Douglas said the US government was aware of random terrorism, weaponization of religion and importation of violence in Nigeria, adding that since the security of the political system was paramount to the US government, it has set up a conflict bureau to fund IDPs in Nigeria, but he would ensure that such funding does not go to the wrong channels, while promising to make a case for the Benue IDPs and investigate other issues raised by Governor Ortom. The Osun State governorship election is here. The D-day fixed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is Saturday, July 16... The Osun State governorship election is here. The D-day fixed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is Saturday, July 16, 2022 (today) Over 1,500,000 registered voters who have so far collected their Permanent Voter Cards will decide the next governor of Osun State during the state governorship election holding on Saturday. The frontline contestants in the election are Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress; Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democractic Party; Lasun Yusuff of Labour Party; Akin Ogunbiyi of Accord Party; and Goke Omigbodun of Social Democratic Party among others. Below we look at a brief profile of the major candidates for Osun governorship polls today. Adegboyega Oyetola (APC) An indigene of Iragbiji in Osun State also the incumbent Governor, Oyetola has been preaching continuity everywhere he has campaigned so far. As an alumnus of the University of Lagos, he came into the governance set up in Osun State in 2011, when he was appointed as the Chief of Staff by the immediate past governor of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola. Before his venture into politics, Oyetola had 30 years of cognate experience in the private sector, engaging in diverse businesses. He held the position of Chief of Staff till the twilight of Aregbesolas tenure in 2018 when he emerged as the APC candidate, and went on to win the governorship poll at the runoff, having trailed the PDP candidate in the first ballot. Oyetola, backed by a campaign team led by the Senate spokesperson, Senator Basiru Ajibola, has visited all the 30 local government areas in the state, making specific promises based on the demands laid before him. Specifically, Oyetola has promised to improve education, by ensuring more monitoring using the Quality Assurance Committee and Edu Marshal to check ruancy among the pupils. He also assured more support for the Amotekun Corps to prevent crime, expressing a desire for the operatives to bear arms since they would be after criminals carrying sophisticated weapons. Ademola Adeleke (PDP) He replaced his elder brother, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, in the Senate at the demise of the man who served as the first civilian governor of Osun in the aborted Third Republic. Adelekes political stock since his election into the Senate in 2017 has continued to rise, having been the PDP candidate in the 2018 election and then holding a slender lead over the candidate of the ruling party at the poll, Oyetola. Although Adeleke eventually lost the runoff election to Oyetola, his partys decision to give him another chance to run provides him with a second chance at the governorship in 2022. He has promised improved security by providing better equipment for police and utilising neighbourhood watch to supplement the efforts of traditional security agents. He has also promised investment in agriculture to empower unemployed youth, while education, if elected, he said, would be made more flexible to enable pupils to learn vocation alongside formal education. Akin Ogunbiyi (Accord) The Chairman, Mutual Assurance Benefits, an insurance company, is contesting the governorship poll on the platform of the Accord Party and has traversed every part of Osun seeking votes. Ogunbiyi cut his political teeth with the PDP, where he contested the 2018 governorship ticket of the party but lost it by seven votes to Senator Ademola Adeleke. Since 2018, the Ileogbo-born businessman has remained one of the dominant forces in Osun political space, and his new party appears to have gained traction since he joined it. He was an alumnus of the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife) where he bagged a degree in Agriculture Economics. Job creation through mining and agriculture topped the campaign promises of Ogunbiyi, as he assured that 100, 000 jobs would be created within one year of his administration, while security through recruitment of more capable men into the Amotekun Corps would also be given utmost attention. Besides meeting different groups across the state and unfolding his plans before them, Ogunbiyi has also been using a mobile public address system mounted on vehicles to push his campaign messages in major towns. Goke Omigbodun (SDP) Omigbodun of the SDP is the only indigene of Osogbo, where the majority of the voters are domiciled, in the governorship race and has a rich family history that he can leverage to ride into power. His late father, Ven. Julius Omigbodun, was the first graduate in Osun Division, and he served as the pioneer principal of the Osogbo Grammar School and the first Chairman of the then Osogbo District Council. Omigbodun is an alumnus of the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife), where he bagged a first degree and a Masters in Architecture. He worked with Chief Bisi Akandes government, serving as the Chairman of Osun State Property Development Corporation. He was also the State Programme Monitoring Adviser of the United Nations Development Program in Osun and also worked in the administration of the ex-Osun governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, as a Special Adviser to the Governor on Inter-Party Relations. Omigboduns well-structured campaign has been based on education, revitalisation of the economy through trading and the use of technology to fight crime and generate income. Also, at every opportunity to campaign, Omigbodun has spoken on the need to block leakages in government finances. Lasun Yusuff (Labour Party) The Ilobu-born ex-federal lawmaker was in the House of Representatives for two terms between 2011 and 2019, capping his tenure with the seat of the Deputy Speaker, which he occupied between 2015 and 2019. Also, an alumnus of the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), where he bagged a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Yusuff has been ever present in Osuns political space, especially since the return of democracy in 1999. His tenure as a member representing Osogbo/Olorunda/Irepodun/Orolu Federal Constituency at the Green Chamber was a period of boom for many members that were either appointed as aides or empowered through other means. Lasun Yusuff was a member of the APC until a few months back, when he resigned his membership. He later joined the Labour Party and emerged as its governorship candidate. The ex-parliamentarian, who often prides himself on being one of the biggest investors in the economy of Osogbo, is promising economic empowerment for women and the creation of a strong economy that will be agri-based, where people can trade and make the taxable income that the government can use to run the state. Kindly keep your tabs on nigerianeye.com today for a full coverage of the 2022 Osun governorship election The All Progressives Congress won elections in the polling units of Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola, his deputy, Benedict Alabi, and M... The All Progressives Congress won elections in the polling units of Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola, his deputy, Benedict Alabi, and Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola. In Oyetolas polling unit situated at ward 1, LA school, Popo, Iragbiji in Boripe Local Government Area, APC got 545 votes to defeat its closest rival, Ademola Adeleke of Peoples Democratic Party, who had 69 votes. APC also won Aregbesolas polling unit situated at Ward 8, unit 1, Isare Ifofin, Ilesa East Local Government Area of Osun State in Saturdays election. The ruling party secured 164 votes while PDP trailed with 134 votes. However, Aregbesola didnt participate in the election. Deputy Governor Alabi also won his polling unit at ward 6, unit 7, Baptist Day School, Ikire, in Irewole Local Government with 206 votes while PDP scored 184. Alabi, who voted at 10:32 am, described the exercise as peaceful and orderly. He commended the level of consciousness and enthusiasm displayed by voters, adding that Nigeria was moving towards democratic advancement. The turnout is massive and encouraging as you can see, every process is orderly and impressive. All stakeholders diligently discharged their duties. This is a clear testimony that our democracy is growing to the point of maturity and we are sure of victory as a party, he said. Also, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ademola Adeleke, won his polling unit in the ongoing governorship election in the state. He polled 218 votes to defeat his main contender, Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress. Oyetola scored 23 votes while Dr Akin Ogunbiyi of the Accord party had one vote. Nigerian soldiers who were deployed for the Osun governorship election have arrested the Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport ... Nigerian soldiers who were deployed for the Osun governorship election have arrested the Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Worker, Oroki Branch, in Osogbo, Kazeem Oyewale, popularly known as Asiri Eniba. Oyewale, who is the NURTW Chairman, Olorunda unit was reportedly picked up in the afternoon at his Ojurin, Osogbo motor park office by soldiers. The development, it was learnt threw Old Garage Area where the park is located into panic, as many drivers and passengers waiting to board to different destinations fled the scene. It would be recalled that the Osun state leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, recently said it had written several petitions, accusing NURTW boss of masterminding attacks on its members to security agents. An eye witness who preferred anonymity while narrating how Oyewale was whisked away during a chat with newsmen said, the soldiers arrested him in his office. They came into two vehicles. We cant say where he was taken for now but he was arrested this afternoon in his office Ojurin, Osogbo. Efforts to get official confirmation of the arrest however proved futile as the spokesperson of Osun Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, said she was not aware of the arrest. The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has yet to arrive at his polling unit hours after voting has commenced in the Osun State Govern... The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has yet to arrive at his polling unit hours after voting has commenced in the Osun State Governorship election. Residents also said they have yet to sight Aregbesola, whom they said usually arrived in his hometown on election eve. While the voters expect Aregbesola, akara (beans cake) is being shared at the entrance of his home. The former Osun State governor usually votes in Ilesa East, Ward 8, Polling Unit 1. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, 15 political parties are participating in the election with 1,955,657 registered voters. INEC also said the election would take place in 332 registration areas across the 30 Local Government Areas of the state. Though 15 political parties would be participating in the election, the top contenders are the candidate of All Progressives Congress, Governor Gboyega Oyetola and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ademola Adeleke. This would be the second time the two candidates would be meeting. Both Oyetola and Adeleke contested for the Osun governorship seat in 2018, which Oyetola won after a rerun. After the rerun election which took place in seven units, Oyetola won seven, while Adeleke won one. At the end of the rerun, Oyetola polled 255,505 votes while the PDP candidate scored a total of 255,023 votes. Although Adeleke had led Oyetola with 353 votes at the end of the first round of ballots, but after the rerun, Oyetola won with 482 votes. Aregbesola and Oyetola were at loggerheads before the election. On Friday, The Osun Progressives, a faction loyal to Aregbesola, clarfied that its members remain part of the APC. A senior official of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Engr Kingsley Okorafor has been kidnapped close to his residence in Umuad... A senior official of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Engr Kingsley Okorafor has been kidnapped close to his residence in Umuadara Umulogho autonomous community in Imo State. It was gathered that the dare-devil armed men abducted him at the early hours of Saturday morning, about three kilometers away from a military checkpoint in the area. The traditional ruler of the community, Eze Patrick Uwalaka has already confirmed the latest development. A source close to the family told newsmen that the NDDC official attended a vigil of late Eze Innocent Anyawu, the Traditional Ruler of Ndihu autonomous community in Obowo LGA, whose burial is slated for today, Saturday July 16. He said the victim was trailed after he left the vigil to his community, while his car was left behind. The suspected kidnappers have not yet reached the family members for any ransom as of the time of filling this report. Efforts to get the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) CSP Mike Abattam for reaction on telephone failed. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High near 85F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable. Life and business partners Jackie Diaz and Richard Rose have traveled a long and bumpy road to open the doors of their restaurant, Jamaican Jerk House, on St. Claude Avenue. Housed where Sneaky Pickle got its start, the eatery is inspired by Roses culinary roots. He was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and is a wizard at making jerk seasoning, which he uses on everything from chicken to shrimp and even turkey come Thanksgiving. His wife is a self-taught cook, and shes a first generation Cuban American with an innate sense of hospitality. Theyve been married for 13 years and have worked hard to get to where they are with their new business. Parental drug abuse, problems in the foster care system and a bout of homelessness could have landed Diaz in a very different place, she says. Jamaican Jerk House What Jamaican Jerk House Where 4017 St. Claude Ave., (504) 777-7799; jamaicanjerkhouse.com When Lunch Tue.-Sun., dinner Fri.-Sat. How Dine-in or takeout Check it out Jamaican jerk dishes, oxtail stew and more in Bywater Both of us have had hard times. Weve come from nothing and have made a life together, Diaz says. Im so thankful we have each other." Rose came to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina to help rebuild the city, but the program he signed on with had him working in industrial settings far from the city. Eventually he wound up working at an oil refinery in Reserve, a job that at least paid the bills. While he was there, he sold jars of his homemade jerk sauce to his co-workers. In fact, he couldnt keep up with the demand. I made more money selling my sauce than working, he says. After Rose was laid off in 2020, the couple started cooking jerk and selling plates from their home in Kenner. We started just on weekends, and thered be lines out the door, Diaz says. It was because of our daughter that we started cooking every day. Now 2 years old, their youngest was diagnosed with plagiocephaly, a congenital defect that can create head and facial deformities without treatment. They sold plates of jerk and stewed oxtail as fast as they could make it to get money for treatment. We werent going to wait on Medicaid or wait on anything to get treatment. We worked to make the money ourselves, Diaz says. People would be waiting every day, and our neighbors started making jokes. We knew we had to get a place. Fortunately, they saw the spot on St. Claude. When I saw this place, it was full of light, Diaz says. I knew it was the right move. After doing considerable renovations themselves, they opened their restaurant at the end of 2021. Diaz handles most of the cooking, following Roses family recipes. Painted in the colors of the Jamaican flag, the 32-seat restaurant is inviting, with flatscreen TVs streaming Jamaican videos and a soundtrack of reggae music. Orders are placed at the counter in back, where theres a digital menu board overhead. Chockie Tom talks about tiki, Indigenous representation and cocktails at Tales of the Cocktail We asked Chockie Tom about becoming a bartender, how drinkers can embrace change and her upcoming seminar at Tales. Theres a small bar that includes a house rum punch. Im still learning to make tropical drinks, Diaz says. We call Ben (Tabor) from Sneaky Pickle a lot when we have questions. Hes been such a big help to us. The menus top seller is the slow-stewed oxtail, a tender and deeply flavored ragu served over pasta or with rice and pigeon peas. Customers in the know order a side of oxtail gravy with the other big seller, Roses jerk chicken, which is perfectly spiced and crispy. Theres also jerk pork or beef ribs, wings, pork chops, a burger and jumbo shrimp. Dishes are served with two sides, such as Caribbean-spiced macaroni and cheese, jalapeno-spiked potato salad, steamed cabbage and fried sweet plantains. Another option is jerk coco-corn, which are half-ears treated with jerk spice and cooked in coconut milk. Specials might include grilled salmon served over rice or pasta and vegan wings, which is marinated soy protein threaded onto sugar cane. Theres also a jerk impossible burger for vegetarians. Curried chicken, shrimp and brown stewed chicken round out the menu. The restaurant opens at 11:30 a.m. and is open until 6 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and till 4 p.m. on Sundays. The restaurant has been busy and is becoming part of the neighborhood. We both came from nothing, which is why we are so motivated to work hard, says Diaz. Were a family and we treat our customers like family too. Hey Blake, We know New Orleans celebrated its tricentennial in 2018, but when was Jefferson Parish created? Who was the first parish president? Dear Reader, On Feb. 11, 1825, Gov. Henry S. Johnson signed into law legislation creating Jefferson Parish. The original name suggested for it was Tchoupitoulas Parish. Instead, it was named for the countrys third president, Thomas Jefferson, who would die the following year. The boundaries of Jefferson Parish changed over time. Originally, the East Bank of the parish stretched from Felicity Street in New Orleans to the St. Charles Parish line. For much of the 19th century, most of what is now Uptown New Orleans belonged to Jefferson Parish. However, as the city of New Orleans grew, it annexed several areas, redefining the boundaries of both parishes. In 1834, the state Legislature created a police jury form of government for Jefferson Parish, dividing it into 10 wards. Political squabbles led to the formation of two juries in 1858 one for the East Bank of the parish and one for the West Bank. That lasted until 1884, when the Legislature again brought the parish under the control of one (large) police jury. For more than 70 years, Jefferson Parish was governed by that 17-member body. Each police juror served as an elected representative as well as a department head, responsible for providing parish services such as drainage, garbage collection and street maintenance. In 1957, voters approved a home rule charter for the parish, which established the current parish president-council form of government, which took effect in 1958. The first Jefferson Parish President was Charles W. Spencer. A native of Monroe, he was a businessman and owner of a janitorial service supply company who had never held political office. He was recruited to run on a ticket which included Sheriff William Coci. Spencer served just two years, from March 1958 until March 1960, when he was defeated in his bid for re-election. He died in 1982. Hyundai has globally revealed the all-new Stargazer MPV which is also rumoured to come to India as a direct rival to the Maruti Ertiga and Kia Carens. The new Stargazer will first go on sale in Indonesia followed by the other markets. On the outside, the Hyundai Stargazer gets a very Staria-inspired front fascia. For the record, the Hyundai Staria is a large-sized luxury MPV that is sold in the international markets. The Stargazer features very modern-looking full-width horizontal LED DRLs across the bonnet line. Down below sits a front grille with a rectangular pattern that is flanked by LED headlamps positioned vertically. At the rear, the new Stargazer gets matching vertical tail lamps which are connected on the tailgate by a light stripe forming an H. Hyundai has equipped the Stargazer with some fairly modern safety features such as forward-collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, and lane-keep assist,. Inside the cabin, the Hyundai Stargazer gets a six-seat layout with captain seats in the middle row. The overall cabin has been designed for maximum comfort and convenience, says Hyundai. Some of the key cabin feature highlights inside the Stargazer include an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a digital instrument cluster, a wireless charger, and roof-mounted aircon vents for rear passengers. In addition to that, practicality inside the car is enhanced by a foldable tray behind the driver seat, cup holders, and seatback pockets. FOLLOW US:Stay Updated with latest content - Subscribe us on FOLLOW US:Stay Updated with latest content - Subscribe us on (Also Read: Hyundai to launch Ioniq 5 N in 2023, unveils new EV concept based on Ioniq 6) Hyundai has equipped the Stargazer with some fairly modern safety features such as forward-collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot collision avoidance assist. In addition to this, the MPV has also been offered with the company's patent BlueLink connected car features which include remote engine start/stop, door lock/unlock, and AC on/off. In Indonesia, the car has been offered with a single powertrain option of 1.5-litre petrol engine that is known to deliver 113bhp of maximum power and 144Nm of peak torque. The engine comes married to a CVT and a six-speed manual gearbox. While there is no official confirmation from Hyundai Motor India on the arrival of the Stargazer in the country, however, if it does, it will rub shoulders with cars such as the Kia Carens, Maruti Suzuki XL6, and Toyota Innova Crysta. First Published Date: In the sixth month of 2022, the four major Japanese automakers, namely Toyota Motor, Honda Motor, Nissan Motor, and Mazda Motor all witnessed their monthly sales volume recover over the previous month. Except for Nissan Motor and Mazda Motor, the other two automakers all posted two-digit year-on-year growth in monthly sales. In the Jan.-Jun. period, the cumulative China sales volume of Toyota, Honda, and Nissan all saw a year-on-year downward slope, with Toyota embracing the least impact while Nissan the most. With 546,020 vehicles sold in the first half of this year, Nissan Motor reported the widest decline of 22.7% over the year-ago period. In June, Toyota sold 200,100 vehicles in China, recovering greatly from May with a 34.75% jump. Notably, the number signified that Toyota has regained its momentum under the COVID impact and saw its monthly sales surpass the same period last year for the first time in the second quarter of 2022. Compared to a year ago, Toyota managed to achieve a 19.2% year-on-year growth in June sales. Toyota commented that its June performance was mainly driven by the Corolla and Camry sedans. However, with the continuously crimped supply of semiconductors, in June, the automakers high-end brand, Lexus, endured a 38.4% decline in China sales from a year ago. As to Honda, the company sold 141,142 vehicles in China in June, indicating a 19.4% growth from a year ago, marking the first year-on-year increase in monthly sales in four months. Honda said that the boost in sales should thank Shanghais effective control over the pandemic with the automotive supply chain recovering to the normal level. Meanwhile, the several tax cut and governmental subsidy incentives also helped nudge the companys performance in the month. Among Hondas rich product mix, the Accord sedan and the CR-V SUV models contributed to the automakers sales growth in the month. In addition, the conditioned purchase tax cut policy from the Chinese government incentivized the demand for Hondas hybrid vehicle models that falls into the subjective category. In the first half of 2022, Nissan Motor sold 546,020 vehicles in China, representing a year-over-year drop of 22.7%. The automaker attributed the decline to the global auto part shortages. Nonetheless, in June, the company sold 109,051 vehicles in the country, surging 58.4% from a month earlier but notching down 4.8% over a year ago. Nissan Motors passenger vehicle joint venture, Dongfeng Motor Co. & Ltd. (DFL), sold 91,867 vehicles (including Nissan, Venucia, and Infiniti brands), greatly jumping 64.6% from May while also edging up 0.6% year on year. The company added that DFLs sales growth in June was contributed by Venucia and Infiniti. To be specific, the Venucia brand sold 10,046 vehicles, indicating a respective hike of 79.1% and 71% from the previous month and the previous year. At the same time, there were 655 Infiniti vehicles sold in China, jumping 48.9% month over month. With its April sales volume under the cover, Mazdas semi-annual sales volume was not made public. However, according to data provided by Kyodo, Mazda saw its June China sales slash down 40.3% from the previous year to 10,145 units. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Sales of the Bora amounted to 45,759 units, up 149.91% year on year, the first on June, 2022 sales ranking of A sedans/cars from Germany's brands, according to the June sales data of the China Passenger Car Association. Sales of the Lavida amounted to 32,131 units, up 74.19% year on year, ranking second on the list while its YTD sales totaled 162,762 units. June sales of the Lamando reached 11,983 units, increasing 746.26% year on year and ranking third on the list while its YTD sales were 38,330 units. (Note: Data here refers to sales of cars, SUVs and MPVs made and sold in China.) Changes here refer to those of monthly sales Welcome to browse Gasgoos website for more information about vehicle sales and production, and June, 2022 sales ranking of A sedans/cars from Germany's brands. We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. GRIFFITH If art is your thing, Central Park may have something for you, including papercutting, welded images and wood-carved puzzles. Park Full of Art began Saturday and continues Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the downtown park at 600 N. Broad St. This show brings the creative love of art to the community, said Kathie Price, committee chair. The juried show features oils, acrylics, watercolors, clay pottery, sculptures, photography, handcrafted jewelry, mixed media, graphics, glass, woodworking and crafts. We have a lot of unique art and a really nice variety, Price said. Among those unique vendors is Amy Green, from downstate Andrews, bringing her womanly welded art. Its all made from farm scrap, said Green, coming from a third-generation family. Its all one-of-a-kind with no remakes." Green uses such farm equipment as farriers, rasps, disc and chapping blades and rotary hoe tines. She chooses not to name pieces. If you fall in love with a piece, you can name it, she said. I see my art as preserving a piece of farm history. Since its opening in 1974, when the art show had 54 entries, Park Full of Art has grown to attract up to 5,000 visitors. This years show has 44 entries. Most come from the Midwest, but some travel from Georgia, Texas and New Mexico. Coming from Santa Fe, New Mexico, are Deborah Henderlong and her glassware. Working in kilns with glass is an involved process, Henderlong said, but I love it. Henderlong has worked with glass since 2006. Having worked in mental health for 45 years, she calls glassware my sanity. In 1974, the Griffith Park Board suggested a fine arts fair for Central Park. A committee formed, and Park Full of Art was created. In the early 1980s, the fair committee began awarding scholarships to Griffith High School students interested in pursuing fine arts. This year, Griffith High School students operated the Kids Kraft Korner, enabling youngsters to hone their artistic skills. Jim Graff, a GHS art teacher and self-described pot dealer, displayed his original pottery. Among the shoppers at his booth was Tracy Tippery, of St. John, who bought a large soup bowl, spoon rest and canister for kitchen utensils. I like the colors, and theyre neat and unique, Tippery said. People like the mugs and soup bowls. Graff has worked in ceramics for 20 of his 29 years as an art teacher. His business, Coffee Creek Ceramics, has operated for five years. Everything is functional, Graff said. Its made for people to use and enjoy. Marc Tschida, a Griffith product now living in Bloomington, brought his wooden puzzles. Using a scratch saw, he hand-carves flat and statue puzzles. Images on flat pieces include states and colleges. Tschida, who attended nearby St. Mary School and Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond, said he enjoys the solitude of being in my workshop. Im dumbfounded that I can make something that people feel has value. Lou Hii, of Indianapolis, displayed his papercut creations. A rural Chinese tradition dating back to the seventh century, papercutting is an intricate and delicate art pattern cut from tissue-thin paper. Hii added three-dimensional images to this tradition. Smaller pieces take several weeks to complete; large pieces may require several months. Its very challenging, putting it all together, Hii said. Jokingly calling herself a glutton for punishment, Kathy Los-Rathburn has displayed at every Park Full of Art. Her specialty is watercolor, as the former college instructor now teaches from her home studio a few blocks from the park. I love the spontaneity of [watercolor], Los-Rathburn said. I paint any subject. Nothing stops me. Its a new challenge. For unsure art students, Los-Rathburn counsels, You dont know until you try. Put your mind to it. Give it a try. LAPORTE When Mia Burns toyed with the idea of entering her goat in the agility contest at the LaPorte County Fair, she was advised against it. After all, Beatrice, her pet goat, only has three legs. She lost her right front leg as a result of complications to repair the broken limb. But Beatrice was as determined as Burns to prove the naysayers wrong and prove she could complete the obstacle course. She finished 27th out of 40 goats but showed she had the spirit of a champion. At the beginning, Beatrice looked strong when clearing several hurdles and climbing to the top of a ramp, but she needed help weaving her way around a half dozen poles set up in a straight line. It took her about twice as long as some of the other goats to cross the finish line in just over two minutes. That didn't matter. I think the whole judging arena was full of people cheering for her, Burns said. Shes a little slower just walking, but when they go and run across the field, like when its time to eat, shes usually at the front of the group, she said. The goat can also still balance herself on a teeter totter placed outside for all of her goats to play on. Sacha Burns, Mia's mother, said Beatrice and all of her other goats are Oberhaslis, a rare breed native to the mountains of Switzerland. Her goats are used for breeding and the babies sold nationwide to help rebuild a population estimated a few years ago at less than 5,000 in the U.S. She said Oberhaslis are quieter than other goats and just as friendly. The only time they make noise is when theyre hungry. Otherwise, they just follow you around like big dogs, she said. Update: Pennsylvania congressman concludes internal investigation with few answers after Ron Johnson's claims about false electors WASHINGTON After denying claims from U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson that his office had a hand in the effort to get Vice President Mike Pence false elector paperwork, Pennsylvania Congressman Mike Kelly has launched an internal probe into his staff's potential involvement. Our current chief-of-staff has begun conducting an internal investigation, which Rep. Kelly is aware of and takes seriously," Matt Knoedler, Kelly's press secretary, confirmed to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Wednesday afternoon. Kelly's potential role in the effort to hand Pence false elector paperwork from Wisconsin and Michigan in the minutes before Congress was set to confirm Joe Biden's victory on Jan. 6, 2021, has become a point of contention in recent weeks. Johnson has maintained that the false elector documents, which texts show his staff attempted to deliver to Pence before being told not to, came from Kelly's office. Kelly has denied the accusation. Subscribe to our On Wisconsin Politics newsletter for the week's political news explained. But Johnson's office on Wednesday provided the Journal Sentinel with a screenshot of a phone record indicating Sean Riley, Johnson's chief of staff, had a 2-minute phone call with a number associated with former Kelly chief of staff Matt Stroia at 11:58 a.m. Jan. 6. There is no audio of the conversation, but Johnson spokeswoman Alexa Henning told the Journal Sentinel that the conversation between Riley and Stroia was "about how Kelly's office could get us the electors because they had it." Kelly's office, Henning said, would later deliver those elector packets to Johnson's office. The Journal Sentinel has not confirmed the nature of the conversation, and Knoedler did not answer follow-up questions about the phone call. A call, text and email to the phone number and an email associated with Stroia were not returned. Story continues Stroia left his post as Kelly's chief of staff in June 2021, taking a job in the private sector, according to a news release from the time. "Rep. Kelly's office keeps denying that he and Sen. Johnson have spoken, but that is something we have never claimed," Henning said in a statement. "Confirmed from phone records, his former chief of staff spoke to ours. Our office statements have been 100% accurate and true." More: Ron Johnson's effort to pass false electors to Pence not a priority of Jan. 6 committee, chairman says Knoedler in a statement prior to the release of the purported phone records said Kelly "is not aware of any conversations taking place between Mr. Stroia, or anyone else from his team, and Sen. Johnsons staff." He referenced a June interview with an Ohio TV station in which Kelly says he hasn't spoken with Johnson since 2011 and denies knowledge of the exchange. "And quite frankly when you ask people so what is it that hes saying we did, I say, Really? Why would somebody think a Congressman from Pennsylvania would have anything to do with the election procedure in Wisconsin?'" Kelly said in the interview. Johnson last month acknowledged that he communicated with Wisconsin attorney Jim Troupis and his chief of staff by text message at 11:42 a.m. on Jan. 6 about getting Pence a document Troupis described as regarding "Wisconsin electors." Reilly spoke with Stroia, Johnson's office contends, at 11:58 a.m. And evidence presented at a Jan. 6 committee hearing last month shows Riley texted Pence aide Chris Hodgson at 12:37 p.m. saying Johnson "needs to hand" the false electors from Wisconsin and Michigan to the vice president. Still, Jan. 6 committee chairman U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson told the Journal Sentinel Tuesday that Kelly's name "didnt come up" in the committee's investigation into the effort to get Pence the false elector paperwork. Thompson said the committee doesn't plan to look further into Johnson's involvement at this point. Rather, the Department of Justice is going to be looking into the false elector strategy. Contact Lawrence Andrea at landrea@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter @lawrencegandrea. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Mike Kelly investigating ties to false elector scheme, Ron Johnson David Dalton, who chronicled the rock scene as an early writer for Rolling Stone and brought firsthand knowledge to his biographies of rock stars from having lived the wild life alongside them, died on Monday in Manhattan. He was 80. His son, Toby Dalton, said the cause was cancer. Beginning in the 1960s, Mr. Dalton showed a knack for being where cultural moments and evolutions were happening. Before he was 20 he was hanging out with Andy Warhol. In the mid-1960s he photographed the Yardbirds, the Dave Clark Five, Hermans Hermits and other rock groups that were part of the British Invasion. He was backstage at the Rolling Stones infamous 1969 concert at Altamont Speedway in California. He was hired, along with Jonathan Cott, to write a book to accompany a boxed-set release of the Beatles 1970 album, Let It Be. He traveled with Janis Joplin and James Brown and talked about Charles Manson with Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys. As his career advanced, he gravitated toward writing biographies and helping celebrities write their autobiographies. His books included Janis (1972), about Joplin, revised and updated in 1984 as Piece of My Heart; James Dean: The Mutant King (1975); and Who Is That Man? In Search of the Real Bob Dylan (2012). Autobiographies that he helped their subjects write included Marianne Faithfulls Faithfull: An Autobiography (1994), Meat Loaf: To Hell and Back (1999), Steven Tylers Does the Noise in My Head Bother You? (2011) and Paul Ankas My Way (2013). He collaborated with Tony Scherman on Pop: The Genius of Andy Warhol (2009). Maybe it sounds perverse, especially if you prefer digital books, but I tend to weigh down my summer travel bag with a big, fat novel fiction I know will be good for the long haul, be it a delay-prone plane trip or a seemingly endless stretch of rainy days at the beach. These three books, though very different in style and intent, easily fall into that category. For those who are well versed in the Jan. 6 congressional hearings, Antonio Scuratis mammoth novel about the rise of Benito Mussolini will set off all kinds of alarm bells. A best seller in Italy, M: Son of the Century (Harper, 773 pp., $35) has now been translated into English by Anne Milano Appel, and while you may need to keep checking the 10-page list of principal characters, its themes will be all too familiar. Set between 1919 and 1925, Scuratis narrative blends recreated scenes with period sources and quotations to show how post-World War I Italy was plunged into the sort of economic and social turmoil its conventional political parties were unable to contain. Enter the rabble-rousing leader of an anti-party that avoids the encumbrances of consistency, the dead weight of principles. This almost bankrupt, deeply manipulative womanizer will pursue any path to power: Negotiate with everybody, betray everybody. Mark Fleischman, who presided over the raucous, drug-crazed denouement of the celebrity-studded Manhattan disco Studio 54 in the early 1980s, died on Wednesday in Switzerland. He was 82. His wife, Mimi, said the cause was assisted suicide. Since 2016, Mr. Fleishman had been hobbled by an unidentified degenerative disease that eventually left him unable to walk or dress himself and impaired his speech. He died in a clinic near Zurich operated by Dignitas, a nonprofit organization that helps people suffering from terminal illnesses or severe physical conditions end their lives. At 82, I decided, why keep it a secret? I am not afraid of anything. Not even death, he said in an interview with The New York Post last month in which he described his decision to go to Dignitas. For four decades, Princess Doe was known only as a girl whose short life ended violently. Her body had been dumped in a New Jersey cemetery in 1982, where her slender, 5-foot-2-inch frame was partially decomposed by the time a gravedigger found her after spotting a crucifix and chain lying nearby. She had been beaten to death, and was wearing nothing but a red-and-white skirt and blouse. A year later, she became the first person to be entered into the FBIs nascent missing-persons database, and her identity had remained one of the countrys most enduring murder mysteries. On Friday, investigators disclosed that they had finally learned her name: Dawn Olanick. She was 17 when she was killed; a high school junior from Long Island. At least six people were killed and others were injured in southern Montana in a major car pileup on Friday afternoon during a windstorm that kicked up dust and caused near-blackout conditions, the authorities said. The crash on Interstate 90 outside Hardin, Mont., a city of 3,800 people about 50 miles east of Billings, involved 21 vehicles, including six semi-trucks, Sgt. Jay Nelson, a spokesman for the Montana Highway Patrol, said in an interview. It was not immediately clear how many people had been injured, he said. The authorities did not immediately release the names or ages of the victims. Everything is indicating there was an isolated weather event that caused near-blackout conditions at this location, Sergeant Nelson said. A dust storm in the area with extremely high winds is the preliminary cause of the crash. The crimes occurred on Monday morning at six 7-Eleven stores, and all on the distinctive date of July 11, or 7-11, prompting questions of what significance the timing might have held. The authorities did not address that question on Friday. The authorities also believe that a robbery at a Yum Yum Donuts shop on Monday morning is tied to the other convenience store crimes from that day. Additionally, Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton of the Los Angeles Police Department said, a murder in the city on July 9 may also be tied to Mr. Patt. He added that his department and agencies in surrounding areas were investigating whether the two men had been involved in other crimes throughout the Los Angeles region. The authorities said that Mr. Patt was the gunman who shot and killed two people and injured three others on July 11. He is expected to be charged next week with murder, attempted murder and robbery, according to Todd Spitzer, the district attorney in Orange County. This was a reign of terror, he said. It was not immediately clear on Friday if Mr. Patt and Mr. Payne had lawyers. Comic-Con International, which considers itself the oldest pop-culture convention in the world, is returning to San Diego for its first major in-person event since before the coronavirus pandemic began, and masks will be mandatory. The gathering starts Thursday and runs through Sunday at the San Diego Convention Center, just as cases of the coronavirus are soaring in the county and in other parts of the United States. In recent months, however, mask mandates have been dropped in most states and cities. Organizers said they were expecting more than 135,000 people at the event. In addition to wearing masks, attendees must also provide proof of vaccination, or of a negative coronavirus test taken within the previous 72 hours, according to the Comic-Con International website. Mr. Shafers fealty to Mr. Trump and his baseless claims of a stolen election have put him at odds with Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, as well as Mr. Raffensperger, creating an unusual schism within the state Republican Party. Both Mr. Kemp and Mr. Raffensperger easily defeated Trump-backed primary challengers this year. The so-called target letters are the latest indication that the Georgia investigation could be one of the most perilous legal problems for Mr. Trump and some of his allies. The televised congressional hearings into the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by Mr. Trumps supporters have captured the attention of many Americans, but it is unclear if they will result in charges from the Justice Department. And a high-profile investigation by the office of the Manhattan district attorney into allegations that Mr. Trump inflated the value of his assets fell apart this year. Some legal observers have argued that Mr. Trumps actions, including his postelection phone calls to Georgia officials like Mr. Raffensperger, put him at risk of being indicted on charges of violating relatively straightforward Georgia criminal statutes, including criminal solicitation to commit election fraud. Ms. Willis, in court filings, has indicated that a number of other charges are possible, including racketeering and conspiracy, which could take in a broad roster of pro-Trump associates both inside and outside of Georgia. I do believe that the great likelihood is that hes heading towards an indictment, said Norman Eisen, who served as special counsel to the House Judiciary Committee during the first Trump impeachment, and who co-wrote a lengthy examination of the Georgia case by the Brookings Institution. Among other things, he said, there is powerful proof of violations of Georgia law in the form of the smoking gun tape of him demanding 11,780 votes, when it is perfectly clear from that tape that he knows those votes do not exist. The three-day governors conference arrived at a moment of growing unease with national leaders of both parties. A New York Times/Siena College poll showed that 64 percent of Democratic voters would prefer a new presidential standard-bearer in 2024, with many citing concerns about Mr. Bidens age. In another poll, nearly half of Republican primary voters said they would prefer to nominate someone other than Mr. Trump, a view that was more pronounced among younger voters. And at the N.G.A. meeting, private dinners and seafood receptions crackled with discussion and speculation about future political leadership. I dont care as much about when you were born or what generation you belong to as I do about what you stand for, said Gov. Spencer Cox of Utah, a 47-year-old Republican. But I think certainly there is some angst in the country right now over the gerontocracy. In a series of interviews, Republican governors in attendance a number of them critical of Mr. Trump, planning to retire or both hoped that some of their own would emerge as major 2024 players. Yet for all the discussions of the power of the office, governors have often been overshadowed on the national stage by Washington leaders, and have struggled in recent presidential primaries. The last governor to become a presidential nominee was now-Senator Mitt Romney, who lost in 2012. Such a finding would echo what others have already concluded after studying the sometimes contradictory versions of events offered by state and local officials. There was no incident commander, thats the truth of the matter it was complete system failure, said State Senator Roland Gutierrez, who represents the area and has been critical of the version presented by the state police that holds no other law enforcement agencies accountable. Why didnt they take command and control of the situation? he asked. Mr. McCraw had said that Chief Arredondo had been in charge at the scene and had made the wrong decision in treating the gunman as barricaded inside the classroom a situation that would call for a more careful, tactical approach rather than as someone who was actively shooting and whom officers are trained to immediately confront. Chief Arredondo has not spoken publicly but said in an interview with The Texas Tribune that he did not see himself as the incident commander. In the account the Uvalde officials laid out in their narrative, they focused on the quick arrival of officers at the school and their success in containing the gunman inside a pair of connected classrooms while clearing children from the rest of the school. They described a scene that was dangerous to officers and a response that was not chaotic but focused on getting children to safety. There was zero hesitation on any of these officers part, they moved directly toward the gunfire, the document said, only to be repelled when the gunman fired at them. Two of the officers were grazed by debris from the gunfire. The total number of persons saved by the heroes that are local law enforcement and the other assisting agencies is over 500 per U.C.I.S.D., the document said, referring to Chief Arredondos department, the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District police force. But for U.P.D. and U.C.I.S.D. being on scene IMMEDIATELY, that shooter would have had free range on the school. An assortment of bagpipers and drummers gathered in Wheeler Park Wednesday evening for a performance on the square. The event, a tradition of the Jim Thomson U.S. School for Piping and Drumming, is also the same week as Flagstaffs Celtic Festival. Several bagpipers and drummers made a large circle around their conductor in the park, playing music in what is known as a massed band. They wore kilts and T-shirts, and played an assortment of songs as people gathered to watch. Bruce and Marla Smith sat at the park with their children, Paul and Paige, on a break from their trip back to Fort Worth, Texas. They were headed home after a visit to California, heard the piping as they drove past and decided to stop. This was the kids first time hearing bagpipe music, which Paul described as cool. After several songs, the musicians arranged themselves in the street and marched to Uptown Pubhouse to continue the celebration, playing as they went. The performances continued once they reached Uptown, with students showing off what theyd learned this week through individual performances. This is what we like to call kitchen piping, said school administrator Marianne Sullivan. So people get to go up and do whatever they like to do, show off the different schools. The event is the culmination of the Jim Thomson U.S. School of Piping and Drumming hosted annually in Flagstaff for 21 years now. It runs for a week on Northern Arizona Universitys campus, where students participate in group lessons, band practice and a variety of performances. Another final concert was Thursday evening at Riordan Mansion. Students can also choose to participate in classes on more specific topics, such as instrument maintenance, blowing steady and the many aspects involved in marching in a band. Several focused on piobaireachd, a name for the Great Highland Bagpipes classical music (also known as ceol mor). The school is dedicated to the memory of Jim Thomson, who ran it for its first several years. Without question there would be no school without Jim's hard work, according to its website. He ran the school for the students and to promote the music and traditions of the Great Highland Bagpipe and drumming. Students come from all over, Sullivan said, with a range of skill and age levels. Participants this year ranged from 8 to 80 years old and came from Ireland, Scotland, Canada and places across the U.S (as far as California, Texas and Louisiana). Sullivan also played in the band that evening and is part of the City of Flagstaffs Honor Guard. She has been playing bagpipes since the age of 10, as her parents were both born in Scotland. Another piper, Jodie Marx, said this was her first time playing the bagpipes. She lives in Tucson and decided to start learning to play after sewing her own kilt by hand. At a friends suggestion, she found a paramedic who plays the pipes to be her instructor. She played her first bagpipe notes two days before the concert, having spent a year practicing on the chanter, a recorder-like instrument that is the first step in learning to play. It's very different, she said of playing the full instrument. A chanter looks like a little recorder and then the pipes are a full set that takes a lot of air. She said she enjoyed the event and plans to keep coming back to the school. The school is in partnership with the Northern Arizona Celtic Heritage Society, which is hosting Flagstaffs Celtic Festival this weekend. Many students from the school stay to compete in the festival, both solo and band, which are judged by its instructors. The Celtic Festival takes place at Fort Tuthill County Park and runs from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Events scheduled for the weekend include Irish dancers, lessons on various aspects of Celtic life (highlights include Scottish pandemics, the importance of bees, handfasting and Norse constellations), whiskey tastings, crafts and even more music. Adult tickets for the festival cost $20 for one day, or $30 for two days, with discounted prices for children, military members and seniors. Tickets can be purchased at the gate. More about the school can be found at jimthomsonpipingschool.com. Details of the Celtic Festival are available at nachs.info/celtic-festival. This years edition of Documenta, the 15th, is curated by ruangrupa, an Indonesian art collective, and it involves over 1,000 artists, mainly from the global south, hosting exhibitions and events. One group created a kink-friendly nightclub for visitors; another built a sauna. Many of the exhibitions venues are meant to be places where visitors can participate in events and discuss social and political issues, as much as look at art. Siddhartha Mitter, reviewing Documenta for The New York Times, said that everywhere in this show are possibilities thrown open: ways of examining the past, or exchanging in the present, that offer grounds for hope; strategies outside the strictures of state and capitalist systems; and fodder for civic imagination. Despite such acclaim, Documenta was embroiled in controversy even before it opened. In January, a protest group called the Alliance Against Antisemitism Kassel accused ruangrupa and other artists of supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel. In 2019, Germanys Parliament declared that movement antisemitic, saying it questioned Israels right to exist. The accusations appeared first on a blog, but they were picked up by German newspapers and politicians. In June, the furor went into overdrive when Taring Padi, another Indonesian art collective, installed an artwork called Peoples Justice in one of Kassels main squares. Jak Knight, a stand-up comedian, writer and actor who first attracted wide attention as a voice actor and writer on the animated Netflix series Big Mouth, died on Thursday in Los Angeles. He was 28. His family confirmed his death on Saturday in a statement. The statement did not cite a cause. Mr. Knight had recently finished filming First Time Female Director, a movie written and directed by the comedian Chelsea Peretti, as part of a cast including many other comedians. He had been appearing since March with his fellow comedians Chris Redd, Sam Jay and Langston Kerman on the Peacock series Bust Down, a comedy about a group of friends working at a casino in Indiana, which he also helped create. He was nominated this year for a Writers Guild of America award for his work on the HBO talk show Pause With Sam Jay, for which he was a writer and an executive producer. Hello, readers. The other day I looked out the window and saw what looked like a dead skunk in the middle of the street. Overcome with curiosity, I trotted out to investigate and found the skunk to be a pair of black sweatpants with a white stripe that had been reduced to two dimensions under passing vehicles. It was a stormy day and the pants must have blown onto the street from a rooftop clothesline; the only other explanation a partial striptease in the middle of an urban thoroughfare seemed unlikely, though not impossible. If you couldnt guess from the title of this newsletter, wind is a topic of enduring personal interest. Like many of lifes intriguing forces (love, hate, etc.) it is palpable but invisible. Visual artists tend to represent the effects of wind on the ocean, a French flag, a mans formidable beard rather than wind itself, presumably for this reason. My preferred source of info is Windy.com, which depicts the phenomenon as how to put this? shoals of spermatozoa. The presentation is intuitive and well executed. On that website you can check the forecast in your neighborhood or explore notoriously windy places like Antarctica or Wichita. At the time of this writing Wichita is enjoying south winds of six to 14 miles per hour, with gusts as high as 20 m.p.h. PICASSOS WAR: How Modern Art Came to America, by Hugh Eakin It is almost unthinkable that the now universally acknowledged masterpieces of modern art, such as Pablo Picassos Les Demoiselles dAvignon or Henri Matisses The Red Studio, were scorned by American museums and that wealthy patrons refused to buy even a single canvas by either painter. Though it is a truism that innovative art often finds difficulty at first in being accepted, you would think that at a time when the masters of modern painting were already lionized in Europe, Americans would not be so slow in recognizing their significance. Yet such was the case. Even after the 1913 Armory Show, which is usually credited with introducing modern art to this country, it took another several decades before it was possible to mount a full-scale Picasso exhibit, and years to get the Museum of Modern Art off the ground, much less turn it into the formidable institution it is today. For nearly 30 years, the effort to bring modern art to the United States was continually impeded by war, economic crisis and a deeply skeptical public, Hugh Eakin writes. It was a project that might well have foundered, and almost did, but for the fanatical determination of a tiny group of people, whose story he sets out to tell in this fascinating, immensely readable narrative. The first half of Picassos War is given over largely to John Quinn, an amazingly energetic, cultivated New York attorney who, when not defending writers like Joyce and Synge from obscenity charges, had the prescience to buy up and support the work of all the key members of the Paris School. He was a one-man art boom, investing behind the scenes in risk-taking galleries, rounding up attendees from his extensive social set (including Teddy Roosevelt), and purchasing the best pieces when no one else would. Gothams stodgy, moneyed class was more inclined to spend huge sums on old masters, but Quinn preferred the work of living artists. A progressive, he was appalled by the know-nothing prejudice of conservatives who linked modern art to Bolshevism and degeneracy a practice he dubbed Ku Klux art criticism. His dream was to have his prize collection form the basis of a new kind of museum, one dedicated to modern art. Unfortunately, he died of liver cancer in 1924 at age 54 before being able to accomplish that task, and most of his collection was scattered to the winds. What a catastrophe and a missed opportunity. A few years later, he began hosting get-togethers in his apartment where he would cook Persian cuisine and invite musicians to play. By early 2018, his apartment could no longer accommodate the crowds, so he and Mr. Nilchiani hosted their first public Disco Tehran event: the long-shelved Nowruz celebration. The party has since expanded and evolved, and it now includes a film project and community outreach efforts. It recently celebrated its fourth anniversary at the Sultan Room, a nightclub and eatery in Bushwick, with an eclectic playlist and performances by Alsarah and the Nubatones, an East African retro pop band, and Epilogio, a Puerto Rican indie-funk band. Disco Tehran, Mr. Ghavamian said, is about a collection of different cultures who may not have anything to do with each other on a given day, but they come together. And the project is on its third European tour, which gives the organizers the sense that they have a place wherever we are in the world, Mr. Ghavamian said. Its next New York event is Aug. 13, at the Knockdown Center in Queens. Yalla! Party Project also grew out of intimate apartment gatherings, hosting its first public event in the spring of 2018. (Yalla translates to lets go or come on in Arabic.) Its founder yearned for a queer party that featured Southwest Asian and North African music. Over the years, Yalla! has expanded into an arts collective and community-building exercise. It is starting a professional directory to help people find jobs and it runs a market that supports small businesses run by women, people of color and queer people. Mullally called it painful to watch but not surprising. I thought this was going to happen, she said, citing Donald Trumps inflammatory claim during a 2016 debate that Hillary Clintons stance on abortion meant You can take the baby and rip the baby out of the womb of the mother just prior to the birth of the baby. Trump also said in an interview that there has to be some form of punishment for women who get abortions, later amending it to say that doctors should be punished. I thought, Thats it, Mullally recalled. People thought there was this American dream but its clearly becoming more of an American nightmare. She is mystified at the weak response of President Biden and the Democrats, calling it appeasement and magical thinking, given that Trump and the Republicans had spent years loading the courts with conservatives who were restricting abortion. Democrats saying, Womens rights are on the ballot and Vote in November! is offensive, she said. This is not about votes for your party. Nothing is as important as bodily autonomy. And November? This happened in June. People should be out on the streets. Rape victims are crossing state lines. That includes the horrifying case of the 10-year-old in Ohio who was raped and had to travel to Indiana to get an abortion. A segment of Americans never accepted Roe; it was the source of endless, divisive battles. But in Ireland, legalized abortion seems to be accepted; some doctors dont offer it; others will. And the church isnt fighting back much; its power was decimated by the pedophile priest scandal. As the Irish feminist Ailbhe Smyth said, the greatest victory in 2018 was that the referendum carried without the country being split, Mullally said. Its about creating an empathetic framework of discourse so that people are not at each others throats. She gets it. Why dont we? This article also appears in the Opinion Today newsletter. You can sign up here to receive it in your inbox each weekday morning. Starting tomorrow, there will be a brand-new section in the paper: Sunday Opinion. Though the name is new, Sunday Opinion has a long history. It was born in 1935 as The News of the Week in Review, a place where Times staffers could offer their analysis of the weeks news. In 2011, the section was given over to the Opinion editors and renamed Sunday Review. Since then, it has been the print home of our finest and most ambitious opinion journalism, where you can find the Sunday columnists Maureen Dowd, Ross Douthat and Jamelle Bouie; the Times editorial board; and incisive guest essays from a wide range of viewpoints. This redesign completes that transformation. By renaming the section Sunday Opinion, were recognizing the role it plays and making that clearer to readers. In that sense, nothing has changed. Do not fear: Maureen, Ross and Jamelle will still be writing every Sunday, along with a fourth columnist to be announced this summer. Theyll now appear at the front of the section because we know that readers come to Opinion looking for their unparalleled analysis their smart, considered and sometimes humorous takes on the news of the week. FRONT PAGE An article on Friday about the story of a 10-year-old girl in Ohio who crossed state lines to get an abortion and became a flash point in the national abortion debate misstated Bill OReillys connection to The First, a conservative media outlet. He is a host for the outlet, not the owner. SPORTS An article on Wednesday about Tadej Pogacars tight lead in the Tour de France misidentified the mountains that include the Super Planche des Belles Filles. They are the Vosges, not the Alps. An article on Thursday about the delay of the British Open at St. Andrews to ensure that it could host the 150th edition misstated the given name of a former owner of the Dunvegan Hotel. He is Jack Willoughby, not Tom. The error was repeated in a picture caption. Dr. Johan Lemmens, a retired medical doctor from Southend-on-Sea, England, was circumnavigating the globe in the two-masted sailboat he owns and captains when the sighting occurred. He said he had never seen anything like it. Normal bioluminescence is when the waves light up or theres a trail of light behind you, Dr. Lemmens said. You see that two or three times a year. This was different. The sea was lit, but the waves were black. That made it really eerie. It gave the idea that the light was coming from a deeper level. The crew lowered a bucket into the water and pulled up a sample that contained several pinpoints of light that glowed steadily until the water was stirred; then, the points suddenly went dark. That response, the new paper notes, is contrary to normal bioluminescence. Ms. McKinnon said her first awareness of the glow came around 9 p.m. local time and that it intensified during the night, lasting until dawn. The satellite observations revealed that the glowing patch south of Java, Indonesias most populous island, persisted for at least 45 nights and grew to be larger in size than the collective areas of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. Ms. McKinnon studied biochemistry in college and was a research assistant in a laboratory at the University of Sydney in Australia before learning on a sailing forum of the global circumnavigation and, at age 24, joining the voyagers. In her lab, she studied deadly marine venoms, including, for instance, those of box jellyfish, the toxins of which attack not only skin but the heart and nervous system. In the commotion, some eggs tumbled from the cliffs; others were snatched by predators while the murres were away. The murres breeding performance dropped 26 percent, Jonas Hentati-Sundberg, a marine ecologist at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, found. They were flying out in panic, and they lost their eggs, he said. The pandemic was, and remains, a global human tragedy. But for ecologists, it has also been an unparalleled opportunity to learn more about how people affect the natural world by documenting what happened when we abruptly stepped back from it. A growing body of literature paints a complex portrait of the slowdown of human activity that has become known as the anthropause. Some species clearly benefited from our absence, consistent with early media narratives that nature, without people bumbling about, was finally healing. But other species struggled without human protection or resources. Human beings are playing this dual role, said Amanda Bates, an ocean conservation scientist at the University of Victoria in Canada. We are, she said, acting as threats to wildlife but also being custodians for our environment. Flagstaff Unified School Districts (FUSD) governing board during a meeting Tuesday approved a COVID-19 mitigation plan for the 2022-23 school year, which is set to start in August. According to FUSD Superintendent Michael Penca, the mitigation plan follows the latest health guidance and will be updated throughout the coming school year. COVID and mitigation plans werent in our terminology before the last couple of school years, he said. This is in line with the most up-to-date guidance from CDC and health officials, and provides guidance and recommendations for us to follow as we move forward with COVID still in our lives. COVID metrics falling, Coconino County still at high community level Despite a fall in COVID-19, Coconino County remained at a high community level the week endi Arizona legislation was passed in April (HB 2616) that prevents schools from requiring either masks or COVID vaccinations. FUSD will be strongly encouraging masks when the community is at a high level for COVID -- as Coconino County currently is. The district will really rely on individuals to monitor their own health and follow the guidance, Penca said. The Navajo Nation still has public health orders in place that require masks in school buildings and Leupp Elementary will have a mask requirement on its campus until it is rescinded. FUSD will continue using mitigation strategies, such as spacing classroom furniture, limiting shared materials, encouraging technology for group work and placing physical guides throughout school locations. The districts cleaning protocols are outlined in the plan, and they include baseline and high-touch area cleaning (on a daily and weekly basis, respectively), as well as the use of a Hydroxyl Generator when someone becomes sick or receives a positive COVID test. The district plans to continue offering masks and vaccinations, including boosters, at school sites and recommends students and staff to stay home when feeling ill or having contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID. Students who exhibit symptoms on school buses will be returned to their family or socially distanced and brought to the health office, depending on the circumstance. More specific guidelines for both staff and families can be found in the mitigation plan. According to the plan, the decision to quarantine a class, close a portion of the school or close the school/district entirely is made in close coordination with the local health department. No specific closure criteria is listed. Visitors to the district are being asked to monitor themselves and not come to the school buildings when feeling sick. Temperature screenings will still be available on arrival and visitors will be required to use the sign-in sheet and visitor badge when inside. The plan will continue to be updated throughout the school year as guidance changes. As a requirement for ESSER funding, the district also needs to have an updated plan for a safe return to in-person instruction -- which Penca said would be available on the schools site by the beginning of the academic year. More information about FUSDs COVID response can be found at fusd1.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=17598. The mitigation plan approved at Tuesdays meeting is available here. That doctor, Caitlin Bernard, later tweeted, My heart breaks for all survivors of sexual assault and abuse. I am so sad that our country is failing them when they need us most. Lauren Ralph, an epidemiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, said her research shows that adolescents who seek abortion tend to be firm in their choice but face barriers such as lack of transportation, and parental notification and consent laws, which exist in the majority of states. Minors who seek to avoid parental notification, such as in the case of incest or when a parent would seek to compel pregnancy, are often required to file a police report or appear before a judge. Those are high and sometimes impossible bars to clear, experts said, especially for individuals without legal assistance, and young victims who may have been hurt by the adults closest to them. With some Americans living up to 400 miles away from the nearest legal abortion provider, the new state bans stand to affect teenagers severely. We know that young people already faced many more barriers to accessing abortion prior to the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Dr. Ralph said. What will happen with this decision is that those barriers for young people living in restricted states will now multiply. Dr. Bernard, the Indiana OB-GYN who provided an abortion for the 10-year-old Ohio girl, said in an interview in early July, before the political firestorm erupted, that she had experience treating other very young rape victims. DNA evidence helped crack unsolved murders, some dating to 1980, of three women and a teenage girl in California, leading to the arrest of a 75-year-old man in Texas, the authorities said on Friday. Detectives from the Los Angeles and Inglewood, Calif., police departments traveled to Fort Worth, Texas, to arrest the man, Billy Ray Richardson, whom the police linked to the murders of Kari Lenander, Beverly Cruse, and her sister, Debra Cruse, in 1980 in Los Angeles, as well as Trina Wilson in 1995 in Inglewood. All the victims had been raped, prosecutors said. DNA evidence helped tie the crimes to Mr. Richardson, though the authorities did not elaborate on what new evidence had led to him. It was unclear whether Mr. Richardson had been known to any of the victims. WASHINGTON The House committee investigating the attack on the United States Capitol issued a subpoena to the Secret Service late Friday seeking text messages from Jan. 5 and 6, 2021, that were said to have been erased, as well as any after-action reports. In a statement, the committees chairman, Representative Bennie Thompson, Democrat of Mississippi, said the panel was seeking records from any and all divisions of the Secret Service pertaining or relating in any way to the events of Jan. 6, 2021. The development came after the inspector general for the Department of Homeland Security, the parent agency of the Secret Service, met with the panel and told lawmakers that many of the texts were erased as part of a device replacement program even after the inspector general had requested them as part of his inquiry into the events of Jan. 6. But to his many detractors, he was a ruthless dictator who suppressed democracy and oversaw a an economy choked by corruption, with most Angolans living on less than $2 a day. I find it amazing that people are now pretending that dos Santos was a saint. He was not, said Adolfo Tembo, 26, who sells toasted peanuts and bananas. Mr. dos Santos had been living in self-imposed exile in Barcelona for three years. According to Welwitschia dos Santos, popularly known as Tchize, he had said he wanted to be buried there. He had become increasingly isolated from the party he so long controlled. His handpicked successor, Mr. Lourenco, who came to power in 2017, had turned on him, blaming the dos Santos administration for Angolas economic malaise and prosecuting his children. Mr. Lourenco and Mr. dos Santos attempted a rapprochement last year. Mr. dos Santos returned to Angola and was set to appear at the partys conference. But then he learned that his son Jose Filomeno dos Santos would be sentenced to five years in prison for embezzling the states sovereign fund. The former president was further outraged by a plan to remove his face from Angolas currency, Tchize dos Santos said. My father was extremely humiliated the first time he returned to Angola, something he did against our judgment and advice, convinced of President Joao Lourencos desire to reach a sincere reconciliation, Ms. dos Santos said, in an response by email to questions from The New York Times. The White House on Saturday did not back down. The president was very clear about the conversation, and we stand by his account, said John Kirby, the coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council. Asked by reporters after landing back in Washington whether the Saudi minister was telling the truth, Mr. Biden replied simply, No. He seemed exasperated by the second-guessing of his trip. When a reporter asked if he regretted the fist bump he had greeted Prince Mohammed with, he complained, Why dont you guys talk about something that matters? Both sides had an interest in spinning the closed-door meeting. Mr. Biden has been denounced by rights groups, media organizations and politicians in both parties for meeting with the crown prince, who the C.I.A. says ordered the 2018 operation that killed Mr. Khashoggi, a United States resident and columnist for The Washington Post. By promoting how tough he was behind closed doors, the president clearly hoped to defuse some of the criticism for abandoning his campaign promise to make Saudi Arabia a pariah. For their part, the Saudis were eager to present the meeting as a return to business as usual between the leaders of two longtime allies, and had every hope of minimizing the lasting import of the Khashoggi case. Mr. Jubeir confirmed to reporters that Mr. Biden had raised the matter but characterized it in less confrontational terms. The last thing the Saudis wanted was the image of a president lecturing their young leader. JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia During his painful encounters with a series of Arab strongmen here in Saudi Arabia this weekend, President Biden kept returning to a single reason for renewing his relationship with American allies who fall on the wrong side of the struggle he often describes as a battle between democracy and autocracy. We will not walk away and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia or Iran, Mr. Biden said at a session on Saturday with nine Arab leaders in a cavernous hotel ballroom in this ancient port on the Red Sea. And well seek to build on this moment with active, principled American leadership. Mr. Bidens framing of Americas mission as part of a renewed form of superpower competition was revealing. For decades, American presidents largely saw the Middle East as a hotbed of strife and instability, a place the United States needed a presence largely to keep oil flowing and eliminate terrorist havens. Now, more than 20 years after a group of Saudis left this country to stage terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center and strike the Pentagon, Mr. Biden is driven by a new concern: That his forced dance with dictators, while distasteful, is the only choice if his larger goal is to contain Russia and outmaneuver China. Mr. Biden insisted on Friday that his Saudi visit was not about oil. But he and Prince Mohammed privately reached an understanding that oil-producing states would agree to increase output in August as part of a larger decision by the OPEC Plus group of nations, and that Saudi Arabia would do more in its own right to help in the coming weeks. Just a few years ago, many lawmakers in Washington and oil and gas executives in Texas were patting themselves on the back for an energy boom that had turned the United States into a net exporter of oil and petroleum products and made it more energy independent. With prices rising, that achievement now looks illusory. The United States is the worlds biggest oil and natural gas producer, but it accounts for only about 12 percent of the global petroleum supply. The price of oil, the principal cost in gasoline, can still shoot up or tumble depending on events halfway around the world. And no president, no matter how powerful or competent, can do much to control it. Those facts are cold comfort to Americans who are finding that a stop at the gas station is vastly more expensive than just a year earlier, even as they have eased in recent weeks. Since entering the White House, President Biden had refused to meet with, and even speak to, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, seeking to punish him with ostracism for the grisly murder of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents in 2018. But that objection fell by the wayside on Friday when Mr. Biden and Prince Mohammed met face-to-face during Mr. Bidens first trip to Saudi Arabia for a regional summit focused on oil and Iran. The two leaders briefly discussed the case, according to U.S. and Saudi officials, but effectively agreed to disagree on Prince Mohammeds culpability before announcing a slew of initiatives aimed at emphasizing the close partnership between their countries. 2 It is still possible that in response to this lawsuit that the U.S. Supreme Court will come to its senses and issue an Order that would disqualify the designation of electors selected by processes not authorized by state legislatures - indeed, often in defiance of state law. I believe we have a duty to try every judicial mechanism available to obtain relief. However, even if it results in another loss in the Supreme Court, this suit would serve an important function in exposing to the diminishing number of Americans who still have faith in government, the true depth of corruption. If the Acting Attorney General were to refuse to file suit, and you were required to replace the AG to get it filed, it would create what the press would call a "constitutional crisis," yet we are already in such a crisis brought on by corruption at the highest levels of government. We have suffered massive election fraud, and state and Federal courts avert their eyes. Election crimes have occurred, and the FBI and the Department of Justice see nothing. We have had a near collapse of the institutions of our government. Constitutionally, the President truly is the chief law enforcement of the United States not the Attorney General whose position is not mentioned in the Constitution. If the Supreme Court were then to refuse to act on this case, the deep corruption of that institution again would be laid bare for all to see-confirming what the People learned when the Texas case was dismissed. Thus, filing the case is a "win-win" with the overwhelming number of Americans who just voted for you. As you said, all you have is the People and the votes. You have a duty to prevent this electoral fraud on the American People. The fact you were a candidate in the race may complicate the matter, but your duty is to ensure the election was not stolen exists nevertheless. It is no understatement to say that the very existence of our Constitutional Republic is slipping away - that which was entrusted to our generation by the Founders and each succeeding generation - unless you act, and act promptly. In short form, respectfully, here is what must be done. 1. The Office of White House Counsel has failed the Office of the President. That office can be expected to not just to fail to offer solutions, but also to refuse to follow your orders, and even interpose roadblocks. Therefore, I would urge you recruit and appoint Kurt rs. and Olsen a lawyer in Washington D.C., in whatever capacity may seem appropriate. Kurt formerly worked at Kirkland & Ellis, including working with Mr. Rosen when they were both at that firm, so he would be taken seriously. Kurt is a former Navy Seal, who has volunteered and worked tirelessly for weeks developing the papers for the suit brought by Texas. Also, this is a person who simply cannot be intimidated. You need a lawyer literally on your side who is principled, schooled in the constitution, brilliant, tough, and committed to both you and the Constitution. Then, Kurt can bring in a few other capable and principled lawyers to help you. Analyzing a raft of documents like this one, The Times found that more than 4,500 people were detained in this system during a six-month period. The people named on this list appeared at a hearing to determine whether their detention should be renewed. In most cases, it was. Handwritten court logs like this one reveal the extent of a system that locks away political prisoners for months or years. Analyzing a raft of documents like this one, The Times found that more than 4,500 people were detained in this system during a six-month period. The people named on this list appeared at a hearing to determine whether their detention should be renewed. In most cases, it was. Handwritten court logs like this one reveal the extent of a system that locks away political prisoners for months or years. Analyzing a raft of documents like this one, The Times found that more than 4,500 people were detained in this system during a six-month period. list appeared at a hearing to determine whether their detention should be renewed. In most cases, it was. Handwritten court logs like this one reveal the extent of a system that locks away political prisoners for months or years. CAIRO When the University of Washington Ph.D. student was arrested in Cairo while researching the Egyptian judiciary, he asked the prosecutor for the accusations against him. Joining a terrorist group, he was told, and spreading fake news. I was pleased for a second, because these are so absurd, theres absolutely no evidence, its very, very easy to refute, said the student, Waleed K. Salem, 42. But as he found out, Once youre slapped with these labels, you go into the black box. He was now trapped. Held in pretrial detention, Mr. Salem was never tried or formally charged with a crime. Instead, every time he maxed out the legal detention period, a prosecutor extended his imprisonment in a hearing that usually lasted about 90 seconds. The first five months, youre trying to convince yourself its just five months, Mr. Salem said. But after five months come and go and youre still there, now you start to fear the worst. President Bidens meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia on Friday was a conspicuous U-turn for the president, who once pledged to ostracize the prince over human rights atrocities. But Mr. Biden will meet another Arab leader in Jeddah on Saturday whose human rights record he has also denounced: Egypts president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Egypt holds tens of thousands of political prisoners, according to rights groups and researchers, their ranks swelled by Mr. el-Sisis crushing campaign against dissent. Mr. el-Sisis predecessors also jailed critics. But he has done so on a vastly greater scale, largely by transforming the routine administrative procedure of pretrial detention into Egypts chief engine of mass repression. Security forces arrest people from the street or from their homes, disappearing them without notifying families or lawyers. When the detainees surface in custody, prosecutors accuse them of terrorist activity and detain them for months or years on end without ever having to prove their case at trial. The crackdown that ensnared Mr. Salem in 2018 has caught up Egyptians of every stripe, branding them as enemies of the state for even the mildest criticisms. One case involved the arrest of a politician mulling running against Mr. el-Sisi; another, two women on a Cairo subway overheard complaining about rising fares; yet another, a young conscript who posted a Facebook meme of Mr. el-Sisi wearing Mickey Mouse ears. Some political prisoners have had trials, if only perfunctory ones, and have faced harsh sentences. But pretrial detainees are not granted even such cursory justice. In the special terrorism courts where the el-Sisi government funnels political opponents, the authorities do not file formal charges, present evidence or, in many cases, allow detainees to defend themselves before locking them up. No public records exist of how many people are held in pretrial detention. But an analysis by The New York Times of handwritten court logs, painstakingly kept by volunteer defense lawyers, shows for the first time the number of individuals detained without trial and exposes the circular legal process that can keep them there indefinitely. In just the six months from September 2020 to February 2021, The Times estimates, about 4,500 people were trapped in pretrial detention. At least one in four of the detainees had spent more than a year in detention, their cases extended without trial over and over again. Although Egyptian law limits the length of time detainees can be held, prosecutors and judges often prolong detentions repeatedly after perfunctory hearings.At least one in four of the detainees had spent more than a year in detention, their cases extended without trial over and over again. This figure omits detainees first seen after Jan. 15, 2021, who appear too late to establish a case history. Dozens or even hundreds of people may be grouped together in the same case, and their detentions renewed en masse. One case included more than 600 people arrested during antigovernment protests in 2020. They include a 14-year-old boy arrested in Giza, a 57-year-old woman arrested at her home in Alexandria, and a 20-year-old man arrested at an architecture office in Suez. To estimate how many people were caught in the loop, The Times matched the handwritten names and case numbers of people who made multiple court appearances. Alternate spellings and duplicate case numbers were often used, making a perfect record impossible. But we wrote custom software to screen them and carefully checked each record to account for similar spellings. HOW WE COUNTED Creating the first public record of Egypts pretrial detention system. The true total is likely greater than our estimate, which is only a partial snapshot of the system. The estimate leaves out detainees who were arrested and released before the five-month mark, the first time a court appearance is required. Nor does it include Egyptians prosecuted outside the capital. And there is no public accounting of prisoners held off the books in police stations and military camps or those who have simply vanished. The Times analyzed handwritten court logs like these, kept by volunteer defense lawyers, to estimate the number of people held in pretrial detention. The Times analyzed handwritten court logs like these, kept by volunteer defense lawyers, to estimate the number of people held in pretrial detention. More and more ordinary people have been swept up, said Khaled Ali, a rights lawyer. Pretrial detention is supposed to give the authorities time to investigate cases, he said. But in reality, its being used as a punishment. Human rights groups estimate that Egypt holds 60,000 political prisoners, a number that includes pretrial detainees as well as those who have been tried and sentenced, terrorism suspects as well as those accused of simply having wayward political opinions. The Times is examining challenges to democratic norms in the United States and around the world. Read more from our Democracy Challenged coverage. Egypt has long denied holding any political detainees. People arrested on accusations of criticizing the authorities, officials say, are threatening public order. Even protesting theres a law against it, Salah Sallam, a former member of Egypts government-appointed National Council for Human Rights, said in an interview. I cant call someone whos conspired against the state a political prisoner. In the last few weeks, however, some officials have begun to acknowledge the practice of imprisoning people for their political views, saying it was necessary to restore stability after the turbulence of Egypts 2011 Arab Spring revolution. There are times when the country is going through rough periods, like a period of terrorist attacks or economic reforms, when measures have to be taken, Tarek el-Khouly, a member of Parliament, said in a recent interview. Egyptian police officers patrolled a Cairo neighborhood in 2016 to head off potential anti-government protests. Mahmoud Khaled/Agence France-Presse Getty Images In prison and court, there was never any pretense about the nature of the crime. According to former detainees and lawyers, guards and judges openly refer to detainees not linked to violence as political. Officially, however, most pretrial detainees are accused of joining terrorist groups whether or not they have been linked to violence, allowing the authorities to round up perceived opponents in the name of security. The government does not distinguish between a militant planting bombs and a Facebook user grousing about rising prices: Both are labeled as terrorists. An Egyptian research group that tracks the justice system has found that about 11,700 people were charged with terrorism offenses from 2013 to 2020. The vast majority, rights groups say, have not been linked to violent extremism. It just shows you how this terrorism charge has lost any meaning, said Mohamed Lotfy, the executive director of the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms, which represents political prisoners. Its a preposterous, irrational thing. The Detention Cycle The legal framework of pretrial detention gives it the veneer of due process. But interviews with dozens of people including detainees, former detainees, detainees families, lawyers, activists and researchers portray a system in which prosecutors and judges routinely minimize or ignore any rights the detainees have. During the first five months of detention, detainees can legally be held for two weeks on the basis of accusations leveled by prosecutors, a period that can be extended if prosecutors request more time to investigate. That is precisely what prosecutors do for most detainees, renewing their detentions every 15 days without formal charges filed or evidence presented. After five months, the detainee gets a hearing before a terrorism court judge, who can renew detentions for 45 days at a time. In theory, the hearings give detainees another chance to challenge their detentions. In reality, defense lawyers are rare and evidence is almost never shown, former detainees and lawyers said. The entrance to Tora Prison in Cairo, the place that no one gets out of, as one guard put it. Khaled Desouki/Agence France-Presse Getty Images The hearings are closed to the public, even to detainees families. Defendants appear in crowded, soundproof glass cages that are muted to keep them from being heard or even from hearing their own judgments. At five months in pretrial detention, Mr. Salem, the graduate student, advanced to terrorism court, where he waited in a soundproof cage with dozens of other defendants. When his name was called, the judge pressed a button, unmuting the cage and allowing him to speak. Your honor, Im just an academic like you, he began. I have a daughter, please consider this. A lawyer who had been designated to represent Mr. Salem and half a dozen other defendants stepped up to the bench. He argued that prosecutors had shown no evidence, that the charges were vague and baseless. The judge extended Mr. Salems detention for another 45 days. He was released in December 2018, nearly seven months after his arrest. But he remains banned from travel, preventing him from seeing his 13-year-old daughter, who lives in Poland with her mother. I knew what to expect, Mr. Salem said, but hope is a tenacious thing. The coronavirus has put even more distance between detainees and a fair hearing. Since last year, lawyers say, officials have taken to transporting some detainees to chambers below the courtrooms without bringing them before a judge, a way of satisfying the procedural requirement of transferring them to the courthouse while keeping them from petitioning the judge, and a timesaver into the bargain. The authorities cast such measures as Covid precautions, citing the cheek-by-jowl courtroom cages. That explanation would be more credible, lawyers and rights groups say, if prisons were not bulging with overcrowded cells, if authorities had not failed to give detainees protective equipment or if they had not kept families from supplying it. Most hearings last just a few minutes before the judge signs the renewal orders. This whole thing has nothing to do with justice, said Khaled el-Balshy, the editor of Darb, one of the few remaining media outlets that do not toe the government line. Were all playing a role. Its all a charade. The 45-day stints can be renewed repeatedly for up to two years. After that, the law requires that the detainee be released, though that does not always happen. In many cases, prosecutors simply bring a new case, starting the two-year timer all over again. At least 1,764 detainees were recycled into new cases from January 2018 to December 2021, according to the Egyptian Transparency Center for Research, Documentation and Data Management. For more than a quarter of them, the center found, it was at least the second time they had been shunted into new cases. For some, it had been as many as seven times. Ola Qaradawi, 56, and her husband, Hosam Khalaf, 59, were arrested while on a family vacation on Egypt's north coast in 2017. The couple, both of whom hold United States permanent residency, were accused of having ties to a terrorist group. But the real crime seemed to be that they were related to a prominent critic of the military coup that brought Mr. el-Sisi to power in 2013. After two years in prison, Ms. Qaradawi in solitary confinement, they were ordered to be released. But instead of sending them home, guards took them to prosecutors, who accused them of committing new crimes while in prison. We were actually planning the party, thinking we were going to celebrate when they came out, said their daughter, Aya Khalaf, an American citizen. Its like everything youve gone through has gone down the drain, and now they have the right to hold you again for another two years. Ms. Qaradawi was finally released in December 2021 after four years in detention. Her husband remains in jail. Although there is a legal distinction between pretrial detention and a prison sentence, detention often amounts to harsh punishment. Prisoners are held in overcrowded, filthy jails, sometimes for years. They are often deprived of visitors, bedding, food and medical treatment. Torture is common. Rights groups say hundreds of people have died in Egyptian custody over the past five years from a combination of abysmal conditions, abuse and lack of health care. A Widening Net One reason people are detained for so long without trial, the government says, is that the justice system is clogged with cases. Prosecutors and courts cannot keep up with the sheer number of people getting arrested, a load that grew as Egypt widened its crusade against dissent. Taking control after the military deposed Egypts first democratically elected president, Mr. el-Sisi promised security and prosperity all many Egyptians wanted after years of revolution, chaos and civil strife. But he has used the pursuit of stability to justify deepening authoritarianism. Supporters of General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Tahrir Square in Cairo on the day of the military coup in 2013 that brought him to power. Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters First, his government rounded up members of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist movement that had held the presidency before Mr. el-Sisi took over, accusing it of responsibility for the militant attacks then tormenting the country. Seeing the Brotherhood as a political threat, the authorities also targeted anyone suspected of Brotherhood membership and anyone who had participated in Brotherhood-led demonstrations. Next into detention cells came a growing number of opposition politicians, activists, journalists and academics. About 110 activists, 733 members of the media and 453 academics were arrested from 2013 to 2020, the justice system monitoring group said. Eventually, the repression vacuumed up ordinary protesters and citizens. When a rare smattering of anti-government protests broke out in 2019, at least 4,000 people were arrested, rights groups and lawyers estimate, including many who said they were just passing by. Those arrests were a prelude to a much broader crackdown in which the authorities, mindful of the Arab Spring uprising that overthrew a previous president in 2011, sought to head off further unrest by arresting people they believed might have subversive ideas. In downtown Cairos Tahrir Square, where Facebook and Twitter helped muster hundreds of thousands of protesters in 2011, security officers began arresting passers-by after stopping them at random and searching their phones and social media accounts for political content. A dedicated unit at the Interior Ministry also combs social media for posts criticizing the government, detaining some users simply for liking and sharing others posts, rights groups and lawyers said. During politically sensitive anniversaries such as that marking the 2011 revolution, the police conduct raids and establish dragnets to pick up young men walking near protest hot spots. A rare anti-government protest in Cairo in 2019. At least 4,000 people were arrested. Agence France-Presse Getty Images More than 16,000 people were detained, arrested or summoned by the security services for political reasons from 2020 to 2021, according to the Egyptian Transparency Center, a figure that does not include arrests in North Sinai, where the government is fighting an Islamist insurgency and little public information is available. Most of them went straight into pretrial detention, though most do not appear in The Timess estimate, since many were released before the five-month mark where our data began. The surge of cases has jammed the system, backing up the courts and overcrowding prisons. Terrorism court judges commonly struggle to get through the docket. Lawyers said they had seen sessions in which as many as 800 defendants remained packed into glass cages well past midnight. The backlog, said Maj. Gen. Khaled Okasha, head of the Egyptian Center for Strategic Studies, a government-aligned research institute, makes long waits before trial inevitable. It has also generated a prison-building spree. Egypt has built 60 new prisons since the 2011 revolution, almost all under Mr. el-Sisi, according to news reports and the Cairo-based Arabic Network for Human Rights Information, which was recently forced to disband amid sustained government harassment. Missing When people disappear in Egypt hustled from their homes by armed men in the middle of the night, seized from the street as they walk through downtown Cairo no phone call is allotted to them. Families might wait months before learning that their loved ones have entered the limbo of pretrial detention. Some never hear a word. Parents and siblings go knocking at police stations and national security offices, often only for officials to deny holding their relatives. It can take a week or two for suspects to be taken to a prosecutors office in Cairo for questioning, lawyers say. Sometimes their lawyers are waiting for them, alerted by families who presume they have been arrested. Human rights attorneys have developed a simple way to check: At hearings, they hold up a single sheet of white paper with a handwritten name, hoping someone will wave back from the defendants cage. Police officers guarding 739 defendants in a soundproof glass cage in a makeshift courtroom in Tora Prison in 2018. Amr Nabil/Associated Press Volunteer defense lawyers who come to court each day jump in to represent other detainees, the only way for some to tell their families where they are. The families are thrown into a vicious cycle of uncertainty because they might be dead, said Mr. Ali, the rights lawyer. Sometimes they wish for them to turn up at the prosecution, because then they know theyre alive, at least. Egypts Response Stung by international criticism of its human rights abuses and anxious to appease a new American president who had vowed no more blank checks for Mr. el-Sisi during his campaign, the Egyptian government unveiled a national human rights strategy last fall. This year, as economic pressure mounted at home, Mr. el-Sisi launched a national dialogue a chance, he said, for the opposition to return to the political fold and push for reforms. A presidential committee began pardoning dozens of political detainees. Pro-government figures publicly discussed reining in the length of pretrial detentions, suggesting that such measures could be softened now that the government had largely suppressed terrorism and restored stability. The amnesties reflected the governments eagerness to open up to all political forces and its readiness to create a real will to engage in the national dialogue that the president has called for, Mr. el-Khouly, who serves on the pardons committee, said in a TV phone-in last month. But even as it released some dissidents and opposition politicians, it sentenced others to prison, including, in May, a former presidential candidate arrested after criticizing Mr. el-Sisi. Politically motivated arrests continued apace. And detainees families say that abuses in the prisons have not stopped. Most Egyptian officials asked about the pretrial detention system declined to comment for this article. Requests sent to the state prosecutors office, prison officials and the presidency through a government spokesman received no response. Mr. Sallam of the National Council for Human Rights acknowledged that there were some transgressions in the justice system, but said that foreign rights groups and spies had exaggerated such problems to undermine the government. In January, the Biden administration decided to withhold $130 million of the $1.3 billion in military aid the United States gives Egypt every year as a legacy of Egypts 1979 peace treaty with Israel, saying that its human rights reforms fell short of what the administration had pushed for. But the administration released another $170 million that was also supposed to be contingent on reform. And there was a consolation prize: a $2.5 billion arms deal, unveiled just days before the aid cut. Search for a Son Sometimes the detained simply disappear into the maw of the system, never to be found again. Abdo Abdelaziz, 82, a pickled fish trader whose small, concrete-walled apartment in the southern city of Aswan is pungent with his wares, spent the first few days after security officers arrested his son in October 2018 waiting at the police station. He was certain his son, Gaafar, would be out soon: Gaafar was a driver, he said, a father of four with no time for politics. When Id hear about someone being arrested, Id think they mustve done something wrong, he said. But because I know were not political, were not fundamentalists, I figured theyd let him go. When they said Gaafar was not there, he went to the courthouse, where defense lawyers said it was unsafe for them to help. Next he contacted Egypts chief prosecutor. When no reply came, he went to Cairo for the first time in his life on the 15-hour train, determined to shake something loose. Turned away, he was passed off to an Aswan prosecutor, who he said asked him why he was making trouble and dismissed him. I thought the law was being respected, the Constitution was being respected thats why I went, he said. And I found none of that. Neither office replied to requests for comment. Gaafar Abdelaziz Unscrupulous lawyers pounced on the salesmans desperation, telling him Gaafar had been charged with joining a terrorist group. They said they could find Gaafar maybe even help Mr. Abdelaziz see him for about $640. He paid. Back he went to Cairo, another 15 hours on the train, but he never saw his son. When nothing else worked, he tried a new approach: He went to every ward in Cairos notorious Tora Prison, telling the guards he was there to visit his son on the off chance that they would confirm that Gaafar was there. The guards checked their records. They said Gaafar was not listed. Out of ideas, Mr. Abdelaziz returned to Aswan. More than three years later, he felt something like hope when Mr. Biden was elected. With Biden, maybe freedom will have some value, Mr. Abdelaziz said. After the American election, Egypt released more than 200 prisoners in what some interpreted as a good-will gesture toward the incoming American president. Soon after, rights lawyers said, at least 140 of them were recycled into new cases. Unity of Flagstaff Jul 17 Unity of Flagstaff, 1800 S. Milton Road, Flagstaff. 10:30-11:30 a.m., Do you find yourself using the phrase, "Well since Covid..."? Has your Spirit been dampened by a collective consciousness of being overwhelmed, under motivated or settling for less than the capacity of your Infinite Self? It's time to TURN IT UP A NOTCH! The whole of God is present at every point in space at the same time. God doesn't come and go. Spirit expressing as YOU is always present, totally present as a Presence. Eric Butterworth Join us this Sunday 10:30 AM Live or LIVE STREAM 1800 S. Milton Suite #103. https://go.evvnt.com/1242265-0. The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany Jul 16 The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, 423 N. Beaver St., Flagstaff. 928-774-2911. 8 a.m.- July 17, 10:30 a.m., WELCOMING ALL: with Rev Lynn Perkins Celebrating: SAT 5:30PM; SUN: 8:00AM & 10:30AM (COVID masks are required)- with organ, and congregational singing; IN PERSON or on-line at epiphanyaz.org ; 928-774-2911. https://go.evvnt.com/1235808-0. Beacon UU Sunday Service: Pushing Up Daisies Conscious End of Life Choices Jul 17 Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 510 N. Leroux St., Flagstaff. 928-779-4492. 10-11 a.m., ALL ARE WELCOME! You BELONG at Beacon - Spiritually open and intentionally inclusive since 1958. The Seventh Principle of Unitarian Universalism reads: We affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. As we make conscious choices to live this principle in our daily lives, walking lightly upon the Earth, we do not often think about how it applies to choices for our death care. Our culture's current practices are not sustainable, leaving a heavy carbon footprint and consuming precious natural resources. But what are the alternatives? Green burial is a growing trend nationally. We'll explore several options that are not yet available locally, but we, as conscious consumers, can change that. Together we can create new possibilities to Live Green and Leave Green. Rev. Char Tarashanti preaching, with music from Andrez Alcazar. During the service, Summer Grandy, the volunteer coordinator at the Flagstaff Family Food Center, will make a brief presentation. https://go.evvnt.com/1237317-0. Flagstaff Federated Community Church: Please join us for in person services Sundays at 10 a.m. We are located at 400 W Aspen Ave. on the corner of Aspen and Sitgreaves in Downtown Flagstaff. All are welcome to our services. For more information about Flagstaff Federated Community Church please call our office at 928-774-7383, Mon Thurs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Church of the Resurrection Sunday Church Services: May 8 740 W. University Heights Drive S., 740 W. University Heights Drive S., Flagstaff. 928-853-8522. 10-11:30 a.m., Church of the Resurrection Presbyterian Church in America (PCA): We invite you to join us for worship at 10 a.m. on Sundays at 740 W. University Heights Drive South as Rev. Joshua Walker preaches through the book of Acts. Please feel free to contact us for information on our mid-week gatherings and for more information on our church. You can find us at www.cor-pca.org and www.facebook.com/CORFlagstaff or we can be reached at corflagstaff@gmail.com and (928) 699-2715. Living Christ Lutheran Church: Living Christ Lutheran Church is a diverse and LGBTQ-affirming community of disciples embraced by God's unconditional love and enduring grace. You are invited to celebrate with us God's love and presence in your life, grow in your discipleship, and leave empowered to be God's hands in the world. We worship through music, teaching, prayer, and the sacraments each Sunday at 10 a.m. with Rev. Kurt Fangmeier leading. We offer worship both in-person (masks are respected, not required; encouraged for unvaccinated) and online. Learn more about us at our new website: lclcflag.org. Leupp Nazarene Church: The church, near mile post 13 or Navajo Route 15, has been holding services by teleconferences and doing drive-up meetings. For information, call pastor Farrell Begay at 928-853-5321. Teleconference number: 1-7170275-8940 with access code 3204224#. Services are 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sundays and 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Christian Science Society of Flagstaff: 619 W. Birch Ave. The Christian Science Society of Flagstaff has opened for Sunday services while continuing to have them available via Zoom for online and phone. Wednesday testimony meetings are available only via Zoom. For phone Sunday Services: Dial: 669-900-9128, Meeting ID: 369 812 794#, Passcode: 075454#. For phone Wednesday meetings, dial: 669-900-9128, Meeting ID: 971 672 834#, Passcode: 894826#. The access for Zoom on Sundays is: https://zoom.us/j/369812794. The Zoom access for Wednesdays is: https://zoom.us/j/971672834. The password to use to enter both is CSS. We welcome all to attend our Sunday Services in person, or live by Zoom, at 10:00 oclock, and to attend our Wednesday Testimony meetings live by Zoom, at 5:30 oclock. Our Reading Room will be open on Wednesdays from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10-12 noon. For further information please call 928-526-5982. A Closure Order issued to a fast food outlet in the Midlands cited persistent and recurring failure to comply with the food safety laws and highlighted pest control failings. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today reported that five Closure Orders were served on food businesses during the month of June for breaches of food safety legislation. The Enforcement Orders were issued by environmental health officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE). A Closure Order was served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on Roma Take Away, Main Street, Portarlington, Co Laois. Inspectors visited the outlet on June 8. They noted, The Food Business Operator failed to put in place, implement and maintain a permanent procedure or procedures based on the HACCP principles. They said: In the absence of appropriate HACCP based food safety management procedures the food business operator cannot demonstrate that products placed on the market have been produced, processed and stored safely and there is an increased risk that unsafe food may be offered for sale to consumers. Inspectors found that: There was evidence that articles, fittings and equipment coming into contact with food were not effectively cleaned and disinfected. There was evidence that cleaning and disinfection was not taking place at a frequency sufficient to avoid any risk of contamination. This lack of adequate cleaning in the premise(Sic) was identified during previous inspections and continues to be an issue. They also found: The food business operator failed to ensure that food handlers are supervised or effectively trained in food hygiene matters commensurate with their work activities. In particular food handlers demonstrated a lack of understanding of basic food hygiene requirements Inspectors also noted that: The food business operator failed to provide to consumers accurate written particulars of any allergen in the food made available for sale from the food business. They noted the presence of undeclared allergens could cause a potentially life threatening allergic reaction. Inspectors found: The food business operator failed to ensure that the premises were maintained in a manner that would prevent possible pest entry to the premises and thereby prevent possible contamination of foods. The pest screen over the open rear external door does not close completely and does not remain closed when the external door is open thereby allowing possible pest entry directly into an area where foods were observed to be uncovered while cooling. The risk posed, they noted: Entry of pests into the food premises poses a risk of contamination of foods which is a risk to public health. The closure order was one of four issued last month. Some of the reasons for the Enforcement Orders in June include: a lack of pest prevention and control measures with rodent droppings visible in the premises; food handlers demonstrated a lack of understanding regarding the use of protective clothing and headgear, as well as a lack of understanding to prevent contamination from jewellery when preparing food; personal items such as a vape kit, car keys and mobile phones stored directly above cooling food; a lack of adequate labelling to facilitate traceability; undeclared allergen information; inadequate handwashing facilities and no food safety management system in place. Chief Executive of FSAI, Dr Pamela Byrne said that it is unacceptable that staff are unaware of their responsibilities as food handlers. Food business owners have a duty to their customers, their staff and themselves to ensure food regulations are being followed on their premises. It is not acceptable firstly that staff are not wearing appropriate protective clothing and secondly that they are unaware of the risks of possible food contamination when they do not follow such food preparation guidance. Staff must be properly trained and/or supervised to ensure compliance with the legal requirements and attention must be paid to the basics of good handwashing, effective cleaning and proper storage of food. These legal requirements are in place to ensure that consumers health is not being put at risk. Enforcement Orders are not served for minor breaches and consumers have a right to safe food. Aside from the Portarlington premises, Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on: The Hudson Rooms (restaurant)(Closed area: Ground floor bar and indoor seating area) at Unit 3 Western End Rotunda, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, Fonthill Road North, Clondalkin, Dublin 22. The Hudson Rooms (restaurant) (Closed area: Ground floor kitchen area, first floor bar and rear storage to ensure entire food operation has ceased), at the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, Clondalkin, Dublin. Apache Pizza, 37 Main Street, Blackrock, Dublin One Closure Order was served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on: Han Lin Palace (now under new management from 18 June 2022) (restaurant), 13-15 Bridge Street, Balbriggan, Co Dublin. Also, during the month of June, one prosecution was taken by the HSE in relation to: Freestyle Buffet, 23-24 North Main Street, Cork. Details of the food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAIs website. Closure Orders and Improvement Orders will remain listed in the enforcement reports on the website for a period of three months from the date of when a premises is adjudged to have corrected its food safety issue, with Prohibition Orders being listed for a period of one month. An Offaly man was sentenced to three months imprisonment during the July 6 sitting of Tullamore District Court. James McCarthy, 6 Drumbane, Birr was charged with having no insurance and no driving licence on March 5 2021 and June 4 2021. The defending solicitor Donal Farrelly told the court that his client was pleading guilty. Sgt James O'Sullivan said Mr McCarthy had 63 previous convictions. Mr Farrelly said his client is 74 years of age and has a bad record. Unfortunately my client is suffering from cancer which might be a terminal condition. Because of his illness there is no possibility of him driving now. Sadly, his life is in a very difficult and chaotic condition. He is remorseful and there is no possibility of him offending again. He is asking for the clemency of the court. Mr Farrelly handed in two medical letters from St James' Hospital outlining the defendant's health issue. Judge Patricia Cronin pointed out that there was another charge against McCarthy for no insurance which happened after a court sitting in October 2021 during which a suspended prison sentence was handed down. Despite having that suspended sentence he still went driving. Therefore, I have to activate that suspended sentence. It has to mean something. This is a serious matter and he has continued to flout the law. The Judge sentenced Mr McCarthy to three months imprisonment. She also fined him 700 and disqualified him from driving for six years. The judge also imposed a four months prison sentence but suspended it for two years. A man in his 60s has died following a tragic accident at a popular amenity in Offaly. Gardai have confirmed the death of the man at the Derryounce Lakes on the outskirts of Portarlington at around 3.30pm on Saturday, July 16. The man, who is originally from Portlaoise, is understood to have lost his life following what's described as a 'tragic accident'. Gardai, ambulances and fire services rushed to the scene and the man was removed to Portlaoise hospital. Despite the efforts of the emergency services, gardai were unable to save the man's life While drowning is suspected as being the main cause of death, a post mortem will be carried out The lake is part of a amenity on the Offaly side of Portarlington, however swimming is not advised or permitted at the lake. Signs advising people not to swim and life saving devices are also available. There is no lifeguard presence. It's understood that the amenity was busy today and the public continued to enter the water despite the presence of the emergency services. Laois Gardai urged the public not to swim in unsafe locations over the the weekend which is expected to be the hottest of the year so far in Ireland. In advance of the warm weather spell across Ireland, Water Safety Ireland issued advice to help swimmers stay safe from drowning. It says an average of nine people drown every month nationwide and Water Safety Ireland is urging the public to be mindful of the following advice during the current spell of warm weather. 1. Swim within your depth and stay within your depth. 2. Swim between the red and yellow flags at a Lifeguarded waterway, listed at www.watersafety.ie/lifeguards otherwise swim in areas that are known locally as safe and where there are ringbuoys present for rescues. 3. Avoid swimming in unfamiliar areas that are potentially unsafe. Ask for local knowledge to determine local hazards and safest areas to swim. Pay attention to any safety signage. 4. Make sure that the waters edge is shallow shelving so that you can safely enter and exit. 5. The air temperature is warm but open water is cooler than air avoid extended stays in the water as your muscles will cool, making swimming more difficult. 6. Never use inflatable toys in open water as a gentle breeze can quickly bring a person away from shore. 7. Always supervise children closely and never leave them alone near water. 8. Alcohol is a factor in one third of drownings. Do not mix it with water activities. 9. To escape a rip current, swim parallel to the shore and then swim back ashore. See www.watersafety.ie/rip-currents/ 10. If you see somebody in trouble in the water: SHOUT REACH THROW a. SHOUT to calm, encourage and orientate them; b. REACH with anything that prevents you from entering the water (clothing/stick); c. THROW a ringbuoy or any floating object to them. 11. When boating, always wear a correctly fitting lifejacket and have to hand a VHF radio and a fully charged mobile phone in a waterproof pouch. Visit www.watersafety.ie for more information. The assignment of a young Traveller who has graduated from the Garda grooming assemblage has been hailed powerful and inspirational. A member of the travelling community, Patrick Nevin has become one of the first members of the travelling community to become a member of An Gardai Siochana. Nevin was one of 53 other graduates who completed their grooming in Templemore, County Tipperary recently. He is one of the very few members of the Traveller assemblage to join the force, but has chosen to waive his right to privacy to highlight his achievement. Travellers have consistently said that theyve been mistreated by gardai over the years Speaking to the Irish Mirror, Pavee Points Martin Collins said it was a powerful moment. There has been a small number of others, perfectively right, to remain anonymous but Patrick wanted to it known. I want to show our appreciation and acknowledge to his fantastic achievement." New Zealand Herald 20 Jul 2022 When fugitive 1980s Mexican drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero was arrested in Mexico last week, it stirred up old, terrible memories.. NGOs had described Paul Ulrey as a humanitarian volunteer while Russia-backed separatists said he was a soldier. Elsewhere, Germany has rejected the idea of easing sanctions on Moscow. Follow DW for the latest. The co-founder of the Guadalajara cartel was on the FBI's Most Wanted list for murdering a US agent. His rise to prominence was dramatized in the Netflix series "Narcos: Mexico." Update: 16-07-2022 | 15:24:47 The website of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) has recently run an article by Valeria Vershinina, an expert on Vietnamese studies, appreciating the role and potential of Vietnam in Russias foreign policy. In her article, Valeria Vershinina, who is working at the Centre for ASEAN Studies under the Russian Foreign Ministrys Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), wrote that Vietnams rapid economic development, its successful fight against COVID-19 and significant results of its foreign policy are increasingly attracting the attention of foreign scholars who have positioned the country as a middle power and an influential international player whose opinions should be considered. The year 2022 is especially important for Russian-Vietnamese relations, given that the countries are celebrating the tenth anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership, she wrote. According to her, Russian-Vietnamese relations have a rich and long history of development, and the status of a comprehensive strategic partnership reflects the multifaceted nature of bilateral cooperation and a high level of trust between the countries. The expert also appreciated Vietnams economic development despite the turbulence of the world economy. Vietnam has become one of the few countries that managed to maintain foreign economic activities and positive growth even in the face of a global pandemic and strict quarantine measures. She cited various forecasts as saying that in 2022 Vietnam's GDP growth may range from 5.5% to 6.7%, which demonstrates the stability of the Vietnamese development model. As an open economy, Vietnam actively exports its own products to world markets, ranking first in the export of cashews, second in coffee and rice exports. The country attracted 31.15 billion USD in FDI last year, and is currently participating in 17 trade agreements of various types. In the international arena, the expert wrote, Vietnamese diplomacy has also achieved significant results. Vietnam successfully hosted the APEC leaders' summit in 2017, and the historic meeting between US President Donald Trump and Head of State of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong-un in 2019. Notably, in 2020, Vietnam successfully assumed the role of ASEAN Chair, and launched a wide range of activities as the President of the UN Security Council in April 2021./. VNA Ivana Trump, the first wife of former US president Donald Trump, died after falling down stairs at her home in New York City, suffering "blunt impact injuries" to her torso. The Saudi crown prince told Joe Biden the US had also made mistakes, after the president confronted him over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. From Russian bombardment escalating across Ukraine, to the IMF chief warning of economic uncertainties becoming worse, here are some of the latest developments in the Ukraine war this weekend. The United States has ordered nearly seven million doses total, but most of them will not arrive for months. An alleged drug kingpin from Mexico, who was on the FBI's list of top 10 most wanted fugitives for the murder of a US federal agent, has been captured after going into hiding for almost 10 years.Rafael Caro Quintero, who was the... Biden will meet with leaders from six Arab Gulf countries, plus Egypt, Jordan and Iraq. It's the final leg of his trip meant to bolster U.S. positioning and knit the region together against Iran. Upworthy 18 Jul 2022 The star of Empire, Crash and Iron Man has found a side hustle in developing new hydrogen technology for Ugandas defence .. A herd of 40 wild Asian elephants has been spotted foraging on a mountain in Mengla County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. According to the county's forestry and grassland administration, the elephants are aboriginal to the county and are the main objects of monitoring and protection by local authorities. On the evening of July 11, the wandering herd arrived at a mountain slope near Molong Village. "The area is uncultivated land covered with palm leaves, which are one of the giants' favorite foods," said Qin Wenjian, an officer at a local border police station. When the herd appeared in the area, its presence was immediately reported by 32-year-old villager Long Nengxiong, using an app for issuing elephant warnings. Together with his colleague Chen Yongsheng, Long is in charge of monitoring elephants in the area. At the scene, the staff carried out traffic control, road blocks, personnel guidance and other work where the elephants were passing through, so as to ensure their safety. At about 8:30 pm, the elephants vanished into the woods. "The herd currently has 29 adult elephants and 11 juvenile ones," said Long, who has been monitoring wild Asian elephants since 2019. "They usually come out for food in the evening, walk, eat and rest, and don't return to the woods to rest until dawn the next day, and our day's work is over," he said. The forest in the area has an abundance of bamboo, palm leaves and hundreds of other plants that Asian elephants like to eat, said Long. "Their range of activity is wide, and each adult elephant eats some 200 kilograms every day." According to Mengla's forestry and grassland administration, this herd has lived mainly in the county for the past decades. In the past 10 years, with the continuous improvement of the ecological environment and the increasing protection of wild Asian elephants, they have increased in number year by year, from more than 30 in the past to 40 now. Wild Asian elephants, a flagship species in the rainforest, are under A-level state protection in China. Thanks to stronger environmental and wildlife protection efforts, the population in the country has grown to about 300, mostly scattered around Yunnan. The University of Utah congratulates more than 8,900 students who were named to the spring 2022 dean's list. To qualify, students must earn a GPA of 3.5 or higher in at least 12 graded credit hours during any one term. Among the students named to the dean's list were Ali Jindeel of Gladwin and Scott Biddinger of Midland. MANISTEE COUNTY The Manistee County Council on Aging is set to host a number of events and other activities aimed at keeping older residents healthy, happy and active. Here is a list of what is planned for the week of July 18 and beyond. Congregate meals The congregate meal site at the Wagoner Community Center is serving lunch Monday through Friday at noon. Call and reserve your lunch by noon the day before. The congregate meal site in Wellston serves lunches on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Onekama meal site at the Farr Center is handing out meals on Mondays and Wednesday at 11:15 a.m. The Marilla meal site serves lunches Wednesday at noon, and the Pleasant Valley Community Center in Arcadia serves meals Tuesdays and Fridays at 12:30 p.m. The meal site in Maple Grove Township serves meals Thursdays at noon. The menu is subject to change, as certain food shortages can affect the kitchen. Senior Nutrition Menu Monday: Scrambled eggs, sausage links, oven diced potatoes, sauteed peppers and onions, blueberry muffin, raisins Tuesday: Lemon pepper baked fish, rice pilaf, lima beans, banana, roll Wednesday: Country fried steak, mashed potatoes, asparagus, diced peaches, roll Thursday: (home delivered meals only) Macaroni and cheese, steamed peas, California blend vegetables, applesauce, soft pretzel stick Friday: Sliced ham, scalloped potatoes, green beans, pineapple tidbits, roll Menus are subject to change. See More Collapse Food bank The senior center food bank takes place from 9-11 a.m. on the third Friday of the month. Seniors from Manistee County who are 60 years of age and older are eligible to participate. If you are picking up for another senior, be sure you have a proxy note, along with their name, address, birth date and household information. Monetary and non-perishable food item donations are always appreciated. Next food bank is Aug. 19 at 260 St. Mary's Parkway. Emergency food assistance If you are a Manistee County senior and are in need of emergency food assistance, call the senior center at 231-723-6477 and speak to a staff member. We have an emergency food pantry that we use to help prevent food insecurity in our senior population during these times. Senior reimbursement program The council on aging has a program designed to help seniors remain independent, by reimbursing qualifying expenses. If you are a senior from Manistee County, you could receive reimbursement for payments you have made for house cleaning, yard work, snow removal services. For current clients in the program, take note, all receipts must be current, no more than 30 days old. Income requirements apply. New clients must fill out a registration form. Mail all receipts to 260 St. Mary's Parkway. Call the Senior Center at 231-723-6477 ext. 214, for more information. Once a senior has moved out of their home, they are no longer qualified for the reimbursement program. Exercise opportunities Sit and Get Fit is at 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Wagoner Community Center. Chair yoga classes, Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m. Indoor walking group, during business hours, Monday through Friday. All classes are free to all seniors, and donations accepted for those under 60. Dementia support group The dementia support group will meet the second Thursday of the month. The group is a supportive, friendly gathering for caregivers, family members or anyone interested in learning more about and supporting our senior dementia community. The next meeting will be Aug. 11 at 3 p.m. Contact Jacki Krolczyk at 231-883-1341 for more information. Parkinson's support group The Parkinson's support group meets at 11 a.m. on the third Thursday of each month.The next support group meeting will be on July 21 at the Wagoner Community Center. Call Marcia Holbrook 614-937-4442 for more information. Medication management program The Manistee County Council on Aging has started a medication management program. Jean Anderson, the RN on staff, is available to assist in this area. Call 231-723-6477, ext. 215 with your questions. Upcoming events July 18 12:30 p.m. - Veterans Exchange 1 p.m. - Pinochle 1 p.m. - Mah Jongg Attorney (by appt. only) July 19 11 a.m. - Toe Tapping Tuesday 12:30 p.m. - Bridge 1 p.m. - Popcorn & Movie 1 p.m. - Pinochle 2 p.m. - Knitting/Crochet circle 3:30 p.m. - Chair Yoga July 20 10:30 a.m. - TOPS 11 a.m. - Fun Bingo 1 p.m. - First Aid class July 21 10 a.m. - Cribbage 10 a.m. - Diabetic meal plan 11 a.m. - Fun Day/Lunch at MAPS (no congregate meals at the Wagoner Community Center) 1 p.m. - Chess July 22 9 p.m. - Senior Mystery Trip This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LONDON (AP) The British government held an emergency response meeting Saturday to plan for record high temperatures next week after weather authorities issued their first-ever red warning for extreme heat. The alert covers large parts of England on Monday and Tuesday, when temperatures may reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) for the first time, posing a risk of serious illness and even death among healthy people, the U.K. Met Office, the country's weather service, said Friday. The British heat record is 38.7C (101.7F), set in 2019. After chairing the meeting, Cabinet Office Minister Kit Malthouse warned that transport services will be significantly affected. The heat will affect rails, for example, so the trains have to run slower. There may be fewer services, he told the BBC. People need to be on their guard for disruption. If they dont have to travel, this may be a moment to work from home. Rail passengers and users of the London Underground subway system were being advised not to travel on Monday and Tuesday unless it's absolutely necessary. With children and older people considered particularly vulnerable to high temperatures, schools and nursing homes have been urged to take steps to protect students and older residents. Most schools in England are still in session until the end of next week. The alert comes as scientists say climate change is increasing the likelihood of exceptional heat waves in Britain, a country unaccustomed to such temperatures. Few homes, apartments, schools or small businesses in the country have air conditioning. Britain usually has moderate summer temperatures. Across the U.K., average July temperatures range from a daily high of 21 C (70 F) to a low of 12 C (53 F). London Mayor Sadiq Khan met with representatives of the National Health Service, police, fire and other emergency services on Friday to review plans to deal with the heat emergency. One doctor warned that the upcoming heat wave and a surge in COVID-19 infections were causing a nightmare for health workers. A lot of hospital buildings are very old, particularly in London, and many dont have air conditioning and windows that dont open so they are extremely hot, said Dr. Claire Bronze, 38, an emergency room consultant in London. Some staff still have to wear PPE so plastic gowns, masks, gloves on top of their normal uniform which, as you can imagine, means people are quickly going to get very hot and dehydrated. ___ Follow all AP stories on climate change issues at https://apnews.com/hub/climate. 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. 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 List" is PAPER's definitive roundup of the biggest fashion and art news, launches, capsules and collaborations of the month. Scroll through, below, to see July's newest arrivals. Tiffany Atrium: New Social Impact Platform See on Instagram On Wednesday, Tiffany & Co. announced a new social impact platform called Atrium, whose mission is to create a more diverse and inclusive jewelry industry by advancing opportunities for historically underrepresented communities. The jeweler marked the launch by commissioning a new artwork from Baltimore-raised artist Derrick Adams called I Shine, You Shine, We Shine which the Tiffany Atrium logo is derived from. It will be auctioned by online art marketplace Artsy July 27 - August 10, with 100% of proceeds benefiting The Last Resort Artist Retreat. Bernard James Summer 2022 Family Portraits Photography: Cesar Buitrago The next group featured in Bernard James' ongoing Family Portraits series includes designers Christopher John Rogers and Aisling Camps, photographer Quil Lemons and stylists Becky Akinyode and Matthew Henson. Each subject works in the fashion, music, arts and media fields and is a close friend of the jewelry designer. This year's theme is "talent behind talent" and focuses on industry tastemakers who work behind the scenes. Austin James Smith x Planet i Courtesy of Planet i Mixed media artist, jewelry designer and NYC nightlife fixture Austin James Smith, known via his social media handle Empty Pools, teamed up with eyewear brand Planet i to create the Spinal Sunglasses, an archive motif from Austin James Smith's Splice collection. It comes in three colors Shadow, Sport, and Sunrise and contrasts with reciprocal white, gold and black spinal design of the temple sides. Available now at austinjamessmith.com and planeti.world SKIMS Swim Campaign With Bella Poarch, Paris Jackson and Madison Bailey Photography: Cobrasnake/ Courtesy of SKIMS So far, the swim campaigns for SKIMS have had its founder Kim Kardashian front and center, including the most recent one where she channeled an '80s bombshell for its metallics line. But for its latest swim ads, the shapewear brand enlisted a trio of next-gen muses: Paris Jackson, Bella Poarch and Madison Bailey, all of whom star in the LA pool party-inspired campaign shot by alternative party photographer Cobrasnake. The new swim collection is available starting July 28 at SKIMS.com Brandon Blackwood Launches First Men's Bag Courtesy of Brandon Blackwood Brandon Blackwood has added another bag to his accessories range: the Jordanis Trunk, their first bag designed for men. The boxy style is made of smooth black leather and comes with zipper pockets and an adjustable strap. Available now at BrandonBlackwood.com Armani Exchange Gets the SmileyWorld Treatment Courtesy of Armani Exchange SmileyWorld's iconic yellow smiling symbol is all over Armani Exchange's new feel-good capsule collection, part of the SmileyWorld's 50th anniversary celebrations (the company has teamed up with everyone from Moschino to Dior to Loewe). For this collab, Armani Exchanged swapped the eyes with its signature A|X logo, and they also referenced Giorgio Armani's recognizable glasses and smile for the other emoji. Available now at ArmaniExchange.com ASHYA x t.a. New York Campaign photographer: Myesha Evon Gardner ASHYA's Shema Slingback, the street-style It-bag that launched exclusively with t.a. New York in 2020 in a bold, red shade, is being released in another exclusive color with the fashion-favorite luxury concept store. The bag, the second collaboration between ASHYA co-founders Ashley Cimone/Moya Annece and t.a.'s Telsha Anderson, now comes in a brushed vegetable-tanned leather style named Trilogy while keeping its signature ring handle and compact, travel-friendly shape. Available now at shop-ta.com Mr. Porter x Throwing Fits Courtesy of Mr. Porter James Harris and Lawrence Schlossman, founders of menswear podcast Throwing Fits (its tagline is "two grown dirtbags just tryna navigate the male zeitgeist"), have collaborated with Mr. Porter on a new capsule collection featuring 13 brands and over 70 pieces of clothing, shoes and accessories, all handpicked by the duo. There's also an edit of exclusive Throwing Fits merchandise. "Whether we've earned this privilege or it's simply karmic justice for a lifetime spent shopping and thinking more about men's clothing than anyone else on the planet is up to interpretation," the pair said of the partnership. "Either way, consider the bucket list checked. Finally garnering the respect of our friends and loved ones is just icing on the cake. Available now at Mr. Porter.com Tommy Hilfiger Is Returning to NYFW After Three Years NYFW just got a big boost this season. Tommy Hilfiger will show its next see-now-buy-now collection on September 11 in New York City, its first show during New York Fashion Week in three years. It will also be live-streamed on Roblox with avatars dress in virtual pieces from the collection. "This season is all about the collision of my favorite archival inspirations with new live event concepts and virtual worlds," Hilfiger said. "Its the perfect expression of what we stand for as we pay homage to our roots with a return to NYFW." Anyone Can Attend Diesel's Next Runway Show For the first time, Diesel is opening its upcoming Spring 2023 show to the public, inviting fashion enthusiasts, students, friends, and fans of the brand to attend. Registration to attend the live show in Milan is on a first come, first serve basis starting September 1 at Diesel.com. Opening Ceremony Launches Collaboration With LUAR Courtesy of Opening Ceremony New Luar bags just dropped! Well, in new colors anyway. The brand's popular It-bag, the Ana Mini, seen on everyone from Dua Lipa to Troye Sivan, is releasing two exclusive new colorways thanks to a collaboration with Opening Ceremony ini tobacco pony hair-effect leather and black-and-cream snakeskin-embossed vegan leather. There's also a sweatshirt with artwork from Bony Ramirez's Feeding a Child of the Ocean." The collab is part of OC's 20th anniversary celebrations, which have included collabs with designer Peter Do and punk-rock band The Linda Lindas. Luar's Raul Lopez and OC's designers Humberto Leon and Carol Lim go way back, when the retailer first stocked Hood by Air (which Lopez co-founded) and then Luar. When I started to take my first steps as a designer, OC was the first store to believe in me and support me, Lopez said. OC will forever be family to me.'' Available starting July 12 at OpeningCeremony.com and Farfetch.com Acne Studios Musubi Bag Campaign by Talia Chetrit Photography: Talia Chetrit/ Courtesy of Acne Studios Acne Studios tapped New York-based photographer Talia Chetrit, known for her still lifes and nude portraiture, to shoot a new campaign for their Musubi bag. She shot the bags on male dancers bodies which she chose because they resembled the figurative qualities in the bags. Eckhaus Latta Launches Shoe Collection Courtesy of Eckhaus Latta/ Thomas McCarthy Eckhaus Latta's first footwear collection, first seen on the brand's Fall 2022 runway, is here and features a mix of silhouettes (all made in Portugal), heel shapes and colors including the Mike boot and Zoe clog. The range builds upon previous collaborations with UGG and Camper Available now at EckhausLatta.com, Farfetch and Nordstrom Givenchy Launches 101 Dalmations Capsule Courtesy of Givenchy Photo: (Photo : Paul Brennan) An 8-year-old California girl gets hit by a falling phone while riding her favorite rollercoaster, and gets stitches for the wounds she sustained. The little girl named Evie Evans was with her mother Della White as they started their Fourth of July weekend trip to Six Flags Magic Mountain on Evie's favorite ride - Twisted Colossus Roller Coaster. According to Live 5 News , Evie's family said that a fellow rider seemingly didn't obey the directions to secure loose items and so his cellphone flew out of his hand while riding the rollercoaster. Della's daughter started screaming for help after the flying gadget struck her, smacking her in the forehead between her eyes and causing a bloody wound so big that it needed to get stitched. Twisted Colossus Roller Coaster Twisted Colossus, is the longest and most innovative hybrid coaster in the world. Located along the perimeter of Six Flags Magic Mountain and nestled inside tracks of the behemoth coaster, Goliath. Evie and her mom managed to control the bleeding without much success as the coaster continued through twists and turns. When the roller coaster ended, the family immediately called for help from park employees and EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians). Evie was brought to the hospital where she had to get 10 stitches and a CT scan. "It was really scary," Evie stated. "I was screaming and crying." Six Flags wrote in a statement to NBC Los Angeles that all guests are advised and warned not to have loose articles on any rides. Read Also: Mom of 2 Sues Urban Air Adventure Park, Says Zip Line Harness Slipped and Choked Her in Air Just Like Hit-And-Run Della recalled looking over and witnessing blood everywhere as soon as Evie removed her hands away from clutching her forehead. Evie got severe wounds on her forehead and her shirt was nearly soaked in blood. At first, the family didn't know what hit Evie until a fellow passenger told them that they saw a cellphone fly out of another rider's hand. The phone bounced off and fellow passengers caught the phone themselves. Eden, White's other daughter who was with them during the ride, stated that a man came up to them searching for his phone. He then told the family to stop freaking out and that what happened was not even a big deal. The man left in a rush upon seeing Evie's bloodied face. After turning the phone over to the employees of Six Flags, Josh Evans, Evie's father, filed a report with Valencia police but was told no crime was committed, hence no action would be taken. Josh said that the man wasn't supposed to leave. He thinks what he did was illegal, just like a hit-and-run, the New York Post reported. The family is now seeking the owner of the cellphone and is asking to come forward and help cover the cost of the treatments which entails an ER visit, stitches, and CT Scan. According to Six Flags, safety is a partnership between guests and the park. Guests must obey all written and verbal instructions for safe riding. The park safety team has already responded to the incident and the guest's request for information. Related Article: Jaramillo Family Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Adventureland Park for Death of 11-Year-Old Son Photo: (Photo : Juraj Varga) Shelly (not her real name) learned through an email from a concerned parent that her 5-year-old kindergarten daughter was taped to a chair in the classroom to prevent her from getting up so much. Upon knowing about the incident, she was shocked as she could not believe that a teacher would do something like that. Shelly later spoke to her five-year-old daughter, who confirmed that her teacher did tape her to the chair as she kept getting up. Hence, the teacher told her that she would tape her so she wouldn't get up anymore, per CBC News. Impact of the Alleged Incident On the Five-Year-Old The Toronto Mom states that whenever they tried to bring the incident up, her daughter got visibly agitated and asked to talk about something else, making it more challenging. According to the mom, she could not get the story of the full incident, but the little girl was able to demonstrate what happened. Shelly tried to sit down, and her daughter placed a piece of green tape across her thighs onto the sides of the chair. Her daughter said that this had happened more than once. The mother instantly notified the principal of the school and the Children's Aid Society. But according to Shelly, she was frustrated as other parents weren't immediately alerted to what happened. She said she didn't understand why she was told to be discreet about the incident and not talk about it and asked what if those parents' children experienced what she's experiencing now as a mother. She's taken her five-year-old to a doctor and psychologist to ensure that the kid has the resources to cope or talk about what happened. The mother is still not sure how her daughter is handling the situation because of her age. Read Also: North Kentucky Daycare Employee Faces Child Abuse Charges Inappropriate and Abusive Behavior of the Teacher According to Dr. Linda Cameron, a professor emeritus at the University of Toronto's Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) and an early childhood expert, when it comes to kids not wanting to sit still, kindergarten-age students require both activity and playtime to maintain the balance of learning. Cameron, on the other hand, acknowledged the pressure on teachers and students due to the pandemic and the return to the classroom but asked why the staff didn't know what was happening. The teacher chose an inappropriate way to discipline the child as she didn't know what to do. The professor said that she's sure that the five-year-old will remember the incident forever, affecting her emotionally throughout their schooling experience. The Toronto District School Board revealed that the teacher at Seventh Street Junior School had been put on leave. The board confirmed its investigating allegations that two children were involved in the incident and were both taped to chairs, per ATN News. Related Article: School Teacher Faces Charges for Making Fake Bomb Threats to Get Off Earlier for Christmas Break Photo: (Photo : Wes Hicks/Unsplash) A new mother from Florida has accused Walmart of discrimination after her manager denied her request for a reasonable accommodation so she could pump breast milk in private. Instead of granting her request, the mom was fired because her request was apparently "problematic." Kyla Alegata claimed in her lawsuit, which was filed with the Northern District of Florida that the discrimination was a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, per The Washington Post. The mother relayed that she worked as a deli worker and baker for Walmart's DeFuniak Springs location in December 2019. After having her daughter in 2020, she claimed that the manager in the deli department started harassing her whenever she took her breaks to pump breast milk. Read Also: Former Walmart Staff Brandon Tamayo Never Reported Moms Stealing Expensive Milk or Diapers Florida mom was uncomfortable in her pumping space Alegata claimed that she didn't have immediate access to the room assigned for her to pump milk because it was either locked or she had to wait for someone from management to allow her to use the space. Even when she had the chance to use the room to pump, Alegata said she was "constantly interrupted." Near the room, the men on the staff would also get a glimpse of her pumping breast milk. Alegata said this made her feel very uncomfortable. The mother then submitted a doctor's note outlining her need for a good area for pumping breast milk, but she was rebuffed by the deli manager, who said that they couldn't honor the doctor's note. On Jan. 14, 2021, Alegata raised her concerns to the general manager, but she found herself out of a job within two days of asking for a better space to extract her baby's food. Her lawsuit stated that Walmart saw her needs as problematic, per Miami Herald. However, Randy Hargrove, a Walmart spokesman, said that the company does not tolerate discrimination or retaliation. He reasoned that the mother was fired because she took "excessive absences" unrelated to her breaks to pump breast milk. Hargrove insisted that the company did not violate her civil rights because she was, in fact, given a "secure, clean and private" space for her needs. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR) also received Alegata's complaint in September 2021. The EEOC allowed the mother to file a discrimination lawsuit against Walmart, per Fox News. Alegata wants her case to be tried by a jury. On the other hand, Hargrove said that the FCHR did not find that Walmart violated anti-discrimination laws. Moms win a class-action lawsuit against Walmart In 2020, Walmart was ordered to pay $14 million to some 4,000 women who were denied reasonable accommodations while pregnant. According to Bloomberg Law, this class-action lawsuit was the largest claim between an employer and pregnant workers. Despite the payment, Walmart has denied the accusations and stated that the company provides its pregnant workers with a solid parental leave plan and other accommodations. "Walmart has had a strong policy against discrimination in place for many years and we continue to be a great place for women to work and advance," the spokesperson said. Related Article: Walmart Pulls Out Popular Dancing Toy Cactus After Parents Complain About Obscene Language Photo: (Photo : Wikimedia Commons ) Former President Donald Trump paid tribute to his ex-wife Ivana Trump, following her unexpected passing Thursday afternoon. She was 73. The former president announced the demise of Ivana in a post on his social media site, Truth Social, calling his ex-wife a wonderful, beautiful, and amazing woman who led an inspirational life. According to People, authorities responded to a 911 call at Trump's New York City home at around 12:40 p.m. on Thursday about an "aided individual." They found a "73-year-old female unconscious and unresponsive." Trump was the mother of Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric Trump. Tribute from the family Donald Trump posted that he was very saddened to inform all those that loved his ex-wife, Ivana, of her passing at their home in New York City. The post also said Ivana's pride and joy were her three children, saying that she was so proud of them as they were also so proud of her. Eric posted on his Instagram that his mother was a force in the business, a world-class athlete, a radiant beauty, a caring mother, and a friend. He added their mom taught them grit, toughness, compassion, and determination. Ivanka, the only daughter, posted that she is heartbroken by her mother's untimely demise, adding that she was brilliant, charming, passionate, and wickedly funny. She shared that her mom lived life to the fullest, never missing an opportunity to laugh and dance. She said she would miss her mom forever and vowed to keep her memory alive in their hearts, per ABC7NY. Read Also: Woman Finds $300 Hidden Inheritance and Juicy Note About Former Owner's Cheating Husband Tributes from outside the family Politicians and celebrities also took to social media to send their messages of sympathy to the bereaved family. Former mayor of New York and Donald Trump's attorney, Rudy Guiliani, described Ivana in his tweet as a genuinely talented, creative, and beautiful person. He added that she contributed significantly to New York, and despite massive distractions, he praised Ivana for giving the world "exceptionally good, balanced and decent children and grandchildren." Italian luxury fashion designer Domenico Vacca posted a picture of him and Ivana on Instagram, saying it is too sad to write anything now. He is also in pain as his beautiful Ivana left too early. Ivana Trump married Trump in 1977, and she was known as the other half of the 1980s power couple. Their troubled marriage and divorce became the subject of worldwide public interest as her husband's affair with Marla Maples became public. The couple's divorce was finalized in 1992, with Ivana walking away with $14 million and other perks like a massive mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut. She became a heroine for scorned wives everywhere, earning her a cameo in the 1996 film, "The First Wives Club," where she told the characters, "don't get mad, get everything." As per CNN, the former president referred to Ivana Trump as a "great manager," describing her as demanding and competitive. He put her in charge of managing Trump's Castle in Atlantic City. Related Article: Mom Jumps on Hood of Moving Car to Save Her Children from Carjacker Photo: (Photo : ValynPi14/Pixabay) A Michigan mom, who was denied a protection order from her husband, was found dead inside her house along with her teenage son and his grandmother. Her husband's body was also found on the scene in what police believed was a murder-suicide incident. Tirany Savage, 35, filed for a protection order at the 34th Circuit Court in Michigan after she learned that her husband, Bo Savage, 35, bought a gun. According to Tirany's divorce attorney, Nancy Gallagher, the mom was increasingly worried for her and her family's safety because Bo would threaten he would kill himself. He refused to leave their house even though Tirany wanted to separate because of alleged infidelity. Gallagher told NBC News that Bo grew "more manipulative, more controlling" as their marriage broke down, prompting Tirany to go to court for protection. However, Judge Troy Daniel did not issue the order due to insufficient evidence and instead told the mom she could file a restraining order with the divorce court. The mother didn't file the divorce papers until Thursday, July 7. Read Also: Grandmother and Her New Young Husband Spend $145,000 to Have a Baby Via Surrogacy She asked for a divorce, and he threatened her Sunday, July 10, the police were called to a home in Houghton Lake at 3:30 a.m. after two people reported bodies inside the property. Aside from Tirany and Bo, also dead were Dayton Cowdrey, 13, and Kim Lynette Ebright, 58. The police said that all victims died from gunshot wounds. Initially, they didn't identify the shooter but later confirmed to the press that Bo's gunshot wounds appeared to be self-inflicted. Up North Live said Bo had an "Intra Oral Gun Shot Wound." His gun was legally obtained and was registered with the state's MiPISTOL database. Allegedly, when Tirany expressed her wishes to divorce, Bo's behavior changed for the worst, and he stopped taking his medications for his mental health issues. Bo was also stalking Tirany and interfered with her work or bothered her friends in text messages. She wrote in her protection order request that Bo had been out of control by verbal violence. He also warned his wife that she would need a personal protection order because she had no idea what she started when she asked for a divorce. The police also confirmed prior domestic disturbance calls from this house but refused to disclose those details. Bo had a previous conviction as a sex offender and was subjected to annual checks with the Michigan State Police. The state, however, has no red flag laws; thus, Bo was able to purchase a gun. Days after Tirany Lee Savages personal protection order was denied in Michigan due to insufficient evidence, her husband shot and killed her, her son and her mother. She wrote in her filing: He recently purchased a firearm and that is concerning to me.https://t.co/QPPzF6JtAW pic.twitter.com/7eeWz1iLih Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) July 13, 2022 Family launches memorial fundraiser Meanwhile, Tirany's cousin Charles David Gilley has created a memorial fundraiser via Facebook in memory of the mother and her son, who were helping out a relative by caring for rescued dogs. Gallagher, who met Tirany years ago because of her custody case with Dayton's father, described the mother as a survivor who worked hard to finish nursing school. She was a single mom for a while when Dayton's dad had to be incarcerated for drug charges. The lawyer said that Tirany was not the type who made terrible decisions in her life, and she wanted that to be known by the public. Related Article: Texas Mom Sentenced to Life for Orchestrating Husband's Murder With High School Sweetheart: DOJ Photo: (Photo : Laxman Deep from Pixabay ) According to the United Nations, about 25 million kids worldwide have missed out on routine immunizations against common diseases like diphtheria, largely because the COVID-19 pandemic triggered misinformation about vaccines or disrupted regular health services. The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF said in a new report published on Friday, July 15, that their figures show that 25 million children last year failed to get vaccinated against tetanus, pertussis, and diphtheria, a marker for childhood immunization coverage, continuing a downward trend that started in 2019. Catherine Russell, UNICEF's executive director, offered a blunt assessment, saying this is a red alert for child health. She added that they are witnessing the most significant sustained drop in childhood immunization in a generation and that the consequences would be measured in lives lost, the Associated Press reported. Vast majority of children affected were living in developing countries Data showed that the vast majority of the kids who failed to get immunized were living in developing countries, namely the Philippines, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, and Indonesia. While vaccine coverage fell in every region of the world, the worst effects were witnessed in the Pacific and East Asia. According to experts, this historic backsliding in vaccination coverage was especially disturbing since it was happening as rates of severe malnutrition were rising. Malnourished kids typically have weaker immune systems, and infections like measles can often prove fatal to these children. The U.N. said that the convergence of a hunger crisis with a growing immunization gap threatens to create the conditions for a child survival crisis. Scientists noted that low vaccine coverage rates had already resulted in preventable outbreaks of diseases like polio and measles. According to NBC News, routine immunizations protect kids against 16 infectious diseases, including measles and chickenpox, and inhibit transmission to the community. Read Also: Mental Health Crises Soaring Among Children and Teens in the United States COVID-19 pandemic harmed immunization services The WHO and partners asked countries in March 2020 to suspend their polio eradication efforts amid the accelerating COVID-19 pandemic. That proved costly as dozens of polio epidemics have since been in more than 30 countries. Helen Bedford, a professor of children's health at University College London, said that this is particularly tragic as tremendous progress was made in the two decades before the COVID pandemic to improve childhood vaccination rates globally. She added the news was shocking but not surprising, noting that immunization services are frequently an early casualty of major economic or social disasters. Dr. David Elliman, a consultant pediatrician at Britain's Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, said it was critical to reverse the declining vaccination trend among kids. He added that the effects of what happens in one part of the world could ripple out to affect the whole globe. He noted the rapid spread of COVID-19 and more recently, monkeypox, as examples of that. Elliman said that whether they act based on ethics or enlightened self-interest, they must put the children at the top of their list of priorities. Related Article: Long Wait is Finally Over for US Parents as CDC Approves COVID Vaccines for Youngest Children Photo: (Photo : Cindy Parks from Pixabay ) Bailee Tordai has a major problem on her hands. The 22-year-old, who was 33 weeks into her pregnancy, barely made it to her prenatal checkup as her old Jeep could not complete the two-mile trip from her house to the University of Iowa's outreach clinic in her southeastern Iowa hometown of Muscatine. She is growing concerned about her lack of reliable transportation as she gets closer to her due date. CNN reported that Tordai would need to arrange for someone to drive her about 40 miles northwest to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City as she can't give birth at Muscatine's hospital because it shuttered its birthing unit back in 2020. Tordai is fortunate that 11 certified nurse midwives from the University of Iowa regularly travel to Muscatine and Washington, another southeastern town in Iowa where the local hospital closed its birthing unit. The midwife team provides valuable service to pregnant Iowans According to the Daily Iowan, the university's pilot project, which is supported by a federal grant, does not aim to reopen shuttered birthing units in Iowa. Instead, the midwife team helps ensure women in the area receive related services. The project was a tremendous help for pregnant women in the region as it served more than 500 patients in Muscatine and Washington last year. Muscatine is one of the hundreds of rural areas in the United States where hospitals have dropped birthing services during the past 20 years, often because they lack specialized staff members and obstetricians. According to hospital industry leaders, birthing units tend to lose money, largely because of low payments from Medicaid, the public health insurance program that covers more than 40 percent of births in the United States, and an even greater share in many rural areas. Read Also: Heartbroken Dad Lobbies State of Oregon To Include Rare Genetic Disease Krabbe in Newborn Screenings Rural hospitals in Iowa are closing their birthing units The loss of labor-and-delivery services hits especially hard for American women who lack resources and time to travel for care. Muscatine has a population of more than 23,000 residents, making it a relatively large town by Iowa standards. Muscatine's hospital, though, is one of 41 facilities in the state that have closed their birthing units since 2000, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. The majority of those are located in rural areas. Only 56 hospitals now have birthing units in Iowa. The work of the nurse midwife team is vital as it includes crucial prenatal checkups. Most pregnant women are supposed to have a dozen or more such appointments before they give birth. Health care providers use these prenatal checkups to track how a pregnancy is progressing and to watch for signs of high blood pressure and other problems that can lead to stillbirths, premature births, or even maternal deaths. Midwives also advise pregnant women on how to keep themselves and their babies healthy after giving birth. Related Article: Girl Who Lost Mom to Brain Cancer Gets Memorable 8th Birthday Surprise from Community Photo: (Photo : SpaceX-Imagery/Pixabay ) Florida parents Cori and Scott Gallagher are raising funds to send their son's ashes to the moon and fulfill his dreams of flying into outer space. The Gallaghers tragically lost Matthew, 11, on May 18, 2022, after his mother found him unresponsive one night. A few weeks after the death, Cori found out about the Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, which arrange for families to send the ashes of their loved ones into space. The company was established in the 1990s, but they will have a maiden spaceflight, dubbed Destiny Flight, for "creating a permanent memorial on a distant, but constantly viewable world" on the moon. Destiny Flight will launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, in 2023, but it will be a costly space trip. However, Cori and Scott are making it their goal to secure a spot for their son, who became interested in space flights when he was five years old, per Fox 13 Tampa Bay. Read Also: Tributes Pour for Teen Misdiagnosed with Tonsillitis Who Died of Rare Blood Disorder "I love you to the moon and back!" The mother said Matthew was an astronomy whiz and could talk endlessly about the moon and its different phases to anyone. He had a space-themed bedroom and asked for space-themed gifts for birthdays and Christmases. There were lots of information about space that Matthew knew, and he could even stump his science teachers. Thus, the boy had set his sights on becoming an astronaut at such an early age. Cori told WTSP that Matthew and his grandfather visited the Kennedy Space Center every summer using season passes. He had a slot at the space summer camp this year. One time he was at the space center, the boy and his grandfather spent lunch with an actual astronaut. "I think he probably talked the astronaut's ear off," the mother said. "Because he just had so many questions and wanted to know so much information." The boy was also crazy about Tesla, SpaceX, and its owner, Elon Musk. Two months before he passed away, Matthew asked his parents for a Tesla dealership as his birthday gift. Cori and Scott said that the lunar flight was also a special pick because their son loves to say, "I love you to the moon and back" to his parents. If they can buy a Destiny flight, then they won't only be making their son's dreams come true; Cori and Scott could look up to the moon and know that Matthew is there. Matthew Gallagher's fundraiser The family's GoFundMe page hopes to raise $14,000 for Matthew's ashes, and they received donors from the military and the U.S. Marines, where Scott used to serve. The Gallaghers have achieved their goals with over 330 donors as of press time. Celestis CEO and co-founder Charles Chafe also found out about the fundraiser and said that the company would lend support to the family in making this "memorial spaceflight a reality." Matthew is also survived by Savannah, his younger sister. Related Article: British Toddler With Extremely Rare Disease Flown to Ohio for Life-Saving Treatment This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions Apple has been sued by Sonrai Memory for patent infringement. The non-practicing entity (NPE) claims that Apple has infringed granted patents 6,874,014 titled Chip multiprocessor with multiple operating systems, and 6,724,241 titled Variable charge pump circuit with dynamic load. The patents were originally owned by Hewlett-Packard and a semiconductor company by the name of Atmel that closed their doors n 2016. (Click on image to Enlarge) Of course, Sonrai Memory doesnt actually make anything, they simply sue large companies with deep pockets. A simple Google search will show you a long list of their lawsuits against Texas Instruments, Samsung, Lenovo, AMD and now Apple. Yet as annoying as patent troll lawsuits are, Apple has to take them seriously as they do occasionally beat Apple in court like Optis Wireless did. The company claims that Apples iPhones form model 6 through to 13 Pro Max, along with various Mac models dating back to 2018 infringe on their patents. For specifics, review the Plaintiff's full complaint filed with the court in the SCRIBD document below, courtesy of Patently Apple. Sonrai Memory v Apple Patent Infringement Case Filed July 15, 2022 by Jack Purcher on Scribd The Vice President of the Republic, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, is optimistic that Ghana will this time around emerge stronger after going to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for support. Ghana has already begun discussions with the IMF to provide balance-of-payments support as part of a broader effort to quicken Ghanas build-back in the face of challenges induced by the COVID-19 pandemic and, recently, the Russia-Ukraine crises. Speaking at the official launch of the Accra Business Schools IT Programmes on Thursday 14 July 2022, Vice President Bawumia said it will take a lot of hard work and difficult decisions for Ghana to bounce back. With enhanced fiscal discipline and structural reforms to restore debt sustainability and growth, we should emerge stronger than we have with the previous 17 IMF programs, he said. But it will take hard work and difficult decisions. With great pride and personal pleasure, it is good that we are all part of this launch of three new programmes by the Accra Business School in collaboration with the South East Technical University. Its a day when the neglect of many decades comes to an eventual end. Its a beginning to lay the foundations of strengthened institutions to take up the challenges of time with an able and apt workforce. Its a day when a new beginning is being made by forging a common alliance between the government and academic leaderships to protect, preserve and promote above all, democracy via digitalisation. Dr. Bawumia stressed that the twin external factors of covid-19 and the war in Ukraine, which he said, have also led many countries to the IMF for support, following the rising cost of living and inability to sustain debt levels, have also exposed the need for Ghana to put in place measures to be more fiscal-discipline. "The major lesson of the last two years is that we have to be more self-reliant as a country," Dr. Bawumia said. "It is important that we take decisions that will inure to the benefit of the country regardless of whether we are going to the IMF for a program or not." "The immediate task is to restore fiscal and debt sustainability through revenue and expenditure measures and structural reforms. Non-concessional borrowing should be curtailed to enhance debt sustainability," the Vice President added. Dr. Bawumia also observed that successive governments have failed to achieve long-term economic stability after each of the past 17 IMF programmes due to the lack of systems to ensure sustainable stability, hence the government's focus on ensuring such systems are put in place. "I should note that Ghana has gone to the IMF for a program 17 times since independence and after each IMF program, the underlying system and structure of the economy remained the same," Dr. Bawumia said. "It is important to note that the focus of economic management by successive governments since independence in Ghana has been on crisis management as a result of factors such as the collapse in commodity prices, increase in oil prices, debt unsustainability, political instability, macroeconomic instability, etc. Governments, have by and large, not focused on building systems and institutions that underpin economic activities in a modern economy." These modern systems for sustainable economic development, Dr. Bawumia said, are: "the systems that will reduce bribery and corruption, the systems that will make the delivery of public services efficient, the systems that will enhance domestic revenue mobilization, and the systems that will make life generally easier for Ghanaians." The Vice President noted that since 2017, government has been focused on building these systems, which include a biometric national identification card, a functioning digital property address system and an aggressive financial inclusion programme, digitization of government services and many others, which he said, are enhancing services and making access easier, reducing corruption and strengthening domestic revenue mobilization. He, therefore, called for a renewed focus on building and strengthening these systems, alongside enhanced fiscal discipline, to ensure sustainable economic recovery after the latest, 17th IMF programme. 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 UMB, a leading commercial bank in Ghana, today announced its full support for the government's education agenda by providing students the flexibility to pay admission and all other fees in any of their 35 branches. Speaking to this reporter here in Accra, Mr. Samuel Sakyi Hyde, General Manager for Consumer Banking for the Bank, noted that "at UMB, we are constantly looking for how to create convenience for our customers. That is why we have partnered with a number of educational institutions to ensure that their students can pay for all their fees anywhere they are in Ghana at any of our branches". The full list of the schools that are currently served by the UMB Smartfees product include University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Pentecost University, Takoradi Technical University, Koforidua Technical University, Kumasi Technical University, Christ Apostolic University, Institiute of Distance Learning, Labone Senior High School, The HillTop International British School, etc. "This means that customers do not have to travel all the way to the school to pay their fees but can pay their fees at any of our branches. Very soon, we are working very hard and customers can indeed pay for these fees through our online platforms that will soon be made available to these schools." Admissions have begun for public schools and are expected to continue to the end of July and it is anticipated that school with start for students by late August. About UMB Universal Merchant Bank (UMB) is a full-service financial institution specializing in customized banking products and services. UMB opened on March 15, 1972, and is a leading Ghanaian indigenous bank with considerable financial expertise. UMB is recognized for its entrepreneurial approach, innovative use of technology and distinctive banking solutions. UMB currently has thirty-six (36) branches, three (3) UMB Centres for Businesses, 1 UMB PPP Incubator Centre and a vast network of ATMs. UMB is also ISO 27001 and PCI DSS certified. UMB is active on key media platforms. For more information about UMB and its products and services, please visit: www.myumbbank.com Facebook: (www.facebook.com/myumbbank) Twitter: (www.twitter.com/myumbbank) Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/myumbbank/) YouTube: (https://www.youtube.com/myumbbank) LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/company/myumbbank/) 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 Mr Samuel Pyne, Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), says improvement in quality education delivery will remain his topmost priority as the mayor of Kumasi. He said education played an important role in national development and the Assembly would continue to place much premium on quality education delivery by improving teaching and learning at all levels. I prioritize education not because of my background as an educationist, but the important role quality education plays in the national development, he noted. Mr Pyne was speaking at separate ceremonies to inaugurate a six-unit classroom block and a two-unit Kindergarten block for Fankyenebra M/A and Apramang M/A schools respectively, in the Kumasi Metropolis. The projects were funded by the Assemblys share of the District Assemblies Common Fund at a cost of GHC396, 567 The two-unit kindergarten block includes a kitchen, washroom and an office. According to Mr Pyne, school furniture would also be procured and supplied to all the newly completed school blocks and other existing schools, which lacked furniture, to enhance teaching and learning. He said the Assembly together with the Members of Parliament (MPs) from the metropolis were lobbying for more educational facilities from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) to close the infrastructure gap in the Metropolis. The mayor appealed to the school authorities to practice maintenance culture by taking good care of the facilities to prolong their lifespan. He advised the pupils to desist from writing their nicknames on the school walls. We need a good maintenance culture to protect national resources, especially those relating to infrastructural projects, the mayor advised. Mr Pyne pledged to continue to rehabilitate and build more schools in the Kumasi Metropolis. 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 Two men linked by a brush with death met for the first time Thursday, nearly four decades after one survived an attack from a man known as the The Night Stalker, and the other played a part in helping police find him. James Romero III traveled to the Bismarck home of Bill Carns, the last victim of the Night Stalker, meeting him on Thursday. Romero's meeting with Carns occurred as Romero is in the process of filming a documentary about the events of the night he saw the Night Stalker -- the night that changed both men's lives. This was their first time meeting each other after the Night Stalker's reign in Southern California 37 years prior. Romero knew it would be hard for Carns to travel to California, so he traveled to North Dakota instead. Both men said their introduction to each other was an emotional experience. Its been a long time, and this whole ordeal has had such a big impact on my life, Romero said. The Night Stalker, whose real name was Richard Ramirez, started a killing spree in June 1984 that covered 14 months, over 30 victims and three counties along the coast of California. His spree came at a time when Los Angeles was hosting the summer Olympics. Media outlets at the time coined him "The Night Stalker" because he would usually attack homes with unlocked or opened windows at night while his victims were asleep. He often made his victims pray to Satan while he brutally victimized them. One of his victims was Carns, originally from Williston. After obtaining an engineering degree from North Dakota State University, Carns moved to Mission Viejo, California, in 1984. A computer technician at the time, he was transferred to the area by his employer Burroughs Corp., now known as Unisys. It was in the middle of the night on Aug. 25, 1985, when Ramirez entered Carns' home in Mission Viejo. He shot Carns in the head three times before sexually assaulting his then-girlfriend, who also survived the attack. Carns was 29 at the time. The attack left Carns paralyzed on the left side of his body. His brain was affected too, and he suffers severe memory issues. A bullet still remains lodged in his head. The attack forced him to move to Bismarck where family could take care of him. He spent many years in therapy and had to learn how to walk and drive again. To this day, he doesn't recall what happened that night. I almost had to start over in life, Carns said. Less than two hours before the attack on Carns, Ramirez attempted to break into the home of Romero, who was 13 at the time. Romero was outside fixing his bike when he heard Ramirez sneaking around his house. Romero woke his father and both of them described what they saw to the police. The information helped law enforcement identify Ramirez. He was captured a week later after being stopped by a violent mob of civilians in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Boyle Heights. Ramirez was convicted of 13 counts of murder, five attempted murders, 11 sexual assaults and 14 burglaries. He was sentenced to death after his 1989 trial. He died from cancer in 2013 before the state of California could execute him. America's true crime obsession has created a slew of documentaries about Ramirez, the most recent being a Netflix documentary released in January 2021. His crimes have been well documented over the years. While most documentaries focus on the killer, the one being developed now is going to focus on the lives of the victims, the lives of Romero and his family and the importance of being vigilant members of the community. (With serial killers) there is a negative twist, and this (meeting) is a positive twist. Its about what we can do as a society to improve our community, said Linda Knodel, Carns' sister. Knodel, who often acts as a mediator for Carns because of his memory loss, was fundamental in setting up the meeting. Looking for closure Romero was excited to meet Carns, but overwhelmed with emotions as he approached Knodel's house. Bill opened the door and had a smile, and welcomed me, Romero said. Romero had wanted to meet Carns for a long time, but was concerned it would force Carns to relive the events that happened on that night. Romero himself had been experiencing nightmares, often with images of someone coming after him or his family. Still, Romero felt that it was important to meet Carns. He definitely had a different story, and I wanted to meet him and know him," he said. Romero has spent much of his life trying to push past the events. Back in 1985, he instantly became a community hero. At 13 years old, that had a massive effect on his life. Romero recalled that reporters often would show up to his home or school, sometimes 20 at a time. Police had ordered him to stay silent about the ordeal, since he was still a primary witness of a major police investigation. Even after the dust settled, Romero was always reluctant to talk to media about what happened. He didn't feel like a hero despite how his community viewed him. Instead, he didn't want to be a part of it. "When you grow up and you're young, you see superheroes. I didnt relate to being a superhero," he said. A few years later, he was forced to relive the events during Ramirez's trial. Romero spent eight hours over two days on the witness stand. Here, he was drilled by attorneys. Romero said it was overwhelming. At 20 years old, he moved to Tempe, Arizona, to escape it all. Tempe allowed him to feel more of a sense of security, but the nightmares didn't stop. He moved back to California 23 years later. Ive learned that it's part of my story, and that it's not going away. I have to come to terms with it," he said. If it werent for me, who knows what would have happened to my family... Im blessed that we were not victims, but Im sad that Bill was a victim. A life passed by Carns has had a very different experience since that night. His life was turned totally upside down. Nowadays, Carns starts the day by checking his watch, which he does to remind himself what day of the week it is. His life consists of lots of little rituals that help him throughout the day. He checks a calendar every half hour to remind himself of what tasks he has to do. He has drifted between facilities, each serving to address a different need. He had to relearn how to walk. He started off in a wheelchair and over time advanced to using a cane. He said he stopped using a cane one day because he lost it. He also had to relearn how to drive since his license had expired. Since regaining his license, he has often spent his time out and about with his mother. He was given a handheld GPS system to use in case he gets lost. Carns is often asked about his injuries when he is at the store, mostly from children. He tries to simplify it to children, which comes easy to him. Sometimes, that requires making up a story, such as saying he fell off his bike. Questions are something he has gotten used to, but it still can be frustrating for him. Over the years, Ive always been barraged with questions. I should have gotten 5x11 notecards that I could write down Im Bill Carns and this is what happened to me, he said. Carns is thankful to be alive today. He said he believes the Lord Jesus saved his life that night, and for that he is blessed. He admits that he used to have a heavy chip on his shoulder. He would go to high school reunions and see all of his former classmates happily married, which is something he hasn't gotten to experience. He said that these reunions make him feel like life has passed him by. I went through some areas where I had some real low spots," he said as Romero squeezed his hand. An instant connection The two men hit it off immediately and have spent much of their time together talking about their experiences since the attack. "I feel like the two of us are brothers now," Carns said. The two of them also explored the Bismarck area, with plans to take drone footage for the documentary on Friday. Romero brought with him an independent film maker from the Los Angeles area with the goal to document their walk down memory lane. The two of them plan to stay in touch moving forward. I feel like we have a connection, Romero said. Supporting Carns Over the past 37 years, Carns has relied on his employer's health insurance, which he was cut off from when he turned 65. His only subsidy now comes from social security and disability provided by the federal government. Despite the many movies and books written about the Night Stalker, no compensation was ever given to the victims and their families. Romero and Carns' family has set up a GoFundMe account to help support Carns, with a goal to raise $20,000. Those looking to support Carns can find his GoFundMe at Gofund.me/21db0bcc. Sri Lanka's prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has been sworn in as acting president as the country reels from an economic crisis and unrest. He replaces Gotabaya Rajapaksa who fled to Singapore after unprecedented mass protests which saw demonstrators overrun the presidential palace. Protesters defied a curfew to celebrate his resignation during the night. Sri Lanka is experiencing economic chaos as it faces an acute shortage of food, fuel and other basic supplies. The process of parliament electing a new president will begin on Saturday, with MPs likely to take a vote in a week's time. Given the governing party has a majority, MPs are thought likely to back Mr Wickremesinghe, who has close links with the Rajapaksa family. But whether Sri Lanka's public would accept this is another matter, because Mr Wickremesinghe's resignation as PM was a key demand of protestors. Earlier this week, crowds stormed the former prime minister's compound, clashing with security forces. A demonstrator. Manuri Pabasari, told the BBC at the time that a protest rally against Ranil Wickremesinghe was expected in the coming days. "He has no people's mandate [and] is a well-known Rajapaksa supporter," she added. "I mean the new president and the new prime minister should be not a Rajapaksa supporter." The governor of Sri Lanka's central bank, Nandalal Weerasinghe, has warned the country may shut down if no stable government is formed soon. There was a "lot of uncertainty" over whether enough foreign exchange can be found to pay for essential petroleum, he told the BBC's Newsnight programme, and progress on getting an international bailout package depended on having a stable administration. Meanwhile, Singapore says the ousted president Gotabaya Rajapaksa did not ask for political asylum when he arrived there. The former president, who arrived with his wife and two bodyguards, no longer has legal immunity as a head of state and his position is now more precarious as he tries to find a safe country to shelter in. He is expected to stay in Singapore for some time before possibly moving to the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lankan security sources told AFP news agency. 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 Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) has announced that vessel activities have resumed at the Tema Port after the GPHA Local Unions called off a two-day industrial action. The workers embarked on the strike to back their demand for an agreed cessation of 20 percent containerized cargoes from the Meridian Port Services (MPS) to the GPHA. The GPHA in a statement issued and signed by Mrs. Esther Gyebi-Donkor, General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Affairs, indicated that the Authority between 00:00 hours and 12:00 hours, eleven vessels sailed, and berthed at the Port. The statement said Management regret the hold-up of vessel operations in the port and extended its apologies to all stakeholders including the Shipping Lines, Importers and Exporters, Freight Forwarders, Transporters, and Transit Partners, reiterating its resolve to continue to deliver efficient services in a safe and secure environment to its valued stakeholders. It indicated that on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, the Director General and Management met with MPS on the 20 percent containerize cargo issue, after which Management appealed to the Unions to call off the industrial action with an assurance that a resolution was imminent by Thursday, July 14, 2022. It added that after a crunch meeting on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, involving the Minister for Transport, a Deputy Minister for Transport, the Board Chairman, the Director-General, the Director of Port of Tema, and the Chief Executive Officer of MPS. A letter was issued under the hand of the CEO of MPS, Mohammed Samara indicating the willingness of MPS to cede the handling of the 20 percent gateway container traffic to GPHA for two years effective 1ST August 2022. Giving a brief on the issue, Management stated that when the original concession agreement between MPS and GPHA was signed in 2015, it did not include the 20 percent container traffic share for GPHA. The 2015 contract allowed MPS to exclusively handle all container traffic. However, an appeal was made to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to intervene, culminating in a Cabinet decision in 2019 for MPS to cede a 20 percent share of container traffic to GPHA. It added that upon the Cabinet decision, the Management of GPHA and MPS had held several discussions and negotiations to work out the technical and financial details needed for implementation. 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 Atewa forest reserve has been a subject of litigation following the decision by the government of Ghana to mine bauxite in the critical watershed and biodiversity hub located in the Eastern Region of the country. But, even before the case could fully go on trial between some environmental groups and the government at the Accra High Court, the Minerals Commission has granted a license to Vimetco Ghana Bauxite Ltd, to do prospecting in the forest reserve. The license which was published on the website of the Minerals Commission is set to expire in February 2025. Many people in the locality are however wondering why the government is bent on pushing for mining in the forest reserve, especially when the case is in court. Broken promise At the beginning of this year, the government of Ghana announced a temporal ban on all forms of prospecting activities within forest reserves across the country as it tackles illegal mining. The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, issued the order. A statement released by the minister said The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources hereby directs persons and/or companies engaged in reconnaissance and/or prospecting in Forest Reserves, with or without legal authorization, to suspend such activities until further notice, The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, accordingly, hereby gives persons and/or companies engaged in reconnaissance and/or prospecting in Forest Reserves, seven (7) days from the date of the publication of this notice, to cease their operations and evacuate their equipment accordingly. Furthermore, the Minerals Commission has been directed not to accept, process and/or recommend the grant, including renewal and/or extension of reconnaissance and prospecting licences in Forest Reserves. The directive by the Minister followed a National Consultative Dialogue on Small Scale Mining which was dominated by illegal mining and its harmful impact on the environment. Among the resolutions adopted at the dialogue was a charge to the government to take steps to strictly apply laws and sanctions to all persons who infringe the law, irrespective of political colour or socio-economic status or class. Speaking to ghenvironment.com in an interview, Kofi Yeboah, a resident of Sagyimase in the East Akim District described as a broken promise the issuance of license to Vimetco Ghana Bauxite Ltd by the government to do prospecting in the forest reserve. Here is a government that is saying that, there should be no prospecting in any of the forest reserves in the country, so what happens to the license given Vimetco Ghana Bauxite Ltd to do prospecting in this valuable Atewa forest reserve. This is a broken promise and we shall resist any form of mining in this forest. He asked further Does it also means that, the Ministry lied by going ahead to approve a prospecting for mineral in protected forest even when the Ministry said it was suspending all exploration and prospecting activities. According to Yeboah, even if the government could not honour its promise of suspending prospecting in the Atewa forest, it should be able to respect the court and wait for the final outcome of the case before taken any final decision, especially when the government prides itself as believing in the rule of law. A treasure of biodiversity Located in Ghanas Eastern Region, Atewa Forest forms part of the threatened Upper Guinea Forest, one of the worlds global biodiversity hotpots. Atewa Forest is a Protected Forest Reserve, a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), and meets the conditions for Alliance for Zero Extinction status. The forest is home to many endangered, endemic and rare plants and animals, over 100 of which are threatened or near threatened with extinction. Four species are listed as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Redlist of Threatened Species, and many more as vulnerable. The forest is also home to five species believed to be endemic to the forest, meaning they are found nowhere else on Earth. As a critical watershed, the forest is also the source for the Birim, Densu and Ayensu rivers, which provide water for some 5 million people, including residents of the capital, Accra. The unwanted record A resident of Asiakwa, Samuel Ntow observed that, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Jinapor is tainting his image over some of the decisions that he has taken so far. He explained that For the unwanted records, the first was the Achimota forest reserve which the Minister supervised its declassification as a reserve, the recently encroached CSIR lands which he said should be regularized for the encroachers, the proposed mining at a Ramsar site in the Central Region and this current one of providing prospecting license to a company to destroy the biodiversity rich Atewa forest reserve. According to him, such records for the Minister are unwanted and it is imperative that he redeemed his image by working to protect all natural resources rather than supervising their exploitation. Prospecting fatigue This is not the first time a prospecting is going to be carried out in the forest as in June 2018, the state-owned Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) started clearing access roads to the summit of the Atewa forest to allow test drilling for bauxite deposits. Ntow added So this becomes the second mining prospecting license granted to a company since 2018. The question also is, how many prospecting is the government planning to do at Atewa. Atewa for national park The Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin has been pushing for the shift towards developing the Atewa forest reserve into a national park. Last year, he called on government through the Ministry of Tourism to shift attention towards developing the Atewa forest rather than mining its gold. The revered king said this at the Ofori Panin Fie at Kyebi when Tourism Minister Dr. Awal Mohammed, his Deputy, Mark Okraku-Mantey, and officials from the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) paid a courtesy call on him last year. Develop a national park at Atewa forest, the species that God has given us there is phenomenal but if we begin to look at gold and its recklessness of galamsey and other things in the forest, we would never get there, the Okyenhene said. Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin continued, Gold would go away. It is not a renewable resource. The reckless felling of timber is a disregard for our nature. Build a museum in addition to the park that would tell our history and show artefacts. Source: starrfm 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 Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has called on the public to desist from making prank calls to its emergency numbers to support efforts to improve fire safety in the country. According to the Service, the practice was a drain on its limited resources to promptly respond to fake emergencies, thereby, depriving real fire victims of the needed support. Bemoaning the phenomenon, Division Officer (DOIII) Paul Tawiah, the Assin-Fosu Municipal Fire Officer, told the Ghana News Agency the act was "increasing and worrying." "It is very unfortunate to have personnel move a fire tender with blaring siren just to realize there is no fire outbreak after getting to a particular supposed scene," he said. In the Assin-Fosu Municipality, he said, the Service had received four prank calls between January and June. He mentioned Assin-Dompim, Andoe, Akomfode-Camp and Darmang as the leading communities for prank calls. "We received a distress call from Assin-Darmang about a fire outbreak and quickly rushed to the community only to realize it was a false alarm. This is very disheartening." He said the perpetrators disabled their telephones after making the call, thereby making it difficult to trace them. However, he hinted that the Service was collaborating with other security agencies to get perpetrators arrested to face the full rigours of the law. DOIII Tawiah cautioned the residents to regularly renovate all hand-dug wells, particularly prior to the rainy season to prevent the rising instances of cave-ins in the area. He said the Service was committed to deepening sensitization on fire safety as part of measures to prevent fire disasters, especially in communities and market centres. Since fire prevention is a shared responsibility, we as a Region are making a passionate appeal to every individual to take fire safety awareness seriously and observe the dos and donts of fire. Everyone should also try and own a simple fire extinguisher that he or she can use to control the fire before calling Fire Service, he said. The Commander noted that non-adherence to simple fire safety measures like cooking and using fire with strict supervision, engaging professional electricians in electrical installations and periodically conducting an electrical audit of public places like markets were the cause of most fire disasters. He appealed to benevolent individuals and organizations to support the Service in the area with logistics to help them deliver their services effectively. 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 Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has explained his suggestion for Ghana to adopt the Westminster form of democracy that involves both a President and Prime Minister instead of the current system of a President and Vice President. According to him, if Ghana should adopts this system, it would pave the way for the leader of the legislative house to be the Prime Minister. He was speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm, where he indicated that this system would allow the side of the Majority to appoint the Prime Minister to compliment the work of the President. In that case, we can have a ceremonial president who would be the head of the state, but the leader of parliament would be the head of government just like we had in the era of Busia and the late father of President Akufo-Addo. He clarified that his suggestion was not related to the current administration, but a call for a constitutional review to help Ghana adopt a system that would cost the nation less money. He clarified that his comments were misconstrued to mean that we currently dont need a vice president. He stressed we could only do away with the vice president if we adopted the Westminster system I suggested. Source: rainbow radio 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 General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Johnson Asiedu Nketia has replied to Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia over accusations that part of the current economic challenges was created by former President John Dramani Mahama. The NDC scribe in a July 14, 2022 interview on Joy News said it is unacceptable that after six years in office Bawumia will be blaming a predecessor for running down the economy. John Mahama didnt come back in 2020 or 2019 to do anything, so if after six years in office you are still blaming predecessors, it means that you have no clue as to why you went into the election to become the leader in the first place, Asiedu Nketia said. He described Bawumias refusal to admit his role in the economic mess as akin to a donkey who is crying that grass is blue. He joined calls for the Vice President who is head of the governments Economic Management Team, EMT to resign his position because he had lost the trust of the populace. Every Ghanaian knows that he has lost credibility and if we were in a well-functioning society, people like that should be leaving their office. Because the things he has said politics and democracy is about trust in our leadership. So, if you are running a system where you cannot even trust your leadersthen how are we expected to trust in the solutions that they are prescribing? he stressed. Bawumia in comments made at an event in Accra on July 14 explained some reasons for which Ghana returned to the International Monetary Fund despite earlier stance by the government against such a move. Among the reasons he outlined was the role that the Mahama government played especially with the banking crisis. If you take out the fiscal impact of this quadruple whammy, Ghana will not be going to the IMF for support because our fiscal, debt and balance of payments outlook would be sustainable. Of the four factors, two (COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war) were external and the other two (the banking sector clean-up and the excess capacity payments) were the result of policies of the previous government, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia clarified. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has indicated that the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), even though a capitalist party, is known as the only party that is always ready to build the nation through social intervention programmes. These programmes, he said, touch every aspect of the nation. Generally, there is this belief and commitment that the party is a party of destiny, destined to be the party to help evolve the nation of Ghana to a serious wealth-creating society, of deep social sense inclusively. It showed when we got the chance, in terms of doing the necessary social interventions like education, like healthcare, fairness and justice, like the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law, to allow people to think and to talk and also to demand accountability of leadership at the same time to also dwell in the people that sense of responsibility of citizenship. So it is there within the party, It is like because of the current challenges, we occasionally seem to be losing our way but when you talk to the rank and file in many respects, they are set to regain the trajectory," the former President told TV3 in an interview ahead of the NPP National Delegates Conference that starts today. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Member of Parliament for Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro, Sylvester Matthew Tetteh, has expressed concern over the continued absence of Dome Kwabenya MP Sarah Adwoa Safo from the House. The legislator opined that the Adwoa Safo saga had become a thorny one that needs to be addressed. Speaking on Metro TVs Good Morning Ghana on July 14, Sylvester Tetteh chastised the Dome Kwabenya MP for maintaining social media presence but failing to communicate with the leadership of Parliament on matters pertaining to her absence. He insisted that although nobody was interested in seeing her booted out of Parliament, it was important for her work as an MP and minister as she continues to receive salary despite her absence. Sylvester Tetteh also expressed confidence in the NPP to take a decision on her after the partys national congress slated for this weekend. I think that if Adwoa Safo should appear or even if shes not coming for a special reason, she should be able to communicate to Parliament and that is where I have a problem. Because if she could go on social media to do videos and the rest, then it means she can equally communicate with leadership of Parliament. I think this issue has become quite thorny. Im not too comfortable with it. Nobody is interested in getting her out of Parliament but we are interested in getting her back to work especially when you are drawing salary. There hasnt been an indication that her salary has been ceased and the good people of Dome Kwabenya needs a representationfor that long I think thats quite problematic, Sylvester Tetteh mentioned. While responding to why President Akufo-Addo has not relived Adwoa Safo of her ministerial position, the Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro MP said it was the prerogative of the president. He maintained that the legislature, the Executive and the party all had a role to play in bringing finality to the matter. Adwoa Safos issuebeing a member of the party, an MP, a member of government. So the government has a responsibility. Thats the president's prerogative so to do. If the matter comes to the plenary and I have to comment or take a decision, I will do my. So parliament has its own [role]. She could be sacked from Parliament but remains as a minister of state. That one it is the presidents prerogative as to whether to sack her or otherwise. The party also has a responsibility whether to withdraw her or suspend her from the party or anything . So three different institutions have a responsibility to what is happening to Adwoa Safo, he stated. Meanwhile, Joe Wise in an interview with Joy News said the seat of Adwoa Safo is automatically vacant following her failure to appear before the Privileges Committee. He indicated that the report of the Committee had recommended for the Clerk to write to the Electoral Commission indicating the vacancy in Parliament. In respect of the other two [Kennedy Agyapong and Henry Quartey], all our report will say is that they appeared before the Committee, they offered explanations, the Committee finds the explanations reasonable. She [Adwoa Safo] failed to take advantage of the opportunities given hershe failed or refused to explain why shes absent. So in the absence of any explanation, the Constitution in Article 97(1)(a) kicks in that she must vacate her seat, Joe Wise added. Meanwhile, GhanaWeb is accepting nominations for the prestigious GhanaWeb Excellence Awards Youth Edition. Watch how you can nominate from the video below. Here's how to nominate someone for the GhanaWeb Excellence Awards 0 seconds of 1 minute, 34 secondsVolume 100% DS/SARA Source: ghanaweb 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 Kathryn Doll stands before a classroom of seventh graders at Mandan Middle School and begins talking about a subject few students likely think much about. Homelessness isnt always the disheveled-looking guy curled up in a dark alley, she tells them. Sometimes its your friend sitting next to you that slept in their car the night before, she says. Doll, the family liaison with the Students in Transition Program who is employed part-time by the Mandan School District, typically sees 50-60 elementary, middle school and high school students who are living in homeless situations as they attend classes each year. They're a somewhat hidden segment of the homeless population. And Doll seeks to raise awareness by eliminating the stereotype that homeless people are all drug addicts living on the streets. A lot of times its little kids sleeping on couches, little kids sleeping on blankets on the floor in the corner" at a friends home, she says. "I dont think anyones goal is to be homeless. You are at your lowest point when you are in a situation," Doll says. "Having people be respectful and empathetic and understanding and nonjudgmental is really important for families. Shuttle system The number of homeless students in America has swelled from roughly 680,000 in 2008 to nearly 1.4 million in 2019, according to the National School Boards Association. Homeless is defined as lacking a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. For example, a student living in a storage unit or with a friend would be considered homeless. North Dakota in most years identifies about 2,300 homeless children ages 5-18, according to the state Department of Public Instruction. Bismarck Public Schools started the Students in Transition Program in 2003 as awareness of youth homelessness became more apparent. More than 175 homeless students were identified that school year. Those numbers have swelled to an average of 425 over the course of the past decade. The highest mark to date was 524 students in the 2019-20 school year. Sherrice Roness, the full-time family liaison for Bismarck's Students in Transition Program, identifies homeless students, builds relationships, and advocates for them and their families. She also oversees a fleet of three minivans and drivers -- soon expanding to five -- that shuttles the homeless students. I tell everybody that I am the air traffic control in the morning and afternoon, she said. The shuttle system helps provide stability for the students and "lessen their anxiety a little bit," Roness said. "I saw that within the first four weeks of the program and I just thought we have to keep it up, she said. Mandan Public Schools recently purchased a minivan for the same purpose, and Roness said Fargo schools are wanting to study the program. Reporting and recognizing Once the students are in the classrooms, their troubles arent erased. They're still dealing internally with their less-than-optimal housing conditions and unstable family circumstances. Teachers and counselors report to Doll and Roness if the youth are irritable, not participating or falling asleep in class, or not completing homework. Doll said the first step is recognizing that the fact the student is at school "is a huge improvement." "(A home) is a basic need," she said. "If you dont have a home to go to, you dont have that basic need, so how can I expect parents and kids to learn X, Y and Z when that basic need is not met?" Roness said many homeless families are embarrassed or ashamed. I try to reach out and say, 'Hey Im here to help you; lets figure it out,'" she said. "And then I can try to hook them up with the resources to see if they qualify for housing and other community resources that fit their needs. If a family is in crisis, Roness and Doll sometimes call Carrie Grosz because of her ability to think of solutions. Carrie's Kids Grosz once led the Students in Transition Program and is now executive director of Carries Kids, a local nonprofit advocating for homeless and at-risk youth and their families. A lot of families have to meet certain criteria in order to be served through the Bismarck Public Schools system, Roness said. Being a private nonprofit, Carries Kids doesnt have to follow those guidelines. If I cant serve a family, but they are in need, then I call Carrie." At the Carries Kids building in south Bismarck, Grosz and volunteers provide a safe atmosphere for the homeless and at-risk youth to take part in art activities and organized programming, complete school work, work on social skills and life skills, or just hang out. With the coronavirus pandemic in its third year, Grosz sees a lot of hopelessness in the hundreds of youth she reaches annually. I see a lot of emptiness, she said. My heart hurts for every kid I meet. I see a lot of things that keep me up all night long. Weve muddied the waters, and I see a lot of kids struggling." Grosz guides youth to services when topics such as mental health, addiction, juvenile justice and suicidal thoughts arise. One of the things I think that is a growing concern for me is the fact that we no longer gather as a community, Grosz said. It seems like everyone is attached to their technological devices, and I think that has weakened the power of people. Were losing humanity. She also works to dispel the stereotype of lazy parents being a major reason for homelessness. I have so many families that are hardworking and dedicated to their kids, and the kids are responsible," Grosz said. "You have a mom who is sleeping in her car, and shes got her kids living with other people and she is doing the best she can to bring all of this stuff together. But those kids know their mom loves them so much that shes doing everything she can to provide for them. Lacking support But many of the runaways and homeless youth that Mark Heinert sees in his work as Bismarck program manager at Youthworks of North Dakota are without the support of family or friends. Youthworks has offices, emergency shelters and apartment units in Bismarck and Fargo for homeless, runaway, trafficked and struggling youth and young adults. We have found that there are groups that are overrepresented like foster youth and former foster youth, and young people of color are grossly overrepresented, Heinert said. One group especially vulnerable to homelessness are LGBTQ youth, according to Heinert. In 2020, one-fourth of the youth served by his organization were LGBTQ. An advocacy issue that we are struggling with is that if I am a member of the LGBTQ class, it is not a protected class for housing, Heinert said. (Landlords) can squarely look at you say, I dont rent to gay people and be covered by the law because its not a class thats protected," he said. "That to me is sad, really sad. And knowing that we serve a population that is well overrepresented, it makes it that much harder for young people to make it to that next level when they keep on experiencing these barriers. For Doll, at Mandan Middle School, getting the homeless students into the school building is a victory. I talked to the teachers and said the fact that the kid is here today is a huge improvement," she said. "So lets just meet the kid where he is at, give him some TLC while hes in our building and then well start to build. We will get there. We will get them learning." When Trek launched the Fuel EX E just a few days ago, the biggest news was not the Fuel EX E itself. It was the motor that drives it. Trek likes to use the right tool for the right job, having chosen the minimalist Fazua motor for their cross-country Supercaliber and the full-power Bosch for the heavy-duty Rail. Problem is, there werent a compelling option in between the two that would suit the Fuel EX E. But there is now.Hidden among the countless wholesale e-bike-component booths that tessellate Eurobike 2022s remote Hall 8, TQ Systems started buzzing with activity the moment the show opened. With experience in industries like robotics, aerospace, and medical technology, the Munich-area engineering firm may seem like theyd be a little above making parts for electric bikes. But one of their specialties happens to be just too perfect not to be on a bike.Despite the very futuristic name, harmonic pin ring, TQs motors arent new to bikes. They actually entered the market over a decade ago with this beast first featured on some models from Haibike. It offered 120 Nm of torque. By comparison, the full-power Shimano EP8 offers 85 Nm. The new IQ motor used on the Fuel EX E is the result of dialing back that overkill with the benefit of 10 years of experience. You can read what all that means on the trail in Matt Beers review of the Fuel EX E . It covers loads of details that we wont cover here, including the most important one: how it rides. But what we wanted to understand, at the most basic level, was how itThankfully, there were a couple bits and pieces of TQs motor at their booth, though by the time we got there, TQ had hidden them because too many suspicious competitors were taking too many high-resolution photos. The exploded version of the whole motor, to an untrained eye like mine, just kinda looks like a motor. But what it doesnt look like is an e-bike motor. Traditionally, an e-bike motor needs a device that offers reduction, which I put in quotes because I needed TQ to explain it to me. In the case of an e-bike, its the method used to get a front chainring spinning at the desirable speed and with the desirable amount of torque. This is usually done with a belt or a chain or a stack of cogs. But TQ does it with its harmonic pin ring. And because its concentric to the rest of the motor components, its almost hidden among them. Thats why the Fuel EX Es motor unit is so small and light.While electric motors are good at spinning fast, they need reduction to turn their natural talent for speed into something more useful on an e-bike. The TQ e-bike motors approach to the harmonic pin ring concept does this in a unique way. There is an inner gear that is on an eccentric, which is driven by the motor. It is one tooth smaller than the outer gear, which will be what drives the chainring. Because that inner gear is not rotating around its own center, but around the center of the bearing to which it is attached, it forces the gears of the outer ring to move, just much slower than it does.There are benefits to this beyond light weight and small size. It creates an instant, direct relationship between input and output. Thats why its so useful in robotics. This is similar to the mechanisms used in robotic open-heart surgery. Its why the power comes on so naturally on the Fuel Ex E. Its also why its so quiet. Theres no slop like there is when there are gears on gears on gears. In fact, the teeth of the inner gear dont ever really leave the teeth of the outer gear. They almost just slide over each other. And thats fine, because theres very low friction between the two. The inner ring is aluminum, but the outer ring is a sort of polymer. But still, TQ has tested their motors to over 20,000 miles, and they still behave like they were designed to when they were new.It just takes a very high degree of precision to make a system this durable and this efficient, so despite its simplicity, its still a pretty pricey little gadget. But time will tell if that changes down the road. The TQ booth was filled with representatives from other brands, ready to get in line. And though, like Fazua, Bosch, and Shimano, the motor itself will stay more or less the same as we see it pop up on other bikes in the coming years. But it could also be scaled up, or even scaled down to fit other applications. And when it does, now you wont have to wonder how they did it. Defending Champion Chad Eveslage Still Alive in Day 2 of WPT Venetian July 15, 2022 Connor Richards Editor & Live Reporter U.S. As the final table of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event plays out down the street, Day 2 of the World Poker Tour (WPT) Venetian Main Event is underway at the glamorous Las Vegas casino. The $5,000 buy-in event drew 1,178 entrants, the majority of whom played yesterday's starting flight, to generate a prize pool $5.4 million to smash the guaranteed $4 million. Only 326 players returned for Day 2, including a handful of WPT champions, a few WSOP Main Event champions and plenty of other big-name players. Most of the action of Friday afternoon took place inside the main area of the Venetian poker room, where players including Brian Altman, Frank Stepuchin, Matt Berkey, DJ Alexander, Shannon Shorr, Hossein Ensan, Elvis Toomas, Joey Weissman, Nate Silver, Ema Zajmovic, Andrew Neeme and James Romero battled at various tables. Brian Altman and Frank Stepuchin Summer of Chad Defending champion Chad Eveslage, who took down last July's WPT Venetian for $910,370, was still alive on Day 2 as he played with Viet Van Vo a few seats to his left. Vo finished fourth in the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Main Event for $370,000 in May after finishing third in the same event the previous year for $593,140, quite a feat for the Texas grinder. Eveslage took a moment to chat with PokerNews on the first break about his hot start to Day 2. Its going very well," the defending champ said. "I just got lucky, Ive got like 500,000 so far. Its been pretty smooth so far. I havent really lost a pot. Eveslage, who is from Indiana but lives in Florida, won his first World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet last month when he took down Event #8: $25,000 High Roller for a career-best $1.4 million. But the 30-year-old poker pro isn't letting the high roller victory go to his head. Ive already forgotten about it, honestly," Eveslage laughed. "Ive been losing in other stuff and Im playing just right back into the swing of poker. It feels good (to have won a bracelet), but I havent really thought about it in a while. Im trying to win more money. Chad Eveslage Two other players who have won this event were also in the Day 2 field with Eveslage. California's Qing Liu won the event in March 2021 for a career-best $752,880, while Florida native Ben Palmer took it down in March 2019 for his biggest score of $335,397. As for Eveslage, he said he wasn't concerned with who was left in the field and would stick to playing his game. "I just get the cards and play the strategy I know that works," he said. WPT Choctaw Winner Chips Up Early At table 5, recent WPT Choctaw winner Chance Kornuth was put to a decision in a heads-up pot against Zachary Grech on a board of . With over 150,000 already in the middle, Grech moved all in for 166,000 and quickly buried his head in his arms, not giving the live-tell expert any opportunity to get a read. It was the final hand before break and Kornuth went deep into the tank as players streamed out of the Venetian poker room. Kornuth covered his mouth with his hoodie as he stared at the board in thought. Four minutes into the break, Kornuth put out a stack of chips for a call with Grech covered. Grech sprung his head up from the table before showing for a flush draw. Kornuth showed an overpair with and stayed ahead as the bricked off on the river. "Nice call, Chance," said a table mate who stuck around to see the hand play out. "That was crazy." "Thanks," Kornuth replied as he raked in the massive pot. Chance Kornuth Best Free to Play Slots ClubWPT Qualifer Still In ClubWPT qualifier Josh Guindon was still alive in the tournament heading into the second break of the day with a healthy stack of around 160,000. Guindon, a Massachusetts-based emergency medicine doctor, started chatting during the break with all-time WPT title leader Darren Elias, who was also still alive as he chases a record-extending fifth title. Hopefully, the medical doctor was able to get a few tips from the WPT "GOAT." Josh Guindon Some players who bowed out early on Day 2 include Joe McKeehen, Maria Konnikova, Michael Gathy and WPT champions Alex Foxen, Justin Young and James Calderaro. Two more days remain in the WPT Venetian Main Event ahead of the next WPT champion being crowned and taking home the first-place prize of $894,100. Follow along with updates from the WPT reporting team. WPT Venetian Remaining Schedule Date Time Session July 16 12 p.m. Day 3 July 17 12 p.m. Day 4 Photos courtesy Joe Giron and WPT For the Aiken County Public School District, the safety of students and employees is a top priority, now and always. The school district is constantly monitoring whats going on in its buildings throughout the county and is always working to be proactive, said King Laurence, superintendent of Aiken County public schools. Were continuing to remind people to do the common-sense things to maintain safety, things like keeping exterior doors locked, keeping classroom doors locked, having a single point of entry in all of our facilities, Laurence said. Those are the kind of things that need to be done every day; and you cant forget to do it, even one time. The district has continued to emphasis safety on school campuses this summer following the most recent tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Safety is our No. 1 priority, thats the biggest thing, said Dr. Corey Murphy, the chief officer of operations and student services. I know a lot of people are saying Ive heard probably 30 or 40 emails starting with, In light of recent events ...;' but I would like people to understand we take this seriously, whether there is a recent event or not. We treat every single day as if its a possibility, and we want to make sure that our students are safe. Aiken County approves communication enhancements for school classrooms The Aiken County Board of Education approved the use of new communications and audio enhancement system at its meeting Tuesday night. Communications equipment In February, the Aiken County Board of Education approved the use of a communications and audio enhancement system in the classrooms. The new Audio Enhancement (AE) system provides an integrated approach to communications and safety within the school setting," Murphy said. The system also will provide portable amplifiers that teachers can wear around their necks that also has a panic button for emergencies. "Each school and classroom will receive an updated two-way intercom, paging and bell system," Murphy said. "This system also is proven to increase student engagement with teacher voice enhancement through an integrated amplification system. AE also allows electronic lesson capture for remote learning and remediation." The school district will use the system to replace bell and intercom systems at the schools. "One final, and perhaps the most important, feature of this system is a wearable lanyard that will allow teachers and staff to immediately alert administration and first responders of any potential safety risks in or around their immediate location, he said. Director of security and emergency operations A new personnel addition to the district who will be an asset for school safety is Vicky Gaskins, the newly hired director of security and emergency operations. Gaskins' appointment was approved by the Aiken County Board of Education during its meeting on June 14, and she is scheduled to begin work July 18. This (position) is going to be the primary point of contact between law enforcement and emergency operations personnel, Murphy said. What we want to have on board is someone with a solid law enforcement background, as well as the knowledge and workings of the school system." Gaskins, a Silver Bluff High School alumna, is heavily invested in the community. She spent the last 24 years of her career serving the residents of Aiken County through various roles in the Aiken County Sheriffs Office, including deputy, school resource officer, juvenile investigator and lieutenant. The need for the newly created position was eminent, Murphy said. Several larger districts in the state have had a person serving in this capacity for years, and we had a definite need for a more deliberate focus and expertise in the area of physical security and safety procedures. As the director, Gaskins will be responsible for monitoring district-wide security operations, coordinating with local law enforcement and emergency management agencies, assisting with school and district investigations, overseeing security audits and leading all school district personnel during emergency situations. "Its going to be that person that nexus between law enforcement, safety and security, and public education," Murphy said. "Because, of course, on our side of the house, were thinking education a lot of time and safety. We want someone thinking safety, safety, safety and education. +6 Construction projects continue for Aiken County public schools The Aiken County Public School District has been busy lately with construction projects at multiple schools. Safety protocols The safety and security of students and employees is incorporated into everything the district does, Murphy said. Were constantly reiterating we try to bring it up, no matter any interaction whether small or formal meeting; we always try to incorporate some type of security or say, 'Hey, lets be mindful of it,' Murphy said. "Its one of those things where people tend to become complacent until theyre reminded. So we try to keep reminding and bring it back to the forefront of the way we do business in schools. The safety protocols begin at the front door before anyone enters the building. Laurence said the front doors have electronic locks allowing them to be the single point of contact for each building. While visitors at most schools are buzzed into the front office, thats not the case for every school. Some of our older facilities are probably still you come into the building and then go to the office, Laurence said. But were in the process of upgrading all of our entrances. Of course, all of our new facilities have those upgrades; and then as we move forward, we are upgrading the entrances. Were able to go back and retrofit, so were in the process of going through any schools that are not like that; and over the next year or so, we hope to have everybody online, Murphy added. The school district declined to identify the specific schools still needing entrance upgrades, citing safety concerns. Throughout the school year, Murphy said the district is constantly checking safety protocols. Its a never-ending process summer, winter, whatever were constantly reviewing safety protocols and checking, Murphy said. Thats one of the primary duties of our head custodians, as well making sure that our facilities are not only clean and orderly, but secure. After ringing the bells to be let into the front office, Laurence said front office staffers are trained to visually inspect the person at the door and ask them questions, no matter who it is. Even me, they ask me, too, Laurence said. They see my face. They know who I am, but they dont want to slip up one time. So they ask me who I am, and I give them my name; and they ask me what Im there for, and they let me in. So thats just good practice, and they do that for everybody. Drills To make sure staff members arent becoming complacent and know what to do in an emergency, multiple drills are held throughout the school year, Murphy said. These include lockdown drills, which are active shooter drills, fire drills, earthquake drills and more. We have lockdown drills; we lock the school down twice a year, Murphy said. We have a lockout drill where we continue to operate normally, but we dont let anyone in, once a year. We also do a shelter-in-place where no one is going to be moving, no classes will change, that happens once a year. We have a bomb threat drill, we do nine fire drills, earthquake drill once in the fall and then tornado drill in the spring. At the beginning of each school year, Murphy said the district goes over with teachers whats expected of them and it is reiterated throughout the year. The drills sometimes also include law enforcement, Murphy said. While not all drills will have law enforcement present due to the public school district having 42 sites, many times they are there and provide feedback to the school district. Law enforcement also utilizes the schools for some of its training. Every year, our law enforcement agencies utilize our schools to do that type of training (active shooter training) while school is out, Murphy said. So they are very familiar with the schools, the layouts, some of the short falls with lines of sight and what have you. Gaskins, who was the head of the juvenile division with the Aiken County Sheriffs Office through July 14, said the school resource officers are the primary ones working with the school district when they do drills. Aiken County Emergency Management is also involved in some of the drills. Paul Matthews, director of Aiken County Emergency Management, said its role depends on the goal of the drill, and they work in conjunction with SLED. If the drill is about reunification, which is reuniting guardians with their students after an emergency, then Emergency Management takes charge. But if it involved dealing with the actual threat, then SLED or law enforcement is in charge. A lot of work goes into planning the drills, he said. We bring all the players to the table, and we determine as a separate planning group the objective, Matthews said. We get the objectives done and then determine what we want to accomplish in the exercise. For example, we have a group that does reunification, so we may practice that. If its more law enforcement, thats more law enforcement and SLED than emergency management. Emergency Management has been involved in several drills over the last few years, Matthews said. The drills involved many agencies, and full-scale drills can take a year to plan. He added that theyve done two full-scale drills in the last two years. When you think of active shooter, you think of law enforcement trying to neutralize the threat end the threat; and you're looking at a lot of pieces, but there are a lot of other community entities that come together to make the reunification come together, Matthews said. School resource officers The school district works together with local law enforcement not only during training drills, but throughout the year with the school resource officers also known as SROs. Murphy said there are currently 16 SROs, and they are at all of the high schools and all but two of the middle schools in Aiken County. There are no SROs assigned to the elementary schools, but on-duty officers will drop by to check on the schools, and if theres an emergency, the SROs at the nearest middle schools or high schools will respond, he said. And the sheriff and all the public safety chiefs, theyre committed to almost dropping everything if theyre needed at a school, Laurence said. The school resource officers are from the Aiken County Sheriffs Office, Aiken Department of Public Safety, North Augusta Department of Public Safety and the Wagener Police Department, Murphy said. Capt. Eric Abdullah, with the Aiken County Sheriff's Office, said the agency currently has funding for six SROs, with five of the positions being filled and one open. Gaskins said the school resource officers work in the juvenile division and have a variety of duties. They do law enforcement, enforcing the laws, law-related education, they're there to help educate kids about laws and law-related counseling, being a mentor, giving them someone to feel comfortable with and provide a role model, Gaskins said. They investigate all criminal activity on the school campus they're assigned to They're there as community relations they build that bridge between the students and law enforcement. Building a positive relationship with the students is important because many students dont have a positive view of law enforcement, Gaskins said. The SRO role is to kind of bridge that gap between community relations and the students to help them see things in a different manner, Gaskins said. They also provide there's a lot of intel in the school they build relationships with the students, and the students feel comfortable coming to them there's a lot of intel that is provided, gang activity. Their main purpose is to provide the security of the school, allow the students to feel safe going to school, allow staff and admin to assist them The Aiken Department of Public Safety has six school resource officers at the high schools and middle schools in the city of Aiken, said Lt. Jeremy Hembree with Aiken Public Safety. For these officers, their primary duties during the school year are at their assigned schools. We don't necessarily take a proactive approach to enforcement things, but work daily with the administration addressing things that might need addressing, Hembree said. Also take information back to the school about issues in the community that might involve the school, issues with students that might impact what goes on on a daily basis. (The SROs) are there as a resource for the students if they have something going on, can get advice, pass along information, similar to a guidance counselor." Lt. Luke Sherman with the North Augusta Department of Public Safety said the agency has three full-time SROs. They are there for law enforcement purposes; if any law is broken, they take over at that point and to provide security for the children, as well, Sherman said. Melanie Chavous is the SRO at Paul Knox Middle School, where she has been for six years. Before that she was at North Augusta High School, and at one point was the SRO at both schools. She said one of the main reasons the SROs are in schools is to protect the people there and to build a relationship with students. A lot of them don't have a positive relationship with a police officer, Chavous said. They might see one in their neighborhood in action, in their homes in action; they need to know we're here to help them. (I) make sure to communicate with the kids and know what's going on their lives. For Chavous, her favorite part of being an SRO is the relationships she builds with the students and seeing them grow over the years. A boy from sixth grade to eighth grade is a big change, Chavous said. They're like my kids; you grow with them. It's exciting to see them grow and mature and go to high school. But the hardest part about being an SRO for Chavous is that she has all eyes on her. I just want people to remember I'm a human being also, and I love and care about the kids, Chavous said. Sometimes, if you have to do your job, you might have to raise your voice and be assertive. I'm here to do my job and protect people. School resource officers are regular law enforcement officers who have gone through additional training. Gaskins said the officers attend a two-week class at the criminal justice academy for the SRO training. Sherman said North Augusta officers attended an SRO conference in June and that they attend every year. He added that they go through SRO training and active shooter training. Any training that comes along, we stress that they get trained, Sherman said. Hembree said the SROs with Aiken Public Safety have the basic SRO training and some also go to the advanced training. We encourage our officers to seek out advanced training that would be applicable to their job function mental health training, community engagement it really depends on what the officer feels like he or she is going to get and bring back, Hembree said. Metal detectors The Aiken County Public School District has handheld metal detectors in many of its schools, Murphy said. However, the only location they are used on a daily basis is at the Center for Innovative Learning at Pinecrest, the alternative learning facility for the school district. But we can have periodic checks at any school any time we need to, Murphy said. We talk about (metal detectors) a lot of times, but metal detectors can be problematic in some ways in that you have to make sure you have the staff to man the metal detectors, and then you have to make sure you have them at any point of entry. "So visitors come through the front door, but students come in through the bus ramp as well as the front door; so if you want to be scanning everybody, you have to have the personnel in place, as well. Student punishments Another way the school district works to ensure student and employee safety is by reviewing and updating the student code of conduct, which the Aiken County school board did on June 14. One of the major discussions by school board members was about safety and the punishments for different violations. There are different punishments for different weapons. If its a firearm, by state law, they have to be expelled for 365 days, Murphy said. Other than firearm offenses, knives, depending on the size, if its a longer knife, 2 inches or longer, they will be recommended for expulsion. Even shorter knives, if its presented or used in a threatening manner, theyll be recommended for expulsion. "But other than that, depending on the intent and whether or not the small knife was self-reported or not, consequences vary from ISS, OSS or recommended expulsion the intent comes into play when its the small knives; the larger knives it doesnt matter. +7 Aiken County school board updates student code of conduct Student and staff safety is a top priority for the Aiken County Board of Education. Guardian communication When it comes to letting guardians know about a threat, Murphy said the school district uses an automated system. We can use an automated phone call, automated email or both so we can let parents know the school is in lockdown, you wont be able to get your child for a few minutes, please bear with us as we work through this to resolve the issue, Murphy said. Laurence said the alerts can be district wide, but most are specific to the affected school or community. He added that the alerts can be initiated at either the district or individual school level. Prevention programs The school district is looking at bringing back the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program into elementary schools, Laurence said. Theres a grant available for that, and Aiken Public Safety asked us if we would be interested if they applied for the grant, Laurence said. We agreed to partner with them; so, hopefully, that will go through. Hembree said Aiken Public Safety hopes to bring back the DARE program, which requires specific and advanced training. When we can get through some of the red tape and hurdles, that is something we're looking at bringing it back at some point in some capacity. We are working toward that and is a goal of our department, Hembree said. Laurence said the school district wanted to work with local police to bring back the DARE program because of the awareness it brings. "DARE is about awareness concerning the abuse of drugs, alcohol and tobacco," Laurence said. "That in itself is a solid reason to implement the program. I think a more significant reason is that it is taught by a uniformed law enforcement officer. Students have the opportunity to build relationships with law enforcement that help them to combat many of the negative influences out there." Aiken Public Safety thinks the DARE program, traditionally, has shown to be a great resource of having law enforcement involved with the school setting, Hembree said. "It has a long standing success rate, as well, of exposing and educating kids as far as drug usage and substance abuse usage as they progress and get older and realize it is not healthy for them," Hembree said. "It's a great program that we feel would continue to pass that message along to our students. Murphy also stated that the school counselors are trained to identify and begin the intervention process, if needed. He added that the school district works with outside agencies if they do discover a child has an addiction or needs additional counseling to overcome a difficult situation. From Edgefield County to Fifth Avenue in New York City, David Drakes pottery is bringing the antebellum South to modern day. Drake, also known as Dave the Potter, was born in 1801 but spent the majority of his life as a slave in Edgefield County under Dr. Abner Landrum. He died in the 1870s, but his legacy comes from functional pots and jars that were used in a variety of plantations across the South that consisted of inscribed poetry and writing. Opening Sept. 9 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the new exhibit "Hear Me Now: The Black Potters of Old Edgefield, South Carolina" will showcase the work of approximately 60 ceramic objects from pre-Civil War America. DaveMuseum_Winn15.jpg Discussions surrounding Edgefield potters took place in Aiken with curators on Monday, July 11. (Samantha Winn/Staff). If you look all around us, there is history all around us if you look closely. It was a way to sort of capture the urgency of the message, and 'Hear Me Now' is a way to exclaim that I have been communicating for a long time but nobody has been listening, Metropolitan Museum of Art ceramics curator Adrienne Spinozzi said. So 'Hear Me Now' is sort of a way to grab peoples attention and again sort of tell the story through the eyes of the potters. Following the five-month exhibition at the Met, the project will travel to Bostons Museum of Fine Art from March 6, 2023, through July 9, 2023; University of Michigans Art Museum in Ann Arbor from Aug. 26, 2023, through Jan. 7, 2024; Atlantas High Museum of Art from Feb. 16, 2024, through May 12, 2024; and finishing up at the new Charleston International African American Museum in 2024. Origins of 'Hear Me Now' Curators from across the country, including Spinozzi, Ethan Lasser and Jason Young, took on the challenge to spread the regions stories, including Daves well-known story. Together, they really tell a much broader story in Edgefield and, in particular, we are just really reexamining this material and really highlighting the contributions of the enslaved potters who were working in Edgefield, Spinozzi said. There have been previous projects on this material before; but they havent really focused on that particular lens, and that is what we are doing. Trying to get attention and prioritize the people who havent been considered or given due credit. The research process for the curators has been in progress for five years. Taking several trips to Edgefield and traveling around the state of South Carolina, they used their time in the Southeast to get hands-on experiences with the pottery and the area through excavations and archaeology. We are quite literally walking on this material, it comes from the Earth, it's returned to the Earth. So when you are working in and around these sites in Edgefield I described it to my colleagues and others I described it as walking on bones because you are on these sites that you are walking on the bones of this ceramic material, which is the same as the bones of the people who produced that. I am humbled by that feeling, and it's deeply meaningful, Jason Young, an associate professor of history at the University of Michigan, said. ... Just know how fragile the material is, how fragile the lives of the people who produced it it really is deeply, deeply meaningful to me; but I dont ever want to lose that connection to the ground and the land because that is what this material derives from. The visiting curators also took the time to meet with local historians, collectors and museums to gain a greater understanding of the history and the land within Edgefield County. When we are doing the show, we are not just producing pottery. We are not just producing a show to put art on the wall; we are actually trying to start and continue and support conversations, Young said. I think that it is also important to note that within that period, an enslaved person having skill was a very valuable thing. When you look at the history of the auctions, they advertised in great detail the skills of that person. The more skill, the value relates to that, said artist Adebunmi Gbadebo, whose work will showcase parallels to her family heritage in South Carolina and will be featured in the exhibit. The fact that Dave not only had this skill of making those pots in the way he did, which was masterful, the scale of what he could do, she continued. The fact that he is literate, even though it is illegal, is a skill that brings monetary value to his owners. When you bring value and things like that to the conversation, it complicates even what is allowed and what is not allowed. Impacts of Edgefield and beyond To the curators, the Hear Me Now'' exhibit is just the beginning of a larger conversation around Black history, enslavement in the United States, and the under-told stories in Southern culture around the country. One of the things that has been exciting about this project is learning that there are a lot of ceramic artists, ceramists today, exceptional artists that are thinking about Edgefield, said Ethan Lasser, curator and John Moors Cabot Chair at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Its not just a historian project. Three of us are historians, but we are learning as much from people that are making things right now as we are from people in our worlds. Lasser said he is looking forward to the conversations the exhibit will create. In our part of the world, our (Boston) museum has been open for 150 years, and this is the second showing of an artist from the South. Just the very idea of introducing Southern culture into a Northern museum is a very meaningful thing, Lasser said. I am just really excited to see how people respond to this story and how it opens up the world to people, because these things are alive in a way and are not just historical artifacts. They are alive with the questions that they still ask, and the more people you get talking about them, the more you understand the changes; and I am looking forward to the conversations. DaveMuseum_Winn15.jpg Discussions surrounding Edgefield potters took place in Aiken with curators on Monday, July 11. (Samantha Winn/Staff). Researcher George Wingard, the program coordinator with the Savannah River Archaeological research program with the University of South Carolina, said, Dave helps us remind us that there were these master craftsmen who were enslaved, and we will never know who they were, but Dave helps remind us that they should be remembered as part of that record for what they did. Local perspective on Edgefield Locally, historians, authors and potters are looking forward to sharing and unveiling the history of Edgefield to a larger audience in the United States. With the Met, the focus of that exhibition is local because the potters were from Edgefield and now part of Aiken County. They are focusing on them and really educating people in the North about this history, said Wayne OBryant, a local historian and tour guide for the curators. ... Its our history, and a lot of our own people dont know their own history. It will be great that people outside of their small communities value something that came from them. I am very happy that the work of the Black potters of Edgefield will soon be on exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, said Leonard Todd, author of "Carolina Clay: The Life and Legend of the Slave Potter, Dave." During their lifetimes, these highly skilled men and women worked together to create something more than the utilitarian vessels they were assigned to produce I dont suggest that they were thinking 'works of art' through all of this, but I am sure they had in mind 'beautiful pots.' And that was enough. It does tell a number of stories about the South, the free South, that are all very interesting; but many of them have to do with how the economics of the region depended almost entirely on the ability of manufacturers and large plantation owners to balance their books through free labor, said Kevin Grogan, director of the Morris Museum of Art in Augusta. ... This particular kind of pottery literally could not have been made anyplace else because of this unique access to a particular kind of clay and these particularly talented people who were raised to do this thing. Dave is my personal hero. I grew up knowing about his capabilities and have a great respect for what he did, said Justin Guy, master potter at Old Edgefield Pottery. ... I think Dave should be remembered as a person who received a unique life, had a natural talent, and expressed that beyond any other person, beyond any other person in his rank or class. Truly an individual, unique to the very definition of unique. My colleague Robert Behre returned from vacation Monday with his first COVID infection. On Wednesday, another colleague announced that his wife had just tested positive. Im not worried about catching anything from either of them they're more than 100 miles away and in any event isolating but when you combine their COVID encounters with the rising hospitalization numbers and stepped-up warnings from state and federal public health officials, my next step seemed obvious. On Wednesday afternoon, I finally got that second booster I had been planning to delay until flu-shot season. If youre among the 72% of Americans of a certain age who havent yet had all four shots, the first thing you need to know is that getting one isnt like it used to be. You might remember having to book an appointment days or weeks in advance if you could even find a place that had any appointments available. On Wednesday, I had my pick of two dozen time slots that same day at the pharmacy only a mile from my house. The pharmacist told me online appointments are still required but that people who dont have one are often able to make it and get the shot while theyre in the store. When I got my third shot last fall, I waited in a long line (even though I had the coveted appointment) with people wearing masks, safely distanced and still sort of freaked out about being around so many other people. On Wednesday, I was the only customer in the pharmacy, and the vibe was decidedly different. Although there were a couple of obligatory get-your-booster signs, the big public health message du jour was sun protection. Behind a display of buy-one-get-one sunburn preventatives and treatments was an eye-catching poster of a pig lying belly up on a beach towel next to a sunglasses-clad strip of bacon. Maybe next time youll try a little sunscreen, the pig is saying. Good advice. If youre terrified of needles and have decided youre not going to get more than one booster a year, then maybe it makes sense to wait for that BA.5 specific shot that might arrive in the fall. Although who knows if that will pan out, and whos to say that summer in South Carolina isnt a more infectious time than the fall will be. Today, we've got high spread in nine Pee Dee counties and medium spread in 26, including Charleston and Richland. Fortunately, most people arent terrified of shots; they just dont like them. As someone with Type 1 diabetes who takes at least five a day, I am both at high risk for complications from COVID and unfazed by needles, although Im not crazy about someone else giving me shots, particularly in my arm. But these are not big needles or painful shots. This one felt like one I would have administered myself, which probably wont comfort the syringe-a-phobes but truly is different from all the other vaccinations I remember getting. The pharmacist told me to expect similar but less severe side effects than the third dose, which was comforting. Unfortunately, she forgot to remind me to take a couple of Aleves, and I forgot to remember. Until 4 a.m. Nothing awful, just some slight body aches that subsided once the drugs started working. And of course the sore arm. The thinking about boosters also has changed over the past year, Dr. Danielle Scheurer, MUSCs chief quality officer, told the in-house publication MUSC Catalyst last week. Today, she said, its less about can we prevent you from altogether getting COVID, and its shifted more to a focus on reducing how sick you get if you happen to get COVID. The chance of any individual getting really sick or dying from COVID remains low the public health threat has always been a matter of simple math, based on the huge portion of the population getting infected but up-to-date immunizations drive those odds down even more. The Post and Couriers Tom Corwin reports that people who have received their boosters are four times less likely to die than those with just the primary vaccination, which is what public health officials call the first two shots. The good news is that while most of you still arent up to date the new CDC term for having all the vaccinations youre eligible for at any given moment, including boosters most South Carolinians are now fully vaccinated with the initial two shots (or one Johnson & Johnson). Better still: The numbers go up with age: 58% of the total S.C. population is fully vaccinated, 65% of those 12 and older and 89% of those 65 and older. Look at that last figure again: 89% of those 65 and older have had at least two COVID shots. Thats important not just because the danger of any sort of infection increases as we age but also because it suggests that at least older South Carolinians are done falling for the anti-vax nonsense thats being peddled by conspiracy theorists, hucksters out to make an easy buck and a certain brand of political opportunists. Now, if only we could achieve an 89% inoculation rate against all the other toxins those folks are spewing. Its no secret that the Bismarck-Mandan community has homeless issues. It was highlighted in recent years when the major Bismarck shelter closed resulting in a scramble for replacement shelters. Finding a solution wasnt easy, requiring the efforts of organizations, local officials and the public. While there are shelters for those in need, the homeless problem still exists. Tribune photojournalist Mike McCleary in a three-part series that concludes today has provided an in-depth look at homelessness in Bismarck-Mandan. First, it must be noted that there are many dedicated people working to help those in need. Both the Bismarck and Mandan public school systems have programs to assist homeless children and their families. Ministry on the Margins, the Missouri Slope Areawide United Way, Heavens Helpers, Carries Kids, Youthworks and other organizations work to shelter and feed the homeless. The state has housing and other programs to help people find a place to live. Yet, there are still too many people without a permanent place to stay. Being homeless has been defined as lacking a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. It almost seems like a bland definition. Then think about it: no regular (daily) or adequate (sufficient) place to stay. Its a life of not knowing where you might sleep on a daily basis. The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction estimates there are 2,300 homeless children, 5 to 18, in most years. Bismarck Public Schools launched Students in Transition in 2003 to help homeless children and their families. The program averages 425 homeless children a year. So far the need for the program hasnt eased. Mark Heinert, Bismarck program manager for Youthworks of North Dakota, said LGBTQ students have an especially difficult time. Along with being homeless, some question their lifestyle. Homelessness may be a chronic problem thats never completely solved. People dont want to lose their jobs, fall into alcohol or drug addiction or suffer mental illness. As a community we need resources available to help the less fortunate. The framework exists with the organizations and programs that McCleary describes in his series. However, they often face an uphill battle when it comes to funding. The United Way last year received $250,000 from the Bismarck City Commission. The funding ends in the fall and apparently wont be renewed because of budget constraints. That means United Way must find another source of funding. The United Way spends a lot of time fundraising for the many programs it offers in the Bismarck-Mandan area. Time that could be spent on other endeavors. Homeless advocates believe the state could do more to make housing more affordable and available to those struggling. It makes sense for the Legislature to review the issue. The groundwork has been laid to help the homeless and we now need to build on it. A Lowcountry resident and active-duty soldier has pleaded guilty in Georgia to defrauding the U.S. government by exploiting relief programs aimed at assisting struggling businesses and disabled veterans. Dara Buck, 39, of Ladson is awaiting sentencing after admitting she led a prolific scheme that cost taxpayers more than $4.5 million over nearly four years, according to investigators. Buck, who is also known as Dara Butler, is an Army chief warrant officer assigned to Fort Stewart, southwest of Savannah. She waived her right to be indicted by a grand jury and pleaded guilty July 14 in federal court to being part of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States. She faces up to five years in prison, restitution and three years in supervised release program. A sentencing hearing has not been scheduled. Dara Buck swore an oath to protect and defend her country, and then engaged in a massive scheme to defraud the nations taxpayers, said David Estes, U.S. attorney for the southern district of Georgia. Investigators said her involvement in the criminal activity began in August 2017 and ended in May 2021. Most of the fraud involved forgivable loans that the U.S. Small Business Administration offered through its Payroll Protection Program, which was launched as an emergency measure in early 2020 to help U.S. employers preserve jobs during the peak of the COVID-19 crisis. Buck admitted filling out and submitting more than 150 fraudulent PPP applications starting in December 2020 complete with "fictitious tax documents that included ginned up financial numbers" to obtain more than $3.5 million for herself and unidentified associates. She also was paid a fee ranging from $500 to $1,000 for each transaction, and received more than $100,000 in loans, according to court documents. The co-conspirators also submitted forms for other individuals who took advantage of the government program. In addition, Buck admitted to sending fake Department of Veteran Affairs letters to the U.S. Department of Education to erase 12 federal student loans totaling more than $1 million. The purpose of the bogus documents was to verify that the borrowers, who each paid her $350 to $500, were unable to work because of permanent, military-related disabilities. In one instance, a debt was forgiven for someone who wasnt even a veteran, said David Spilker, agent in charge of the VAs Southeast Office of Inspector General. While her Army assignment is in Georgia, Buck owns a home in Ladson, according to public property records. GOOSE CREEK The Berkeley County School Board is looking into the constitutionality of a new law that reconfigured the board's representation districts to mirror lines for County Council, and may pursue legal action. Senate Bill 910, sponsored by Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau, and recently signed into law by Gov. Henry McMaster, changes the configuration of the Berkeley County School Board lines to mirror County Council. Previously, BCSD had nine seats, but under the new law it will have eight seats and one at-large seat. Because of the reconfiguration, two board members must now run against each other to keep their position. BCSD Board Chair David Barrow said Crystal Wigfall of District 3, which covered Lebanon and Pimlico, and Frank Wright of District 8, which covered parts of Moncks Corner and snaked around to Jamestown, are now both in District 8. Neither Wigfall nor Wright immediately responded to messages from The Post and Courier. Some community members disapprove of the law. The Goose Creek branch of the NAACP held a meeting July 9 to raise awareness. The NAACP first heard about the bill from Grooms, who had contacted them to inform them about it. Sharina Haynes, president of the Goose Creek branch, said even after going to the local delegation's public hearing, they did not know of the bill's plan to reduce the term of some board members until three weeks ago. We did not have a lot of input on the final version of this bill, Haynes said. Were very concerned about that: the fairness of it, and how that affects the school board members but most importantly our children. Grooms said there was no community input regarding the law and didnt see the need for it. If we were drawing the lines ourselves, we would have had some public forums and invited others who would have an interest in the way the lines would be drawn, which is what county council did, but we weren't drawing the lines, Grooms said. We're just saying the lines would be the same as county council. The new layout of the school board is a result of the requirement to reapportion and redraw the county maps every 10 years in accordance with state Census data. Its up to us to the Senate Delegation, to the subset of the General Assembly of the Berkeley Legislative Delegation it is our responsibility to reapportion the districts, so they have equal population, Grooms said. When McMaster signed the bill into law, it went into effect immediately, meaning all seats of the school board, except for the board chair due to an amendment, are up for grabs. This makes no difference for the board members who represent even-numbered districts as their terms end this year. However, the board members representing odd-numbered districts, their terms end in 2024, but will still be up for reelection in November. Grooms said there was a legal reason why the law would be going into effect immediately, as opposed to Charleston Countys reapportionment going into effect in two years despite being passed earlier this year. He said it falls under the one man, one vote principle in the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution. If we delay the implementation, we would have unequal populations. We would have some members of the Berkeley County School District representing 1/8 of the county, and some representing 1/9 of the county, Grooms said. If we had staggered the terms, it would have been an unconstitutional draw. We would have probably drawn a challenge in federal court and then a judge would have ended up drawing the lines until we can pass something else next year. Barrow said the school board has mixed thoughts on the law and how itll impact them. Those who do not agree with the law take issue with how some board members are having to cut their term short by two years. Some board members are OK with it. The majority are not, Barrow said. We don't feel like it's fair. The voters of Berkeley County voted the odd-numbered seats for four-year terms, not two years. Despite there being some controversy among some members of the school board and some constituents, Grooms said he had received support letters or emails from three school board members: Sally Wofford of District Six, Mac McQuillin of District Two and Michael Ramsey of District One. Wofford, McQuillin and Ramsey did not immediately return messages from The Post and Courier. Grooms said he himself doesnt see any controversy regarding the law. If there's any controversy, it was with the way that council districts differed from school board districts, such that you had some precincts split with 11 different ballot configurations, Grooms said. You're really disenfranchising people, when you got some people on the same street, they would have three different ballots. It is much better if you have uniform local election districts. FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. More than 500 women sought an abortion at a Planned Parenthood clinic in North Carolina last week, many of them from South Carolina. That's half the number for the entire month of June. The Tar Heel State has become a destination for women in the Southeast looking to have abortions as part of the fallout of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling last month that overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case. The court's reversal brought an end to legalized abortion nationwide and left the matter up to state legislators. North Carolina is the closest state for women across the South to get an abortion after the court's decision triggered automatic bans in states like Mississippi, where the case that overturned Roe originated. States with laws like South Carolina's include neighboring Georgia and Tennessee. In Florida, a 15-week ban took effect. Staff members at Planned Parenthood in Charleston and elsewhere have taken on a different role in this post-Roe environment. Tasks include setting up new appointments for patients, coordinating travel and helping with costs, as what is and isn't legal continues shifting across the country. The Palmetto State's fetal heartbeat act took effect three days after the Supreme Court ruling. Similar to laws in at least four other states, it bans most abortions after an ultrasound detects what sounds like a heartbeat, typically around the sixth week of pregnancy. A state House panel meets July 19 to begin debating details of a potential ban. In the backdrop are women like Sarah, a 20-year-old College of Charleston student. She was scheduled to have an abortion the next day when a friend texted her on June 24: Had she seen the U.S. Supreme Courts decision? Someone with Planned Parenthood called her next. Abortion appointments at its West Ashley clinic were canceled as the organization determined what the new ruling meant for South Carolina. Sarah, who asked to use a different name in this story out of concern for her safety, got another call June 25 from Planned Parenthood. An appointment was available in two weeks in North Carolina, if she could get there. When the day came, Sarah woke up at 3 a.m., though shed never really fallen asleep. A friend drove her more than three hours from her home in Charleston to make an 8:15 a.m. appointment at the clinic 200 miles away in Fayetteville, N.C. The Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act Planned Parenthood sued over the "heartbeat" bill within hours of Gov. Henry McMaster signing it last year, blocking it from taking effect until the Supreme Court made the federal challenge moot. The organization filed a challenge July 13 in Richland County, arguing the law violates privacy rights in the state constitution. Whether the law will again be blocked as that case moves through state courts remains to be seen. The law bans abortions after an ultrasound detects what it defines as the steady and repetitive rhythmic contraction of the fetal heart." Opponents call it a six-week ban, since what's heard that early is not coming from a fully developed heart; they argue it bans abortions before many women know they're pregnant. The law requires an ultrasound prior to an abortion. If no heartbeat is detected, an abortion can legally proceed. If an abortion is performed despite a heartbeat being heard, the provider can be charged with a felony punishable by a $10,000 fine and up to two years in prison. Exceptions to the ban include women who are victims of rape or incest and less than 5 months pregnant. The provider is required to report the crime to the local sheriffs office within 24 hours of the abortion. Democratic sheriffs in Charleston and Richland counties Kristen Graziano and Leon Lott have already said their departments wont investigate rapes reported to them by abortion clinics if the victim declines to pursue charges. The Charleston County Sheriffs Office has developed a computerized system for doctors to report abortions under the law's requirements. The system will indicate whether patients want to be contacted and, if so, whether they want investigative or victim services, said spokesman Andrew Knapp. A spokesman for Republican Sheriff Hobart Lewis of Greenville the other South Carolina county with an abortion clinic said the agency will enforce the existing laws. Doctors may perform an abortion in South Carolina if a serious developmental defect means the child won't survive long outside the womb or if it is needed to protect the mothers life. In such cases, the doctor must document why the procedure was deemed necessary and keep those records in the patient's medical file for at least seven years. Those files are banned from public view. The law requires the reporting of all abortions to the state's public health agency within seven days, but without information that identifies the woman. The "heartbeat" law specifies the pregnant woman cannot be criminally prosecuted or fined for getting or seeking an abortion. However, a woman who gets an abortion that violates the law can sue the provider for $10,000, as well as court costs and attorneys fees. The law also specifies that it does not apply to birth control drugs or chemicals that prevent conception, which include the morning-after pill that remains available in South Carolina without a prescription. That emergency contraception, a synthetic hormone, is different from the abortion pills that end a pregnancy. The drugs mifepristone and misoprostol can be taken in combination to abort an embryo, but not beyond 10 weeks. Last year, medication not surgery accounted for nearly three-fourths of abortions in South Carolina. But unlike in other states where women can get the two pills through the mail following an online visit with a doctor, South Carolina patients must come into the clinic to get and take the pills. The state has banned telehealth prescriptions for abortion medication since 2016. It has been against the law for South Carolinians to buy abortion-inducing drugs on the black market or otherwise arrange an abortion at home since at least 1974, shortly after the Roe v. Wade decision. A woman can be sent to prison for two years and ordered to pay $1,000 for what's called a self-managed abortion. Whoever provides the drugs could be imprisoned for five years and fined up to $5,000. But it is unclear how often that decades-old law has been used. In the last three years, one person has been charged under that section, according to the State Law Enforcement Division. The agency had no other additional information. Whether it was the pregnant woman or provider is unknown. Neither the Attorney General's Office nor the state's public health agency has any data on charges or prosecutions for those crimes. The new law doesn't create a special division within the state Attorney Generals Office or any other agency. Since it has no specific instructions, decisions on criminal charges are left to local law enforcement and the local solicitor. Ninth Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson said she plans to continue making decisions about the cases brought to her office based on "evidence collected by law enforcement agents, the aggravating and mitigating circumstances of the situation and the communitys safety." The Charleston County Sheriff's Office will evaluate any reports it receives relating to the new law on a case-by-case basis, Knapp said. "We will not create any further barriers for women to access health care, he said. Officials with both the Charleston and North Charleston police departments are reviewing the new law and educating officers on their role. "There is so much that is unknown right now," said North Charleston Deputy Police Chief Ken Hagge. "If and when these cases arise, we would rely heavily on the 9th Circuit Solicitor's Office for advice and help." Charleston Sgt. Beth Wolfsen said her department has no planned proactive investigations relating to the law. There are growing pains any time a new law comes through, said attorney Sue Berkowitz, a longtime advocate for the poor and director of the S.C. Appleseed Legal Justice Center in Columbia. It will take time to figure out and think through the practical mechanics of the legislation. But its concerning police officers the ones tasked with actually enforcing the law have also been swept up in the confusion, she said. And while everyone is trying to figure out their piece of the puzzle, womens lives will be further upended, Berkowitz said. Timing issues When Sarah made her initial appointment at the West Ashley clinic, she meant to have a medication abortion, the most common method. But abortion is a time-sensitive procedure. An appointment rescheduled for the following day could make a difference in not only what state a patient can get an abortion but also in their options. In the states that allow it, Planned Parenthood will provide the abortion pills through 10 weeks of pregnancy, after which a surgical abortion is needed, said Dr. Katherine Farris, chief medical officer for the organizations South Atlantic region. One of the side effects of these bans is that they will end up causing more abortions later in pregnancy because of the barriers that are in front of patients and their ability to get the care they need, Farris said. Sarah who hadnt received an ultrasound prior to her first appointment could only guess how far along she was, working backwards from her last menstrual period. At the appointment in Fayetteville two weeks later, an ultrasound confirmed Sarah couldnt end her pregnancy with pills. She was 11 weeks and six days pregnant. The Planned Parenthood clinics in Charleston and Columbia are still providing abortions in compliance with the states heartbeat law, said spokeswoman Molly Rivera. The organization is encouraging people to make initial appointments at their nearest clinic if they suspect they might be pregnant. Most people dont know how far along they are, she said. Traveling to another state for an abortion is costly. Sarah and her friend stopped twice for gas between Charleston and Fayetteville, at $90 per fill-up each way. She debated booking a hotel room. She took several days off of work, anticipating time to recover. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic a four-state region that includes North and South Carolina is able to provide up to $600 in financial assistance to each patient seeking an abortion. The money goes toward travel expenses as well as abortion costs, which average $500, Rivera said. North Carolina politics It was barely 8 a.m. the day of Sarah's appointment when Fayettevilles modest skyline came into view. She looked out from her car window at North Carolinas fifth-largest city, home to the Army base Fort Bragg. She periodically glanced at the map screen, counting each minute that passed. The Planned Parenthood clinic is a nondescript building, short and beige, sandwiched between two of the citys main thoroughfares. Cracks of light stream through closed blinds and frosted glass tiles. The patient entrance is hidden around the side, away from the protesters. Sarah threw a blanket over her face when she saw them: Are they looking at me? Clusters of people stood at the sidewalk corner where cars turn in, on the sidewalk bordering the busy four-lane road and along the buildings left side. Some of the protesters waved. One held a sign that read Babies are murdered here. A few paced up and down, eyes closed and arms outstretched, praying for those inside. Staff members offered Sarah a print of her ultrasound at the appointment. She declined. The monitor displaying the embryo was pushed away from her, its volume turned down. Sarah caught a glimpse before she was taken to the education room, where an employee read her a state-mandated script about abortion options and risks. A nurse gave her medicine, something to help with anxiety and pain. Sarah returned to the waiting room as it kicked in and looked around at the other patients. Some were with their partners. Others sat by themselves. The majority of them were young women. All were there for abortions. It sounds bad, but that kind of makes me feel better, she said, to know Im not the only one. After a draft Supreme Court opinion leaked to Politico in May predicted Roes reversal, Planned Parenthood increased staffing and added more clinic days, anticipating an influx of patients, Farris said. The Fayetteville clinic offers abortions three days a week. The nonprofit also created patient navigators who specialize in assisting patients from states with stringent abortion laws. The employees are trained to help people make an appointment at the closest clinic, at the soonest possible time, as well as help secure financial resources. North Carolina has 14 abortion clinics, compared with three in South Carolina. Planned Parenthood operates six of the North Carolina clinics. In 2020, more than 25,000 abortions were performed across North Carolina, according to its health department. Only 1.5 percent of the patients were out-of-state residents. This number has already increased and will continue to rise following the Supreme Court ruling, Rivera said. Planned Parenthood clinics in North Carolina provided abortions to 727 patients in June 2021. During the same month this year, the clinics saw 913 people for abortions, Rivera said. In the last calendar week some 14 days after Roe was overturned there were 562 abortion appointments across North Carolina. Around a third of those patients were out-of-state residents, the vast majority of them from South Carolina and Tennessee. A few had traveled from as far as Texas and Louisiana, Rivera said. Tennessee has a heartbeat law similar to South Carolina, though it will likely soon be superseded by a law banning abortions altogether. The only exception would be to save the mother's life. North Carolina's Planned Parenthood clinics haven't seen too many patients from Georgia, where abortion remains legal through 22 weeks of pregnancy under a law similar to what South Carolina passed in 2016. Georgia's own "heartbeat" law has been blocked by federal courts since 2020, but it is expected to take effect soon. North Carolina has become a haven for people in the South seeking abortions. But with a midterm election looming in November, this access could absolutely be temporary, Rivera said. Abortion remains legal in the state with few restrictions: A patient must wait at least 72 hours after receiving information on abortion methods and fetal development two days longer than South Carolina's mandated 24-hour delay. Like South Carolina, telehealth prescriptions for abortion medication are banned. Additional restrictions could be coming. North Carolina law has banned abortions past the 20th week of pregnancy since 1973, though it has never been enforced. When legislators amended the law in 2015, abortion rights advocates sued. A federal judge declared it unconstitutional. With Roe overturned, North Carolina lawmakers asked Attorney General Josh Stein to get the federal block lifted so the 20-week ban can be enforced. Stein, a Democrat, said his departments attorneys are reviewing the law. Additional legislation would have to pass Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers desk. Cooper, who isnt up for reelection until 2024, has made clear he will veto any bill restricting abortion access. Republicans would need to win several more seats in the November midterm election to reach veto-proof majorities and make any headway. Regardless, GOP lawmakers have promised abortion will be a primary concern next year. North Carolinians can rest assured that we are taking the necessary steps to ensure that current restrictions on the books will be enforced, House Speaker Tim Moore said in a June 24 statement. 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." Months of debate The question in South Carolina, meanwhile, has not been if the state will impose a stricter ban but how far it will go. A 12-member House committee tasked with crafting that chambers proposal heard seven hours of testimony July 7 from an array of people on both sides of the issue, including doctors, lawyers and pastors. No votes were taken. The legislative process resumes July 19, when legislators will begin debating the details. The committee, led by ardent abortion foe John McCravy of Greenwood, is expected to propose banning the procedure. The debate will involve what, if any, exceptions the committee will include in what is now an empty, placeholder bill that then-House Speaker Jay Lucas introduced on the last day of the regular session in May. House Majority Leader David Hiott, a member of the special committee, said he has personally received more than 3,700 emails on the issue. What they're advocating has cycled back and forth, he said, with initial emails mostly protesting against a ban and later batches mostly advocating for one. In all, it's roughly a draw between the sides. And after years of debating abortion, legislators opinions are unlikely to be swayed. The House is not expected to take any additional testimony, said Hiott, R-Travelers Rest. Whatever McCravys group comes up with will then move swiftly through the House Judiciary Committee before the full House takes up the bill next month. The House has previously included exceptions for victims of rape and incest, as well as saving the mothers life, during yearly fights over GOP-sponsored proposals to further restrict abortions in South Carolina. During a 2019 floor debate on that years fetal heartbeat bill which ultimately died in the Senate the exceptions were included after then-state-Rep. Nancy Mace, R-Charleston, took the podium to share her story of being raped at 16. McCravy attempted to strike the exceptions, despite her impassioned plea. His motion failed 38-62. But those voting with him included Hiott and four others now on McCravys committee. What's next? Regardless of what the House does, what becomes South Carolinas post-Roe abortion policy will ultimately be decided in the Senate. Senate Minority Leader Brad Hutto, who has led Democratic fights against GOP abortion measures for years, said he hopes the Senate which prides itself on being the deliberative body finds a way not to put doctors in a situation where theyre forced to choose between following the law and essentially committing malpractice in high-risk pregnancies. I hope our process allows us to carefully think through scenarios in which women face momentous medical decisions, when in many cases, all they want to do is have a child, said Hutto, D-Orangeburg. The ramifications for lets just ban everything are tremendous. Sen. Richard Cash, arguably the Legislatures most strident abortion opponent, has already proposed legislation titled equal protection at conception no exceptions, though it would allow an abortion needed to save the mothers life. It threatens to charge an abortion provider and anyone who helps facilitate the procedure with a felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison. And it makes it illegal to help a girl under 18 cross state lines to get an abortion, a crime that would carry a sentence of up to 20 years. Co-sponsors to Cashs proposal include Senate Medical Affairs Chairman Danny Verdin, R-Laurens, who will lead Senate hearings on the issue. But Cashs bill is not expected to gain traction. For starters, the Senate process will begin with whatever the House sends. And Cashs efforts to outlaw all abortions his primary mission since winning a special election in 2017 have been repeatedly scuttled as too extreme by colleagues in both parties. SC laws restricting abortions South Carolina legislators regularly debate GOP-led proposals to restrict abortions. Heres a look at laws passed in the last 15 years: 2008: Law requires women to wait at least 60 minutes after an ultrasound before getting an abortion. It also requires doctors to ask women if they want to see the ultrasound, either on the screen or on a printout, and women must sign a document verifying theyve been informed of that right. The compromise followed debate over whether women could be mandated to see the images. 2010: Law requires women to wait at least 24 hours after receiving information about the types of abortion procedures, the stages of fetal development, and other options such as adoption. The information is available at health facilities as well as on the public health agencys website to download with a time stamp to prove the required delay. That was a compromise on what critics called the two-trip bill. Opponents argued the initial proposal, which required two trips to the clinic at least a day apart, created a burden, especially for poor, rural women who may have to take two days off work and may have difficulty arranging transportation for even one visit. 2012: The Born Alive Infant Protection Act says a fetus surviving an abortion attempt cannot be treated as medical waste. It defined a person as anyone who is breathing and has a beating heart after birth, whether by labor, cesarean section, or abortion, copying a 2002 federal law enforceable on federal property. 2016: Law bans most abortions beyond 20 weeks fertilization. The only exceptions are if the mothers life is in jeopardy or a doctor determines the fetus cant survive outside the womb. The law ties the fetus age to conception, rather than womens monthly cycle. But since this date cannot be scientifically pinpointed, the ban actually refers to what doctors consider a gestational age of 22 weeks. It affected abortions performed at hospitals only, since clinics already didnt perform abortions past 15 weeks. 2016: A separate law made it illegal to get abortion medication through the mail following an online doctor's visit. 2021: Law bans an abortion once an ultrasound detects a fetal heartbeat, which can occur as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, though opponents dispute whether the sound is an actual heartbeat. The law provides exceptions for cases of rape, incest, or when the mothers health is at risk. The law was immediately challenged and blocked by federal courts. But the U.S. Supreme Court's June 24 ruling made the challenge moot. The injunction was lifted three days later. This year, Hutto and Sen. Sandy Senn, R-Charleston, jointly walked out of a Medical Affairs Committee meeting, blocking a vote on Cashs so-called trigger bill that would have outlawed all abortions if the high court overturned Roe v. Wade as 13 other states had passed. The entire Senate later refused Cashs attempt to take that bill up during special sessions in June. Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, said a look at the Senates past voting is a good indicator of whats to come. Even after the GOP picked up Senate seats in 2020, which led to the fetal heartbeat law passing after years of failed attempts, a majority of senators insisted on providing exceptions for victims of rape and incest, a fetal anomaly in which the child is not expected to survive long outside the womb, as well as protecting the mothers life or long-term health. We had a debate then about exceptions. I dont expect the vote to be different, said Massey, whos among Republicans supporting exceptions. I just think thats the right thing. If theres any movement, he said, the support for exceptions will likely only be stronger following the high courts decision. The difference is that it is no longer an academic argument, said Senate Labor Commerce and Industry Chairman Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, who has made clear throughout the yearslong fetal heartbeat debate that he couldnt support a bill without exceptions, despite his opposition to abortions. Those debates and others over the years were done against the backdrop of knowing any law that defied U.S. Supreme Court precedent on abortion would be blocked in court. Even though the stated goal of many proponents was to challenge Roe in hopes the nearly half-century precedent would be reversed, with that now a reality and the decision entirely up to legislators, we have to look at this with new eyes, Davis said. Were playing with live ammunition now, he said. This isnt an academic exercise. This is actually going to be the law. Im pro-life, but frankly, theres a level of seriousness that wasnt there before. The full Senate is expected to return to Columbia in early September to debate the issue. A final version will likely be sent to McMasters desk by October. While the Republican governor has said he prefers no exceptions, he indicated he will sign whatever further restrictions legislators send him. Steve Garrison contributed to this report from Charleston. Nick Reynolds contributed from Columbia. Were glad to see Columbia searching for ways it can fight back against gun violence after the Legislature bullied it into backing away from earlier efforts. And were particularly glad its focusing on the growing problem of stolen guns. Depending on how a review by the attorney generals office turns out, its something North Charleston, Charleston and other municipalities in the Lowcountry and beyond should pursue as well. Actually, fighting stolen guns is something our Legislature should do or at least green-light if its not clear it has given local governments room to require gun owners to report stolen or lost guns to police or to prohibit them from leaving a gun in an unlocked vehicle. The Post and Couriers Skyler Laird reports that Columbia City Councilwoman Aditi Bussells is working on an ordinance to require reporting of stolen weapons. It comes on the heels of a national study released in May that showed Columbia has a higher rate of guns stolen from cars 173 per 100,000 people than all but two other U.S. cities reviewed; North Charleston came in just behind Columbia at 165. The study by the group Everytown for Gun Safety found that more than half of all stolen guns are now taken from vehicles a growing number of them from vehicles that arent even locked. As Charleston Police Chief Luther Reynolds told columnist Brian Hicks this spring, local gangs are arming up for free, and theyre getting nice ones long guns, hand guns out of unlocked cars. And theyre going to use them. Yet the Legislature has ignored bills to require people to tell police when a criminal has transformed their legal gun into an illegal weapon, or to make it a crime to invite those criminals to steal the guns by keeping them in unlocked vehicles. Mind you, were not talking about creating a dreaded gun registry that the paranoid fringe of the gun lobby is convinced the government wants to create so it can come seize weapons. In the first place, any list would be of people who used to own guns, before they were stolen; second, if we ever got to a point where the political will existed to allow the government to seize the guns of law-abiding citizens, wed have bigger problems to worry about than a list of people whose guns have been stolen. Nor are we talking about anything so radical as requiring parents to keep their guns out of reach of their toddlers just requiring all of us to take the simple, easy step of locking our cars to keep any weapons inside out of the hands of criminals. You'd think everybody would want to do that just because of the cost of replacement. There might be room for Attorney General Alan Wilson to take the position that prohibiting guns in unlocked cars violates an overly broad state law that prevents cities and counties from restricting the transfer, ownership, possession, carrying, or transportation of firearms." But theres plenty of room for him to sign off on the must-report effort, which is long overdue. Mandatory reporting wont stop criminals from stealing guns, but it would give police one more tool to lock up criminals who arent caught in the act of using a stolen gun to commit other crimes. It would be a small but smart addition to our crime-fighting toolkit, and local governments would do well to explore it while we wait for that day when our Legislature decides to do something sensible to protect us from criminals with guns, rather than continuing to kowtow to a gun lobby thats determined to stretch the interpretation of the Second Amendment beyond recognition, regardless of the cost to innocent victims. The newborn did not wail when it happened, but she fussed. All 3 pounds of her squirmed against the folds of the bath towel her mother had wrapped around her after giving birth just hours before. No one knows where she delivered, but it wasn't at a hospital. That afternoon, the young mother who looked to be in her 20s or 30s drove alone to the Northwest Fire Department in Greenwood County. She parked in front of the firehouse and pushed down on the car horn, hard, until help arrived. This was it, the moment of surrender. This legally protected choice to give up a child, which can be found in all 50 states, was cited by the U.S. Supreme Court last month when it overturned the constitutional right to abortion established nearly 50 years ago in Roe v. Wade. Firefighter Toby White heard the blaring and ran outside, abandoning a training session that would have to wait. He reached the car and walked to the driver's side door. The woman behind the wheel rolled down the window. He reached out as she lifted her daughter up through the open car window. Then she repeated the motion. The mother had used an identical towel to swaddle her second little girl in a similar terry cloth embrace. Twins. They were shockingly small. One baby was 3 ounces heavier and a half-inch longer than the other. White stared down stunned as he held one in each arm. I don't want them, the mother told him. Do y'all mind taking them? Looking at her, White said it seemed like she couldn't bring herself to get out of the car. He tried asking questions: What's your name? Are you injured? Do you need medical attention? "But she wasnt there to talk," White said. "It just seemed like she wanted to get out of there." Five years ago on that hot August day, the unidentified woman disappeared after surrendering her babies in a rare but entirely legal choice in South Carolina. No one is sure if such actions, covered under what's known as safe haven laws, will come into greater use in the years to come. But during oral arguments in December, Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who voted with the court majority, floated them as an option to address the burdens of parenting. "Why don't the safe haven laws take care of that problem?" she asked. Surrendering infants rare, but it happens In South Carolina and elsewhere it's unclear if safe haven laws are acting as an abortion alternative. Fifty-three infants have been given up since 2009 under South Carolina's governing "Daniel's Law," according to data from the S.C. Department of Social Services, with five infants relinquished last year. It's a fraction of the more than 6,000 abortions performed in the Palmetto State in all of 2021. Nearly 56,000 live births were reported by state health officials in 2020. The most safe haven surrenders reported in a single year is six, which has happened twice, in both 2016 and 2019. When now-former state lawmaker Doug Smith sponsored South Carolina's Safe Haven Act, he wasn't thinking about it in connection to abortion. The Spartanburg County Republican was trying to prevent more babies from being abandoned on the side of the road, dumped in a ditch, dropped off a bridge or, in one especially troublesome case documented in 2003, being left in a truck stop toilet off Interstate 85. The law, which came to be known as Daniel's Law, is named for the baby boy who was buried in an Allendale County landfill shortly after his mother gave birth to him in September 2000 three months after the law passed. "If the choice is to kill a child or bury it in a landfill, then let's find that alternative," Smith said of his thoughts behind the bill. "We all have to recognize that a child will die without a piece of legislation or a law like this." South Carolina's safe haven law is simple: Infants younger than 60 days old can be left anonymously at a hospital, police station, fire station, outpatient medical facility or any place of worship so long as the child is left in an employees hands. If the baby is unharmed, the parent or person surrendering the child faces no criminal charges. "The mother is not a villain," said Connelly-Anne Ragley, a state Department of Social Services spokeswoman. "She is not a bad person by making this decision. She is making the best decision that she sees fit at the time. This is a courageous choice." Relinquished babies are placed in DSS custody and put in a licensed foster home. At the same time, DSS immediately takes legal action in a series of family court hearings to free the child for adoption and also give family members a chance to step forward and claim the child. "Those in crisis have a safe way to give their babies a loving family under Daniels Law," a DSS brochure promises. As of July 15, there are 3,953 children in foster care in South Carolina. So far this year, 221 adoptions have been finalized, but it is unknown if any of those adoptions were of safe haven babies. While a majority of child welfare advocates praise safe haven laws as being worthwhile even if just one baby is saved, others say these laws have blind spots. No silver bullet Adam Pertman, president and CEO of The National Center on Adoption and Permanency, predicts states like South Carolina could see more children surrendered under safe haven laws if abortion restrictions tighten further. He also questioned the efficacy of these laws, noting that parents still kill and still abandon newborns in dangerous places. "A woman who would kill her kid is not of stable mind, is not emotionally stable, and is not making good decisions," Pertman said. "Well, I'm sorry, but a woman who is ready to kill her kid is probably not going to react to a sign on a bus and have her boyfriend drive her to the police station instead." Sign up for updates! Get the latest political news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! He also cautioned that safe haven laws do not consider the physical and emotional toll a person faces during and after pregnancy. "We know every single woman who abandons or places her child for adoption suffers from trauma," Pertman said. "This has lifelong implications and ramifications. We know that. And abandonment doesn't address any of it. It just treats women like vessels." State Rep. John McCravy, R-Greenwood, represents the county where more infants have been relinquished under Daniel's Law than anywhere else in the state. To date, seven infants, including the twin girls left at the fire station, have been given up here since 2009. No one knows why so many have been left in Greenwood. DSS data about the surrenders is too small and inconclusive, Ragley said. "But those are seven lives saved," said McCravy, who is one the most vocal anti-abortion lawmakers in the Statehouse and is heading the ad hoc committee discussing a potential new ban on abortions in South Carolina. McCravy said he wants to see the state's safe haven law expanded and more widely promoted. "It's like the suicide hotline," he said. "Its important that people know one exists before they decide to do something unthinkable. Same way with this law. They need to know there is a way out for them mentally and that they can do this and save the baby. To me, thats just so important." Asked if he would like to see additional state funding for DSS to do a dedicated public service campaign about Daniel's Law, McCravy hesitated. "I don't know about more dollars. DSS has a lot of dollars already," he said. Summerville sees last pre-Roe surrender When a pregnant woman in her early 20s arrived at Summerville Medical Center last month in early labor, registered nurse Amanda Osborne said something became very clear to the medical team as they talked with her. She was not going to keep the baby. "She knew what she wanted to do but had difficulty communicating that decision," said Osborne, who is the director of the hospital's Mother Baby unit. "She was looking for a safe haven but didn't know how to verbalize it." When the mother learned about the safe haven law, she almost didn't believe it. She kept saying she didn't want to "be in trouble" for what she was about to do. Even now, little is known about the women and parents who surrender these children. Osborne said she's only seen three safe haven mothers during her 20-year career. None of them, she said, had received prenatal care. The reasons why are complicated, ranging from lack of access to care to being in denial or even trying to hide the pregnancy. "On some level, they know. But getting prenatal care means that you are acknowledging and dealing with it, and then needing to make a plan for what happens after," Osborne said. As the mother labored in a room on the second floor of Summerville Medical Center, she faced more questions. Did she want the baby in the room after she delivered? Did she want to hold the baby? She said "no" to both. Hours later, on June 1, she gave birth to a 6-pound, 11-ounce baby boy who was 20 inches long. Three weeks and two days later, the Supreme Court issued its landmark ruling overturning the Roe v. Wade decision, where Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the majority opinion that states have increasingly adopted safe haven laws which "allow women to drop off babies anonymously." Dr. Constance Guille, a reproductive psychiatrist and the director of the Medical University of South Carolina's Womens Reproductive Behavioral Health Program, said the delivery of a child is not the end of the physical and emotional demands of pregnancy. About 20 percent of women will experience a mood, anxiety or substance use problem over the course of pregnancy and the postpartum year. "Because it's not about this single event of birthing a baby," she said. "It's about everything that goes with it." What endures About two or three years ago, someone showed up at the Northwest Fire Station with a pair of twin girls. They were now toddlers still so small in such a big world. The last time they were here, they had each been wrapped in a towel. When they came back, not everyone who was working that day knew their story. Toby White, the firefighter who held them, wasn't on-shift. "I wish someone would have called me," he said. His boss, the bald and broad-shouldered Greenwood County Fire Chief Steve Holmes, said that he understands. "If it's an injury in a car wreck, we can find out later on whether we were successful in helping the children. But these kids," he said, taking a sharp inhale, "we take them and protect them for a few minutes and then we give them to the next authority and they're gone. We never know what happened to them." "And that's, you know, not always a good feeling," he said, "that not knowing." White said he still wonders about those girls. Three weeks after he held them in his arms, his wife gave birth to their daughter. At the hospital, he said he thought of them when he first held his little girl. A police investigator in Rochester, N.Y. parked in an ambulance bay, got angry when an EMT pulling in with an actual patient opened the ambulance door into his car, then roughed her up after she insisted on wheeling in the patient rather than deal with him. Footage from inside the emergency room shows the furious cop lunging at the EMT, pushing her against a wall, handcuffing her, then dragging her out of the hospital. NEW: I just talked with @realmalikevans, he tells me as of 11am, he had not watched the video below but is in contact with the chief and everyone is investigating. @news10nbc pic.twitter.com/dzgsqwzxNX Jennifer Lewke (@WHEC_JLewke) July 15, 2022 The incident happened on Monday. The ambulance bay in front of the emergency room is typically reserved for ambulances only but the investigator was parked there, planning to go inside for a case. Sources tell News10NBC that's when the EMT from Monroe Ambulance got out to unload the patient and hit the police car with her door. The investigator asked for identification but the EMT was intent on getting her patient inside first. She kept moving with the man on a stretcher and when she was at the check-in desk, she was approached by the investigator, her arm pulled behind her back and cuffed before forcefully being taken outside to a police car. The EMT was released without charge after other officers arrived, reports WHEC News, and the investigator assigned to "desk duty" pending an "internal investigation." It has been widely reported that the Biden administration has leaned on tech companies, including social media companies, to censor content with which the administration disagrees. This is not a secret. On the contrary, the administrations spokespeople have bragged about it, and Congressional Democrats have publicly applied pressure to tech employees, in committee hearings, to censor in accordance with the administrations preferences. The social media companies tirelessly tell us that they can engage in censorship because, as private entities, the First Amendment does not apply to them. That is true as far as it goes. However, if the government uses private parties to suppress dissenting opinions, the Constitution is violated. A number of lawsuits have been brought by various plaintiffs to attack the unholy alliance between the Democratic Party and the social media companies, but so far they have failed, mostly on standing grounds. Which brings us to a lawsuit by the States of Missouri and Louisiana against public officials including, among others, Joe Biden, Anthony Fauci and the Department of Health and Human Services. The case is venued in federal court, in the Western District of Louisiana. You can read the Complaint at the link. Legal Insurrection has a good description of the case. This is from a Memorandum of Law submitted on behalf of the plaintiffs: If the White House spokesperson stood at her podium and repeatedly demanded that private booksellers burn certain books that the federal government disfavors, or else face grave legal consequences, everyone would see the First Amendment problem. If federal officials sat in on the editorial board meetings of the New York Times and told them what stories they should run if they want to avoid legal problems, everyone would see the First Amendment problem. This case is worse than these hypotheticals. Here are the words of Jen Psaki, then-White House spokesperson: We are in regular touch with these social media platforms, and those engagements typically happen through members of our senior staff. Were flagging problematic posts for Facebook that spread disinformation. We engage with them regularly and they certainly understand what our asks are. Glenn Decl. Ex. 30, at 9-11 (emphasis added) (Ex. A). The governments problematic posts, id., are those that supposedly contain disinformation and misinformation, especially related to COVID-19, vaccinations, and elections. Glenn Decl., Ex. 29, at 15. Along with members of our senior staff, Glenn Decl. Ex. 30, at 9, officials at HHS and DHS are coordinating and colluding directly with social-media companies to dictate what Americans can and cannot say on their social-media accountsand doing so under the everpresent threat of grave legal consequences to those companies if they do not comply. There is compelling evidence that federal officials, including Defendants here, have adopted an aggressive program to coordinate with private social-media companies to censor and suppress disfavored speech on social media. This is ultra vires and violates the First Amendment. Plaintiff states have moved for a preliminary injunction and for expedited discovery on issues relevant to their motion. The federal government asserted the usual defenses, but on Tuesday Judge Terry Doughty granted plaintiff states motion for expedited discovery. Judge Doughty considered at length and rejected the governments standing arguments. He concluded his technical discussion with this question: If Missouri and Louisiana do not have standing under the facts alleged, when would anyone ever have standing to address these claims? The governments answer, of course, is never. Its alleged violations of the First Amendment would continue forever, without ever being challenged in court. Judge Doughtys order granting expedited discovery is potentially seismic. The plaintiff states can serve document requests and interrogatories on the government agencies, as well as social media companies subject to Rule 45 subpoenas, seeking the identity of federal officials who have been and are communicating with social-media platforms about disinformation, misinformation, malinformation, and/or any censorship or suppression of speech on social media, including the nature and content of those communications. [Emphasis added.] The order sets forth a rapid timetable for resolution of any objections and disputes arising out of plaintiffs service of those discovery requests. The upshot is that in the near futurea matter of a few monthswe may know the details (or many of them, anyway) of how the Biden administration has leaned on, or conspired with, tech companies to censor disfavored information and opinions. Of course the government will fight these disclosures tooth and nail to try to keep its censorship efforts secret. Or, anyway, as secret as they can be, given that the administration has openly bragged about them, and some have occurred in public forums like committee hearings. But there is far more that has yet to see the light of day. I have only briefly reviewed some of the pleadings in this case, but it strikes me that the legal work on behalf of Missouri and Louisiana is goodmuch better than one usually sees in politically-oriented litigation. And Judge Doughty, appointed by President Trump to the federal bench in 2017 and confirmed 98-0 by the Senate, is evidently not reflexively hostile to any challenge to the Biden administration. Who knows? In this case, justice might actually be done. About 29 years after the 1993 Nigerian Airways hijack, a Nigeria-United Kingdom co-production will attempt to breathe life into the story and recreate a movie based on this true-life story. The project, titled Hijack 93: The Mad Men & The Aircraft, would become Nigerias first hijack movie. The hijacked 1993 Nigerian Airways was a domestic flight from Lagos to Abuja, which took off on Monday, October 25, 1993, in the heat of June 12 annulment agitations. Four Nigerian teenagers, Richard Ajibola Ogunderu, Kabir Adenuga, Benneth Oluwadaisi and Kenny Razak-Lawal, hijacked the aircraft carrying 137 passengers. They reportedly said, Ladies and Gentlemen, this plane has been taken over by MAD Men; Movement for the Actualization of Democracy MAD. Remain calm, we will not harm you. You will be told where the plane will land. The four hijackers said they were acting for the Jerry Yusuf-led Movement for the Advancement of Democracy (MAD). Their mission was to reroute the flight to Frankfurt, Germany or Kotoko, Ghana, to declare their organisations message to the world. Their action was in protest against the annulment of the 1993 presidential election widely believed to have been won by the late MKO Abiola. Hijack They succeeded in diverting the Nigerian Airways airbus A310 to Niger Republic after discussions with the Gabonese and Ghanian authorities failed. There, they held the plane hostage for 70 hours, demanding the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria. The operation left one dead, a crew member, and five injured, including one of the four captured hijackers. The UK Government Department of International Trade (DIT), which actively seeks and facilitates UK-Nigeria co-productions in film and television, is the primary sponsor of the film. The British Film Institute, BFI, will also tell this legendary African story through the prism of motion pictures. Collaboration Filmmaker Charles Okpaleke described the project as an unequalled creative mission by Play Network Studios and Native Media TV, collaborating with UK-based filmmaker, Femi Oyeniran. The co-collaborators say a story of an African must be informed and defined by Africans. The project collaborators are critically acclaimed Nigerian producers and one of the finest UK producers and filmmakers. First is Rogers Ofime, whose movies Voiceless and Olobiri tell stories showcasing his experience and industry exposure. There is Charles Okpaleke, the man behind the initiative, with award-winning movies including but not limited to Living in Bondage, Rattlesnake: the Ahanna Story and Glamour Girls. Thirdly is Agozie Ugwu, a film director and producer, who produced the recently released Aki and Pawpaw for Play Network Studios. There is Femi Oyeniran, one of the finest British producers and directors, who wrote an episode of the Netflix Original series Turn Up Charlie by Idris Elba. Mr Oyeniran has been a significant player in the following productions: Sky Atlantic Series: Tin Star, Comedy Centrals Drunk History: Black Stories, and BETs first UK-originated programme, The Culture Capsule. Residents of Osun State, South-west Nigeria, will today go to the polls to elect their next governor. The Osun governorship election is one of the eight off-cycle elections in the country and the second to be conducted this year by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). A total of 15 candidates will participate in todays process. They are the incumbent, Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who is seeking a second term in office; Ademola Adeleke, a former senator, who is the flag bearer of the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); and Yusuf Lasun, a former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, who is the candidate of the Labour Party (LP). The others are Akinade Ogunbiyi of the Accord Party (AP); Akinrinola Omigbodun of the Social Democratic Party (SDP); Segun Awojide, (AAC); Atanda Kehinde (ADP); Awoyemi Adedapo (BP); Rasaq Saliu (NNPP); Abede Samuel (NRM); Ayowole Adedeji (PRP); Ademola Adeseye (YPP); Awoyemi Lukuman (APM); Adebayo Elisha (APP); and Adesuyi Olufemi (ZLP). Although all the candidates campaigned and canvassed votes, the election is expected to be a two-horse race between the APC and the PDP. It is an opportunity for the people of the state to either replace Mr Oyetola or approve his continuation in office for another four years. With 1,463,470 eligible voters armed with their PVCs out of a total of 1,955, 657 registered voters, the election is sure to be a make or mar exercise. The election will be contested in all the 30 local government areas, comprising 332 wards and 3,763 polling units. The electoral commission, INEC, has assured of its readiness to conduct a successful poll. The police and other security agencies have heavily deployed their personnel to protect the ballots and ensure a peaceful process. Civil Society Organisations (CSO) have similarly deployed observers across the 30 year old state. Media organisations are set to give it adequate coverage. It is left for the people themselves to come out and cast their votes peacefully for the candidate of their choice. As Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman, said, For us in INEC, let me reassure political parties, candidates, and the electorate that the choice of who becomes the next governor of Osun State is entirely in the hands of voters. As I have repeatedly said in previous engagements with stakeholders, INEC will not take any action to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate. Our focus is on the processes and procedures as provided by law. PREMIUM TIMES reporters are on ground to bring you live updates of the election. This newspaper will also be ready with timely results as they are announced at the polling units. The Catholic Church has announced the kidnap of two priests, Donatus Sulaiman and John Chietnum. They were kidnapped in Kaduna State on Friday. A statement from the counselor, Kafanchan diocese, Emmanuel Okolo, said the priests were kidnapped at the rectory of Christ the King Catholic Church, Yadin Garu in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State after they arrived there on an assignment, at 5:15 p.m. Mr Okolo called for intense prayers from Catholic faithful and well meaning Nigerians for the safe release of the kidnapped priests. He also called on all and sundry to refrain from taking the law into their hands. Kidnapping for ransom has steadily become a menace in Nigeria with Catholic priests frequently falling prey to the gruesome act, especially in Kaduna and Edo states. READ ALSO: Gunmen abduct two Catholic priests From July 2 to July 4, the Catholic Church confirmed the kidnap of at least four priests, namely, Udo Peter and Philemon Uboh who were both kidnapped in Edo State on July 2; Luigi Brena, an Italian priest also kidnapped on July 3 in Edo State and Emmanuel Silas, who was kidnapped in Kaduna on July 4. The priests were later released by their abductors allegedly after the payment of ransom. In late June, however, two Catholic priests kidnapped in Kaduna and Edo states were both killed by their abductors, PREMIUM TIMES reported. The Minister of Interior and former governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, has travelled out of Nigeria, boycotting todays governorship election in the state, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt. Mr Aregbesola left Nigeria on Friday to attend a conference slated for Monday in Germany by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), reliable sources close to the minister have confirmed. Although the interior ministry does not supervise the agency, it manages Nigerias borders through the Immigration Services, a jurisdiction critical to the NFIUs mandate of checking illicit financial flows. Mr Aregbesola had publicly scorned the second-term ambition of Gov Adegboyega Oyetola, endorsing the former secretary to the state government, Moshood Adeoti. His annointed candidate would later lose to Mr Oyetola at the APC governorship primary election held on February 19. Prior to the primary, Mr Aregbesola had publicly declared his support for a caucus within the states chapter of the APC, The Osun Progressives (TOP), even as he said the caucus is peopled by the real progressives in the party and vowed to unseat the governor. Displeased by the outcome of the primary election, TOP approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to seek the disqualification of Mr Oyetola from the race. The suit was predicated on the argument that Mr Oyetola had taken part in the primary without resigning his membership of the ruling partys national caretaker committee which was then led by the Yobe State Governor, Mala Buni. But on Thursday, Justice Ekwo ruled that the case is a matter within the internal affairs of APC, noting that the court has no jurisdiction to meddle in. The minister could have travelled on Sunday but chose to leave on the eve of the states governorship election for some obvious reasons, those familiar with the matter told PREMIUM TIMES. The sources craved anonymity because they were not permitted to speak on the matter. Aregebsola not invited to work for Oyetola Aide Mr Aregbesolas media adviser, Sola Fasure, said his principal could not have campaigned for APC because he was not invited to work for Governor Oyetolas second-term bid in Osun. Mr Fasure said the former governors name was conspicuously absent from the list of the 86 members of the APC National Campaign Council for the Osun governorship election. He has not been personally invited by the governor to be in his campaign and he is not a member of the State of Osun election council, the official told PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview. If you get the list, you will see that his name is conspicuously absent. What role do you expect him to play? he said. TOP backs APC, silent on Oyetola Meanwhile, Mr Aregbesola-backed TOP said it remains a part of the APC despite the alleged rancorous approach of Mr Oyetolas administration towards its members. A former commissioner in the state and Mr Aregbesolas loyalist, Sikiru Ayedun, said in a statement released on Friday on behalf of the factional group that the one-sided pattern of Mr Oyetolas administration led to the unholy division in the party. The ministers loyalists however appeared to be apathetic about supporting Mr Oyetola, despite claiming to be members of the APC in the state. Nevertheless, we remain unflinching members of our party, the All Progressives Congress and stand by its ideals, irrespective of our travails or even the outcome of tomorrows election, the statement read in parts. We are long-distance runners and will not abandon the ship of our party, in calm or stormy waters. Meanwhile, sources within the Aregbesola-backed APC factional group have remained indifferent about the ongoing election, after the court struck out the case against their candidates prayer. If he was not invited, it means that the state governor believes he can win the election without him, one of the sources, who asked not to be named, said. The government has spent four years attacking and maligning him maliciously, it means he is not reckoned with. The minister was said to have attended an event recently organised by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Lagos before flying to Abuja on the same day. Contacted to officially confirm the whereabouts of Mr Aregbesola, the spokesman of the interior ministry, Ajibola Afonja, said he could not immediately tell the current location of the minister. I cannot immediately confirm that, he said briefly. The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) says data from its Election Analysis Centre (EAC) shows that 97 per cent of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) poll staff arrived at polling units in Osun by 8:30 a.m. Ayomola Oluranti, an analyst at CDD-EAC and a Senior Lecturer at Babcock University, Ogun, made the disclosure in Abuja in the centres first interim statement on the Osun Governorship Election on Saturday. According to Ms Oluranti, CDD-EAC deployed 300 trained and accredited observers to collect data on key aspects of voting and related processes. She said that the objective was to determine through evidence-based analysis, the credibility of the election in meeting and satisfying canons of electoral integrity under Nigerian laws and international codes and standards. Ms Oluranti said that the data also showed that 79 per cent of INEC poll officers addressed voters before 8:30 a.m., the official time for poll opening. She said the data also indicated that there were critical election materials in at least 92 per cent of polling units. These are ballot papers, Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices, result sheets, ballot boxes and voter registers. They were available for the conduct of the election a marked improvement over 83 per cent recorded in Ekiti. CDD-EAC notes that INEC took some steps to address some of the gaps identified in the Ekiti State Governorship Election last month. INEC has embedded officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the INEC situation room in Osogbo to help address issues around deployment of personnel and movement of voting materials, she said. Ms Oluranti said that the commission conducted a mock accreditation exercise in Osogbo, Borife, Ede, and Egbedore to test the preparedness of its trained staff and the efficiency of the BVAS. She said that the mock accreditation exercise carried out to know the readiness of the 5,306 BVAS machines appeared to have worked. She added that there was a BVAS machine and compliance in 99 per cent of the polling units visited, with two pollings units in Ife Central and Irepodun reporting absence of BVAS machines at 9:30 a.m. The analyst, however, said that CDD-EAC observers reported cases of political party agents campaigning and canvassing for votes near polling units in 14 local government areas, which represented 9.6 per cent of the polling units observed. Ms Oluranti said that the acts, which contravened the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, were mostly reported by observers in Ife Central, Odo Otin, Osogbo, Oriade and Irepodun. She added that CDD-EAC observers noticed unremoved campaign posters at some polling units, just as political party agents openly canvassed for votes. She said that a number of fake news stories, misleading captions for images and sharing of dead online links were being used by some political actors to mislead voters. CDD-EAC fact-checkers have also documented claims and counter-claims by political actors over allegations of vote buying. Using online tools and a range of verification techniques, CDD-EAC fact-checkers have been working to independently fact-check online and offline misinformation capable of undermining voter confidence. One of the major fake news stories, which began trending as voters headed to the polls this morning, is the claim that Peoples Democratic Party Candidate, Ademola Adeleke had been sacked by a court, she said. Ms Oluranti said that CDD-EAC fact checkers verified and found the claim to be false. She added that CDD-EAC fact-checkers spotted a claim that a candidate was asking voters to swear that they would vote for him before he would pay them. She said that CDD-EAC fact-checkers found nothing on the circulated image to lend credence to the claim. Our fact-checkers also noted that the image, which was circulated to make the claim, was taken at the point the candidate was casting his vote, she said. (NAN) The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) and some Civil Society Organisations have identified cases of electoral violence, thuggery and late commencement of voting in some polling units (PUs) in the Osun State governorship election. This was contained in a statement jointly signed by the CJID, Premium Times, International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Daily Trust Newspaper, Nairametrics, Orient Daily and RoundoffNews. The exercise, which is underway, has witnessed a fair turnout of voters. Already, voting has ended in some polling units and votes are being sorted and counted. The CJID said while electoral materials and officials of the electoral umpire, INEC, arrived early at over 70 per cent of the polling units, this did not translate to the timely opening of polling units. And at mid-day, only 40 per cent of the polling units observed started on time, while 58.9 per cent of the PUs opened late. The Centre also observed incidences of limited BVAS and non-functionality at some polling units observed. Some of these incidents were reported in PU 013 Ward 10 Egbedore LGA, PU 006 Ward 04, Iwo LGA, PU 002 Ward 07, and Oke Adan LGA. There were also reports of missing names of registered voters on the BVAS. These voters, CJID says, were prevented from voting despite having their permanent voters cards. Frustration arising from malfunctioning BVAS and slow voting process led to violence in some polling units, the statement said. Other reported incidents of violence resulting from thuggery were observed at PU 002, Ward 07 in Orolu LGA, and PU 005, Ward 05, Iwo LGA, where some suspected thugs clashed with security agencies. Incidences of vote trading were also reported in PU 010, Ward 03, Ife East, PU 01, Ward 04, and Iwo LGA where party agents were seen taking down the names of voters who had agreed to sell their votes for a particular amount. Similarly, more cases of vote-trading were reported in PU 02, Ward 06, Iwokan LGA, PU 003, Ward 03, Ife South LGA, and PU 003, Ward 07, and Ife North LGA as voters were openly offering to sell their votes. The CJID also faulted electoral officials and electorates for low adherence to the COVID-19 guidelines. It implored everyone to observe the COVID-19 protocols as the safety of citizens is a foremost concern. The Centre, however, commended officials for complying with Section 25 of the INEC guideline on priority voting which was given to elderly voters, pregnant women, the sick and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in LGAs. However, there were still incidences of voters who did not have adequate assistance, especially those with a physical disability. In Polling Units 1& 2 of Ward 3&4 of Atakumosa, voters using walking sticks could not access critical areas of the facility because of high ramps and stairs. More attention should be paid to the news of PWDs to fulfil the duty foisted on INEC by s. 54 of the Electoral Act of 2022. The 2022 governorship election is the seventh gubernatorial election in the state since Nigerias return to democracy in 1999 and it is held across the 30 local government areas of the state. As sorting and counting of votes are underway, many have said it is a two-horse race between the incumbent governor, Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress and Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Three persons, including two police officers, have been killed and then set ablaze by gunmen at Amukabia, Achalla, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigerias South-east. The police spokesperson in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday. He said the slain officers were among a six- man police team who had gone to recover a Toyota Sienna Space Wagon vehicle earlier snatched by the hoodlums. He said the gunmen snatched the vehicle at a gun point on July 9 in Oye-Agu Abagana, a community in Njikoka Local Government Area of the state. The officers had embarked on the operation, accompanied by an expert in car-tracking, but were ambushed by the gunmen who captured the two officers and the car tracker, Mr Ikenga said. The police spokesperson said police operatives killed some of the gunmen and destroyed three of their camps during a counter operation on Friday. Unfortunately, some of the hoodlums escaped with bullet wounds, having already murdered their captives and set their bodies ablaze, he said. He said the remains of the slain officers and the civilian have been recovered and deposited in a morgue. One human skull, a locally made rocket propelled grande RPG launcher, two (RPG) bombs, one single-barrel long gun, empty chain of bullet, one Toyota Sienna and one Mercedes Benz SUV, were among the items recovered from the gunmen, according to the police. Others are: two cylinders, a huge quantity of hard drugs, a police beret and a police belt. He said the police have begun an operation to track down the fleeing suspects. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Echeng Echeng, has condoled with the families of the slain civilian and the two police operatives, Mr Ikenga said. Mr Echeng described the incident as a classic example of the risk and sacrifices the police are exposed to in the task of serving and protecting the country. ALSO READ: Police kill two gunmen in Anambra The police commissioner assured residents of the state that the police were intensifying efforts towards reclamation and domination of all areas occupied by hoodlums in the state. He vowed that the hoodlums and their accomplices would be apprehended by the police and brought to justice. Increased attacks Security in Nigerias South-east has deteriorated lately, with frequent attacks by armed persons across the region. Anambra State has witnessed some of the worst attacks in the region. The attacks often target security agencies, government officials and facilities. The Nigerian government has accused the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region. But the group has repeatedly denied their involvement. The separatist group is leading agitation for an independent state of Biafra which they want carved out from the South-east and some parts of the South-south Nigeria. The IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is detained in Abuja where he is facing trial for terrorism. A 95-year-old man, Adekunle Benjamin, and a 90-year-old woman, Shabina Oladipo, were spotted voting at their polling units in Oogi Town, Ayedaade Local Government areas, as early as 7.00 a.m. Mr Benjamin told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at Unit 7, Ward 8 in Oogi, that he came out early to vote because of his faith in a better Nigeria. He said he came out as early as 7.00 a.m. to cast his vote for his preferred candidate. Mr Benjamin, who said he has voted since 1952, said he also came out to vote for a better economy. I am 95 years of age, and I have been voting since 1952. I still have faith in this country. I am here to exercise my civic responsibility and to vote for my candidate for a better dividend of democracy, he said. Mr Benjamin appealed to candidates in the election not to see the election as a do-or-die affair. Politics is a game and not a fight. No matter what the outcome of the election might be, the winner and the loser should see themselves as one, he said. The nonagenarian commended INEC for the timely arrival of their officials at the polling unit. Mrs Shabina Oladipo, 90, spotted while waiting to be accredited at Unit 7, Ward 8, Oogi Town, Ayedaade Local Government, said she came out early to vote because of her desire for peace and the development of the state. Mrs Oladipo said she believed that her preferred candidate would fulfil his campaign promises. READ ALSO: She also appealed to the electorate to come out and vote. An over 100-year-old man, Mustafa Olatunji, was spotted voting at Unit 2, Ward 1, LA Primary School Popo, Iragbiji in Boripe Local Government area of Osun, at the ongoing governorship election. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Mr Olatunji was visibly the oldest person in the queue at the polling unit when accreditation and voting began at about 8.30 a.m. Mr Olatunji told NAN that he had been voting since the days of Obafemi Awolowo, saying, voting is my civic responsibility. According to him, I am over 100 years old and have been voting since Awolowos era. I am happy with the election process and always motivated to see people coming out to vote during the election. Election is the only process by which people can choose the leaders they want, he said. Asogwa Ngozika, the presiding officer of the polling units, said they arrived at the polling unit at 6:30 a.m. Ms Ngozika said the voters were also orderly. NAN reported that accreditation of voters and voting commenced smoothly at 8:35 a.m. (NAN) When Trump told the J6 rioters "we love you, you're very special," perhaps the most lovable and special rioter in the eyes of the orange-tinted fascist was Guy Reffitt. A leader of the Three Percenters (a violent extremist movement), Reffit wore a camera on his helmet during while leading rioters in the assault on the U.S. Capitol. Reffitt attacked police officers and broke into the Capitol armed with a pistol, declaring his intent to capture Nancy Pelosi and Mitch O'Connell. He was recorded saying to his fellow insurrectionists: I'm taking the Capitol with everybody fucking else. We're all going to drag them motherfuckers out kicking and screaming. I don't give a shit. I just want to see Pelosi's head hit every fucking stair on the way out. Fuck yeah. And Mitch McConnell too. Fuck 'em all. They fucked us too many goddamn years for too fucking long. It's time to take our country back. I think everybody's on the same damn wavelength. And I think we have the numbers to make it happen. We've got a fucking president, we don't need much more. We just get rid of them motherfuckers and start over. From Heather Cox Richardson: Back in Texas, Reffitt deleted a thread of messages between him and another plannerthe FBI was able to recover itand threatened to hurt his teenaged children if they reported him. Reffitt has a history of domestic violence, including threatening his wife with a gun. When you hear Trump, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, Paul Gosar, Andrew Clyde, and almost everyone else in the GQP praising the "very special" people who conducted themselves like "normal tourists" in "legitimate political discourse" during the violent riot, they are talking about Guy Reffitt, a person so vile he threatened to shoot his own wife and children. Armed persons on Friday attacked Garin Gabas community in Mallammadori Local Government of Jigawa State, killing two people and abducting one person, residents of the area said. Residents said those killed attempted to foil a kidnap and were shot by the gunmen. Residents said the gunmen abducted Musa Ismail, a 22-year-old. The police spokesperson in Jigawa, Lawan Adam, confirmed the incident on Saturday. Mr Adam said two persons sustained gunshot wounds, and they are responding to treatment at a health facility. The police said the incident occurred at about 2:30 p. m. During the ugly incident, people that came out (to help) were shot by the hoodlums: Garba Dashe, Ibrahim Sumaila, Sani Waziri and one other person is yet-to-be-identified. They were rushed to General Hospital Hadejia, two out of the four were confirmed dead. READ ALSO: Effort is on top gear to rescue the victim and arrest the culprits, he said. The abduction followed another last month where the mother of Tijjani Ibrahim, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Jigawa South-west senatorial district was kidnapped in Tsangayawa area, Kiyawa local government area. Unlike other states in the countrys North-west region, kidnapping for ransom in Jigawa is not common. Armed banditry is also infrequent. But attacks by gunmen continue unabated in Nigerias troubled North-west region where Jigawa is located, despite the much-vaunted claim by the President Muhammadu Buharis administration that they have succeeded in quelling unrest across the country. Some voters in Osun State have described the electoral process in the ongoing governorship election as slow. Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is seeking a second term. He is being challenged by 14 other candidates, including Ademola Adeleke of the PDP and Yusuf Lasun of Labour Party (LP). Many voters in Ayetoro, polling unit 003, Itaefun Settlement, Olorunda Local Government Area, told PREMIUM TIMES that they have been standing for hours waiting to vote but could not do so. The council has over 2,000 registered voters. As of 2:15 pm, more than 300 voters were on the queue expecting to be attended to by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials. It has been peaceful. The process is very long. They should consider more BVAS for this unit. I have been here for over four hours, Muyiwa Agara, a middle-aged man, said. Teniola Kolawole, another voter in the queue, said the process was dull. She suggested that INEC officials ought to be more in number due to the number of registered voters in the unit. Alalade Sunday, who said he has been standing for about three hours, shared the same opinion with the other voters. He, however, suggested that more voting materials be distributed to cater for the number of voters at the units. For the next election, they should bring more officials and materials. That will be better, he said. Another voter, Odunola Ogundijo, said in order to quicken the process, especially at the polling unit, the electoral umpire should encourage people to transfer to a place close to their homes. Where I came from is far. Its a 15 minutes drive from here. Meanwhile, one of the five electoral officials on duty insisted that the process is not slow. She said they are using three Bimodal Modal Accreditation System (BVAS) devices. She said the electronic device to read the PVC, should be improved upon as it took him 10 minutes to vote. The Cleen Foundation Election Security Support Center has lauded the conduct of security personnel at Saturdays Osun governorship election. Ruth Olofin, acting executive director of the foundation, said this on Saturday in Abuja at a news conference on the conduct of security personnel at the poll. Mrs Olofin, represented by Chigozirim Okoro, the programme manager, said the conduct of the security personnel deployed on election duty was commendable. Cleen Foundation in line with its mandate to promote public safety and security, deployed 60 citizen observers across the 30 Local Government Areas (LGA) of the state. It is to observe the conduct of security personnel on election duty at the Osun election. The ESSC observed, tracked, documented, escalated, and followed up on security-related development across the 30 LGAs where its observers were deployed. The ESSC observed that 85.1 per cent of security personnel arrived early at the polling units across the 30 LGAs, she said. According to her, security personnel at the polling units, in compliance with electoral laws, were not armed. She, however, said that armed security agents were present in some polling units such as PU 007, Ward 29/17/06/015 Adeniji, Ila Local Government Area. Other security men on election duty maintained a reasonable distance from the polling units and patrolled the units periodically 68.1 per cent of the polling units had three or more security personnel, 93.6 per cent wore easily identifiable name tags, while 40.4 and 53.2 per cent of the security were approachable. And majority of the ESSC observers felt safe and secure at the polling units, she said. She lauded the personnel of the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for their good conduct and urged them to maintain professionalism until the end of the electoral process. Mrs Olofin said the overall conduct of the security personnel was good. She said there was a need to look into cases of vote-buying as observed at the poll and ensured it was stamped out from the countrys electoral process. She lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission for its coordination and near absence of logistics challenges in the conduct of the election. She urged the commission to investigate and prosecute electoral offenders, especially those found to have been engaged in vote-buying. (NAN) The Vice Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kashim Shettima, has reacted to the controversy trailing his nomination for the position. Mr Shettima, while receiving members of the partys professional forum at his residence in Abuja on Friday, dismissed the allegation of islamisation agenda levelled against the presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu. He said the former Lagos State governor did not Islamise his household and has allowed his wife to practice Christianity. Mr Tinubu, on Sunday announced Mr Shettima as his running mate, ending weeks of speculation on a possible running mate. Since the announcement of Mr Shattima as the vice presidential candidate, there have been divergent views by different groups and individuals. While many have defended and justified the choice, others have spoken against it, including many members of the APC and close allies of Mr Tinubu, Babachir Lawal, a former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) and a close ally of the APC presidential candidate, expressed dismay with the decision. In a long statement, he alleged that Mr Tinubu has surrounded himself with sycophants and bigots. Also, Elisha Abbo, a senator from Adamawa State resigned from Tinubu Campaign Organisation in protest against the Muslim/Muslim ticket, while Kenneth Okonkwo, a Nollywood star, resigned from the APC. While speaking on the controversy trailing his nomination, Mr Shettima said Mr Tinubu did not impose his faith on his wife and children and therefore cannot be accused of having an agenda to impose his faith on the country. He added that Mr Tinubu was the first governor in Nigeria to hand over mission schools to churches. Mr Shettima urged Nigerians to focus on the lager picture. I want to reassure Nigerians that are accusing him (Tinubu) of attempting to Islamize Nigeria, has he started with Islamizing his own family? Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu yes his running mate might be a Muslim, but his life mate of over 40years is not only a Christian but a pastor of Redeemed Christian Church of God. He did not impose his own Islamic faith on his children. He was the first governor to hand over mission schools back to their owners, he has groomed people from all walks of life. I think we have to look at the larger picture, the task before us which is to transform this nation into a fair and just society, where everyone will have a sense of belonging. We should learn to accommodate and embrace one another, he said. The ruling party is yet to officially unveil Mr Shettima as the vice presidential candidate. He was scheduled to be officially unveiled on Thursday. However, the event was postponed without any explanation. A faction of the Osun State All Progressives Congress, The Osun Progressives(TOP), has said it remained committed to the ideals of the party and would work to ensure that the party emerged victorious on Saturday. The group loyal to the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, had been at war with Governor Gboyega Oyetola after he fell out with the minister, who is his predecessor. They had backed a former secretary to the state government, Moshood Adeoti, to win the APC governorship ticket during the primaries against Mr Oyetola. Mr Adeoti lost the primaries to Mr Oyetola and went to court to challenge the outcome. TOPs statement is coming 24 hours after a Federal high court in Abuja dismissed a suit filed by Mr Adeoti challenging the nomination of Mr Oyetola as the governorship candidate of the party. It puts paid to speculations that the group may work for the Peoples Democratic Partys candidate, Ademola Adeleke, in the election. The groups position was made known by a chieftain of the party and former commissioner in the state, Sikiru Ayedun. He said they remain a part of the APC despite alleged maltreatment of its members by the governor. As the Osun Governorship Election comes up tomorrow, we The Osun Progressives (TOP) have been inundated with calls, questions and demands for our position by the media and our supporters and enthusiasts, the group said. Nevertheless, we remain unflinching members of our party, the All Progressives Congress and stand by its ideals, irrespective of our travails or even the outcome of tomorrows election. We are long-distance runners and will not abandon the ship of our party, in calm or stormy waters. The group lamented that the Oyetola-led government excluded Mr Aregbesola from all arrangements regarding the campaigns. The policy of exclusion in Osun APC is so deep that Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who is the immediate past governor of the state and the current minister from the state, was neither consulted, invited nor included in any party matter, the most recent of which is the APCs Osun Campaign Council for this election. This posturing has riven the party, the group noted. Fundamentally, we are unabashedly democrats of the progressive hue. We live its credo and our entire being is in it. The group also recalled the administration of Rauf Aregbesola produced a successor in Gboyega Oyetola, against all odds, and by snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. We worked hard on the mantra of continuity, the continuation of the giant development strides of the Aregbesola administration, which endeared the party to the people of the state, producing the victory that brought Governor Oyetola into office, the group further said. As a caucus within the party, we have consistently made strident efforts at peace and reconciliation within our party. For this, we have only asked for one condition, which is inclusiveness. The group said the governor and his loyalist had turned his office and the party into a zero-sum game. You are either with them or against them. They rejected any idea of inclusiveness. They rebuffed all propositions for peace and reconciliation and not even a councillorship position was ceded to any other section of the party outside of the Ileri-Oluwa caucus. Any party member that is not publicly demonstrating obscene loyalty to the governor and attacking Ogbeni Aregbesola or anyone remotely or directly associated with him is branded an enemy and marked for alienation from government and party offices. Worse still, the independent-minded party members not praise singing the Governor are subject to insidious and malevolent attacks. Our association, a caucus within the State of Osun All Progressives Congress (APC), was founded last year when we alarmingly saw the direction our party was going. It was like the falcon could no longer hear the falconer. We were filled with trepidation on the tempest long foretold. When contacted for a reaction, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ismail Omipidan, said he would not react to the position of the group. The police in Akwa Ibom have rescued 28 fishers abducted by pirates in the state. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Olatoye Durosinmi, disclosed this while briefing reporters in Uyo on Friday. Mr Durosinmi said the fishers were rescued through intelligence. According to him, as soon as he got a report of the abduction, he drafted marine officers who were able to rescue the victims at the creeks where the gang held them hostage for over eight hours. He said the pirates always posed as fishers to carry out their nefarious activities on unsuspecting fishers. The 28 men and women you see here are the people rescued by marine police officers. The victims at about 18:00hrs (on Thursday) were attacked at sea by a five-man gang of pirates. They seized the boat of the victims and put them where they would not come out. These men of the underworld will pretend to be fishermen and weve actually caught five of them before and they are in detention. The long arm of the law will soon catch up with them. The gang pretending to be fishermen bumped into the victims and asked them to get into the boat, he said. The police commissioner said one victim had the phone number of the local government chairman who later alerted the police of the incident. The usual practice is that the men and women go out on Thursday and come back on a Sunday. They were there all through the night searching where the victims were, and by 10:00hrs, my officers found them around a creek with their boat. As I speak, the detachment of the marine officers are still trailing the suspects, he said. Mr Durosinmi said the victims would be taken to the police clinic for proper medical attention before they would reunite with their families. He gave assurance that the police would continue to ensure that the land and waters remained safe for the people in the state. I have taken care of the victims, I will take them to police clinic and they will be released to members of their family soon. I want to assure the public that I will do all within my powers to ensure that Akwa Ibom is safe in both land and at the sea, the commissioner said. One victim, Victoria Pius, said the pirates collected N1 million from her, which was part of a loan she collected, and was to pay back with interest. They shot in the air several times, beat us before collecting our things, she added. (NAN) Gunmen in the early hours of Saturday abducted a top official of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Kingsley Okorafor. Mr Okorafor was abducted close to his residence in Umuadara Umulogho autonomous community in Imo State. A traditional ruler of the community, Patrick Uwalaka, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Mr Uwalaka said the incident caused a stir in the community, particularly as it happened about three kilometers away from a military checkpoint in the area. A member of the family who pleaded anonymity told NAN that the victim attended the wake of a traditional ruler of one of the autonomous communities in Obowo Local Government Area of Imo. The source said he believed the NDDC official was trailed after he left the wake to his community where he was abducted, while his car was left behind. The abductors had not made contact yet with the victims family. NAN could not immediately get the police spokesperson in Imo State, Mike Abattam, to comment on the incident. Abduction-for-ransom is one of the prevalent crimes in many cities across Nigeria. (NAN) The Lagos State Government has directed all approved, registered and unregistered private nursery, primary and secondary schools to upload their information on its website as part of data gathering of schools that is still in operation in the state. It said the registration is mandatory for all private nursery, primary and secondary schools. This is contained in a statement by Abiola Seriki, the director general, Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) at the states ministry of education. The statement noted that the registration exercise commences on Friday, July 15, 2022 and will end on Friday August 12, 2022. It added that; mandatory registration, data update and validation exercise for all approved, registered and unregistered nursery, primary, secondary and sixth form schools operating in Lagos State. The school registration and validation exercise is required to ascertain schools still in operation in the state. The Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) is responsible for the standardisation, monitoring and regulation of all schools (private and public) below the tertiary level in Lagos State which includes the establishment and management of the database of all private schools in the state. Registration process The statement further directed that all the concerned schools are to use a Gmail account to complete the form, adding that all approved schools will be required to visit the OEQA for verification exercise at a date to be communicated. It said: With the use of a google mail account, proprietors and proprietresses of schools are required to complete the form, upload a copy of their national identity card, basic information of current school managers and administrators and other relevant documents requested. Schools with multi-campuses must register each individually. For registration, all schools below the tertiary level are required to visit the website of the Office of Education Quality of Assurance (www.oeqalagos.com) to access the data update form and download guidelines to complete the form. The form can also be accessed by typing the applicable link below into a browser. 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. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has won the Osun State governorship election in the polling unit of the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola. The ruling party scored 164 votes to win at Unit 1, Ward 8, Ilesa, Ilesa East Local Government Area. The APC defeated the closest rival, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which scored 134 votes. PREMIUM TIMES reported how the minister boycotted the election and left Nigeria on Friday to attend a conference slated for Monday in Germany by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU). Mr Aregbesola has been at loggerheads with the state governor, Gboyega Oyetola and had publicly opposed his second-term ambition. He had endorsed the former secretary to the state government, Moshood Adeoti, his annointed candidate would later lose to Mr Oyetola at the APC governorship primary election held on February 19. However, an APC faction loyal to Mr Aregbesola, has vowed to continue to work for the party. The faction known as The Osun Progressives (TOP) said they would support the workings of the party despite ill treatment from the governor. Voting has ended in many polling units in the state and results are already being announced in some areas. Mr Oyetola has won at his polling unit by a wide margin, polling 545 votes to defeat his closest rival, Ademola Adeleke of the PDP, who scored 69 votes. He had voted at unit 2, Ward 1, Iragbiji, Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State. While Mr Adeleke won his own polling unit 009, Ward 02, Abogunde area of Ede North Local Government Area, with 218 votes. Mr Gboyega came behind him with 23 votes. The presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, on Saturday met with Speakers of Houses of Assembly of states governed by the party. Speakers at the meeting which held in Abuja include Mudashiru Obasa of Lagos, Olakunke Oluomo of Ogun, Idris Garba of Jigawa, Kennedy Ibeh of Imo, Eteng Williams of Cross River, Funminiyi Afuye of Ekiti, and Oleyelogun Bamidele of Ondo. Others are Abdulkarim Lawan of Borno, Abdullahi Bawa Wuse of Niger, Ahmed Lawan Mirwa of Yobe, Musa Maigari of Katsina, and Siddi Buba, deputy speaker of Gombe. At the meeting, Mr Tinubu promised them active roles in his campaigns ahead of 2023 general elections. He commended the Speakers for the earlier roles they played ahead of his emergence as the presidential flag bearer of the party. He also used the opportunity to explain why he chose Kashim Shettima, a former governor of Borno State, to be his running mate. The APC Speakers had visited Tinubu to congratulate him on his victory at the partys reecent special convention where he was elected candidate. They also pledged to support him ahead of the general elections. While appreciating the Speakers, Mr Tinubu, who noted the tasks ahead of 2023, assured them of roles to play in the campaign. According to him, Mr Shettima was finally chosen as his running mate after wide consultations and some considerations. He described him as a patriotic and passionate man with the capacity to serve. Mr Tinubu explained that since the APC chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, is from the North-central, it was just right to look at another zone, especially the North-east, for his running mate. He praised the President, Muhammadu Buhari, for his magnanimity and understanding on the issue of the selection of Mr Shettima as a running mate just as he appealed to Nigerians to see beyond religion in their quest to strengthen democracy and make Nigeria successful. I am a Muslim married to a Christian, a pastor, he said, noting his flexibility to spiritual ideologies. On June 13, the House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Reform held a hearing titled, "The Impact of the Supreme Court's Dobbs Decision on Abortion Rights and Access Across the United States." Towards the end of this hearing, there was a rather infuriating exchange between US Congressperson from Massachusetts, Ayanna Pressley, and Erin Morrow Hawley, Senior Counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom. In the exchange, Hawley repeatedly tries to talk over Pressley, while playing word games about the definition of "abortion," she tries to argue that terminating an ectopic pregnancy is not an abortion. At one point, Pressley says to Hawley, "It seems there is a deficit in your understanding of reproductive health," and cites ACOG (The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), which states that the "treatment for ectopic pregnancy requires ending a non-viable pregnancy." Hawley pipes up again, arguing, "That's not an abortion because it does not have the intent to end the life of a child." So what's an abortion? According to ACOG, "Abortion is a medical intervention provided to individuals who need to end the medical condition of pregnancy." What Hawley is trying to do here is create a false narrative that serves the anti-choice crowd she's trying to argue that the treatment of ectopic pregnancies won't be altered by the repeal of Roe v. Wade. In fact, though, this is exactly what's been happening. Grace Alexander on Twitter explains, Ms. Hawley is trying to say that hospitals are NOT delaying treatment of ectopic pregnancy because this treatment is "not abortion." Odd, because hospitals certainly seem to think they are delaying care for ectopic pregnancies for exactly this reason. And Alexander is correct. There have already been many cases where doctors "fearing legal blowback are denying life-saving abortions." Bloomberg Law states that: Hospitals and doctors are struggling to toe the line between providing life-saving measures for women and wading into a legal gray area that's emerged in the absence of abortion rights. And the New York Times reports that "Some women and health care providers have concerns about how this rare but life-threatening pregnancy complication will be treated now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned." They further explain: Thirteen states have trigger laws that ban abortion immediately and that took effect after the Supreme Court's decision, or soon will. Those laws allow exemptions if an abortion is needed to prevent a pregnant woman from dying. But women's health care providers say the recent ruling has raised questions about their ability to treat ectopic pregnancy, a life-threatening complication. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has warned that abortion bans even those with an exception for ectopic pregnancies can create confusion and impede a patient's timely access to care. "We're already seeing on Twitter and elsewhere physicians being scared to treat ectopic pregnancies," said Dr. Aileen Gariepy, director of complex family planning at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. "As doctors, our job is to follow science and evidence-based medicine, it is keeping up-to-date and doing what's right for the patient. It is not the nuances of how state legislatures wrote something." You can watch the entire July 13, 2022 hearing here; the exchange between Pressley and Hawley starts at 4:47:24. The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ademola Adeleke, has claimed victory in Ede South Local Government Area (LGA) in the ongoing governorship election in Osun State Mr Adeleke secured 19,438 votes to defeat his main opponent, Gboyega Oyetola of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who polled 5,704 votes. While casting his vote earlier today, Mr Adeleke had said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) assured him of fair play in the conduct of the election. He also said his party agents had informed him all over the state that the election processes were going well in their favour. 546 votes were rejected. The local government had total valid votes of 25,691 and total casted votes of 26,237. The essence of the deal is for Nigerian institutions like TETFund to be able to send young students to Brazil to study how it was able to use agriculture to drive its economy into the stage it is at the moment. Already TETFund is currently sponsoring about 120 scholars who are running their Masters and PhD programmes in Brazil with the sole objective of under-studying their Agricultural Revolution Policy and its impact on the national economy. Before the discovery of crude oil and gas in commercial quantities in the country, agriculture was the mainstay of the Nigerian economy. The sector was a resilient sustainer of the people in terms of food supply, employment and national income generation. This was possible as a result of focused region-based policies, alongside the comparative advantages bestowed by the different produces. However, the sector has struggled to live up to expectations since the 1980s, due to policy neglect, economic distraction and the indiscretion of successive Nigerian governments. The oil boom experienced in Nigeria in the 1970s heralded an era of decay and decline in agricultural output and the overall contribution of the sector to the economy. The oil boom changed Nigerias perception of the place and role of agriculture in national development. A strong, efficient and productive agricultural sector has the capacity to enable a country feed its growing population, export and earn foreign exchange, generate employment and provide raw materials for industries. The agricultural sector has the potential to be the industrial and economic platforms from which the speedy development of a country would take off. Through agriculture, environmental benefits such as sustainable management and renewal of natural resources, preservation of biodiversity, land conservation, as well as contribution to the development and viability of rural areas can be derived. At micro and macro levels, the agricultural sector is strategically positioned to have a high multiplier effect on any nations quest for socio-economic and industrial development. Looking back, the history of agriculture in Nigeria dates far back to the pre-colonial era. Subsistence agriculture was overwhelmingly dominant on the eve of British colonial rule in Nigeria. In this enterprise, food production featured prominently and there was self-sufficiency in food supply. With the countrys vast agricultural resources and large expanse of arable land and well distributed rainfall and a warm temperature all year round, agriculture played a progressive role in serving as the major source of livelihood of the countrys population. As we mostly know, agriculture is broadly divided into four sectors in Nigeria crop production, fishing, livestock and forestry. Crop production remains the largest segment and it accounts for about 87.6 per cent of the sectors total output. This is followed by livestock, fishing and forestry at 8.1 per cent, 3.2 per cent and 1.1 per cent respectively. Agriculture remains the largest sector in Nigeria, contributing an average of 24 per cent to the nations GDP over seven years (2013 2019). In addition, the sector employs more than 36 per cent of the countrys labour force, a feat which ranks the sector as the largest employer of labour in Nigeria. Nigeria stands to benefit a lot from this collaboration, considering the advantage of similarities the two countries have in climate, ecology, and types of crops, which means that whatever grows in Brazil will also grow in Nigeria. In recent times, the sector has been having a whole lot of challenges, especially lack of access to finance. To mitigate this, the Federal Government provided several facilities through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) such as the Anchor Borrowers Programme, which helps provide small scale farmers with adequate financing. This is however grossly inadequate. Outdated methods of agriculture, such as the use of hoes and cutlasses reduce efficiency, as these methods are costly and time consuming. Nigerias failure to adopt advanced mechanised systems has reduced the quality of its agricultural products. Violent conflicts due to desertification and water depletion in the Northern part of Nigeria is a big problem. Nomadic herdsmen are now shifting towards the Southern part of the country in search of grazing fields and water for their animals and this has resulted in clashes with crop farmers in the South, thereby causing food producing states to witness declines in output. Resource shortage is another big challenge because over the past years, Nigeria has dealt with very low yields per hectare due to shortages in the supply of inputs, such as seedlings and fertilisers, as well as inadequate irrigation and harvesting systems, which hinders productivity and yield rates. And lastly, with a population of roughly 200 million people, Nigerias agricultural productivity is insufficient to meet the food demands of its growing populations, thus increasing the demand and supply gap in Nigeria. As part of efforts to reverse this trend and cause a transformation in the nations agricultural sector, the Federal Government, through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), recently struck a partnership deal with Brazil and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). This deal was sealed at the First Agricultural Research and Innovation Fellowship for Africa (ARIFA) symposium, held at Federal University of Vicosa, Brazil, with the theme, Pedagogic Retooling Strategy for Africas Agricultural Research and Innovation System: Lessons from Brazil. The essence of the deal is for Nigerian institutions like TETFund to be able to send young students to Brazil to study how it was able to use agriculture to drive its economy into the stage it is at the moment. Already TETFund is currently sponsoring about 120 scholars who are running their Masters and PhD programmes in Brazil with the sole objective of under-studying their Agricultural Revolution Policy and its impact on the national economy. This latest agreement would therefore empower TETFund to be able to do more of this. Nigeria stands to benefit a lot from this collaboration, considering the advantage of similarities the two countries have in climate, ecology, and types of crops, which means that whatever grows in Brazil will also grow in Nigeria. Rahma Oladosu writes from Wuye District, Abuja. Tinubu worked in American companies rising to executive positions before moving back to Nigeria to continue working for his American employers. His results in Lagos show that the man Tinubu can deliver, I dont doubt the fact that he will make a major difference in the role of Nigerias president. Of course he wont resolve all our national issues, but he is capable of paving the way for a greater Nigeria. Did He Go To School Or Not? Some haters have tried to tarnish the image of Tinubu by saying he was not educated or didnt finish university. However a simple investigation will show you that Tinubu got a distinction from Chicago State University. The PUNCH of January 7 reported that Chicago State University wrote to it to confirm that Tinubu did indeed graduate from the school after two years of study there. The Richard J. Daley College, a community college in Chicago, also confirmed that he did receive an associate degree from there. In other words, he spent two years at Richard Daley College for an associate degree and another two years at Chicago State University for a bachelors degree. He was also an excellent student in Nigeria. But to be the head of your class in America means you are for real; you cant buy your way through school there. Tinubus presidency is an idea whose time has come, there is no amount of slander or character assassination thatll stop this moving train. Many have finished school as excellent students, but have not been able to perform in the fields of their calling. This is not about Tinubu, he excelled even in his professional practice. He was head hunted by some of the top American companies as one of the best products of his university. Upon graduation with honours and several awards, Bola Tinubu cut his professional teeth at the American-based Arthur Anderson, Deloitte Haskins and Sells (now called Deloitte Haskins and Touche) and GTE Service Corporation the largest Communication and Utility Company in the United States of America. Meanwhile, at Deloitte Haskins and Sells, the young and professional Bola broadened his experience by participating in the auditing and management consultancy services of General Motors, First National Bank of Chicago, Procter and Gamble, International Harvester, GEC and other Fortune 500 firms. Tinubu worked in American companies rising to executive positions before moving back to Nigeria to continue working for his American employers. His results in Lagos show that the man Tinubu can deliver, I dont doubt the fact that he will make a major difference in the role of Nigerias president. Of course he wont resolve all our national issues, but he is capable of paving the way for a greater Nigeria. May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and may all her haters live long to witness it. For the love of God, church and nation. Sunday Adelaja, the senior pastor of the Embassy of the Blessed Kingdom of God for All Nations, writes from Kyiv, Ukraine. The Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, said the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Bola Tinubu, if elected, will work towards bridging religious and ethnic divisions in the country. Mr Ganduje said leaders of the party advised Mr Tinubu to pick a Muslim running mate in order to the religious fear and division in the country. He told BBC Hausa Service on Friday during a campaign visit to the Hausa community in Osun State that the APC settled for a Muslim Muslim ticket overcome primordial religious sentiments in the country. We advised the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, to pick a Muslim running for us (Nigerians) to overcome our fears and put behind us things that we think divide us, and we need to start from somewhere so that we face the future, Mr Ganduje said. If we dont start it now (electing competent people irrespective of their religious beliefs) it will be difficult for us in the future to address the problems. At the community gathering, Mr Ganduje said Mr Tinubu will be president for all Nigerians irrespective of their religion and ethnicity. The governor said Nigerias problem is not religion but developmental problems like unemployment, intolerance, and economic development. We the Northern APC governors agreed on a power shift to the Southern region, we refrain ourselves from vying for the presidency because one of us is completing two terms in office. We did not say a particular person from a particular group or tribe should be the next president, the governor said. There is no cause for alarm for the Muslim Muslim ticket both the Muslims and Christians we are all created by God, we are Nigerians, the administration if elected will focus on addressing our common challenges, Mr Ganduje said. The APC presidential candidate, Mr Tinubu picked a former governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima. Just like Mr tinubu, Mr Shettima is a Muslim, The decision has generated heated reaction among Nigerians. Many people, especially from the Christian dominated South of the country consider the decision insensitive Among those who have condemned the decision are Christian leaders in the ruling APC form northern Nigeria, said they could not in good conscience campaign for their party in their constituency. The group called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and convince the party to change the decision. Also, a former Secretary of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, described Mr Tinubus choice of Mr Shettima as satanic and dead on arrival. Mr Lawal had, in a recent statement, criticised the choice of Mr Shettima as APC vice presidential candidate, alleging that it was a Greek gift to Mr Tinubu. The governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola, has appealed to residents of the state to avoid violence as they head to the polls for Saturdays governorship election. Let us eschew violence, brigandage, disorderliness, or anything that could disrupt the peaceful atmosphere we all have been enjoying in the State, Mr. Oyetola said in a series of tweets on Saturday morning. The governor who is seeking a second term noted that the peaceful coexistence of the state supersedes any political ambition. As stakeholders, it is our responsibility to ensure that Osun maintains its status as the most peaceful state in Nigeria, he said. Let me in particular, appeal to members & supporters of our party, @OfficialAPCNg, to exercise their civic rights peacefully. Be resolute to cast your vote. However, portray yourselves and the party in the best possible form of comportment and orderliness. I equally urge other political gladiators to promote peace and tranquility. A total of 1,463,470 eligible voters are expected to troop out to the polls to make their choice from a list of 15 governorship candidates. The candidates are Mr. Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ademola Adeleke, a former senator, who is the flag bearer of the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); and Yusuf Lasun, a former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, who is the candidate of the Labour Party (LP). The others are Akinade Ogunbiyi of the Accord Party (AP); Akinrinola Omigbodun of the Social Democratic Party (SDP); Segun Awojide, (AAC); Atanda Kehinde (ADP); Awoyemi Adedapo (BP); Rasaq Saliu (NNPP); Abede Samuel (NRM); Ayowole Adedeji (PRP); Ademola Adeseye (YPP); Awoyemi Lukuman (APM); Adebayo Elisha (APP); and Adesuyi Olufemi (ZLP). The election will be contested in all the 30 local government areas, comprising 332 wards and 3,763 polling units. The Osun State deputy governor, Benedict Alabi, says he has no fear that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will win Saturdays governorship election in the state. Mr Alabi made the remarks shortly after casting his vote at ward 6 unit 7, Baptist Day School, Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area of the state. The deputy governor, who said the process was peaceful and orderly, with an impressive turnout, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the timely arrival of election materials. He also commended the security agencies for ensuring orderliness and a peaceful atmosphere in the conduct of the election. This is a beautiful experience. The atmosphere is calm and rancour-free. People are orderly and have the confidence to come out in their large numbers to vote. I do not doubt that we will win convincingly, considering what we have achieved in the state in the last three and half years. I believe the electorate will do the needful by voting for us, he said. APC Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), have also expressed confidence in winning the Osun governorship election. They also commended the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) for the timely arrival of voting materials and the large turnout of voters. READ ALSO: A member of the House of Representatives, Mrs Taiwo Oluga, who spoke with reporters after casting her vote at Unit 2, ward 2, Oke Apata, in Gbongan town, commended the peaceful conduct of the election. Mrs Oluga, representing Ayeedade /Irewole/ Isokan federal constituency, also commended the large turnout of voters. She, however, said that the candidate of the APC would emerge victorious at the end of the election. I want to give kudos to INEC for the timely arrival of election materials. The security arrangement is perfect, and the turnout is impressive. I am also confident that the APC candidate will win at the end of the day, she said. PDP Also speaking, Dotun Babayemi, a chieftain of PDP, after casting his vote at Unit 2, Ward 2, Oke-Apata, Gbongan, commended INEC for the timely arrival of election materials. Mr Babayemi also said that the candidate of the party would emerge victorious. Everything is going well, and I urge law enforcement officers to ensure that the security of lives and property remains a priority. There is no intimidation because we are brothers and sisters. We get the right policies in place by selecting the right people. I am not divisive, but we need to get the right people in power. In the two polling units I have been to, the people have been yearning for this day, and I can assure you that the PDP will win. INEC seems to be getting it right, and we hope that is reflected all through the election, he said. (NAN) The Acting Commander-General (ACG) and Zonal Coordinator of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for Osun, Ondo and Ekiti States, Fasiu Adeyinka, has commended voters for their peaceful conduct at the ongoing Osun gubernatorial election. Mr Adeyinka gave the commendation during a visit to St. Gabriel Primary School Yemoo, Moore, Ward 3 and 4, Polling Units 003 and 004, on Saturday, in Ile-Ife. He said the voters were calm, cool and easy going in all the polling units he visited. The ACG thanked the voters for heeding the advice and sensitisation campaign by the authorities. In fact, since we have been conducting elections, this 2022 election is a good example of peaceful conduct by the electorate. This will repeat itself in the general election, he stated. Mr Adeyinka admonished Nigerians to maintain peaceful coexistence for election to be free, fair and credible. Also, the Chairman, Elders Forum of All Progressive Forum (APC), Ife Central Local Government, Felix Awofisayo, commended the voters and INEC over the peaceful conduct of the election. Mr Awofisayo made the commendation at Bishops Court, Iremo Ward 11, on Saturday, in Ile-Ife. He said that with the peaceful conduct of the poll observed, there was hope for the state and 2023 general elections. READ ALSO: The election is peaceful, calm and there is very massive turnout. So, as I am speaking, as of this time, honestly if it goes through like this to the end, then we have hope for this nation. So far so good, its been peaceful and smooth. This is the first time that accreditation and voting would go on very well, it didnt take me up to five minutes before I was accredited and voted for my right choice. The INEC, Ad hoc staff, and security personnel have been wonderful, particularly in my local government. Speaking in the same vein, a former Ambassador to China, Segun Bamgbetan, said that the election was going on perfectly well, he said. Mr Bamgbetan said that people were even surprised at the way they comported themselves in a peaceful manner at the ongoing electoral exercise. It means that things are getting better and the youths are waking up, by not allowing politicians to use them for political thuggery, he said. (NAN) Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State has won his polling unit with a landslide in the Saturdays governorship election where he is seeking to be reelected for second term in office. He secured 545 votes to defeat his main opponent, Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 69 votes, in the polling unit. Mr Oyetola earlier cast his vote on Saturday at the polling unit at Ward 1, LA School, Popo, Iragbiji polling unit in Boripe Local Government Area of the state. Young Progressive Party (YPP), Accord Party and the African Action Congress (AAC) polled 1 vote each, while the Action Democratic Party (ADP) secured five votes at the polling unit. Eight votes were rejected. The polling unit had 1,457 but only 630 were accredited for the electoral process. Earlier, Mr Oyetola in the company of his wife, Kayat, had both cast their votes at the polling unit. Many of the voters who stood behind to count the votes were jubilant that the ruling party won at the polling unit. Five Grand Awards and 172 coveted trophies were handed out. AUSTIN, Texas, July 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Texas Association of Builders (TAB) announced the 2022 Annual Star Awards winners in conjunction with the Sunbelt Builders Show at Hilton Anatole Dallas. This 29-year program brought over 600 entries that resulted in five Grand Awards and 172 elite trophies handed out by co-emcees Jenny Anchondo, TV news journalist/Second Shot Podcast host and Media Personality Amy Vanderoef. The Star Awards have been given annually since 1992 as the only statewide tribute to excellence in the homebuilding industry recognizing excellence in all areas of the residential construction industry. These awards are highly coveted within the industry. Our great state should be proud of its builders, remodelers, architects, designers, developers, and sales, marketing, and construction professionals. Projects and nominations were submitted by 108 companies from 72 cities from across Texas. Click PDF to view 2022 Star Awards Winners. About the Texas Association of Builders: Founded in 1946, the Texas Association of Builders is an affiliate of the National Association of Home Builders and has 26 local home builders associations across Texas. With a membership of nearly 10,000 representing over 723,000 jobs and more than $67.5 billion annually in the Texas economy, TAB plays a crucial role in providing housing for Texans. For more information about the Texas Association of Builders, visit www.TexasBuilders.org. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Ashley Marcinkiewicz, Texas Association of Builders (512) 476-6346 | [email protected] SOURCE Texas Association of Builders NEW YORK, July 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Ascend , a modern insurance payments platform, announced a partnership with Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina (IIANC), which has named Ascend as its preferred premium payments company for its members. Ascend is the first modern insurance payments platform that provides automated all-in-one financing, collections, and payables. They are modernizing agency workflow by creating a streamlined process for operational and payment procedures. IIANC is a statewide trade association that empowers independent agents to rise above the competition by offering them the tools and resources to succeed in today's insurance industry. The two have come together to provide value specific to payments for IIANC's independent agency channel. Through this partnership, IIANC members will have affiliate referrals to Ascend's finance solutions. They are providing the best solutions for the best startup agencies that continue to improve and develop their own internal processes, now streamlined with Ascend's technology and automated funds flow. "The IIANC is an incredible advocate for the independent agency channel, providing extensive resources and tools for their members to be successful, and we're excited to partner in support of this effort," says Chris Peabody, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Ascend. "At Ascend, we believe in empowering the IA channel with a modern payments solution while creating a modern checkout process for their clients and by doing so, enabling agencies to do what they do best, be a trusted advisor. Through this partnership, we are able to empower agents across the state of North Carolina." This partnership will reduce the workload for IIANC agents and provide them with a modern white-labeled checkout experience that is tailored specifically for the agencies. Additionally, this partnership will unlock a series of webinars and resources for agents to utilize in the growth and development of their business. "We believe in advocating on behalf of independent agents everywhere, and this includes offering them the best possible tools and resources for success," says Rebecca Shigley, COO at IIANC. "Aligning ourselves with companies like Ascend opens our community up to a whole new world of streamlined and modern workflow and payments solutions the necessary tools for our independent agents to compete and differentiate themselves from major players in insurance. To be the best possible version of themselves, they need the best possible tools, and Ascend is offering them just that." This is one of many partnerships and alignments Ascend has been a part of this year, as they deepen their relationships with other insurtechs, MGAs, AMS, and carriers to complement the innovations being made by companies in the insurance market. To learn more, please visit https://useascend.com/ . About Ascend Ascend is the modern insurance payments platform that provides automated all-in-one financing, collections, and payables. Founded by two-time insurtech entrepreneurs Andrew Wynn and Praveen Chekuri, Ascend helps distributors sell more by eliminating labor-intensive, expensive processes while providing customers with the great online checkout and financing experience they've come to expect. To learn more, please visit https://useascend.com/ . About IIANC The Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina ("IIANC") is a statewide trade association representing nearly 900 independent insurance agencies in North Carolina, with more than 7,000 employees, who work to protect the insurance and financial needs of the state's citizens. IIANC members are Trusted Choice independent insurance agencies that can represent more than one insurance company. As a result, independent agents can offer clients a wider choice of auto, home, business, life, and health coverages. Trusted Choice independent agents not only advise clients about insurance, they recommend loss-prevention ideas, and if a loss occurs, the independent agent will work with the client until the claim is settled. Contact: Kathy Osborne [email protected] SOURCE Ascend BEIJING, July 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is China's bridge to Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe, owing to its strategic location as the country's westernmost frontier. It plays a vital role in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a framework of trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along and beyond the ancient Silk Road routes. CGTN: Xinjiang, a hub in Belt and Road cooperation During his visit to Xinjiang from Tuesday to Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping called the multi-ethnic region "a hub" in Belt and Road cooperation. Xinjiang has morphed from a relatively enclosed hinterland into the forefront of opening-up, the president told staff at Urumqi International Land Port Area on Tuesday afternoon, as the country is promoting the expansion of opening up, the development of the western regions, and the joint efforts in building the Belt and Road. President Xi stressed advancing the building of the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt - the "belt" component of the BRI - and incorporating Xinjiang's regional opening-up strategy into the country's overall plan of westward development. The gateways At the international land port area, Xi checked the operations of China-Europe Railway Express (Urumqi), the Alashankou port and the Horgos Port, which are all important gateways for cross-border trade. Horgos, literally translates to "a place where caravans pass," used to be a trading post along the northern route of the ancient Silk Road. In 2016, the port launched the China-Europe freight train service and has since witnessed a steady rise in the number of trains passing through it. Despite of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of China-Europe freight trains entering and leaving via Horgos Port exceeded 4,720 in 2020, a 43 percent increase compared with the total in 2019. According to local customs officials, the services of the China-Europe freight train have been favored by an increasing number of companies during the pandemic thanks to their low prices, large transportation capacity, great stability and connectivity. The Alashankou Port, also known as Alataw Pass, is China's closest railway port to Europe. In January 2020, cross border e-commerce was launched in the inland port and commodities like toys, digital products and clothing manufactured in the country have been shipped to Europe since. Data from the customs of the inland port shows that more than 57 million cross-border e-commerce packages worth over 1 billion yuan (about 160 million U.S. dollars) have been exported via the port since January 2020. During his inspection, Xi also highlighted the importance of innovating the system for an open economy, the building of large corridors, better utilizing both domestic and international markets and resources, and actively serving and integrating into the new pattern of development. China put forth the West Development Strategy in 1999, and since then, the country's western regions have achieved remarkable progress. The accelerating GDP growth in western China has suggested a narrowing development gap between the country's east and west. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-07-16/Xinjiang-a-hub-in-Belt-and-Road-cooperation-1bHN4QKUUgw/index.html SOURCE CGTN Opens Nashville, Tennessee Office SUMMIT, N.J., July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Concord Health Partners ("Concord" or the "Firm"), a healthcare focused investment firm, today announced that Erik Larsen and Derek Schmidt have joined the firm as Managing Directors. The Firm also announced the opening of a Nashville, Tennessee office. Larsen joins Concord from HCA Healthcare, Inc., where he was most recently Vice President of the Special Assets Group. As Managing Director, Larsen will leverage his more than 20 years of experience in healthcare investing, investment banking and corporate development to help source new opportunities and enhance the firm's investment strategy and execution. He will report to James Olsen, Founder and Managing Partner of Concord, and be located in the Firm's new Nashville office. Schmidt was most recently the Director of Private Equity for Marquette Associates, where he directed private equity and venture capital program construction, including manager selection, co-investment and secondary deployment. At Concord, he will lead the firm's capital formation efforts and focus on Concord's investor relations, single asset funds and the buildout of potential new strategies. He will report to Olsen and be located in Nashville. "Our mission at Concord is to build a broad healthcare investment platform that allows us to extend our reach and take advantage of a broader universe of opportunities that create meaningful value for our investors and portfolio companies. These exciting team additions and the opening of our Nashville office help achieve that goal," said Olsen. "Adding Erik and Derek's experience further institutionalizes our team, and I look forward to working closely with them both to continue strengthening our investment process and working with our strategic LPs to accelerate growth at our portfolio companies." "Concord's strategy, expertise and unique LP base have quickly proven to be differentiators in the healthcare investing space," said Larsen. "I am excited about the opportunity to strategically build the team and expand my network in Nashville to help Concord continue to identify and grow innovative businesses and solutions that improve quality of care, reduce cost, and enhance access to care." "I have known the team at Concord for a number of years in my role underwriting investor commitments, and I am eager to join the team at such an exciting time for the firm and for healthcare investing more broadly," said Schmidt. "I look forward to partnering and engaging with the firm's advisors and strategic LPs to proactively identify new opportunities and avenues to drive value across the care continuum." Schmidt and Larsen join Brian Gragnolati, who currently serves as President and CEO of Atlantic Health System and is former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the American Hospital Association, as recent additions to the Concord team. As announced on July 11, Gragnolati joined the firm as Executive Partner, where he will source new investment opportunities, support management teams and accelerate the growth of Concord portfolio companies through commercial introductions across the Concord network of strategic relationships. "Nashville has become a true hub of healthcare innovation and talent," Olsen added. "Establishing a presence there will allow us to better identify, diligence and execute while we continue our growth and evolution as a firm. We look forward to benefitting from having both Erik and Derek on the ground there to help us build our team and capabilities in the market." About Erik Larsen Larsen has over 20 years of experience in healthcare investing, investment banking and corporate development. Prior to joining Concord, Mr. Larsen served as Vice President, Corporate Development for the Special Assets Group at HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE: HCA), one of the leading healthcare providers in the US, operating 186 hospitals and ~2,000 sites of care across the United States and United Kingdom. At HCA Healthcare, Mr. Larsen led the Special Assets Group, including leadership of the Company's corporate venture group (dba Health Insight Capital) from 2017 to 2022. Prior to joining HCA Healthcare in 2011, Mr. Larsen was a Director of Development at Renal Advantage, a private-equity backed outpatient dialysis provider and an investment banking professional at Morgan Joseph & Co and VelocityHealth Capital, Inc. Mr. Larsen received a B.A. from Wake Forest University, and an MBA from Wake Forest University, Babcock Graduate School of Management. About Derek Schmidt Schmidt has more than 19 years of experience in investments across both the public and private markets, with over 9 years of dedicated healthcare investment experience. Prior to joining Concord, he served as the Director of Private Equity and as a Senior Research Analyst, for Marquette Associates, where he directed private equity and venture capital program construction, including manager selection, co-investment and secondary deployment. He was also Chair of the alternative investment committee and a member of the OCIO committee. He was responsible for investment manager due diligence and investment performance across all private equity and venture capital programs. Prior to Marquette Associates, Schmidt worked as an Equity Analyst at Piper Jaffray and a Global Associate at William Blair, with a focus on investing across the healthcare sector. He previously worked within private markets at Huron Consulting in their transaction advisory group, where he assisted both for-profit and not-for-profit healthcare systems with their healthcare service and facility acquisitions. Schmidt holds a B.S.B.A. in business finance from The Ohio State University. He is a CFA charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Chicago as well as a CAIA charterholder and member of the CAIA Association. He currently serves on the board of the Center Foundation for Anixter Center and sits on both the Investment Committee and Finance Committee for Anixter Center. About Concord Health Partners Concord Health Partners ("Concord") is a healthcare focused investment firm with a strategic model that optimizes the alignment of interests between investors and portfolio companies. Concord is primarily focused on investing in healthcare companies that have the potential to enhance the value of care through products, services, technologies and solutions that lower costs, improve quality and expand access to care. The firm has offices strategically located in Summit, New Jersey and Nashville, Tennessee. For more information, visit www.concordhp.com. Media Contacts ASC Advisors Steve Bruce / Taylor Ingraham [email protected] / [email protected] 203.992.1230 SOURCE Concord Health Partners BEIJING, July 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Eight years after his visit to China's Xinjiang region in 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping made a second trip to the northwest region and stressed efforts to fully and faithfully implement the policies of the Communist Party of China (CPC) for the governance of Xinjiang in the new era, highlighting social stability and lasting security as the overarching goal and the region's significant role in building the Belt and Road Initiative. Analysts said Xi's visit to Xinjiang signals that after achieving fundamental changes from disturbance to stability, the Xinjiang region is entering a new phase of being built into the bridgehead of China's westward opening-up. While staying in the Xinjiang region from Tuesday to Friday, President Xi visited many places in Urumqi, including Xinjiang University, the Urumqi International Land Port Area, the Guyuanxiang community in Tianshan District and the Museum of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. He also went to Shihezi and Turpan and inspected villages and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) and had communications with local residents. On Friday afternoon, residents of all ethnic groups saw off Xi with prolonged applause before his return to Beijing. During the visit, President Xi also called for developing Xinjiang into a region that is united, harmonious, prosperous, and culturally advanced, with healthy ecosystems and people living and working in contentment. Xi's visit to the Xinjiang region is a strong and significant indication that while maintaining prolonged stability and achieving economic development, Xinjiang region is stepping into a new phase of economic development and has been built as a core hub for the building of China's Belt and Road Initiative and the bridgehead for westward opening-up, Wang Yuting, associate professor of the Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times. Soon after Xi's visit to Xinjiang in 2014, the second symposium on the region's work was held in May in Beijing and stressed long-term stability as the main goal for the region. Under this guidance, over the past eight years, the region has experienced fundamental changes, going from disturbance to social stability. After getting rid of the influence of terrorist attacks, Xinjiang and the whole western region of China have realized stability, laying the foundation for China to further boost its western region and deepen cooperation with Central and West Asian countries, said Wang Yuting, noting that Xinjiang's role as a core hub of the Silk Road Economic Belt has significant strategic value and meaning, especially amid the global changes brought by the Ukraine crisis. While Xinjiang has achieved social stability, safeguarding this hard-won situation is not easy, Wang Jiang, an expert at the Institute of China's Borderland Studies at Zhejiang Normal University, told the Global Times. Achieving long-term stability requires long-term prosperity, and to achieve long prosperity, the region should be integrated into the nation's development. Building it as a hub for westward opening-up aims to help it find new places in global trade and to break the US economic blockade on the region, Wang Jiang said. In addition to economic development, ethnic unity and cultural heritage were also key words for President Xi's visits in Xinjiang. While staying in Urumqi, President Xi visited the Guyuanxiang community in Tianshan district. Xi said he pays great attention to community work and is very glad to see local communities thriving. Xi also watched a Manas performance and said that Chinese civilization is extensive and profound, and has a long history stretching back to antiquity. Wang Yuting also pointed out that President Xi's visit in Xinjiang also showcased China's enriched policy for the governance of Xinjiang in the new era, including maintaining stability in the region through ethnic unity, nurturing the cultures of Xinjiang, promoting prosperity among the local residents, and developing Xinjiang from a long-term perspective. Cultures of ethnic groups in Xinjiang are also important parts of Chinese culture and this is why President Xi went to the museums and stressed heritage protection, the expert noted. SOURCE Global Times NEW YORK, July 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Juan Monteverde, founder and managing partner of the class action firm Monteverde & Associates PC (the "M&A Class Action Firm"), a national securities firm rated Top 50 in the 2018-2021 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report and headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City, is investigating CynergisTek, Inc. (CTEK), relating to its proposed sale to Clearwater Compliance LLC. Under the terms of the agreement, CTEK shareholders are expected to receive $1.25 in cash per share they own. Click here for more information: http://monteverdelaw.com/case/cynergistek-inc. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you. About Monteverde & Associates PC We are a national class action securities litigation law firm that has recovered millions of dollars and is committed to protecting shareholders from corporate wrongdoing. We were listed in the Top 50 in the 2018-2021 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. Our lawyers have significant experience litigating Mergers & Acquisitions and Securities Class Actions. Mr. Monteverde is recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Securities Litigation in 2013, 2017-2019, an award given to less than 2.5% of attorneys in a particular field. He has also been selected by Martindale-Hubbell as a 2017-2021 Top Rated Lawyer. Our firm's recent successes include changing the law in a significant victory that lowered the standard of liability under Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act in the Ninth Circuit. Thereafter, our firm successfully preserved this victory by obtaining dismissal of a writ of certiorari as improvidently granted at the United States Supreme Court. Emulex Corp. v. Varjabedian, 139 S. Ct. 1407 (2019). Also, in 2019 we recovered or secured six cash common funds for shareholders in mergers & acquisitions class action cases. If you own common stock in CTEK and wish to obtain additional information and protect your investments free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan E. Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 971-1341. Contact: Juan E. Monteverde, Esq. MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC The Empire State Building 350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4405 New York, NY 10118 United States of America [email protected] Tel: (212) 971-1341 Attorney Advertising. (C) 2022 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC ( www.monteverdelaw.com ). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. SOURCE Monteverde & Associates PC DUBAI, UAE, July 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The UK has a long history of innovation in science and technology. It ranks fourth on the Global Innovation Index, and its government continues to put massive efforts into elevating innovation and research within its borders. It is, then, only logical for the country to want to attract the globe's best and brightest, offering various routes of entry into the UK to ply their innovative trade. This approach was best highlighted by the launch of the UK Innovator Visa, as there is no room to misinterpret its main objective. After a slow start, the UK' Innovator Visa finally got into its stride, as applications rose a staggering 330% year-on-year between 2019 and 2020. The number continued to grow in 2021, and if past data is any indication, the number of applications will continue to grow. However, as popular as the Innovator Visa is, there are various other routes for the world's best professionals to consider when looking to immigrate to the UK, such as the Start-Up Visa, or the High Potential Individual Visa. This article will take a closer look at the options available in the UK, and how they differ from each other. The Innovator Visa The premise of the innovator visa is simple, those who meet these requirements can apply for a residence permit (leave to enter) in the UK: Be willing to set up and run an innovative business (meaning a business not available in the UK market yet) on UK shores Obtain an endorsement letter from a government-approved endorsement body Have enough money to reside in the UK without access to public funds Invest 50,000 GBP into the business into the business Be over 18, and Meet the English language requirement Successful applicants will obtain a three-year visa, which is extendable for another three years at the end of its initial terms. However, at the time of extension, they must maintain or obtain another endorsement. After spending five years in the UK, they can then apply for a permanent residence (indefinite leave to remain) and then citizenship after the sixth year, if they meet the minimum physical residence requirement, of course. The Start-Up Visa (SUV) Much like the Innovator Visa, the SUV's main goal is to attract innovative businesses to UK shores. However, while there are many similarities between the Innovator Visa and the SUV, such as the requirement to establish an innovative business and the need to obtain an endorsement prior to opening that business, some glaring differences explain why they are two separate options. To better understand the differences, it is vital to note the requirements of the SUV, as any applicant must: Intend to establish an innovative business that is not available in the UK market Obtain an endorsement letter from an approved endorsing body Have enough money to live in the UK for the entire validity of the visa without recourse to public funds Meet the minimum English requirement, and Be at least 18 years of age. The first difference is the minimum investment amount, which is 50,000 GBP under the Innovator Visa, but is not set under the SUV, as the latter does not require a minimum investment to qualify. The second major variation is the list of endorsing bodies, as they differ between the Innovator Visa and the SUV, with the latter housing a lot of universities and education institutes on its list. The third - and most crucial - difference is the visa validity. As the SUV is only valid for two years, and it cannot be renewed. Any SUV holder must switch to another visa, most commonly the Innovator Visa, at the end of its two-year period to remain in the UK. However, this is where the SUV and Innovator Visa complement each other, as one of the laws under the Innovator Visa states that applicants can forgo the minimum investment amount of 50,000 GBP if their business was already established under another visa requiring an endorsement, which in this case would be the SUV. This allows applicants who do not have access to 50,000 GBP in transferrable funds to eventually reach the Innovator Visa and, subsequently, indefinite leave to remain without scrambling for funding. High Potential Individual Visa (HPIV) The third popular visa on the list is the HPIV, a simple route for those with a degree from a list of eligible universities that the UK announces each year in November. Those who have obtained a degree from a university on the list in the five years prior to applying can obtain a two-year visa to move to the UK and either set up a business or look for paid work. The requirements are simple, an applicant must: Have obtained a bachelor's, master's, or Ph.D. from an approved university Meet the English language requirement, and Have enough funds to reside in the UK without the recourse to public funds Once applicants start their business or find a job, they can switch their visa to a Highly Skilled Worker Visa, allowing them to remain in the UK. While the HPIV is not an innovative visa per se, it does align with the UK's vision to bring in the best and the brightest the world has to offer. To know more about moving to the UK, contact us today to book a comprehensive consultation with one of our experts. Savory & Partners is an accredited agent for multiple governments where citizenship by investment is offered. Founded in 1797, the agency has evolved from pharmaceuticals to family assets and legacy protection through second citizenship and residency. The company's professional, multinational staff is made up of expert advisors who have guided thousands of clients, including many North African investors, on their journey to find the most suitable CBI program for them. The Savory & Partners team will be happy to answer your enquiries in English, Arabic, Farsi, French and Spanish. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1738007/Savory_and_Partners_Logo.jpg For more information, please send an email to [email protected]. You can also call +971 04 430 1717 or send a WhatsApp message to +971 54 440 2955. SOURCE Savory & Partners NEW YORK, July 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of SOL tokens ("SOL securities") between March 24, 2020 and the present, inclusive (the "Class Period"), against Solana Labs, Inc., the Solana Foundation, Anatoly Yakovenko, Multicoin Capital Management LLC, Kyle Samani, and FalconX LLC (together, "Defendants"). A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 6, 2022. SO WHAT: If you purchased SOL securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the SOL class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=7539 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 6, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, Solana issues securities that are required to be, but are not, registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Throughout the Class Period, Defendants promoted SOL securities (SOL tokens) and sold them to investors, who has suffered losses from purchasing SOL securities. To join the SOL class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=7539 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.rosenlegal.com SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A. NEW ORLEANS, July 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until August 5, 2022 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Teladoc Health, Inc. (NYSE: TDOC), if they purchased the Company's securities between October 28, 2021 and April 27, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Get Help Teladoc investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-tdoc/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. About the Lawsuit Teladoc and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On April 27, 2022, the Company disclosed a host of negative financial results, including revenue of $565.4 million, below consensus estimates by $3.23 million, net loss per share of $41.58, primarily driven by a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $6.6 billion or $41.11 per share, and revised FY 2022 revenue guidance to $2.4 - $2.5 billion and adjusted EBITDA guidance to $240 - $265 million, which the Company largely attributed to increased competition in its BetterHelp and chronic care businesses. On this news, shares of Teladoc fell $22.48 per share, or 40.15%, to close at $33.51 per share on April 28, 2022. The case is Schneider v. Teladoc Health, Inc., et al., No. 22-cv-04687. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com. SOURCE ClaimsFiler NEW ORLEANS, July 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until August 15, 2022 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Unilever PLC (NYSE: UL), if they purchased the Company's American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") between September 2, 2020 and July 21, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Get Help Unilever investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-ul/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. About the Lawsuit Unilever and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On July 19, 2021, the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, Ben & Jerry's, announced a resolution to end sales of its ice cream in "Occupied Palestinian Territory" upon the expiration of the current licensing agreement by which its products had been distributed in Israel for decades. Then, on July 22, 2021, media sources reported that the states of Texas and Florida were investigating Ben & Jerry's actions for possible violations of the states' Anti-BDS (boycotts, divestment, and sanctions of Israel) legislation. On this news, ADRs of Unilever fell $3.19 per share, or approximately 5.4%. The case is City of St. Clair Shores Police and Fire Retirement System v. Unilever PLC, et al., No. 22-cv-05011. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com. SOURCE ClaimsFiler Bengaluru, July 16 : The ruling BJP in Karnataka on Saturday withdrew ban on videography and photography inside government offices, after the order came under sharp criticism from various quarters. Deputy Secretary of Department of Personnel and Administration Reforms (DPAR) Anand. K. withdrew the order. The prohibition order was made on Friday inviting wrath from all sections of society. Social media posts ridiculed the decision and accused the ruling BJP of encouraging the government employees who are already mired in corruption, red tapism. Following a submission by the Karnataka State Government Employees Association, the government had announced the ban on taking photo, videos in government offices. The order mentioned that the president of the association had brought to their notice that private persons were making videos of employees at government offices during office hours and misusing them by making viral on social media. This, it said, is bringing disrepute to the government. It also maintained that making of videos and photos cause difficulty to women employees. The state government claimed that it has thoroughly verified the facts regarding this submission and found that it is necessary to prohibit photography and videography in the government offices and issued prohibition orders in this regard. New Delhi, July 16 : The Lok Sabha secretariat has issued an advisory to MPs asking them to refrain from distributing pamphlets, press notes, leaflets without the Speakers's permission in the House during the Monsoon session of Parliament. "As per established convention, no literature, questionnaire, pamphlets, press notes, leaflets or any matter printed or otherwise should be distributed without the prior permission of Hon'ble Speaker within the precincts of the House. Placards are also strictly prohibited inside the Parliament House Complex. Kind cooperation of Hon'ble Members is solicited," the bulletin read. This comes after the opposition's uproar on the ban on protests on the Parliament premises, sources in the Lok Sabha Secretariat said that these 'are routine advisories' ahead of every session. However, they said similar advisories had been issued in the past also. This has been happening during the previous tenures in Parliament. The Congress has taken strong objection to it as this comes on the heels of controversy over the use of unparliamentary words during the House proceedings. The advisory was issued on Thursday by the Parliament Security Office. Following it, the Speaker clarified that there was no ban on the use of words as it was alleged by the opposition. The booklet said: "Words and expressions in English which have been declared unparliamentary in Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislatures in India and some Commonwealth Parliaments.' Reacting to it, Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said: "The way the BJP government has destroyed the functioning of the house since 2014 is way more unparliamentary than those words that describe the characteristics of this govt. Congress-led UPA believed in democracy but BJP led NDA stifles any scope for dissent or difference of opinion." San Francisco, July 16 : Short video platform TikTok's global chief security officer (CSO) Roland Cloutier will step down from that position and shift into a strategic advisory role. Cloutier's change in duties follows concerns about how the company handles US user data, reports Engadget. TikTok recently admitted that employees outside of the country could access that information, although "robust cybersecurity controls and authorisation" from its US security team were required. Cloutier will be an adviser on the business impact of TikTok's security and trust programmes. TikTok's head of security risk, vendor and client assurance, Kim Albarella, will take over as the chief of the company's worldwide security teams on an interim basis. "Part of our evolving approach has been to minimise concerns about the security of user data in the US, including the creation of a new department to manage US user data for TikTok," CEO Shou Zi Chew wrote in a memo to TikTok staff. "This is an important investment in our data protection practices, and it also changes the scope of the global chief security officer role. With this in mind, Roland has decided to step back from his day-to-day operations as global CSO, effective September 2nd," Chew added. A TikTok spokesperson told The Wall Street Journal that Cloutier wasn't overseeing the new team that manages US user data. That department reports to Chew directly. Cloutier's departure was not related to lawmakers' concerns over US data security, the spokesperson said, and the shift had been in the works for a couple of months. Mexico City, July 16 : At least 14 Mexican marines were killed when their helicopter crashed during the arrest and transport of a drug lord in northern Mexico, the Mexican Navy said. The Black Hawk helicopter, owned by the Navy, was escorting another aircraft carrying Rafael Caro Quintero, founder of the Guadalajara Cartel, who was arrested earlier in the day in the northern state of Sinaloa. One person survived the crash that occurred on Friday, the cause of which has yet to be determined, Xinhua news agency said quoting the Navy. The Navy "laments the deaths of those who lost their lives in this accident," it said, adding, "as of now, there is no information linking the plane crash to the arrest of the alleged drug trafficker." The United States is after Caro Quintero and seeks to extradite him for the murder of Enrique Camarena Salazar, an agent of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in 1985. Due to the Camarena case, "relations between Mexico and the United States were tense" for a time, former DEA agent Hector Berrellez told Xinhua in an interview. Caro Quintero, a fugitive for many years, was discovered by a sniffer dog hiding in bushes in the town of Choix, Sinaloa, said the Navy. Accra, July 16 : The Ghanaian government is committed to fiscal measures to help mitigate the impact of global economic headwinds on the local economy, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement. The statement was released on Friday after the first round of talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to aid Ghana in overcoming turbulent domestic and global economic upheavals. The government of Ghana would continue to work closely with the IMF in the coming weeks to complete the enhanced economic program in support of a robust economic recovery, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the the statement. "The Ministry of Finance further assures Ghanaians of the government's steadfast commitment to a speedy economic recovery towards achieving a Ghana Beyond Aid," the statement said. Ghana Beyond Aid is the vision announced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2017 to pursue a foreign aid-free country. Ghana announced on July 1 its decision to start negotiations with the IMF for an economic bailout amid crippling global and domestic economic disruptions. At the end of the initial discussions, the IMF announced late Wednesday its commitment to support Ghana in overcoming the current economic challenges. "We reaffirm our commitment to support Ghana at this difficult time, consistent with the IMF's policies," said the IMF. Seoul, July 16 : A senior US official has briefed industry and government officials on risks associated with the hiring of North Koreans who pose as third-country citizens working in the information and technology (IT) sector, according to a State Department bureau. CS Eliot Kang, assistant secretary at the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, met those officials Thursday (Washington time), the bureau tweeted, warning of the risks, including intellectual data theft, legal consequences and reputational harm. The warning came as Seoul and Washington have been stepping up security coordination to rein in Pyongyang's provocative acts amid concerns the recalcitrant regime could further escalate tensions by conducting a nuclear test, Yonhap news agency reported. "Those highly skilled North Korean IT workers are generating revenue for the DPRK regime's (weapons of mass destruction) and ballistic missile programs," the bureau tweeted. DPRK stands for the North's official name, Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "They often target wealthier nations where pay is the highest, all while deceptively hiding their true nationality," it added. The bureau reiterated Washington's continued pursuit of dialogue with Pyongyang but underscored its commitment to disrupting the North's "illicit revenue-generating activities around the world." New Delhi, July 16 : As many as 24 new bills will be introduced in the upcoming monsoon session of the Parliament, including Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2022. "The Bill seeks to replace the Press and Registration of Books (PRB) Act, 1867 by decriminalisation of the existing Act, keeping the procedures of the extant Act simple from the view point of medium/small publishers and uphold the values of Press Freedom". The Bill may see stiff opposition as it is said that this bill is being brought to control the small publishers and digital media. The Opposition has already alleged that the government is trying to stifle voice of dissent in the country. Another important bill is Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which seeks to provide regulatory framework for Carbon Trading in India, to encourage penetration of renewables in energy mix, and effective implementation and enforcement of the Energy Conservation Act. Four other bills have been referred to the standing committee: Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021; Anti-Maritime Piracy Bill, 2019; Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, 2019; and National Anti-Doping Bill, 2021. The one bill which has been introduced in Lok Sabha but not sent to standing committee is Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022. The Congress has raised the issue of "unparliamentary" words and Jairam Ramesh had said: "Clarification from @ombirlakota about unparliamentary words doesn't mean much. In all discussions, media seems to have overlooked that they can't report on these comments in their dispatches. Also, print media will have to think twice before using these words in their articles." New Delhi, July 16 : If India and China were to fight a war in the near future, India faces the prospect of losing the war within ten days. China could take Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh with a minimum loss of life, and there is very little that India could do about it, says military expert and best-selling author Pravin Sawhney. This is because the Indian military is preparing for the wrong war, says Sawhney in his eye-opening and disquieting book, 'The Last War: How AI Will Shape India's Final Showdown With China' (Aleph), as he explains in great detail how this alarming scenario could play out. China's war with India will be reminiscent of the 1991 Gulf War during which the US military's battle networks connecting sensors to shooters and guided munitions with support from space assets had induced shock and awe in militaries worldwide. Similarly, China's war with India will stun the world with the use of artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, multi-domain operations, imaginative war concepts, and collaboration between humans and intelligent robots, Sawhney writes. China has been preparing for this since the 2017 Doklam crisis after which it permanently augmented its troops across the Line of Actual Control - leading to a stand-off that has continued for two years without any tangible signs of resolution. The author argues that China's superpower status will only grow and the 'capabilities lag' between the two countries will expand. And if there is outright war, the Indian military will be no match for China's AI-backed war machines. In such a war, traditional conventional forces will be at a huge disadvantage, nuclear weapons will have no role to play, and the valour of individual soldiers will be of no consequence. India is honing its strengths to fight a war in the three physical domains of land, air, and the sea, whereas the PLA is working on becoming the overwhelmingly superior force in seven domains - air, land, sea (including deep-sea warfare), outer space, cyber space, the electromagnetic spectrum, and near space (aka the hypersonic domain). The PLA's disruption technologies will overwhelm India within the first seventy-two hours of hostilities commencing, and will lead to the quick end of India's resistance, the author writes, as the primary battleground will not be on land but in cyberspace and the electromagnetic spectrum. 'The Last War' explains why it's critical that India works to prevent such a war ever taking place. It should avoid focusing on joint combat with the US, whose power in the region is weakening. Instead, India should seek to make peace with China and Pakistan, its main adversaries at the moment, while simultaneously working to enhance its military and technological strengths in areas that it hasn't focused its resources on. Only then will the country's borders be firmly secure, and the region's future peace and prosperity be assured, the author maintains. Sawhney is editor of the FORCE news magazine on national security and defence since August 2003. The author of three books - "Dragon On Our Doorstep: Managing China Through Military Power" (co-authored with Ghazala Wahab), "The Defence Makeover: 10 Myths That Shape India's Image", and "Operation Parakram: The War Unfinished" - he has been visiting fellow at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, United Kingdom and visiting scholar at the Cooperative Monitoring Center, United States. After thirteen years of commissioned service in the Indian Army, he worked with Times of India and Indian Express - and with the UK-based Jane's International Defence Review. New Delhi, July 16 : Japanese giant Sony has closed the $3.6 billion acquisition of Bungie, the developer of Destiny and the original creator of the hugely popular Halo franchise. "The agreement to acquire Bungie has closed. So now we can officially say... welcome to the PlayStation family," the company said in a tweet late on Friday. The Sony-Bungie acquisition evaded the antitrust scrutiny while Microsoft's $68.7 billion acquisition of 'Call of Duty' maker Activision Blizzard is facing formal investigations in the US, the UK and South Korea. Bungie will "continue to independently publish and creatively develop our games," its CEO Pete Parsons had said in a statement earlier this year. Halo was one of Microsoft Xbox's flagship franchises, but after a few sequels, Bungie was spun out into an independent company. In 2013, Bungie launched the Destiny game which became a huge hit. "We will be ready to welcome and support Bungie as they continue to grow, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for this incredible team," said Hermen Hulst, Head of PlayStation Studios. After acquiring Bungie, Sony said it plans to launch more than 10 new live service games by March 2026. Bungie's next IP, codenamed Matter, is rumoured to be a "multiplayer action game" with "character-based" gameplay. Bungie said last year that its next IP will launch before 2025. But that's just one game out of the 10, and Eurogamer points out that there are signs of many more in the works. Ratlam : , July 16 (IANS/ 101Reporters) "June 10 was a dreadful day for us. My nephew, niece and daughter-in-law were injured in a bus accident at Dudh Talai, near Nipania village. We frantically dialled 108 for an ambulance, but none were available. Hours later, we finally managed to rent a private vehicle for Rs5,000 and took them to Ratlam. But my niece Maya Bai (26) died due to excessive bleeding," says Badrilal, a resident of Palasia village, breaking down as he recounts his family's horrendous ordeal. S.R. PAREEK Ratlam (Madhya Pradesh), July 16 (IANS/ 101Reporters) "June 10 was a dreadful day for us. My nephew, niece and daughter-in-law were injured in a bus accident at Dudh Talai, near Nipania village. We frantically dialled 108 for an ambulance, but none were available. Hours later, we finally managed to rent a private vehicle for Rs5,000 and took them to Ratlam. But my niece Maya Bai (26) died due to excessive bleeding," says Badrilal, a resident of Palasia village, breaking down as he recounts his family's horrendous ordeal. Abysmal health centres with inadequate testing facilities, shortage of medicines and non-existent ambulance services are the bane of many villages in the district of Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh. Four accidents a week, zero paramedic assistance The Lebad-Nayagaon four-lane national highway became an accident-prone zone due to heavy traffic density, since train connectivity in Indore, Ujjain, Ratlam, Jaora and other parts of northern Madhya Pradesh were affected due to the pandemic. There are three to four accidents on the highway weekly; yet, there's no arrangement to rush the injured to nearby Primary Health Centres (PHC). In most situations, they are referred to the district hospital. Piling onto the misery of the accident victims is the near 15km to 50km distance between ambulance services and the healthcare centres. For instance, ambulances are 30km from the Kalukheda PHC, 25km from the Birmaval and Berda PHCs, and 35km from the Bajna Community Health Centre (CHC). Recently, Chief Medical and Health Officer of Ratlam Dr Prabhakar Nanaware wrote to the mission director of the National Health Mission in Bhopal to take some positive action. Inadequate amenities, lack of trained medical personnel The CHC in Kharwa Kalan village, built on an exorbitant budget, lacks even the most basic facilities. This centre is the only government hospital in the vicinity, and the people of 25 villages and dhanis depend on it for all their health needs. However, there's neither a doctor to take up the sanctioned post nor a competent testing facility here. Ironically, even though an ambulance was procured through the MLA fund, a driver and diesel fuel were denied due to lack of funds. There's no X-ray or ultrasound machine here either. Kharwa Kalan, a shorter route to Indore and other cities, sees more than average traffic, resulting in more road accidents. The CHC, however, is only equipped to provide first-aid as there are no ICU wards for critically-ill patients. The hospital also has a solar panel worth around Rs40 lakh for electricity purposes, but it remains unused. "A total of 26 ambulances are approved in Ratlam district. Of these, 11 vehicles are under 108 and 15 vehicles are under Janani Express. Now, 21 more ambulances have been demanded. For the ambulance bought from the MLA fund, a driver and diesel were not arranged due to lack of budget. We've instructed the transfer of seven such ambulances from 108 call centres to Kharwakalan," says Dr Nanaware. The PHC in Birmawal village, about 40km from the Ratlam district headquarters, which was only a six-bed hospital, was recently upgraded to a CHC. A separate building is under construction near the existing structure. Here, Kiran, a nursing staff, told 101Reporters, "This PHC has the highest inflow of women, who come in for antenatal consultations. On average, we see more than 500 patients every month. Anaemia is a common complaint. Iron is administered through injections if the haemoglobin level is above 7mg. But if the levels are below 7mg, then blood transfusions are required. We have no choice but to refer the patients to another health centre as we are ill-equipped for such treatments." "Earlier, the blood tests were done here in the lab. But after the lab technician was transferred, the testing equipment was put away and locked up. A technician from another PHC visits our centre every three days and takes samples. The reports take another three days. This defeats the purpose of an emergency healthcare centre, as every check-up, test and report has a long waiting period," the nurse explains the state of affairs. There are two vacant posts for doctors, two for operators and sweepers, and one each for a pharmacist, pathologist and ward boy Birmawal. The medical officer here, Dr Rohan Kanthed, says that a letter had been written to the district headquarters regarding the shortage of medical staff and a budget for a driver and diesel for the ambulance. Six doctors were sanctioned, of whom three posts for a surgeon, gynaecologist and paediatrician are still vacant. There are three junior doctors, of whom two are on contract. Pregnant women bear the brunt Many PHCs do not have sonography and diagnostic facilities, leaving women with no choice but to travel 10km to 50km to the district headquarters. Even for prenatal check-ups, patients are forced to travel back and forth to different health centres. There are 27 to 30 sonography centres in the district, including at government and private labs. However, there are only three at the government level. One is in the district hospital at Ratlam, where ultrasounds are conducted daily on 80 to 100 women. There's a waiting period of a week since patients from across the district come here for scans performed free of charge; private centres charge between Rs900 to Rs2,200. The other two government hospitals are in Alot and Jaora, but Alot has no ultrasound machine installed, and Jaora has no radiologist. Therefore, the burden falls on the district hospital. "With a population of 37,000, the number of anaemic women and malnourished children in this region is markedly higher than in other areas. Despite these statistics, there are no competent diagnostic facilities available," says Dr Mahendra Singh Panwar, Medical Officer, Bilpank Health Center. "Patients must go to Ratlam, 20km away, for an ultrasound. There's also no gynaecologist or paediatrician available. The lab technician comes to the Dharad, Namli, Birmaval and Bilpank PHCs thrice a week, and the reports are available only when he returns." For the past 23 years, social worker and Padma Shri awardee Dr Leela Joshi has worked for the health of tribal women and girls in Ratlam. She has organised free camps in villages for health checkups and treatment. "Although the problem is prevalent in the whole of Ratlam, women from rural areas are more prone to anaemia," says Dr Joshi. "If they are not given proper medical attention and care during delivery, it puts the health of both the mother and child at risk. One of the main reasons for the number of malnourished children here is that prenatal and postpartum care for mothers is lacking. The situation hasn't improved without proper sonography centres and the absence of gynaecologists and paediatricians." "The affluent somehow find a way to get an ultrasound at private centres, but women of lower means are left to fend for themselves. Sometimes, in villages, women are offered glucose bottles for weakness. This is dangerous, especially during pregnancy, because the likelihood of gestational diabetes increases, affecting the unborn baby's health." Health centres on paper vs reality A population of 5,000 warrants a sub-health centre. However, in the tribal belt, the limit is 3,000. The government opens PHCs for a population of 20,000 to 30,000, while CHCs are sanctioned for a population of 80,000 to 1.2 lakh. CHCs in Madhya Pradesh have a staff section of 17 members, including five doctors, surgeons, paediatricians, gynaecologists, anaesthesiologists and a medical officer. Yet, most healthcare centres do not have the services of a gynaecologist, paediatrician or anaesthesiologist. Currently, Ratlam has six CHCs - Namli, Sailana, Bajna, Piploda, Tal and Kharwa Kalan - 24 PHCs and 220 sub-health centres. At present, hopes rest on the formal opening of a CHC in Birmaval. A 30-bed health centre is being set up at the cost of about Rs5.74 crore. Ratlam District Incharge Minister OPS Bhadauria performed the bhoomi pujan on May 17. (The author is a Bhopal-based freelance journalist and a member of 101Reporters, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters) Los Angeles, July 16 : Actor Billy Porter, who unveiled his directorial debut film at the ongoing 40th edition of Outfest in Los Angeles, teed off on the Supreme Court while accepting the LGBTQIA+ festival's top honour, reports Deadline. At the rousing opening night, according to Deadline, Porter declared to cheers from the audience at the Orpheum Theatre, "F*** SCOTUS!". The acronym SCOTUS stands for Supreme Court of the United States. Alluding to the US Supreme Court's decision overturning the pro-abortion Roe v. Wade ruling and the prospect the court might revisit other rulings that okayed same-sex consensual sex and marriage, Porter said, "We worked too hard for our progress and we ain't going back." Deadline adds that calling that in a part of his speech, he also spotlighted the January 6 hearings examining former US President Donald Trump's role in the Capitol insurrection. "None of you Republicans who are coming forward in these hearings right now are heroes," he remarked. He added, "You agreed with everything he [Trump] did until January 6, until his cult followers came for ya'll. You are not heroes. F*** ya'll too." A member of the audience shouted encouragingly, "Preach!"Porter makes his directorial debut with 'Anything's Possible', a rom-com that centres on a Black trans high school senior and her budding romance with an Arab-American boy. Eva Reign and Abubakr Ali, who play the leads in the film, presented Porter with the festival's highest accolade, the 2022 Outfest Annual Achievement Award. He used the occasion to urge those on the left to avoid complacency. Deadline further quoted him as saying, "Our messaging has to change. We thought we won something, the Democrats, the progressives. We got civil rights, we got Roe versus Wade, we got marriage equality, we got all the rest. We got a Black president. And then we all sat on our asses and ate bonbons for eight years and then the unthinkable happened." He added: "We're a part of it too. Frederick Douglass said 'Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty' We lost our vigilance. It's time to get that shit back." Continuing his attack, Porter said: "Our 24-hour news cycle has forgotten to illuminate that the reason the pushback [from the right] is so severe in this moment is because the change has already happened. W're already here. Look at me, look at this movie, look at ya'll! A celebration of trans joy centred on a Black empowered transgender high school senior who has the cutest Arab Muslim boyfriend and has the audacity to demand respect for her humanity." Srinagar, July 16 : First batch of 145 pilgrims arrived here on Saturday from Saudi Arabia after performing Haj 2022. The first flight carrying pilgrims back from Saudi Arabia landed at Srinagar International Airport at 7.45 a.m. P.K.Pole, Divisional Commissioner (Kashmir), Sujit Kumar, DIG (Central Kashmir), officers of the Haj committee and others received the pilgrims at the airport. Adequate arrangements have been made at the airport for comfortable return of the pilgrims. Last flight carrying pilgrims will land at Srinagar airport on August 1. Bengaluru, July 16 : A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in Karnataka High Court seeking a probe into transfer threat to judge H.P. Sandesh. The PIL, submitted by advocate Ramesh L Nayak, is likely to come up before the High Court for hearing on Saturday. The petition has the Chief Secretary of state government and Registrar General of the High Court as parties. It submits that the case of threat to Justice Sandesh should be probed by a special wing and given proper security cover. The petition prevails on the government to consider providing 'Y', 'Y Plus', 'Z' or 'Z Plus' security cover to Justice Sandesh. The petitioner claimed that in the wake of such threats, the judges won't be able to work without bias. This would send the wrong message to society. The action should be initiated in terms of protecting the liberty of the judiciary and should also take measures to instill more confidence among people in the judiciary, the petition says. Justice H.P. Sandesh has taken the ruling BJP to task with regards to the appointments to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). After his rapping, ACB sleuths arrested Bengaluru Urban DC on charges of corruption. Justice Sandesh had stated that he was given transfer threat through a High Court judge but he does not care much about it. He also stated that he is ready to go back to his farm and carry out agriculture rather than succumbing to pressure. Los Angeles, July 16 : 'Zero Dark Thirty' star Chris Pratt laughed away rumours that he was being eyed by Disney as the next Indiana Jones, saying jokingly that he fears he would be "haunted by the ghost" of Harrison Ford, who, incidentally, just turned 80, reports Deadline. Talking to the podcaster Josh Horowitz, who asked about an article which reported the speculation, the actor joked: "I don't even know who Steven Spielberg is. Who? Steven Who? No, aren't they doing Indiana Jones with Harrison Ford?" "All I know," Pratt continued, "is I once saw a quote from Harrison Ford and I don't even know if it was really him but it was enough to scare me, that was like, 'When I die, Indiana Jones dies.' And I'm like, am I gonna get haunted by the ghost of Harrison Ford one day when he dies if I play... ?" Deadline noted that Ford is, in fact, returning to the Indiana Jones franchise for the 2023 James Mangold film. Pratt doesn't offer a flat-out denial of any previous discussions on the matter. And yes, the 'Star Wars' legend did in fact say the words that so terrified Pratt, proclaiming on the 'Today' show in 2019: "Don't you get it? I'm Indiana Jones. When I'm gone, he's gone. It's easy." Pratt's thoughtful appeasement of Ford's future spirit, in the words of Deadline, has lowered his risk of a haunting and upped his chances of making some pottery with him to 'Unchained Melody' when the fateful time comes. Kolkata, July 16 : The numbers did not favour the BJP in the 2021 West Bengal assembly polls when the saffron camp could not even cross the 100-mark in the 294-seat assembly. The existing number too has started depleting fast after the polls with the present headcount of the BJP having come down to 70 as several party legislators have joined the Trinamool Congress. Even two heavyweight party Lok Sabha members, Babul Supriyo and Arjun Singh have joined the ruling party. According to political analysts, the BJP's model of disruption for toppling opposition ruled state governments by attracting opposition MLAs might have worked for the party in states like Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, but in West Bengal that same model is not working in favour of the saffron camp. Rather, the ruling Trinamool Congress is using the same model of disruption to weaken the BJP in the state. In fact, according to political analysts, the condition of the BJP as an opposition party seems to be quite hopeless even when the issues against the ruling party are many. "The foremost issue are the mass irregularities and corruption in teachers' recruitment in the state, an issue which involves mass interest as genuine candidates were deprived to make room for ineligible candidates. But we hardly see the BJP hitting the streets to organize mass protests. Even with zero representation in the state assembly, the visible street movements by the CPI(M) and the Congress are more than that of the BJP. In such a situation, the BJP's focus is on the progress made by central agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate in their probes in such recruitment scams," said political analyst Arundhati Mukherjee. In fact, both Union home minister Amit Shah and the BJP's national president, JP Nadda, during their visits to West Bengal earlier this year advised the party's state leadership to concentrate on organizing mass movements on burning issues in the state rather than depending on central agencies on this count. However, it is doubtful how far the state leadership of the BJP is serious in implementing the advice of Shah and Nadda at the ground level. The dependence of the state BJP leaders on the CBI and the ED has continued and every time a ruling party leader is summoned by any central agency in connection with various cases like the teachers' recruitment scam, coal & cattle smuggling or post-poll violence, the saffron camp leaders give enthusiastic media bytes and express hopes that the ruling party leaders will soon be behind bars. According to political analyst Rajagopal Dhar Chakraborty, currently the prime concern of the state BJP leadership is to keep the party intact by arresting the exodus of senior leaders from the party. "The strategy that the BJP is adopting in other states to weaken the opposition parties, it is facing the heat of that same strategy from the Trinamool Congress. So, the state unit of the BJP is dependent on the progress of the central agencies against the ruling party for future election successes. In my opinion, unless the BJP chalks out its own mass movement strategy on the issues in the state, there is little possibility for it to weaken the Trinamool Congress before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Sheer dependence on central agencies without any mass movement will not take the BJP ahead," he said. The Trinamool Congress leadership too has realized this weakness of the BJP in West Bengal. That is why TMC leaders including its national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee have been claiming in public that the central agencies have become the last weapon of the BJP considering that their own organization and mass base in the state have totally vanished. According to TMC state general secretary and party spokesman Kunal Ghosh, letting loose the central agencies is proof of the BJP's political bankruptcy. "After the 2021 West Bengal assembly polls they have realized that the beginning of their end has started and the saffron camp does not stand any chance in West Bengal in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. So, in desperation they are letting loose the central agencies," he said. However, the BJP's state spokesman in West Bengal Shamik Bhattacharya rebuts this theory of the Trinamool Congress. "Can the Trinamool Congress leadership deny that there had been so many incidents of corruption? What has the BJP to do with the central agencies' probes when such investigations are being carried out following the orders of the Calcutta High Court? Does the BJP decide when and how the CBI or the ED will act?" he questioned. Jaipur, July 16 : It has been three and a half years since the formation of the Congress government in Rajasthan but since Day 1 of the government formation, there have been rumours of a leadership change. The opposition is adding fuel to the fire and is leaving no stone unturned to cash in on the situation. However, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is giving a tough fight to the Opposition and hence 'Operation Lotus' has failed to yield results here so far. However, the feuds between Gehlot and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot's camps have been going on unchecked since December 2018 when the government was formed. Ever since Gehlot was sworn in as the CM, the Pilot camp has been unhappy and dissatisfied and hence a cold war is being seen between the two camps. In fact, Pilot had done the ground work to bring the Congress back in Rajasthan and was projected as the CM face. However, Gehlot was announced as the CM while Pilot was anointed the deputy CM. Since then, there has been discontent in the Pilot camp. Amid this discontent, Pilot rebelled against the state leadership in 2020 and went to Manesar with 18 MLAs. He announced that the state government was now in a minority. However, Gehlot managed to save his government from being toppled. Pilot's deputy CM tag and cabinet portfolio were snatched away and presently he is simply the MLA from Tonk which has further widened the differences between the two. While the central leadership has formed a committee to look into Pilot's grievances, nothing has been done to assuage them. Since then, the BJP has got the chance to accuse the government of being a divided house. "The state government is in a shambles and the CM is focusing to save it from being toppled. In his efforts to manage his MLAs the CM has ignored crucial issues. Now crime against women, corruption and unemployment have increased indicating poor governance as Rajasthan as a state stands on top in all these parameters," said Satish Poonia, BJP state president. Meanwhile, UPA Presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha on his recent visit to Jaipur yet again sparked a controversy after cautioning Gehlot about 'Operation Lotus 2' looming over the state government. Sinha expressed his apprehension that there is a conspiracy to topple the government again in Rajasthan. Sinha said, "Constant caution needs to be observed; they can attack the government any time and hence they are advised to beware of a conspiracy." Gehlot has been accusing the BJP of buying MLAs at wholesale prices. He said, "Governments are being toppled all over where the BJP is not in power, I would like to ask the Prime Minister and Amit Shah ji, from where did you get this new formula? You started buying MLAs at wholesale prices." "Earlier, we used to hear that only a few people used to go, now 50 people went directly in Maharashtra at wholesale prices. You might think that a new formula has been found which was implemented in Goa, Manipur, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, but Rajasthan was saved by your blessings." The Chief Minister recalled the political crisis in Rajasthan and said, "There was no scope left for the government to work as the toppling exercise was complete, However, our people understood. I am grateful to all those who understood and saved our government from being toppled." While Gehlot is seen thanking his MLAs and the public for trusting him and his government, the BJP is continuously attacking the CM and counting his failures. The party has been recalling how the Gehlot government spent months in hotels fearing their MLAs will shift their loyalty and have quoted this as a major reason for poor governance. Speaking in the wake of the Udaipur killing, Poonia said: "Due to the differences and contradictions of the Congress government, not only the development work of the state has come to a standstill, but the law and order and intelligence has also become a complete failure." He added: "Chief Minister Gehlot is completely unsuccessful in giving security to the people, sisters and daughters of the state, and due to this, the state is not only suffering from the mafia, but in three and a half years of Congress's misrule, the politics of appeasement of the Chief Minister and the Home Minister have made this state a haven for terrorists." Meanwhile, yet again there is speculation about a cabinet reshuffle in the state after the presidential polls, yet again the Pilot camp is terming it as a leadership shuffle buoyed by the fact that their leader's patience was praised by Rahul Gandhi recently in Delhi. Bhopal, July 16 : After the BJPs 'Operation Lotus toppled the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh in March 2020, the Opposition is now suspecting that the saffron partys operation may be visible here again during the Presidential elections. If sources are to be believed, it is suspected that at least five to six Congress MLAs, if not more, may vote for the NDA's Presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu. Sources in the Congress told IANS that two-three tribal leaders, who believe that they will not be getting tickets from the party in the 2023 assembly elections, may cross-vote for the NDA candidate on Monday. However, some other sources claimed that there are five to six Congress MLAs who may cross-vote, including one from the Gwalior-Chambal division and a non-tribal. Sources said that though several Congress MLAs are in touch with the BJP, the saffron party is specifically targeting the stronghold areas of the Congress so far and therefore tribal leaders are its target. The Congress, which claims to have revived in the municipal and district panchayat elections (though the results are yet to be announced) is worried that if the BJP's 'Operation Lotus' is again successful in Madhya Pradesh, it would have a psychological effect on the party for the next assembly elections, which is scheduled in 2023. On Thursday, during the visit of joint opposition Presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha to Bhopal, 77 out of the 96 Congress MLAs attended the legislature party meeting. Clarifying on the absence of 19 MLAs from the meeting, state Congress spokesperson Abbas Hafeez said, "Those who couldn't attend the meeting had already told the party leadership about their inability to attend the meet in view of the counting of votes in the local body polls in their districts." However, a senior Congress MLA from the Malwa-Nimar region said that the party was aware that there were some black sheep, who may cross-vote for the NDA candidate on July 18. "There were around 3-4 MLAs, particularly tribal MLAs from Dhar-Jhabua region who may vote in the name of respecting larger tribal sentiments," the MLA told IANS requesting not to be named. "It is very clear that nearly half-a-dozen Congress MLAs are queuing up before senior BJP leaders, but the BJP is not in a hurry now, until the next assembly elections come near. Many of those who joined the BJP with Jyotiraditya Scindia, most probably will be given another chance. To fill that vacuum, the saffron party will target Congress leaders for the next assembly elections," said a senior journalist. In March 2020, Madhya Pradesh had witnessed the BJP's 'Operation Lotus' like in Maharashtra recently. The then mass resignation of 22 MLAs had resulted in the toppling of Congress Chief Minister Kamal Nath, 15 months after he had come to power. Several Congress legislators resigned soon after senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia joined the BJP. Kiev, July 16 : Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has insited that his country will restore all educational institutions destroyed in Russian strikes but the Russian society will remain crippled for generations to come. In a video address late Friday, the Ukraine President said, two universities - the pedagogical and shipbuilding - were destroyed in the Russian strikes. "There are no such words in normal human language that can describe the condition to which the Russian state has degraded. It is a double crime - to destroy pedagogical universities so that there won't be educational institutions and new educators cannot be trained... But let the terrorists not hope that it will give them anything," Ukrainska Pravda quoted President Zelenskyy as saying. "We will definitely restore everything that they destroyed, each of the more than 2,000 educational institutions, all kindergartens, all schools, institutes, universities. And most importantly, we will preserve our humanity and our civility. But Russian society, with so many murderers and executioners, will remain crippled for generations, and through its own fault," he claimed. Several blasts were heard in Mykolaiv city on Friday. The Russians strikes hit two universities, in which two people were injured. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War New Delhi, July 16 : After the Centre took serious note of mis-selling of courses to parents by edtech firms including BYJU's and its group companies, self-regulatory organisation India Edtech Consortium (IEC) on Saturday said it is committed to protecting consumer interest and has resolved 100 per cent complaints received till June. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs pulled up edtech firms during a meeting with them and IEC, according to sources, and aggressive misselling of courses to parents was the key concern. The IEC, which comes under the aegis of the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and has created a two-tier grievance redressal mechanism, said that it has resolved all complaints received until June 2022 complaints received in July were going through active screening for faster resolutions. "The edtech sector is extremely dynamic in nature and therefore, to address the rising challenges, what IEC is proactively doing will certainly propel a stronger ecosystem in the coming times," said retd SC judge and chairperson of Independent Grievance Redressal Board (IGRB), Dr B.S. Chauhan. The IEC also said that each member company has appointed a dedicated grievance officer internally to address and assess the problem and offer remedial action accordingly. The IEC-member companies are also registering at the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) for streamlining the resolution process, it added. "Edtech as a strong community has been far more responsible and prompt than our traditional counterpart in managing consumer complaints and grievances," said Mayank Kumar, UpGrad Co-founder and MD and Chair at IEC. The recent reports have said that as per the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) data, 33 per cent of complaints are filed against the education sector. However, the official statement by ASCI also states that 6 per cent of the total complaints received are against the edtech companies while the remaining 94 per cent are filed against the traditional education system, according to the IEC. Earlier this month, the Centre warned edtech companies against unfair trade practices. In a meeting with the IEC, Consumer Affairs Secretary, Rohit Kumar Singh, said that if self-regulation does not curb unfair trade practices, then stringent guidelines would be formulated for ensuring transparency. The meeting was attended by representatives of the IAMAI, along with IEC member companies including upGrad, BYJU'S, Unacademy, Vedantu, Great Learning, WhiteHat Jr, and Sunstone. The IEC comprises edtech startups and represents 95 per cent of the Indian learner community. During the meeting, issues pertaining to unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements for the Indian edtech sector figured prominently. Karachi, July 16 : With violence escalating in the wake of the killing of 35-year-old Bilal Kaka, political leaders in Pakistan continued efforts to allay the tensions and appealed to people to beware of conspiracies that aim to sow the seed of disharmony among Sindhis and Pashtuns, local media reported. On Friday, the Sindh government announced that another suspect accused of Kaka's killing was in custody, while 76 people involved in the violence at Karachi's Sohrab Goth area, as well as forcibly closing businesses in other districts, have also been arrested, Dawn reported. Hyderabad SSP Amjad Sheikh told Dawn that the suspect, Afzal Khan, was the brother of Shah Sawar, the hotel owner who was already in custody. In a press conference, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon claimed that social media accounts of deceased people were used to circulate hate messages and share videos to further fuel tensions. He said the federal interior ministry had been asked to take action against those spreading hatred on social media, he said, while warning that such miscreants will be arrested. The minister alleged that the PTI leaders tried to exploit the situation and spread chaos to further their own vested interests. "Special Branch has sent photos of people leading the Sohrab Goth sit-in. The same person was [previously] walking around with the flag of Afghanistan and his brother is contesting local bodies elections on a PTI ticket," Dawn reported quoting the minister as saying. On Friday, Acting Sindh Governor Agha Siraj Durrani met a 19-member delegation from the Pashtun community at the Governor's House, where the delegates assured him of their complete support for the Sindh government in defusing tensions and maintaining the peace. Separately, Karachi JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that ethnic polarisation was being fanned for political point-scoring in the wake of Kaka's murder. Workers of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz and other activists held a demonstration in Mirpurkhas' Naokot and Jhuddo town on Friday. Protesters carrying banners and placards demanded the police to immediately arrest all the accused responsible for Kaka's killing. Aurangabad, July 16 : In a shocking incident, a 16-month-old child fell into a vessel filled with boiling water and succumbed to the burn injuries after a week, an official of Sillod Police Station said here on Saturday. According to the investigating officer Tukaram Mhetre of Sillod, the incident occurred on the evening of July 6 outside the home of Pathan family in Palod village. A wedding feast was being prepared for the evening marriage ceremony in the household and a large vessel containing boiling water of rice was kept nearby. Undetected by the family, the playful toddler Hasnain K. Pathan, somehow managed to reach the hot vessel and fell in it. As he screamed, the family ran there, took him out of the boiling water and rushed him to a nearby private hospital, said Mhetre. Owing to the serious burns the child had suffered, he was taken to the Ghati Government hospital where he breathed his last during treatment late on Thursday. "We have registered an accidental death case and are investigating the matter further," Mhetre added. As news of the tragedy spread, Palod and surrounding villages fell into a pall of gloom and mourning, locals said. Chennai, July 16 : The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has tasked city-based drone-as-a-service (DaaS) provider Garuda Aerospace to assess the flood situation in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, said a top company official. The official also said the drones will be used for supply of medicines and food. "We have been asked by the NDRF to make flood assessment in Guntur in Andhra Pradesh and Vadodara in Gujarat. We will deploy five drones in each location," Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO of Garuda Aerospace, told IANS. According to Jayaprakash, the drones will be taken from Chennai and Delhi. The area to be surveyed will be about 1,000 sq km, Jayaprakash added. Garuda Aerospace was recently engaged in Assam to support the state disaster management department's rescue efforts during the floods and landslide situation. New Delhi, July 16 : Late Congress leader Ahmed Patel's daughter Mumtaz Patel on Saturday refuted Gujarat SIT's charges against him and alleged that his name is being used to malign the opposition. "I guess his name @ahmedpatel still holds weight to be used for political conspiracies to malign d opposition. Why during UPA years @TeestaSetalvad was not rewarded & made Rajya sabha membr & why the center uptil 2020 did not prosecute my father for hatching such a big conspiracy,?" she tweeted. "So their campaign for Gujarat election has begun by dragging @ahmedpatel as name in conspiracy theories. They did it before election when he was alive & are still doing it when he is no more." she added. Earlier, the Congress dismissed as "mischievous and manufactured", SIT's charges that Ahmed Patel had financed civil rights activist Teesta Sitalwad and hatched conspiracy to dislodge the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi-led state government. "This is part of the Prime Minister's systematic strategy to absolve himself of any responsibility for the communal carnage unleashed when he was chief minister of Gujarat in 2002. It was his unwillingness and incapacity to control this carnage that had led the-then Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee to remind the chief minister of his rajdharma," Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said. The statement said that this is Prime Minister's political vendetta machine which does not even spare the departed who were his political adversaries. "This SIT is dancing to the tune of its political master and will sit wherever it is told to. We know how an earlier SIT chief was rewarded with a diplomatic assignment after he had given a 'clean chit' to the chief minister," Jairam said. He said giving judgment through press, in an ongoing judicial process, through puppet investigative agencies who trumpet wild allegations as supposed findings, has been the hallmark of the Modi-Shah duo's tactics for years. Bengaluru, July 16 : In a major development, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) wing of Karnataka police probing the sensational murder case of a Hindu youth has submitted a charge sheet, saying the youth was killed because he could not speak Urdu language, police sources said on Saturday. 22-year-old Chandru was murdered by a group of people in J.J. Nagar police station limits of Bengaluru on April 5. Home Minister Araga Jnanendra, BJP National Secretary C.T. Ravi and other BJP leaders maintained that Chandru's murder was communal and he was killed because he could not speak in Urdu language. CID sleuths who investigated the case stated that the murder of Chandru took place because of language issue. The police had arrested four persons including a minor, all belonging to the minority community. Sources explain that they have submitted a 171-page charge sheet to the First Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court and named 49 persons as witnesses. The charge sheet says, deceased's friend Simon Raj, after celebrating birthday, was going on bike with Chandru on April 5. Shahid Pasha, who was walking started abusing Simon Raj all of a sudden. When questioned, the accused maintained he did not say anything. Afterwards, as the accused again abused them near a bakery, Simon Raj and Chandru had pushed him. Shahid Pasha had called his friends and asked Chandru and his friend to speak in Urdu as they don't understand Kannada language. Later, Chandru was stabbed in the thigh while his friend Simon Raj managed to escape. Police said, locals did not bother to shift him to hospital and did not make a call to police. Simon Raj who came back much later had shifted Chandru to hospital. Chandru succumbed to profuse bleeding in the hospital. The police arrested the accused later. Earlier, the then Police Commissioner of Bengaluru city, Kamal Pant had contradicted ruling BJP statement and maintained that Chandru's murder was just a case of road rage and there was nothing communal about it. Home Minister Araga Jnanendra who had given a communal twist to the youth murder case in Bengaluru by stating that he was murdered for refusing to speak in Urdu, later backtracked from his statements and apologised for the same. The casual attitude of the minister at that time when the entire state was passing through the phase of unrest was slammed. Opposition leader Siddaramaiah had demanded the home minister's resignation and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy had slammed him, saying that he had stooped down to the level of carrying out politics in cases of murders also. The public were also enraged with the handling of the case. The charge sheet by the CID is likely to be objected by the opposition Congress as the case had taken communal turn. New Delhi: NDRF personnel during a rescue operation after a wall of an under-construction building collapsed and killed at least 5 people, at Alipur area in New Delhi on Friday, July 15, 2022. At least 9 people were injured in the incident. (Photo: I Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, July 16 : The contractor and the supervisor of the construction site where five people were killed in a wall collapse have been arrested, a Delhi Police official said on Saturday. The accused were identified as contractor Sikander and supervisor Satish. The third accused Shakti Singh is still at large, the official said. In the incident which took place at Bakoli village, near Chauhan Dharamkanta in the Narela area on Friday afternoon, five labourers were killed and nine others sustained injuries when an under-construction warehouse's boundary wall, which was approximately 100 feet long and 15 feet high, collapsed on them. The labourers were digging a foundation, just adjacent to the wall, and were buried under the debris. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had expressed grief over the loss of lives. Police had registered an FIR under Sections 288 (Negligent conduct with respect to pulling down or repairing buildings), 337 (Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 338 (Causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 304 (Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code at the Alipur police station. Chennai, July 16 : Announcing that his upcoming Malayalam film 'Vazhakk' will have its world premiere at the Second International Film Festival of South Asia in Seoul, Malayalm director Sanal Kumar Sasidharan has said that he has decided to withdraw from filmmaking until his innocence is proven. Sasidharan, who is known also for controversial films such as 'Sexy Durga', was arrested in Kochi in May this year after a popular Malayalam actress lodged a complaint against the director, claiming that she was being stalked by him. The director, who has denied the allegations, was released on bail by the Aluva First Class Judicial Magistrate subsequently. Taking to social media, Sasidharan said: "I am so happy to share this news regarding the world premiere of our film 'Vazhakk' (The Quarrel) at the 2nd International Film Festival of South Asia- Seoul. The festival will take place from July 29 to 31, 2022. IFFSA-SEOUL is held under the theme of "Journey to South Asia" through the movie. 'Vazhakk' is Sasidharan's seventh feature film. He said: "We shot the film during the last days of the first lockdown of Covid-19. Even though I finished the work in 2021 itself, the film didn't travel because of many factors, including the unknown scandals spread against me. Finally, it is coming out. We have censored the film also. It is certified 'A'. "I also take this opportunity to declare my decision to withdraw from film making until my innocence is proven. As a person whose only aim in life was filmmaking, it is very hard for me to go forward and stick to my decision at the same time." "But I was carrying out filmmaking as a spiritual exercise and dedicated myself totally to the purity of my work. I am not claiming that I am a flawless human being in my personal life but I can assure that I was pure in my artistic path. The case slapped on me is absolutely false and cooked up by some people with power and authority who wanted to tarnish and demonise me for their narrow interests. "I believe in truth but it should come out on its own and till then, I don't want it to cast shadow upon my works. I might come back once I am proven innocent or this might be my last film if I die before the verdict. I won't have any regrets even if this is going to be an abrupt end of my career. "I am happy that I could make seven films, one documentary and three short films without doing any compromise to my vision on filmmaking. Thanks for those who loved my films and encouraged me till this point. Love you all." The police have registered a case against the filmmaker under Section 354 (D) based on the complaint of the actress, who also accused Sasidharan of making unsolicited advances at her. Panaji, 16 July : Goa government has formulated two schemes to preserve the fertile cultivable soil in the state for agricultural purposes, Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik informed the Assembly. In a written reply, Naik said that "Promotion of Organic farming" and "development of manures and fertilizers", are the two schemes implemented in the state. Congress MLA Rodolfo Fernandes had asked about the plans to preserve the fertile cultivable soil and measures taken in that regard. "The Government has formulated Schemes for preservation of fertility of soil, schemes are implemented for preservation of soil fertility," Naik said. It further said that steps like promotion of Organic farming with components like assistance for purchase of Organic inputs, Organic farming Demonstration, assistance for conservation of traditional seed varieties for Organic farming and assistance for setting up of organic and Bio inputs production units has been taken. Apart from this, farmers are encouraged to create model Organic farms and Promotion of Local farmers markets. In regards to development of manures and fertilizers, the government, he said, is providing assistance for soil samples, assistance for use of soil Conditioner, assistance for use of Micronutrients and for installation of Biogas plants and Organic Manure Unit. "Government is also giving assistance for Installation of the Vermi - compost Unit," Naik said. Mumbai, July 16 : Director Pierre Morel delves into details to discuss his film 'The Ambush', why he chose the subject and meeting people who were actually part of the Yemen war. Talking about what attracted him to the story, director Pierre said: "I have always wanted to work on a war story. I have previously done thriller stories but none that were about war and based on a true story. Even though the movie is specifically based on UAE and Yemen, it is a universal story; it is all about brotherhood and sacrifice." "This is what attracted me to the story right away - how it is beyond just action and war; the story has the ability to evoke strong emotions." Based on the Yemen War, 'The Ambush' is about how three of Emirati soldiers are attacked in enemy territory, and their captain organises a daring rescue mission. He added: "When you adapt a story based on true events, you have a duty to respect what happened. I was fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to meet the people who were actually a part of the war; it was intriguing to get their perspective firsthand and it helped me understand the characters' thought process and situations that led to the war", the director further added about his experience on understanding the characters and storyline." 'The Ambush' produced by Derek Dauchy and Jennifer Roth, directed by Pierre Morel, is available on Lionsgate Play. Chennai, July 16 : Tamil Nadu Water Resources officials are expecting the Kerala side will allow the Siruvani dam to touch the Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of 50 feet as incessant rains in its catchment area have led to increase in its water levels. The dam is situated in Palakkad in deep forests between Kalladikodan and Muthikulam hills and heavy rains have been continuously lashing in the area for the past couple of days. Water from Siruvani dam is the main source of drinking water for the Coimbatore municipal corporation area. As per an inter-state water agreement between Kerala and Tamil Nadu in 1973, Kerala has to supply 1.30 TMC annually from July 1 to 30 the next year to Tamil Nadu for a period of 99 years. According to Tamil Nadu Water Resources department sources, Kerala, for the past seven years, has not allowed water in Siruvani dam touch the FRL and has been discharging water when it touches 45 feet. Lowering of water level by 5 feet results in a shortage of 122.05 MCFT, which is 19 percent of the dam's storage and makes it difficult for the Coimbatore Municipal Corporation to cater to the drinking water needs of the city. Department sources told IANS that the water level in the dam is 40.34 feet, as of Saturday, and they are expecting the water level to rise above 45 feet in the coming days. New Delhi, July 16 : The joint Opposition candidate for Presidential election Yashwant Sinha has cancelled his visit to Mumbai which was scheduled for Saturday. The visit has been cancelled due to the flood situation in the state, said an official source of Yashwant Sinha camp. However, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray announced on Tuesday that his party would support Draupadi Murmu, saying that this is the first occasion wherein a tribal woman is getting the opportunity to become the President. He had said that several party leaders, especially from the tribal community like MLC Aamshya Padvi, former MLA Nirmala Gavit, and Eklavya Sanghtana's Shivajirao Dhavale had urged him to back Murmu, although there was no pressure on him. The Shiv Sena has 19 MPs in Lok Sabha, three in Rajya Sabha and 55 MLAs. However, 40 of these legislators have now joined the faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The ruling NDA candidate Murmu had visited Mumbai on Thursday as part of her poll campaign, and met the BJP MLAs and MPs from Maharashtra as well as the legislators of its allies, including the Shiv Sena faction led by Shinde. Meanwhile, the Aam Admi Party has announced to support Yashwant Sinha in the presidential election. "The party's Political Affairs Committee meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and unanimously the Political Affairs Committee has decided that the party will support the opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha", MP Sanjay Singh said on Saturday. However, with the support of several regional parties like the BJD, the YSR-CP, the BSP, the AIADMK, and others, NDA candidate Draupadi Murmu's vote share is likely to reach nearly two-thirds. Chennai, July 16 : A day ahead of the start of the Parliament's Monsoon session, the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has given a call for a campaign on Twitter against privatisation of government banks, a top union official said. All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) General Secretary C.H.Venkatachalam also said a protest will be held before the Parliament on July 21 and a strike call will be given based on the developments during the session. The monsoon session of the Parliament begins on July 18 and one of the Bills that may be brought is to enable privatisation of the government banks. "The Twitter campaign by the bankers will begin on Sunday, the morning of July 17. During these days, campaigning through social media is also important apart from our traditional campaigning mode," Venkatachalam told IANS. He had told the union members to tweet in English and also in the regional languages to reach a large number of people. For a long time, it has been said time has come to merge the government banks to have about five big banks. Recently, in a paper, Poonam Gupta of National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) and Arvind Panagariya of Columbia University had advocated privatisation of all government banks barring the State Bank of India (SBI). They had said, to start with two banks with better asset quality and higher returns be privatised and set them as an example for disinvestment by the government in its other banks. Bengaluru, July 16 : Spiritual leader and Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has been honoured with South American nation Suriname's highest civilian honour for his humanitarian work. The spiritual leader was decorated with the Grand Cordon - honorary order of the yellow star (Ere-Orde van de Gele Ster) by President Chandrikapersad Santokhi at a ceremony at the Presidential Palace, a statement issued by Art of Living said. In his address, President Santokhi said: "We are honoured that you're shining a light worth seeing and feeling, now and also for the future generation. With this declaration, may you lead us all to peace and harmony...The people of Suriname welcome you with a warm heart." Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is the first Asian and the first spiritual leader to become recipient of the award, traditionally given to the heads of states. Indian Ambassador Dr. Shankar Bhalachandran was also present in ceremony. "I credit this award to the teachers and volunteers who have been doing commendable service in this country. I thank President Santokhi and the judges for this honour," Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said in a tweet. Visiting the South American nation after 21 years, he met leading businessmen of the country on Friday morning and spoke about the importance of spirituality in taking care of the mental health of the workforce. In the evening, he addressed a jam-packed event at national indoor stadium in Paramaribo, led a meditation and interacted with the thousands of people present. The attendees basked and swayed in the vibrations of ancient chants and music, in keeping with the vision of The Art of Living of 'Making Life A Celebration'. President Santokhi also took the pledge 'I Stand for Peace', a global movement launched by him to bring the focus back to peaceful progress, unity and harmony. New Delhi, July 16 : Aimed at strengthening the government response at grassroots level, the Tamil Nadu government has set up District Climate Change Missions, a move welcomed by experts with a word of caution. Earlier in March, the state government had issued orders for constitution of the "Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission", a first of its kind initiative with "the vision to make Tamil Nadu a climate smart state." In fact, the budget for 2021-22 had announced a total outlay of Rs 500 crore for the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission that would focus on activities and actions for adaptation and mitigation of climate change. The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami was when Tamil Nadu was one of the worst affected areas. It proved to be a watershed moment for the state when it comes to disaster management. Since then, step by step, the efforts have only sustained and increased. Two days ago, the government formed District Climate Change Missions in all its 38 districts. "In a pioneering initiative Tamil Nadu government has set up District Climate Change Missions in all 38 districts in TN. Missions would be headed by District Collectors as Mission Directors. All DFOs will additionally function as Climate officers #TNClimateMission #ClimateAction (sic), tweeted Supriya Sahu, Tamil Nadu's additional chief secretary, Environment, Climate Change and Forest. The Tamil Nadu government has accorded Rs 3.80 crore towards district level mission activities. Terming it a "good development," K Srikanth, weathercaster and author of widely followed blog about Chennai weather, 'Chennaiyil Oru Mazhaikkallam' which is popular as Chennai Rains, said: "There has been a marked changed in how the government wants to address the climate change issue. District Missions is part of the larger agenda that the government is taking a 360 degrees approach in order to create a climate resilient Tamil Nadu." "If you are better prepared for climate change, you are better prepared for disasters as well. Eventually, hopefully, these district wise cells will ensure that people on ground would be aware of what the impact of climate change can be," he said. S. Janakrajan, a professor at the Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS), welcomed the positive step happening for the first time at the district level but had a few words of caution. Insisting on capacity building of the people and the government machinery, he said: "How many district level officials, including the DCs, know about what climate change is, what is the global impact and also the local issues? You should know what you plan to achieve and by what time? Further, if there is no'Risk & Vulnerability Assessment' for each of the districts, how do you know what to focus on?" Janakrajan pointed at another side of the problem as he said, "People cannot even differentiate between weather conditions and climate change. There is a need for improvements at all levels." He also hoped that the formation of such District Missions would bring about an overall approach so that officials and politicians stopped hiding behind climate change for disasters that are clearly man-made. "Urban flooding is clearly due to human inactions, faulty planning etc. No point in blaming climate change for it." A case in point Chennai's 2015 flood. Islamabad, July 16 : PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz on Saturday said she has tested positive for Covid. Maryam made the announcement in a post on twitter. The leader has been busy campaigning ahead of the bypolls to 20 constituencies of Punjab province, Geo TV reported. She addressed back to back rallies in Lahore and Multan on Friday. In July 2021, party spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb had announced that Maryam has contracted Covid. However, at that time Maryam said she has flu, cough and fever and is being treated at home. "Overwhelmed by outpouring of prayers and good wishes," she had said. Kampala, July 16 : Six family members were killed on Saturday in a road accident in the central Uganda district of Masaka when a vehicle they were travelling in collided with a truck. The police said in a statement that the accident occurred when the vehicle carrying the family members tried to overtake and rammed into a truck. The accident happened at Kyarushowe swamp along the Masaka-Kampala highway. The bodies have been taken to Masaka City Mortuary for post-mortem, Xinhua news agency reported quoting police. According to police statistics, some 20,000 road accidents occur nationwide each year, causing more than 2,000 deaths and thus making Uganda among the countries with the highest traffic fatality rates. Kolkata, July 16 : With West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee all set to highlight her Trinamool Congress' national plans against the backdrop of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls at her Martyrs' Day speech here on July 21, the party has prepared a plan to telecast her speech on giant screens in the capitals of other seven states too. For the last two years, the Trinamool organised the Martyrs' Day programme virtually because of the Covid-19 pandemic and telecasted the same virtually in some of the states in northeastern India. However, this year, it will be held in its traditional form, with the Chief Minister and the party's national General Secretary, Abhishek Banerjee addressing the gathering from the traditional venue in central Kolkata. At the same time, keeping the national perspective in mind, their speeches will be telecas in giant screens in the capitals of seven other states. As of now plans have been finalised to telecast it in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Goa, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi also. The seventh state will be finalised within a day or two. According to Trinamool state General Secretary and party spokesman, Kunal Ghosh, slowly but steadily, the party is expanding its base in other Indian states. "In Meghalaya we are currently the principal opposition party. So, keeping in mind our expanding national base, we have decided to telecast the speeches of Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee on giant screens in states other than West Bengal," he said. Apart from that, a similar giant screen telecast of the Chief Minister's speech will be done in all the district headquarters in West Bengal. Since 2011, when Trinamool Congress came to power in West Bengal bringing an end to the 34-year Left Front rule, the regular feature in every Martyrs' Day programme was joining of leaders from other parties. Last two years it could not happen since the programme was conducted virtually. Speculations are taking the rounds in the political circles that this year the surprise will be a couple of heavyweight leaders from BJP joining the Trinamool. However, the Trinamool leadership is totally tight-lipped on this issue. Chennai, July 16 : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Saturday said it has signed an MoU with Bank Indonesia (BI) to improve mutual cooperation between the two central banks. Under the MoU, signed on July 16 in Indonesia's Bali, on the sidelines of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting, the two will strengthen the exchange of information and cooperation in the area of central banking, including payment systems, digital innovation in payments services, and regulatory and supervisory framework for Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML-CFT), the RBI said. Hyderabad, July 16 : Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan will visit flood-affected Bhadradri Kothagudem district while Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will make an aerial survey of all affected districts along Godavari river on Sunday. The governor will inspect the flood-hit areas of Bhadrachalam town and meet the affected people. The governor will reach Kothagudem by train from Hyderabad and from there she will travel by road to Bhadrachalam, where several colonies have been inundated due to floods in Godavari river. The water level in the river reached 71 feet on Friday night, the highest after three decades. The decision by the governor to visit flood-hit Bhadrachalam came a couple of hours after it was announced that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will make an aerial survey of the affected districts. The CMO announced that the chief minister will undertake an aerial survey on Sunday morning to assess the natural calamity and flood related damages due to incessant rains in river Godavari catchment zones. The Chief Minister will conduct an aerial survey on Godavari between Kadem project and Bhadrachalam. He will be accompanied by Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar. Meanwhile, in Bhadrachalam, residents of few inundated colonies staged a protest, demanding the government to raise the height of the dam to permanently solve the problem of flooding. They complained that every year, their colonies get submerged due to rise in the water level and despite repeated appeals, the dam height has not been increased. Paris, July 16 : Five years after the passing of 2004 RSF Award laureate and 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Liu Xiaobo, who embodied the Chinese people's fight for press freedom and died on July 13, 2017 of an untreated cancer while in detention, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called on the international community to significantly step up pressure on the Chinese regime to put an end to its policy of censorship and media surveillance and to ensure the full exercise of press freedom, a right enshrined in Article 35 of its Constitution. Liu Xiaobo, political commentator and writer, author of nearly 800 essays, was a long-time advocate of political reforms and human rights, including press freedom. During the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre, Liu had taken an active role as a pro-democracy protester and launched a hunger strike in support of the students. In the following years, in retaliation for his writing and activism, he was imprisoned many times, sent to reeducation facilities and put in house arrest. In 2009, Liu was sentenced to 11 years in prison for "inciting subversion of state power" for contributing to the Charter 08, a 19-point programme initially signed by 303 academics and intellectuals that called for greater political freedoms, including the enforcement of press freedom. Liu died in 2017, six weeks after diagnosis that he was terminally ill and the regime's refusal of overseas treatment. The regime also persecuted Liu Xiaobo's widow, poet and photographer Liu Xia, who was kept under house arrest from 2010 to 2018 until she was finally allowed exile in Germany. In China, detained journalists are almost systematically subjected to mistreatment and denied medical care: in 2017, political commentator Yang Tongyan died from an untreated cancer while in detention. Kunchok Jinpa, a leading source of information about Tibet for journalists, died in 2021 as a result of ill-treatment in prison. In 2021 RSF published an unprecedented investigative report which reveals the campaign of repression led by Beijing against journalism and the right to information worldwide. Kiev, July 16 : Two people were killed and 15 others injured in Russian missile strike in Ukraine's Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on Saturday. The Russian cruise missiles hit a space rockets plant and a street next to it, regional governor Valentyn Reznychenko said. "Just now in Nikopol, rescuers have removed the bodies of two victims from the rubble of a house hit by Russian shells," Ukrainska Pravda quoted him as saying. "One injured woman is now in the hospital. Doctors describe her condition as average," he said. According to the head of the Oblast Military Administration, the Russian forces hit Nikopol with Multiple Launch Rocket System. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War New Delhi, July 16 : Rubal Shekhawat attributes her success as the first runner-up in the Femina Miss India 2022 pageant to her family. Despite coming from a conservative family in Rajasthan, Rubal had long wished to wear the coveted crown. Read excerpts from an interview with Rubal. How does it feel to have won a title in the pageant? Rubal: Pure magic! I can't contain my happiness and can't stop smiling since the day I won first runner-up in the Femina Miss India 2022. Hailing from Rajasthan what qualities of the region do you feel truly reflect in your personality? Rubal: The rawness of the land keeps my authentic self in check. Rajasthan is a blend of art and culture and I feel that reflects in my personality as well. I have that balance of a traditional and a modern woman. Women are now embracing their bodies and are more confident being in their own skin -- do you think the beauty and fashion industry has some role to play in this? Rubal: We are all human and beauty can't be categorized. We are all beautiful in our own way as they say "Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder". The industry today is accepting of everyone and it's been kind to me so far too. On the contrary I feel the fashion industry motivates simple girls like me to enter the glam world and chase the dreams they thought they could never have. Travel is the best school of experience do you agree, and your favourite spot? Rubal: Oh for sure! Being an army man's daughter, we have always been traveling. It's difficult as a child though to keep changing schools, however meeting new people from different regions of India itself taught me so much about how diverse we are. It definitely broadens the horizon. My favourite place would be Kashmir. Tonja Williams will be paid $270,000 for her first year as superintendent of the Buffalo Public Schools, under the terms of her three-year contract approved by the School Board on Thursday. Thats $5,000 less than her predecessor, Kriner Cash, made during his first year as Buffalos superintendent. When he resigned in March, Cash was making about $311,000 after nearly seven years in the district. Tonja Williams vows to make Buffalo Public Schools a model district as she's named superintendent Tonja Williams received something akin to a heros welcome Thursday evening as the Buffalo School Board voted unanimously to make her the districts permanent superintendent. "She started in a different place than her predecessor and she has accrued benefits during her long tenure with the district," said School Board President Louis Petrucci. "Her contract also reflects the fact that she is a first-time superintendent." For five years, Cash served as superintendent of the Memphis City Schools, a district with more than three times as many students as Buffalo. Williams has not worked in any district other than Buffalo. Prior to being appointed interim superintendent, she had worked as an associate superintendent for 2 years. She earned $154,000 in that role. The board continued paying her the same salary after she was appointed interim superintendent. Salary is not the only difference between the boards contract with Williams and its previous contract with Cash. For a significant portion of the first several months of the Covid-19 pandemic, Cash worked remotely from his home in Marthas Vineyard. The board guaranteed there wont be a repeat with Williams her contract stipulates that she cannot work remotely for more than five consecutive school days unless she gets prior approval from the board president. "Working remotely is now an option and we wanted to make sure that we spelled out the parameters if it were to happen again," Petrucci said. "While a situation may arise where a superintendent needs to work remotely, the board believes that the best place for a superintendent is in the district." The board also took steps to mitigate its potential losses in the event that Williams is terminated without cause, according to a copy of her contract obtained by The Buffalo News under the states Freedom of Information Law. Kriner Cash gets buyout worth more $300,000 to resign as BPS superintendent According to the resignation agreement, Cash will receive $299,995 and another $11,959.39 which is "the current value of his accrued vacation." Although Cash was not terminated, he received a hefty severance package when he resigned in March: worth more than $300,000, the equivalent of about one years salary for him which is what his contract required, had he been terminated without cause. In the event that the board terminates Williams without cause, it would be obligated to pay her only six months pay as severance. She is required to give the board 30 days notice if she resigns, as opposed to the 60 days required of Cash. "While we are confident in Dr. Williams' abilities to improve the district, if things do not go as planned, we would like to transition quickly and at the lowest cost," Petrucci said. The board gave Williams more leeway than Cash regarding time off during the school year. Cashs contract prohibited him from taking any vacation time, other than scheduled holidays, while classes were in session. Williams is allowed to take time off during the school year, but not more than 10 consecutive days. Her contract requires her to move into the district within six months, the same stipulation that Cash had. Although Williams grew up in Buffalo and attended public schools in the city, she resides in Amherst. Kochi, July 16 : In a landmark judgement, the Kerala High Court on Saturday allowed the medical termination of pregnancy of a 15-year-old rape survivor in the 24th week. A single-judge bench of Justice V.G. Arun ruled that if the girl does not take charge of the baby, then the state government should ensure it looks after the child. The court also said that a state-run hospital should ensure that the procedure is done and the girl be given the best medical treatment. It ordered formation of a medical team to ensure that all the things necessary are done and after informing the girl. The court then posted the case to be considered after 10 days. Jakarta, July 16 : A separatist group on Saturday attacked civilians in Nduga district of Indonesia's eastern Papua province, killing 10 people and seriously injuring two others, a police spokesperson said. The group, which the Indonesian government calls "a criminal armed group (KKB)," separately launched attacks at four sites in the district, provincial police spokesperson Ahmad Mustafa Kamal said. One of the attacks was an ambush of a truck carrying civilians, conducted by 20 members of the group armed with three long rifle guns and one pistol, Xinhua news agency reported quoting Kamal. "When the truck was stopping, it was shot (several times) from a distance of 50 meters," the spokesperson told Xinhua via phone. According to him, bodies were recovered and injured persons found at the ambush spot and three other sites of the attacks. "Totally, 10 people were killed, and two others suffered from injuries. They all are civilians," he said. New Delhi, July 16 : When it comes to refrigerators, your options now extend far beyond simply getting a glass of ice water without opening the door. It is difficult to choose the best one for you because there are numerous factors to consider, including size, door style, energy efficiency, brand, and price. If you are considering replacing your existing refrigerator but are unsure where to begin? Here are a few pro tips to keep in mind that you can read on your way to buying the refrigerator. Capacity/size requirement A refrigerator's capacity is primarily measured in litres. The capacity range of the appliance has grown at an exceptional rate as technology has advanced, from the lowest capacity to the highest. One of the most important factors to consider when determining your needs is the size of your family, which will determine the amount of food you will keep in your refrigerator. A 263 - 364 litre fridge should suffice for a family of 2-5 people. Consider investing in a convertible fridge If you are looking to replace your current refrigerator, you might want to consider investing in a convertible refrigerator because of its impressive flexibility and multipurpose function as a refrigerator or freezer depending on your needs. You can look into the Bosch Max Flex, India's first flexible refrigerator. This range of indigenous refrigerators, designed to meet the needs of Indian households, addresses a critical requirement of storage flexibility. Convenience When integrated into a refrigerator, ice and water dispensers provide undeniable convenience. It is much easier to prepare family meals or entertain guests when you can fill a glass with cubed or crushed ice or with drinking water. Budget-friendly Price is an important consideration when purchasing a new refrigerator. Begin by estimating how much money you want to spend. A refrigerator is an investment in a machine that must run continuously. So, buying a fridge that is easy on your wallet and your bills while also providing all of the amenities is a must-have specification. Look for energy-efficiency When purchasing a new refrigerator, look for the Energy Star label, which informs consumers about how much electricity a refrigerator consumes per unit. -- Syndicated from IANS Thiruvananthapuram, July 16 : The Communist Party of India, the second-largest constituent of Kerala's ruling dispensation, on Saturday expressed its outrage at the statement of CPI-M legislator M.M. Mani in the Assembly against a woman legislator as the controversy continued to simmer for the third day. Mani, a former state Electricity Minister, had on Thursday slammed opposition MLA K.K. Rema of the Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP), stating that it was her fate that she became a widow and the CPI-M or the Left had no role in it. The CPI's Idukki district Secretary K.K. Sivaraman slammed Mani over his frequent usage of expletives in his statements. Sivaraman also was upset after Mani used a colloquial word for their top leader Annie Raja, wife of CPI national Secretary D. Raja, saying that her domain was Delhi and she need not be worried ("undakenda") of what happens in the Kerala Assembly. He hit back at Mani stating if that be the case, then would he say the same of his leader Brinda Karat. "Mani should learn to speak properly controlling his tongue and the CPI-M should ensure that they correct him. He just can't get away by saying he is a pure villager who uses village language. Mani should speak properly," an angry Sivaraman said. Ever since Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan strongly defended Mani in the floor of the house, every CPI-M leader has fallen into line and gone on to defend Mani. The latest was State Minister for Culture V.N. Vasavan who on Saturday said Mani has done no wrong. Rema, who won the election with the support of the Congress-led UDF, is the widow of former CPI-M leader Chandrasekheran, who was brutally murdered by a group of attackers near his house in Kozhikode in 2012. He had left the party in 2008 and formed his own party, the Revolutionary Marxist Party. Eleven people, including three local CPI-M leaders, were sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with the killing. Even after the brutal murder of her husband with the alleged knowledge of the CPI-M top brass, Vijayan had called him a 'renegade', a remark that had come under huge attack from numerous quarters. On Saturday, Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan said it's Vijayan who is supporting Mani. "Vijayan's continued anger towards Chandrashekeran is becoming more visible and he just cannot tolerate Rema. But we, the Congress-led UDF, will strongly support Rema and will be for her always," he said. Mani on Saturday reiterated that he has done no wrong. "It was the Congress led opposition who pointed out that she is a widow. I just said that we have no role in it. So I don't think I have done any wrong for me to apologise," he contended. With the Friday's session of the assembly ending in utter chaos on account of these issues, all eyes are on Monday when the session resumes its sitting. Meanwhile, Vijayan, who arrived in Delhi on Saturday to take part in his party meeting, sidestepped questions on this topic and spoke of rain in the national capital as he got into his car and drove off. New Delhi, July 16 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday said that they have arrested an officer in the Union agriculture ministry along with three private persons in a bribery case. A Plant Protection Officer, identified as Padam Singh, in the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage Department, Ministry of Agriculture (Govt of India) at Visakhapatnam and three private persons, including a Regional Manager of Visakhapatnam-based firm have been arrested. A senior CBI official said that apart from Singh, the other three persons are -- Athi Bulli Reddiyya alias Murali, Regional Manager, Exim Logistics Pvt. Ltd, Visakhapatnam, S. Siva Rama Gupta and Myla Srikrishna Varma. Singh was allegedly demanding and collecting huge amounts of bribes from the CHAs, Fumigators and Shipping Agents for issuing Phytosanitary Certificates for exporting the goods and Consignment Release Orders for imported consignments. Singh allegedly demanded illegal gratification from Reddiyya for clearing pending applications and issuing favourable certificates to Customs for release of import, export consignments of agricultural commodities. The CBI apprehended Singh and Reddiyya and recovered the bribe amount of Rs 6,000. "Searches were conducted at the premises of accused and others, including their associates at Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Roorkee (Uttarakhand). Cash of Rs 1,29,63,450 was recovered from the premises of Singh and Rs 56,86,000 allegedly belonging to the public servant was recovered from the premises of others. Certain incriminating documents were also recovered," said the CBI official. All the arrested accused will be produced before the Court of Principal Special Judge for CBI Cases, Visakhapatnam later in the day. Kathmandu, July 16 : Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre Chairman and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda on Saturday called for a review of the 1950 treaty between Nepal and India. Prachanda, who is currently in New Delhi and has met Minister for External Affairs S. Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval among others, made the remarks at an event organised by the Foundation for Public Awareness and Policy. He said that even after solving the problems between the two countries through diplomatic dialogue, there should be no delay in reviewing the treaty. "There are some issues left by history that need to be addressed in good faith to fully realise the potential of Nepal-India relations and bilateral cooperation. The matters related to the 1950s Treaty, boundary, and the EPG report need to be resolved through diplomatic efforts and dialogue. In the spirit of good neighbourliness, we can make our relations problem-free," he said. Prachanda also stressed that the report prepared by the Nepal-India Prominent Group should be accepted and the relationship between the two countries should be further strengthened. Noting that the relationship between Nepal and India has been strong since time immemorial, he said that if there is any problem, it can be resolved through diplomatic dialogue. Nepal and India formed the EPG in 2016 with a mandate to review and suggest a new blueprint of Nepal-India relations in the changed global and regional context. The panel submitted its report in 2018 where it also suggested reviewing the 1950s peace and friendship treaty as well as streamlining the Nepal-India open border among others. But due to different opinions and views between New Delhi and Kathmandu, the report has failed to get submitted to the Prime Ministers of India and Nepal which was agreed upon in the last meeting of the EPG in July 2018. Prachanda also requested India to increase investment in Nepal's agriculture, infrastructure, and tourism. He mentioned that the Nepal government has given priority to the export industry and held that there is an opportunity to get high returns by investing in it. "The commonalities between Nepal and India and the extent of engagements have created a synergy for a robust interdependence. We must capitalise on these enablers to ensure that the cooperation bears fruits for the people of both countries. Goodwill, trust, understanding, equality, mutual respect, and benefit should continue to underpin our relationship," he said He also hailed the recent agreement and understanding reached between Nepal and India. Nepal holds immense potential in hydropower generation, he said, and as an economic powerhouse, India has a growing demand for electricity. "Bilateral cooperation in the power sector will therefore deliver mutual gains. Nepal's hydropower is an answer to issues of energy security as well as green growth." To enhance trade and economic activities, Nepal has prioritised connectivity infrastructures -including roads, railways, waterways, and transmission lines, he said. "Agriculture offers huge potential for cooperation. We need to implement the important understanding reached in the past for promoting cooperation in this sector. We appreciate India's valuable support in supplying chemical fertilizers to Nepal. Nepal and India are working on different large projects including Integrated Check Post (ICP) and rail links," he said. The Ramayan Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Shiva Circuit, and other religious sites including Pashupatinath, Muktinath, and Janakpurdham solemnly represent our civilisational bonds and potential for scaling up religious tourism, he added. Da1hal reached India on Friday at the invitation of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). During this visit, he is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the meeting with Prachanda, Jaishankar said that Nepal has been prioritised under the "Neighborhood First Policy". "India will always be a reliable partner in Nepal's desire for development and prosperity, reflecting the policy of neighborhood first," he said, adding: "There has been a fruitful discussion on strengthening our neighborly relations by focusing on economic cooperation." New Delhi, July 16 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's jibe on 'revdi culture'. "I have been accused of distributing revdis (sweets), freebies. I am being abused. I want to ask the people of India, where am I wrong?" said Kejriwal in a press briefing. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister, while inaugurating the Bundelkhand Expressway in Uttar Pradesh warned against what he called the 'revdi culture' of offering freebies for votes and termed it 'very dangerous'. "I am providing free quality education to the poor children of Delhi. Am I distributing revdis? Before we came to power, the plight of Delhi government schools was miserable. The future of 18 lakh children was in the dark due to poor infrastructure. Is it a crime to provide good education to these children free of cost?" Kejriwal said. He said, "We have turned around Delhi's government hospitals, built amazing Mohalla Clinics. Delhi is the only megacity in the world where each of the two crore people can get free treatment. "Those abusing me for making bus rides free for women are the same people who have spent thousands of crores on private jets," he added. "Kejriwal saves money and makes women travel for free. I have studied engineering, my degree is also not fake. Delhi's Budget is running in profit, what wrong did I do if I give facilities to the people by curbing corruption," added the Delhi Chief Minister. New Delhi, July 16 : Asserting that the government communication is crucial for realisation of national goals under 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas', Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Singh Thakur on Saturday called for adopting the '5-C' Mantra for Government Communication. The five key features that need to define the government communication include -- Citizen-Centric and Compassionate, Co-creating with Target Audience, Collaboration, Contemplation, and Continuous Capacity Enhancement. Elaborating on this, the minister said that all communication needs to be relevant and easy to understand, keeping the citizens in mind. Further, he underlined the importance of collaborating with all stakeholders, including the government bodies, institutions and the private sector. He added that as communication is a fast-changing field with upcoming challenges like fake news, it is important for communicators to be agile and adaptable, as seen during the recent Covid pandemic. Anurag Singh Thakur lauded the role of India Information Service (IIS) officers in undertaking transformational initiatives such as expansion of Fact Check Unit to counter fake news and accessibility initiatives for Divyangjan, among others. He also put forth ideas and initiatives to further improve the efficacy of Government communication to benefit the last mile, highlighting the importance of new media technologies, institution building and coordinating with the state governments. He exhorted all officers to recognise the importance of their role as communicators to 130 crore people. The minister inaugurated the Third Annual Conference of IIS officers at Vigyan Bhavan. The Secretary, Information and Broadcasting, Apurva Chandra and Principal Director General, Jaideep Bhatnagar, Satyendra Prakash, Venudhar Reddy and Mayank Kumar Aggarwal were present on this occasion. The Union Minister underlined the importance of synchronised communication and art of storytelling to enhance the public outreach. Principal Director General Jaideep Bhatnagar in his remarks said that the prime focus of the Service is to work towards empowerment and accessibility, citizen centric 24x7 engagement, behavioural change communication and combating fake and mischievous news. Recognising that the field of communication is inherently dynamic, the two-day Conference will deliberate on emerging challenges and a roadmap for cutting-edge communication in the future. Kyiv, July 16 : Russia has deployed multiple missile systems on the territory of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, as per Ukrainian officials, media reports said. Russian forces are using these weapons to fire at the area around the city of Nikopol, Ukrainska Pravda reported. "As for the Zaporizhzhia NPP the situation there is very difficult, and every day it is becoming more so," Petro Kotin, President of Energoatom (National Atomic Power Generation Company) was quoted by Interfax Ukraine. "The invaders are deploying their military equipment there - in particular, their missile systems, which they are already using to launch attacks on the other side of the Dnipro (River), the area around the city of Nikopol." Kotin said that there are still up to 500 Russian soldiers ensuring the security of the perimeter of the Zaporizhzhia NPP. Moreover, Russian heavy military equipment, weapons and explosives are also stored at the power plant. On 4 March, Russian forces seized the territory of the Zaporizhzhia NPP. They are controlling the administrative buildings and the entry to the station. In mid-March, Russians detonated ammunition at the Zaporizhzhia NPP, near the destroyed training centre and power unit No.1. Around 500 Russian military personnel remain at the Zaporizhzhia NPP, as well as a large amount of Russian military equipment and explosives. As a result, Ukraine cannot entirely fulfil the safety guarantees given to its own citizens and the world, although it still maintains control over the work of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, Ukrainska Pravda reported. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War London, July 16 : Chelsea on Saturday signed centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly on a four-year deal from Serie A side Napoli. Koulibaly joined Napoli from Genk in 2014 and made 317 appearances for the Italian side. He made his senior debut for Senegal in September 2015 and has since earned 62 caps, captaining the team to victory at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. "I'm very happy to be here with this team at Chelsea. It's a big team in the world and my dream was always to play in the Premier League," Koulibaly said in a statement. "Chelsea came first to get me in 2016 but we didn't make it. Now when they came to me I accepted it because they really wanted me to come to the Premier League to play for them. When I spoke to my good friends Edou and Jorginho they made my choice easier so I'm really happy to be with you today," he added. Koulibaly's arrival at Stamford Bridge follows the departures of defenders Antonio Rudiger to Real Madrid and Andreas Christensen to Barcelona, both on free transfers. The 31-year becomes Chelsea's second signing since the Todd Boehly-led takeover after Raheem Sterling joined the club. "Kalidou Koulibaly is one of the world's elite defenders and we are delighted to be welcoming him to Chelsea. A great leader and an exemplary team player, Kalidou brings a wealth of experience and attributes that will benefit our squad and the club as a whole," said Todd Boehly, chairman and co-controlling owner. Jaipur, July 16 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday, in presence of the Chief Justice of India and the Union Law Minister, said judges and bureaucrats should work to serve the country, instead being concerned about their post-retirement ambitions. "I became the Chief Minister, some people become judges, Prime Minister, and MLA and it is a matter of pride as an opportunity has been granted to serve the country," he said, adding that life is not there for a thousand years, and one should serve the country during the lifetime. "In this, what we can become after retirement, if this concern is amongst the judges and bureaucrats, then how will things work," said Gehlot, in his address at the inaugural session of the 18th All India Legal Services Authority. The event was attended by Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana, Justice U.U. Lalit and other judges from the top court. Gehlot also highlighted the barrage of criticism targeting Supreme Court judges Justices Surya Kant, and J.B. Pardiwala, for their observations during the hearing of a plea by former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. "Recently Justices Surya Kant and Pardiwala said something. It is our duty to respect the judiciary. 116 people were made to stand up (against the two judges) including former judges, bureaucracy, officers and many others... Supreme Court judges had expressed their views on the situation in the country," he said. Gehlot also referred to the nomination of former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi as a Rajya Sabha MP. He said Justice (retd) Gogoi was one of the four Supreme Court judges, who had said democracy is in danger, but became a parliamentarian after retirement . "I had asked the President of India 'was Mr Gogoi fine before or is he fine now?' This is beyond my understanding..," he said. He said state governments are being overthrown and pointed at changes in government in Goa, Manipur, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. "Is there democracy? If elected governments are overthrown due to horse trading... I don't know how my government got saved... situation is very delicate." Gehlot said shouldn't the Prime Minister say that unity and brotherhood has to be maintained? "He has to say that I will not accept violence at any cost. I believe the Law Minister can convince him. He does not listen to us... Today the situation is such that it's creating a lot of tension," he said. He also praised Justice Ramana's speech in the US on the importance of tolerance and inclusiveness in the society. On July 2, Justice Ramana said it is theAtoleranceAand inclusive nature of American society that is able to attract the best talents from all over the world, which in turn is contributing to its growth. "This principle of inclusivity is universal. It needs to be honoured everywhere in the world, including in India. Inclusivity strengthens the unity in society which is key to peace and progress. We need to focus on issues that unite us. Not on those that divide us," he had said. Jammu, July 16 : A constable of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) opened fire at three of his colleagues before shooting himself dead in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district, officials said on Saturday. ITBP in a statement said a constable of 8th Battalion was reported to have opened fire injuring three of his colleagues in Udhampur. "He later shot himself and died. He was part of an ad-hoc battalion deployed in J&K looking after the security duties," ITBP said. "Incident took place at around 3.30 p.m. today at the Devika Ghat Community Centre, Udhampur. Constable/GD Bhupendra Singh was part of the F Company of the 2nd Adhoc Battalion of the ITBP." All injured have been shifted to the hospital and are safe. A court of inquiry has been ordered. The incident comes just a day after two army jawans were killed in a suspected case of fratricide inside an army installation at Surankote in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. New Delhi/Kohima, July 16 : The Nagaland government headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Saturday inched ahead making a concrete attempt to materialise or finalise a solution for final peace pact. The state legislators also reiterated their stance to step aside and "pave the way" for an early solution. The Parliamentary Committee headed by the Chief Minister and which also has deputy Chief Minister Y. Patton, BJP's floor leader, for the first time placed on record their appreciation for 'positive initiatives' taken by the umbrella organisation NNPG. "The Parliamentary Committee welcomes the positive initiatives being taken by the Government of India and the Working Committees of the NNPG in regard to the on-going peace dialogue between the Govt of India and the Naga national political groups. The Committee also appreciates and welcomes the efforts made by the Naga political groups in taking the talks forward," a statement said at the end of the meeting in Kohima. The panel threw the ball into the court of the Government of India specifically urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to "invite" NSCN-IM bring about a final solution that is "honourable, acceptable and inclusive". It appealed to the negotiating parties (that is the centre, NNPG and NSCN-IM) to refer to the competencies as reflected in the Framework Agreement of 3rd August 2015 signed between the Government of India and the NSCN-IM. "Since the talks have been concluded officially on 31st October 2019, the Hon'ble Prime Minister and the Hon'ble Union Home Minister are urged upon to invite the NSCN (IM) leaders for an early conclusion," the statement said. It has been a rare occasion for the Rio-led dispensation to appreciate the role played by the NNPG (umbrella organisation of seven militant groups led by N Kitovi Zhimomi) and also to acknowledge publicly that the formal talks were completed on October 31, 2019. Generally, an impression prevails that powerful sections in the present Nagaland government were biased towards NSCN-IM. In fact, pressure would now mount on the NSCN-IM to review its stance on Flag and a separate Constitution -- the twin demands rejected by the Centre outright. Officials in Delhi earlier said that the demands of Flag and Constitution were added by the NSCN (IM) post October-2019 only as an 'afterthought exercise'. The Parliamentary Committee, while welcoming the statements and observations made by various organisations and individuals calling for unity and early solution, appeals to all sections to refrain from making statements that may create misunderstanding and disunity, and that may stand in the way "of our common and collective endeavour to achieve genuine and lasting peace". It said the state government and the Parliamentary Committee are not party to the Naga political negotiations and that it is playing the role of facilitator, representing and "reflecting the voice of the people; and this role will continue to be pursued in a serious manner". "We stand by the commitments of the constituent political parties as reflected in their respective manifestoes to pave way in the event of a political solution being arrived at," said the statement signed by CM Rio, Deputy CM Patton, former CM T.R. Zeliang and NPF leader K. Azo Niunu. The stand of the parliamentary panel (comprising all 60 legislators) in effect reflects the power of people's pressure and wishes expressed by various influential organisations including various tribal student bodies, the Nagaland Tribal Council and the Federation of Gaon Burrahs (village elders). Everyone in the last couple of months have maintained that the inordinate delay in peace talks were not acceptable. At the individual level, veteran Naga leader S.C. Jamir, who enjoys good working rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi since his days as Governor of Gujarat, recently said that - "There is a marked change in the mood of the people of Nagaland. The ideological watchdogs have failed to note that there is anger against anti-social and anti-national elements". His reference was obviously to the NSCN-IM. Speculation is rife because 'time' is running out via-a-vis peace parleys which began in 1997. Nagaland elections are due by Feb-March 2023 and the centre has an obligation to deliver peace and solution as BJP's election slogan in 2018 was 'Election for Solution'. The NNPG led by its convener N. Kitovi Zhimomi is keen for an early solution. This group has inked a preliminary Agreed Position pact with the Centre on November 17, 2017. Recently, former army chief and ex-CDS, Gen (Retd) M.M. Naravane also visited Nagaland and met important Naga leaders and social workers. Reportedly, he was told that 'delay' to arrive at a solution may not serve much purpose and apparently he also concurred with it. Incidentally, his visit also came when the centre is exploring possibilities of appointing an exclusive Governor for Nagaland. A source said the army could enhance deployment of manpower in some parts of the state as well. There are indications that after July 18 voting for the Presidential polls, the Centre may initiate some concrete steps next week or so to end the decades-old Naga insurgency. On July 18, Nagaland is all set to make a record when perhaps for the first time all 60 legislators belonging to NDPP, NPF and BJP will vote in favour of NDA's presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu. In a recent article in local newspapers, S C Jamir also wrote - "A vast majority of the people are anxiously waiting for a new dawn but a small minority of the Nagas want to continue the status quo but people are now vehemently against it". The potent NSCN-IM has also lately come under criticism and especially some Naga intellectuals and ex-IAS officers have alleged that the Tangkhul leaders (tribe of NSCN-IM leader Thuingaleng Muivah) who reside mostly in Manipur want to dictate terms for Nagas in the present state of Nagaland. Many Naga leaders including from NTC and political party NPF have said that if the NSCN-IM does not agree for an early solution, it could walkout from the negotiations that started way back in 1997. (Nirendra Dev is a New Delhi-based journalist. He is also author of books, 'The Talking Guns: North East India' and 'Modi to Moditva: An Uncensored Truth'. Views are personal) Patna, July 16 : Two school children were injured and four more fell unconscious after a bomb exploded in Bihar's Gaya district on Saturday. Harpreet Kaur, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Gaya confirmed the incident. She said that the victims received injuries and were admitted in a hospital in Wazirganj, and were out of danger. The explosion took place at the government primary school, Murgiyachak under Wazirganj police station on Saturday morning. The victims were identified as Satyendra Kumar Manjhi (10) and Niraj Kumar Manjhi (9). "The students were playing inside the school campus when the explosion took place. Four students also came under the impact of the explosion and fell unconscious. We have sent a bomb and dog squad at the school for investigation," Kaur said. The villagers claimed that three bombs also exploded in the village on Friday night. Wajirganj is a Maoist dominated area of Gaya district. The police said that there was a possibility of bomb being kept in the school premises which exploded. Lahore, July 16 : The Pakistani High Commission, as a goodwill gesture, issued a three-month visa to a 92-year-old Indian woman, Reena Chhibar, who reached Pakistan on Saturday to see her ancestral home, media reports said. As she made her way through the Wagah-Attari border to see her ancestral home, Prem Niwas, in Rawalpindi, she urged the governments of both the countries to "work together" to ease visa restrictions to make "coming and going easy for us", the Express Tribune reported. Reena reminisced of a multi-cultural diverse community that was thriving in 'Pindi before the Partition as she was driven from the border to Rawalpindi. "My siblings had friends who would come over to our house from various communities, including Muslims," she said, remembering that "our house-help was also a diverse mix of people". In 1947, after the partition, her family moved to India. She was 15 years old at the time, and though over 75 years have passed since then, she said she "could not remove her ancestral home, her neighbourhood and the streets from her heart", Express Tribune reported. Reena had applied for visa in 1965 to visit Pakistan, but she says she could not acquire permission amid high tensions due to the war between the two neighbours. She still managed to visit Lahore to watch a match between Pakistan and England as Pakistan had issued visas to Indians to watch the match. Reena claims that she had expressed the desire to visit her ancestral home on social media in 2021, upon which a Pakistani citizen named Sajjad Haider contacted her and sent her images of the house. In a video on social media, she claimed that she had applied for a visa to visit the place in 2021 which was rejected, Express Tribune reported. The 92 year-old then turned to social media and expressed her desire to visit Pakistan. She also tagged the now Pak Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar in her post. According to Reena, the minister immediately directed the Pakistani High Commission to issue her a visa and soon after, she was contacted by the high commission in New Delhi. After meeting with the Commission's Aftab Hassan Khan, she was issued a visa for 90 days. As Reena arrived in Pakistan via Wagah border on Saturday morning, her eyes became moist. She left for Rawalpindi where she will visit her ancestral home Prem Niwas and her childhood friends from the neighbourhood, Express Tribune reported. Chennai, July 16 : The unit of director Mani Ratnam's much-awaited magnum opus, "Ponniyin Selvan" on Saturday released a video clip in which historians, writers and experts explained about the history of the Cholas, considered to be the golden age of the Tamils. The first part of the film, based on the classic Tamil novel "Ponniyin Selvan" by eminent writer Kalki, is scheduled to hit screens on September 30 this year. The brilliant story, that revolves around the early life of prince Arulmozhi Varman, who later on went on to be known as the great Raja Raja Chozhan, is one of a kind. Historian S. Ramachandran, writer S. Ramakrishnan and S. Jayakumar, a researcher on cultural history, are among those who talk about the administration of the Cholas, their conquests, and their contributions to art and culture in the video clip. The film, which Mani Ratnam describes as his dream project, has a host of big stars, notably Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Trisha, Karthi, Jayam Ravi, Jayaram, Parthiban, Lal, Vikram Prabhu, Jayaram, Prabhu, and Prakash Raj. Reported to have been made on a budget of Rs 500 crore, it will be among the most expensive projects ever undertaken in the country. A.R. Rahman is scoring the music for this epic historical and cinematography is by Ravi Varman. National Award winning art director Thotta Tharani is in charge of production design while Mani Ratnam's trusted editor Sreekar Prasad is handling its editing. New Delhi, July 16 : Two groups of people from different communities clashed over petty issues in the national capital's Sultanpuri area and were later sternly warned by the police not to flare communal tension . Sharing details of the incident, Deputy Commissioner of Police (outer district) Sameer Sharma said a PCR was received on July 13 at Sultanpuri police station regarding heavy quarrel between two communities. "On enquiry, it was found that the complainant, a 48-year-old man, who operates a street side amusement ride near Jama Masjid, was returning home along with his worker and his swing and when he reached near I-block, AB Extension, Peer Baba Mazar, he encountered a tempo (mini-truck) carrying fish crossing from the opposite side of a narrow street," the DCP said. The official said that at this time an argument broke out between the driver of the tempo and the complainant over who would cross first, which soon broke out into a scuffle, between them, involving four more individuals. The complainant called his brother who also got involved in the scuffle. "The complainant sustained head injuries and was taken to SGM hospital for treatment. While waiting for his statement, all the accused were immediately detained," DCP Sharma said. Accordingly, based on the complainant's statement, an FIR under section 323, 341, 506 and 34 (common intention) was registered and all the accused were arrested. However, even after the arrest of all the accused, the complainant twice recorded a video through which he allegedly tried to incite hatred between two communities. Taking strict note of it, the complainant was first warned by SHO Sultanpuri and then by ACP Sultanpuri not to communalise the issue. The complainant party later met with Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Sharma who also warned them of getting involved in any type of communal issue. Jaipur, July 16 : Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana on Saturday said that a strong, vibrant and active opposition helps to improve the governance and corrects the functioning of the government, but "unfortunately the space for Opposition in the country is diminishing". In his address at an event on '75 Years of Parliament Democracy' at the Rajasthan Assembly, he said: "Particularly, the leaders in the opposition used to play a stellar role. There used to be a lot of mutual respect between the government and the opposition. Unfortunately, the space for opposition is diminishing. We are witnessing laws being passed without detailed deliberation and scrutiny." Chief Justice Ramana said strong, vibrant and active opposition helps to improve the governance and corrects the functioning of the government. "In an ideal world, it is the cooperative functioning of the government and the opposition which will lead to a progressive democracy. After all, Project Democracy is a joint effort of all the stakeholders," he added. He added that in the absence of a thorough debate involving all the sides of the house, as a judge, he, at times, wonders as to how one traces the legislative intent behind the enactments. "Instead of engaging in meaningful debates for furthering democracy, politics has become acrimonious. The diversity of opinion enriches polity and society. Political opposition should not translate into hostility, which we are sadly witnessing these days. These are not signs of a healthy democracy," he said. The Chief Justice said building a peaceful and inclusive society is not just a matter of public administration, but also a duty of a statesman. "You are a reflection of the people's aspiration. Let morality of the constitution guide you in the right direction. After all, you are all role models. Strengthening parliamentary democracy demands strengthening the opposition as well," he said. "We have a form of government where the executive, both political and permanent, is accountable to the legislature. Accountability forms the core principle of democracy. I have, on several occasions, highlighted the significance of parliamentary debates and parliamentary committees. In fact, I used to look forward to the legislative debates." The Chief Justice said a year ago, on Independence Day, he had expressed views on a decline in the quality of debate and, at times, even the lack of debate in the legislative bodies. "On this occasion, I have a suggestion to make. Law making is a complicated process. One cannot expect every lawmaker to have a legal background. It is essential that Members of the Legislature have quality assistance from legal professionals, so that they are able to contribute to the debates meaningfully. The Hon'ble Speaker may consider providing the assistance of qualified law clerks to each of the MLAs. "We, as judges, are also assisted by law clerks in our day-to-day Court work. Let me assure you, it will really be helpful to you all," he said. Dakshina Kannada : , July 16 (IANS) Hundreds of women took out a massive rally in Mangaluru city of Dakshina Kannada district in support of wearing hijab in educational institutions under the banner of the Campus Front of India (CFI) on Saturday. The agitators raised slogans "Inquilab Zindabad" and "Hijab is our right". The agitators ridiculed BJP MLA Raghupathy Bhat for speaking against the hijab through a skit. The six students of Udupi Girls' Pre-University College, who started the protest demanding their right to wear hijab in Karnataka, led the protest. CFI State Committee Member Fathima Usman stated that Muslim girl students are being persecuted through restrictions on hijab. The protest is being organised to oppose the implementation of RSS ideology on students. "We are children of Tipu Sultan and followers of Dr B.R. Ambedkar," she claimed. The Supreme Court of India is likely to take up the issue of hijab in the coming week. The petitioners have made an appeal against the order of the Karnataka High Court Special Bench, which dismissed the petitions seeking its order to wear hijab in classrooms. The Special Bench also stated that wearing of hijab is not an essential practice of Islam. The Karnataka government has banned any religious symbols in the classrooms and given the discretion to college administrations to frame the rules. New Delhi, July 16 : West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar will be the NDA candidate for Vice Presidential polls. BJP chief J.P. Nadda announced the name of Dhankhar as the NDA candidate after the Parliamentary Board meeting at party headquarters here. "After detailed discussion and considering all the names, the BJP Parliamentary Board has decided to announce the name of Kisan Putra Jagdeep Dhankhar as the BJP and NDA candidate for the post of Vice President. Presently he is the Governor of West Bengal and has been in public life for almost three decades," Nadda said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief J.P. Nadda, Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and Nitin Gadkari, and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan were present in the Parliamentary Board meeting. The BJP-led NDA candidate Dhankhar is all set to become next Vice President in this election as the voters are the members of Parliament and the BJP has a huge mandate in the Lok Sabha while in the Rajya Sabha it is the single largest party having more than 90 seats. In the last election, the opposition fielded Gopalkrishna Gandhi but he lost to BJP's M Venkaiah Naidu. In 2017, Naidu polled 516 votes defeating the opposition's Gopalkrishna Gandhi, who could manage only 244 votes. The last date for filing of nomination papers for the Vice President poll is July 19 and election is scheduled to be held on August 6. The date on which counting, if required, shall be taken on the same day. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below." Hispanic Heritage Month has been celebrated in the U.S. for over 30 years. Formally known as National Hispanic Heritage Month, the annual event honors Hispanic cultures and traditions originating from 20 countries and one territory. Both the Hispanic and Latinx communities observe Hispanic Heritage Month because of their shared Spanish language. Apart from understanding why the festivities happen between September 15 and October 15, there is a lot to discover about how Hispanics have been recognized by the country throughout history. If youre ready to dive deep into fun Hispanic Heritage Month facts, keep on reading: Hispanic Heritage Month honors the contributions Hispanics have made to the United States. The celebration highlights the histories [and] cultures of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America, according to the official website. Hispanic Heritage Month originally began as a week of celebration called National Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968, when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the bill into law. There were two different attempts to make Hispanic Heritage Month happen. In 1987, Representative Esteban Torres of California tried to expand National Hispanic Heritage Week into a month-long occasion, which would allow our nation to properly observe and coordinate events and activities to celebrate Hispanic culture and achievement. Though it didnt successfully pass Congress, Senator Paul Simon of Illinois later submitted a similar bill, and it was eventually signed by President Ronald Reagan on August 17, 1988. Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from September 15 to October 15 every year in the U.S. President George H.W. Bush first declared the 31-day period on September 14, 1989. As a congressman in the House of Representatives, he also supported the original bill proposed by Representative Esteban Torres of California. The start of the festive month on September 15 marks the Independence Day of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Then on September 16, Mexico celebrates its Independence Day, followed by Chile on September 18 and Belize on September 21. In the latter half of Hispanic Heritage Month, Mexicans observe the Dia de la Raza (Race Day) on October 12, which was previously known as Columbus Day. Dia de la Raza (Race Day) recognizes "the mixed indigenous and European heritage of Mexico." Whats more, the end of the celebration (October 15) is only two weeks away from Mexicos Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) on November 1 and November 2. In total, there are 20 Hispanic countries and one territory: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay and Venezuela. A person who identifies as Hispanic is from or has ancestors from a Spanish-speaking territory or country. The definition of Hispanic includes individuals from the aforementioned countries, plus Spain because Spanish is its official language. The term Hispanic was first recognized by the U.S. government in the 1970s after population data began to be collected, per the request of Mexican-American and Hispanic organizations. In 1976, the U.S. Congress passed a law for information about U.S. residents from Spanish-speaking countries to be officially recorded. Since then, Hispanic appears as an ethnicity in various forms for government, education and employment purposes. According to Pew Research Center findings in 2020, there are about 62.1 million Hispanics in the U.S., making up 19% of the total population. In a broader sense, over the past decade from 2010 to 2020, the U.S. population grew by about 23 million and Hispanics made up 51% of this increase. As of 2019, Mexicans comprised almost nearly 62% of Hispanics in the U.S., followed by Puerto Ricans and Cubans. The Pew Research Center reported in 2013 that 55% of the countrys Hispanic population lived in three states: California, Texas and Florida. This statistic remained true in 2020 findings with North Dakota and South Dakota experiencing the fastest growth in Hispanic populations. Apart from Hispanics celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, the Latin community also has its own festivities. A person who identifies as Latino, Latina and/or Latinx is from Latin America or is of Latin American descent. The term Latino started appearing as an option on government documents in 1997. The word Latinx was first heard more than a decade ago, dating back to the 1990s. Pronounced Latin-EX," Latinx is a gender neutral alternative to Latino and Latina. It was created to show support to the LGBTQIA+ community for those who dont identify as male or female. Despite Latinx being around for years, only 23% of Hispanics in the U.S. are familiar with the term and only 3% use it as an identifier. While Hispanic and Latinx people may have different histories and cultures, many are united through their shared language of Spanish. In 2021, Forbes stated that more than 559 million people speak Spanish around the world. Out of that number, 460 million people are native speakers, making it the second largest population of native speakers behind Mandarin. New Delhi, July 16 : Dealing with summons issued to a Delhi resident by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Delhi High Court noted that for the purposes of investigation, a police officer can require the attendance of a person situated within the limits of his own or adjoining police station but not beyond the territorial limits. "From the plain reading of the sub-section (1) of Section 160 CrPC, it is evident that for the purposes of investigation, a police officer can require attendance of a person situated within the limits of his own police station or that of the adjoining police station and not someone who is situated beyond the said territorial limits," Justice Poonam A. Bamba said in a recent order. The court was hearing the plea moved by a Noida-based investigative journalist and his media outlet who were seeking to quash the summons issued to him by the office of the Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Pampore. As per the petitioner, he prepared an article regarding the adoption of the children orphaned during Covid-19 for a price, which was later broadcast. On December 12 last year, the Chairperson, Child Welfare Committee, Pulwama forwarded a written complaint to P.S. Pampore for registration of a formal case in the matter. Subsequently, the Sub Divisional Police Officer, Pampore issued a summon under Section 91 of CrPC to the media person to provide the footage of the video and complete details of the sting operation team for recording of their statements. Later, the media outlet received a notice under Section 91 CrPC from the Sub-Divisional Police Officer. In the plea, it was submitted that notice under Section 160(1) of the CrPC can only be issued to a person who is situated within the local jurisdiction of that police station or is within the adjoining police station. Therefore, a police station in Jammu and Kashmir could not have issued notice to the petitioners who are residents of Delhi and are outside the jurisdiction of the CWC. After hearing the submissions, the court quashed summons issued to them. "However, this shall not come in the way of the investigating agency to examine the petitioners as per law at Delhi, if so required. Nor shall quashing of the impugned summon would have any reflection on merits of the case," it noted. Jaipur, July 16 : Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana on Saturday said that from hasty indiscriminate arrests, to difficulty in obtaining bail, the process leading to the prolonged incarceration of undertrials needs urgent attention. He added that prisons are "black boxes" and prisoners are "often unseen, unheard citizens". Delivering an address at the 18th All India Legal Services Authority, also attended by Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, and senior judges of the top court, he said: "The challenges are huge. In our criminal justice system, the process is the punishment. From hasty indiscriminate arrests, to difficulty in obtaining bail, the process leading to the prolonged incarceration of undertrials needs urgent attention. "We need a holistic plan of action, to increase the efficiency of the administration of criminal justice. Training and sensitisation of the police and modernisation of the prison system is one facet of improving the administration of criminal justice. NALSA and legal service authorities need to focus on the above issues to determine how best they can help." Responding to the concerns expressed by Union Minister Rijiju on the huge case backlog in the country, Justice Ramana stressed that the non-filling up of judicial vacancies was the major reason for it. Rijiju said it was a matter of concern that over five crore cases are pending in courts across the country in the 75th year of independence and emphasised on coordinated efforts by judiciary and the executive to reduce pendency. "The pendency of cases in our country is touching five crore. What'll be the situation after 25 years? People ask me about as the Law Minister," he said. The Chief Justice said: "We judges also, when we go outside the country, face the same question, how many years..... You all know the reasons for pendency. I need not elaborate on it... You all know the major important reason is the non-filling up of the judicial vacancies and not improving the judicial infrastructure." He said the judiciary is always ahead in trying to resolve all these issues and his only request is that the government has to take up the filling up of vacancies, as well as providing infrastructure. He added that the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) is the best model and it is a success story and a suggestion for a Judicial Infrastructure Authority in the last Chief Justices' conference was made. "Unfortunately, it was not taken up. However, I hope and trust that the issue will be revisited," he said, also mentioning how NALSA was settling around two crore pre-litigating cases and one crore pending cases last year. Chief Justice Ramana cited that there are 6.1 lakh prisoners in 1,378 prisons and they are indeed one of the most vulnerable sections of our society."Prisons are black boxes. Prisoners are often unseen, unheard citizens. Prisons have different impacts on different categories of prisoners, particularly those belonging to marginalised communities," he said. He added that a grave issue affecting our criminal justice system is the high population of undertrials in prisons and out of 6.10 lakhs prisoners in India, around 80 per cent are under trial prisoners. Panaji, July 16 : The Goa State Election Commission on Saturday announced that the election to 186 village panchayats will be held on August 10 while the counting will be held on August 12. The model code of conduct has come into force in village areas, Goa State Election Commissioner W.V. Ramanamurthy said at a press conference. The 186 panchayats have a total of 1,528 wards. "The filing of nominations for panchayat elections would be from July 18 to 25 and scrutiny of nominations will take place on July 26," he said adding withdrawal would be on July 27 and later the final list of candidates will be displayed. He said that a total 8,27,099 voters are eligible to cast votes, in which male voters are 4,01,725, female voters are 4,25,372, and two are of the third gender. "We have reserved 21 seats (1.37 per cent) for Schedule Caste, 187 (12.32 per cent) for Schedule Tribe and 307 (20.10 per cent) for OBCs," Ramanamurthy said. He said along with adequate police force, around 10,700 polling staff will be deployed for smooth conduct of elections. Ramanamurthy said that 30 out of 1,566 polling booths are identified as vulnerable and sensitive. Bhubaneswar, July 16 : Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik on Saturday asked his party MPs to extend full support to NDA presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu. "The daughter of Odisha Draupadi Murmu has been nominated to the highest office of our country. It is indeed a matter of honour and pride for our state. On behalf of the people of Odisha and BJD, we need to extend our full support to her candidature in the presidential election to be held on July 18," Patnaik told his party MPs. The Chief Minister held a meeting with the BJD MPs virtually to discuss issues to be raised during the monsoon session of parliament beginning from July 18. "We are neglected in matters of railways, banking, tele density, payment of coal royalty and clean energy cess and the construction of coastal highway. All the above critically important issues concerning the interest of Odisha need to be raised in the Parliament," Patnaik said in the meeting. The CM said during his meeting with the Prime Minister on May 30 at New Delhi, he had discussed several issues concerning the state's interest and sought the support of the central government on all the issues. "I would impress upon all of you to take up all the pending issues with the concerned ministries so that these are sorted out in a time bound manner," he told the BJD MPs. He also asked the MPs to peruse the union government about evacuation of 5 lakh MT of surplus fortified parboiled rice from the state for the crop season 21-22, withdrawal of export duty on the below 58 percent grade ore and pellets, sanction of 1.84 lakh PMAY (G) (special houses) to the cyclone Fani affected families, exemption of DMF trust from the purview of income tax from 2022-23 onwards. The BJD president further asked the MPs to peruse the centre for speeding up of pending railway projects in the state, implementation of the Swaminathan Committee recommendations on minimum support price (MSP) for paddy in the interest of our farmers, 33 per cent reservation for women in both assembly and parliament and constitution of Odisha legislative council. "Our demand for special category status and inclusion of 'Ho' language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution needs to be followed up and pursued vigorously," he added. Shimla, July 16 : Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Saturday presided over a meeting of the high-powered committee to celebrate 75 years of existence of the state in a befitting manner by organising 75 events across the state. An official statement quoting Thakur said the events would be presided over by him and Union Ministers. He said the message must be clear that everyone has made their contribution in development and progress of the state in the past 75 years. He said the event should not be a ceremonial one but should create a sense of contact with each and every person of the state. A special event would also be held to honour the achievers of the state in various fields. The Chief Minister said the main focus would be on highlighting the achievements, policies and programmes of the government, for which departments must provide their promotional material and brochures to highlight their developmental journey. New Delhi, July 16 : Delhi on Saturday reported a decline in fresh Covid infection in last 24 hours, at 491 against 601 reported the previous day, while there were two more deaths, as per the government health bulletin. The Covid positivity rate has also dropped to 3.48 per cent, while the number of active cases stands at 1,894, out of which 1,309 are being treated in home isolation. With 605 patients recovering in the last 24 hours, the total number of recoveries has gone to 19,15,332. With the new cases and deaths, the total caseload of the city has jumped to 19,43,517 while the death toll is 26,291. The number of Covid containment zones stands at 216. A total of 14,113 new tests -- 9,149 RT-PCR and 4,964 Rapid Antigen - were conducted in the last 24 hours, taking the total to 3,93,04,228 while 31,641 vaccines were administered - 2,931 first doses, 6,281 second doses, and 22,429 precaution doses. The total number of cumulative beneficiaries vaccinated so far stands at 3,53,88,381. according to the health bulletin. Jaipur, July 16 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday raised his concern on the exorbitant fees of lawyers of Supreme Court and High Courts, and said that many judges announce their verdict looking at the face value. He said this while addressing the national conference of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) held in the Rajasthan capital in which Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana was also present. Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju seconded Gehlot and said: "Those who are rich, get good lawyers by giving money. Today, there are many lawyers in the Supreme Court whom the common man cannot afford." The national conference of NALSA was held in Jaipur on Saturday in which the issue of the expensive fees of lawyers of Supreme Court and High Court was discussed. Gehlot and Rijiju in one voice expressed concern over the costly fees of lawyers. In the presence of the CJI and judges of the High Courts across the country present at the Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Center (JECC) on Saturday, Gehlot targetted the lawyers over the hefty fees. He said: "The poor man cannot go to the Supreme Court today. Who can fix this? It is beyond comprehension." Gehlot said that there needs to be a limit on fees. "Rs 1 crore, 80 lakh, 50 lakh... don't know what is happening in the country. I had raised this point once. Think about this situation as well. Make a committee. There must be some way," the senior Congress leader said. "If the judges also give their verdict after seeing the face value, then what will the man do? If such a special person fields a lawyer, then the judge will be impressed. If this is the case then you also have to understand this. We all have a duty to protect the constitution," Gehlot said. Kiren Rijiju said: "If a lawyer charges Rs 10 to 15 lakh for hearing in each case, then from where will the common man get it. No court should be meant for influential people only. This is a matter of concern for us. I believe that the door of justice should always be open to all equally." Peshawar, July 16 : A grand Jirga held in Bajaur in the Pakistan province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has decided against the liberty of women to visit the tourist spots with men in the area, media reports said. The local elders in Tehseel Salarzai of Bajaur took this decision in a Jirga where representatives of all tribes were present, Samaa TV reported. They announced that women will not be allowed to travel to any tourist place, even with men, it said. The Jirga ruled that it was against their tribal values and traditions that women visit the recreational spots with men and requested the administration to respect their values. They said that they could not allow promotion of 'vulgarity" in the name of recreation while warning the administration to implement their decision by Sunday or else they would be compelled to do so on their own. Bastad : , July 16 (IANS) Continuing his impressive 2022 season, Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo delivered another accomplished all-around showing to register a 6-3, 6-2 semifinal win over fifth seed Pablo Carreno Busta and reach the final of the Nordea Open, here on Saturday. Following his second-round win against top seed Casper Ruud on Wednesday in Sweden, World No. 39 Cerundolo had described 2022 as "the best year so far in my career". And, with this win, things are only getting better for the 23-year-old, who will now face second seed Andrey Rublev or countryman Sebastian Baez in his second ATP Tour final on Sunday. "I think I played one of the best matches in my career today. Everything went well. I am feeling so comfortable and playing with so much confidence that it's amazing to be playing like this. Hopefully, I can keep going and maintain my level or improve it," said Cerundolo in his on-court interview. "It's fantastic to be in another final. Last year, I was in the final at home in Buenos Aires and I lost pretty badly, so I hope tomorrow I can have a better match and hopefully take my first title home," he added. Cerundolo was playing in his third semifinal of the 2022 season against Carreno Busta in Sweden. The Argentine reached the last four in Rio de Janeiro in February and surged to a maiden ATP Masters 1000 semifinal in Miami in March. A tight first set hinged on a pair of hard-fought games that ultimately went the way of Cerundolo. The Argentine fended off two Carreno Busta breakpoints in the third game to hold his serve, before converting his fourth breakpoint of the eighth game as he frequently dictated play with some huge striking off the forehand wing. That proved to be enough for Cerundolo to seal the set, and the 23-year-old did not look back from that point on as he frequently maneuvered his opponent around the court to race to a 5-0 lead in the second set. Despite a brief blip on serve that allowed Carreno Busta to reclaim a break, Cerundolo converted his second match point two games later to cap an assured 76-minute victory. Aside from his hard-fought three-set win against Ruud on Wednesday, Cerundolo has brushed past Pedro Sousa, Aslan Karatsev and Carreno Busta without dropping a set this week in Sweden. Saturday's victory in his maiden ATP head-to-head meeting against Carreno Busta lifts the Argentine to No 32 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings. The win improved Cerundolo's 2022 record to 16-11, and his record against Top 20 opponents this year now stands at 3-4. If he lifts his maiden tour-level trophy in Sweden on Sunday, the Argentine could rise as high as No. 30 in this Monday's update of the ATP Rankings. New Delhi, July 16 : A sharpshooter who was hired to kill a DTC bus driver in the national capital on the directions of the deceased's current and former wife, has been arrested from Jharkhand's Maoist-infested area, an official said on Saturday. The current and former wives of the 45-year-old DTC bus driver Sanjiv Kumar conspired for three years and finally got him murdered with the help of a sharpshooter, identified as Nayum Ansari. Following the DTC bus driver's murder, three accused -- his wife Geeta Devi a.k.a. Najma, 28; former wife Geeta, 42, and her daughter Komal, 21, were arrested. After cracking the sensational murder case, the police found out that Ansari had escaped from Delhi, and suspected he might have reached either to his native place in Jharkhand's Godda district or his work place in Valsad, Gujarat. On the basis of surveillance of mobile phones, it was ascertained that the accused was present in Godda. A police team immediately swung into action and proceeded to Godda, Jharkhand. "The team deployed local sources near the village of Ansari, mounted technical surveillance and collected local information with the help of local police and succeeded in getting two mobile numbers belonging to the accused but they were found switched off since July 10," Deputy Commissioner of Police (south east) Esha Pandey said. Thereafter, a raid was conducted at his residence but he was not found there. The family members were questioned at length but no purpose was solved, the DCP said. Notably, Godda district, especially the village of the accused and nearby area belonged to one tribal community. The area is known for Maoist activities where even the local police avoid conducting raids as there is history of many incidents of attack on police teams. The Delhi Police team kept surveillance on the entry and exit ways of Nayum's village Jamuni Paharpur to extract any clue about the accused Nayum. "On July 12, an information was received that accused Nayum is staying in the village of his in-laws i.e, Bassbhita, Jharkhand. The team immediately conducted a raid but the accused fled away before they could reach but the team succeeded in getting a mobile number of one Shabbir Ansari along with whom Nayum left Bassbhita," DCP Pandey said. "The police team conducted raids at 4-5 houses of tribals and ultimately apprehended accused Nayum from the first floor of a house by climbing the roof of that house as the house was locked from inside. In the meantime, all the villagers gathered there and encompassed the raiding team," the senior official said. The official said that the tribals started opposing the apprehension of Nayum and blocked the exit and tried to get him free. "The team members acted tactfully and drove away their cars in reverse mode to divert the gathering to another side. The villagers pelted stones on the car of the police team but the team succeeded in extracting Nayum from the deep rooted Maoist area without any casualty or untoward incident," said the official. The accused was taken on transit remand from the court in Jharkhand and was brought to Delhi. On sustained questioning, Ansari revealed that he was hired by the former and current wife of the deceased through Ikbal Singh, cousin of Nazma a.k.a. Geeta for killing Sanjeev Kumar. He had received Rs 20,000 in his account which was transferred by Komal (daughter of Sanjeev Kumar). He came to Delhi along with his friend Manish to eliminate Sanjeev. They used the bike of Manish's cousin who lives in Lajpat Nagar. On July 6, they followed Sanjeev from his house. Ansari shot Sanjeev near Deepalaya School and fled. Later, both went to their native places. A tornado warning was issued for Brazeau County near Cynthia and Lodgepole and Yellowhead County near Minnow and Wolf Lakes and Elk River. The warning ended around 8:11 p.m. (Alberta Emergency Alert - image credit) Several severe thunderstorm warnings issued for parts of central Alberta Friday night have ended. As of 10:45p.m. MT Friday warnings are no longer in effect for: Brazeau Co. near Drayton Valley and Breton Leduc Co. near Warburg Thorsby and Pigeon Lake M.D. of Big Lakes near Driftpile Faust and Kinuso Parkland Co. near Wabamun Carvel and Keephills A tornado warning was previously issued for the Brazeau County region around 7:50 p.m.,but ended around 8:11 p.m. Barcelona, July 16 : FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich have agreed in principle for the transfer of Polish forward Robert Lewandowski from Germany to Spain, the two clubs announced on Saturday. The deal between Barcelona and Bayern Munich is dependent on the player passing a medical and contracts being signed. There was a lot of speculation over Lewandowski's future and an obscure poker game was on between the player and club. Bayern were initially reluctant to release the talismanic striker but Lewandowski wanted to venture out and explore his horizons and compete for European titles more regularly. While Bayern wanted a minimum transfer fee of 50 million euros, the 33-year-old Pole decided not to turn up for his first working day in Munich this Tuesday. But the matter seemed to have been resolved as Bayern finally reached a verbal agreement with FC Barcelona on the transfer of Lewandowski, the German club said in a statement on their website. "It's good for both sides that we have clarity. Robert has earned our appreciation, he has won everything with us. We are incredibly grateful to him," said club president Herbert Hainer in an interview with local newspaper Bayerischer Rundfunk during the Allianz FC Bayern Team Presentation on Saturday. Lewandowski stands out for his goalscoring abilities. Inside the box, he has all the tools to make him a difficult striker to read as he can find the net with his head and both feet with equal precision. His technical qualities also mean that he can link up well outside the box also. Lewandowski will bring goals, experience and know-how to the BarAa attack. Bayern CEO Oliver Kahn said: "We have agreed to release Robert Lewandowski. We have a verbal agreement with FC Barcelona, the contract is still pending. We know very well what we have to thank Robert for, but great players have also left FC Bayern in the past, and even after that, Bayern's world did not fall apart. On the contrary, it often continued with even more success." Born on August 21, 1988, in the Polish capital of Warsaw, Lewandowski started his career at Legia Warsaw. His professional career began in the youth teams in 2006 at Znicz PruszkAw where he was the top scorer on two separate occasions. A move followed to Polish first division side Lech Poznan where he was the top scorer in the league in 2009/10. The summer of 2010 brought a move to Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund where he won the German league title twice and collected a runners-up medal when Jurgen Klopp's side lost in the final of the Champions League against Bayern Munich. Lewandowski's next move was to Bayern Munich where he became a vital part of the all-conquering Bavarian side. In 2020 with Bayern, the Polish striker won all there is to win; the Bundesliga title, the German Cup and Super Cup and the Champions League in which he was the top scorer with 15 goals. And now his life has taken another turn and he will be appearing for Barcelona, who have been struggling to assert themselves again in the La Liga following the departure of Lionel Messi. Kolkata, July 16 : In an unprecedented case in the judicial history, a judge of the Calcutta High Court ordered a Superintendent of Police to personally supervise the investigation process on alleged abduction of a pig from district court premises. The order from Justice Shampa Sarkar, came on a petition by a group of lawyers practicing at Kalyani district court in Nadia district of West Bengal. The said pig, "Ghona" was brought up within the court premises and was pampered by all the lawyers practicing there. Recently, as alleged by the lawyers, a car came within the premises of the court, picked up Ghona and vanished from the scene. The lawyers immediately filed a complaint at the local police station. However, following the police's reluctance to trace the missing animal, these lawyers approached the bench of Justice Sarkar, who expressed displeasure over the police reluctance to trace Ghona, "since it was just a pig". Thereafter Justice Sarkar directed the Ranaghat Police District superintendent, Avijit Banerjee to personally supervise the investigation process in tracking Ghona. The lawyers claimed that the entire process of abduction of Ghona was recorded in the CCTV footage installed within the Kalyani court, with even the car in which Ghona was abducted identified. New Delhi, July 16 : In a shocking case of sexual assault, a 15-year-old minor girl was allegedly raped here by a 31-year-old man with the help of his wife, and three days later, the accused poured some substance into the victim's mouth after which she was hospitalised, the police said on Saturday. The accused, identified as Jai Prakash, working in a shoe factory, committed the heinous crime on July 2 in Delhi's Nangloi area. "On July 5, the accused Jai Prakash stopped the victim while she was on her way to home and forcibly poured some liquid into her mouth," Deputy Commissioner of Police (outer) Sameer Sharma said. The girl fell unconscious after reaching her home and was subsequently hospitalised. Jai Prakash has been apprehended by the police. The police got the information about the incident when the girl's brother made a PCR call on July 15. "The PCR call was marked to one female Sub Inspector for necessary action," DCP Sharma said. During enquiry, it was revealed that the victim was under treatment at AIIMS and was unfit for statement, however, on Saturday i.e. July 16, the doctor declared her fit for statement. "The statement of the victim was recorded today in the presence of an NGO member," the official said. Accordingly, based on her complaint, the police registered an FIR under section 307 (attempt to murder), 376 (rape) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code and section 6 of the POCSO Act at the Nangloi police station. Meanwhile, the said incident was first brought to the light by Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal who took cognizance of the matter and issued notice to the Delhi Police. Maliwal said that the DCW received a complaint regarding rape and attempt to murder of a 15-year-old girl. The father of the girl informed the Commission that he is a daily wage labourer and lives in Delhi along with his family. He informed that his daughter used to work in a shoe factory. The complainant alleged that one day, a contractor of the shoe factory took his daughter to his house on the pretext of his wife's illness and raped the girl. "He also alleged that on July 5, the accused forcibly made his daughter drink acid. The girl is presently admitted in the hospital in a very critical condition," Maliwal said. The Commission has sought the details of FIR registered and the accused arrested in the matter. Bastad : , July 16 (IANS) Argentina's Sebastian Baez produced a dominant performance to reach the final of the Nordea Open, beating Russia's Andrey Rublev in the semifinal, here on Saturday. In a clash of two high-powered forehands, it was Baez whose ball striking had Rublev on the run more frequently as he eased to a 6-2, 6-4 victory in the pair's first ATP head-to-head meeting. The World No. 34 broke Rublev's serve four times on the way to a 75-minute win that secured him a spot in his third tour-level final. "I think I played better than yesterday," said Baez, referring to his hard-fought three-set quarter-final win against Dominic Thiem on Friday. "I am happy to win and continue in the tournament," he added. Baez now faces another player for the first time at the tour level in fellow Argentine Francisco Cerundolo. Despite never having faced each other at an ATP Tour event, the pair knows each other well -- Baez leads Cerundolo 2-1 from three meetings at Futures and ATP Challenger Tour level. "I think it will be a tough match because we have known each other for many years. But I have to do the best I can. This is a new tournament, a new final, another week. So, I am happy to stay in the final, and of course, I want more," said Baez. The 21-year-old Baez, a semifinalist at last year's Next Gen ATP Finals, won his maiden ATP Tour title in Estoril at the beginning of May. Earlier in the day, the No. 39-ranked Cerundolo delivered an accomplished all-around showing to register a 6-3, 6-2 semifinal win over fifth seed Pablo Carreno Busta and reach the final. Saturday's victory in his maiden ATP head-to-head meeting against Busta lifted the Argentine to No 32 in the ATP Live Rankings. The win improved Cerundolo's 2022 record to 16-11, and his record against Top 20 opponents this year now stands at 3-4. If he lifts his maiden tour-level trophy in Sweden on Sunday, the Argentine could rise as high as No. 30 in this Monday's update of the ATP Rankings. Kolkata/Jaipur, July 16 : When West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar was announced as the surprise choice of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the office of the Vice President, political observers in Kolkata, where he has spent the last three years engaged in an almost daily sparring match with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, started reading the signals being sent out by the BJP top brass. By naming Dhankhar, who was little known outside Jaipur and the city's legal fraternity till July 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has in a way sounded the poll bugle for Rajasthan, where Assembly elections will be held next year, and Jats form a substantial vote bank. Analysts in Kolkata also see in the move a message being sent out to Banerjee -- that despite her evident displeasure at the governor's outbursts against her government, and the many representations made by Trinamool Congress MPs to Home Minister Amit Shah to have him removed from Raj Bhawan, Dhankar was being rewarded with a higher office. On previous occasions, there had been tiffs between the governor and the West Bengal government, like when Gopalkrishna Gandhi and the then Left Front chief minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, differed over the police firing at Nandigram in East Midnapore district of West Bengal on March 14, 2007, which resulted in the death of 14 persons. But never has the government-governor spat in West Bengal been a daily affair, as it happened during the tenure of Dhankhar. He was the first governor of the state in whose tenure the Raj Bhawan press conference became an almost daily affair, giving Dhankhar a platform to target the Trinamool dispensation. The chief minister, in an unprecedented move, responded by blocking Dhankhar from her Twitter handle. Dhankar is also the first governor to have expressed his displeasure with the state government via regular Twitter posts. What really irked the Trinamool Congress leadership was that Dhankhar had started firing similar salvos at official functions held in the West Bengal Assembly premises. The Assembly Speaker, Biman Banerjee, once even said that if this continued, he would have to contemplate restricting the governor's presence on the premises of the House, something that has never been heard of in a parliamentary democracy. A seasoned lawyer, Dhankhar has maintained that he has just been using his power and rights as a governor given by the Constitution, which no other governor had cared to do before him. In March this year, Dhankhar marked his presence in Jaipur as chief guest at a seminar on the 'Role of Governors and MLAs in Furtherance of Democracy', organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association's Rajasthan chapter in the Assembly building. There, he poured his heart out, saying a governor is like a punching bag, who is invariably called an agent of the ruling party. He clarified that was not a "proactive governor" but a "copybook governor", who firmly believed in the rule of law. Dhankhar then surprised his audience by declaring: "People might not know it, but I do share a brother-and-sister kind of relationship with the chief minister," he said. "How can the governor and the chief minister fight in public?" he asked and added: "I have always tried and will continue to cooperate with the government, but this cooperation isn't possible with one hand. If there is no communication between the chief minister and the governor, then we will deviate from democracy." Before July 30, 2019, when he was appointed West Bengal Governor, Dhankhar wouldn't have even found an audience, having transitioned from being a follower of the late Jat leader Devi Lal, to becoming the minister of state for parliamentary affairs in the short-lived Chandra Shekhar government (1990-91), to finding himself drifting to the Congress, where he was ignored by Ashok Gehlot, and finally landing in the BJP in 2003, to be kept at a distance by the then state party supremo and chief minister, Vasundhara Raje. Born in a Jat family in Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu district on May 18, 1951, Dhankhar went to Sainik School, Chittorgarh, graduated from the University of Rajasthan, and became an acolyte of Devi Lal, who was served two terms as Chief Minister of Haryana and was the Deputy Prime Minister between 1989 and 1991, in the governments of V.P. Singh and Chandra Shekhar. In 1989, when the Janata Dal challenged Rajiv Gandhi under V.P. Singh's leadership, Dhankhar got the party's Lok Sabha ticket from Jhunjhunu, where he defeated the sitting MP (and decorated war hero) Mohammad Ayub Khan by an impressive margin of four lakh votes. Dhankhar was a member of the Ninth Lok Sabha (1989-91), and when Chandra Shekhar became Prime Minister for seven months (from November 1990 to June 1991), he was picked up for the lame-duck ministry. In the June 1991 general elections, Dhankhar could not retain his seat (Khan got re-elected and was made a minister in the P.V. Narasimha Rao government). With the political fortunes of his mentor, Devi Lal, on the decline, Dhankhar decided to join the Congress, which gave him an Assembly ticket and he got elected as the MLA from Kishangarh in Ajmer district in 1993. He served his full term in Rajasthan's 10th Legislative Assembly till 1998. That was the last public office he held till he was made West Bengal Governor. Of course, he did become the President of the Rajasthan High Court Bar Association in the days when his political career wasn't heading anywhere, but it did not come with the perks, privileges and visibility associated with the occupant of Kolkata's Raj Bhawan, which was modelled after the family home of Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy of the British Raj. The one-time acolyte of Devi Lal has found a political saviour in Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- not once, but twice. Mumbai, July 16 : Young Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa added to his growing reputation as a star of the future by winning the Open A section of the 15th International Chess Open Paracin held in the town of Paracin in Serbia. Playing in the Open A section of the event, the 16-year-old Praggnanandhaa garnered eight points from nine rounds, finishing half a point ahead of his nearest rival, Alexandr Predke, a Russian player playing under the flag of FIDE, the sport's world governing body. In the ninth and final round on Saturday, Praggnanandhaa, the Grandmaster from Chennai, played out a draw with Serbia's Alisher Suleymenov while Predke defeated India's V Pranav on the second board with white pieces to move up to 7.5 points. Suleymenov finished third with seven points after a tie with India's Al Muthaiah, who defeated Arystanbek Urazayev of Serbia to move up to seven points in the classical chess tournament. Praggnanandhaa, who had twice beaten world champion, Magnus Carlsen, in the Meltwater Champions Tour rapid chess tournament in recent months, remained unbeaten in the nine-round Swiss League tournament as the second seed won seven games and drew two. Among the other Indians in the fray, V Pranav finished fifth after a tie on 8.5 points with seven other players including compatriots Arjun Kalyan and Harshavardhan G B, both of whom finished in the top 10. New York, July 16 : There has been a sharp spike, and rapid evolution, of anti-Hindu hate speech on social media, using even adapted white supremacist memes and coded language, with a potential for the violence to spill over into the real world, researchers in US' Rutgers University have found. "Anti-Hindu Disinformation: A Case Study of Hinduphobia on Social Media", prepared by members of the Network Contagion Lab at the varsity, chronicles the shocking trend, directed toward the Hindu community across numerous social media platforms, using artificial intelligence to analyse 1 million tweets to understand development of a disguised and coded language pattern shared on social networks. The reports details how white supremacist and 4chan genocidal Pepe memes about Hindus are being shared within extremist Islamist web networks on Telegram and elsewhere, a varsity release said. It found that in July, the signal on the Hinduphobic code words and memes reached record highs that could inflame real world violence, especially in light of escalating religious tensions in India. Social media platforms largely are unaware of the code words, key images, and structured nature of this hatred even as it is surging, it said. "There is, unfortunately, nothing new to the bigotry and violence faced by the Hindu population," said John J. Farmer Jr., director of both the Miller Center and the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. "What is new is the social media context in which hate messages are being shared. Our prior work has shown a correlation between the intensity of hate messaging over social media and the eruption of real-world acts of violence." According to the researchers, Iranian trolls disseminated anti-Hindu stereotypes to fuel division as part of an influence campaign to accuse Hindus of perpetrating a genocide against minorities in India. Student analyst Prasiddha Sudhakar worked with high school students from the New Jersey Governors' STEM Scholars programme to assemble and analyse the data and gauge dimensions of anti-Hindu disinformation. "I appreciate the opportunity to bring awareness to this underrepresented subject matter," said Sudhakar, who graduated from Rutgers in May with a double major in computer science and economics and minor in critical intelligence studies. "Educating young people on how to detect open-source hate messaging is a vital first step in helping vulnerable communities prepare for and respond to emerging threats," said Joel Finkelstein, chief data scientist at the NCRI and a senior research fellow at the Miller Center, who directed the student research. The analysis follows a series of reports that NCRI and Rutgers Centers released since 2020 that examine the use of conspiracy theories and social media networks to instigate widespread, real-world violence. Dhaka, July 17 : A mob organised by Islamists in Bangladesh's Narail district has allegedly attacked a Hindu temple and also vandalized several houses belonging to the minority community, the police said on Saturday. The violence in Digholia village took place on Friday evening over a young Hindu boy's social media post. A house belonging to a Hindu family was also set afire. The violence took place after the Friday prayers. Police had fired warning shots to disperse the Islamists, said police inspector Haran Chandra Paul. Paul said the Hindu boy allegedly posted something on Facebook that angered the Muslims. Narail Superintendent of Police Prabir Kumar Roy said the law enforcers were working to keep the situation under control. "We're investigating the incident. Those responsible for the violence will face action. The situation is normal for now," he said. No one has been arrested so far. New Delhi, July 17 : A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Kerala's Ernakulam convicted three ISIS terrorists and awarded them seven years of rigorous imprisonment in the Valapattanam ISIS case. The court convicted Midlaj, Abdul Razak and U.K. Hamsa under Sections 38, 39 of UA (P) Act and 120B of the IPC. All three accused were convicted by the court on Friday for providing support to ISIS. Those convicted were members of the proscribed terrorist organisation and were attempting to flee India to join the ISIS in Syria to fight for their cause. The case was initially registered on October 25, 2017, at Valapattanam police station, Kerala, and later on the probe was taken over for investigation by the NIA on December16, 2017. After thorough investigation, a charge-sheet was filed by the NIA on April 21, 2018, against four accused persons. Further investigations in the matter is underway. Srinagar, July 17 : Ladakh is the land of the Buddha as some would tend to say. This is mainly due to the predominant Buddhist population in the region who have over the years nurtured values and traditions of Buddhism. The extensive presence of Mahayana and Vajrayana form of Buddhism in the region has led to the development of an active Buddhist community which emphasises significantly on the essence of Buddhist education, especially culling out core values from ancient Buddhist traditions. Dotted with a string of beautiful ancient monasteries and Gompas, Ladakh has been the hub of Tibetan Buddhism. The Gompas are centres for intense education programmes in different facets of Buddhism. The people of Ladakh consider His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, the supreme religious leader of Tibetan Buddhism and regard him as the living incarnation of the Buddha. In this backdrop, the visit of the Holiness to Ladakh is a significant encouragement to the large Buddhist community of Ladakh as also the remaining population who, irrespective of their background, have a special affection for the Dalai Lama. Today the mood in Ladakh is one of ecstasy and enthusiasm with the Dalai Lama deciding to spend a good one month in the region. The people of Ladakh have gone through a difficult phase of transition seeing through the ongoing tension along the border with China with heavy troop and air movement becoming part of their lives. The Dalai Lama has also not been spared questions from the media on issues that could be rated as 'controversial' or 'challenging'. In the present circumstances, his visit indeed is seen by political strategists as linked to the ongoing tension between India and China along the border. However, in an effort to remain neutral and not being dragged into any controversy, the Dalai Lama mentioned to reporters that any differences between India and China need to be settled through dialogue and discussion and not through conflict. He played down the relevance of a standoff-based relationship and instead emphasised the need for the two sides to settle their differences peacefully. His soft and balanced posturing indeed suits all sides and also sends a strong message to the Chinese on his preference for a dialogue and engagement-based approach on controversial issues. Speaking on Tibet, the Dalai Lama has reiterated the traditional stand that he and his people have been asking for autonomy as against complete independence of Tibet. However, he mentioned that there are elements within the Chinese government playing up the Tibet issue linking it with apparent demands for independence by the Tibetans. The Dalai Lama believes that the lack of awareness among ordinary Chinese about the Tibet issue was being exploited by certain elements within the government to portray the Tibetans living outside China as enemies of the nation. However, he emphasised that the Chinese people were increasingly becoming aware of the realities and the tide was turning against the insidious attempts by some sections in China to portray the Dalai Lama and his followers as anti-China. During the month-long stay in Ladakh, the Dalai Lama is expected to deliver lectures on a range of issues which are seen as part of his teachings to the community. These lectures would be attended not only by locals but also by a large number of people from different parts of India and abroad, who would be visiting Ladakh specifically for the purpose. In the post-pandemic scenario, the Dalai Lama has been cautious in engaging the public keeping in mind his delicate age. The Ladakh visit and meetings scheduled there could be seen as his first breakthrough in public interactions in recent times. Though much has been written and spoken about the visit taking place in the backdrop of difficult and trying times between India and China on the border issue, the fact remains that the Dalai Lama has been visiting Ladakh quite regularly in the past preaching locals in the region on a variety of specialised subjects. In 2014, the 79th birthday of His Holiness was celebrated in Leh marked by the 33rd Kalachakra Empowerment event on July 6. In 2018, the Dalai Lama held a two-day teaching on Shantideva's "Guide to the Boddhisattva's Way of Life," which was a follow-up of the teachings imparted by him in Leh in 2017. One of the major contributions by the Dalai Lama to the region has been the statue of 'Maitreya' (Buddha of the future), which he inaugurated in 2010 at the Diskit monastery. During this visit, the Dalai Lama remained immersed in a deep teaching regimen focusing on 'Kamalashila', the middle stages of meditation and the Gyalsey Thokme Sangpo's 37 practices of Bodhisattva. These teaching sessions are eagerly awaited by young students, who aspire to excel in the field of higher Buddhist knowledge, and also by lay persons who eagerly attend his teachings. On the whole, the present visit by the Dalai Lama to the region is seen as a blessing by the people of Ladakh who also feel that each time His Holiness visits the region, numerous localised problems associated with the weather, the people, the politics of the region are sorted out. At a personal level, every Buddhist in Ladakh feels that the visit is like a blessing that would do away with their personal problems. For the next month or so, the people of Ladakh would thus be living under the shadow of the Holiness. For His Holiness, there could be no better way than this to remain ensconced within the frame of giving away his rich knowledge to the people of the "little Tibet," as Ladakh is often known. Guwahati, July 17 : The Assam government has started providing textbook grants to more than 1.1 lakh flood-affected students and Rs 10.15 crore has been earmarked for the purpose, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced. Sarma on Saturday tweeted: "In our humble effort to provide relief to students affected during recent floods in the state, we have provided an assistance of Rs 1,000 each to more than one lakh student beneficiaries, from Chief Minister's Relief Fund. It's our sincere commitment to stand by the students during this tough time." Assam witnessed two waves of floods between April 6 to June 15 which affected 90 lakh people in 34 districts and killed 195 men, women and children. Due to the flood and landslides in different districts, 37 people are still missing. More than 2.4 lakh hectare of crop land was also damaged. While talking to the media, the Chief Minister said that more than 7.42 lakh people were sheltered in relief camps and relief materials were provided to them. In southern Assam and hilly districts, the Indian Air Force (IAF) made 77 sorties and relief material were air dropped among the marooned people. More than one lakh flood-hit people were evacuated by the IAF, Army, Disaster Management forces and volunteers. Sarma added that more than 1.89 lakh families were provided with assistance of Rs 3,800 and Rs 76 crore was spent for this purpose. "Many people and organisations have contributed to the Chief Ministers' Relief Fund. Those who lost their lives are provided with a financial compensation of Rs 4 lakh. There are nearly 25,670 houses which are fully damaged and more than 2.78 lakh houses partially damaged. We would also extend support to those whose houses were completely washed away," the Chief Minister said. Sarma added that Rs 1,000 crore would be spent on restoration of bridges, embankment, schools and other infrastructure. "Centre is providing 90 per cent financial support and the state is spending 10 per cent. Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a recent meeting has assured that the Centre would pay and asked the state government not to worry about it," he said. The Chief Minister added that Assam floods are termed as "severe calamity" and accordingly money is pumped in. "Some organisations and individuals are emotionally demanding that Assam's flood must be declared as a national problem. However, such a declaration would not fetch us the required fund. It is the only declaration under the National Disaster Management Act that requisite funds will come to Assam," he said. Nagpur, July 17 : Five villages were inundated with toxic fly ash slurry and a river from where Nagpur draws drinking water was contaminated after a fly ash bund of Koradi Thermal Power Station (KTPS), near Nagpur suffered a breach owing to heavy rainfall. The fly ash slurry pond near Khasala village damaged large hectare of agricultural fields and inundated Khasala, Masala, Khairi, Kawtha and Suradevi villages. Spreading over smaller nullahs and stream, the slurry ultimately flowed down to Kanhan river. This is nearby to the pumping station site to lift water for Nagpur. Leena Buddhe, Centre for Sustainable Development (CSD) Director, in Nagpur told IANS: "We have been drawing attention of the authorities regularly but to no avail. KTPS regularly dumps fly ash slurry at this pond near Khasala. During a meeting in June, officials had admitted to a legacy fly ash of 6.27 crore tonne. They don't treat it further and instead, keep on increasing the height of the bund every now and then to accommodate more slurry." CSD was one of the four organisations that had conducted a study in November 2021 which had revealed the extensive and rampant pollution in the areas around Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MahaGenco's) 2,400 MW Koradi and 1,340 MW Khaparkheda thermal power plants, both near Nagpur, with both surface and ground water contaminated with toxic metals such as mercury, arsenic, aluminium, lithium etc. While the Khasala fly ash pond is old one, the new one near Khaparkheda was supposed to be an engineered pond complete with lining. "But nothing such was done. The company keeps dumping without following any environmental norm," Buddhe said and demanded that Koradi's CMD be made personally liable for stringent punishment for playing with the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of vulnerable people. KTPS officials were not immediately available. Former Maharashtra Energy Minister and also the State BJP General Secretary, Chandrashekhar Bawankule visited the area later on Saturday afternoon. He assured the people of drawing attention of the state government and ensuring that they received relief soon. Nagpur district administration claimed that it has repaired the breach and deployed disaster management personnel in the area for helping people. Cairo, July 17 : Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and the US President Joe Biden discussed cooperation between the two countries, the repercussions of the global food crisis, and the disruption of energy supplies, the Egyptian Presidency said in a statement. Sisi and Biden met in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah on Saturday, where they also participated in a joint conference later in the day with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states, as well as the Jordanian king and the Iraqi Prime Minister. This was the first meeting between the Presidents of US and Egypt, Xinhua news agency reported. During the meeting, Sisi underlined Egypt's keenness to strengthen cooperation with the US and the importance of the Egypt-US partnership in promoting peace and stability in the Middle East region, according to the statement. For his part, Biden affirmed his government's aspiration to activate the frameworks of bilateral cooperation and enhance the existing coordination and consultation between the two countries. The Egyptian President also stressed the need to help regional countries through crises and reach a just and comprehensive solution that guarantees the rights of the Palestinian people and the establishment of their independent state, according to the statement. On the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam that also involves Sudan and Egypt, the Egyptian leader demanded to reach a binding legal agreement for the process of filling and operating the dam, in a manner that preserves Egyptian water security and achieves the common interests of all the three countries. Latest updates on Global Food Crisis Jerusalem, July 17 : The Israeli Army chief Aviv Kochavi will visit Morocco next week, an Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson told Xinhua news agency. The IDF spokesperson on Saturday did not provide further details about the upcoming visit by Kochavi, Xinhua news agency reported. Israel and Morocco normalised their relations in December 2020, before they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on military cooperation. The Israeli military sent observers to a military exercise in Morocco in early July as part of the MoU. Amman, July 17 : King Abdullah II of Jordan has said that the region will not enjoy security or stability without establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 border and with East Jerusalem as its capital, according to a royal statement. The king made the remarks on Saturday during the Security and Development Summit held in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah, which was also attended by the US President Joe Biden, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and leaders of the other Gulf Cooperation Council member states, Egypt and Iraq. He also highlighted the importance of reaching a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution, Xinhua news agency reported. The Jordanian leader also highlighted collective action as the only way to address regional challenges given the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukrainian crisis on supplies of energy and food. "We must examine opportunities for cooperation and collective action, in pursuit of regional integration in food security, energy, transport and water," he said at the summit. Biden and the Jordanian king also met on the sidelines of the security summit, and the US later announced that no less than $1.45 billion in financial aid will be provided annually for Jordan between 2023 and 2029, according to a separate royal statement. By establishing access to FidoCure within its nationwide ecosystem, Thrive Pet Healthcare can provide cutting-edge precision medicine cancer care, to more dogs than any other veterinary clinic network. Thrive Pet Healthcare, a national veterinary hospital network, and https://www.fidocure.com/FidoCure, the leading pet precision health company, today announced a strategic partnership to provide personalized, accessible veterinary cancer care. Thrive Pet Healthcares nationwide network of over 350 veterinary care clinics will now have access to FidoCures cutting edge precision medicine platform and unparalleled algorithmic driven diagnostics. By joining forces, these two patient centric companies are poised to deliver groundbreaking pet specialty cancer care at scale and help improve outcomes in pets with cancer. With roughly six million new cancer diagnoses in dogs each year, approximately one in three dogs will develop cancer during their lifetime. The FidoCure precision medicine platform, developed to address the vast unmet need for better canine cancer care, uses genomic-guided DNA testing to identify genetic mutations that can cause cancer in dogs and matches them to individualized treatment with targeted therapies. We are thrilled to partner with FidoCure to offer ground-breaking precision cancer treatment to pet patients in our communities, said Thrives Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Scott Schatzberg. Through this powerful partnership, we reinforce our belief in nurturing the animal-human bond and providing exceptional pet healthcare at every stage of a pets life. Every cancer case is unique, and now a personalized course of treatment is available to every patient within our nationwide network so that they can thrive. Approximately 3,000 dogs diagnosed with cancer have used the FidoCure Next Generation DNA Sequencing Test, resulting in the largest proprietary canine cancer dataset in the world. Sharing outcomes data, an additional element of this partnership, will significantly expand this dataset. Since humans and dogs are both vulnerable to similar genetic mutations that may cause cancer, the growth of this dataset may help not only advance canine oncology research, but research for humans as well. We are delighted to be collaborating with one of the worlds most trusted, innovative, and connected pet healthcare networks. This partnership between FidoCure and Thrive Pet Healthcare means that more pet parents, working with Thrives leading specialty clinicians, will have streamlined access to this cutting-edge cancer care platform, said Christina K. Lopes, co-founder and CEO of FidoCure. It is no secret that wide-scale access to veterinary oncology is sorely needed in the veterinary world. This partnership with FidoCure will enable Thrive Pet Healthcare clinicians across the country to better fulfill our mission of providing comprehensive pet care at every stage of life. As a veterinary oncologist, Im incredibly excited we can more broadly deliver precision medicine to dogs with cancer. It is essential that the scientific advancements available to humans be made available to pets as well, and now were doing just that with this partnership with FidoCure, said Dr. Mona Rosenberg, Thrive's National Specialty Director of Oncology and Director of Innovation in Clinical Oncology. About Thrive Pet Healthcare Thrive Pet Healthcare is a leading veterinary service network that uniquely delivers a continuum of care to pet families and services to veterinary hospitals. With an industry-first membership program and over 350 acute, primary, and specialty providers, Thrive Pet Healthcare offers personalized, accessible care through every stage of a pets life and health. The veterinarian-founded organization provides premier benefits for practice staff while elevating privately held veterinary hospitals with innovative service and technology solutions. By focusing on the needs and aspirations of veterinary care providers, Thrive Pet Healthcare is supporting the wellbeing of the industry and raising the national bar for veterinary excellence. To learn more about Thrive Pet Healthcare, please visit http://www.thrivepetcare.com. About FidoCure FidoCure is the first to bring the latest advances in human oncology - individualized, precision medicine - to dogs with cancer. We are a mission driven company that delivers the most sophisticated diagnostics and creates a tailored treatment plan for each dog. Our flagship product, FidoCure Next Generation DNA Sequencing Test, leverages technologies and therapies approved for human use, with additional data specific to canine cancer. With FidoCure, dogs with cancer receive access to the latest scientific advances in cancer care, from tests to treatment. FidoCure is backed by premier biotech investors including Polaris Ventures, A16Z, YCombinator and Global Brain. Learn more at fidocure.com. The groundwork we are laying shows our ability to scale and absorb increased levels of growth without compromising the service to our customers and dealerships Veros Credit, a leading provider of auto financing solutions, continues its path of exponential growth while navigating through todays challenging macroeconomic landscape. To enrich its footprint in the state of Texas, Veros Credit is slated to open a dealer and customer service center in the Irving, TX area. With the addition of this new Texas office in its second largest volume state, Veros Credit will augment its ability to serve current and future dealership partners and customers. Texas is a tremendous market for Veros Credit. The addition of this new location will provide opportunities to further support employees currently located in the region, while creating openings for new talent., stated Harvey Singh, COO of Veros Credit. Despite the challenges of the past few years, Veros Credit continues to deliver strong results with a keen focus on positive growth., Singh added. With the recent implementation of several key corporate initiatives, including Omni Channel, Customer and Dealer Portal, Veros Credit remains on track to deliver on our mission to be the preferred provider of auto financing solutions., Singh affirmed. The groundwork we are laying shows our ability to scale and absorb increased levels of growth without compromising the service to our customers and dealerships, said Harvey Singh. Experienced auto finance professionals interested in joining the Veros Credit team are encouraged to apply online through the Veros Credit website at http://www.veroscredit.com/careers. Triangle Painting and Siding Was The Winner of the Best Siding Replacement Company in Raleigh NC Award After careful analysis, we are proud to announce that Triangle Painting and Siding has earned the Best Siding Replacement Company in Raleigh NC Award for their great prices, superb customer service and extensive selection of siding, including Raleighs #1 Rated James Hardie Siding. NC Best, the North Carolina Business and Travel information portal dedicated to highlighting the best North Carolina has to offer, awarded Triangle Painting and Siding with their coveted Best Siding Replacement Company in Raleigh NC Award today. After careful analysis and a thorough investigation, we are proud to announce that Triangle Painting and Siding has earned the Best Siding Replacement Company in Raleigh NC Award for their great prices, superb customer service, and extensive selection of siding, including Raleighs #1 Rated James Hardie Siding. said Doug Morgan, Founder of NC Best. Triangle Painting and Siding was one of 11 siding replacement companies based in Raleigh, North Carolina considered for the highly sought after award. They were the only siding company that not only passed NC Bests rigorous online evaluation process, but also their over the phone evaluation process, in which the siding company employees were able to answer each and every question asked with precision and honesty. Siding companies that couldnt answer our over the phone questions, or worse, lied to our faces when we asked the touch questions, had their overall scores reduced, said Doug Morgan. Im always surprised at the lengths some siding companies will go through to lie straight to your face. Case in point, one of the Raleigh siding companies we interviewed had received three 1 star reviews on Google for their low quality siding installations over the last month, but when we asked the siding company representative if they were having any recent issues with their siding installation service, they flat out lied to us and told us no. said Doug Morgan, Founder of NC Best. When we pointed out the three 1 star reviews on Google, they hung up on us! Because of NC Bests high level of ethics, and understanding that every siding business has bad days, employees to pay and everyone involved usually has children to feed, they dont list the companies that didnt earn their Best Siding Company in Raleigh NC Award. Instead, they only focus on the best of the best and simply refuse to give negative attention to those siding replacement companies in Raleigh that didnt make the grade. Additional information on the Award and the complete review of Triangle Painting and Siding can be found at https://ncbest.net/best-siding-replacement-company-in-raleigh-nc/ About Triangle Painting and Siding Triangle Painting and Siding is a professional painting and siding replacement company based in Raleigh NC. Triangle Painting & Siding helps homeowners beautify and protect their homes exterior with their expert siding installation, repair, and replacement services. Their siding contractors know that a homes exterior siding is more than just a decorative feature; it plays a crucial role in protecting a home from moisture, water, and storm damage as well. That is why they provide thorough inspections along with superior siding installation, repair, and replacement services that directly address their customers needs. Learn more about their siding replacement service at https://paintthetriangle.com/siding/ About NC Best NC Best is a North Carolina Business and Travel information portal that is dedicated to highlighting the best North Carolina has to offer. They pride themselves on not only calling every business they evaluate and visiting every place they write about but also contributing to the local economy as well. NC Best is founded by Doug Morgan, a North Carolina native, whose life goal is to help local North Carolina businesses thrive and to bring the best North Carolina has to offer to those that seek to learn and explore. https://ncbest.net/ Media Contacts Doug Morgan Founder of NC Best 330 South Greene St #33 Greensboro, NC, 27401 (336) 815-5900 Launch day photo of ARCs cadre of employee owners who are former educators This is a curriculum that seeks to give more to those who often receive lessmore books, more writing, and more support. I look forward to seeing where our brilliant owners take this organization next. American Reading Company (ARC), developer of the highly rated, state-of-the-art curriculum ARC Core, has become 100 percent employee owned. This week, ARC transferred stock into an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and is now a company not only founded and run by educators but owned by educators as well. Ive long believed that the best solutions to educational challenges come from those who have been closest to the classroom or have direct experience with the education system, said founder and CEO Jane Hileman. ARC is not your traditional business, and the main reason why is the people who work here. This is a business where a vice principal with skill in logistics became the senior executive in charge of supply chain and a receptionist grew into the role of chief operating officer. Its a place where teachers, principals, and other colleagues cultivate their talents in new ways to lead every department. Employees who act as stewards of the mission and enterprise in such dedicated ways make the transition to an ESOP all the more worthwhile and necessary. ARC designs curricula that jump-start childrens interest in reading while supporting their reading development. Of the over 300 ARC staff, many are former ARC Core users who have experienced first-hand the unprecedented progress and joy of both students and educators when their curriculum is systematic, rigorous, and aligned to the highest standards while maintaining flexibility and choice to meet the needs of students. ARC also strives to go beyond commitment to education. ARC is a benefit corporation meaning the company meets the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability to balance profit and purpose. All ARC Press titles are manufactured and made in America with vegetable ink. ARCs newly purchased office and warehouse are being renovated to comply with the highest environmental standards and will include expanded green space. When I started on this journey 25 years ago, it was because my experience as a teacher led me to seek ways to support all kidsno matter where they come from or their circumstancesto be lifelong readers and learners, Hileman says. Every child deserves an education that not only supports reading development but cultivates a love of reading that can transcend circumstance. This is a curriculum that seeks to give more to those who often receive lessmore books, more writing, and more support. I look forward to seeing where our brilliant owners take this organization next. About American Reading Company American Reading Company (ARC) is a diverse, mission-driven organization, headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, that works to ensure every student reads and writes on or above grade level. ARC works collaboratively to strengthen district and school capacity at every level by placing literacy and agency at the heart of school transformation through foundational skills instruction, reading and writing practice, knowledge-building content, formative assessment, and an integrated tiered system of support. As a result, all students read, write, discuss, think, investigate, and solve problems at ever-increasing levels of proficiency. ARC partners share a sustained commitment with partner districts to achieve academic success for every student. Visit http://www.americanreading.com for further information. Customers in Illinois and Missouri can custom order a new vehicle at Chris Auffenberg. Individuals who are looking to get behind the wheel of a new vehicle with specific features and amenities can now visit the Chris Auffenberg Family of dealerships in Illinois and Missouri. The dealership has a team of skilled automotive specialists to customize a vehicle with ultimate perfection. Interested parties can select any model from the dealerships extensive inventory and get it personalized to their specific choice of features. Customers can custom-order new Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Chrysler, GMC, Ford, Dodge, Hyundai, Kia, Jeep, RAM and Lincoln vehicles at the dealership. Chris Auffenberg has been fulfilling the needs of car enthusiasts for over half a century. While they serve drivers in Cape Girardeau, Farmington and Washington in Missouri, they also provide their services in Carbondale and Herrin in Illinois. Individuals who are interested in custom ordering a vehicle can fill out a straightforward form on the dealerships website. Since Chris Auffenberg in Illinois and Missouri offers services in six different stores, drivers can visit any location to make a purchase. Moreover, individuals can reach the dealerships team of experts via call/text/email for further information. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has again been ordered by a Dane County judge to produce requested public records related to a taxpayer-funded partisan probe of the 2020 election by former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman. Circuit Judge Valerie Bailey-Rihn on Friday issued the decision, which also orders Vos, R-Rochester, to pay statutory fees and attorney fees to liberal watchdog group American Oversight, which filed the lawsuit following multiple open records requests related to the election probe being conducted by Gableman. In the order, Bailey-Rihn wrote that Vos provided no evidence to explain why it took six months for him to respond to some of American Oversights records requests, despite state law requiring an authority to respond as soon as practicable and without delay. In addition, when Vos did respond, he produced 1,400 pages of records from an unwanted time period, Bailey-Rihn noted. Based on the undisputed evidence of Vos ineffectual records practices, I can draw no reasonable inference except that Vos did not search for records in the first instance, Bailey-Rihn wrote. Vos has 20 days to search for and produce records related to American Oversights requests, per the judges order. Bailey-Rihn also denied American Oversights motion for punitive damages against Vos. In sum, that (Vos) was wrong does not justify punitive damages, Bailey-Rihn wrote. Here, the records could still exist and be produced if they were properly searched for by the Respondent. Vos office had not responded to a request for comment Friday. Bailey-Rihn ruled last month that Vos would not be penalized for a previous contempt order related to the case, but said she would decide later if Vos should face penalties related to how his office handled requests for records related to Gablemans review. A status conference has been scheduled on the matter for July 21. American Oversight has filed four lawsuits against Gableman, Vos and the state Assembly related to the GOP-ordered review of the 2020 election. Its ironic that Vos claimed an investigation was necessary to instill confidence in the election outcome, but then has done everything in his power to prevent Wisconsinites from learning the whole truth, American Oversight senior adviser Melanie Sloan said in a statement Friday. Vos is not above the law and American Oversight is gratified to see him held accountable for violating Wisconsins public records law. Dane County Circuit Judge Frank Remington last month held Gablemans office in contempt, offering a scathing rebuke of the former justices behavior in court a week earlier, when Gableman accused the judge of being a partisan advocate. Remington ultimately held Gablemans office in contempt for failing to adequately respond to the requests and ordered Gableman be fined $2,000 a day until he complies. He also directed Gablemans sneering conduct in Remingtons courtroom to the office that regulates attorneys and judges in Wisconsin to take possible action against his license to practice law. Gableman has appealed the ruling and is seeking a review by a three-judge panel in Wisconsins District 2 Court of Appeals in Waukesha. Gableman was hired by Vos under pressure from Donald Trump to review the election the former president lost to President Joe Biden by about 21,000 votes in Wisconsin. While the probe was originally allocated $676,000 in taxpayer funds, invoices have shown that ongoing court battles surrounding the review have pushed the cost to more than $900,000. Vos earlier this year paused Gablemans probe to allow time for pending lawsuits related to the review to play out in court and halved Gablemans monthly salary from $11,000 to $5,500. A recount, court decisions and multiple reviews have affirmed that Biden defeated Trump in Wisconsin. Only 24 people out of nearly 3.3 million who cast ballots have been charged with election fraud in Wisconsin. This July, Michael Payne, Jim Bird and Lucas Battcher are bringing the madness to Fort Dodge with the opening of the newest Teriyaki Madness shop at 2823 3rd Ave S. The trios Seattle-style teriyaki shop will offer huge, satisfying teriyaki bowls filled with addicting flavors and high-quality ingredients like all-natural marinated chicken, steak, salmon or tofu with fresh, stir fry veggies and a base of steamed white, brown or fried rice or Yakisoba noodles. The best part? Theyre healthy. Or not. The menu is fully customizable, so do your thing were not judging. The group has owned and operated several independent concepts for the last 41 years. Their entrance to franchising was with a Pancheros unit that launched 10 years ago. They recognized right away the uniformity and brand recognition that a franchise carries, and have been looking for the right fit to expand their portfolio since. Then, they found Teriyaki Madness. To celebrate, Payne, Bird and Battcher are inviting locals out to the shops grand opening, with events from 7/14 through 7/20. The schedule of events and primary giveaways are included below: 7/14-7/15: Customers can enjoy Junior and Regular Chicken Teriyaki Bowls for just $6 in-shop or by placing an order through the Teriyaki Madness app. 7/14: The Grand Opening celebration event kicks off with a chance for customers to win free Teriyaki Madness. Any customer who places an order through the app between 7/14 and 7/20 will be entered to be one of five winners to receive free Teriyaki Madness for one year, or one of twenty winners to receive free Teriyaki Madness for one month. 7/16: $1 from every regular bowl purchased will be donated to the Fort Dodge Police Association. Teriyaki Madness fit that niche we were looking for in our community, the group stated. What excites us most about the brand is the craveable concept the food brings. Being restaurateurs, that is one thing we are always trying to create in our kitchens for our guests, the crave to come back. We also really appreciate the community within the Teriyaki Madness company, and just how much support is available to the franchisees when they need it. We couldnt be more excited about the new shop in Fort Dodge, said Teriyaki Madness CEO Michael Haith. This is a vibrant community with an awesome food scene, and were eager to contribute. Most importantly, we found the perfect franchisee partner in Payne, Bird and Battcher, who have already proven to be a fantastic member of our franchise family and is well prepared to make the most of this opportunity. Teriyaki Madness is expanding rapidly in markets across the U.S. and was named the number one fastest-growing big restaurant chain in 2021. With 70+ signed agreements this year, Teriyaki Madness is continuing to change the franchising industry. Now, the brand is leveraging that momentum for an even bigger 2022. Weve faced plenty of challenges throughout the past year, and Teriyaki Madness continues to prove resilient, Haith said. Few businesses experienced the kind of growth we achieved in 2021, and we have no plans to slow down anytime soon. The new shop in Fort Dodge is a key step forward in our growth plan. For more information about Teriyaki Madness of Fort Dodge, visit the restaurants official website, http://www.TeriyakiMadness.com. ABOUT TERIYAKI MADNESS: Fast-casual teriyaki shop franchise Teriyaki Madness is committed to unconditionally satisfying guests by offering delicious, made-to-order, healthy (or not) bowls, apps and sides, prepared with fresh, all-natural ingredients served quickly and at a reasonable price. Guests can enjoy their bowls in the shop, or order through the mobile app for delivery or curbside pickup. Teriyaki Madness has been ranked on Entrepreneurs Top Food Franchises, FastCasuals Movers and Shakers in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, the Inc. 5000 list for three straight years, and was named the #1 Fastest-Growing Restaurant Chain in the United States by Restaurant Business in 2021. Founded in 2003, the brand currently has more than 110 shops open, with franchising opportunities nationwide for qualified single and multi-unit candidates. For more information, visit http://www.franchise.teriyakimadness.com. ### Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the class action lawsuit against Alexander's Steakhouse, Inc., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California attorney today. The San Francisco employment law attorneys at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action complaint alleging that Alexander's Steakhouse, Inc. violated the California Labor Code. The Alexander's Steakhouse, Inc., class action lawsuit, Case No. 22CV399448, is currently pending in the Santa Clara County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here. The complaint alleges Alexander's Steakhouse, 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 cellular phones and incurred business expenses as a result. Additionally, Alexander's Steakhouse, Inc. allegedly failed to pay employees for all the time they were under the employer's control. This, allegedly, includes the time Plaintiff and other California Class Members had to submit to mandatory COVID-19 questionnaires and temperature checks prior to clocking in for the day. To the extent that the time worked off the clock did not qualify for overtime premium payment, Defendant allegedly failed to pay minimum and overtime wages for the time worked off-the-clock. For more information about the class action lawsuit against Alexander's Steakhouse, 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*** Lerner & Rowe Injury Attorneys hosts FREE Phoenix backpack giveaway Lerner and Rowe is really excited to once again have the opportunity to give away hundreds of backpacks stuffed with school supplies to local kids. Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys is pleased to announce that their law firm is once again hosting a FREE backpack giveaway to benefit disadvantaged school-aged children living in the Phoenix Valley. Local families are invited to drive through this contactless backpack giveaway on Saturday, July 23, 2022 located at the Metro Auto Auction parking lot (2475 S 59th Ave, Phoenix 85043) from 10:00 a.m. through 12:00 p.m. As quantities are limited to 1,000 total, backpacks will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last. K-12 students must be present in vehicles to receive a backpack. Families are also asked to be mindful of pedestrians and other vehicles when entering and exiting the parking lot. Attorney Kevin Rowe shares more about the law firms annual backpack giveaway in Phoenix, As the cost of everyday essential items continues to increase, local underserved families may find it more difficult to cover typical costs associated with getting ready for a new school year. Thats why our team is really excited to once again have the opportunity to give away hundreds of backpacks with school supplies to local kids. Its our hope that by doing so it will make it easier for students to get the tools they need to succeed and look forward to their first day. For more information about Lerner and Rowes FREE drive-thru Phoenix backpack giveaway, please contact Cindy Ernst or Christa Luirette at (602) 977-1900. Like and follow Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys on Facebook to learn more about this and future giveaways. More About Lerner and Rowe Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys is a powerhouse law firm in representing personal injury clients. Attorneys Glen Lerner and Kevin Rowe have grown their law firm into one of the largest personal injury firms in the country, with over 50 attorneys and nearly 400 support employees located in Arizona, Indiana, Illinois, Nevada, California, Washington, Oregon, New Mexico, Alabama, and Tennessee. The law firms reputation for excellence can be attributed to the high levels of respect, dignity, and customer service shown to victims and family members hurt in an accident. For those injured outside one of the previously listed states, Lerner and Rowe has an established network of attorneys across the country, ready to help. The firm takes pride in nourishing these relationships as they know a personal injury attorney can make all the difference in obtaining fair compensation for the pain and suffering inflicted upon the victims of tortious conduct. For more information about Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys in Phoenix, please call 602-977-1900. To connect with the law firm socially, follow Lerner and Rowe on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, or become a fan of its Facebook page. Also, visit lernerandrowegivesback.com to learn more about the many other community services that the lawyers and legal support team of Lerner and Rowe actively support. ### Lerner & Rowe Injury Attorneys hosts FREE Tucson backpack giveaway. We want to help ensure that no child has to go without the essential tools needed to engage, learn, and thrive in the classroom. Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys is pleased to announce that their law firm is once again hosting a FREE backpack giveaway to benefit disadvantaged school-aged children living in Tucson. Local families are invited to drive through this contactless backpack giveaway on Thursday, July 21, 2022 located at the Manheim Parking Lot (7090 S Craycroft Road, Tucson 85756) from 5:00 p.m. through 7:00 p.m. As quantities are limited, the 1,500 backpacks will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last. K-12 students must be present in vehicles to receive a backpack. Families are also asked to be mindful of pedestrians and other vehicles when entering and exiting the parking lot. Current economic conditions are greatly impacting how families shop and prepare for the 2022 - 2023 school year. That is why our team is grateful to be able to once again give away hundreds of backpacks with school supplies! Attorney Kevin Rowe adds, Our hope is that by reducing the amount of school supplies families need to buy they can then put those cost savings towards other household necessities. We also want to help ensure that no child has to go without the essential tools needed to engage, learn, and thrive in the classroom. For more information about Lerner and Rowes FREE drive-thru Tucson backpack giveaway, please contact Cindy Ernst or Christa Luirette at (520) 977-1900. Like and follow Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys on Facebook to learn more about this and future giveaways. More About Lerner and Rowe Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys is a powerhouse law firm in representing personal injury clients. Attorneys Glen Lerner and Kevin Rowe have grown their law firm into one of the largest personal injury firms in the country, with over 50 attorneys and nearly 400 support employees located in Arizona, Indiana, Illinois, Nevada, California, Washington, Oregon, New Mexico, Alabama, and Tennessee. The law firms reputation for excellence can be attributed to the high levels of respect, dignity, and customer service shown to victims and family members hurt in an accident. For those injured outside one of the previously listed states, Lerner and Rowe has an established network of attorneys across the country, ready to help. The firm takes pride in nourishing these relationships as they know a personal injury attorney can make all the difference in obtaining fair compensation for the pain and suffering inflicted upon the victims of tortious conduct. For more information about Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys in Tucson, please call 520-977-1900. To connect with the law firm socially, follow Lerner and Rowe on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, or become a fan of its Facebook page. Also, visit lernerandrowegivesback.com to learn more about the many other community services that the lawyers and legal support team of Lerner and Rowe actively support. ### In How to Inhabit Time (Brazos, Sept.), philosophy professor Smith argues that Christians must reckon with their past and consider how history informs faith. What do you see as the relationship between Christianity and history? Christianity is a faith that is entirely rooted in history and in the fundamental and almost fantastical reality that God entered history. The heart of Christianity, in the Incarnation and Cross and Resurrection, is this sense that God, the creator of the cosmos, is not allergic to time or evading history, but in fact descends into history with us. You caution against succumbing to what you call present-ism. Can you explain what you mean by that? I think theres a certain cultural force that is the tyranny of the urgent. Think of the 24-hour news cycle, in which right now is the center of everything. What happens is we imagine that now is all that matters, but we also color our perception of history and the future in light of our now. We become victims to the present in ways that I think limit our imagination. So in some sense, we need a capacity to stretch our imaginations into past and future to escape the tyranny of the present. What does that look like in practice? I think in the case of our stretching our imagination into the past, it mostly looks like reckoning with what has been handed down to us and recognizing the legacies of past decisions, moments, and institutions that still live with us. But it doesnt have to be negative, because I think reckoning with our past also means realizing gifts and possibilities that have been handed down to us. Practically, I think its finding the space to hit the pause button on our immersion in this frenetic present, and to contemplate and reckon with where weve come from and what we are called to do. How do you think Christians can better understand their sense of place in Gods story, as you put it? I think some of the most traditional aspects of historic Christian liturgy are part of rehearsing and inculcating into ourselves a story, a sweeping narrative of Gods activity over and over again. I think we locate ourselves in that history by listening to the testimony of many communities beyond our own. For example, one of the most incredible testimonies of hope that grapples with history is the Black church of the United States. If you think of the legacies of hymnody, worship, theology, and poetry that come down to us from the Black church, that a people can have that posture of expectation, longing, and hope while being very intimately aware of the history of injustice and evil is just a remarkable way for all Christians to apprentice themselves to Gods story. Theres a single word beneath Tochi Onyebuchis first name on his author website: writer. Following up his 2017 YA speculative fiction/fantasy debut Beast Made of Night with the War Girls series that began in 2019 and the 2020 Alex Award winner Riot Baby, Onyebuchi has developed an impressive YA track record. But earlier this year he released his first adult science fiction novel with Tor, Goliath, set in a dystopian future. The author doesnt feel the need to limit the definition of his work to YA, adult, speculative, or any other category. Im a writer, he says. I leave the marketing up to people much more experienced at that than me. Onyebuchi is one of a growing number of high-profile childrens authors who have branched out from the categories and genres in which they originally found success. Known for her bestselling middle grade and YA fantasy novels, Holly Black released her debut adult novel, Book of Night, in May, the first in a fantasy duology. Nicola Yoon, author of YA hits Everything, Everything and The Sun Is Also a Star, among others, announced her first adult novel, One of Our Kind, which is expected from Anchor Books in 2024. Nina LaCour, Printz Award winner for her 2017 YA novel We Are Okay, released both a picture book (Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle) and an adult novel (Yerba Buena) this year. Authors early in their careers are encouraged to develop a platform and brand and stick to it. In the same way an actor might become a bankable rom-com star or action hero, an author can benefit from being strongly associated with the genre in which they first found success, especially if they created beloved worlds or characters. When readers love books, they want to see more of those characters, Black says. Any time you introduce someone newespecially in a totally new worldthere is a period where readers are going to feel disappointed. But while some authors may choose to go deep with a certain character or world throughout a career, the urge to tell new kinds of stories and explore new characters is strong for others. With success in one category, authors are afforded the freedom to stretch creative muscles and explore new literary horizons. Some authors call it genre jumping. Agent Jennifer Laughran of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency calls it category hopping. There is something to be said for authors developing their brand, says James McGowan, an agent at BookEnds Literary. But writing careers are not ever set in stone. There are bound to be changes or pivots in someones publishing goals and passions. The success of Yoons novels for teens has made her association with YA indelible. When I went on submission with One of Our Kind, one or two editors were surprised that it wasnt what they were expecting, given my YA books, Yoon says. That reaction did give me momentary pause. But it didnt stop her. In the end, I have to write the thing I need to writeotherwise theres no point to writing. McGowan agrees that when a writer gets to writing, where the work lands depends on a number of factors. Theres no one-size-fits-all to a career move like this, and it matters where youre publishing, with whom, and how your books have been received so far, too, he says. Writing in new directions For some, writing across many categories and genres is second nature. Kyle Lukoff, author of the Newbery Honor book Too Bright to See and the Stonewall Awardwinning picture book When Aidan Became a Brother (among others) has worked as an elementary school librarian. My day job meant that I would see a class of two-year-olds immediately following the fifth graders, or see first graders and fourth graders back-to-back, he says. Its just a matter of knowing the possibilities and limitations for each developmental group, and making sure youre respecting that. I love getting to tell different stories through different mediums, and it feels like writing across age groups helps make that possible. Kalynn Bayron, author of YA hits Cinderella Is Dead and the This Poison Heart duology, says that her forthcoming middle grade book The Vanquishers was the right story for the right audience. I adore my young readers and I want to write with them in mind, she says. I try very hard to pay attention to what they are looking for and then I assess if thats something I can or should do. While she plans to continue to write YA, trying my hand at a middle grade vampire story was something I couldnt pass up. For others, the switch to different genres or categories may not be as intentional. I didnt know I was going to write an adult book until I was physically sitting down and writing it, Yoon says. Once she had the idea for One of Our Kind, I knew it would be for an adult audience. There was no other way to tell the story. She calls the book the most ambitious, philosophical, and complicated book she has ever written. I wouldnt have been able to write it a few years ago. I needed to deepen my skills as an artist, and to learn more about myself as a person in the world. Onyebuchi says, My home is speculative fiction; its where I feel most comfortable as a storyteller. But my influences are legion. For Goliath alone, I drew specifically from the works of Roberto Bolano, John Crowley, Gene Wolfe, Jesmyn Ward, and Arundhati Roy, among others. He fell into YA by accident, but it was the happiest of accidents. Writing YA was part of my growth as a writer and as a person, and I learned an incredible amount about storytelling from being in that market. For LaCour, the collaboration involved in creating a picture book brought a new dimension to her experience as a writer. I am used to having a lot of control as a writer, so it was new and exciting to write with the intention of leaving room for the future illustrator, not yet knowing who that person would be or what theyd do with that freedom, she says. I care a lot about setting details and description in my novels, so pulling back and reminding myself that most of the details would be better left out of the text was definitely a challenge! Onyebuchi says the differences between his adult and YA writing are primarily stylistic, and he enjoys the expansive opportunities allowed by writing for adults. Im a sucker for luminous prose, he notes. In adult fiction, I can get away with writing sentences no YA editor would give me the thumbs up for. When writing YA, he adds, sometimes, the truly dazzling sentence I want to write has to take a back seat or even wind up on the cutting room floor. Writing adult fiction gives that part of me as a writer a real opportunity to spread wings and write a winding, one-sentence paragraph of a prison rodeo. On the other hand, the experience of writing YA brought a kind of discipline to Onyebuchis writing. My primary objective in my YA fiction is claritymaking sure the reader is able to follow at every step, he says, adding that very little else matters if the confused reader puts the book down halfway through. For Black, writing an adult novel let her explore characters in different stages of life. I was interested in the stagnation of adulthood, the way it gets harder to change as we get older and we become tied to our jobs and our bills and our forever-breaking-down car, she says. I wanted to write about a couple in an established relationship, one that felt practical and in which both parties were hiding their true selves. And Charlie Hall is a character who, instead of making her first bad choice, is down a long road of bad choices, one from which there may be no path back. Due to their age, adult characters have a lot more layers of life, Black says. Theyve just done more, had and lost more friendships, gained more expertise, worked more jobs, etc. For her, that meant investing more thought into the characters back stories. Growing and evolving as a writer is important to LaCour, who says her main motivation for writing Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle was simply that I had a story to tell, based on my own family and experiences. I knew it had the potential to speak to children and their caregivers, both in its portrayal of a queer family and also in its examination of what it feels like to miss someone. Nancy Werlin, author of nearly a dozen novels, including the Edgar-winning The Killers Cousin, says that her foray into middle grade fiction after decades of writing YA was a long time coming. Her first middle grade novel, Healer and Witch, came out in March, but it was actually written in 1996. The story centers on Sylvie, a 15-year-old girl in 16th-century France who is charting her future course as a girl whose innate powers are both sought after and feared. I had a clandestine love affair with [the story] when I was supposed to be monogamously involved with a contemporary young adult thriller, she wrote recently on author John Scazis blog. She explains that the book spent several decades in a file cabinet as she focused on her YA career. Werlin brought it out during the pandemic. It felt the way you might when, after many years, you meet your teenage love, Werlin says. You dont know if intense emotions will reignite, or if you will smile and shake your head. But as I read, my breath caught; my heart beat faster. It was 25 years later, but I was still in love with courageous, desperate Sylvie. Revisiting the story was exhilarating, Werlin recalls, adding, Writing historical middle grade fantasy made me feel unleashed! Her protagonist is in so many ways a more independent and powerful actor in her life than a contemporary U.S. teenager can be. Plus, the historical context provides meatier material and craft challenges for her. For a writer, thats exciting. Its the story, not the audience, that motivates her as an author, Werlin says. I dont think about the age of my readers when I write; I think about the story. But just as important is the understanding that not all readers are alike, and not all readers are attracted to the same kind of story, even when they are the exact same age. I am writing only for those readers who are interested in the particular stories I have to tell. It has been my experience that these readers cant be effectively pinpointed by age or found by marketing. Braiding a career Laughran says that for new writers, the tried-and-true advice of following a first book with another that will appeal to the same publisher makes sense. Its a way to build a relationship with the publisher and build an audience. But, she adds, as agents, we also want our authors to feel free to explore other avenues they might be interested in. With successive books, there are opportunities for authors to braid a career. If an author really wants to write picture books and publisher A really doesnt do them often, we sell a picture book to publisher B, Laughran says. Now the author has two threads going: publisher A with middle grade, publisher B with picture books, each thread building strength. It doesnt have to stop there, though. As long as the author has time to edit and promote additional books (and the publication dates are far enough apart), theres no reason why there cant be numerous strands, as long as we are adding each new strand mindfully so the braid doesnt turn into a messy knot, she adds. Laughran has represented numerous clients who write across categories and genres, including Daniel Pinkwater, whose work comprises picture books, adult fiction, and a nonfiction book on puppy training; Kate Messner who has written nonfiction, contemporary fiction, fiction with magical elements, and thrillers; and Jennifer Torres, who has written everything from nonfiction picture books to contemporary middle grade fiction. If all their books were the same category and genre, theyd potentially be cannibalizing their own sales and running afoul of contractual noncompete clauses, Laughran says. Alvina Ling, v-p and editor-in-chief at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, says, At Little, Brown we like to say were in the business of publishing authors, not just books, so if possible, we do our best to support authors who are versatile and prolific. In addition to Holly Black, she has worked with a number of authors who have chosen to write across different age groups, including Peter Brown, Grace Lin, and Wendy Mass. In general, I think publishers base the decision whether to publish an author across categories on the specific booksdo we have a vision for publishing them? she says. On occasion, we may have to pass the authors project along to a different editor who may specialize in a particular category, or we may decide the book may be better served published at a different publisher. Authors who write and publish multiple books per year for many years almost have to category hop, Laughran says. Theres simply no way that one imprint would be able to publish all their books or support them all equally. For some authors, writing for a different age group may not just reach a new audience but may also reach previous fans who have aged out of childrens books. I have been writing for kids and teens for two decades, so many of my readers are now adults themselves and read plenty of adult books, Black says. Thats a nice benefit for an established author, even if its not a motivating factor. I do hope that those first Everything, Everything fans will follow me on this journey, because theyre such a wonderfully passionate and thoughtful audience, Yoon says. But the reason I wrote the new book is simply because I needed to write it. One of Our Kind wont be the end of her foray into new genres and categories. I have quite a few ideas that are going to push me into new genres, and Im excited to dive into those stories and see where they go. LaCour says that with her new adult novel and picture book, she has noticed that nearly everything written about both books calls me a YA author, which I totally understand. Looking ahead, though, she adds, As time goes on and I continue to publish books for all ages, I hope I can begin to be seen as an author who writes across age designations and isnt defined by one of them. Having now written for both younger readers and adults, Black says there are some advantages to writing in the adult category. If you are on the adult bestseller list, theres a whole shelf in the front of the store your book is automatically put on, she explains. It made me realize the way writing for kids and teensand having success in that arenacan be somewhat invisible. Still, Black hasnt given up on YA. Shes currently working on a YA duology, The Stolen Heir. I have my feet firmly planted on both shores, she says. Onyebuchi hasnt abandoned writing for a younger audience either. I do intend someday on returning to YA, he says. And I dont think that writing YA would prevent me from dialoguing with works of adult fiction or vice versa. The truth is, I just love writing. Across genres, across mediums, all of it. Joanne OSullivan is a journalist, author, and editor in Asheville, N.C. DEAL OF THE WEEK HarperCollins Wins Blakes Anna After what HarperCollins described as a competitive auction, it won U.S. rights to MJ Blakes Anna O. The debut novel, which Sara Nelson bought from U.K. agent Madeline Millburn, has, to date, been acquired in 25 territories (with Kimberley Young and Phoebe Morgan having acquired it at HarperCollins UK). The crime thriller follows a young writer named Anna Ogilvy who, HC said, stabs two people to death in her sleep with no apparent motive. When Anna, who is suffering from a rare neurological disorder known as resignation syndrome (and comes to be known in the press as Sleeping Beauty), finally wakes up, questions abound for her and her doctor, Benedict Prince. The publisher elaborated, Only Anna O knows the truth about that night, but only Dr. Prince knows how to discover it. Nelson added that the novel is an exploration of the mysteries of sleep and a look at how society views and judges crimes and criminals. Blake is a former speechwriter for the British government. Blackstone Lands Stewarts Daughter Brendan Deneen at Blackstone Publishing took world English rights to An Officers Daughter. The novel is a sequel to the hit 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman and is written by the screenwriter of that film, Douglas Day Stewart. An Officer and a Gentleman starred Richard Gere as a Navy aviation officer who falls for a woman played by Debra Winger. An Officers Daughter, which is set 35 years after the film takes place, follows the daughter of the characters played by Gere and Winger, who, Blacktone said, shows up unexpectedly at the school that trains Navy jet pilots and finds that her father, the head instructor in his last class before retirement, stands firmly in the path of her dreams. Matt Bialer at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates sold the book, which is set for 2024. Avon Re-ups Bailey for Seven Figures In a seven-figure deal, bestseller Tessa Bailey sold three romantic comediesa duology and a standaloneto Nicole Fischer at Avon. Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency represented Bailey in the world English rights agreement, and the first book under contract is set for fall 2023. The novels, which are currently untitled, will, Avon said, be chock-full of Baileys signature humor, steam, and heart. According to the publisher, Bailey, who is popular on TikTok, has sold more than a million copies total of her bestsellers It Happened One Summer (2021) and Hook, Line, and Sinker (2022). Lehane Takes Mercies to Harper Bestseller Dennis Lehane (Mystic River) sold Small Mercies to Jonathan Burnham and Noah Eaker at Harper in a North American rights agreement. The HarperCollins imprint said the novel, set for April 2023, is a tale of revenge, family love, festering hate, and insidious power. Its set in the housing projects of South Boston (known as Southie) during the summer of 1974, when the city was attempting to desegregate its schools, and follows a single mother willing to go up against the terrifying local power barons to find out what happened to her missing teenage daughter. Ann Rittenberg at Ann Rittenberg Literary Agency represented Lehane. Rinders Escape Picked Up by Gallery Aimee Bell at Gallery Books took North American rights to Mike Rinders A Billion Years: My Escape from a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology. Rinder, who was represented by Steve Fisher at APA, was a Scientologist for nearly 50 years and rose to become an important spokesman with a seat on the churchs international board. Hes appeared in the documentary Going Clear and cohosted the A&E series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. Gallery said the book, set for September, tells a harrowing but fulfilling story of personal resilience. Welcome to our fall 2022 Childrens Announcements issue! In our main feature, we speak with a number of authors who are writing across age ranges and genres about the joys of exploring unfamiliar literary terrain to reach new audiences. We also profile Lambda Literary Awardwinning author Sara Farizan, who is making her own foray into new territory with her forthcoming supernatural YA novel, Dead Flip. All this, plus our comprehensive AZ listings of childrens and YA titles being released between August 1 and January 31. Happy reading! About Our Cover Artist Since his 1989 debut, The Trouble with the Johnsons, Mark Teague has published more than 60 books for young readers as author, illustrator, or both. He still finds ways to keep things fresh at this stage in his career. I feel like my approach is always evolving, sometimes consciously and sometimes unconsciously, he says. Im constantly looking for new challenges and trying to push myself. It makes the work interesting. Teague, who grew up in San Diego, Calif., and currently lives in New Yorks Hudson Valley, says his love of reading and visual storytelling was encouraged from a young age. I was a very bookish little kid, he recalls. My mom was a great reader and she would take me and my brother to the public library just about every week. Id come home with a stack of books. I think I taught myself to read by staring at picture books and memorizing the words. Though he never really planned a career in books, looking back from this vantage point, I can see it makes perfect sense. Those early encounters continue to infuse his work, Teague says. Im trying to pull from my own childhood, that sense of wonder I felt. I think a lot of the humor in my books comes from that sense of things being quite strange, which I remember from being a little kid. I play a lot with that in my work. This boys-eye-view is apparent in his forthcoming picture book, King Kongs Cousin (Beach Lane, Aug.), about the legendary gorillas more diminutive relative, Junior. That also has an origin in childhood, Teague explains. I had a King Kong poster from the original 1930s movieI dont know where it came from or who gave it to me. I stared at it all the time in my bedroom. And I dimly remember seeing the movie on television when I was a kid. I was just enchanted. So I had that in the back of my mind for a long time as something I wanted to use as a theme in a picture book. Also forthcoming is How Do Dinosaurs Say Im Mad? (Blue Sky, Sept.), a new entry in the How Do Dinosaurs... series, written by Jane Yolen. Their collaboration has been going on for two decades, and while attending various events together over the years, Teague and Yolen have gotten to be good friends, though theyve been unable to meet in person since the pandemic began. Teague is looking forward to their reunion this fall at the Chappaqua (N.Y.) Childrens Book Festival. As for his current projects, Im working on writing a story; it may be coming together, or maybe not! he says with a laugh, which is where so many of his books begin. E.K. Children's and YA Authors on Crossing Categories We spoke with a number of high-profile childrens writers who have branched out from the categories and genres in which they originally found success to reach new audiences. Sara Farizan: Writing for Her Inner Kid The critically acclaimed author of three character driven coming-of-age YA novels, including the Lambda Literary Awardwinning If You Could Be Mine, branches off in new directions in two upcoming releases. Fall 2022 Children's Announcements: Publishers A-E Fall 2022 Children's Announcements: Publishers F-L Fall 2022 Children's Announcements: Publishers M-Q Fall 2022 Children's Announcements: Publishers R-Z Spring 2023 Children's Sneak Previews By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 07/15/2022 ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. pros Jenna Johnson and Val Chmerkovskiy have revealed they are expecting their first child together.Jenna, 28, is almost heading into her second trimester, and she and Val, 36, are anticipating their baby's arrival in January 2023."We got home [from a trip to Cabo] and about two weeks later I was like, 'Wait a minute, my boobs are feeling very big and very sore. I haven't started my period yet.' So I peed on a stick and immediately it just turned positive," Jenna told People."The shock and just disbelief was insane. I couldn't believe it because it wasn't an easy journey for us to get pregnant."She continued, "But everybody tells you, 'When you just relax and you don't put the stress on yourself, it happens for you.' That's exactly what happened."Jenna said her pregnancy and the timing of it was exactly "meant to be.""Our little baby was created with a lot of love. It all seems so magical and meant to be," Jenna gushed.Jenna attempted to share the news with her husband in a memorable way."I went and I got these little Baby Jordans, these white sneakers," Jenna revealed."I put them in a box that was his size of Nikes. So he didn't expect anything. Then I put two little pregnancy tests in there. I had been shaking at home waiting for him to come home. So he nonchalantly walked in."Jenna said "ironically enough," Val walked into their house with a bag of Nike sneakers."I was like, 'Did you go shopping today?' He was like, 'Yeah, I got myself some new sneakers.' I'm like, 'No way. I got some too today,'" Jenna recalled."He came over and chucked off the lid of the box and started rummaging through it. He looked at the shoes and was like, 'How small are these sneakers?' Then it hit him and his face... it was priceless."Jenna admitted her first trimester of being pregnant was "a scary time," but she's trying to remain positive."There's so many things that can go wrong, potentially," Jenna reasoned."I just have taken this time to really relax and try to stay calm and keep my body healthy -- which has been hard, because I'm a really active person. I love to work out. I love to dance."Jenna added, "But I've just made it a priority for myself to really make a shift and to prioritize the baby and what was happening and all of these new changes."Jenna said it was very helpful for her to find peace and not to be "so busy and insanely active.""I think I'm just giving my body the necessary rest. I think that's the best thing I can do for myself. It's also just taught me that I can be okay with downtime. I don't need to overwork myself," Jenna explained.Jenna, who has a noticeable baby bump, is also excited about the changes her body is going through."Every day when I look in the mirror and I get bigger and bigger, it just hits me what's happening," the dancer and choreographer said."I just think I try to find ways to be super grateful and find moments of gratitude."In fact, Jenna started a little gratitude journal in which she writes down what's happening in her body as well as what she's liked and disliked.Jenna apparently jots down "just how magical the experience is" and said being grateful on a daily basis has been "really helpful" for her."Val is just so funny in this whole experience. He is obsessed with my body growing. He's just obsessed with everything. The boobs, the butt, the belly. So for him to be so sweet and positive about my body, has just made me feel so beautiful," Jenna gushed.As for pregnany cravings, Jenna said she wants fruit, pickles -- and those items "in abundance.""Watermelon. Mangoes. Papaya. Pineapple. I could probably pound hundreds of them in one sitting. As well, smoothies. Cold smoothies always sounded good. Now, I would say my cravings are pickles. Seriously, I could crack open a jar of pickles at any time of the day and be so stoked," Jenna said.While Jenna and Val have many exciting milestones ahead of them Jenna admitted she's most looking forward to watching Val become a first-time father."If he is anything like he is as a husband, he's going to be the best dad in the world," Jenna gushed. "He is so selfless and loving. Between the two of us, is by far the more patient one. So I think, all of these little attributes are going to just make him an incredible dad.'"Jenna also told People that Val is "the best" when he's around little kids and is "always the favorite uncle.""Everybody wants to play with him or do something with him," Jenna shared. "He's just the best. He just knows how to speak to them and how to handle them. How to make them feel so confident and excited."Jenna said Val hopes to return to on Disney+ this Fall but Jenna plans to continue to focus on her health and the well-being of her baby.Jenna was apparently already pregnant when she told Us Weekly in late June that it bothers her when fans ask about whether she's going to expand her family and when she's going to have a baby."I think it's a really insensitive question , actually, because... you never know what somebody is going through," Jenna complained at the time."And the amount of DMs and comments -- you know, 'babies on the brain' and 'when are you going to have a baby?' -- it adds pressure but also it's nobody's business."Jenna said although she is in the public eye, people have "no idea what [she's] gone through.""[People don't know] what we want in the future," Jenna explained, speaking on behalf of Val as well.Meanwhile, Jenna's sister-in-law Peta Murgatroyd , who is married to Val's brother and alum Maksim Chmerkovskiy , has been trying to conceive Baby No. 2.Peta, who has served as a professional partner on on and off since 2011, recently broke the news to People that she had three miscarriages in two years while trying to give her five-year-old son Shai a sibling.Jenna and Val began dating in 2015 and the Ukrainian native proposed marriage in Venice, Italy, in 2018.Val and Jenna tied the knot on April 13, 2019 in a romantic ceremony overlooking the ocean at the Terranea Resort in Rancho Palo Verdes, CA."Mr. & Mrs. Chmerkovskiy 04~13~2019," Jenna captioned a wedding photo that she shared on Instagram.Prior to joining as a Troupe member and then being promoted to a pro partner for Season 23, Jenna competed as a contestant and All-Star partner on separate seasons of So You Think You Can Dance.Jenna won ' 26th season with Adam Rippon and placed second on the show twice before with Nev Schulman and JoJo Siwa on Seasons 29 and 30, respectively.Val won twice in his 17 seasons on the show. He won Season 20 with actress Rumer Willis and Season 23 with Laurie Hernandez . Val has also finished in second place before, and he's finished in third a total of four times.' upcoming edition will feature the return of Tyra Banks as host, actor Alfonso Ribeiro serving as co-host, and Derek Hough Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli sitting on the judging panel. The 2024 Republican National Convention is likely headed to Milwaukee after a GOP site selection panel chose the city unanimously on Friday. Before the 2024 plans are cemented, Milwaukee still needs final approval by the Republican National Committee, which will convene in Chicago during the first week of August. Today, the Site Selection Committee voted to recommend Milwaukee to host the 2024 Republican National Convention and it is a testament to the forthright and professional behavior embraced by Milwaukees city leaders throughout the process, RNC senior adviser Richard Walters said in a statement. A final decision will be made by Chairwoman (Ronna) McDaniel and the full RNC in the coming weeks. Milwaukee along with Nashville had been chosen as finalists for the 2024 convention site, but the Tennessee citys prospects grew dimmer after a Nashville legislative body withdrew legislation on a framework agreement for the convention. The full Republican National Committee can still select Nashville to host the convention, but Milwaukee with business and city leaders on board despite the citys majority-liberal makeup appears far likelier to be selected. Milwaukee was chosen by Democrats to host their 2020 national convention, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced that meeting to take place nearly entirely online. President Joe Biden accepted the nomination in Delaware, not Milwaukee. But city leaders argued that their preparations for hosting that convention put them in the best position to welcome Republicans to town in 2024. They have called the city turnkey ready for the event. The 2020 and preliminary 2024 Wisconsin selection highlights the swing states value to both parties. We are thrilled that the site selection committee has recommended Milwaukee to host the 2024 National Convention, Republican Party of Wisconsin chair Paul Farrow said in a statement. The farmers, manufacturers, and families of the Badger State truly represent the heart of America, and were now a big step closer to showcasing all that Wisconsin has to offer. Leaders in the Democratic stronghold of Milwaukee joined together with Republican power brokers, including former RNC chair Reince Priebus, to make the pitch for hosting the 2024 convention. Priebus, a former White House chief of staff under former President Donald Trump and Wisconsin state GOP chair, leads the local committee for the convention. Trump narrowly won Wisconsin in 2016, but lost to Biden by a similar margin in 2020. Wisconsin could determine who wins in 2024, while Tennessee has not backed a Democrat for president since 1996. In the convention contest, history would seem to favor Milwaukee. For two decades, Republicans have placed their nominating convention in swing states North Carolina, Ohio and Florida though the 2004 convention was in New York City. The Associated Press contributed to this report. When a child enters the world, a family changes. When that same child becomes sick or needs medical attention, it can be scary. When a parent or grandparent undergoes an elective surgery, family members may feel worried or uneasy. Most experiences in hospitals have the potential to cause stress and emotions. We understand. That's why we created a special place for visitors, patients or staff who need an intimate spot to process their feelings or seek support from a higher power. The hospital chapel is a non-denominational, spiritual place that is available for anyone to use at any time. It is located on the first floor, east of The Gift Shop and the waiting area. Over the years, the chapel has become an inclusive place where people irrespective of their faith have found a haven a place of quiet reflection, a place to weep and a place where they can express their despair and hope. The Columbus Community Hospital Foundation would like to welcome you to the chapel during your next visit. The foundation recently helped renovate the chapel, thanks to a generous donation from Julie Jarecke Gebauer and her husband, Davin. They donated money for the project to honor Julies parents, Joseph and Anita Jarecke. The chapel now has five beautifully upholstered chairs. Two of the chairs have kneelers, and one is a bariatric chair. The room also has an altar with a Bible and a bookcase that houses various reading materials. Directions from the main entrance: 1. Use the main entrance behind the "Respect for Service" statue. 2. Take an immediate right away from the information desk. 3. Pass The Gift Shop and waiting area. 4. Enter the door to the left. The foundation is humbled to contribute to your overall experience at our hospital, but we couldn't do so without generous donors. To learn more about the chapel and additional ways to support the hospital through the foundation, please visit columbushosp.org or call 402-562-3377. Cori Fullner is the executive director of the Columbus Community Hospital Foundation. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 82F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. WASHINGTON President Joe Biden is abandoning plans to nominate a conservative, anti-abortion attorney as a federal judge in Kentucky, with the White House citing opposition from a surprising source: Republican Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. The White House's retreat from its planned nomination of attorney Chad Meredith in what was a purported deal with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell follows a strong backlash from Democrats and progressives furious that Biden would choose a Federalist Society member who has argued against abortion access to fill a vacancy on the bench. In considering potential District Court nominees, the White House learned that Sen. Rand Paul will not return a blue slip on Chad Meredith," Andrew Bates, White House deputy press secretary, said Friday. "Therefore, the White House will not nominate Mr. Meredith. More: 'It wouldnt be my choice for judge': Senate Democrats slam Biden's planned anti-abortion pick President Joe Biden abandoned plans Friday to nominate Chad Meredith, a conservative anti-abortion attorney, to fill a federal court vacancy in Kentucky. Paul could not be immediately reached for comment. Traditionally, home-state senators return what's known as a "blue slip" to indicate support for federal nominees for district judges. Republicans abandoned the "blue slip" practice for appeals court judges during the Trump administration but kept it for district court judges. Democrats have kept the same practice. Chad Meredith Were pleased that the Biden administration made this decision its the right call, NARAL Pro-Choice America President Mini Timmaraju said in a statement. With abortion rights and access on the line in Kentucky and across the country, it is absolutely essential that all judges defend and uphold our fundamental rights and freedoms, including reproductive freedom. As first reported exclusively by The Courier Journal, a White House official informed Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's office in a June 23 email that it planned to nominate Meredith the next day to a U.S. District Court judgeship in Kentucky's Eastern District. Story continues The next morning, however, the U.S. Supreme Court released its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to abortion and sending shock waves across the nation. Meredith's intended nomination was not announced or submitted. U.S. District Judge Karen K. Caldwell of Kentucky Eastern District notified the White House on June 22 that she was taking senior status and would vacate her seat but her intended vacancy was not published online until July 1. Abortion-rights groups called the potential nomination "unacceptable" and demanded Biden not move ahead with it. Several Senate Democrats this week said they would vote against a Meredith nomination, raising the prospects of the presidents own party blocking the pick if he moved forward. The New York Times first reported on the White House abandoning the Meredith nomination. McConnell told the New York Times "there was no deal" with Biden to trade a Meredith nomination for other considerations in the chamber, calling the president's willingness to nominate his favored conservative judge the kind of collegiality senators used to display. "This was a personal friendship gesture," McConnell added. McConnell also said he was "very surprised" that Paul expressed his opposition to a Meredith nomination. Since the June 23 email, Biden has formally nominated 21 individuals for federal judicial vacancies but none of them Meredith in a rush to get more judges confirmed before the November midterm elections when Democrats risk losing control of the Senate. More: Exclusive: Email shows Biden was set to nominate anti-abortion GOP judge on day of Supreme Court Roe ruling Criticism from the left over the Meredith pick came as Biden faced outcries from progressives demanding bolder action to ensure abortion access after the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe. Beshear, a Democrat, called on Biden to rescind Meredith's name. U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Ky., expressed outrage with the pick, saying that Biden must have worked a deal with McConnell so he wouldn't hold up future White House nominations. Over the past three weeks, the White House repeatedly declined to discuss the status of the Meredith nomination or whether Biden had a deal with McConnell. "We have not received any update from the White House about a nomination that, if made, would be indefensible," Beshear said Thursday. McConnell had refused to talk about Meredith's potential nomination, but a spokesman dismissed talk of a deal as "false information." Meredith, 40, served as counsel to former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin and solicitor general for Attorney General Daniel Cameron. Meredith defended a 2017 Kentucky abortion law requiring doctors who perform abortions to first perform an ultrasound and describe the image to the patient. He lost at a trial in federal court but the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals later upheld the statute. Bevin administration documents showed Meredith was one of Bevin's general counsel staff to give recommendations to the governor on whether certain applicants deserve clemency, with one suggesting he worked on one of the most controversial applicants, Patrick Baker, pardoned for killing a man and later retried and convicted in a federal murder charge, then sentenced to 39 years in prison. But McConnell told the New York Times the FBI background check done in preparation for the nomination "confirmed he had nothing to do with it," he said of the pardons. "He would not have cleared the background check if that had been a problem," Robert Steurer, McConnell's spokesman, told The Courier Journal Saturday. Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden abandons plan to nominate anti-abortion federal judge The residence of Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, received a visit Thursday morning from a fleet of 52 yellow school buses in a mobile procession protesting gun violence. Gun control advocacy organization Change the Ref led the mile-long convoy to Cruz's office, stopping first at Cruz's Houston home in the protest dubbed, "The NRA Children's Museum." The buses contained 4,368 empty seats, according to a press release from Change the Ref, a reference to the number of children who were killed by gun violence in 2020. Supporters of Change the Ref said they want Cruz to implement universal background check legislation for those who want to buy a gun, the release states. Some of the buses featured an exhibit of artifacts, photos, videos, audio recordings, and personal memories of these children who have lost their lives to guns. Michigan quadruple killing: Michigan family of 4 dead in apparent murder-suicide after judge denies protection order Exclusive video: Video from inside Uvalde school shows officers' delayed response to mass shooting Since 2020, firearms have overtaken car accidents to become the leading cause of death in children, taking over 4368 lives. This convoy of 52 school buses is confronting Ted Cruz today. Take action NOW. https://t.co/FP9bjFU00S pic.twitter.com/6cd2ACPp8n Change the Ref (@ChangeTheRef) July 14, 2022 Video from the convoy shows some of the buses rolling down an interstate decorated with memorabilia including a jersey that belonged to Joaquin Oliver, who died in the 2018 Parkland mass school shooting. The boy's parents, Manuel and Patricia Oliver co-founded Change the Ref. "This morning we left you a letter that our son Joaquin wrote nine years ago," Manuel Oliver tweeted Thursday. "I wonder if you had chance to read it? I think its time for you to listen to our son and start prioritizing kids over the NRAs money." Story continues Manuel Oliver: Father of Parkland victim interrupts Biden at event on gun safety .@SenTedCruz This morning we left you a letter that our son Joaquin wrote nine years ago. I wonder if you had chance to read it? I think its time for you to listen to our son and start prioritizing kids over the NRAs money. pic.twitter.com/ysrhudg7NN Manuel Oliver (@manueloliver00) July 14, 2022 An aerial view of 52 empty school buses, which represent the number of schoolchildren killed by gun violence since 2020, parked to resemble an assault rifle in Houston on July 13, 2022. What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day To commemorate this horrific historic moment, we are showing American voters the toll these politicians have taken on our children's lives with this all-too-real archive," Oliver said in the release. A spokesperson for Cruz said in a statement to USA TODAY he the Senator is "committed" to enact policies to stop school shootings from happening. "He introduced legislation to double the number of school resource officers, hire 15,000 school-based mental health professionals to ensure there is early intervention to identify and help at-risk kids, to provide significant resources for enhanced school safety, and to improve the gun background system and prosecute persons who try to illegally buy guns," the statement read. Natalie Neysa Alund covers trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ted Cruz home visited by youth gun violence protest: 52 buses travel The amendment would allow Hun Sen to name his son Hun Manet as his successor. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen claps during the 71st anniversary celebration of the Cambodian People's Party at its headquarters in Phnom Penh, June 28, 2022. UPDATED at 10:53 p.m. EDT on 2022-07-05 A proposed amendment to Cambodias Constitution is a thinly veiled attempt by Prime Minister Hun Sen to keep power within his family and does not reflect the will of the people, citizens of the Southeast Asian country told RFA. Critics say the plan to change two articles that determine how prime ministers are chosen is designed to allow Hun Sen to transfer power to his son Hun Manet by eliminating the need for the National Assembly, or legislature, to approve the pick. The two articles, 119 and 125, are among eight that would be changed by the amendment, which would be the country's 10th. If Hun Sen were not able to stay in power, or he got sick, he might hurriedly [transfer power to his son], Chan Pov Raksmey, a citizen from the northwestern province of Siem Reap, told RFAs Khmer Service. He is afraid of power among the people because so far, what he has done is for himself and his children, not for the national interest, he said. Changes to Article 119 would dilute the power of the National Assembly and allow the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) to sign off on transferring power from father to son, Ly Chandavuth, an environmental activist, told RFA. They will want to install Hun Manet to be the prime minister, and wont give any consideration toward the opposition party, he said. As currently written, Article 119 requires a parliamentary vote before a new leader can be approved. In 2017, Cambodias Supreme Court dissolved the countrys main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), allowing the CPP to win all seats in the National Assembly in a general election the following year. If Hun Sen were to step down and appoint his son, the selection would almost certainly be approved by the rubber stamp parliament. But a new opposition party enjoyed some success in Cambodias June 5 commune council elections and could capture a significant portion of National Assembly seats in next years general election. Should that happen, members of the new Candlelight Party could provide resistance to Hun Sens succession plans under the current law. Self-exiled Cambodian opposition party founder Sam Rainsy speaks during an interview with Reuters at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Nov. 10, 2019. Credit: Reuters 'Ignoring the people' Hul Sao, a resident of western Cambodias Battambang province, told RFA that the proposed amendment doesn't reflect the people's will. Any law amendment should seek the people's consent, he said. The National Assembly is creating partisan [laws] and ignoring the people and [the concerns of] NGOs." Even though the CPP will still likely control the National Assembly after next years elections, the amendment acts as a safeguard against people in the party who might not support Hun Manet, Phoung Ratha, a law student, told RFA. "There will be a shakeup within the CPP, so Hun Sen doesn't trust the National Assembly members to approve the power transfer to his son, Phoung Ratha said. The amendment would not be the first attempt by Hun Sen to try to change laws to protect his family. Hun Sens political rival Sam Rainsy, who has lived in self-imposed exile in France since 2015, recalled in an interview with RFA on Friday that in 2014 the CPP chief said he would step down if the CNRP submitted legislation that would ensure that he and two of his political allies were pardoned. The request was made at a time when the CPP held only a slim 65-58 majority over the CNRP, and could not pass such a law on its own. Sam Rainsy said he agreed to the request, but Hun Sen reneged on his promise to resign. I am flexible. I want to make sure that the Khmer people live in peace, Sam Rainsey said. I can forgive Hun Sen. I dont want revenge on him or to imprison him or send him to be prosecuted at an international court. The proposed amendment has already been approved by the cabinet and the Constitutional Council, a body which verifies its legality. It must next be approved by the National Assembly, the Senate, and finally the king. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. UPDATE: Clarifies that more than one article in the constitution would be changed by the amendment. The leaked data also reveals close police surveillance of foreigners from the moment they arrive in the country. Ren, a U.S. citizen who has lived in China for decades, didn't realize she was the victim of what could be the biggest data breach in Chinese history until she got a call from RFA. She held her breath as, one by one, her ID card number, date of birth, entry and exit information and home address were read out to her from the massive data leak from the Shanghai police computer system, and confirmed that they were all correct. Ren was left reeling at the public exposure of so much of her personal information, but also with a sense of helplessness; that there was little she could do about it. "It feels so weird and creepy at the same time, as if all your personal information are just out there," she said. "I also think about my [COVID-19 test results], health code, everything related to me is tied to my passport number. Are they all public?" "What can I do now? I can't change any information, that is my identity in China, and it was leaked from the government. It's annoying, alarming, but I just can't do anything about it," she said. Security experts estimate that Ren's details, like those of around one billion other people, were exposed online as early as April 2021. But it wasn't until June 30 that the leak came to the attention of the media, after a hacker forum user with the handle ChinaDan posted to offer for sale 23 TB of data from the Shanghai police department that included sensitive personal information on a billion people, for 10 bitcoin (around U.S.$200,000). ChinaDan didn't specify how they came by the data; only that it was hosted on Alibaba Cloud. But they uploaded three folders containing some 750,000 database entries by way of a sample for potential buyers, among which RFA found Ren's information. As well as names, photos, phone numbers, street addresses, age, gender and ID number of victims, the data files on offer included people's hometowns -- an important part of law enforcement and access to public services under the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s household registration, or "hukou," system -- details of business trips, and even instructions left for delivery couriers. The hack included citizens ID card numbers, which are required for many things in China, including COVID-19 tests. Credit: Reuters Shortcomings on data protection China is one of the few countries in the world to enforce total real-name registration requirements for online services, which critics say enables the authoritarian regime's sweeping surveillance of its people. Now, the Shanghai leak has exposed massive shortcomings in the way the authorities protect all the data they hold on anyone living in China, not just Chinese nationals. RFA found at least 55 other U.S. citizens in the third folder of people who had come to the attention of police, mostly because they didn't register with their local police station within 24 hours of arriving in China. This has been a requirement for all foreigners arriving in the country since the Exit and Entry Administration Law took effect in 2013. "If you want to live in China, you have no choice but to submit this information again and again," Ms. Ren told RFA. A U.S. State Department spokesman told RFA in background comments that the department was aware of reports of a data leak in Shanghai, but declined to comment further due to privacy concerns. The State Department's information page for China warns U.S. citizens that their movements will be monitored. "Security personnel carefully watch foreign visitors and may place you under surveillance," it says. It warns that hotel rooms, meeting rooms, offices, cars, taxis, telephones, internet usage, digital payments, and fax machines used by overseas nationals could all be monitored on site or remotely, while personal possessions in hotel rooms, including computers, may be searched without their consent or knowledge. "Security personnel have been known to detain and deport U.S. citizens sending private electronic messages critical of the Chinese government," the page says. Neither the Shanghai government, nor the police department, nor the municipal branch of the Cyberspace Administration had responded to requests for comment at the time of writing. The U.S. State Department's information page for China warns U.S. citizens that 'security personnel carefully watch foreign visitors and may place you under surveillance.' Credit: AFP 'Reliable population data' The leaked folder of data relating to people who have come to the attention of the Shanghai police department includes cases of fraud, theft, domestic violence, child abuse and rape. But it also includes details of two people who reposted or posted tweets relating to China's leaders on Twitter, getting around China's Great Firewall of internet censorship. Both were shocked and worried when contacted by RFA, and had no idea their details had been leaked. "How did you get this number?" one asked. "Who are you, and where did you get this [information]?" the other wanted to know. RFA dialed some phone numbers from the samples at random, in a bid to confirm at least some of the details were correct. Some numbers were no longer valid, while some people hung up the moment they heard about the data breach. At least 10 verified to RFA that their information was correct. One woman said she had been getting two or three calls a day from unknown numbers in the days immediately following the data breach. Some internet users have been confirming the authenticity of the data using phone number and name searches via the Alipay digital payments system. Chinese population statistics researcher Yi Fuxian of the University of Wisconsin-Madison said the Shanghai data sample posted by ChinaDan was highly dispersed and random, covering almost every county in China, and were in line with data from the 2010 census. "It shows that the quality of the sampling is very high, and that overall, this is reliable population data," Yi said. Online security experts told RFA that the leak came as no surprise to them, but were cautious about commenting further. "These three sets of data are different from previous [leaks] because they contain police intelligence," a Hong Kong-based technology company founder surnamed Wong told RFA. This means that the data could already have been sold off to a private buyer, before ChinaDan offered it for general sale. "For hackers, the most valuable thing isn't to sell the data publicly, but [privately,] without the hacked platform knowing anything about it," he said. "Then they can use it to do something illegal and lucrative." "Once that's happened, then the first layer of value has been used up ... and it will get cheaper and cheaper over time," Wong said. A customer shows her Alipay electronic payment confirmation to an employee at a beverage shop in Beijing in 2020. Some internet users have been confirming the authenticity of the stolen data using phone number and name searches via the Alipay system. Credit: AFP Ransom note The leak intelligence website LeakIX has found that data from the Shanghai police database had been exposed as early as April 2021. When the programmer was using the ElasticSearch server to build a big data search system for the Shanghai Public Security Bureau, he backed up the data to Alibaba Cloud, but turned it into a data visualization website in error, making all the information downloadable or viewable through Kibana. Bob Diachenko, founder of cybersecurity research firm Security Discovery, has said via Twitter that his company was concerned about the exposure of this set of data in April this year, and no password was set until the database was hacked in June. ChinaDan's "for sale" notice was in fact a ransom note. "This data has been circulating for a long time, and now it has attracted attention because it has been sold on a forum used by many people," a data practitioner familiar with the industry in both China and the United States told RFA. Alibaba Cloud won the bid for the Shanghai Public Security Bureau's "Smart Public Security Comprehensive Service Platform Construction Project" July 15, 2019 with a budget of 22.53 million yuan (U.S. $3.3 million), which was to include the building of a portal and search function for the database. In 2020, on CSDN, China's largest technical blogging platform for programmers, a user shared how to back up data to Alibaba Cloud, and in doing so, inadvertently leaked the access key to the Shanghai police server. This isn't the first time a breach like this has happened. In 2019, 90 million documents belonging to the Jiangsu provincial police department were exposed on the publicly accessible ElasticSearch server. And at the end of 2020, a list with the personal details of 1.95 million CCP members from Shanghai was leaked online. David Robinson, founder of the data security analysis agency "Internet 2.0," said such breaches aren't linked, but are the result of systemic, political issues. "The major concern is how they publish leaked data with [indicators of people's identity] with no regard for privacy," he said. "A lot of the time this type of leak the data can be tampered with, have deleted sections or additions to the data." Anyone inadvertently exposing access keys can be arrested and charged with "destroying computer information systems," so they are unlikely to report any security breaches to their employer, industry insiders told RFA. The seller offered in a forum to sell a database of 1 billion people from the Shanghai Public Security Bureau for 10 bitcoins. Credit: Web screengrab 'White hats' at risk Meanwhile, "white hat" data security researchers also face similar fears, meaning that vulnerabilities are unlikely to be identified, much less patched. The shutdown of white hat hacker platform Wuyun.com in 2016, just six years after it started trying to get companies to pay more attention to cybersecurity, left the industry in disarray. No reason for the shutdown was given at the time, but one suggestion is that Wuyun hackers may have exposed vulnerabilities in systems belonging to the CCP's outreach and influence arm, the United Front Work Department. "If I find a loophole, I may contact software companies, developers or institutions in other countries, but you can't do that in China," a Chinese programmer surnamed Ma told RFA. "You have to submit it to the Cyberspace Administration first, and then to the state, but you don't know what they will do with it." The central government has been strengthening controls over the management of security vulnerabilities. The "Regulations on the Management of Online Security Vulnerabilities" jointly issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China, the Cyberspace Administration and the Ministry of Public Security in July 2021, state that when a security vulnerability is discovered, the information must be shared with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology within two days. In December 2021, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology punished Alibaba Cloud for discovering an online security loophole linked to the U.S.-based Apache Software Foundation, but failing to report it to the telecommunications authorities in a timely manner. Instead, the Alibaba Cloud security team had first notified Apache. And the "Measures for Security Assessment of Data Exports" published on July 7 require a national security review for any transfer of personal data involving more than 100,000 people. Companies undergoing such reviews must show the purpose of the data transfer, the security measures being taken, and the laws and regulations of the destination country, which investigators then review based on the possibility of data breaches. Meanwhile, all references to the data breach have been censored on Chinese social media, with blog posts about the breach quickly deleted. "Most Chinese people are asking similar questions, and the ones that are censored and deleted the most are: Has my data been leaked? How much data do they have about me? Why isn't my personal information stored securely?" Charlie Smith, co-founder of the China-based internet censorship watch website GreatFire.org, told RFA. As one social media user commented wryly after the news broke: "Data is leaked; everyone's running around naked. It's a lovely day on the Chinese internet." Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. They signed up at job fairs to work as carpenters, bricklayers, plumbers and painters at a housing project in the North African country of Algeria and were promised round-trip air fare, room and board, and better wages than theyd earned in China. They thought working for companies serving Chinas flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was a safe bet. When the migrant workers from Sichuan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Henan, and HebeiChinas relatively poorer inland provincesarrived in the country, however, they soon found themselves living in sheds without air conditioning in desert heat and facing a nightmare of withheld wages, mysterious extra fees, confiscated passports, and dismal food. Many are trapped in Algeria. Chinese labor lawyers say their treatment not only besmirches Chinas reputation, undermining the goals of the nearly 10-year-old Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of infrastructure projects aimed at boosting Beijings global profile, but also constitutes human trafficking under international conventions China has signed. The BRI is seen as Chinese President Xi Jinping's signature international policy. Following up on tips received from workers whove been stranded some 6,000 miles (9,200 km) from home, RFA Mandarin interviewed numerous workers employed in Algerias Souk Ahras Province, Chinese diplomats, labor lawyers and an executive of Shandong Jiaqiang Real Estate Co. Ltd, the eastern China-based company the laborers accuse of luring them to Algeria under false pretenses. When I came here through an agent, I realized the situation is not good. It is worse than in China, said Worker A, whose name has been withheld to protect him and his family from retaliation. The contract is good for two years, and the pay listed on the contract is more than 10,000 yuan ($1,480) per monthbetween 15,000 ($2,220) and 20,000 yuan ($2,960). After landing here, I made less than 10,000 yuan ($1,480) a month, he told RFA. The pay is far from what was promised, said a second man, identified as Worker B. It is worse than what we earned in China. Here the monthly pay on average is 3,000 yuan ($444). When he and fellow workers arrived here and found out that the situation was far from ideal, we wanted to go home, said Worker A. We spoke with the company, and the company said no. They said Because you already signed the contract, if you go home now, that is a breach of contract. According to Worker A, Shandong Jiaqiang Real Estate Co. Ltd. told the workers to ask your family to wire 28,000 yuan ($4,145) over to pay for the penalty. After you pay the penalty, then you can go home. He told RFA wages were only paid every six months, with 70 percent paid, and the other 30 percent withheld until the workers fulfilled their two-year contracts. That pay arrangement meant the workers usually have no money to live on and had to borrow advances against their wages. In the process, the workers were ripped off by other costs, added Worker A, who said the company profited by loaning money to them at an exchange rate to the local Algerian Dinar currency that was about half the actual rate. A Chinese worker walks by a building at a construction site in Algeria's Souk Ahras province. Credit: A Chinese worker. Pig food and hot sheds Worker B said it took a strike by workers in September 2021 to get the company to pay the 70 percent they were due in the middle of that year. He said the workers were told by the company: Feel free to sue. Were not afraid. Just sue us, go back to China to sue us. But a third worker involved in the dispute said that path was impossible for poor workers to take The lawsuit costs money. To hire someone costs money. If you file a complaint in China, youre dragging your family in too. Who can afford to sue? said Worker C. A chief reason the workers had to borrow money was to cook their own meals because the three daily meals they were promised under their contracts was inedible. To say it bluntly, the food was worse than those given to pigs. Sometimes the food was just impossible to eat, said Worker B. In the winter, they gave you marinated cucumber salad or marinated tomatoes, plus two eggs per person. Thats it. Or two eggplants each person, he said. The food we ate was mixed with sand and gravel. The noodles were black, added Worker B. Workers in many construction sites that this company operates received the same treatment. Why? The company does not want to cook the food well, because if its delicious, youd eat more. By offering lousy food, youd pay out of pocket to buy your own food and cook your own meals, Worker A surmised. The make matters worse, Worker A said, the workforce had to live in regular sheds, with no air-conditioning, no matter how hot it is. In the summer, the temperature goes as high as 41 or 42 Celsius (105 or 107 Fahrenheit), he added. Food provided to workers by Shandong Jiaqiang Real Estate Co. Ltd. ay its construction site in Algeria. Credit: A worker Overpriced plane tickets, improper visas Another grievance shared by the workers in Algeria who spoke to RFA in recent months was the failure to provide return airfare to China as promised. After checking with the Chinese Embassy in Algiers, workers who were trying to go home were told that tickets to China ran about 22,000 yuan. The boss has told them that a flight ticket costs 42,000 yuan, and we have to pay our own ticket. He wanted us to pay by ourselves, said Worker D. It seemed that the ticket was around 22,000 yuan, and he charged you more than 30,000, said Worker E. Immigration clearance fee, they said, he added. Worker D explained that because the company applied for business visas for the workers, when the workers return to China, they have to go through departure procedures at the Algerian immigration, police bureaus, and the courts. That is the so-called immigration clearance fee. When we were recruited, we applied and submitted our passports to the recruiting agents. The agents then handed our passports to the company, which applied for the visas for us, said Worker D. Supposedly we should apply for workers visas, which cost more but allow you to stay for one or two years. But no, the company applied for the business visa, which only allows a stay of three months, he added. I asked the company to give me a work visa, but when we came, we got business visas. Then we became illegal workers. Now we have to pay out of pocket to clear immigration and for our flight tickets, said Worker E. The company also took away the workers passports, several of them said. As soon as I stepped out of the airport in Algeria upon arrival, my passport was taken away. They said workers here have to buy local insurance, and they took away our passports and our IDs, said Worker D. The boss keeps our passports with him, and once he has your passport, he has you, added Worker D, who said eight out of 10 workers eventually ended up with compensation disputes. Construction workers' quarters at a construction site in Algeria. Credit: A worker There is no such thing RFA reached out to Sun Zongting, the general manager of Shandong Jiaqiang Real Estate Co., Ltd., which had entered the Algerian market in 2013 to provide labor services, asking him about the workers complaints. There is no such thing. Where does this come from? said Sun, who also denied the firm was stopping workers from returning to China. The reason why they didnt return to China was because there were no flights available. With regards to payments, this is how its being done in Algeria. We do not owe the workers any wages. Pressed on the workers numerous complaints, Sun asked RFA: Who said that? Give me phone numbers of those who said that. We can verify. On the third or the fourth day after my arrival, I called the (Chinese) embassy. I told the embassy staff that I felt I have been conned, and that all my documents, my ID and my passports have been taken away. I asked the embassy to help me return to China, said Worker D. The staff then ask me whether Id signed a contract. I said I did when I was in Beijing. The person at the embassy told me: If you are sick or if he does not pay you for your work, you can call me, but in your situation, now that youve come here, and youve signed a labor agreement The embassy staff said they did not dare to let me go, said Worker D. Worker D said he and his fellow workers see the embassy as working with the company. If you want to go to the consulate for help, for example, when a couple of people go, theyd ask you which company you work for and what your bosss name is. Then they notify your boss. The boss then comes by car, and he sweet talks you back, he said. This is what happens when two or three people go to the consulate for help. If there are more people that go, say more than a dozen of them or even two dozen, maybe the consulate will help us. Yet when there are only so few of us, it doesnt work. A worker's contract to work in Algeria for the Shandong Jiaqiang Real Estate Co. Ltd. Credit: A worker Powerless embassy A staffer at Chinas embassy in Algiers confirmed that disgruntled workers who spoke to RFA had indeed asked for help and that the mission had helped negotiate some return plane tickets to China. The Embassy has helped them negotiate with the company many times, but the Embassy has no managerial power over the company to enforce the agreements, so we cannot force the company to pay up, the embassy staffer told RFA. Also, the Embassy does not have any jurisdictional powers, and thats the reason why the embassy is unable to get involved in labor disputes. Therefore, we have asked them to resolve their disputes through reasonable and legal channels in China, added the staffer. We can of course speak with the company, but whether the company listens to us is another matter. Shandong Jiaqiang Real Estate Co., Ltd. had tried to deny it had anything to do with the BRI, but RFA found that the affordable housing project was identified in as part of the BRI framework on the website of Beijing Urban Construction, a state firm, which had also built the Algeria Opera House, a 500-unit public commercial housing tract and a fiber optic cable plant. Worker D told RFA that the affordable housing project contract was awarded to the 14th Bureau of China Railway, the 17th Bureau of China Railway, China Hydropower, Beijing Urban Construction and other state-owned enterprises, and that Shandong Jiaqiang Real Estate Co., Ltd. was a private subcontractor. When the company gets the job, its gone through dozens of hands, with only 300,000 to 400,000 yuan left in the budget. Think about it: The profits must have been taken by the state-owned enterprises on the top of the food chain, said Worker D. There isnt much profit left. What does he do when the profit margin is slim? He exploits the workers. Basically, its just like China: Peeling the layers. The state-own enterprises peeled away one layer and subcontract the job to small businesses. The owners of small businesses then peeled away another layer, and as a result, we workers couldnt get our money, added Worker D. Some companies do have the money but wont pay you. They know that once theyve conned you over here, you cant do anything. Whomever you might call for help, that help will not come. Lawyers see human trafficking Peng Yana prominent attorney in China with 30 years specializing in state-owned enterprises, private enterprises, and foreign enterprisestold RFA the workers appeared to be in the right in the dispute in Algeria. If the employer breached the contract first, then based on the circumstances, the workers have the right to terminate the contract. Since the company is the party that breached the contract, the company should bear the costs of roundtrip airfares for their returns to China, Peng said. Yu Ping, former director of the China Office of the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative, said the workers complaint is a serious issue that may even entail human trafficking under the 2000 United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, to which China is a signatory. Under the Convention, human trafficking is defined as the act of recruiting, transporting, receiving, and sheltering human beings to another country, as actions that involve coercion, fraud, deception, and as actions whose purpose is for profits, he told RFA. If you apply these three criteria to the case, then you can see that the actions of the recruiting agency, the state-owned enterprise, and the private contractor all constitute the internationally recognized definition of human trafficking, said Yu. In fact, even the recruiting agent is part of this chain of human trafficking, an accomplice, or even a prime suspect. They cannot push off the responsibility to others, he added. Yu said the aggrieved construction workers should be able to seek legal redress back in China, which has provisions covering offenses listed as internationally recognized crimes in the UN Convention. Even if they lack the financial means to do so, there is an emerging channel called the legal assistance system, in which some non-profit legal organizations or pro bono lawyers will go to court for them, he said. Yu also recommended that China establish a regulatory system in the BRI program, which has oversight on the projects and the power to curtail illegal operations. Failing to do so, he said, will negate the international influence and goodwill that China aims to generate with the BRI program, and on the contrary, provide opportunities for lawbreakers to make illegal profits, while Chinas reputation is tarnished. For the workers caught broke and without plane tickets and passports in Algeria, however, the legal and international issues pale next to the personal cost of being in limbo and missing the weddings of their children or the funerals of elderly parents. Its been more than two years, two-and-a-half years. I dont know when I can go back. I fulfilled the contract, but it has become a life sentence, said Worker B. Translated by Min Eu. Written and edited by Paul Eckert. Conflict between breadbaskets Russia and Ukraine could be devastating for the worlds most vulnerable countries. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen (center) talks with International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva (left) and Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati on the sidelines of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Bali, July 15, 2022. Indonesia's finance minister said Friday it is imperative that G20 countries are united in dealing with a looming food crisis caused by the conflict between breadbaskets Russia and Ukraine, or the worlds most vulnerable countries will face disastrous consequences. During a meeting in Bali, Sri Mulyani Indrawati also told the top finance and economic diplomats from the Group of Twenty counties to schedule a forum of members finance and agriculture chiefs to devise a plan to deal with food and fertilizer shortages. The unresolved COVID-19 pandemic as well as the unfolding war in Ukraine are likely to exacerbate the already severe 2022 acute food security that we are all already seeing. In addition to that, a looming fertilizer crisis also has the potential to further exacerbate and extend the food crisis even in 2023 and beyond, said the finance minister of Indonesia, this years holder of the G20s rotating chair and host of the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting. We are acutely aware that the cost of our failure to work together is more than we can afford. The humanitarian consequences for the world and especially for many low-income countries would be catastrophic, Sri said. Since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, it has blocked all of the latters Black Sea ports and cut off access to almost all of that countrys exports, especially of grain. Those moves sparked fears of a global food crisis. In its April report, the Global Crisis Response Group, set up by the United Nations secretary general, said Ukraine and Russia provide 30 percent of the worlds wheat and barley, a fifth of its maize and more than half of its sunflower oil. Russia also is the worlds largest natural gas exporter and second largest oil exporter. Sri said it was essential to deploy all available financing mechanisms to save lives and strengthen financial as well as social stability. The G20 could urgently convene a joint G20 finance and agriculture ministers meeting to improve coordination between finance and agriculture ministers and explore actions to address the growing food insecurity and related issues, she said. This is exactly like we did or what we are doing with joint finance and health ministers when we were dealing with COVID-19 and preparing a pandemic preparedness mechanism. Sri kept her comments about G20 unity general, but its no secret that the group is split between the West, which has condemned Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, and others including China, Indonesia and India, which have refused to do so and continue to maintain ties with Moscow, analysts have said. So sharp have the divisions been that in April, U.S., British and Canadian finance chiefs walked out of the last G20 finance ministers meeting in Washington when the Russian minister rose to speak. The Russian foreign minister reciprocated at last weeks G20 foreign ministers meeting in Bali during the top U.S. diplomats address. Media reports said no one walked out on Friday, day one of the two-day meeting, but it remains to be seen whether the forum will produce a communique on Saturday. BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news service. The military regime is pressuring physicians to return to work to shore up a shaky health care system. Medical workers rally against the military coup and to demand the release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in Yangon, Myanmar, Feb. 10, 2021. Physicians and other medical workers in Myanmar who joined a national strike last year to protest the ruling military regime are resisting the juntas efforts to convince them to return, as the countrys health care system feels the strain of widespread absences. Started by doctors in Mandalay the day after the military deposed the democratically elected government in a Feb. 1, 2021, coup, the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) became so strong that it nearly paralyzed the regimes ability to deliver public services. The movement supports the shadow National Unity Government (NUG), which has been nominated for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize for its non-violent struggle for democracy and strong opposition to military oppression. Though some physicians have returned to work out of financial necessity, others say they are standing firm in opposing the regime, despite the hardships they face. We have to think hard about going back to work under the junta, a doctor from the Ayeyarwady region told RFA. From the very beginning, we had no desire to work under them. Were not going back. He said that Myanmars health care system is struggling, even though some health care workers have returned to work. Most health care personnel, including nurses and lower-level staff, are still in the CDM, he said. A CDM doctor in Yangon, who declined to be named, told RFA that he was fearful because authorities have arrested some health care professionals who refused to return to work. He said that he has been threatened with the revocation of his medical license if he continues to protest the regime. After more than a year and a half after the coup, we are still in the CDM, and living conditions have become very difficult. Doctors are able to eke out a living by providing services in clinics outside state-run facilities, but are constantly fearful of being identified by the military, he said. We are reluctant to go visit the patients house when we are called upon, the physician said. We even have to close the clinic before it gets dark. Never had we been so scared in our lives. Medical students show the three-finger salute at the march 16, 2021, funeral of Khant Nyar Hein, a 17-year-old medical student shot and killed by junta security forces in Yangon, Myanmar. Credit: Reuters Holding up the pillar A CDM doctor from Kachin state said he is struggling to make ends meet because he is not allowed to work in local hospitals or clinics and is shut off from other opportunities. We aren't allowed to study for advanced degrees, [and] we cant get service records or apply for specialist licenses, he told RFA. Another thing is that we cant go abroad. If we want to work locally, hospitals don't want to hire us because of our CDM status. Even if you want to open a clinic on your own, you cant get a license, [and] there are fewer job opportunities, he said. It's not easy to go abroad, and here, too, you cannot have a decent job. Three dozen health care workers had been killed and more than 560 health care workers had been arrested between the day of the coup to March 2022, according to a May report by the Geneva-based NGO Insecurity Insight. The regime also conducted 126 raids on hospitals during that time. Despite the difficulties that striking health care workers face, Tayza San, the doctor who first took to the streets to protest the putsch, urged CDM members to persevere until the regime falls. The entire public knows that the terrorist junta is trying hard to push down the CDM pillar, he said. However, our CDM heroes and CDM employees are fighting the battle with determination and conviction. It has been almost a year and a half now, and we will continue to stand and hold the CDM pillar strong until the end of the revolution, he said. Dr. Than Naing Soe, spokesman for the juntas Health Ministry, said he did not have the exact number of health care workers who had left the CDM and returned to work. RFA could not reach junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun for comment About 60,000 people from the health care sector joined the CDM following the military coup, but now about 45,000 workers are still participating in the movement, according to the CDM Medical Network. RFA reported in June that the junta urged thousands of school teachers who had joined the CDM to return to classrooms in schools administered by the regimes Education Department, pledging to take no action against those holding spring classes in NUG-dominated areas if they had not committed any crimes. But some who had left the CDM to resume working for the junta said they were being monitored by their colleagues and had yet to be paid. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane for RFA Burmese. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Residents say the destruction has devastated the local economy. Junta troops have set fire to more than 150 private oil wells over the past two weeks in Myanmars Magway region, residents and members of the armed opposition said Friday, destroying the local economy and leaving villagers with no way to earn a living. Residents of Magways Pauk and Myaing townships told RFA Burmese that since the first week of July, around 100 junta soldiers have been raiding villages with small-scale private oil wells in the area during their search for anti-junta Peoples Defense Force (PDF) paramilitaries. They said that the troops set fire to 37 wells and 102 wells in Myaings Kyauk Khwet village on July 8 and July 13, respectively, and another 15 wells in Pauks Tha Yet Kan village on July 3. A resident of Pauk township told RFA Burmese that the troops were intentionally targeting the wells because they believe residents are helping to supply the PDF with income generated from the oil they sell. Now they are burning the oil wells, even if you pay them not to do it, said the resident, speaking on condition of anonymity. Most of them demand money [as protection] but once one group gets paid, another group arrives, and then another group. Sometimes a unit officer demands money and then his soldiers burn the wells after he leaves anyway. Hand-dug oil well field, March 2019. Credit: Screengrab from RFA video Livelihoods ruined Another resident of Pauk, who also declined to be named, said villagers who depend on the oil wells for their livelihoods can no longer make ends meet because of the destruction. They burned both the oil wells and the oil reservoir tanks. There are hundreds of hand-dug wells in the vicinity and they were all destroyed, the resident said. When the wells were destroyed, the owners as well as the laborers lost their jobs. They are all suffering. They have no idea how to carry on with their lives. Residents said the junta troops who raided the villages and burned the oil wells were stationed on Padamya Mountain near the Pauk villages of Son Kone and Na That. Attempts by RFA to contact junta Deputy Information Minister Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun for comment on the well burnings went unanswered Friday. But junta state-owned media has reported that the oil wells were destroyed because the owners were providing financial support to PDF forces. Hand-dug oil well worker in Myanmar, March 2019. Credit: Screengrab from RFA video Targeting PDF support Aung Zey, a leader of the local PDF group Myaing Villages Revolution Front, said junta troops are burning the oil wells in a bid to cut off supplies to the armed resistance forces that control the areas. The majority of our people are participating in this revolution in one way or another and are supporting it. So, we believe the burning of these oil wells was done with the intention of ending support for our group, he said. Residents estimate there are more than 500 oil wells located in Myaing and Pauk townships combined. They said military raids on the wells have led to pitched battles between junta troops and the PDF in recent weeks. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Pham Doan Trang is serving 9 years in jail for spreading propaganda against the state. Imprisoned Vietnamese independent journalist and activist Pham Doan Trang has been selected as one of this years International Press Freedom Award winners by U.S.-based media watchdog the Committee to Protect Journalists. Trang, who co-founded Liberal Publishing House without registering with the Vietnamese government, is serving a nine-year sentence for spreading propaganda against the state. Prior to her arrest in October 2020, Trang worked to promote freedom of the press in Vietnam, despite strict controls in the one-party communist state. Authorities held her incommunicado for more than a year before she was convicted during a one-day trial in December 2021. Our award winners exemplify the best of journalism: work that shines a light on the impacts of war, corruption, and abuse of power on everyday lives, said CPJ President Jodie Ginsberg in a statement issued Thursday. We look forward to honoring these inspirational journalists, who demonstrate the central role journalism plays in serving the public good. Before her arrest, Trang specialized in human rights reporting and co-founded the independent online legal magazine Luat Khoa. She also wrote for the independent English-language website The Vietnamese and reported for the exile-run Danlambao blog. In June, Trang received the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders. Her mother, Bui Thi Thien Can, accepted the award during a ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland, on her behalf. Trang faced repression by the government for many years until authorities decided to jail her on a bogus verdict, said CPJ Senior Southeast Asia Representative Shawn Crispin, who is based in Bangkok, Thailand. Above all, Trang is a journalist and at the same time she is an active activist [seeking] to protect and to advance free press in Vietnam, he told RFA. Part of the reason to award Trang the prize is to draw attention to Vietnam and to use her case to call attention to the risks that journalists face there, he said. And that is that the number of jailed journalists in the country is abnormally high, Crispin added. CPJ has observed and collaborated with Trang on her advocacy for press freedom in Vietnam, Crispin said. The group has regularly named Vietnam one of the worlds worst jailers of journalists in its annual list of imprisoned reporters and editors worldwide. CPJ documented at least 23 members of the media behind bars in Vietnam in 2021. The prize is once again to affirm the recognition of the international community of Doan Trangs efforts for the development of independent media and democratization in Vietnam as well, said Trinh Huu Long, editor-in-chief of Luat Khoa. The Vietnamese Communist Party and the government should view freedom of the press as a precondition to address reform and governance to advance the nations development, she said. They must view independent journalists, free journalists, as partners in the course of building the nation, and not see them as enemies anymore, Long said. The other three award-winners are Niyaz Abdullah, a prominent Iraqi Kurdistan freelance journalist; Abraham Jimenez Enoa, a freelance Cuban journalist and co-founder of the online narrative journalism magazine El Estornudo; and Sevgil Musaieva, editor-in-chief of Ukrainska Pravda, Ukraines leading independent online newspaper. All four have withstood immense challenges, including government crackdowns, aggression and imprisonment to bring the public independent reporting amid rampant disinformation and war, the statement said. Galina Timchenko, chief executive officer and editor of the independent Russian news website Meduza based in Riga, Latvia, will receive this years Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award, the CPJ said. The award ceremony will be held on Nov. 17 in New York. Translated by RFA Vietnamese. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Amid concerns over a captured nuclear power plant in Ukraine, the United Nations has dismissed suggestions that it is behind any delays getting international inspectors to the Zaporizhzhye facility, as concerns mount amid reports of shelling around the plant, which Ukraine and occupying Russian troops each blame on the other. 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, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. Ukrainian and international warnings have intensified as safety crews work at gunpoint and Russians allegedly prepare to divert energy production from Zaporizhzhye, which is Europe's biggest nuclear plant with six Soviet-designed reactors. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in New York on August 15 that the world body's nuclear agency, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), acts independently but the Ukrainian and Russian sides must agree on a visit. Dujarric said it was "just not the case" that the UN's executive arm was delaying any trip by IAEA people. "The UN Secretariat has no authority to block or cancel" a visit to Zaporizhzhya, he said, and moreover has "the security, the logistics capacity" in Ukraine to support it. "But there needs to be an agreement with Russia and Ukraine," Dujarric added. The UN comments followed a pledge by Moscow to do "everything necessary" to allow IAEA experts to visit the Zaporizhzhya plant and Russia's defense minister reportedly speaking to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres about the situation at the facility. Guterres has urged that a demilitarized zone be created around Zaporizhzhya, in southeastern Ukraine near the center of fighting in the five-month-old Russian invasion of Ukraine. Moscow's overtures came one day after 42 countries from around the world signed a statement urging Russia to withdraw its armed forces from Europe's largest nuclear station, saying their presence posed "a great danger." Kyiv and some Western leaders have accused Moscow of "nuclear blackmail" in its assaults on Ukrainian nuclear facilities as well as its implied threats to deploy its nuclear arsenal if Ukraine's supporters cross the Kremlin's red lines. In his nightly video address on August 15, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the international community needs to act to prevent an accident or other catastrophic events at Zaporizhzhya due to Russian actions. "If now the world does not show strength and decisiveness to defend one nuclear power station, it will mean that the world has lost," Zelenskiy said, according to Reuters. "It will lose to terrorism, and give in to nuclear blackmail." Zelenskiy warned over the weekend that recent shelling at the plant had increased the threat of a radiation leak. Russia doesn't deny it has troops located at the plant but has disputed claims it has shelled the area. Instead, Moscow blames Ukrainian forces for firing artillery shells there, which officials in Kyiv deny. The situation at the plant has caused heightened alarm at the United Nations and the IAEA. Both have said IAEA inspectors should be allowed to visit the plant. "In close cooperation with the Agency and its leadership, we will do everything necessary to make it possible for IAEA specialists to appear at the station," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement on August 15. Moscow later said that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had spoken to Guterres about the security of Zaporizhzhya. "Sergei Shoigu conducted telephone negotiations with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres regarding the conditions for the safe operation of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant," the Defense Ministry said in a statement. It did not elaborate. Guterres' office did not immediately confirm the conversation or its substance, and it was unclear if spokesman Dujarric's comments reflected any conversation with Shoigu. On August 14, the statement by 42 countries condemned Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and said the presence of Russian military forces at the plant was preventing authorities from maintaining nuclear and radiation safety obligations. "It is undeniable that Russias invasion and its continued presence at Ukraines nuclear facilities significantly raise the risk of nuclear incidents and accidents," the statement released on the European Union's website says. "We urge the Russian Federation to immediately withdraw its military forces and all other unauthorized personnel from the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, its immediate surroundings, and all of Ukraine so that the operator and the Ukrainian authorities can resume their sovereign responsibilities within Ukraines internationally recognized borders and the legitimate operating staff can conduct their duties without outside interference, threat, or unacceptably harsh working conditions. "Deployment of Russian military personnel and weaponry at the nuclear facility is unacceptable and disregards the safety, security, and safeguards principles that all members of the IAEA have committed to respect," the statement added. This statement was issued on behalf of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkiye, the United Kingdom, the United States, as well as the European Union. With reporting by AFP and Reuters SOFIA -- At the end of I See Red People, a 2018 documentary that follows a young Bulgarian woman's search into her family's communist past, the mother of the filmmaker reprimands her daughter: "My truth," she says, "does not belong to you." By that point, relations between director Bojina Panayotova and her mother, Milena Makarius, are at rock bottom following the discovery, over the course of filming, that her mother was listed in the state archives as a collaborator of the communist-era secret police. Now, four years after the movie was released, Makarius is telling her side of the story with the publication of a book, The Janna Dossier, a reference to the code name given to her by her handler in Bulgaria's State Security (DS), the country's notorious and powerful secret police. "The book is not just a response to the film, it is provoked by the film," Makarius told RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service. In the book, Makarius, a scholar of medieval French literature who teaches at the University of Limoges in France, writes that she is searching for answers to questions she didn't ask herself before her daughter's film -- both about herself and the people around her. Eight years old when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, Panayotova moved to France shortly afterward with her academic mother and painter father. Returning to Bulgaria several times in the 2010s, the film documents Panayotova's relentless questioning of her family's past under communism, which culminates in the discovery of her mother's file. A highly sensitive topic in the former communist country, Bulgaria's secret police archives were not opened until 2006, much later than many of its Central and Eastern European neighbors. While the opening of the state archives was welcomed by many as a tool to unearth crimes committed under the communist regime, others feared that too many people could be falsely implicated, largely due to the secret police's habit of inflating the number of collaborators and informers. As a student in the late 1970s in Sofia, Makarius worked as a translator, regularly meeting with foreigners, in particular at the French Embassy. Her handler, a man Makarius says she thought was just a friend who she would have coffee with once a month, had registered her as a collaborator with the code name Janna. When confronted in the film, the former secret policeman said it was normal for them to "invent agents" to pad out their collaborator networks, at least on paper. "Disgusting," Makarius said in the documentary as she was shown her file. The record does not contain anything else -- no details or times or things that Makarius was supposed to have done. It just stated that she was a collaborator, recruited on the grounds of patriotism. It wasn't just the startling revelation that her mother might be a spy that led to tensions within the family, but Panayotova's unsparing desire to capture everything on film, even when the truth was unpalatable. "Since these discoveries were made by the two of us together, making the film, within the film, I was very aware that if I withdrew [from the film] it would beself-incriminating. It would be as if I was holding up a sign advertising my guilt," Makarius says. WATCH: The trailer for I See Red People: Both mother and daughter agreed that they would not meet without the camera on until the film was complete. But by the end of the movie, Makarius was upset, her patience worn thin, not wanting to talk to her daughter on Skype because she feared she would be recorded. The filmmaker's father, who is divorced from Makarius, accused his daughter of being fanatical and judgmental, likening her to a legendary communist pioneer who denounced his father to the KGB. "There was no opportunity to pause -- this is where the movie stops and this is where life will now flow. There was no such possibility in practice," Makarius says. Since these discoveries were made by the two of us together, making the film, within the film, I was very aware that if I withdrew [from the film] it would beself-incriminating." By taking part in her daughter's film, Makarius says she was forced to confront issues she had previously avoided. "At the time when I lived, during socialism, I didn't think about it because I was young and I was busy with other things. I was living my youth," she says. After she moved to France, she quickly forgot her life in Bulgaria. "I turned my back on these things," she says. "This film made me go back into the past, already fully consciousand somehow rethink everything." For Makarius, a key theme that emerged during the making of the movie, and later when she was writing the book, was fear. "I didn't know that I lived in fear," she says. "For the first time, I realized that I lived in a society where fear was part of the air that we breathed. It's so present that it is just taken for granted. You don't see it, it's inside you, not in front of your eyes." In addition to the State Security file, Makarius also discovered the stories of relatives who suffered at the hands of the communist regime, details which she had never previously known. To move forward, my generation has to confront this past, even if that makes us imperfect children and offended parents." "For a reader, it is not only interesting to read another story of another victim of a totalitarian regime, but they will have the opportunity to see how someone faces these stories today, how they resonate in the consciousness of a woman like me," she says. The film -- and by extension, Makarius's book -- sheds light on the generational differences in how Bulgarians regard the communist past. "I know that your file is a trace of this time of submission and lies," Panayotova writes to her mother at the end of the film. "But to move forward, my generation has to confront this past, even if that makes us imperfect children and offended parents." "I was surprised to see how well [the film] was received in France. One of the reasons was not so much that people didn't know about this country and totalitarianism, but exactly this [human] dimension, the dialogue between generations. [It questions whether this dialogue] is possible, how difficult and ambiguous it can be," says Makarius. "You can't say the mother is right or the daughter is right. This has always existed. It is perhaps universal." At various points in the book, Makarius is critical of what she sees as her daughter's extreme approach to filmmaking. She is still undecided about her daughter's questions. On the one hand, nothing should be hidden, because then the next generations will be left in the dark. "One cannot interrupt the transmission of memory and history," she says. However, if one "just throws the truth around," it can be a very heavy burden, Makarius says. She recalls the thesis of Tsvetan Todorov, a Bulgarian historian, philosopher, and literary critic, who said that if the people who suffered the worst consequences of totalitarianism had told their children what happened to them, their children would not have been able to live their own lives. "I don't think there's a single answer, but the question is interesting and asking it is important," says Makarius. Iran's Foreign Ministry has imposed sanctions on 61 additional U.S. citizens, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, for backing an exiled Iranian dissident group. The ministry on July 16 said former President Donald Trump's attorney, Rudy Giuliani, and former White House national-security adviser John Bolton had also been sanctioned for voicing support for the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO), a political-militant group that has advocated for the overthrow of Iran's clerical regime. The sanctions -- issued previously against dozens of Americans for various reasons -- would allow Iranian authorities to seize any assets they hold in Iran. The likely absence of such assets makes the action mainly symbolic. Giuliani, Pompeo, and Bolton have been reported to have participated in MKO events and voiced support for the group. The list also included several members of the U.S. Congress, both Democrats and Republicans. Based on reporting by Reuters Nearly 17 years after having been granted EU candidate status, North Macedonia finally looks set to start EU accession negotiations. After three days of debate, lawmakers on July 16 backed a French proposal to remove a Bulgarian veto on EU membership talks for the Balkan nation. The compromise envisages an effort to amend the Macedonian Constitution to recognize a Bulgarian minority but leaves other previous sticking points to be worked out between Skopje and Sofia. It reportedly leaves open Bulgarian recognition of the Macedonian language. It should be a cause for celebration, not only for Skopje, but also for a European Union that finally appears to have jolted its enlargement process back to life. Yet the decades-old diplomatic back-and-forth will likely leave a bitter aftertaste -- and, worse still, might even set the tone for North Macedonia's future negotiations with the bloc. EU hopefuls from other Western Balkans countries -- as well the newly minted candidate countries of Moldova and Ukraine -- might well learn a thing or two from North Macedonia when it comes to charting their own paths toward Brussels. What this ongoing saga has shown candidate countries is that making reforms domestically to meet the EU's standards is not enough. More important, perhaps, is sorting out any lingering bilateral issues with EU member states that could potentially scupper a bid. Few countries have had to undergo quite so many challenges as North Macedonia has in its quest to join Western organizations. The biggest came in 2019 when Macedonia changed its name to North Macedonia to settle a dispute with its southern neighbor, Greece, paving the way for Skopje's admission into NATO in 2020. With the name change, the country's EU accession process could have been started there and then, but instead North Macedonia and Albania, whose EU accession bids are linked, had to wait one more year as France was unhappy with how the bloc's general enlargement process was designed. To appease Paris, Brussels made a few cosmetic changes, even though many EU diplomats grumbled that the delay had more to do with French President Emmanuel Macron's nervousness around local elections back home. Then came the Bulgarian objections to North Macedonia's EU bid, which for the last few years have blocked the start of accession talks. Sofia's main concerns are the slow progress of the implementation of the Friendship Treaty signed between the two states in 2017; the alleged repression of the Bulgarian minority in North Macedonia; and the origin and status of the Macedonian language, which Sofia regards as a dialect of Bulgarian. All together, that means there are close to 100 potential vetoes for each and every EU country. One hundred opportunities to stick a wrench in the works. In the "French proposal," put forward earlier in the summer when France held the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, some -- but not all -- of these issues are tackled. Most notably, before accession talks with Brussels can even begin, Skopje has to change its constitution, this time to include a reference to its Bulgarian minority. References to the Friendship Treaty are also in the "French proposal," indicating that controversial historical and educational issues -- for example, how history is taught in schools or whether Macedonians are just an ethnic subgroup of Bulgarians -- will continue to dog the two neighbors' relations. And while a number of EU officials, speaking on background to RFE/RL, think that the proposal put forward by France is "unfair" for Skopje, no one seems to have any better ideas. It's worth remembering that the pro-reformist government in Sofia collapsed in June because the "French proposal" was seen as too conciliatory, an indicator that Bulgaria, for domestic reasons, will always be a tough negotiating partner. There is simply too much temptation for EU states to get whatever they can out of other countries' accession bids. One EU diplomat, who wanted to remain anonymous because they weren't authorized to speak on the matter, said: "If Skopje doesn't agree on this, the country will be languishing in the same place for another decade. At least." A new Bulgarian government could easily demand more and halt the process once again. And the very fact that the 27 EU member states were seriously considering decoupling Albania from North Macedonia in the accession process just emphasized the pressure Skopje was under from all sides to agree as quickly as possible. In the end, this is what asymmetrical relations between EU members and those hoping to get in look like. The EU member states demand; the candidates comply. Bulgaria might be the sticklers now, but by looking at previous enlargements, the country is just following a time-honored tradition of being a squeaky wheel. Italy drove a hard bargain before Slovenia joined the club in 2004. In turn, Slovenia delayed Croatia's entry by utilizing its status as an EU member to dictate the scope of talks with its larger neighbor. And what are the odds that Croatia will play a similar role if Bosnia-Herzegovina ever embarks on an EU accession path? There is simply too much temptation for EU states to get whatever they can out of other countries' accession bids. Demands can be made before talks even start and, when they finally do, a candidate needs to start the slow process of adopting EU legislation, which is divided into over 30 policy chapters. The 27 EU member states then have to decide unanimously when those chapters are opened and closed. And don't forget the interim benchmarks that also need to be green lit. All together, that means there are close to 100 potential vetoes for each and every EU country. One hundred opportunities to stick a wrench in the works. In the future, North Macedonia is unlikely to be the only candidate on the outside looking in. SKOPJE -- Lawmakers in North Macedonia on July 16 backed a French proposal after three days of debate to remove a Bulgarian veto on EU membership talks for the Balkan nation. The compromise envisages an effort to amend the Macedonian Constitution to recognize a Bulgarian minority but leaves other previous sticking points to be worked out between Skopje and Sofia. It reportedly leaves open Bulgarian recognition of the Macedonian language. It passed with 68 votes in the 120-seat National Assembly after opposition lawmakers walked out following weeks of accusations by some that the deal amounts to a national cultural betrayal. Hours later, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski said the country will begin EU accession talks on July 19. Finally, after 17 years, we begin the accession negotiation process, he said on Twitter. From today onwards, we are moving forward with an accelerated step to join the European family in which our Macedonian language will be heard very soon and officially." Just four years after Macedonians agreed to a name change to mollify neighbor Greece and two years after Bulgaria invoked its veto on EU talks, the compromise could usher in rapid progress to launch negotiations within a formal framework for Macedonian membership to the bloc. The European Union's French Presidency last month laid out mutual concessions to resolve differences over shared national language and culture between Macedonians and Bulgarians. Sofia has been vetoing a framework for North Macedonia's accession for the past two years but has endorsed the French deal. Thousands of Macedonians protested in Skopje this week, and police were deployed to seal off the parliament from protesters during the first two days of debate. Opposition deputies inside the parliament chamber on July 14 blew horns as Kovachevski urged them to accept an imperfect deal that would lead to "ultimately a better future." During the final day of debate and passage, about 100 protesters were outside the parliament clamoring for rejection of the French proposal. On Twitter, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated North Macedonia on the vote and said it "now paves the way for opening the accession negotiations rapidly." "It was a historic opportunity. And you seized it. A big step on your path towards a European future. Your future," she wrote. The United States said it welcomed the decision by North Macedonias parliament. We recognize the difficult tradeoffs considered in this compromise, which acknowledges and respects North Macedonias cultural identity and the Macedonian language, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. This decision comes at a critical moment for North Macedonia, the Western Balkans, and Europe. A European Union that includes all of the Western Balkans, including Albania and North Macedonia, will be stronger and more prosperous. Now is the time to build momentum and work on next steps. North Macedonia has been a candidate for EU membership for 17 years, but its approval was first blocked by Greece over a name dispute resolved in 2018 and now by Bulgaria, both members of the bloc. Opponents of the compromise fear it will inflict far-reaching damage on national identity and culture and fails to guard against future Bulgarian objections on the path to EU membership anyway. "With this agreement, Macedonia will be a hostage to Bulgaria as it would exercise a veto based on whatever condition we fail to fulfill [in EU accession process]," Petar Risteski, an opposition VMRO-DPMNE lawmaker warned, according to Reuters. "Therefore have courage and take the side of the truth, justice, and the Macedonian people." Rock-throwing and other unrest erupted after reports that Paris floated the compromise late last month. The Bulgarian-Macedonian dispute has underscored regional resentments and risks a further erosion of Balkan faith in the European Union. Von der Leyen had traveled to Skopje to urge Macedonia's parliament to green light the deal before debate began on July 14, saying, We want you in the EU." The Bulgarian parliament lifted its veto last month in anticipation of approval in Skopje, also causing unrest in that country and contributing to a no-confidence vote that toppled Kiril Petkov's government. Blinken and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said recently that furthering North Macedonia's and Albania's progress toward EU membership are especially important to the continent in the context of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities have reported that Russian missile strikes and shelling killed at least 16 civilians in cities across the country after the Kremlin's military leaders said they had ordered troops to "further intensify" their actions in all areas. 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, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. Residents of Kyiv sought cover on July 16 as air-raid sirens blared across the Ukrainian capital, while Ukraine's most senior atomic official accused Russian troops occupying Europe's largest nuclear plant at Zaporizhzhya of using it to shell nearby areas and store advanced weapons. The reports could not be independently confirmed, but they come amid a flurry of deadly Russian strikes on civilian sites, including an attack in the historic city of Vinnytsya on July 15 that killed 24 people. Russia claimed the strike targeted officers' housing, but Ukrainian and U.S. officials rejected that assertion and said the attacks hit civilian sites. At least 39 people remained missing following the strike. After failing to take Kyiv in the early days of the war, Russia has turned its main focus on taking all of the Donbas -- consisting of the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. But fresh attacks have been reported as well in the north and south of Ukraine. The northeast city of Kharkiv, the country's second-largest, has been blasted by heavy bombardments in recent days. Ukrainian officials said the Kremlin's next move could be a full-scale attack on the city of 1.45 million people. Serhiy Bolvinov, deputy head of the Kharkiv regional police, said Russian rockets hit a two-story apartment block and other buildings. Four Russian rockets, presumably fired from around [the Russian city of] Belgorod at night, at about 3:30 a.m., hit a residential building, a school, and administrative buildings, Bolvinov wrote on Facebook. The bodies of three people were found under the rubble. Three more were injured. The victims are civilians, Bolvinov added. On July 16, the Russian Defense Ministry said Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu gave instructions to further intensify the actions of units in all operational areas, in order to exclude the possibility of the Kyiv regime launching massive rocket and artillery strikes on civilian infrastructure and residents of settlements in Donbas and other regions. In the Donetsk region, site of the heaviest fighting, seven civilians were killed and 14 wounded over the past 24 hours in attacks on cities, its governor said on July 16. However, Serhiy Hayday, governor of the neighboring Luhansk region, said Ukrainian troops had repelled a Russian overnight assault on a strategic eastern highway. He said Russian forces had been attempting to capture the main road link between the cities of Lysychansk and Bakhmut for more than two months. They still cannot control several kilometers of this road, Hayday wrote on Telegram. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address late on July 16 that air-raid warnings were being sounded across the country, including in Dnipro and Kremenchuk, two cities south of Kyiv along the Dnieper River. He said the Russians "are realizing that we are gradually becoming stronger" and were using attacks on cities to "pressure" and "intimidate" Ukrainians. The Ukrainian military's General Staff said early on July 16 that their forces had successfully repelled assault operations by Russian troops near the Spirne-Ivano-Daryivka areas of Donetsk. Late on July 16, in Odesa, a key port city on the Black Sea that has not seen heavy shelling as of yet, a Russian missile hit a warehouse, igniting flames and sending up a plume of black smoke. No injuries were immediately reported. A day earlier, Maksym Marchenko, head of the Odesa military administration, said Russian troops had fired three missiles on the Odesa region, with one missile being shot down by Ukrainian air defenses. Elsewhere, Ukrainian nuclear agency Enerhoatom President Petro Kotin said in a televised interview that the situation at Zaporizhzhya was "extremely tense" and pressure on the Russians to free the areas nuclear plant "insufficient." Around 500 Russian soldiers are said to be controlling access to Zaporizhzhya, which lies on the Dnieper River in southeastern Ukraine and has been in Russian hands since the early weeks of the invasion. "The occupiers bring their machinery there, including missile systems, from which they already shell the other side of the Dnieper River and the territory of Nikopol," Kotin said. He also criticized the International Atomic Energy Agency's handling of the situation around Zaporizhzhya, which before the war supplied around one-fifth of Ukraine's domestically generated energy. "[The IAEA] is playing some political games, balancing between Russia and Ukraine," Kotin said. With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, Reuters, AFP, and AP The wheels on the bus wont go round as often or as far unless Albemarle County school officials can find more than a dozen drivers. Albemarle County is still looking for 14 bus drivers to take students to and from school, officials told the School Board this week. Overall, the school divisions transportation department has 37 vacancies. As school divisions and transit agencies across the country struggle to fill vacancies, county schools Superintendent Matthew Haas told the School Board that a new approach will be needed. We have to focus on restructuring transportation to lower expectations, Haas said, adding that the pandemic exacerbated a long-standing problem. For many years, we tried to pretend or maybe think that some force of nature will bring us bus drivers. Mother Nature has not cooperated, however, and Haas said that county will need to manage parents expectations for the transportation services it can provide. Division leadership has talked with the transportation department about programmatic changes for the coming school year, Haas told board members. Theres going to be longer wait times, he said. There are going to be double backs. We just need to let people know that thats the way its going to be and not pretend its not going to be that way. Then, theyll have to make choices about transportation. Meanwhile, the city school system also is rethinking how to get students to school. With only seven bus drivers on board for the next school year, Charlottesville recently announced it would expand school walk zones. That means an additional 700 students will not ride the bus and must walk, bike or get rides to school. Transportation will still be provided to those with special needs. The city school division contracts with Charlottesville Area Transit to provide transportation for students. The city needs at least 24 school bus drivers and had 22 this spring. That number dropped to seven following a series of resignations and retirements. On Friday at Friendship Court, Charlottesville schools Superintendent Royal Gurley Jr. met with families to discuss the change and answer questions. Those who live in Friendship Court will have to walk to Clark Elementary and Buford Middle schools. Gurley said the community needs to work together to ensure students can get to school safely. That includes providing resources to students such as raincoats and boots. This is not one of those times where we can just walk away from one another, Gurley said. We do need each other in this moment. Kim Powell, the divisions chief operations officer, said families in the expanded walk zones will be sent a letter by the end of this month with details about the change, suggested walking routes, and crossing guards. Buford is the most affected by the expanded walk zones while Greenbrier Elementary is the least, Powell said. Powell also told families that with seven drivers on board, the school division will likely have a waitlist for the bus seats that are available. In the last week, parents and community members started advocating for safety improvements along school walking routes. City Council will likely discuss those requests at its Monday meeting. The school division also is hiring a team of crossing guards that will be strategically placed throughout the city. This is not a punishment, Gurley said of the need to walk to school. If we can build up safety mechanisms in our community, and we can provide the resources, then this is the long-term viable solution. Bus Driver Pay and Benefits Charlottesville bus drivers make between $16.51 and $18.32 an hour to start, though many typically start at $17.99 an hour. Full-time healthcare benefits are available. Apply here. Albemarle County full-time bus drivers start at $17.18. Drivers that work four hours a day are eligible for full-time benefits. Apply here. School bus drivers for both systems receive free CDL training. Other options and vacancies Hass told county school board members Thursday that addressing the driver shortage is a long-term problem and will need to be resolved regionally, mot just with school systems competing with each other and not sharing services. Haas said he recently met with representatives from the city schools, Charlottesville Area Transit, and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District to start talking about ways to work together. He said he agreed to participate in a comprehensive study with Charlottesville and Albemarle County to find ways to work together. Board member Kate Acuff mentioned during the discussion that she had seen some pretty well-produced commercials for city bus drivers and wanted to know what the countys plan was. I know its a chronic issue across the country, but we actually need to have someone pick up our kids, she said. The county is working on an advertising plan, said Clare Keiser, the divisions assistant superintendent for organizational development and human resource leadership. The Charlottesville advertising is tremendous and we need to get out there and do that type of thing, Keiser said. Beyond transportation, Albemarle County still needs to hire 65 teachers for the coming school year. Keiser said that figure is one par with previous school years. So far, 131 teachers have been hired. Keiser cautioned during her update that the numbers provided are tentative. The division is struggling to fill vacancies in math, special education, and English as a second language. Her goal is to have positions filled by the beginning of the school year. In support positions such as transportation and child nutrition, Keiser said the division was challenged by a low volume and quality of applicants. We only need one right person in the pool, but we need to get that person in the pool, she said. The division is working to fill 15 vacancies in child nutrition, 11 in building services and 11 in the Extended Day Enrichment program, Keiser said. After seven years in isolated custody pending an appeal of a court-order that he be euthanized, incarcerated Staffordshire bull terrier Niko was put to death on Thursday, Albemarle County officials announced Friday. The announcement that the nine-year-old dog Niko had been killed was met with anger by supporters and sadness by the Charlottesville-Albemarle Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, known as CASPCA, which housed the dog during his incarceration. Dozens of members of a "Prayer's [sic] for Niko/Niko Strong" Facebook group with over 9,000 members posted their condolences to Stacy and their anger at the decision Friday, some using the hashtag #justice4niko. "If any good should come from Niko's situation, advocate for [laws] to change so no dog ever goes [through] what Niko did ever again," one group member posted. According to a press release from CASCPA, the organization opposed the decision and was not involved in euthanizing Niko. According to CASPCAs statement, state law provides limited options for disposal of a companion animal. The choices are to delivering the dog to a new owner or to kill it with the animal control officer being the ultimate decision-making power. CASPCA said Albemarle County proposed two options. The organization could house Niko permanently or the dog would be put to death. "The SPCA gave serious consideration to the option of housing Niko permanently, particularly since he was doing well in the SPCA's care, but ultimately determined that this option was not permitted under Virginia law, the CASPCA statement says. By law, the SPCA is required to find permanent adoptive homes for the animals it shelters and is not permitted to own or house the animals permanently with no option for later adoption," officials wrote. "Despite repeated requests, the SPCA was not allowed to house Niko temporarily while it sought a permanent home for Niko, either in a private home or sanctuary. According to the countys statement on Friday, Niko was declared a dangerous dog by the Albemarle General District Court after Niko injured a dog in 2013 and injured a second dog in 2014. Niko was placed in isolated custody at the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA after a woman said he got loose in her yard and killed her cat in 2015. Nikos owner, Toni Stacy, was convicted of being the owner of a dog that killed a cat and on Aug. 6, 2015 was sentenced to 90 days in jail with 90 days suspended on the condition that Niko be euthanized. She did not comply with the order that the dog be killed and a legal battle ensued to prevent Niko from being killed and to rehome him or return him to his owners. The effort has seen multiple appeals since 2015 but the latest was largely denied by the Virginia Court of Appeals in April. After a series of appeals, the Virginia Court of Appeals affirmed the Circuit Courts ruling that the dog be euthanized. Albemarle County said in its statement that it received the final order to dispose of Niko on June 10. According to an email sent to CASPCA staff and volunteers obtained by The Daily Progress, CASPCA will be providing grief counseling to any staff and volunteers who may need it. "While the SPCA can sadly no longer improve the life of Niko, the work to better the lives of animals in Albemarle County, City of Charlottesville, and beyond must continue," Angie Gunter, CEO of the CASPCA said in the statement. "We are dedicated to providing the best quality of life for the animals in our care with the intent to place them in healthy and caring homes. Stacys lawyer, Elliott Harding, tweeted his disapproval of the decision Friday. Those monsters [Albemarle County Police Department] went into SPCA in [the] middle of night, took Niko, and killed him. Now wont even tell SPCA or dogs owner where they took him, how or where he was killed, and wont give SPCA his body for cremation or burial. All while every other available option was presented, Harding claimed in a social media post on Friday. Harding also claimed the county statement was incorrect and Niko was not deemed vicious and that Niko did not injure a dog in 2013. I want to know whether he was actually euthanized or killed in some other fashion, Harding tweeted. Albemarle County spokeswoman Emily Kilroy said there was an exchange of custody between Albemarle County Animal Control and CASPCA shortly after the close of business Thursday night. Animal Control then transported Niko to a licensed veterinarian to be euthanized. Kilroy said the veterinarian will return Nikos ashes to the CASPCA. Thank you for reading! To read this article and more, subscribe now for as little as $1.99. Image: Flickr- andresAzp | CC BY-ND 2.0 Is Venezuela paying the price for adopting 'gun control'? The shocking nature of Venezuela's economic collapse has been covered ad nauseam. However, one aspect of the Venezuelan crisis that does not receive much coverage is the country's 'gun control' regime. Fox News recently published an excellent article highlighting Venezuelan citizens' regret over the 'gun control' policies the Venezuelan government has implemented since 2012. Naturally, this regret is warranted. The Venezuelan government is among the most tyrannical in the world, with a proven track record of violating basic civil liberties such as free speech, debasing its national currency, confiscating private property, and creating economic controls that destroy the country's productivity. Elections have proven to be useless, as they've been mired with corruption and charges of government tampering. For many, taking up arms is the only option left for the country to shake off its tyrannical government. However, the Venezuelan government has done well to prevent an uprising by passing draconian 'gun control' which will be detailed below. Venezuela's Lack of a Second Amendment Tradition Historically speaking, Venezuela has never had a robust history of private gun ownership like that of the United States. The absence of a Second Amendment or check on the federal government's monopoly on firearm usage is a vestige of its colonial legacy. Its Spanish colonial overlords did not possess a political culture of civilian firearms ownership. It was mostly the military and the landed nobility that held firearms throughout the colonial era. This tradition has persisted even after Latin American countries broke away from Spain in the 1820s. Fast forward to the 20th century, Venezuela began its first attempts to modernize its gun policy. In 1939, the Venezuelan government enacted the Law on Arms and Explosives (Ley de Armas y Explosivos) which established the Venezuelan state's monopoly on firearm usage. ..... MIDDLE EAST Yemen Expected Council Action In March, the Council is expected to hold its monthly briefing and consultations on Yemen with UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg and a representative of OCHA. Key Recent Developments The escalation of the war in Yemen and the risk of further regional spillover following the Houthi rebel groups missile and drone attacks against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and retaliatory airstrikes in January, remained major concerns over the past month. Briefing the Security Council on 15 February, Grundberg said that he echoed the UN Secretary-Generals condemnation of the Houthi attacks on the UAE in January, which demonstrated how this conflict risks spiralling out of control. He also described as alarming the increase in airstrikes in Yemen, including on residential areas and civilian infrastructure. Grundberg updated the Council on progress towards developing a framework for a multi-track political process. He announced that, starting the following week, he would hold bilateral consultations with Yemeni stakeholdersincluding the warring parties, political parties, civil society representatives, and experts in the political, security and economic areasto inform and refine this framework. He said that he intended to present the framework later this spring. At the same time, the UN Envoy stressed that he was exploring every opportunity for an immediate de-escalation, although these efforts continue to be frustrated as the parties positions are mutually exclusive with demands on sequencing and guarantees unable to be met by the other side. On 24 February, in closed consultations that Russia and the UAE requested amid their different positions in negotiations on the Yemen sanctions renewal, Grundberg informed members that the consultations process on his framework for a political process would now start on 7 March. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths also briefed at the 15 February Council briefing. Griffiths reported that there were over 650 civilian casualties in the Yemen conflict during January, the highest monthly figure in three years. In this regard, he highlighted the 21 January airstrike on a prison in Saada, resulting in more than 300 deaths or injuries, carried out by the Saudi Arabia-led coalition, which supports the Yemeni government against the Houthis. Griffiths also emphasised that the financial shortage facing the aid operation in Yemen, which beginning in March could force the further scaling-back or termination of food rations for eight million people and the cancellation of most UN humanitarian flights. According to Griffiths, the scale of the current [funding] gaps are unprecedented in Yemen. In closed consultations on 15 February, Major General Michael Beary delivered his first briefing to Council members since he assumed his duties as the head of the UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA) on 19 January. On the ground, the Houthis have continued their offensive to take oil and gas-rich Marib governorate despite their territorial losses since January. During February, the newly formed Happy Yemen Brigadeswhich are reportedly composed of northern tribal and Salafi fighterslaunched operations against the Houthis in the northern Hajjah and Saada governorates. A Houthi drone attack targeting Saudi Arabias Abha airport injured 12 civilians on 10 February. Another bomb-laden drone injured 16 civilians on 21 February in an attack on King Abdullah Airport in the Saudi city of Jizan, near the border with Yemen. The UN announced progress towards finding a solution to the decrepit FSO Safer oil tanker that is moored in the Red Sea off the Houthi-held Ras Isa oil terminal and is at risk of an oil spill. UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen David Gressly has been coordinating a proposal to offload the estimated 1.15 million barrels of oil from the FSO Safer to a new vessel that would allow the FSO Safer to be towed away. In a 5 February statement, Gressly said that Yemeni government officials have confirmed their support for the plan and that he had held constructive talks with senior Houthi officials. Sanction-Related Developments On 28 February, the Security Council adopted resolution 2624, renewing the Yemen financial and travel ban sanctions until 28 February 2023 and the mandate of the Yemen Panel of Experts until 28 March 2023. Brazil, Ireland, Mexico and Norway abstained on the vote. (For more, see our Whats In Blue story of 28 February 2022.) Key Issues and Options Key issues include the wars escalation and the risk of further regional spillover. Grundbergs effort to restart an inclusive political process, based on the framework he is developing that addresses political, security and economic issues, remains critical. Members may encourage Grundberg to continue to develop and complete his framework for an inclusive political process, which the Council could then endorse. Key issues related to Yemens humanitarian crisis include protecting civilians, preventing famine, improving humanitarian access, supporting the economy, and raising funds for relief efforts. The annual pledging event for Yemens humanitarian response, being hosted by Sweden and Switzerland, is scheduled for 16 March. Members could encourage donors to support the 2022 humanitarian response plan (HRP), which is expected to require funding similar to last years $3.85 billion HRP. They could also urge UN member states to support the economic framework that the UN has developed to stabilise the Yemeni rial, lower commodity prices, and pay civil servants salaries. Council Dynamics Council members have been largely united in supporting the UN envoys effort to restart a political process and in their calls for a ceasefire or de-escalation. There has also been widespread concern about the humanitarian situation and the threat posed by the FSO Safer. Differences in the Council have tended to involve Russias preference for reducing references singling out the Houthis in Council products, as opposed to some other members that favour being more critical of Houthi actions. The presence of the UAE, which is a key member in the Saudi-led coalition and joined the Council in January, has affected Council dynamics. Since the January attacks on Abu Dhabi, the UAE has pushed to label the Houthis as a terrorist group and strengthen sanctions against the movement. It has been lobbying the US, which along with the UK, supports the coalition, to reinstate its unilateral designation of the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organisation. In a separate action, on 23 February, the US announced that it was designating for sanctions, in coordination with Gulf partners, an international network funding Houthi military forces that operates under the leadership of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force and Houthi financier Said al-Jamal. At the Security Council, the UAE initiated a press statement to characterise the Houthi targeting of Abu Dhabi as a terrorist attack. At the time of this writing, it was calling for the Council to acknowledge the Houthis as a terrorist group, and to add the Houthis as an entity to the Yemen sanctions list in the negotiations on the Councils annual Yemen sanctions resolution. In addition, the UAE statement at the 15 February briefing was notable for its implicit criticism of Grundberg, describing the continued paralysis of the political process under the leadership of the United Nations to deal realistically and firmly with the Houthis. Some members have expressed concern about these moves. Members failed to agree to press elements following the 15 February briefing. On the sanctions resolution, several members also raised concerns about, among other things, the terrorism label and the impact that designating the Houthis would have on the humanitarian situation, worried for instance, about the private sector pulling back from Yemen to avoid potentially violating the sanctions, and the repercussions for the political process. To address some of these concerns, the designation was expected to not include subjecting the Houthis to the financial sanctions established by resolution 2140 and only subject them to the arms embargo provisions of resolution 2216. The UK is the penholder on Yemen. Ambassador Ferit Hoxha (Albania) chairs the Yemen 2140 Sanctions Committee. UN DOCUMENTS ON YEMEN This was a briefing on Yemen with Special Envoy Grundberg, USG for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths and the Chair of the 2140 Sanctions Committee Ambassador Hoxha (Albania). This press statement condemned the heinous terrorist attacks in Abu Dhabi on 17 January that were committed and claimed by the Houthis. AFRICA Libya Expected Council Action In April, the Security Council will receive the semi-annual briefing of ICC prosecutor Karim Asad Ahmad Khan concerning the courts cases in Libya. Consultations on the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) are anticipated. The Council is also expected to renew the mandate of UNSMIL. Key Recent Developments Khan last briefed the Council on the courts work in Libya on 23 November 2021, including outstanding arrest warrants issued by the court and the status of ongoing investigations. Libya is one of two country situations (Sudan is the other) that the Council has referred to the court for investigations. The Council referred Libya to the ICC through resolution 1970 of 26 February 2011, which also invited the prosecutor to brief the Council on the status of investigations every six months. Three outstanding arrest warrants pertaining to Libya are currently before the court. One is for Saif al-Islam Qaddafi, the son of deposed Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi. In November 2021, Saif al-Gaddafi, who is sought on two counts of alleged crimes against humanity, announced his candidacy for the Libyan presidential elections. Libya continues to be mired in political turmoil. More than three months after presidential and parliamentary elections were postponed, no new date for the polls has been determined. On 10 February, the House of Representatives appointed former Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha as interim prime minister while the incumbent prime minister, Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbeibah, was still in office. (Dbeibah was elected in February 2021 by the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum to head the interim Government of National Unity, or GNU.) As a result, the country finds itself with two parallel governments, raising fears of a possible return to violence. The election has also become a major bone of contention with the two sides proposing competing electoral roadmaps. The House of Representatives tasked Bashagha to organise elections within the next 14 months, while Dbeibah proposed a roadmap for holding elections in June. The UN and several member states have continued attempts to mediate between the two competing political factions with the goal of reaching agreement on a common path forward that would also be acceptable to the Libyan people. When referring to Libyas political situation, the UN has emphasised that elections should be held as soon as possible and that a political consensus supported by Libyans is necessary. Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on Libya Stephanie Turco Williams has engaged with Bashagha and Dbeibah, while reiterating the need for elections to take place in a timely manner with a sound constitutional basis to respect the aspirations of the 2.8 million Libyans who have registered to vote. Williams has also suggested the formation of a 6+6 constitutional committee to develop a consensual constitutional basis for holding elections. The committee would include six members of the House of Representatives and six members of the High Council of State, the executive institution and constitutional authority established by the 2015 Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) that is mandated to propose policies and recommendations on various issues, including the LPAs implementation. At the time of writing, meetings to clarify the constitutional basis for elections have commenced in Tunisia under UN auspices, but only the High Council of State has sent representatives. Media reports indicate that several members of the House of Representatives rejected Williams proposal to form a joint committee. During a visit to Tripoli, US Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland spoke on 17 March with the President of the GNUs Presidency Council, Mohamed Younis al-Menfi, and with Dbeibah, encouraging them to hold elections as soon as possible and urging Dbeibah to engage with Bashagha to avert an escalation of tensions that could lead to violence. (In recent weeks, military forces from both sides have increased their presence in the area around Tripoli, but the security situation has thus far remained calm.) Bashagha and Dbeibah reportedly met on 18 March in an effort to defuse tensions around Tripoli and to find a way forward on a political consensus. While committing themselves to denounce violence, they do not appear to have reached a political agreement. Pending clarification of the legislative framework for elections, the head of Libyas High National Electoral Commission (HNEC), Emad al-Sayeh, confirmed during a 19 March meeting with Norland that the HNEC was ready to hold elections once a political agreement had been reached to chart the way forward. Women, Peace and Security Jazia Jibril Mohammed Shuaitera legal scholar, activist and candidate in the upcoming parliamentary electionsbriefed the Council on 16 March. In her brief, Shuaiter stressed the importance of maintaining peace, re-establishing consensus among the Libyan political parties and adopting a permanent constitution. She also underscored the need for free, inclusive, and fair elections and called for the Council to support international election monitoring. Shuaiter also called on the Council to urge the Libyan leadership to comply with all the ratified treaties and conventions to respect women and ensure a gender perspective in all policies, legislation and national strategies. Key Issues and Options How UNSMIL can support a solution to the current political impasse and pave the way for elections will be a key issue for the Council in advance of the missions upcoming mandate renewal. While UNSMILs renewal in September was expected to restructure the mission to address the political situation following the October 2020 ceasefire agreement, the formation of the GNU and the scheduling of national elections on 24 December 2021, Council members have been unable to agree on the missions future and have instead adopted three short-term mandate extensions. Another issue for the Council remains the missions leadership. No successor has yet been identified to former Special Envoy Jan Kubis, who resigned in November 2021, or for the position of Special Representative that is expected to replace the Special Envoy under UNSMILs proposed restructuring. Special Advisor Williams continues to lead mediation efforts on the ground. The Council may consider requesting more frequent reporting from UNSMIL on the situation in the country, particularly regarding progress with finding political consensus and organising elections. The Council may also consider issuing a statement calling on all parties to reach a political consensus based on dialogue and urging them to maintain a stable security environment. Council Dynamics Council dynamics regarding the future of the mission and UNSMILs leadership remain difficult. When the Council last met to discuss the situation in Libya on 16 March, several Council members voiced their support for a substantive mandate renewal in April. Whether the Council can agree on such a renewal, especially without a prospective candidate to lead the mission, remains unclear. There is unity, however, on the need for Libyan political stakeholders to agree on a plan for holding elections to fulfil the aspirations of the Libyan people. Russia, the only Council member to have openly supported Bashagha, nonetheless signalled its intent during the 16 May Council meeting to respect any leadership decisions Libyans may take. Several Council membersincluding France, the UK and the USexpressed support for Williams and her initiatives on the ground, but Russia reiterated its call for the Secretary-General to quickly appoint a new head of UNSMIL, stating that the prospective candidate should be acceptable to Libyans, regional stakeholders and the Council. The three African members of the Council (Kenya, Gabon and Ghana) expressed a preference for an African candidate to lead the mission. UN DOCUMENTS ON LIBYA This resolution extended UNSMILs mandate until 30 April 2022 as set out in resolution 2542 of 15 September 2020 and paragraph 16 of resolution 2570 of 16 April 2021. This resolution extended the mandate of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) until 31 January 2022. The text, which was unanimously adopted, was a technical renewal of UNSMILs mandate as set out in resolution 2542 of 15 September 2020 and paragraph 16 of resolution 2570 of 16 April 2021. This unanimously adopted resolution extended UNSMILs mandate until 30 September 2021. This resolution renewed UNSMILs mandate until 15 September 2021; it was adopted with 13 votes in favour and two abstentions (China and Russia). This presidential statement welcomed the Paris International Conference and the Libya Stabilisation conference; expressed support for the parliamentary and presidential elections set to take place on 24 December; underlined the importance of an inclusive and consultative electoral process; and urged Libyan stakeholders to commit to accepting the election results. This presidential statement welcomed the second Berlin Conference on Libya, which was held on 23 June 2021. This report covered developments in Libya between 25 August 2021 and 17 January 2022. This was a letter submitted to the Council by Germany, France, Italy and Libya transmitting the declaration of the 12 November 2021 Paris Conference on Libya. This was the letter from the Secretary-General transmitting the strategic review of UNSMIL. MIDDLE EAST Iraq Expected Council Action In May, the Security Council is expected to renew the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). UNAMIs current mandate expires on 27 May. The Special Representative and head of UNAMI, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, is scheduled to brief the Council on recent developments in Iraq and the Secretary-Generals upcoming reports on UNAMI and the issue of missing Kuwaiti and third-party nationals and missing Kuwaiti property. Both reports are due in May. The briefing will be followed by closed consultations. The eighth report of the Special Adviser and Head of the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Daesh/ISIL (UNITAD) is also due in May. Key Recent Developments Iraqs political system remains deadlocked in the aftermath of the 10 October 2021 parliamentary election. Under the Iraqi constitution, the government formation process that follows ratification of the election results involves a series of steps that must be completed within specific timeframes. The first of these steps took place on 9 January when Iraqs parliament convened and elected Mohamed al-Halbousi, the leader of the Sunni Taqaddum party, as speaker. The deadline for the next step in the process, election of the president by parliament, was 8 February. By political convention designed to prevent sectarian violence, the president is traditionally Kurdish. In previous years, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has nominated the president pursuant to an informal power-sharing agreement with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). In line with this arrangement, the PUK nominated incumbent President Barham Salih in early February. The KDP broke with convention, however, and put forward former finance minister Hoshyar Zebari for the role. Several members of the Iraqi parliament subsequently commenced legal proceedings challenging Zebaris nomination, arguing that he did not meet the good character requirements for the president outlined in Iraqs constitution due to allegations of corruption stemming from his time as finance minister. On 6 February, the day before parliament was scheduled to elect the new president, Iraqs Supreme Court decided to temporarily suspend Zebaris candidature while it considered the case against him. The Courts decision led to a boycott of the vote by Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadrs movement, which controls the largest bloc in parliament, and also by the Taqaddum party and the KDP, among others. As a result of the boycott, there was a lack of quorum in the parliament and the vote was postponed. The president was thus not elected within the constitutional timeframe. The Supreme Court ultimately barred Zebari from running for president in a ruling issued on 13 February. A new government cannot be formed until the president has been appointed, as the president is responsible for appointing the prime minister, who in turn is charged with selecting a cabinet. The formation process is complete once the cabinet is approved by parliament. On 24 March, al-Sadr announced that his movement had forged an alliance with several other parties, including the KDP, the Taqqadum party, and members of Sunni businessman Khamis al-Khanjars Azm Alliance. The new grouping, known as the Coalition for Saving the Homeland, nominated KDP politician Rebar Ahmed Khalid as its presidential candidate and Jaafar al-Sadr, Muqtada al-Sadrs cousin and Iraqs ambassador to the UK, as its candidate for prime minister. A second vote to elect a new president was scheduled for 26 March. This vote was boycotted by the Shiite Coordination Framework (SCF), a group that comprises several pro-Iranian Shiite political parties, leading to another postponement due to lack of quorum. A third vote that was slated for 30 March was also postponed for similar reasons. The difficulties that have arisen with selecting a president are emblematic of the sharp divide that has emerged among Iraqi political parties during the government formation process. Al-Sadr and the Coalition for Saving the Homeland are reportedly pushing to form a majority government controlled by their alliance. The SCF, on the other hand, is in favour of a consensus government in which power is shared among various political parties. In a 31 March tweet, al-Sadr announced that he was stepping back from the process for 40 days to give his opponents, including the SCF, a chance to form a government without his bloc and the parties aligned with it. On 13 March, Irans Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for a series of ballistic missile attacks that struck Erbil, the capital of Iraqs Kurdistan region, that day. According to media reports, the missiles appeared to target the US and its allies and exploded near a new US consulate building, injuring one Iraqi civilian. The IRGC said in a statement that the attack was directed against an Israeli strategic centre. Several analysts have suggested that the missile attack was retaliation for an alleged Israeli air strike in Syria that killed four people on 9 March, including two members of the IRGC. On 28 March, supporters of groups linked to Iran reportedly attacked the Baghdad office of the KDP, prompting the KDP to cease its operations in the capital. In a 15 February judgment, Iraqs Supreme Court ruled that a 2007 law regulating the oil industry in Iraqi Kurdistan enacted by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) was unconstitutional. The judgment also directed the KRG to hand control of its crude oil supplies to the federal government and declared null and void the KRGs oil contracts with third parties. On 28 February, the KRGs presidency announced that it rejected the ruling and said that the KRG will exhaust all available means in order to safeguard the Kurdistan regions constitutional power and rights. Rising food prices have also been an issue in Iraq. On 9 March, approximately 500 people reportedly gathered in Nasiriya to protest increases in the price of cooking oil and flour. The previous day, Iraqs caretaker government announced a series of measures that were intended to address this issue. A spokesperson for the trade ministry blamed the war in Ukraine for the higher cost of cooking oil. The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) continues to be active in Iraq. On 9 April, ISIL fighters attacked Iraqi soldiers in Anbar province under the cover of a sandstorm. According to media reports, ISIL claimed 120 attacks in Iraq during the first quarter of 2022. On 18 April, Turkey announced that it had launched a new offensive against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in northern Iraq. The offensive, which Turkey refers to as Operation Claw-Lock, reportedly involved commando units, special forces, unmanned aerial vehicles, and attack helicopters. At the time of writing, at least 19 PKK fighters and four Turkish soldiers have been killed during the attack. Key Issues and Options Council members are following developments in Iraq closely, particularly in the aftermath of the 10 October 2021 election. A key issue for the Council is reinforcing the importance of maintaining stability and security following the election. Depending on how the situation evolves, Council members may wish to issue a product that addresses issues of concern, such as the need to resolve political disputes through dialogue and within the applicable legal framework without resorting to violence. The Council could also consider urging the parties to reach an agreement on government formation as soon as possible. The renewal of UNAMIs mandate is another key issue for the Council. Council members may wish to consider whether there is a need to amend UNAMIs mandate given the Iraqi governments request for technical assistance, advice, support, and monitoring from UNAMI during the upcoming October elections in the Kurdistan region of Iraq and the current political deadlock in the country. The Council could, for example, add language regarding the political impasse to the paragraph that requests UNAMI to prioritise the provision of advice, support, and assistance on advancing inclusive political dialogue and national and community-level reconciliation. Council and Wider Dynamics Council members are generally unanimous in their support for UNAMI and positive developments in Iraqi-Kuwaiti relations. Regional dynamics continue to affect Iraq, as demonstrated by the recent attack carried out by the IRGC in Erbil. The Iraqi government routinely states that it does not wish to become a theatre for Iran-US tensions, while Turkey continues to conduct military operations in different parts of Iraq, despite Iraqs objections. The US is the penholder on Iraq issues in general and the UK is the penholder on Iraqi-Kuwaiti issues. UN DOCUMENTS ON IRAQ This renewed the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) for one year, until 27 May 2022. Operations at San Francisco International Airport had returned to normal and a suspect had been arrested Saturday morning after travelers were ordered to evacuate the international terminal Friday night because of a bomb threat, airport officials said. In a statement to The Chronicle, police said they received a report of a bomb at 8:15 p.m. Friday. Upon arriving, they located a suspicious package that was possibly incendiary and ordered evacuations for anyone in the international terminal. When the Supreme Court ruled that states could no longer require gun owners to show a need for self-defense in order to carry concealed weapons in public, California immediately advised local governments to take a close look at an applicants moral character not just their criminal record, but any evidence of dishonesty or hatred, disrespect for the law, character references and possibly what they have said on social media. Now state lawmakers are preparing to go further and restrict the areas where concealed firearms could be carried bans that would include not only schools, courthouses and other government buildings, but also public parks and playgrounds, hospitals and bars, buses and trains, and demonstrations requiring government permits. The legislation would also increase the minimum age for concealed-carry from 18 to 21. The courts 6-3 ruling June 23 found that Americans have a constitutional right, intended by the nations founders, to carry guns in public. It struck down a New York law requiring applicants to show a special need for self-protection, and applied equally to similar laws in a half dozen states, including California. The Second Amendment to the Constitution is not a second-class right, declared Justice Clarence Thomas in a ruling that could also be used to challenge Californias ban on semiautomatic rifles that the state defines as assault weapons. But it did not take state officials by surprise. Weve been preparing for this moment ... for months, Attorney General Rob Bonta said at a news conference hours after the ruling. A day later, Bontas office sent a legal alert to all city police departments and county sheriffs offices in California. It said they could no longer enforce a requirement to show good cause to carry a concealed gun in public, a standard that has been used in many urban areas of the state to deny virtually all concealed-carry applicants. But it quoted the rulings language that states could still require gun-carriers to be law-abiding, responsible citizens, wording that Bonta said would justify review of an applicants moral character. In addition to a persons criminal record and mental health, Bonta said, a law enforcement office could consider evidence of trustworthiness, diligence, reliability, respect for the law, integrity, candor ... respect for the rights of others, absence of hatred and racism, quoting standards now in use by the Riverside County Sheriffs Office. He said an agency could also require a search of publicly available information, including social media accounts, for evidence of moral character. With gun deaths at an all-time high, ensuring that dangerous individuals are not allowed to carry concealed firearms is more important than ever, Bonta said. The guidelines would likely lead to continued rejections of large numbers of concealed-carry applicants. They are also likely to be challenged in court. These are very subjective criteria, and Im confident that they, too, will be declared unconstitutional, said Sam Paredes, executive director of Gun Owners of California. UCLA Law Professor Eugene Volokh agreed that criteria such as absence of hatred and racism would be found to violate freedom of speech. The government cant restrict ordinary citizens actions much less their constitutionally protected actions based on the viewpoints that they express, he said in an online essay. Meanwhile, state legislators are rewriting Californias gun laws, responding both to the Supreme Court ruling and to the latest wave of mass killings One measure awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsoms signature would allow private citizens to sue manufacturers of firearms banned in the state. A newly signed law bans sale or possession of parts used to make untraceable ghost guns, which have no serial numbers. The measure that is being redrafted to counter last months ruling is SB918 by Sen. Anthony Portantino, D-La Canada-Flintridge (Los Angeles County). With the courts edict that a state cant require a concealed-carry applicant to show a personal need for self-defense, the bill, sponsored by Bonta, would instead restrict the areas where a gun could be legally carried. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. When the court first declared a constitutional right to possess handguns for self-defense in 2008, the author of the ruling, Justice Antonin Scalia, said he did not intend to cast doubt on laws banning guns in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings. Thomas reiterated that assurance in last months ruling, while cautioning that the entire island of Manhattan, despite its dense population, could not be classified as a sensitive place. Portantino, in a memo from his office, said he was amending SB918 after the ruling to define as sensitive places all school and college grounds, courthouses and other government buildings, medical facilities, public transportation, public parks and playgrounds, any place where alcohol is sold and consumed, and events requiring public permits, such as demonstrations. Similar rules are already in effect in states with more permissive gun laws, and are consistent with the Supreme Courts decision, Portantino said. The bill would also increase requirements of gun-safety training for applicants, allow them to carry no more than two concealed weapons at a time, and increase the minimum age for concealed carry from 18 to 21. If approved by both houses and signed by Newsom, as expected, it would take effect in 2023, unless courts intervene. It is such a giant patchwork quilt of areas that do not allow carrying of concealed weapons that a lawful citizen cannot travel from one part of a community to the other without breaking the law, said Paredes of Gun Owners of California. As for banning concealed carry by 18-year-olds, he said, those youths can now vote and serve in the military, and shouldnt be treated as half citizens. But attorney Ari Freilich of the San Francisco-based Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence said the legislation would keep guns out of the hands of people with dangerous or violent histories, require additional gun-safety training and increase protection for locations where weapons pose particular dangers. SB918 will help protect the public and limit the harm this ruling might otherwise cause, he said. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko State regulators are looking into allegations that Cruise, the autonomous car company running driverless taxis on San Francisco streets at night, knew that its cars were stalling blocking lanes and intersections even as it was applying for an operating permit and saying the cars were safe and ready to deploy. A person who identified themself as an anonymous employee also said in an email to the California Public Utilities Commission that Cruise withheld details of investigations into collisions and other incidents from employees working on the vehicles safety systems in an effort to avoid negative publicity. Employees generally do not believe we are ready to launch to the public, but there is fear of admitting this because of expectations from leadership and investors, the letter writer said. The allegations are contained in an email sent to the CPUC on May 19 in advance of a June 2 hearing on whether to allow Cruise to offer the states first rides in driverless robo-taxis. The employee who sent the letter offered to verify their employment but said they wanted to remain anonymous out of concern for retaliation. Cruise officials disputed the writers contentions, saying the company works closely with regulators, is focused on safety, and takes vehicle breakdowns, shutdowns and incidents seriously. Our safety record is tracked, reported, and published by multiple government agencies, said Drew Pusateri, a Cruise spokesperson. Were proud of it and it speaks for itself. Despite the email, the commission granted Cruises request, making San Francisco the first major city in the country in which people could hail a paid ride from a driverless taxi. The commission voted unanimously to give Cruise its permit, more than six months after the San Francisco-based company first applied to be able to charge for rides in its autonomous vehicles without a backup driver. The company had been offering free driverless rides since February. During that period of free rides, the letter writer said, multiple vehicle recovery events occurred in which a car stopped and required human intervention. When this occurs, a vehicle is stranded, often in lanes where they are blocking traffic and potentially blocking emergency vehicles, the whistleblowers email said. Sometimes it is possible to remotely assist the vehicle with safely pulling over, but there have been some cases where fallback systems have also failed and it was not possible to remotely maneuver the vehicle outside of the lanes they were blocking until they were physically towed from their location to a facility. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Pusateri acknowledged the incidents but said they include everything that might cause a vehicle to stop, including a flat tire, fireworks set off in the street or an issue with the cars hardware or software. When that happens, he said, the vehicle turns on its emergency lights and pulls over if possible until crews can arrive usually within 10 minutes to fix the problem or tow the vehicle. He also disputed the email writers assertion that other employees share the concerns about allegedly neglecting safety. An April survey of the companys approximately 2,000 employees found that 94% agreed with the statement Safety is a top priority here. Terrie Prosper, a spokesperson for the state Public Utilities Commission, said the agency is investigating the email allegations, as is common with claims concerning regulated companies. We look into the issue to determine validity and whether the entity is adhering to our rules and regulations and take additional regulatory action based on those findings, she said. She offered no timeline for that determination. Michael Cabanatuan (he/him) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan Firefighters in Yosemite National Park have been celebrated for preventing this months Washburn Fire from destroying the nearly 3,000-year-old giant sequoias at Mariposa Grove. But it wasnt just hand tools and hose lines that kept the fire at bay. Past forestry projects, which slashed the amount of brush and trees fueling the flames, made the job much easier, park officials say. And yet, the topic of forest management remains a fraught one in California, especially in Yosemite. While practices such as tree thinning and prescribed burning have proved effective at reducing the risk of a catastrophic fire, disagreement remains about when and where the work should be done. Some people even say the effort is often not worthwhile and at times counterproductive. A recent lawsuit from an environmental group in Berkeley shut down fire prevention projects in Yosemite Valley and other parts of the park this summer; the group says forests are being destroyed with little or no safety benefit. Like wildfires themselves, the debate about treatments is perennial, said Char Miller, a professor of environmental analysis and history at Pomona College in Southern California who studies fire. There are all sorts of arguments and concerns, some of which have nothing to do with fire and everything to do with whacking (forest managers) from the right or the left. And this isnt getting us closer to resolving in specific ways the threats on the ground. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle The division, which adds to the obstacles of funding and staffing that hold up countless projects many say are needed to keep communities safe, comes as Californias wildfire crisis shows little sign of abating. Since 2017, the state has experienced eight of its 10 biggest blazes, and more than 10 million acres and thousands of homes have burned. In Yosemite, park officials were planning this year to remove potentially tens of thousands of trees they say pose a fire hazard. The hope was to lessen the possibility that a small burn would explode into a giant inferno at such high-profile spots as Yosemite Valley and the Merced and Tuolumne sequoia groves. The nonprofit Earth Island Institute, however, sued, and crews stopped working, at least temporarily, last month. The group says the work did little to address fire danger. Reflecting a vocal yet minority view on forest management, members of the group maintain that removing trees doesnt lower the threat but increases it. The reason, they say, is that more warm sunlight and menacing wind get into the forest, which some research shows to be true. The logging that Yosemite National Park is doing will not curb fires, it will make them spread faster and more intensely, said Chad Hanson, a research ecologist with the John Muir Project, part of the Earth Island Institute. We need to change course. Hanson, an influential voice in the wildfire debate who has fought numerous forestry projects, advocates for doing fire safety work closer to communities instead of intervening in the woods. While sometimes supportive of prescribed burning, he and his colleagues say creating defensible space in developed areas and arming homes with fire-resilient materials is the most effective preparation. The lawsuit against the park notes the conflicting points of view, but the legal case is based mainly on procedural issues. The complaint accuses park officials of failing to conduct adequate environmental review. Its a common strategy used to halt forestry work, both when the environmental analysis is believed to fall short and when there are broader concerns about the merits of a project. What you get with these (challenges) is a proper vetting of the science and the evidence in terms of what the effects are going to be, Hanson said. Yosemite officials did not respond to questions about their work before The Chronicles publishing deadline. Their plan remains on hold until a federal judge in Fresno conducts a formal hearing on the case, scheduled for next month. Several others, however, have spoken in favor of the park or at least against Hanson and those who are getting in the way of clearing trees. The science doesnt support what these people are showing and putting out there, said Malcolm North, a longtime expert in the field who works as a research scientist for the U.S. Forest Service. Most of the science community would agree theres not enough forest management being done. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Dozens of researchers have published a handful of papers over the past two years with another on the way that take the unusual step of trying to debunk critiques of forestry projects and make the case for intervention. The reasoning behind active management has long been the same: Decades of fire suppression across the West have led to the unnatural buildup of trees and brush that is making fires burn bigger and faster. The warming climate has only added to the problem. Recent research published by North finds that tree densities in the Sierra Nevada are six to seven times what they were a century ago. The paper suggests that forest thinning is essential to eliminating competition among trees and making them more resilient to fire and other stressors such as insects and drought. Today, the overgrown vegetation is so rampant, say many researchers and land managers, that intentionally lighting fires and allowing lightning-sparked wildfires to run their course, which help restore a forests natural conditions over a large scale, is requisite to addressing the problem. The state and federal governments have already committed to reducing overgrowth. Tens of thousands of acres in California are thinned or burned each year. Its far less than what many scientists say is needed, but Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service plan to jointly increase annual forest treatments to 1 million acres by 2025. The state has about 33 million acres of forest. Still, even when theres agreement on what needs to be done, at least in a broad sense, much of the work is being prevented by tangles over how to move forward. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Because tree thinning can be disruptive to waterways, landscapes and wildlife, environmental regulations are often invoked that essentially confine the efforts. Prescribed burning, meanwhile, is bound by strict air quality laws. Planned burns already face tight seasonal and weather constraints. This year, the head of the Forest Service, Randy Moore, put an additional damper on forest management. He temporarily banned prescribed fire on the agencys lands, citing high fire risk. The Forest Service manages much of Californias wildlands. Weve gotten to a point where the planning process has all these layers of restrictions, said Brandon Collins, an adjunct professor of fire science at UC Berkeley who supports forest treatments. We implement only a small percentage of what is planned because of these difficulties." New, far-reaching legislation that would expedite forestry work, principally in Californias giant sequoia groves, has recently come up against environmental concerns and risks stalling out. The bipartisan Save Our Sequoias Act, introduced last month by Democratic Rep. Scott Peters of San Diego and Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, would provide funding and accelerated regulatory review for thinning and burning that protect the big trees. The proposal follows two years in which nearly 20% of all giant sequoias died in wildfires. While some environmental groups, including the Nature Conservancy and San Franciscos Save the Redwoods League, support the legislation, dozens of others are expressing opposition. Critics say the bill loosens protections under bedrock conservation laws, including the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act, to the point where destructive forestry practices, such as heavy logging, could be set in motion. Theres a reason why we have environmental assessment, said Randy Spivak, public lands program director for the Center for Biological Diversity, which opposes the bill. Weve unraveled ecosystems and its not easy to get them back on track. Spivak cited a recent Forest Service report that found that the prescribed burn in New Mexico that grew into the states largest wildfire this year was partly caused by an insufficient review of environmental conditions. At Yosemites Mariposa Grove, prescribed burning done in 2018 and 2017 had a much different outcome, fortunately. The vegetation cleared by the burns, on top of a nearby tree-thinning project two years ago, limited the spread of the still-burning Washburn Fire, according to park officials. The blaze started July 7, and its cause remains under investigation. Most of the fires growth, officials say, was in the mixed conifer forest outside the sequoia grove that hadnt seen wildfire or prescribed burns or tree thinning in at least 130 years. There is an increased accumulation of fuel in those areas, and youre seeing fire that is harder to control there, said Garrett Dickman, a forest ecologist at Yosemite. Its where weve removed fuels, and spent decades removing the fuels, that were seeing success. Kurtis Alexander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate With firefighters making progress against the Washburn Fire in Yosemite National Park, residents of Wawona can expect to return home Sunday morning, officials announced. The fire which scarred, but did not kill, the famed giant sequoias at the parks Mariposa Grove, stood at 4,822 acres and 37% contained as of Saturday morning. That was up from 4,759 acres and 31% containment on Friday. As of Saturday, 1,623 firefighters were battling the blaze. No homes or other structures have been destroyed, including the famous Victorian-era Wawona Hotel. The Washburn Fire was reported in the Mariposa Grove area on July 7. The cause is under investigation and investigators are still seeking tips from witnesses in the area that day. The blaze, which garnered national attention because of the threat to some of Californias most beloved ancient trees, is the largest fire actively burning in the drought-ridden state. Its one of a couple dozen fires that have already ignited, launching a fire season that experts predict could be dangerous. Despite the grim outlook, the situation appeared improved at Yosemite Saturday. Firefighters contained the fire throughout Mariposa Grove and along the blazes west side. The days weather was expected to be warm and dry, but with light winds, which would ease fire danger. Firefighters predicted that the fire could back down Merced River and upstream near Iron Creek. Things are looking much better, said Matt Ahearn, Operations Section Chief for California Interagency Incident Management Team 13, during a daily briefing. Today is a huge day to get the crews into Iron Creek. Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California The most promising news was the expected return of Wawona residents to their homes. Year-round residents could come back with proof of residency, photo ID and an escort starting at 8 a.m. Sunday via Wawona Road between South Entrance and Wawona. Mallory Moench (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@mallorymoench A stalled 222-unit housing project near the West Oakland BART Station will come before the City Council again on Tuesday amid a state review on the delay. The Michaels Organization has proposed a 222-unit development at a vacant parcel at 1396 Fifth St., across the street from the BART station. The project, unanimously approved by the Planning Commission more than a year ago, has been sent to the City Council for final approvals several times. In April 2021, the City Council further delayed the project, calling for more environmental analysis after a coalition of four local unions appealed the Planning Commissions decision arguing for more environmental analysis. The group, East Bay Residents for Responsible Development, which has challenged other housing in the region, argues that the city hasnt analyzed site-specific hazardous waste and needs to do a supplemental environmental review. That review could take a year. The city and the developers both say the environmental review of the project is sufficient and further analysis is inappropriate and unjustified. The developer alleged that the unions had offered to drop their appeal if the unions were hired to do the work. The groups leader called the allegation a lie and repugnant. At stake is an eight-story residential building of much-needed housing near transit, including 16 units for very-low-income households. The project could help Oakland meet its state-mandated housing goals of planning for 26,000 new homes by 2031. As part of that process, every city in California also has to submit a housing element to the state, laying out how it will plan new homes, and the state has said it will closely watch the citys housing element. Housing advocates are urging the council to move forward with the project and say they might sue if the project is killed. Corey Smith, executive director of the Housing Action Coalition, said he hopes the council wont delay the project. Smith said if legal action is the path for a really good housing project, then we will certainly consider that action. If they do, they would be sending a message that the Oakland City Council is certainly willing to take anti-housing votes, Smith said. At this point in time, considering how much housing we need for residents, it would not be a good decision. The councils delays prompted a review by the California Department of Housing and Community Development, which is monitoring what happens Tuesday. Nur Kausar, a spokesperson for the states development department, said the Housing Accountability Unit is following the councils actions and will determine whether there is a violation of state law. Kauser said in a statement that the unit holds jurisdictions accountable for meeting their housing element commitments and complying with state housing laws. Violations of these state laws may lead to consequences including revocation of housing element certification and/or referral to the California Office of the Attorney General. If a citys housing element is not certified, the city would no longer qualify for state and federal grants. On Tuesday, city staff will state that further environmental review is unnecessary, arguing that the soil, groundwater and soil vapor contamination at the site dont require further analysis and will be dealt with by the citys remediation plans. The countys department of environmental health, which has given conditional approval to the projects remediation plan, said potential risk of contamination to construction workers and nearby residents can be managed during redevelopment and long-term use of the site if the developer takes certain actions. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Attorneys representing the developer said the additional analysis is not warranted and requiring one would be an abuse of discretion. John Dalrymple, a member of East Bay Residents for Responsible Development, said that the city and developer still have work to do and that the mitigation plans should be determined before final approvals. Dalrymple, who is calling for a supplemental environmental review, said noise, traffic and airborne particulates that might float into the air during the remediation of the site have not been analyzed and must be before the council moves forward with the project. Jason Overman, a spokesman for the Michaels Organization, urged the council to reject the appeal and said East Bay Residents for Responsible Development is playing political games and they are weaponizing environmental laws to oppose housing. The simple fact is that this site will be clean before anything is built, Overman said. Sarah Ravani (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani Caltrans plans to clear out 200 homeless people from the sprawling homeless encampment at Oaklands Wood Street by the first week of August, officials said. The transportation agency said in a release they will begin shutting down the entire encampment in phases beginning July 20 and will work with city officials and the county to place people in alternate shelter. The department is taking this action to address the increasingly serious safety risks to life, property and infrastructure at the encampment, including from the fire this week that prompted the closure of the MacArthur Maze, Caltrans said in a statement. City leaders have been struggling with how to deal with the massive encampment, which has exploded in size over the past seven years. Officials have argued that they dont have enough shelter beds to accommodate the number of people living at the encampment, which spans 25 city blocks. Caltrans said it would shut down the entire encampment, clearing out about 200 people who live there. Its unclear if the transportation agency meant the entire Wood Street encampment or only the part located on land it owns. The encampment is on property owned by the city, railroads and various government agencies, including Caltrans, which owns the property directly under the freeway. Its uncertain if Caltrans has the authority to clear land it doesnt own. Caltrans couldnt immediately be reached for further comment. The city did not immediately return a request for comment. In May, Gov. Gavin Newsoms administration awarded Oakland a $4.7 million grant to fund a new community cabin site or tiny home village at Wood Street for about 50 people and to figure out how to help others at the site. In May, city officials put the total number of residents in the encampment at 300 people. Residents of the encampment said they know that Caltrans has long wanted to clear them out and plan to resist if the sweep happens. Caltrans has completed much smaller sweeps in the past. Now is the big showdown, said Theo Cedar Jones, a resident at Wood Street for nearly two years. I do not look forward to being kicked out. I really love this life here. Mayor Libby Schaaf, city administrator Ed Reiskin, police Chief LeRonne Armstrong and Daniel Cooper, the citys newly appointed homelessness administrator, were at Wood Street on Wednesday. They declined to speak to reporters. City staff were there to clear out residents from the northern part of the encampment, near the city-sanctioned RV safe parking site. Homeless advocates said residents were offered alternative shelter spaces. A day later, tensions escalated when witnesses said Oakland police tased an encampment resident. A spokesperson for the Oakland Police Department said the department is investigating a use-of-force incident on Thursday just after 2:45 p.m. in the area of West Grand Avenue and Wood Street. The spokesperson said officers were at the scene to assist the citys public works department with an intervention and closure of a small part of the encampment. Police said a person allegedly assaulted a public works employee and when officers tried to detain him, he refused and they used force. The man, who was not identified, was taken into custody. On Monday, police said the man is facing charges for throwing an object at a vehicle. They did not respond to questions as to what the object was. Talya Husbands-Hankin, a homeless advocate who witnessed the incident, said the city was out in extreme force, resulting in more trauma for the unhoused residents. Husbands-Hankin said she saw an officer tase the man and tackle him to the ground. The man was bleeding and was very confused asking police what he had done wrong. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. She said shed never seen such a big escalation, referring to the tasing. In May, city officials told The Chronicle that they dont have enough shelter beds to offer to everyone at Wood Street. Oakland which has more than 5,000 homeless people currently has 598 year-round, city-funded shelter beds, 313 community cabin and temporary structure shelter spaces, 147 RV safe parking spaces and 353 city-funded transitional-shelter beds. At the time, city officials said they didnt yet have a timeline on when the new cabin community at Wood Street would break ground. Wood Street residents deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, Husbands-Hankin said. Pushing people with no real and adequate shelter to accommodate them is inhumane and does not solve the larger problem. The news of the clearing comes after a two-alarm fire broke out Monday at the site, which dozens of blazes have torn through over the past year. Cars, RVs and debris burned Monday, sending a giant cloud of smoke into the sky, and freezing highway traffic in the vicinity. The conditions at the encampment which has mountains of trash and burned-out vehicles were called cruel and inhumane in a U.N. report from 2018. The expert behind the report compared it to the poorest places in the world, decried the lack of access to clean water and toilets, and said the rodent infestations, fire dangers and other hazards should be quickly addressed. Sarah Ravani (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani Should San Francisco move to charge juveniles accused of certain crimes as adults? Our new district attorney, Brooke Jenkins, has not been shy about saying she intends to explore the idea and that she will reverse her predecessor Chesa Boudins stated policy of refusing to do so. The question of charging kids in adult court, however, is much bigger than Boudin and the recall that excised him from office. Context is needed. In 2000, swept up in the hysterical and racialized fear over the now disproven theory of juvenile super predators, Californians voted to give prosecutors unilateral authority to charge kids as young as 14 as adults for certain crimes. That determination had previously been in the hands of judges. Prosecutors took advantage of this new tool. And promptly misused it. By 2015, juvenile crime had plummeted. And yet prosecutors in California were charging more kids as adults than ever for felonies. Racial bias in these charging decisions was rampant. Meanwhile, decades of neuroscience and psychology research coalesced to prove that key decision-making parts of the brain dont fully develop until the age of 25. This created valid concerns around the culpability and intent of minors who commit crimes, not to mention their ability to understand a trial in adult court. Data also showed that young people are capable of reform: Minors who are diverted away from incarceration and into rehabilitative programs have a low recidivism rate. In contrast, youth who are incarcerated are much more likely to reoffend. For these reasons and others, California and its voters have spent the better part of the past decade moving away from the harsh treatment of youth in the criminal justice system. In 2013 state legislators passed SB260, which allowed any incarcerated minors who were tried as adults to obtain early parole board hearings. In 2016, voters passed Proposition 57, which stripped prosecutors of the power to unilaterally move kids to adult court and handed that discretion back to judges. In 2018, state legislators passed a law that bans 14- and 15-year-olds from being charged in adult court. Regardless of what you think of Boudins refusal to seek adult charges for kids, his policy did not happen in a vacuum; it was part of a continuum of science-based reform. Which brings us back to Jenkins, who walked back some of the exuberance of her initial public statements in an email to the editorial board. It is important for my team to have prosecutorial discretion in juvenile charging decisions, she told us. She did not elaborate on which cases she would have tried differently than her predecessor, and suggested the answer may be none. I generally do not believe in charging juveniles as adults, she said. It is quite likely that I never will while I am District Attorney ... (but) there may be extremely egregious and heinous cases where that charge may be appropriate. Its important to note that despite what some online rhetoric before and immediately after the recall might have suggested, Jenkins does not have final charging discretion over kids. Thanks to Prop. 57s procedural safeguards, she can only bring a juvenile case to a judge with the request that it be moved to adult court. And there are strict requirements on what type of crimes can be charged in this way, including whether a child would fail at juvenile rehabilitation. This is not to suggest our district attorney doesnt have significant power over the treatment of juvenile defendants. She does. And we have concerns over how she intends to use it. But perhaps more immediately concerning is the manner in which her idea was introduced widely and politically, sans any thoughtful policy rationale. There may indeed be room to carve out a nuanced but compassionate policy alternative to Boudins stance; Jenkins tells us she intends to do just that. But her headline-seeking pronouncements in the politically charged post-recall free-for-all did not engender trust in this regard. Jenkins stated intention bucks years of reform and the apparent will of California voters and legislators, who have time and again shown a distrust in prosecutors decision-making regarding these cases. With the lives of young people on the line, this kind of decision demands incredible care. Were still waiting to see it. This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters. The difference between the Presidios two adventurous new parks can be summed up by the feel of their respective perches that showcase the Golden Gate Bridge. Venture into Presidio Tunnel Tops the $118 million, 14-acre extravaganza that opens Sunday and San Franciscos international icon is on full view each step of your journey to Veterans Overlook, where the pathway widens to 16 feet and theres an undulating biomorphic bench crafted from cypress trees that once grew nearby. Stroll the trail that flows through Battery Bluff, which opened in April a quarter-mile to the west along Lincoln Boulevard, and you encounter the tree-framed vista almost by surprise, plus a terrace-like overlook where you can relax while savoring the postcard-worthy view. Each vista is a knockout. Your preference for one or the other could depend on how you feel that day. And thats true throughout these two large landscapes intended to mend parts of the Presidios oft-altered terrain: Each is a welcome improvement, though they couldnt be less alike. The project that has received the most attention is Tunnel Tops, which straddles six lanes of traffic and is designed to connect two key attractions within this storied one-time Army base that now serves as a national park the historic Main Post and, 35 feet below it along the bay, Crissy Field. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle The original topography was obliterated in the 1930s to clear the way for Doyle Drive, an elevated highway with easy access to the new bridge. Its replacement, Presidio Parkway, was designed so that two stretches would be tucked into tunnels, allowing at least some semblance of the former landscape to be restored. Presidio Tunnel Tops, which sits above the highway, is by far the most ambitious of the two, an effort to resurrect the notion of a steep ridge with a 21st century twist. Parts of the scenery strive to be naturalistic, such as the native grasses and shrubs that, as they mature, will soften the bluffs descent and look much like any other stretch of the California coast. Parts have a staged feel, including the cliff walk that links three artfully curved overlooks along the new bluffs edge. Below it, across from Crissy Field, 3 acres are devoted to youth-oriented activities, including an exuberant playground with an array of earthy nooks for young children. All of which is connected by earth-toned concrete walkways and ramps that swell out at overlooks and where paths cross. Theres nothing cozy about the spacious corridors, because theyre scaled in anticipation of visits from upwards of 2 million people each year. The design is by James Corner Field Operations, the New York-based landscape architecture firm that in 2014 won a competition to reimagine what then was a construction zone as the $1.1 billion Presidio Parkway slowly took shape. Two handsome small buildings in the youth area, including one bisected by an angled woodsy breezeway with public bathrooms on one side and the educational Field Station on the other, are by the San Francisco firm EHDD. The park is a platform, to take in the scene and take in the view, but its also a connector, said Richard Kennedy, who heads Field Operations San Francisco office. What we were doing is choreographing places to experience the show. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle For the most most part, Field Operations succeeds in balancing the competing demands of what is intended to be a platform, a passageway and a spectacle. That word might sound judgmental, but the wow factor was a goal from the start. The remade bluff has the potential to become one of the most iconic destinations in the country, the Trust emphasized when the competition was announced, saying it sought a new space that would be fun, inspiring, and memorable. Thats a high bar for a sprawling space thats just one element in a 1,491-acre national park. Such expectations also make a stop like the Veterans Overlook a bit of letdown. The views are great, no question but the walk is wide enough for small vehicles, while the overlooks rest upon concrete slopes rather than emerging from native shrubs. Its as if crowd control and maintenance needs won out over design intent. Theres no sense of arrival, as with sculpted outlooks elsewhere at the Presidio. This doesnt negate the pleasure of being there. But if you want to get up close and personal with the Presidios historic terrain, Battery Bluff is the place to go. The 6-acre linear strip across from the militarys San Francisco National Cemetery isnt exposed like Tunnel Tops, though it also hides new highway tunnels. Lincoln Boulevard is on the south. A remnant of the original bluff is on the north. Portions of four aged gun batteries that were buried during Doyle Drives construction have been partly revealed. The main trail threads past the rough angular forms of the concrete batteries, trees rising behind them with glimpses of the Marin Headlands beyond. But as you head west, a turn in the path takes you from intimacy to awe the Golden Gate Bridge vista. Here, unlike at Tunnel Tops, theres a proper overlook set a few feet above the trail and separated from it by a narrow band of shrubs. Plus a long bench to recline on and a low wall with the inscription Parks for all forever the slogan of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. I felt we had the better site, honestly. ... There are a lot more layers, said Andrew Sullivan, a landscape architect who has worked on several Presidio projects and now is with the local office of the firm Page. This includes the jagged natural terrain, but also the gun batteries chiseled into the bluff after the Spanish-American War of 1898: Theyre a formidable feature, and we wanted to respect that. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle The contrasts between the newcomers arent simply a matter of topography. The budget for Tunnel Tops was $118 million, with $98 million raised from private donors by the Parks Conservancy. Battery Bluff clocked in at under $40 million, paid for by Caltrans. Thats why Presidio Tunnel Tops could feature benches and tables milled from trees that once grew in the Presidio, while Battery Bluffs were ordered from a catalog. The latters main trail is simple asphalt; the former uses a customized blend of pebbled concrete. This doesnt mean that both spaces arent important, say officials at the Presidio Trust, which manages nearly all of the national park. The materials are simple and the details arent as complex. But in our estimation, thats more appropriate to the site, Michael Boland, the Trusts top planner, said with regards to Battery Bluff. By comparison, Tunnel Tops is expected to be where Presidio newcomers start their day. Its the centerpiece of the most civic part of the Presidio. It will be our Yosemite Valley, where visits begin and end. One park strengthens the context. The other adds a new dimension. Heres a non-design analogy: Think of when youre planning a night out, at least in pre-pandemic times. Do you crave the excitement of the high-profile hot spot? Or a corner booth in a neighborhood bistro, catching up with an old friend? Thats the choice between Battery Bluff and Presidio Tunnel Tops. An already compelling public treasure has two more destinations to explore. And if one doesnt suit your mood at the moment, the other is close by. John King is The San Francisco Chronicles urban design critic. Email: jking@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @johnkingsfchron When Vincent Korta visited his family in Paris this summer, he frequently turned to Google maps on his phone to see the quickest way to get to his next destination. Drive, walk, take public transit or bike? Almost every time, he said, the app recommended bicycling. He often took the advice and he couldnt believe how bike-friendly Paris had become since a previous trip three years ago. That citys mayor, Anne Hidalgo, has transformed Paris by adding more than 180 miles of bike lanes, expanding bike share programs, eliminating many parking spaces, lowering the speed limit to 18 mph on many roads and turning some streets into pedestrian promenades including along the right bank of the Seine. She started the work after her election in 2014, but the pandemic spurred her into high gear, and Korta praised the results. He was one of scores of Chronicle readers who shared stories of recent travel abroad after I described the joy of riding Londons new Elizabeth subway line faster, more frequent, cleaner and more spacious than Muni or BART could ever hope to be. Contrary to what he saw in Paris, Kortas adopted city of San Francisco is resuming the decades-long fight over whether cars should be restricted on 1.5 miles of JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park, ending some popular Slow Streets and doing little about speeding traffic. Mayor London Breed has not used the pandemic to transform San Francisco in any major way. Were the same overly deliberative, bureaucratic, cautious, argumentative, plodding city as always. I was shocked in a good way, Korta said of Paris rapid overhaul. Not like the 30 years it took to build the 1.5 mile Van Ness line for instance. Dont exaggerate, sir. Construction of the Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit lanes only took 27 years. While theres a lot to love about San Francisco few cities rival its beauty, weather, geography and food theres also plenty to learn from other cities that seem to work better. More robust public transit came up a lot in Chronicle readers accounts and from Breed herself. When I asked what shed been most impressed with on her 10-day March trip to Europe to woo tourists, she said long-distance, regional rail. Thats how her team got between London, Brussels, Frankfurt and Paris. It was incredibly easy to leave from the city centers, the travel was smooth, and she was able to either do work or rest on our train ride, said her spokesperson, Jeff Cretan. He said it cemented her long-standing support for Californias unrealized high-speed rail project that could whisk travelers from San Francisco to Los Angeles in less than three hours. Others praised public transit in cities across Europe, Canada, South America and Asia. The Stockholm subway system contains 68 miles of public art, and riding it is like traveling through a giant gallery. Trains in London, Vienna and Paris arrive so frequently, readers said, they rarely had to wait, unlike the J-Church in San Francisco that frequently ghosts hopeful riders. Everything just works so well here! Christopher Monnier said in a FaceTime call from Copenhagen. Its just so much easier to get around Copenhagen without a car than it is in San Francisco. He lives on Potrero Hill and drives regularly because public transportation is sparse, and he doesnt feel safe riding a bike here. In Copenhagen, though, transit is frequent and ubiquitous, and biking is a breeze because of the expansive protected bike lanes. Monnier said hes also noticed how clean Copenhagen is compared with San Francisco, a frequent refrain from readers whove traveled abroad recently. Trash cans elsewhere are just, well, trash cans and not rocket science. In London, I saw basic receptacles from a black box with a hole in it to a wire basket with a plastic liner that worked just fine. In San Francisco, on the other hand, Public Works has been deliberating over the very best, one-of-a-kind city trash can for several years. It seeks to finally place a handful of $12,000 prototypes around the city for testing soon, many months behind schedule. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Other readers said they saw far fewer homeless people in distress on the streets while traveling elsewhere and no blatant displays of untreated mental illness, fentanyl dealing or drug use like those that exist just blocks from our City Hall. Cities around the world including New York, London, Sydney and Vancouver have opened supervised consumption sites to remove drug use from the sidewalks and prevent overdoses, but San Francisco continues to wait after talking about it for more than a decade, even as one to two people die every day of drug overdoses. Asked about the timeline for opening a facility here, Cretan said he didnt have anything to share at this time. It can be refreshing to leave San Franciscos misery behind and see cities that take care of people better than we do. I saw about a dozen homeless people in a week in London, a city that has a No Second Night Out initiative to get people who fall into homelessness inside as quickly as possible. Of course, countries with universal health care and more substantive social safety nets than ours will fare better on that score. David Chu, a Sunset resident and product manager, visited family in Seoul in May said he saw very little homelessness and no obvious drug dealing or use. No, not at all, he said. Im sure you could find it if you looked really, really hard, but its nothing like the Tenderloin. He said that in Seoul, theres more civic pride and a sense of the common good. In San Francisco, he said, people regularly fight to prevent new housing or services near them and often get their way at City Hall, making our entrenched problems even worse. How is this our level of governance? he asked. San Franciscos a place that should be 100% world-class, and oftentimes its sadly the exact opposite. Heather Knight is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf J. Milton Bowers was not a particularly creative murderer at first. He had found a reliable scheme, a scheme used by many murderers before and since, and he stuck with it. In 1885, the San Francisco physician was on his third wife. His previous two had both died suddenly after hed taken out large life insurance policies on them. And wife No. 3, poor Cecelia, had recently become one of the citys most-insured civilians when her husband took out five different policies on her. They added up to the equivalent of over half a million dollars in today's money. If Cecelia knew her husband had been married before and that those women had met mysterious ends perhaps she would have demanded treatment outside of her home at 930 Market when she first fell ill. But she trusted her doctor husband, at least for a little while. Near the end of her two-month death spiral, Cecelias brother, Henry Benhayon, visited her sickbed and noticed a strange whiteness around her mouth. One day, he overheard Cecelia make a chilling protestation. You are torturing me with medicine, she moaned while Dr. Bowers gave her her daily dose. The day after Cecelia died, the city coroner received an anonymous letter. It asked her to look into the death of Mrs. J. Milton Bowers, whose liver illness was not what it seemed. An autopsy was ordered up. The coroner reported that when her stomach was cut open, the overwhelming smell of phosphorus filled the room. She had been poisoned with so much phosphorus, newspaper reports claimed that her body did something very unusual. It glowed in the dark. --- The trial of Dr. Bowers lasted six weeks, the longest in San Francisco history up to that point. The doctors primary defense was that considering his medical knowledge, hed never use phosphorus as the murder weapon. Why do you suppose that if I had any desire to kill my wife I would use phosphorous, a poison so easy of detection? he told reporters indignantly. I, as a physician, would have more sense than to use such a poison. But his past was rapidly catching up with him. Police discovered his string of dead wives, and witnesses testified that Dr. Bowers beat and harassed Cecelia regularly. The jury only deliberated for 35 minutes before bringing back a guilty verdict. Dr. Bowers returned to his jail cell to await execution. It seemed as though Dr. Bowers days as a killer were over. But then he did something that no one expected: He murdered someone else. The body of Cecelias brother Henry was found in Room 21 in a boarding house at 22 Geary. Next to his body were three copies of a suicide note, one for the coroner, one for the press and one for Dr. Bowers, and a bottle of cyanide. The note said he originally planned on murdering Dr. Bowers, but when his sister learned of his plan and threatened to expose him, he decided to silence her instead. Dr. Bowers was innocent of any wrongdoing, Henrys letters pledged. It didnt take a genius to determine there was something strange about the whole tableau. For one, the bottle of cyanide had been tightly recorked. Friends who inspected the suicide note quickly noted they were not written in his handwriting. Then there was the matter of who rented the room. A few days earlier, a man named Thomas Dimmig had paid for the room. Police contacted Dimmig and discovered he was the husband of Theresa Farrell. Theresa Farrell must have been some woman. Although a mere servant by trade, her beauty was such that Dr. Bowers, a well-known philanderer, took her as a lover and a housemaid. During his trial, she took the stand to defend him and said during her time in the Bowers household, she saw no evidence of poisoning. San Francisco Chronicle She was the perfect lackey, and Dr. Bowers must have convinced her to kill for him. The great question, unknown then and still a mystery today, is how Theresa convinced her husband to murder Henry Benhayon. However she did it, the police quickly unraveled the plot. They arrested Dimmig and he was put on trial near the end of 1887. For nearly a full year, Dimmig was tried and retried as each jury deadlocked over the verdict. Finally, a judge ordered the jury to return a decision. Dimmig was declared not guilty. Despite the hiccup in execution, Theresa and Dimmigs frame-job did exactly what Dr. Bowers hoped. On Aug. 16, 1889, the district attorney dismissed the murder charge against the doctor, citing the jurys inability to convict Dimmig meant that Benhayons suicide note had to be taken into consideration. After four years in prison, Dr. Bowers was free. --- Those looking for justice wont find it. Dr. Bowers went back to his medical practice, serving Oakland, San Francisco and San Jose for five more years. He married Mary Bird, who was either the forgiving sort or not one for reading the news. Dr. Bowers died in 1904 and was buried in Colma. Upon his death, a detective who worked his wifes murder told the Chronicle: Let the dead past bury its dead. I am living in the present now, but all the same Dr. Bowers should have broken his neck from a trap instead of dying peaceably. Two things outlived Dr. Bowers: His fourth wife, who lived until 1935, and the memory of his third, immortalized in a popular San Francisco song. Performed to great acclaim in local theaters, the lyrics have since been lost. But the name has not. It was called "The Phosphorescent Bride." PHILADELPHIA Simmons Hanly Conroy in Alton has secured a $3.8 million verdict against Washington Penn Plastics on behalf of the estate of Daniel Dan Rugg and his wife, Sandra. Dan Rugg died of mesothelioma, an occupational cancer caused by asbestos, after working for about 30 years as a maintenance worker at the Pennsylvania plastics factory. The jury found Wash Penn failed to provide a reasonably safe workplace and awarded $1.4 million in compensatory damages to the familys estate, $1.65 million in wrongful death damages and $750,000 in loss of consortium to Sandra Rugg. After examining hundreds of pieces of evidence, the jury found that Wash Penn failed to provide a reasonably safe workplace by using industrial talc that contained asbestos, said Shareholder James Kramer who was trial counsel with Shareholder Donald P. Blydenburgh. The jury clearly understood that companies must take responsibility for exposing their employees to asbestos. Expert testimony during the trial showed the talc used at the plant contained asbestos fibers. Dan Rugg dumped 50-pound bags of industrial talc into giant storage hoppers. Washington Penn was provided with testing documents showing its industrial talc contained asbestos, but never shared that information with their employees, including Dan Rugg. Testimony during trial revealed Washington Penn knew of the dangers of asbestos as early as the 1960s. Yet, the factory never warned its employees or required them to wear protective gear like masks or use respirators. Dans asbestos exposure was prolonged and immense, said Blydenburgh. He worked hard his entire life so he could enjoy retirement with his grandchildren. Instead, he developed and died from an entirely preventable cancer. According to the firm, Dan Rugg was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed taking his grandchildren camping and fishing. After developing symptoms in 2018, he underwent several tests and surgical procedures, including a thoracentesis where fluid was removed from his lungs. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma in spring 2019; he died in 2021 at 64. Every day of the trial, Sandra Rugg sat in the courtroom holding a picture of Dan. This lawsuit was never about the money, she said. This is about the fact that a jury has held Wash Penn responsible for putting profits over its people. I hope no other family has to go through the loss and pain my family and I have experienced. The trial lasted three weeks and the jury deliberated for a day. The verdict was awarded July 14. In addition to Kramer and Blydenburgh, Shareholders Randy S. Cohn, Jared Hausmann and Todd Gampp represented the family in Pennsylvania before Judge Glynnis D. Hill. The verdict is the tenth mesothelioma verdict the firm has won on behalf of mesothelioma patients in the past five years. Simmons Hanly Conroy has offices in Alton, St. Louis, \Los Angeles, New York City and San Francisco. For more, visit www.simmonsfirm.com. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Prosecutors have dropped murder charges against a man accused of killing four people inside an Indianapolis home in 2015, citing the deaths of two witnesses and the discovery that DNA evidence had been compromised. The Marion County Prosecutors Office announced Friday that they filed a motion to dismiss charges against Nicholas Dunn, who had been scheduled to stand trial Monday in the fatal shootings of Terry Bettis, 41; Sherri Taylor, 48; Tiara Turner, 32; and Davon Whitlock, 18. A judge later granted the dismissal of the four murder counts and other charges Dunn had faced. Prosecutors said the charges, which can be refiled, were dropped following the deaths of two witnesses, including a woman who told police that Dunn told her he killed the victims. Although Dunns DNA was on a bottle and two cigarette butts found inside the home, prosecutors said in their motion that the DNA evidence was circumstantial because Dunn told investigators he had been inside the home many times. In addition, DNA results were compromised and later found not to be admissible, they said. Prosecutors said the investigation continues and asked the public for tips. They also said they plan to submit additional DNA evidence for additional forensic tests. Prosecutors office spokesman Michael Leffler said in a statement that Dunn remained in custody Friday on a $200,000 bond in a pending separate case involving an aggravated battery charge. The judge who approved the dismissal of the charges directed authorities to move Dunn as soon as reasonably possible" from the Marion County Jail to a state prison. Dunn was serving prison time on a weapons conviction when he was charged in January 2019 in the quadruple slaying. YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) Containment grew overnight on a fire burning for more than a week in Yosemite National Park and residents of the community of Wawona can return to their homes starting Sunday, park officials said Saturday. The Washburn fire was 37% contained, up from 27% Friday, and grew slightly to 7.5 square miles (19 square kilometers). Yesterday we had a very successful day and it was the day we were waiting for, said Matt Ahearn, operations section chief in a Saturday morning briefing. The fire started July 7 and is now burning in the Sierra National Forest. How the blaze began remains under investigation but officials suspect people were the source. Yosemite National Park visitors are prohibited from starting campfires or smoking in some areas to reduce the threat of sparking new wildfires, the National Park Service said Friday. The famed Mariposa Grove, which includes more than 500 mature sequoias, has escaped serious damage but the area will remain closed to visitors. Ahearn said crews were cleaning up in the grove. People who own private property as well as park employees who live in Wawona can return to their homes starting Sunday morning, but only with escorts. The area remains under a fire advisory. Farther north, all evacuation orders and road closures were lifted Saturday morning in the Peter Fire in Shasta County. Crews also reported favorable overnight conditions and containment was at 65%, up from 34% Friday. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said the fire erupted shortly before 3 p.m. Thursday and destroyed 12 structures. JIM THORPE, Pa. (AP) A former Pennsylvania police chief convicted of rape of a child has been sentenced to 16 to 32 years in prison, state prosecutors said. The Pennsylvania attorney general's office said the sentence was imposed Friday on 30-year-old Brent Getz following his conviction on rape and sexual abuse charges in a jury trial in Carbon County in March. After his 2019 arrest, Getz was fired from his job as police chief in Weissport, a town of some 400 residents 77 miles (124 kilometers) northwest of Philadelphia. A co-defendant who pleaded guilty to child rape in November 2020 and testified against Getz was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison. Authorities said both men were adolescents when the abuse began. The victim said she was abused hundreds of times over a period of seven years beginning when she was about 4 years old. At his trial, Getz repeatedly denied that he had ever sexually assaulted the victim. Defense attorney Brian Collins sought a sentence in the mitigated range and a five-year minimum term, citing his client's age and record, the (Lehighton) Times-News Online reported. Carbon County prosecutors referred the case to the state attorney general's office because Getz had been a police officer employed by a number of police departments in the county. The attorney general's office said the defendants must register as sex offenders for the remainder of their lives. HAVANA (AP) Jose Ramon Balaguer, a longtime member of Cubas communist leadership who as health minister sent thousands of the islands doctors on missions to win hearts and minds in Venezuela and developing countries around the world, has died at age 90. An official statement read over state television late Friday reported the death, though no cause was given. It said his ashes would be honored at the Pantheon of Veterans in Havana before being taken to eastern Cuba, where he was born. Balaguer served as health minister from 2004 until 2010 following a dozen years as the Communist Partys ideology chieftain, striving to ensure adherence to Marxist principles as the island muddled through an economic crisis sparked by the collapse of its former Soviet benefactors. He was elected to the Communist Partys Central Committee in April 2011, serving as head of international relations for the leadership body, though he gave up his seat on the more powerful Politburo, which he had held for decades. Born on June 6, 1932, in Guantanamo, Jose Ramon Balaguer Cabrera was just six years younger than Fidel Castro and an important member of Cubas oldest surviving generation of leaders known as the historicos, or historic ones, for their roles in the Cuban revolution. Balaguer served in the rebel army that catapulted Castro to power with the revolutions triumph over Fulgencio Batista in January 1959. Though trained as a physician, Balaguer spent most of his life dedicated to politics and government. He was Cubas last ambassador to the Soviet Union, the island's closest ally for decades. Balaguer was long seen as an orthodox ideologue intensely loyal to Fidel Castro. During the economic and political crisis that followed the Soviet breakup, it was Balaguer who Castro tapped in 1992 to be chief of the Communist Partys ideology and foreign policy divisions. Balaguer replaced Carlos Aldana, who was sacked for living above the people. Balaguer also sat on the nations supreme governing body, the Council of State, which Fidel Castro headed as president before he resigned in February 2008 due to illness. Castros younger brother Raul replaced him as president, and was later named head of the Communist Party. Raul Castro retired as president in 2018 and as party leader in 2021. Balaguers appointment as health minister, made at the elder Castros suggestion, was a surprise that signaled growing ideological control over key government posts. At the time of his appointment, the Communist Party newspaper Granma said the change demonstrated the importance and intensification of efforts that the Cuban public health program needs right now both inside and outside the country. He retired from public positions in 2019. A lawsuit filed against Regions Financial Corp. alleges that bank holding company mismanaged a charitable trust named for a former Alabama secretary of state charging exorbitant fees and steering scholarship money to children of the trust board members. The suit, dated July 7, was filed in Montgomery County Circuit Court by family members of Mabel Amos, who served as Alabama Secretary of State from 1967 to 1975, al.com reports. The lawsuit contends that the board trustees benefited personally using the funds in the Trust to educate their children at out-of-state expensive colleges and were not in financial need, while members of Amos immediate family were in financial need. The suit seeks to remove Regions as the trustee bank and require it to pay back all distributions to the trustee children, as well as compensatory and punitive damages. In 1993, Amos filed her will establishing a memorial trust in her name with Union Bank, which eventually merged with Regions. According to the lawsuit, Regions began charging outrageous fees when oil was discovered on Amos property, in contrast to reasonable fees when there were only natural gas wells there. For example, in the suit the plaintiffs claim that Regions was paid about $7,000 for spending five hours a week administering the trust in 2010. Within a year, that same five hours a week cost $92,736. From 2002 to 2018, the suit claims, the trust paid more than $1 million in administration fees to Regions. At the same time, the number and dollar amount of scholarships also increased, from $21,794 through five scholarships in 2011, to $214,000 among 17 scholarships two years later. Among those scholarships were thousands of dollars for the children of two attorney trustees, the suit claims, who did not attend colleges in Alabama, which was not Amos intent in setting up the trust. In addition, Lagniappe Mobile reported the son and daughter of Alabama Ethics Commission Executive Director Tom Albritton received $120,000 from the trust to attend the University of Texas. Al.com reached out to Jennifer Elmore, vice president of corporate media and public relations for Regions, who would not comment directly on the suit. Regions fee is less than one percent of the market value of the assets under management, and that is consistent with our standard rates and competitive with industry rates, Elmore stated. With the U.S. Supreme Court's recent reversal of Roe vs. Wade, candidates running in primary elections are sharing their views on what abortion access should look like in Michigan. Midland County Clerk and Republican candidate for the new 95th State Representative District, Ann Manary, drew criticism from some GOP voters after her recent appearance at a pro-choice rally, declaring she supports the access to abortion. This is in stark contrast to her primary opponent, Bill G. Schuette, who maintains a more typical GOP pro-life position on abortion. In an interview with the Midland Daily News, Schuette said the Supreme Court made the correct decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade and that he wants to protect it at all stages of a pregnancy. There should be medical interventions made when the life of a mother is at risk, Schuette said. He is not willing to support exceptions for pregnancy caused by rape or incest. Those (cases) are tragedies, and if and when those instances occur, we need to provide every single resource to the victims in those cases, and provide them with the care and treatment that they need, Schuette said. In those cases though, I believe the baby is still innocent (and) we still need to protect life. When she announced her candidacy in February 2021, Manary said she knew the question of abortion would be one that a state legislative candidate would have to answer. While she said that may be a negative in some peoples eye, she affirms that she has always been pro-choice. I truly think it was a sad day for women in this country for that to happen, especially when you look at the statistics, Manary said. Over 61% of the adult population in the United States believe that abortion should be legal, and 77% of the people in the state of Michigan believe that abortion should be the choice of the woman. I do not see how anyone could represent individuals in the state of Michigan and not think this was a very important topic. She believes a persons right to an abortion should not a political issue and that the government should not get involved with the medical rights of women. She added that she has friends who had to get abortions in the past because the fetuses died in utero and that this is a medical issue. After Roe v. Wade was overturned, former Democrat State Representative candidate Sarah Schulz posted on her Facebook page urging voters who care about reproductive rights to vote in the Republican primary in August, referring to Manarys pro-choice stance. There are differences in opinions for the Democrat primary candidates for the district too. Larry Grell of Billings Township in Gladwin County said he is split on the issue. I feel a woman should be in control of her body, Grell said. Then again, it is not a simple yes and no situation. Does that baby have rights too? It is a tough situation. He said he has seen women on both sides of this issues and wants to know what women want. He said this issue is going to have to be on the state ballot this fall. His opponent, Matt Dawson, has a more direct opinion on the matter. I'm pro-choice. Period. Dawson said. I believe in protecting the reproductive rights of women. Dawson is concerned with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomass desire for the court to revisit cases that made gay marriage legal, made gay relationships legal, and made birth control accessible. He is concerned about these rights disappearing if Michigan voters are not paying attention to who is getting elected. Schuette said Michigan needs to do a better job providing prenatal care, providing connections and support for adoption services, connecting adoption services with mothers/families and providing post-pregnancy resources. He also supports expanding adoption and parental tax credits. When asked if he would support paid maternity leave and helping cover the costs of childbirth, Schuette said the legislature should look at all options. We need to look at every single option that we can provide to supports to families because this (parenting) is an incredibly important responsibility a huge gift, Schuette said. When asked how she thinks her pro-choice stance and Republicans continuing to share misinformation about elections will affect her chances with GOP primary voters, Manary said she is an outspoken person on issues, with these two in particular being topics she is passionate about. But she thinks these two issues should not define her campaign. I believe younger Republicans are more socially liberal than the older generation, Manary said. They say things to me like, This is not my place. This is not my choice. When we talk about abortion, when we talk about the LGBTQ community, they say the same things. This isn't about me. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A crowd of 50 happy revelers gathered on Thursday at Town Hall for the annual observance of Bastille Day and a celebration of France. The French flag was raised at the ceremony, followed by a morning reception at Bistro V on Greenwich Avenue and dinner at LEscale on Steamboat Road. The multipart event was put together by the Alliance Francaise of Greenwich. Bastille Day is a day where we celebrate French values. Jeremie Robert, the French counsel general stationed in New York City, said at the flag-raising. They are liberty, equality and fraternity. These values are shared by our American allies. We founded our countries on the idea of liberty and democracy and these values have to be defended every day because in the world today there are a lot of challenges. Looking out at the crowd, Robert said it was wonderful to see so many members of the French-speaking community and friends of France all gathered here. First Selectman Fred Camillo read a proclamation for Bastille Day and paid tribute to Greenwichs French-American community. He also spoke about the relationship between France and the United States, which dates back to the American Revolution. It has stood the test of time, Camillo said. We stood together in two world wars and was symbolized by the immortal words of an American soldier in World War I when he said, Lafayette we are here. The French flag was raised by 18-month-old Nika Blech of Greenwich, assisted by her grandfather, Le Penguin owner Antoine Blech, as well as her parents, Adrien and Kate Blech. To close out the event, Town Ambassador at Large Bea Crumbine led everyone in singing La Marseillaise, followed by town resident Robert Genna leading the crowd in singing The Star-Spangled Banner. Chickahominy With the annual St. Rochs Feast just weeks away, the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to close St. Roch Avenue to traffic every day of the event from 6 to 11 p.m. The feast will be held from Aug. 10 through Aug. 13 in front of St. Rochs Church. Greenwich police officers will be on hand to direct traffic. There was no doubt the selectmen would approve the item as usual. It took mere minutes at Thursdays meeting, with First Selectman Fed Camillo saying they are very familiar with the feast and are looking forward to it, especially to the pizza fritta. Weve done this (closure) before and its never been an issue, said Camillo, who before the meeting had issued a statement clarifying his views on the event. The feasts organizers have for years sought permission to use the field at Hamilton Avenue School, which is across the street from the church. But they have been unable to forge an agreement with the school district to place carnival rides on the field. The church has not used the field since the completion of school renovations 2009. The school board has been reluctant to allow use of the fields due to the weight of the equipment. Camillo said in his statement, We must respect their decision and the good relationship between the BOE and the church. Camillo said the towns support for the feast is strong and he hoped the district and the church could find a solution for next year. The towns support of the church dates back for decades and more recently when the COVID pandemic threatened to cancel the event entirely, Camillo said. In 2020, my office worked with Paul Cappiali and the feast committee to facilitate a scaled-down version of the feast in the middle of the pandemic when no other parish in the state held one. Because of the precautions initiated then, the feast wasnt a super-spreader of the virus and was a historic success for the time-period in which it was held. Cos Cob When Ben Pote opened Wildacre Rotisserie, his new chicken restaurant in Cos Cob, he wanted to connect to the community and build relationships with local nonprofits. For Wildacres opening on June 23, Pote pledged to donate the first days sales to Neighbor to Neighbor, which operates a local food pantry. This past Tuesday, Pote presented a check for those proceeds, which came to a total of $3,971, to Neighbor to Neighbors Executive Director Margaret Tjimos Goldberg. When we conceptualized this restaurant we wanted to have strong relationships with local charities, Pote said. Asking around, Neighbor to Neighbor was one of the first ones that people mentioned. I cold-called Neighbor to Neighbor. We wanted this to be a place tied into the community and the local neighborhood. We are so dependent on the community for our business and that connection started six months before we even opened. Its rooted in our mission of wanting to nourish the community. Goldberg said that kind of support is critical after demand for the nonprofits food services grew during the COVID-19 pandemic. We need this very strong, positive engagement. Look at the business model that Ben has instituted here in giving back to the community, she said. Its important to the essence of who they are and what they want to do in the community. It raises all of us to a level of engagement and thoughtfulness. Pote also donated unsold food after that first day to Neighbor to Neighbor to distribute to their clients. We wanted to be able to feed people right away, he said. We knew we were going to start with a lot of food left over. Thats the nature of the beast for restaurant openings. Youre making a lot of food to train on and you end up unfortunately putting a lot of it in the bin or use for composting. We knew it would be so much better if we could put that food into peoples mouths. Wildacre is located at 147 E. Putnam Ave. in Cos Cob at the former Starbucks location. Downtown Greenwich teens can check out the Average Joes versus Globogym in an epic dodgeball showdown at the outdoor Teen Movie Night, courtesy of the Greenwich United Way. The nonprofit will show Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story from 7 to 10 p.m. July 23 in Roger Sherman Baldwin Park. A free ice cream truck will be on hand as well as a food truck. Attendees are encouraged to bring along lawn chairs or blankets. The movie, starring Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn along with several hilarious cameos, has built a cult following since its release in 2004. It is rated PG-13. The movie was chosen off a list by the kids, Greenwich United Way CEO David Rabin said. The Greenwich United Way, in partnership with several town organizations, including the GPD, jumped at the chance to give teens a fun, constructive event, Rabin said. Social and emotional learning is a critical part of youth development, and movie night will bring the teens together at a time when they need it the most. Registration is required for the free event at www.greenwichunitedway.org/teen-movie-night/. The event is for Greenwich teens ages 13 to 18. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) North Macedonia has approved a French proposal that opens the way for negotiations to join the European Union and overcome Bulgarian objections. There were 68 votes in favor of the proposal in the 120-member chamber, with the leftist coalition, which has 61 seats, getting the backing of small ethnic Albanian parties. Opposition lawmakers left the chamber in protest, abstaining from the vote. Protesters gathered again outside Parliament, as they have done every day for 10 days, but the protest ended peacefully. Under the proposal, announced by French President Emmanuel Macron last month, North Macedonia would commit to changing its constitution to recognize a Bulgarian minority, protect minority rights and banish hate speech, as Bulgaria, an EU member since 2007, has demanded. The deal would also unblock the start of negotiations for neighboring Albania, another EU hopeful. Macron had stressed that the proposal doesnt question the official existence of a Macedonian language, but he had noted that, like all deals, it rests on compromises and on a balance. But revising the constitution may prove too high a hurdle, since that requires a two-thirds majority, or 80 votes. The main opposition party, the center-right VMRO-DPMNE, and its allies, as well as a small leftist party, with 46 seats among them, have declared they will never agree to change the constitution. Later Saturday, after a cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski announced that North Macedonia will start accession talks with EU on July 19. With this, we conclude another objectively historical step for our country. We have a negotiating framework in which the Macedonian language and identity are protected, he said. The country's ruling coalition has backed the proposal as a reasonable compromise that doesnt endanger national interests or identity, while the opposition has denounced it a national betrayal that caves in to Bulgarias questioning North Macedonias history, language, identity, culture and heritage. The French proposal has also roiled Bulgaria, where Prime Minister Kiril Petkov has accepted it. His centrist government was toppled in a no-confidence vote on June 22 when allies described Petkovs willingness to lift the veto of North Macedonia into the EU as a national betrayal. EU and US leaders welcomed North Macedonias decision to back the deal. Charles Michel, president of the European Council, called the parliaments vote "a crucial step for North Macedonia and the EU. Our future is together and we welcome you with open arms. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said this decision comes at a critical moment for North Macedonia, the Western Balkans, and Europe. A European Union that includes all of the Western Balkans, including Albania and North Macedonia, will be stronger and more prosperous. Now is the time to build momentum, Blinken said in a statement. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama also hailed North Macedonian parliament's decision, which also opens the way for EU talks for his country too. This is not the end of the road but only the beginning of a new part of the road we want Albania to be in, he said. ___ Llazar Semini contributed from Tirana, Albania. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Republican U.S. Sen. Rand Paul holds a commanding fundraising advantage over Democratic challenger Charles Booker heading into the final months of their top-of-the-ticket race in Kentucky. Paul raised more than $3.1 million in the three-month period through June, while Booker collected more than $1.3 million, each campaign said. Paul bolstered his campaign cash reserves, with $9.2 million still in the bank. Booker had about $900,000 in his campaign account. Paul a former presidential candidate seeking a third Senate term in November is better positioned than ever to win reelection, said Jake Cox, his deputy campaign manager. Rand Pauls pro-liberty message continues to resonate with Kentuckians who depend on him to defend their freedoms in the Senate, Cox said in a news release. Booker, a former state lawmaker, has acknowledged that Paul can throw all his big money into the campaign but has insisted he can overcome the disparity. Booker pointed to his campaign's surging numbers among small-dollar donors. He acknowledged that more financial contributions are critical while stressing that his campaign is winnable and worth the investment." In a statement, Booker said he's proud to be a campaign that is funded by the people. The people of Kentucky deserve a U.S. senator who sees them and will fight for them. Kentucky hasnt elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in three decades. The Senate race has at times seemed to be overshadowed by the state's emerging 2023 governor's race. Several Republican hopefuls are jockeying for advantage in what's shaping up as an intensely competitive GOP gubernatorial primary next spring. Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear is seeking a second term. The campaign between Paul and Booker is a battle between starkly different philosophies. Booker is a progressive who promotes such social programs as Medicare for All and a basic universal income, saying the initiatives would uplift people from poor urban neighborhoods to struggling rural communities. He also supports a clean-energy agenda and criminal justice changes. Paul is a libertarian-leaning conservative first elected to the Senate in the tea party-driven wave of 2010. Paul rails against socialism and big-government programs he says encroach on individual liberties and drive up the nations debt. The senator also denounces what he views as government overreach in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Booker is the first Black Kentuckian in state history to be the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KRAMATORSK, Ukraine (AP) Russian forces fired missiles and shells at cities and towns across Ukraine on Saturday after Russia's military announced it was stepping up its onslaught against its neighbor. Ukraine reported at least 17 more civilians killed. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu gave instructions to further intensify the actions of units in all operational areas, in order to exclude the possibility of the Kyiv regime launching massive rocket and artillery strikes on civilian infrastructure and residents of settlements in the Donbas and other regions," his ministry said Saturday. Russias military campaign has been focusing on the eastern Donbas, but the new attacks hit areas in the north and south as well. Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, has seen especially severe bombardments in recent days, with Ukrainian officials and local commanders voicing fears that a second full-scale Russian assault on the northern city may be looming. At the same time, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Ukrainians not to fall for Russia's attempts to scare them with warnings of horrendous missile attacks to come, which he said were aimed at dividing Ukrainian society. Sometimes, information weapons can do more than regular weapons," he said in his nightly video address to the nation. Its clear that no Russian missiles or artillery will be able to break our unity or lead us away from our path toward a democratic, independent Ukraine," he said. And it is also clear that Ukrainian unity cannot be broken by lies or intimidation, fakes or conspiracy theories. In the Kharkiv region, at least three civilians were killed and three more were injured Saturday in a pre-dawn Russian strike on the city of Chuhuiv, which is only 120 kilometers (75 miles) from the Russian border, the police said. Serhiy Bolvinov, the deputy head of the Kharkiv region's police force, said four missiles presumably fired from the Russian city of Belgorod hit an apartment building, a school and administrative buildings at about 3:30 a.m. Writing on Facebook, he said the three bodies were found under the rubble. Lyudmila Krekshina, who lives in the apartment building that was hit, said a husband and wife were killed, and also an elderly man who lived on the ground floor. Another resident said she was lucky to have survived. I was going to run and hide in the bathroom. I didn't make it and that's what saved me, said Valentina Bushuyeva. Pointing up at her destroyed apartment, she said: There's the bathroom explosion. Kitchen half a room. And I survived because I stayed put. In the neighboring Sumy region, one civilian was killed and at least seven were injured after Russians opened mortar and artillery fire on three towns and villages not far from the Russian border, regional governor Dmytro Zhyvytsky said Saturday. In the embattled eastern Donetsk region, seven civilians were killed and 14 wounded in the last 24 hours in Russian attacks on cities, its governor said Saturday. Later in the day, on the outskirts of Pokrovsk, a city in the Donetsk region, a woman said a neighbor was killed by a rocket attack Saturday afternoon. Tetiana Pashko said she herself suffered a cut on her leg and one of her familys dogs was killed. She said her 35-year-old neighbor, who was killed in her front yard, had evacuated earlier this year as authorities had requested but had returned home after being unable to support herself. Several homes on the quiet residential street were damaged, with doors and roofs ripped away. We can rebuild but we cant bring her back, said another neighbor, Olha Rusanova. In the neighboring Luhansk region, however, Ukrainian troops repelled a Russian overnight assault on a strategic eastern highway, said Gov. Serhiy Haidai, adding that Russia had been attempting to capture the main road between the cities of Lysychansk and Bakhmut for more than two months. The Luhansk and Donetsk regions make up the Donbas, an eastern industrial region that used to power Ukraine's economy and has mostly been taken over by Russian and separatist forces. In southern Ukraine, two people were wounded by Russian shelling in the town of Bashtanka, northeast of the Black Sea city of Mykolaiv, according the regional governor, Vitaliy Kim. He said Mykolaiv itself came under renewed Russian fire before dawn Saturday. On Friday, he posted videos of what he said was a Russian missile attack on the citys two largest universities and denounced Russia as a terrorist state. In Odesa, a key port city on the Black Sea, a Russian missile hit a warehouse, engulfing it in flames and sending up a plume of black smoke, but no injuries were reported, local officials said. Two people were killed and a woman was hospitalized after a Russian rocket strike on the eastern riverside city of Nikopol, emergency services said. Dnipropetrovsk Gov. Valentyn Reznichenko said a five-story apartment block, a school and a vocational school building were damaged. On Friday, cruise missiles fired by Russian bombers struck Dnipro, a major city in southeastern Ukraine on the Dnieper River, killing at least three people and wounding 16, Ukrainian officials said. On Saturday, Russian defense officials claimed that strike had destroyed workshops producing components for, and repairing, Tochka-U ballistic missiles, as well as multiple rocket launchers. The Ukrainian air force said Russian forces fired six more cruise missiles Saturday from strategic bombers in the Caspian Sea, and two hit a farm in the Cherkasy region along the Dnieper River. No one was hurt, but agricultural equipment was destroyed and some cattle were killed, regional Gov. Ihor Taburets said. The Ukrainian air force said the other four missiles were intercepted. The deadliest Russian attack this week came Thursday, when a Russian missile strike killed at least 24 people including three children and wounded more than 200 in Vinnytsia, a city southwest of Kyiv, the capital, far from the front lines. Three of those missing after the attack were found alive in the rubble Saturday and one person remained missing, the emergency service said. Russia claimed the Kalibr cruise missiles hit a military facility that was hosting a meeting between Ukrainian air force command and foreign weapons suppliers. Ukrainian authorities insisted the site, a concert hall, had nothing to do with the military. Ukraines Interior Ministry says Russian forces have conducted more than 17,000 strikes on civilian targets during the war, killing thousands of fighters and civilians and driving millions from their homes. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has also rippled through the world economy, hiking energy and food prices and crimping exports of key Ukrainian and Russian products such as grain, fuel and fertilizer. ___ Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) Billionaire banker and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford plans to ask the South Dakota Supreme Court to bar the release of affidavits used to issue search warrants into a child pornography investigation, his lawyer said Friday. The notice came after Judge James Power refused to first release the affidavits to Sanfords legal team before they became public. Sanford attorney Stacy Hegge argued they couldn't evaluate whether to appeal unless they reviewed the documents, the Sioux Falls Argus Leader reported. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate TORRINGTON Ashlee Thomas has had more than her share of heartache. Born to drug-addicted parents, she spent much of her childhood in foster homes, group homes and shelters. Her father served time in jail for his involvement in a robbery, she said, and she was taken from her mother. Today, her mother still struggles with substance abuse, and her father is somewhere in Maine, last she heard. Those difficult beginnings eventually led the 27-year-old Torrington resident and her friend Carly Roberts to start an initiative called OD Reduction Connecticut, or odreductionct on TikTok, where they post videos and information on how people addicted to illicit substances can find clean supplies and Narcan kits and help, if they want it. Thomas sons father recently died of an overdose, and she said she is dedicating OD Reduction CT to him and the millions of others who didnt survive their last drug use. Thomas has applied for state certification, which she said would allow her to apply for grants to purchase syringes, drug testing strips for heroin, cocaine and fentanyl, and Narcan, a drug used to reverse an overdose. I am printing up information brochures with resources for people, and Ive done some needle cleanups in Torrington and Winsted, because kids dont need to see drug stuff all over the ground, she said. I just want to help these people, so they can get the help they need. Thomas and Roberts plan to visit neighborhoods in Winsted and Torrington and hold weekly syringe exchanges and have a biohazard container for disposal. Surviving her childhood Losing her sons father, whose name shes kept anonymous, was a blow for Thomas. If he was administered Narcan, he might have survived and hed be here now, she said. Ive lost a lot of people. ... Everyone has. I lost my cousin. My father served 16 years in prison because he got involved in gangs, and did armed robbery while he was under the influence of drugs, she said. My mom lost me to DCF for almost all of my childhood; it has affected me a lot. When I think back on when I saw my mom heavily using, I saw her overdose. This was before there was Narcan. If wed had that, maybe it wouldnt have been so bad. Addiction has played a huge role in her life, she said. I look at people struggling with drugs and I just see them going through it, she said. They just need some help. Joining the effort Like the Litchfield County Opiate Task Force, McCall Center for Behavioral Health and Greenwoods Addiction Outreach, Thomas says everyone should have a supply of Narcan handy to save lives. Those three agencies are doing much of the same thing Thomas is proposing. The task force as a team of rovers who visit areas known for illicit drug activity and talk with the people they find, giving them information and help if they accept it. Lauren Pristo, director of the Opiate Task Force, welcomed the idea of a new team of volunteers getting involved in its efforts. The task force is a community partner with McCall, Greenwoods, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, youth service bureaus and other agencies that work with schools, social service organizations and volunteers to help individuals and families with support and harm reduction, providing supplies, information and avenues to treatment. Were interested in talking to Ashlee, Pristo said. I appreciate people with stories like Ashlees; people are coming into this kind of work with a broken heart, and wanting to help people in the community. They are our most powerful advocates. She wants to be sure Thomas and Roberts understand the help thats already available. People come up with ideas like this, and they dont often know theres systems already in place, she said. They see a need and they want to take action. The Rover Program is what connects the different agencies efforts, Pristo said. The Rover is the toolbox, with all the information in it. Ashlee could be a rover, do the work and track her supplies through the task force. That way, its a central, coordinated effort. In May, Sarah Toomey from Greenwoods Addiction Services reported an overdose spike, and said it was because the drug fentanyl is being mixed with heroin and cocaine without users knowledge. Toomey, lead community outreach and recovery navigator for Greenwoods Addiction Outreach, said the current rate of overdoses is about 25 per month in Litchfield County. The substance abuse outreach program is part of Greenwoods Counseling Referrals, which provides mental health services to individuals and families throughout the Northwest Corner. Pristo said another spike recently was reported. I know of three overdose deaths in the past week, she said. The reports of fatal overdoses are often delayed, because they have to be confirmed by the medical examiner. Sometimes it takes a while to find out what happened. UNITED NATIONS (AP) The U.N. human rights office on Saturday expressed concern about rising violence around Haiti's capital, saying 99 people have been reported killed in recent fighting between rival gangs in the Cite Soleil district alone. The warning came hours after the U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a resolution renewing the mandate of a U.N. office in the troubled Caribbean nation and calling on all countries to stop the transfer of small arms, light weapons and ammunition to anyone there supporting gang violence and criminal activity. U.N. humanitarian agencies said they were ready to help embattled communities once it is safe to do so, and Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the U.N. Human Rights Council, laid out those dangers. We have so far documented, from January to the end of June, 934 killings, 684 injuries and 680 kidnappings across the capital," he said Saturday. In addition, "Over a five-day period, from 8-12 July, at least 234 more people were killed or injured in gang-related violence in the Cite Soleil area of the city. He said most of the victims were not directly involved in gangs but were targeted by them. Separately, the U.N,'s humanitarian affairs office reported that 99 of the recent casualties in Cite Soleil were deaths. Laurence called on gangs to halt the violence, while also urging Haitian authorities to ensure that fundamental human rights are placed at the front and center of their responses to the crisis. The fight against impunity and sexual violence, along with the strengthening of human rights monitoring and reporting, must remain a priority, he said. The Security Council resolution drafted by the United States and Mexico was approved 15-0 Friday. It demanded an immediate cessation of gang violence and criminal activities a point stressed by China. The heavily armed gangs are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their actions, conducting simultaneous, coordinated and organized attacks in different areas, Laurence said. The government, he said, has a duty to protect citizens' right to life even from threats that come from private entities. The U.N. agencies said some gangs even deny access to drinking water and food in order to control the population, aggravating malnutrition. U.S. Deputy Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis said the new resolution will allow the U.N. mission to promote political dialogue and bolster the capacity of the Haitian National Police to control gang violence and protect human rights. A year after the unsolved assassination of President Jovenel Moise, gang violence has grown worse and many Haitians have tried to flee a country that seems to be in economic and social freefall. Attempts to form a coalition government have faltered, and efforts to hold general elections have stalled. The United Nations has been involved in Haiti on and off since 1990, and the last U.N. peacekeeping mission was in the country from 2004 until October 2017. The political mission now there advises Haitis government on promoting political stability and good governance. A man was detained for questioning following a chaotic Friday evening at San Francisco International Airport in which a bomb threat resulted in police officers locating a suspicious package in the international terminal. It started at approximately 8:15 p.m., when police responded at the airport following the bomb threat. Officers eventually located a suspicious package and immediately evacuated the international terminal. The BART station located at SFO was also shut down. A Napa County freeway interchange construction project originally slated to begin Monday is being delayed by Caltrans due to nesting birds in the area. Caltrans officials have delayed the Soscol Junction Interchange Project in southern Napa County -- at the junction of state highways 12, 29 and 221 -- until the birds' fledgling cycle. Caltrans will monitor the situation. When work commences on the project, motorists may expect overnight lane closures as crews will be installing crash cushions and moveable concrete barriers along the Highway 29 median and southbound shoulder. The three-year project will replace the signalized intersection of State Route 12/29, State Route 221 and Soscol Ferry Road with an interchange composed of an overpass and two roundabouts, a configuration that will add fluidity to traffic flow, reduce congestion and enhance bicycle and pedestrian connectivity. Caltrans crews will landscape the area with local plants, including oaks whose canopies will visually screen the interchange from distant onlookers. Caltrans will build 1,200 feet of Class I bicycle and pedestrian paths as part of the project. Eventually the bicycle/pedestrian lanes will connect to the Vine Trail, a 47-mile multi-use path that will stretch from Calistoga to the ferry in Vallejo. Police in San Mateo on Wednesday arrested a man for allegedly scamming elderly residents out of hundreds of thousands of dollars via fake home maintenance repairs. Ricardo Sandoval, 44, of Newman, was arrested on suspicion of three counts of financial elder abuse and three counts of contracting without a license, according to the San Mateo Police Department. Police said the unlicensed furnace installer preyed on elderly customers by falsely representing repairs and installations. He charged the customers more than $250,000 since 2019, police said. Sandoval self-surrendered on Wednesday at the San Mateo County Jail on an arrest warrant. Police said Sandoval targeted established customers of his employer by offering services on the side at a lower cost and would then charge high rates and would do little or no work. Police began investigating Sandoval for financial elder abuse in August 2021 after concerned family members of one of the victims came forward. Police said the scheme spanned several cities within the county. Detectives and the Contractors State License Board conducted a forensic financial audit and inspected homes of some of the victims and confirmed they were either grossly overcharged or that work had not been performed, police said. Police in Fairfield have arrested a suspect on suspicion of an armed robbery that occurred last week. Omari Garland, 30, of Fairfield, was arrested on suspicion of felony robbery, according to the Fairfield Police Department. Police said Garland assaulted a 70-year-old man and took the man's cellphone at gunpoint at the man's home in the 1500 block of Gulf Drive on July 7. The robbery was captured on home video, according to police. Investigators were able to identify Garland as the suspect, and he was ultimately taken into custody without incident. An Oakland man received a 40-year prison sentence for mailing bombs intended to kill or injure Bay Area law enforcement officers who he wanted revenge on, federal prosecutors said Thursday. In the fall of 2017, Ross Laverty, 61, mailed two improvised explosive devices that injured a man with the same name as one of his targets and the wife of a police officer who arrested Laverty in 2013, according to prosecutors. The explosion of the first device left the man with bleeding hands and blisters on his stomach, prosecutors said. The victim still suffers from ringing in his ears, hand cramps and difficulty concentrating, according to prosecutors. The explosion of the second device injured the police officer's wife. She suffered head injuries after opening the package that contained the bomb, prosecutors said. The woman still suffers from pain and ringing in her ears, according to prosecutors. "My heart goes out to the innocent victims of these horrific acts," said United States Attorney Stephanie Hinds in a statement. "Ross Laverty not only injured the victims, he put mail carriers and handlers and numerous others at risk of serious injury and death." A jury convicted Laverty on Oct. 14, 2020, of mailing explosives twice with the intention of killing or injuring the targets, according to prosecutors. Prosecutors said at the trial that an expert testified that the explosives were victim-activated devices that were supposed to go off when the victim opened the package. According to prosecutors, the devices were designed to shoot "off like a projectile" similar to a "bullet would out of gun." Laverty sent the first package to take revenge on a corrections officer for strip-searching Laverty when he was in the San Mateo county jail in 2014, prosecutors said citing trial evidence. The second package Laverty sent was to the home of an Alameda police officer who conducted a probation search of Laverty's home in 2013, that resulted in Laverty's arrest, prosecutors said citing evidence. But the first package ended up at the home of an East Palo Alto man who was a grocery store clerk at Whole Foods Market, according to prosecutors. Prosecutors said the victim opened the package on Oct. 19, 2017, in his backyard. It exploded, blowing a hole in the fence, prosecutors said. The wife of the Alameda police officer opened the package addressed to her husband on Nov. 24, 2017, according to prosecutors. She saw wires inside and threw it, prosecutors said, and it exploded. The return addresses on both packages were jewelry stores, according to prosecutors. The National Weather Service forecast for Saturday for the San Francisco Bay Area calls for high pressure to continue building over California, causing temperatures to warm up to the 80s and 90s in the inland valleys, with 60s along the coast and 70s and low 80s around the Bay. Overnight lows Saturday morning will range mostly in the 50s. Copyright 2022 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area. Copyright 2022 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Knowing Bobbis cubs are alive and well at the Kilham Bear Center in New Hampshire is comforting after her tragic, unnecessary death on May 12. Rehabilitator Ben Kilham reports that the two 6-month-old black bear cubs are playing all day with 20 other orphaned cubs. They will be moved from an indoor area to 11 acres of woods enclosed by an electric fence as the cubs continue to grow and learn how to be bears before being released back into the wild. However, the recent news that Bobbis killer, an off-duty Ridgefield police officer, is not being charged with a crime is another distressing calamity. All evidence points to Lawrence Clarke getting away with murder. It is illegal to kill a black bear in Connecticut. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection made that clear in a statement to WFSB on July 8, pointing out that black bears are protected in Connecticut and there is no right to kill a bear. The incident report from DEEP clearly states that Clarkes son and grandson were safe inside the house when he gunned down Bobbi with his AR-15 rifle. The report describes how Bobbi ran off into the woods after Clarke yelled at her when she first sauntered onto his property. It is unclear how long it took before Bobbi returned, baited by Clarkes unfortunate, unprotected chicken coop, allegedly attempting to pull it over. But it is clear that Clarke went in and out of his house multiple times yelling at and confronting Bobbi without ever bothering to call our state wildlife agency as policy stipulates if residents are concerned about encounters with wildlife. The last time Clarke came out of his house armed with his AR-15, he pursued Bobbi, firing a bullet that hit her in the head. After Bobbi fell to the ground, he finished her off with seven or eight more rounds. This all occurred just 103 yards away from the closest house, which suggests Clarke also violated Newtowns gun ordinance, which prohibits shooting a gun within 500 feet of another building. If a person goes into a house to retrieve a gun, it is impossible then for a bear to still be an imminent threat. So, when Clarke came back out and shot Bobbi, he did so illegally. He claimed Bobbi killed three of his unsecured chickens earlier in the week. What makes animal advocates angry in addition to justice not being served is this tragedy was preventable. Incidents with black bears are almost entirely the result of human actions. But despite advice to the contrary, people still leave food attractants out or fail to secure chicken coops. Kilhams largest source of orphan cubs is the result of unprotected chicken coops, as female bears in search of high-quality foods to produce milk for their cubs meet their demise facing a homeowner with a gun. Its particularly frustrating for Kilham, since chickens can easily be protected with electric fences. Since theres been an uptick in people raising backyard chickens during the pandemic, Connecticuts bears are in more danger than ever. So, if you see something, say something. Make sure your neighbors install and maintain an electric fence around their chicken coop. Experts recommend the following specs for deterring bears: .7 joules; a minimum of 6,000 volts, height of 4 feet or more and five or more wires. Maintenance is key. Clarkes failure to have electric fencing up and powered before he got chickens cost Bobbi her life. He has blood on his hands because of his irresponsible behavior. In addition to protecting chickens, beehives and livestock, using a bear-resistant trash container is a sure-fire way to defeat determined bears. Check with your trash hauler to see if they offer them or to make sure your bear-resistant container is compatible with their equipment. Not putting trash out until collection time, bringing bird feeders in from March through November, keeping grills clean and not feeding pets outdoors will also help keep bears out of trouble. Do not store food attractants in a screened-in porch screens dont keep bears away. Its crucial to make bears uncomfortable in your yard with aversive conditioning. Making loud noises, hand clapping and yelling will teach bears to associate humans with danger and leave the area and avoid it in the future. In reports of Bobbi sightings from 2017-2021, many residents reported they were able to scare Bobbi off with air horns, high-pitched whistles and clanging pots and pans. Hopefully, Connecticut residents can use this tragedy as a teaching moment and change their behaviors to keep bears and humans safe. Kilham has a saying: There are no nuisance black bears. Only nuisance humans. We couldnt agree more. Nicole Rivard is media/government relations manager for Darien-based Friends of Animals. FoA is a member of the CT Coalition to Protect Black Bears. Through educational outreach and legislative advocacy, the coalition promotes proven non-lethal strategies that allow people and Connecticuts native black bears to safely co-exist. Ctbears.org No matter ones moral or ethical stance on abortion and we all know good people on both sides of the contentious issue the rationale of the courts majority decision is godsend to a lord of a different kind, the overlord of Big Tech. Big Tech or the GMAFIA, as author Amy Webb refers to them in her book The Big Nine: How the Tech Titans and their Thinking Machines Can Warp Humanity, which consists of Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook, IBM and Apple, in America, and the BAT acronym for Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent in China just scored a major victory in the Dobbs decision, and if youre wondering what the politics and legality of abortion have to do with big data, read on. The rationale of the majoritys opinion is fairly straightforward yet circuitously backward at the same time: since the word abortion does not appear in the Constitution, and the practice is allegedly not engrained in our history since the inception of the document at the turn of the 18th century, the court, whose duty it believes is to strictly adhere to the text of the Constitution, must remain neutral and therefore silent on the issue, and pass the decision back to the states. (Of course, nowhere in the Constitution is there any mention of sitting in the back or front of a bus, or a right to privacy in your iPhone, because of course, the Constitution is similarly silent on the words buses and iPhones. But lets leave aside the esoteric judicial philosophical arguments for a moment and focus on more real-world implications in another realm of privacy: the digital realm. What the court did in the Dobbs decision was take a huge sledgehammer to the right to privacy, because the right to an abortion, previously located in both the Fourth and Fourteenth amendments, emanates from the prior right of contraception, decided in the famous Griswold v. Connecticut case. (Yes, not too long ago, Connecticut criminalized the use of any contraception.) In other words, what the court did was supremely sleight-of-hand clever, ruling, essentially, that no right to privacy could exist because, well, the word privacy doesnt appear in the document. Yes, they did, and no Im not kidding. But if there is no federal right to privacy, then what happens to the privacy of our data, to the minimal extent we have any now, if at all? You guessed right: it doesnt exist at the constitutional level at all, and probably now never will. Beyond creepy stuff. Of course, the conservative court majority will holler back, If the American people want their data to be kept private, then it is up to Congress, and the various state legislatures to ensure such privacy, not unelected judges on the Supreme Court to just make it up! But do you really think that Congress, already in the pocket of the gun lobby, the health insurance and pharmaceutical lobby, and the fossil fuel lobby, will have our interests in mind when drafting legislation, or the interests of the GMAFIA and the BAT? Something tells me Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos probably gave more to Congress last year than all of the readers of this paper combined did. What constitutional scholars were hoping to see over the next few decades was a widening, not a constricting, of the circle of privacy articulated by the Supreme Court, in our bodily autonomy, consensual relationships, medical information and personal electronic data. But instead what the court did was sharply limit that circle of privacy protection, and they wont stop there at abortion. By extension then, your electronic data, your digital footprints, are now not only fair game, but open game, too. If you dont have privacy in your bodily autonomy, then certainly you dont have privacy in your electronic data, because, of course, the word data doesnt appear in the Constitution, and the history of our country going back to the Founding Fathers is not known to afford a lot of data privacy, either. Now of course, you might think, whats the big deal, since they know my data anyway? I myself grew up in an age when clicking and checking I agree and I hereby certify I have read the terms and conditions was done by rote and in a split-second. But with the advent of machine learning and AI, the ramifications of this data harvesting are enormous. Did you know, for example, when you request an insurance quote, or credit card, the AI is not only paying attention to how many milliseconds you took to enter each data field (wait, did the user pause, and have to think about his income? Did his keystrokes indicate he typed one amount for income, then erased it, and type another, and was the second amount higher or lower? And how much battery life is on the users laptop? Is he the responsible type, close to full charge, or nearly running on empty? That data is telling to big tech, and telling on you, too, and among millions of other metrics being measured which humans cant fathom, but machines can.) When I teach courses on constitutional law and interpretation, I ask the students: should we limit interpreting the Constitution to paying attention only to the literal black letter text, or should we instead focus on the original purpose of the provision? Of course, a third option is to throw all that out, and also throw our hands up, and declare the Constitution a living document and thus to mean whatever the judges want it to mean in the moment. Of course, that is the wrong formulation of the question, because we shouldnt limit ourselves to any one approach. Judges are not grammarians, nor are they historians; we call them judges for a reason. Instead of a dogmatic approach to text, or to an original supposedly sole purpose, or a whatever feels good by todays standards however we get there with the legal logic approach, the court should adopt all three methods. A justice should think, Look, what the heck does the history suggest the framers were trying to accomplish here, what were the words they used to try to accomplish their goal, and how is the value of the goal they were trying to accomplish manifest today, in light of todays society, economy and technology? All are valid approaches. To use just one approach is dumb, and myopic. But conservatives on the right and liberals on the left often play that just one approach is the correct approach game, but a third way is not to play it, and realize all three methods have merit and value in arriving at a cogent, coherent and holistic appreciation and understanding of the law, and how it should progress, not regress instead. It is legitimate for the Justices to be ushers ushers into a brighter future, not throwbacks to a shadier past. No matter what your stance on abortion, the right to privacy in America just suffered an enormous blow, and Big Tech is celebrating like you cant believe. But guess whos celebrating even more? Big Tech in China, and their godfather, the CCP. Just wait and see, because they already do. Ryan Knox, of New Haven, lived in Hong Kong from 2011 to 2014, and is an adjunct political science professor at the University of Bridgeport. New San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins fired 15 people in her office on Friday, with one in particular prompting an outcry. It comes in the first week after Jenkins was appointed to her role by Mayor London Breed following the recall of Chesa Boudin. "Today, I made difficult, but important changes to my management team and staff that will help advance my vision to restore a sense of safety in San Francisco by holding serious and repeat offenders accountable and implementing smart criminal justice reforms," Jenkins said in a statement. Managing Attorney Arcelia Hurtado was the first member of the office to lose her job. She had served as the DA Office's representative on the city's Innocence Commission, which investigates potential wrongful convictions in the city. The commission was established by Boudin in 2020, and Jenkins signaled support for allowing it to continue in a KQED interview on Thursday. The decision by Brooke Jenkins to fire Arcelia Hurtado is deeply concerning, especially given the promise she made just yesterday to allow the Innocence Commission to continue to function," said University of San Francisco law professor Lara Bazelon, the chair of the commission. "Arcelia was critical to the commissions function. It is also concerning because Arcelia was the head of the DAs post-conviction review unit, which, among other things, is currently considering the petition by Mayor London Breeds brother Napoleon Brown to be granted leniency and released from prison following his conviction for carjacking and manslaughter. I can see no legitimate reason for firing an attorney as rigorous, competent and ethical as Arcelia. Brown was sentenced to 44 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter, armed robbery and carjacking after an arrest in 2000. He is seeking re-sentencing, and Breed herself asked then-Gov. Jerry Brown in 2018 to commute his sentence. San Francisco's Ethics Commission subsequently fined her $23,000 for that infraction, among others. The DA's office previously oversaw Brown's re-sentencing hearings; the next one is scheduled for August. Boudin and his predecessors have opposed Brown's bid for a lesser sentence. A spokesperson for Jenkins said she plans to ask the California Attorney General's Office to handle the Brown case, taking her office out of the picture. "I'll be interested to see what she does there," Cat Brooks, co-founder of the progressive Anti Police-Terror Project said of Jenkins. "Conflict of interest and the mayor do not shock me." Other notable staffers fired included Kate Chatfield, Boudin's chief of staff; Tal Klement, assistant chief of general crimes; Rachel Marshall, Boudin's communications director and policy advisor; Mikaela Rabinowitz, director of data, analytics and research; and Lateef Gray, managing attorney of the independent investigations bureau, the department that oversees investigations into police officers. "I came to DA Boudin's office to fight for criminal justice reform; that battle has never felt more urgent," Marshall said in a statement. "There is no question that DA Jenkins' approach differs dramatically from my values. My passion for the mission to reform our legal system is stronger than ever and I am eager for the next opportunity to effect change." Jenkins has repeatedly stated that she seeks to balance reform and public safety, but Brooks said she believes the firings especially Hurtado's are not consistent with reform. "San Francisco has taken 10 giant steps backwards," she said. "Jenkins was dangled in front of us because she's a Black woman, which was supposed to make us feel better, but the firings are terrifying. I hope this raises the ire of the left, and makes us realize we must fight or we will lose. We always say a shift to the right cant happen in California, but it is happening right here in San Francisco." On Twitter, Chatfield also blasted the firings. "The resentencing/innocence commission unit: gone. Police accountability: gone. Data and transparency: gone. Political corruption investigation: gone. Champion for victims and children: demoted," she wrote. Chatfield also sharply criticized framing from news outlets that Jenkins' first wave of senior staff hires were all women. "Were seeing Girl Bosses for mass incarceration," she wrote. Multiple staffers in the office who were not fired on Friday had mixed reactions to the new hires. (These staffers were granted anonymity as they feared retaliation, in accordance with Hearst's ethics policy.) They said the return of Ana Gonzalez, who will be Jenkins' second in command, is raising alarms in the office because Boudin fired her in 2020 for not aligning with his vision. However, they supported hiring Tiffany Sutton, who is joining in a yet-to-be-specified position. The staffers said Sutton, who was also in the DA's Office previously, but left for another job, is well-liked in the office and could help smooth the transition. "My new management team, which will include the addition of three women of color, with decades of prosecutorial experience at the highest levels, will help our office deliver on that promise," Jenkins said. "I have full faith and confidence that these women will promote and protect public safety while delivering justice in all of its various forms. Several fired staffers other than Chatfield also left Jenkins pithy notes on Twitter on their way out. "While en route to Santa Barbara for a wedding with fam, new SF DA Brooke Jenkins called and fired me on spot," wrote Ryan Khojasteh, a felony prosecutor who worked on juvenile reforms. "Odd choice to fire a non-management felony prosecutor in the courtrooms every day that never lost a case." "I want to commend @BrookeJenkinsSF for firing me today," wrote Dylan Yep, who was previously in the data department. "I had every intention to continue working to fight the obscene racial disparities that permeate the San Francisco criminal legal system a goal she only has interest in paying lip service to. She was wise to hang up before I could get a single word in otherwise she would've been forced to answer for her racist, carceral, and data-free policy plans. Or explain why I was fired." Editor's note: This article was updated at 7:40 p.m. after the DA's office clarified that 15, and not 16 firings were made, as was originally shared. In a recent interview with Fox 11 anchor Elex Michaelson, California Gov. Gavin Newsom grimaced when Michaelson asked him if he had ever met Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis a fellow star on the national political scene, and someone Newsom has repeatedly traded jabs with from afar. When Michaelson asked Newsom what he would say to DeSantis should the two ever meet face-to-face, Newsom replied with a tone of indignation he often uses when discussing Republican politicians such as DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. "Stop being a bully," Newsom said he would tell DeSantis. "Stop belittling people that look differently, act differently, love differently. Who the hell are you? Stop! Stop threatening people. Stop being so coercive." Newsom's comments to Michaelson seem related to several Florida laws Newsom has frequently criticized DeSantis for. The most common target of Newsom's ire is the so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill, which prohibits classroom instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade in the Florida's public schools. Newsom's interview with Michaelson came just 10 days after his re-election campaign began running 30-second cable ads on Fox News in Florida. In those ads, Newsom takes aim at DeSantis for several policies he's championed including the "Don't Say Gay" bill and encourages Florida residents who are dissatisfied with the state's direction to move to California, where, according to Newsom, "we still believe in freedom." A spokesperson for DeSantis did not respond to a request for comment on Newsom's interview with Michaelson. Apart from DeSantis, Newsom also brought up his other favorite Republican target Abbott during Thursday's interview. He criticized the Texas governor for his recently announced decision to at least try to eliminate access to free public school for undocumented immigrants in his state. Newsom likened it to California's now-infamous Proposition 187, a ballot initiative state voters passed in 1994 which, before being struck down by a federal district court, prohibited undocumented immigrants from using non-emergency health care, public education and other state services. "Look what Abbott is doing. Abbott is talking about eliminating a fundamental right for people, regardless of their immigration status, to get an education," Newsom said. "This is a real moment for diverse communities, and it's not just [DeSantis] (Newsom referred to him as 'DeSantos' here, which he's done before) it's Abbott, it's Kentucky, it's South Dakota, you go down the list [and] with these red states there's a ruthlessness." Editor's note: Some of the following images contain nudity. Seven years ago, photographer Anton O'Donnell moved to the Castro. "Already on a path to self-discovery and determined to pursue art, I knew I couldn't be anywhere but San Francisco," he said. "I fully came out here and also learned a lot about how to be myself. The level of self-expression I see in others here is incredible," O'Donnell said. "It was only natural for me to want to document such a vibrant place. And it's totally full of weirdos, so I felt right at home from the get-go." Courtesy Anton O'Donnell Courtesy Anton O'Donnell Courtesy Anton O'Donnell Courtesy Anton O'Donnell Courtesy Anton O'Donnell Courtesy Anton O'Donnell Photography is a new form of artistic expression for O'Donnell, who grew up in San Luis Obispo skateboarding and performing music. His first introduction to visual art happened in 2012 when he produced a skateboarding film. The following year, he discovered the photography of Vivian Maier. "I fell in love with Vivian's amazing photography and especially her endearing self-portraits. I wanted to follow in her footsteps," he said. Courtesy Anton O'Donnell The Castro District proved the perfect canvas for O'Donnell, now 38 years old, to explore with his camera in hand. Courtesy Anton O'Donnell Courtesy Anton O'Donnell Not only did he find his partner there, but a few months after arriving in San Francisco, O'Donnell met photographer Arthur Tress, who influenced his style and encouraged him to explore his local environment and the creative possibilities therein. Courtesy Anton O'Donnell "I use my camera to connect with people and the environment and most importantly to represent LGBTQ+ lives and to contribute towards preserving San Francisco's rich culture and art scene." Courtesy Anton O'Donnell Courtesy Anton O'Donnell Courtesy Anton O'Donnell Courtesy Anton O'Donnell Courtesy Anton O'Donnell Courtesy Anton O'Donnell One of O'Donnell's main reasons for documenting the streets of the Castro is to celebrate queer street style, freedom and sexual expression. "I've lived in and traveled to enough places now to know there is no place quite like the Castro, with its cast of characters and personalities that make it such a special place," he said. "The Castro is one of the last fortresses for freedom and self-expression, especially given the threat much of marginal society is under." Courtesy Anton O'Donnell O'Donnell doesn't find it challenging to document the Castro, because on every street corner, there are neighborhood exhibitionists happy to respond to tourists and passersby. Courtesy Anton O'Donnell Courtesy Anton O'Donnell Courtesy Anton O'Donnell "It hasn't been difficult to photograph here because the Castro loves being under the spotlight," added O'Donnell. "I just show up with an open mind." Courtesy Anton O'Donnell Courtesy Anton O'Donnell Courtesy Anton O'Donnell Courtesy Anton O'Donnell For the first four years of his project, O'Donnell shot exclusively with medium format film cameras and at the start of the pandemic with Kodak Tri-X black and white film. He now explores the streets with a 907x Hasselblad digital medium format camera. Courtesy Anton O'Donnell Courtesy Anton O'Donnell Courtesy Anton O'Donnell Courtesy Anton O'Donnell "The lack of an optical viewfinder on this camera requires the photographer to look down at the screen and shoot at waist level, very much like the twin reflex camera that Vivian Maier shot with," he explained. "This is a much less obtrusive way to photograph since the camera's position is not so obvious to the subject." Courtesy Anton O'Donnell Courtesy Anton O'Donnell Courtesy Anton O'Donnell Courtesy Anton O'Donnell O'Donnell's mission is to share the images of his adopted neighborhood during a time when queer culture, through anti-transgender laws and anti-gay education legislation, is under threat. Courtesy Anton O'Donnell "The revolutionary Twin Peaks Tavern, the first gay bar in the United States to open its windows to the street, is our Stonewall. Peer through its windows, and you will see an elder generation communing quite naturally and comfortably with a young crowd," he said. "Cruise the blocks, and you might run into Dane, a neighborhood eccentric who once saved a man from a burning car next to the Castro Theatre. These are the kinds of moments I feel especially drawn to capture. With my Hasselblad camera nestled dearly in my arms, I am doing my duty to keep the Castro queer." You can view a collection of Anton O'Donnell's photographs of Jane Warner Plaza at Manny's Cafe at 3092 16th Street in the Mission District of San Francisco through September 2022. He will be having a guided tour of his images on July 28 at 6:30 pm. WFO NEW YORK CITY Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, July 16, 2022 _____ SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT Special Weather Statement National Weather Service New York NY 1238 PM EDT Sat Jul 16 2022 ...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of west central Suffolk County through 130 PM EDT... At 1238 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Brentwood, moving east at 10 mph. HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 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... Commack, Hauppauge, Smithtown, Nesconset and St. James. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 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 4087 7334 4089 7312 4081 7312 4081 7323 4080 7325 4080 7333 TIME...MOT...LOC 1638Z 267DEG 8KT 4081 7328 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather Page Content On June 2, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed House File (H.F.) 4065 into law, a measure that provides legal clarity regarding hemp-derived consumables stemming from the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, also known as the 2018 Farm Bill. Notably, this law now allows the sale and consumption of edible cannabinoid products containing no more than five milligrams of any tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in a single serving, or more than a total of 50 milligrams of any THC per package. Notwithstanding the above, marijuana is still illegal in Minnesota. Only the THC derived from hempin certain amountsis now legal to consume. This law is noteworthy as Minnesota, along with numerous other states, begins the slow and gradual process of legalizing marijuana and/or hemp. For example: South Dakota briefly legalized the use of marijuana until its law was ruled unconstitutional by the South Dakota Supreme Court, but a new amendment may be on future ballots. The effective date of Virginia's recreational marijuana law was moved up from 2024 to 2021. In May, Rhode Island enacted the Rhode Island Cannabis Act, loosening marijuana restrictions. Marijuana legalization amendments are frequently showing up on ballots in state elections. State legislatures are increasingly debating marijuana legalization legislation. For example, a Minnesota bill recently gained support, but ultimately failed. For multistate employers, the web of various laws with differing requirements presents a complex problem in tracking these swift changes and ensuring compliance with the laws with respect to drug testing programs, for several reasons. State Laws First, many of the state laws concerning marijuana and hemp differ fairly considerably. Some states only allow hemp. Some states only allow marijuana for certain medical purposes, and each state varies in those purposes, as well. Other states have legalized and regulated marijuana in general. These divergent requirements, which are changing rapidly, present a complex compliance challenge for fast-paced multistate employers. Second, while keeping track of all of these differing requirements is a challenge, it is even more difficult when employers have drug testing programs in more than one state. Most commonly, employers conduct preemployment, reasonable suspicion, and safety-sensitive (random) drug tests, all of which become a compliance nightmare due to the changing landscape of laws. Here are a few considerations with respect to each type of test and how Minnesota's new law and other state laws may impact an employer's drug testing programs. Preemployment testing: Minnesota's new law creates additional questions and considerations surrounding preemployment testing. Employers may find that more and more candidates test positive for low levels of THC from the lawful consumption of products containing THC. For example, the individual may have consumed a lawful hemp product that contains a low level of THC, causing the employee to test positive. This is even more problematic, as many drug tests do not state the level of the THC in someone's blood and only typically state "positive" or "negative." Not only may this result limit the pool of qualified applicants for a position, it may present discrimination and accommodation issues for individuals lawfully using THC products for a specific medical reason. For example, in Minnesota, employers may not discriminate against an employee based on his or her status on the Minnesota Medical Cannabis Registry. Refusing to hire an individual based on a positive test may subject an employer to liability, if the person holds a medical cannabis card and explains the reasons for the positive test to the employer. Reasonable suspicion: The new Minnesota law does not appear to create any new questions or concerns regarding reasonable suspicion tests. While employees are able to consume lawful products in their free time, employees may not be under the influence of legal or illegal drugs while working. Employers may want to consider implementing a specific reasonable suspicion protocol, which may include checklists, interviews, and other documentation to ensure the reasons for the test are documented and supported. Safety-sensitive/random drug testing: While many state laws differ regarding when and how employers may require safety-sensitive employees to submit to a drug test, Minnesota provides a good case study in light of the new law. Under Minnesota law, and after a positive test result, employees "must be given written notice of the right to explain the positive test, and the employer may request that the employee or job applicant indicate any over-the-counter or prescription medication that the individual is currently taking or has recently taken and any other information relevant to the reliability of, or explanation for, a positive test result." The employee may then "submit information to the employer, in addition to any information already submitted to explain that result." Accordingly, if an employee tests positive for THC, employers may learn more about the employee's use and make an employment decision based upon the explanation provided by the employee. The challenge for employers in this scenario will be to ensure they are making consistent employment decisions based on their policies and practices and ensuring such decisions are not being made on a basis that violates the law. Given this change in the law, more employees may begin testing positive for THC due to the broad legality of hemp products and the increasing legalization of marijuana in general. Accordingly, it may be time for employers to revisit their drug testing programs and how they view the use of THC for the employee population. More simply, the laws of yesterday may create issues for employers today. As more states begin legalizing marijuana and loosening restrictions around hemp products, employers may want to engage in a broader conversation about testing for THC and whether it makes business sense (or is required under the law) to do so. Brent D. Kettelkamp and Colin H. Hargreaves are lawyers with Ogletree Deakins in Minneapolis. 2022. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission. 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! Its like walking into a comedy festival, says Taylor Smith of hanging out with workmate Luke Purdy. Smith is a bobcat operator from the Northern Territory. Purdy is the owner of WA-based emergency salvage business Geographe Marine Salvage and Rescue. And the two are the stars if thats the right word for it of Aussie Salvage Squad. That very loose character Lukes like that 100 per cent of the time, Smith says. The Salvage Squad at work in Lismore. Smith is the opposite: calm, wry, and measured. And thats precisely what makes the partnership work. Theres 10 ways to skin a cat, Purdy says. Youve just got to find the right one. And thats what makes us strong as a team. We do things differently. And between us, we can come up with a plan that works. Are we in another COVID-19 surge? Southeast Healths chief medical officer seems to think so based on his experience with the coronavirus. Last week, Southeast Health had 34 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 at admission, said Dr. George Narby, chief medical officer at Southeast Health. That number of patients has been creeping up very, very slowly since the very end of April and the beginning of May, Narby said. What I can tell you, though, is that I believe we are well into another surge. But this surge is different in many ways than previous ones. One difference is that more than half of the patients with COVID at the Dothan hospital are what Narby calls coincidentally COVID positive. In other words, they were admitted to the hospital for other reasons and found to have COVID when they were tested upon being admitted. The number of people admitted to the hospital because of COVID is a minority of those patients, Narby said. At Dothans Flowers Hospital, where there were seven patients with COVID last week, a similar trend has been occurring, according to Dr. Allen Latimer, a pulmonologist and critical care doctor with Flowers. The community level is high and most of those people are getting outpatient care, Latimer said. A COVID-19 omicron subvariant known as BA.5 seems to be the culprit behind the current peak in cases. Its a highly-contagious subvariant estimated to be responsible for more than 60% of current U.S. cases. The BA.5 omicron subvariant is so contagious its surpassed all the other omicron subvariants. It seems to also have a knack for getting around immunity, whether natural or immunity gained through vaccinations. So even if youve had COVID, you can get it again and you can spread it to others. But, as Narby and Latimer said, this surge is different. Even patients with COVID who are in critical care units there were only a few between both hospitals are not in those units because of COVID. Omicron and its subvariants as a disease behave differently than delta and beta did earlier, Narby said. They cause somewhat less severe illness, and thats because omicron and its subvariants are more upper respiratory in the nose, in the sinuses, rather than in the lungs. So, people with omicron generally do not get pneumonia like the earlier variants caused. Also, if youve been vaccinated or have had COVID-19 or both you are better protected and more likely to have milder symptoms, Narby said. Patients hospitalized due to COVID tend to be those who have always been considered high risk because of age, weight, diabetes, high blood pressure, compromised immune systems, or other underlying health issues. Thats not to say that COVID-19 and its variants are no longer dangerous. People can experience severe illness regardless of vaccination status, past infections, and risk factors. There are still 348 deaths daily on average from COVID-19 in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Latimer said people need to remain vigilant because the next variant could be more lethal. I think theres always a risk, Latimer said. And I think that the more illnesses that you have, namely diabetes and obesity, the more at risk you are. Alabamas 67 counties have either medium or high community levels for COVID-19. All of the local Wiregrass counties, except for Covington and Pike, have high community levels, which are determined based on new cases, hospital admissions, and available staffed hospital beds over the previous seven days. The moving 7-day positivity rate for Alabama was around 29% as of Friday, based on the Alabama Department of Public Healths COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard. Hospitalizations have continued to tick upward and were at 628 around the state as of Friday. Alabamas reported COVID deaths, however, have dropped to between 1 and 3 a day since June. Since the pandemic first reached Alabama in March 2020, the state has recorded nearly 1.4 million cases of COVID-19 and 19,822 people have died in Alabama. So far in 2022, there are have 464,115 cases and 3,075 deaths reported. Since January, the Wiregrass has reported 28,189 cases of COVID-19 and 246 deaths. Houston County, Coffee County, and Dale County all had positivity rates around 35% as of Friday. Geneva and Henry counties had positivity rates of 27.7% and 26.6% respectively. Latimer and Narby said these rates are likely low because they dont include those who test positive with at-home tests. COVID right now in Houston County is running rampant in the community; it is as prevalent as at any point that its been anytime during the pandemic, Narby said. Narby said historic data collected by Southeast Health shows that when transmission rates reached 25 to 30% in the past, there were more than 100 patients in the hospital with COVID-19 compared to the 34 who had COVID earlier this week. Of those 34 patients, 84% were unvaccinated, Narby said. Based on our observations, vaccination remains the single most effective way to avoid severe COVID, hospitalization and death, Narby said. Latimer said COVID has always acted differently in people since the pandemic began. Symptoms are different among patients. Some dont get sick at all; some die. Latimer said he continues to be concerned about the misinformation people get about the virus. Weve had enough deaths to equal 35 years of the flu, he said. So, its not like the flu when people get sick. Latimer worries, too, about staffing because so many personnel have left hospitals either due to the strain of the pandemic or to become travel medical practitioners. A lot of hospitals are on whats called diversion pretty frequently, but its mostly because they dont have staffing for their beds rather than not having beds for patients, Latimer said. Both Narby and Latimer said precautions such as staying away from those who are sick, washing hands regularly, masking when community levels are high, and vaccinations remain important because COVID is still a public health issue and nobody knows what the next variant might do. Im not saying we need to hide in our houses and stay home and all that stuff, but it remains a significant public health concern that we need to continue to work on, Narby said. Its impact on society and deaths amongst Americans remain significant. One of the countrys most senior Catholics says he would fully support a decision by Pope Francis to allow women to serve as ordained deacons, an idea being considered by the Vatican and hotly debated around the world. Timothy Costelloe, the newly appointed president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, also said the church had become too inward-looking in recent times and needed to do more to connect with wider society. The Catholic Churchs plenary council, a major policymaking gathering held in Sydney earlier this month, plunged into disarray over the question of women within the church, but delegates eventually passed a set of motions affirming the importance of Catholic women. Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president Tim Costelloe said the church had become too introspective in recent times. The council supported a motion saying the church would examine how to best allow women to serve as deacons if such a move is approved by the Vatican. Police will be deployed to monitor parents dropping off and picking up children from a prestigious Sydney girls school in response to traffic complaints from its inner-city neighbours. SCEGGS Darlinghurst will also hire a traffic warden as part of a six-month trial, while the City of Sydney will introduce changes to parking. An artists impression of the proposed redevelopment of Wilkinson House at SCEGGS Darlinghurst. Credit:SCEGGS Darlinghurst SCEGGS Darlinghurst head Jenny Allum said traffic in the inner-city suburb had been disrupted for years by major construction works. As is the case with many inner-city schools, the issue of cars being parked in designated school drop-off and pick-up zones causes the school and our parents significant difficulty too, she said. We hope that an increased police presence during this trial will assist, as well as our employment of a traffic controller in Forbes Street to provide support with parental pick-up and drop-off. As of this weekend, five candidates remain in the race to replace Boris Johnson as UK prime minister. Through a series of ballots, the 358 conservative MPs will continue to eliminate the candidates until two remain. Which then sees a winner selected in a runoff vote by the 180,000 Conservative Party members in the UK. One of the five remaining contenders is Tom Tugendhat, chair of the foreign affairs select committee. The son of a High Court judge and the nephew of a Conservative peer, Tugendhat is decorated veteran who served on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Prior to his election as a member of parliament in 2015, he served as a military assistant and principal adviser to the chief of the defence staff. Nadhim Zahawi (top right), Jeremy Hunt (bottom left) and Suella Braverman (bottom right) have been eliminated from the Tory leadership contest. Still in the running are (top): Penny Mordaunt, Rishi Sunak and Kemi Badenoch, and (bottom) Tom Tugendhat and Liz Truss. Credit: While surviving the first two ballots, he is considered an outsider to make the final cut. But the rise of Tugendhat confirms one of Johnsons worst errors, as put by Financial Times Whitehall editor Sebastian Payne, he never appointed the cabinet the country deserved. With a general election due at the latest in January 2025, an opportunity still exists for a renewed government to make their mark. Tugendhat, who exudes a warm authenticity, would be exceptionally suited for a role as defence secretary or foreign secretary. Under Johnson, Tugendhat remained marginalised from ministerial duties due in part to his tough scrutiny of Johnsons foreign policy. Tugendhats reputation flies highest in foreign policy circles among allied and like-minded countries. In August 2021, he managed cut through into the mainstream when denouncing the US led withdrawal from Afghanistan. His raw and powerful speech to the House of Commons gained wide applause and international recognition. Pirotta said other rare albino whales had been known to swim up and down the Australian coastline. Saltwater can also weather the skin of whales when they die at sea, turning it a whitish colour by the time they wash up along the coast. Migaloo, whose name means white fella in several Indigenous languages, is believed to have been born in 1986 and was first spotted in 1991 off the coast of Byron Bay. But the last sighting of Migaloo, aged in his mid-30s, off Australia was in June 2020. Loading Pirotta said the best way to identify the whale would be to look at the ridges on its tail, carry out genetic analysis of the carcass and compare it to samples taken from Migaloo. Scientists can then opt to undertake a whale necropsy, an animal autopsy to determine the cause of death. If a necropsy can be undertaken, this is a huge contribution to science, she said. Scientists will be able to take data, sample collection, learn more about why this animal has passed, which might infer information about our marine environment. Mexico City: Infamous drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, who was behind the killing of a US DEA agent in 1985, has been captured by Mexican forces nearly a decade after walking out of prison and returning to drug trafficking. Quintero was arrested after a search dog named Max found him hiding in the bush in the town of San Simon in Sinaloa state during a joint operation by the navy and the Attorney-Generals Office, a navy statement said. The site was in the mountains near Sinaloas border with the northern border state of Chihuahua. Mexicos national arrest registry listed the time of Quinteros arrest as around midday. There were two pending arrest orders for him as well as an extradition request from the US government. The wanted poster for Rafael Caro Quintero of the 1970s Guadalajara Cartel. Credit:FBI A very short video segment released by the navy showed Quintero his face blurred dressed in jeans, a soaking wet blue shirt and baggy khaki jacket held by both arms by men wearing camouflage uniforms and carrying assault rifles. PHILIPSBURG:--- On 16 July around 08.30LT, HNLMS Groningen will enter the port of Point Blanche (Sint Maarten) for a regular port visit. In accordance with military traditions, the crew will be welcomed at Fort Amsterdam (Divi Resort) with a military ceremony, executed by marines of the Dutch Marines Detachment at Sint Maarten and the Volunteer Corps Sint Maarten. The ship has been present in the region since April but has not visited Sint Maarten yet. Additional to the military ceremony, the Governor of Sint Maarten, His Excellency Eugene Holiday, will also attend the ceremony. In the Caribbean, the crew primarily focuses on counter-drug operations. In this way, the Dutch armed forces fulfill their constitutional tasks, such as promoting and maintaining the international legal order and stability in the region. The operations take place in collaboration with partners such as the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard and the American Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-South). The Royal Netherlands Navy has 4 patrol ships of the Holland class. These OPVs (Ocean-Going Patrol Vessels) are flexibly deployable vessels for monitoring coastal waters. In addition, they can be used for law enforcement such as counter-drug operations and humanitarian tasks such as providing emergency aid. This year, the Dutch military forces in the Caribbean already captured 5.300 kilograms of drugs. PHILIPSBURG:--- The Department of Legal Affairs & Legislation organized a two-part lecture on: The Role of Small Island Developing States in the Formation of Fair Taxation as Customary Law and another on: Development in EU-OCT Relations for St. Maarten. These topics are important because there are issues that affect and influence and impact the country and its citizens. Before Covid-19, the Department of Legal Affairs & Legislation organized 3-4 times per year a lecture about a legal topic on the Legal Platform. The reason for this lecture is to provide policy officers/policy advisors/legal advisors/lawyers information about legal topics, said Ramona Ismail, Legal Policy Advisor of the department. The two lectures were by Professor Dr. Flora Goudappel and Germaine Rekwest, both of the University of Curacao. Dr. Goudappel spoke about the relation and the development of the European Union and the Netherlands and St. Maarten, as OCTs, Overseas Countries and Territories. Indicating that there are several aspects to the relationship, from the environmental to the social to the trade and development. St. Maarten can benefit more and take advantage of the opportunities as a member of the EU, which range from having access to the European market to applying for EU funds to develop social and environmental projects. There is more to being a partner in this partnership, Dr. Goudappel said. A professor of European law and dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Curacao, Goudappel specializes in the relation of overseas countries and territories to the European Union. There is a new instrument, Prof. Dr. Goudappel said, the Decision on the Overseas Association underpinning the political/institutional, trade, and financial cooperation framework for the EU-OCT partnership for 2021-27. The new Decision on the Overseas Association unifies the rules for the partnership with all Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs), which St. Maarten and other OCTs can take advantage of. In an ever-changing world, from 25 OCTs down to 12, there are many changes that are happening in this developing world. The aim of the new regulations is to strengthen competitiveness, increase resilience and reduce vulnerability, and promote cooperation and integration between the OCTs and other partners and neighboring regions. In addition, there are financing options with regard to Disaster Risk Reduction, Multiannual program funding, and emphasis on the UN 2030 Agenda and Environmental Protection. The other speaker was Germaine Rekwest (LL.M) who provided information on the concept of Fair Taxation as it relates to an international standard and contextually to global developments, as well as exploring the topic of Fair Taxation, from different angleseconomic, legal/judicial, political, and philosophical. The central question in this lecture is whether the implementation of Fair taxation by the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) contributes to the formation of Fair taxation as a principle of customary international law, said Rekwest, who is a researcher and lecturer in tax law at the University of Curacao and is currently finalizing her PhD at Leiden University. The Government is dealing with (the implementation of) international tax standards, so it is relevant for civil servants to learn more about this. The same applies to the new OCT decision. In addition, there have to be considerations for not complying with certain EU stipulations as it regards this topic of fair Taxation. The Department JZ&W is very thankful that Professor Dr. Flora Goudappel and Germaine Rekwest (LL.M) have given the lecture on the Legal Platform. IsoEnergy Provides Update on Winter Results and Announces Summer Exploration Plans IsoEnergy Ltd. (aIsoEnergya or the aCompanya) (TSXV: ISO; OTCQX: ISENF https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/isoenergy-ltd/ ) is pleased to provide an update on its winter exploration results and to announce its summer 2022 exploration plans for its eastern Athabasca Basin uranium properties (Figure 1). Winter Assay Results and Geophysical Surveys Update Larocque East Project Chemical assays are summarized in Table 1 for the final two drill holes which intersected radioactivity >500 CPS during the winter of 2022. At the Hurricane zone, LE22-115A targeted the unconformity 75m west of LE21-101 and intersected 2.0m averaging 1.0% U3O8 between 335.0m and 337.0m which includes a 0.5m subinterval averaging 3.3% U3O8 from 335.5 to 336.0m. Approximately 3.8km to the east-northeast, LE22-116 intersected 0.5m averaging 0.4% U3O8 from 282.0m to 282.5m. Neither result is considered to warrant direct follow-up at this time. Figures 3 and 4 show the locations of LE22-116 and LE22-115A, respectively. Hawk Project Electromagnetic surveying completed at Hawk during the winter of 2022 advanced the project to a drill-ready state. With multiple conductive responses mapped on each of six survey lines, the winter work generated a drill target inventory that exceeded IsoEnergya?s expectations. The Hawk project contains over 10km of prospective magnetic low zones hosting conductors with depths to the unconformity expected to be between 600m and 750m. The single historical drill hole completed within the project failed to intersect conductive basement, indicating that none of the prospective stratigraphy has been effectively tested. A first pass drilling campaign to follow up the 2022 results is planned for 2023. Figure 5 shows the Hawk survey area and interpreted results. Ranger Project As at Hawk, electromagnetic surveying completed at Ranger during winter 2022 advanced the project to a drill-ready state. The winter survey work mapped weakly to moderately conductive trends in two areas. The northwestern conductive trends are associated with magnetic breaks and are completely untested by drilling within the project. The southern conductive trends are associated with a magnetic break and the projection of the Bird Lake Fault, a significant post-Athabasca structure which has a vertical offset of up to 80m. The depth to the unconformity in the survey area is expected to between 230 and 300m. A first pass drilling campaign to follow up the 2022 results in planned for 2023. Figure 6 shows the Ranger winter 2022 survey results. Summer Exploration Plans Highlights: Diamond drilling at Larocque East, Geiger, and Trident totalling 7000m Airborne geophysical surveying at Evergreen, Spruce, East Rim, Edge, and Full Moon Tim Gabruch, President and Chief Executive Officer commented: aAs we move towards an initial Mineral Resource Estimate for Hurricane and plan the next stage of advancement on that project, we will continue to advance exploration on the eastern side of our Larocque East property and in parallel focus on additional properties in our high-quality exploration portfolio.a Andy Carmichael, Vice President of Exploration commented: aThe second half of 2022 will see IsoEnergy explore eight projects spread throughout the eastern Athabasca region. We are excited to resume drilling at Larocque East and Geiger, and initial reconnaissance drilling at Trident will provide valuable geological information on this underexplored project which is immediately adjacent to the Athabasca Basin. Additionally, an extensive program of airborne surveying will move several of our early-stage projects toward drill-readiness.a Diamond Drilling: Larocque East Project Drilling at Larocque East will comprise six drill holes totalling 2000m. The main objectives of the drilling are to continue exploring the Larocque Lake conductive trend and to assess the prospectivity of the Kernaghan trend. Drilling on the Larocque Lake trend will follow-up strongly anomalous geochemistry within two kilometres along strike of the Hurricane zone and test high-priority geophysical targets in the eastern portion of the project. On the Kernaghan trend, where historical drilling identified over 40m of unconformity topography associated with anomalous geochemistry in the Athabasca sandstones, drilling will test for significant basement structures which would warrant follow-up. Figure 3 shows the general target areas for Larocque East drilling. Geiger Project Eight holes totalling 3000m are planned at Geiger. Drilling will follow-up winter 2022 geophysical results in the Q23 and Q48 areas where electromagnetic (EM) surveying mapped more than 35km of conductor strike. The objective of the summer 2022 Geiger drilling is to assess these areas for the presence of significant structures which would warrant additional follow-up. The depth to the unconformity in the two target areas is approximately 250 to 275m. Figure 7 shows the planned drilling areas and winter 2022 geophysical survey results. Trident Project Drilling planned at Trident comprises eight drill holes totalling 2000m. Four target areas at Trident identified by IsoEnergy are characterized by the presence of electromagnetic (EM) conductors hosted within zones of low magnetic susceptibility which are not covered by large waterbodies. As at Larocque East and Geiger, the primary objective of drilling is to assess the target areas for the presence of favourable basement structures which would warrant further exploration. Figure 8 shows the Trident 2022 drilling target areas. Airborne Geophysical Surveying: Xcalibur Multiphysics has been engaged to conduct multiparameter airborne geophysical surveying at IsoEnergya?s early-stage Evergreen, Spruce, East Rim, Edge and Full Moon projects. The survey will employ Xcalibura?s FALCONA Airborne Gravity Gradiometry system to acquire high-resolution gravity, magnetic, and radiometric (spectrometry) datasets. Gravity and magnetic data will improve the property-wide understanding of basement geology and assist in the identification of potential alteration zones, while radiometry aims to locate anomalous radioactivity related to near-surface showings and radioactive boulder trains such as those that led to the discovery of several notable uranium deposits including Triple R and Key Lake. Survey work commenced on June 29th and is expected to be completed in mid-July. Project locations are shown on Figure 1. The Larocque East Property and the Hurricane Zone The 100% owned Larocque East property consists of 33 mineral claims totaling 16,780ha. Two of the projecta?s claims distal to the Hurricane zone are subject to a 2% Net Smelter Returns Royalty of which 1% may be bought back for $1 million at IsoEnergya?s discretion. Larocque East is immediately adjacent to the north end of IsoEnergya?s Geiger property and is 35km northwest of Orano Canadaa?s McClean Lake uranium mine and mill. Along with other target areas, the Larocque East Property covers a 15-kilometre-long northeast extension of the Larocque Lake conductor system; a trend of graphitic metasedimentary basement rocks that is associated with significant uranium mineralization at the Hurricane zone, and in several occurrences on Cameco Corp. and Orano Canada Inc.a?s neighbouring property to the southwest of Larocque East. The Hurricane zone was discovered in July 2018 and was followed up with 29 drill holes in 2019, 48 drill holes in 2020, 16 drill holes in 2021, and five drill holes during winter 2022. Dimensions are currently 375m along-strike, up to 125m wide, and up to 12m thick. The zone is open for expansion along-strike to the north and south on some sections. Mineralization is polymetallic and commonly straddles the sub-Athabasca unconformity 325m below surface. The best intersection to date is 38.8% U3O8A over 7.5m in drill hole LE20-76. Drilling at Cameco Corp.a?s Larocque Lake zone on the neighbouring property to the southwest has returned historical intersections of up to 29.9% U3O8A over 7.0m in drill hole Q22-040. Like the nearby Geiger property, Larocque East is located adjacent to the Wollaston-Mudjatik transition zone a major crustal suture related to most of the uranium deposits in the eastern Athabasca Basin. Importantly, the sandstone cover on the Property is thin, ranging between 140m and 450m in previous drilling. A Qualified Person Statement The scientific and technical information contained in this news release was prepared by Andy Carmichael, P.Geo., IsoEnergya?s Vice President, Exploration, who is a aQualified Persona (as defined in NI 43-101 aA Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects). Mr. Carmichael has verified the data disclosed.A All radioactivity measurements reported herein are total gamma from an RS-125 hand-held spectrometer. As mineralized drill holes at the Hurricane zone are oriented very steeply (-70 to -90 degrees) into a zone of mineralization that is interpreted to be horizontal, the true thickness of the intersections is expected to be greater than or equal to 90% of the core lengths.A This news release refers to properties other than those in which the Company has an interest. Mineralization on those other properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Companya?s properties.A All chemical analyses are completed for the Company by SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories in Saskatoon, SK. For additional information regarding the Companya?s Larocque East Project, including its quality assurance and quality control procedures, please see the Technical Report dated effective May 15, 2019, on the Companya?s profile atA www.sedar.com. About IsoEnergy IsoEnergy is a well-funded uranium exploration and development company with a portfolio of prospective projects in the eastern Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan, Canada. The Company recently discovered the high-grade Hurricane Zone of uranium mineralization on its 100% owned Larocque East property in the Eastern Athabasca Basin. IsoEnergy is led by a Board and Management team with a track record of success in uranium exploration, development, and operations. The Company was founded and is supported by the team at its major shareholder, NexGen Energy Ltd. Tim Gabruch President and Chief Executive Officer IsoEnergy Ltd. +1 306-261-6284 info@isoenergy.ca www.isoenergy.ca Investor Relations Kin Communications +1 604 684 6730 iso@kincommunications.com In Europe: Swiss Resource Capital AG Jochen Staiger info@resource-capital.ch www.resource-capital.ch Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities referenced herein have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the aU.S. Securities Acta), and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements thereunder. Forward-Looking Information The information contained herein contains aforward-looking statementsa within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and aforward-looking informationa within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. aForward-looking informationa includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, planned exploration activities. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as aplansa, aexpectsa, ais expecteda, abudgeta, ascheduleda, aestimatesa, aforecastsa, aintendsa, aanticipatesa, or abelievesa or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results amaya, acoulda, awoulda, amighta or awill be takena, aoccura or abe achieveda or the negative connotation thereof. Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the results of planned exploration activities are as anticipated, the price of uranium, the anticipated cost of planned exploration activities, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms, that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct the Companya?s planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking information and statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual events or results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements, including, among others: negative operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of additional financing, no known mineral reserves or resources, the limited operating history of the Company, the influence of a large shareholder,A alternative sources of energy and uranium prices, aboriginal title and consultation issues, reliance on key management and other personnel, actual results of exploration activities being different than anticipated, changes in exploration programs based upon results, availability of third party contractors, availability of equipment and supplies, failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry, environmental risks, changes in laws and regulations, community relations and delays in obtaining governmental or other approvals. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.A The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws JULY 21 Art After Hours at the Wiregrass Museum of Art will be held Thursday, July 21, from 5:30-8 p.m. for the opening of B22: Wiregrass Biennial. The juried exhibition features work created in the last three years from 38 artists across seven states in the Southeast. Enjoy a live performance from local musician Alice Nelson, artmaking, and a cash bar. Free for museum members; $5 for nonmembers. JULY 22 Club Italiano will meet Friday, July 22, at Mural City Coffee Company, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Participants will talk and attempt humor in Italian. Esercitate litaliano con il miglior caffe e te della citta. Cercate la bandiera dellUniversita di Troy. Gratuito, aperto a tutti. Contatto: vossr@troy.edu. JULY 23 Grimes Gospel Lighthouse, 1512 County Road 25, Grimes, will host Ken Robertson of Panama City Beach, July 23; David Frost of Ozark on July 30; Billy Gene Dickerson of Ashford, Aug. 6; Southern Harmony of Panama City, Aug. 13; local talent on Aug. 20 with 6 p.m. dinner; and Walter Wilson of Dothan, Aug. 27. Music starts at 7 p.m. A love offering will be taken. Call 334-983-4654 or 334-714-4658 for more information. JULY 24 Anderson Baptist Church, located on Anderson Church Road, Clio, will hold Homecoming on July 24 at 11 a.m. Speaker will be Robbie Daniels with music by Jean Self. A covered dish lunch will be served. Everyone is welcome. Union Freewill Baptist Church, 4635 County Road 57 S., Abbeville, will celebrate Homecoming on Sunday, July 24, with the Rev. Jeff Hines, pastor of First Baptist Church in Fort Gaines, Georgia, bringing the message at 11 a.m. A covered dish lunch will be held at the service. The church will hold revival services Monday, July 25, as well as Tuesday, July 26, and Thursday, July 28, with speakers and special music each night. The Rev. Van Cooley of First Baptist Church in Columbia will speak Monday; the Rev. Tom Chesnut of Sardis Church in Hartford will speak Tuesday; and the Rev. George Bryan of Sardis Baptist Church in Abbeville will speak Thursday. JULY 25 Archdiocese United Christian Fellowship International will host its Sixth Annual Convocation on July 25-29 at the Daleville Christian Fellowship Worship Center, located at 1 Martin Luther King Jr. Circle in Daleville. A midday service will be held Tuesday, July 26, at noon with worship, foot washing, and Communion. Morning seminars will be held July 27-29 from 10 a.m. to noon and nightly services will be held July 25-28 at 7 p.m. The guest minister for the nightly services is the Rev. Darryl Caldwell, pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Brundidge. A celebration banquet will be held July 29 at 6:45 p.m. with tickets $15 per person. All other services are free and open to the public. For more information, call 334-598-6279. JULY 28 The German Coffee Club will meet on July 28 at 9:30 a.m. at the Landing on Fort Rucker. Schnitzel will be on the menu. Reservations are needed by Monday, July 25. For more information call Chris at 334-475-6388. The Disabled American Veterans Wiregrass Chapter 99, located in New Brockton, will meet Thursday, July 28, at 6 p.m. The meeting will take place in the New Brockton Senior Center and will include elections for chapter officers for the upcoming year. All members that can attend are asked to attend. For more information, contact Charles Lobdell at 334-718-5707 or Mike Doran at 334-406-6700. The Entrepreneurship Council will hold a seminar Thursday, July 28, at the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Topic will be Financing Opportunities for Small Business, with Jeff Williams of SmartBank, Brent McMahan of SBA, Beau Strong of Southern Development, and Rachel Armstrong of Southeast Alabama Regional Planning. Open to everyone; $10 donation. The council is a 501(3) organization. Sign up at entrepreneurshipcouncil.org. JULY 29 Esperanto-Klubo will meet Friday, July 29, at Mural City Coffee Company, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Attendees will talk and share in Esperanto. Ekzercu la esperantan kun la plej bonaj kafo kaj teo en la urbo. Sercu la flagon de Universitato Troy. Senpaga, malfermita al ciuj. Kontakto: vossr@troy.edu. AUG. 5 Club de Espanol will meet Friday, Aug. 5, at Mural City Coffee Company, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Participants will practice Spanish through talk and games. Practiquen espanol con el mejor cafe y te de la ciudad. Busquen la bandera de la Universidad de Troy. Gratis, abierto a todos. Contacto: vossr@troy.edu. AUG. 9 A free question and answer seminar for veterans seeking answers about benefits will be held Tuesday, Aug. 9, from 9-10:30 a.m. in the fellowship hall of Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Dothan at 1231 Fortner St. The seminar is for veterans who are having difficulty filing VA claims, for those seeking answers about dependent eligibility for spouse or widow, or those wanting to know if they have a disability eligible for a VA claim. Other subjects may be open for discussion. Any active duty or veterans are welcome and there is no charge. For more information, contact CW4 (Retired) Michael Hipwell at 334-790-8344. AUG. 12 Club Francais will meet Friday, Aug. 12, at Mural City Coffee Company, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Participants will practice French through talk and games. Pratiquez francais avec le meilleur cafe et the en ville. Cherchez la banniere de lUniversite de Troy. Gratuit, ouvert a tous. Contact: vossr@troy.edu. AUG. 13 Yard Party for Art will be held at the Wiregrass Museum of Art in downtown Dothan on Saturday, Aug. 13. The annual fundraiser features art, live music, interactive tech components, yard games, and food and drinks. The musical line-up includes Lady Dan at 6:30 p.m.; Symone French at 7:15 p.m.; Tedious & Brief at 7:45 p.m.; Erthling at 8:30 p.m.; and Mike Mains & The Branches at 9:15 p.m. General admission tickets are $20 each until Aug. 10 and $25 at the gate. Lawn chairs or blankets for seating are encouraged. VIP tickets for admission and access to the events Oasis Tent are $100 each and on sale until Aug. 10. The Oasis Tent is a cooled tent with a VIP bar and lounge seating close to the stage, gourmet handheld bites, and tastings of a new signature cocktail. Visit yardpartyforart.com for more details and to buy tickets online. St. Paul AME Church Lay Organization of Ozark will hold a Men and Women Conference on Saturday, Aug. 13, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Registration is $20. The Conference will be held at All of Gods Children Inc. at 912 Andrews Ave. in Ozark. For more information, call Sandra Edwards at 334-828-3149. AUG. 14 Friendship African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church will observe its 138th anniversary and homecoming on Sunday, Aug. 12, at 2 p.m. Everyone is invited but especially former members and those from sister churches and with ties to the Klondyke community. Theme: Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Guest speaker is Presiding Elder Willie E. Marshall, Ozark-Troy District. Alvin L. Flowers will be the master of ceremony. Dinner will be served after the program. The church is located in Ozark on Dale County Road 30. For more information, call 334-299-0030. AUG. 19 Deutscher Club will meet Friday, Aug. 19, at Mural City Coffee Company, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Participants will practice German through talk and games. Trainieren Sie Deutsch mit dem besten Kaffee und Tee der Stadt! Beim Troy-Universitatsbanner. Kostenlos, fur alle zuganglich. Kontakt: vossr@troy.edu. AUG. 25 The Entrepreneurship Council will hold a seminar Thursday, Aug. 25, at the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Topic will be Hiring Employees with Anne Marie Carr of Southeast AlabamaWorks and Robert May of Dothan Career Center. Open to everyone, $10 donation. The Council is a 501(3) organization. Sign up at entrepreneurshipcouncil.org. AUG. 26 Club Italiano will meet Friday, Aug. 26, at Mural City Coffee Company, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Participants will practice Italian through talk and games. Esercitate litaliano con il miglior caffe e te della citta. Cercate la bandiera dellUniversita di Troy. Gratuito, aperto a tutti. Contatto: vossr@troy.edu. ONGOING The Dothan Ballroom Dance Club will be teaching The Waltz at the Cultural Arts Center on Tuesdays in July. The fun starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Choreography Room. Cost is $2 per week. Call or text 501-766-4845 with any questions. Wear shoes that slide easily. Kiwanis Club of Dothan hosts a monthly gathering on the last Tuesday of every month at The Thirsty Pig, 257 S. St. Andrews St., Dothan, from 6-7 p.m. All are welcome to attend. Land of Cotton Smocking Guild meets the second Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. at Piney Grove Assembly of God Church, 206 County Road 9 in Wicksburg. The guild is involved in a Wee Care Project, creating preemie gowns, garments for infants in NICU, and bereavement pouches. For more information, contact Carol Ann Pileggi at 850-516-9960 or Joann Carpenter at 334- 790-8328. Enterprise Military Support Group will not meet in June and July. If anyone needs to talk, call Dr. Granger at 334-447-2252 or John Logsdon at 334-806-2636. The Kiwanis Club of Dothan meets every Wednesday from 12-1 p.m. at the Dothan Country Club, located at 200 S. Cherokee Ave. in Dothan. Anyone may attend as a guest of the Kiwanis. If you plan to attend, contact the club via kiwanisdothan.com or call 334-355-6877. The Columbia Historical Society meets every third Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Train Depot on Highway 52. All guests are welcome. The Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary Dothan Unit #87 will meet every third Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. at Harvest Church, located at 2727 Fortner St. in Dothan. The group will meet in the Main Cafe located in the churchs Building A. Call 334-596-9610 for more information. Dothan Newcomers Club, a social organization, meets the first Thursday of the month in the fellowship hall of First Christian Church, 1401 N. Cherokee Ave. Social time begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by the business meeting at 10 a.m. The club is open to individuals who have moved into the Dothan or Wiregrass area within the past five years or who have faced a change in status (retirement, death of a spouse, divorce) within the past five years. For more information, visit www.dothannewcomers.com, or Facebook @DothanNewcomers, or contact Elaine Brackin, president, via email at dncpresident3@gmail.com. Alcoholics Anonymous holds regular meetings in the Wiregrass including Ashford, Dothan, Eufaula, and Headland under the organizations District 10 (www.aadothan.org) meeting locations and Andalusia, Daleville, Enterprise, Level Plains, Opp, Ozark, and Troy under the organizations District 11 (www.district11aa.com) meeting locations. Visit www.aaarea1.org for a complete list of districts for Alabama and Northwest Florida. A Disabled American Veterans chapter service officer will be located at the New Brockton Town Hall every Wednesday from 9-11 a.m. Any veteran needing help with a VA claim is welcome. This is on a walk-in basis; no appointment is needed. For more information, contact Mike Doran at 334-406-6700. The DAV van service for local veterans will make runs to Montgomery and Tuskegee on Mondays and Fridays. The van will leave from the Hardees restaurant on Rucker Boulevard in Enterprise at 5 a.m. and from the Dothan Civic Center at 5:30 a.m. Due to COVID restrictions, there is only space for four riders each trip. Veterans who need rides to VA hospitals in Montgomery or Tuskegee can call 334-308-2480 to reserve a seat on the Enterprise van or 334-446-0866 for the Dothan van. Square Dancing will be held every Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Enterprise YMCA, located on Highway 27 across from Hobby Lobby in Enterprise. Singles and couples welcomed. Never danced? Theyll teach you. For more information, call 334-237-0466 or 334-347-4513. The Gen. William C. Oates Chapter No. 1342 of the United Daughters of the Confederacy meets the second Thursday from September through May. Women ages 18 and older who have ancestors who fought in the Civil War are eligible for membership, and help will be provided to prove your first Confederate ancestors lineage. For meeting locations and information, call Ceya Minder at 334-794-7480 or email ceya.minder@gmail.com. London, 16 July 2022 (SPS) - The United Kingdom has reiterated its position on the question of Western Sahara in favor of a lasting solution on the basis of guaranteeing the right of self-determination for the people of Western Sahara. According to a written reply from the Minister of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Graham Stuart, in response to a question from a Conservative MP, the Minister indicated that the Government had taken note of the proposals put forward by the parties to the conflict to the UN Secretary-General in 2007. In this regard, the Minister affirmed that London strongly supports the work of Staffan de Mistura as the Personal Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for Western Sahara and encourages the parties to make the most of the mediation that he is leading. The Minister concluded by reaffirming the need to continue the political process towards a just and lasting political solution that will provide for the right of self-determination for the people of Western Sahara. (SPS) 062/T Lusaca, 16 July 2022 (SPS) The Moroccan state of occupation has failed to convince African delegations to exclude the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) from participating in the work of the 8th summit of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), scheduled for August 28 and 29 in Tunis, the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) having approved, Thursday in Lusaka, a resolution through which it calls for the participation of all African countries in this appointment. This resolution was approved at the end of a closed session marked by a long debate of African foreign ministers, within the framework of the 41st session of the Executive Council of the AU whose work is currently taking place in the Zambian capital. According to well-informed sources, the Moroccan representative tried in vain, during this meeting, to convince all the African delegations of the need to exclude the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), by advancing vain arguments according to which "the partnership linking the African countries to Japan does not fall within the framework of the AU. An attempt doomed to failure, according to the same sources, in that no state, even those allied with the Makhzen, supported the Moroccan position. On the contrary, many participating African ministers noted the need to ask the Japanese partner to extend an invitation to all African countries, including the Sahrawi Republic. At the end of the session, a draft resolution prepared by the Chairperson of the Council, Senegal's Minister of Foreign Affairs, included this point and instructed the AU Commission, headed by Chairperson Moussa Faki, to keep Japan informed of the common African position on this issue. It should be noted that the "TICAD" summit is one of the most important international forums for development cooperation between African countries, Japan and international bodies. 062/T Scene Actor Bradley Cooper filmed scenes for the Netflix movie Maestro at a private home on Dunham Road in Fairfield last week. The film, based on the life of composer Leonard Bernstein, features Cooper in the lead role as well as actress Carey Mulligan (from The Great Gatsby) as Bernsteins wife, Felicia Montealegre, and actress Maya Hawke as their daughter Maya Bernstein. Filming also took place in New York City and the Berkshires in Massachusetts. Maestro will debut on Netflix next year. Cooper, who is also directing, has been in the media lately amid rumors that he is dating Huma Abedin, former deputy chief of staff to Hillary Clinton and ex-wife of disgraced former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner. Out thereThe Big Picture a new arts and crafts store opened this past week at 1162 E. Putnam Ave. next to CFCF Coffee. The store, owned by Riverside resident Kristen Addeo, offers creative gifts, art kits and pieces of art and design for customers ranging from local moms to artists. Children and adults can also design their own craft kits, jewelry, clothing items and do-it-yourself craft projects in-store. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, July 21. The store is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. For more info, visit www.thebigpictureart.com or follow on Instagram @thebigpictureart. Last week, Alabama officials secured $500 million in bonds to help fund a $1.3 billion prison construction program, and earlier this year, created a controversy by earmarking about $400 million in COVID relief funds to the same prison project. However, in cataloging reasons why 12 years after the Affordable Care Act created a federal funding option for states to expand Medicaid eligibility to 138 percent of federal poverty limit, some Alabama lawmakers point to a precarious economy and fret about future costs. With the U.S. Supreme Courts dismantling of Roe v. Wade, shifting the abortion question to the states, Alabama law now makes abortion illegal except when life of the mother is in danger. That makes the expansion of Medicaid eligibility even more important, as the stricture of abortion services will likely have the biggest impact on low-income Alabamians. Medicaid expansion would provide healthcare to 313,000 more Alabama residents, most of whom have no health coverage otherwise, and a recent study by PARCA suggests savings would offset costs after federal funding expires. By not expanding Medicaid, Alabama has left billions in federal funding on the table in 2022. Alabamas infant mortality rate, while improving, is the 5th worst in the nation. The states maternal mortality rate is the nations 3rd worse. Its unconscionable for Alabamas leaders to deny access to healthcare to hundreds of thousands of poor Alabamians by refusing Medicaid expansion thats in place in 38 U.S. states. A pro-life state should be truly pro-life. When Digit spends an afternoon unloading boxes from a tractor-trailer in 100-plus-degree heat, co-workers never hear a complaint. Digit, a blue-and-white humanoid robot, was designed to handle the tough, menial and dangerous tasks at warehouses. The robots movements, informed by years of studying how birds walk, include a slight sway in its frame when it is at rest, to dispel the discomforting stillness that bothers humans. It also does not talk, because voice recognition tech is not advanced enough yet. Instead of designing the whole warehouse around the robots, we can now build robots that are able to operate on our terms, in our spaces, in our environments, said Jonathan Hurst, chief technology officer and a founder of Agility Robotics, the firm behind Digit. Robotics and automation are not new to logistics; conveyor belts, scanners and other innovations have helped automate and accelerate the speed-obsessed industry for decades. But the pace of investment and change fueled by the pandemic-era e-commerce boom, a tight labor market and a fragile supply chain has taken off in recent years. Experts say robotics will change how warehouses are operated and designed. Its a golden era were entering into, said Tye Brady, chief technologist of Amazon Robotics. The e-commerce giant, which helped supercharge the industrys turn toward automation in 2012 with the acquisition of robotics company Kiva Systems, has deployed more than 500,000 robotics units, including Proteus, its first fully autonomous mobile robot. Labor organizations have a different perspective. Technology can make jobs more secure and safer, but the industry is too focused on using it as a cost-saving measure, said Sheheryar Kaoosji, executive director of the Warehouse Worker Resource Center, a nonprofit group in California. It has always wanted to cut labor costs, and reducing human labor is something the industry has seen as a way to save money for decades, he said. Adoption of robotics in warehouses will increase 50% or more in the next five years, according to surveys taken by the Material Handling Institute, an industry trade group. The goal is mechanical orchestration, in which a team of robots, steered by sophisticated software and artificial intelligence, can move boxes and products in a seamless environment. I worry for those owners who dont do it, said Erik Nieves, CEO of Plus One Robotics, which has teamed up with Yaskawa America to bring robotic arms to a FedEx sorting facility in Memphis, Tennessee. Even today, a lot of warehouses are just racks, a cart and a clipboard. Theyre just not going to be able to keep up. Billions are being invested by big players eager to stay on the cutting edge. Walmart, for instance, recently announced a deal with Symbotic to bring its system of belts, pickers and autonomous vehicles to all of the retailers 42 main sorting facilities. Amazon, which accounted for 38% of robotics investment in the industry last year, announced in April a $1 billion Industrial Innovation Fund to support robotics firms like Agility. And the grocer Kroger has opened five of 20 planned warehouses outfitted with the Ocado automated system for packing and shipping fresh groceries. The seeds of the surge in warehouse robotics were planted during the 2008 recession, when carmakers, which depend heavily on robotics, took a significant and prolonged downturn. Many current innovators have a background in the auto industry and saw logistics as ripe for innovation. But unlike assembly line manufacturing, warehouses demand a significant degree of flexibility. Only recently have systems like visioning and artificial intelligence become cheap and powerful enough to sort the tens of thousands of different products streaming through an e-commerce warehouse. This technological leap is part of a larger embrace of robotics: The industry saw a 28% jump in purchases from 2020 to 2021, according to the Association for Advancing Automation. Now the technology is becoming more affordable and filtering down through the industry, beyond big players like Walmart and Amazon, said Rueben Scriven, a senior analyst at Interact Analysis who covers warehouse automation. He predicts a 25% increase in robotics and automation investment this year alone. Real estate firms are also investing in robotics startups. For instance, Prologis, an industrial giant with a global warehouse network, has poured tens of millions of dollars into robotics firms through its Prologis Ventures fund. Netflix is the only company that could figure out streaming video, and then suddenly it wasnt, said Zac Stewart Rogers, a Colorado State University professor focused on logistics and warehousing who sees an emerging middle class of robotics users in the industry. Other companies will start to catch up to Amazons lead. There is increased demand for goods-to-person robots by firms like Fetch and Locus. These so-called cobots, which can look like bin-carrying Segways, move back and forth among workers throughout the facility. With the cost of raw materials like steel soaring, these robots become cheaper and quicker to deploy than automated conveyor systems. Some firms have even introduced robots as a service business models to lease these machines to warehouse operators. Many industry analysts add that increased interest in robots stems from a tight labor market that is due to high turnover and competitive pay in other fields. Automation is one lever that companies could pull to address the problem. Robots will not replace workers in the near term, Scriven said, but rather make them more efficient and productive. Humans will be crew chiefs, commanding and maintaining teams of robots. But workers have not necessarily found significant benefits in robotics advancements, said Kaoosji, the worker advocate. Investment in new technologies will need to involve the participation of labor to make sure the evolution of jobs does not leave longtime workers behind. Working at the speed of machines will overwhelm employees, he said. Its basically the conveyor belt problem, like Lucy Ricardo with the chocolates in I Love Lucy, he said. If your machines are driving the pace of work, you have to keep with what the machine decides is your pace of work. Warehouse builders and operators are already asking for advice on how to optimize new spaces for the new generation of robotics, said James Rock, CEO of Seegrid, which creates autonomous mobile robots that zip across warehouse floors. He believes that lights out warehouses run by robots around the clock without requiring air conditioning or lighting tuned to human needs will arrive in three or four years. Too many in the industry have seen the advantages in increasing efficiency and reducing costs and worker accidents, he said. It is unclear just how much the efficiency gains of robotics will affect the overall demand for warehouse space. Symbotic, for instance, claims it can deliver the same amount as a traditional warehouse operation in half the space. A human and robot tend to take up a similar amount of space on the warehouse floor, but only one needs a break room. A bigger challenge is the industrys aging spaces: One-third of warehouses are more than 50 years old, with 70% constructed before the 21st century, according to a report from real estate services firm Newmark. Landlords are not typically making these investments themselves; tenants and big retailers tend to finance the robotics and automation improvements. Warehouses will need to be wired for greatly expanded power needs and charging stations, as well as more sophisticated wireless and 5G networks to allow the fleet of machines to communicate. Newmark found that the U.S. industrial sectors power use will grow more than twice as fast as any other sector in real estate in coming decades. Were largely building the same building, said Steve Kros, regional partner at Transwestern, a developer focused on warehouses. A generic, vanilla building that can accommodate the widest possible range of tenants. But now theyre using two or three times the power of previous generations of warehouses. US Navy ship again sails near South China Sea islands An aerial view of China-occupied Subi Reef at Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. Photo by Reuters/Francis Malasig A U.S. Navy destroyer sailed near the Spratly Islands on Saturday, the U.S. Navy said, its second such "freedom of navigation" operation in a week in the South China Sea. On Wednesday, China's military said it had "driven away" the same ship, the USS Benfold, when it sailed near the Paracel Islands. The United States regularly carries out what it calls freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea, challenging what it says are restrictions on innocent passage imposed by China and other claimants. "On July 16, USS Benfold (DDG 65) asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the South China Sea near the Spratly Islands, consistent with international law," the U.S. Navy said in a statement. China says it does not impede freedom of navigation or overflight, accusing the United States of deliberately provoking tensions. Monday marked the sixth anniversary of a ruling by an international tribunal that invalidated China's sweeping claims to the South China Sea, a conduit for about $3 trillion worth of ship-borne trade each year. China has never accepted the ruling. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, which Vietnam calls the East Sea. China has built artificial islands on some of its South China Sea holdings, including airports, raising regional concerns about Beijing's intentions. As many as 3,718 new cases of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 were recorded in the last 24 hours in Romania, by 389 less than on the previous day, on over 15,200 RT-PCR and rapid antigenic tests performed, the Health Ministry informed on Saturday. Of the new cases, 670 were in re-infected patients who tested positive more than 90 days after the first time they recovered from the disease.Most of the newly confirmed COVID-19 cases in Romania since the previous reporting were recorded in Bucharest City - 1,161, and in the counties of Constanta - 255, Sibiu - 249, Cluj - 171, Timis - 155 and Prahova - 138.The 14-day COVID-19 notification rate, at national level, is 0.955 cases per thousand population. The highest incidence is in Bucharest - 4.02, followed by the counties of Ilfov - 2.64, Brasov - 2.1, Cluj - 2.09, Sibiu - 2.05 and Constanta - 1.84.As of Saturday, 2,961,769 cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus were confirmed in Romania.- Hospitalisations -As many as 1,724 people with COVID-19 are hospitalised at specialist care facilities across the country, by 31 more than the day before; 265 of this total are children (by 5 more than on the previous day).Out of the total number of hospitalised patients, 103 are in ICUs, by 2 more compared to the previous day. Of the ICU patients, 81 are unvaccinated for COVID-19.- Deaths -According to the Ministry, there were seven COVID-19 deaths in the past 24 hours - four men and three women, one aged in the 50-59 years old category, one in 60-69 years old category, two in the 70-79 years old category and three in the over 80. All the seven dead suffered from underlying conditions and five were unvaccinated.Since the beginning of the pandemic, 65,812 people diagnosed with the SARS-CoV-2 infection have died in Romania. On July 16, 1949, five St. Louis teenagers were killed when their convertible crashed into the rear of a cattle truck on Route 66 near Lindbergh. The Post-Dispatch pages featured a photo of the wreckage with four of the five dead teens inside. Here is the original coverage. An inquest will be held tomorrow in the deaths of five teenagers killed early yesterday when a convertible coupe in which they were riding crashed into the rear of a loaded cattle truck on United States Highway 66 in St. Louis county. The crash occurred a mile west of Lindbergh boulevard as the young men and women were returning from a party at Sylvan Beach. The convertible, traveling at a speed reported to be 60 miles an hour, wedged under the trailer section of the truck for three-fourths of its length. As a result of the impact, the tandem rear wheels of the heavy trailer were knocked forward, shearing bolts holding the axles to the frame, and allowing the trailer to settle down on the crushed automobile. Those killed were: John F. Meiners, 18 years old, driver of the coupe; Richard C. Krech, 17; Miss Marlene Maurer, 16; Miss Margaret Ann Postal, 16, and Miss Patricia Ann Hughes, 17. Heavy jacks and pinchbars were used to pry the vehicles apart. Both the truck and coupe were eastbound on the four-lane highway. Francis A. Till, the truck driver, who was held on $1000 bond pending the inquest, said he was shifting gears on a long hill when the coupe struck the truck from the rear. He said he had slowed to five miles an hour. Those killed had attended a farewell party for Gerald C. Sullivan Jr, son of a former University City councilman of 7540 Stanford avenue. With his family he left yesterday on a vacation that will end with him entering a religious order, the Brothers of Mary, at Galesville, Wis. The party was in a clubhouse at Sylvan Beach on the Meramec river. About 12 friends of Sulliven had attended and they were en route home at 12:45 a.m. when the accident occurred. Jack Rohan Jr., son of a present University City councilman of 7521 Stanford avenue, who also had attended, the party, was returning home in another machine, close behind the one that crashed. He told patrolmen the lights on the rear of the cattle truck were "very dim." When patrolmen arrived at the scene, they found three lights still burning at the top of the trailer and one under the tailgate. Miss Maurer is daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Maurer, 3446A Wyoming street. She was a senior at Roosevelt High School, is survived by a brother, Robert, in addition to her parents. Miss Postal, a senior at St. Joseph's Academy, was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William J. Postal, 7210 Dale avenue. Besides her parents she is survived by a sister, Mrs. Thomas J. White, and three brothers, John J., Eugene J., and William J. Postal Jr. Mr. Meiners was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Meiners, 1346 Hawthorne place, Richmond Heights. Surviving, besides the parents, are three brothers, Eugene, Raymond and Edward, and a sister, Claire Ann Meiners. Miss Hughes, was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hughes. A a senior at St. Joseph's Academy, she is survived by her parents, a brother, Thomas Jr., and three sisters, Dorothy, Nancy and Susan Hughes. Mr. Krech, son of Mr. and Mrs. Emil H. Krech. 2503 Annalee ave., Brentwood, is survived by a sister, Mrs. Corelia Brockschmitt, and a brother, Emil H. Krech Jr., as well as his parents. ST. LOUIS A pedestrian was struck and killed by a speeding car at a busy intersection in the Tower Grove South neighborhood on Friday, police said. Police said Saturday the man, who was not identified, was hit around 9:10 p.m. while crossing South Grand Boulevard at Juniata Street, a corner that includes such restaurants as King & I Thai Cuisine, Lemongrass Vietnamese and the breakfast joint, Rooster. Witnesses told police a black SUV was speeding southbound on Grand, ran the red light, hit the pedestrian in the crosswalk and sped off. Danni Eickenhorst, one of the owners of Steve's Hot Dogs, near the fatal scene, said she was attending movie night at the Ritz Park next door, hosted by the South Grand Community Improvement District, when she heard the impact of the crash. Eickenhorst said her husband went over to pick up the man's shoes in the intersection while she and a number of other people tried to help the man until police arrived. While she did not see the vehicle that took off after hitting the man, she said a number of others came over to the scene who did. The man, who has not been identified, was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said. ST. CHARLES A St. Louis man on a bathroom break at a QuikTrip here shot and killed an armed robber early Saturday. Police said the robber was on a violent crime spree across three St. Charles gas stations. The QuikTrip customer, identified only as a 26-year-old man from St. Louis, stopped around 3:20 a.m. at the gas station at 2260 First Capitol Drive to use the restroom and make a purchase, St. Charles police said in a release. The man was on his way back to his vehicle in front of the store when he saw a black SUV pull up abruptly. St. Charles police on Sunday identified the deceased man as Lance M. Bush, 26, of St. Louis. Police said Bush was homeless. Police would not release the name of the customer who killed Bush, saying St. Charles County prosecutors will review the case first to determine if the killing was justified. The customer watched Bush get out of the SUV, run into the QuikTrip carrying a backpack, and approach a clerk by the coffee pots, police said. Bush then grabbed the clerk and dragged her to the front of the store while she was screaming. The customer saw Bush inside the station holding a knife to the clerks throat. The customer got his 9 mm handgun from his vehicle, entered the store, and confronted the suspect, police said. Bush grabbed his backpack, told the man, I have something for you, and walked toward him, police said. The customer then fired several times. Bush fell to the floor. The customer and the clerk, who were uninjured, both called 911, police said. Bush was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. Police said they believed Bush was responsible for two other crimes just prior to the QuikTrip incident. Just before 3 a.m. Saturday a suspect entered an On The Run convenience store at a Mobil gas station at 1401 South Fifth Street and announced a robbery. He held a knife to the throat of a clerk, 43, while she opened the cash register, according to police. The suspect then pushed the clerk to the floor, stole money from the cash register and dragged the clerk toward the rear of the store asking where the safe was. When the clerk couldnt open the safe, he dragged her back to the front counter to open a second register. This suspect also fled in a black SUV. The clerk had knife cuts on her left wrist, right hand and neck, and was taken to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Around 3:15 a.m., with officers en route to the On The Run, a call came in for an alarm at Midtown Phillips 66, 524 First Capitol Drive. Officers found broken glass and began investigating it as a burglary. Investigators determined the black SUV was a 2013 Toyota Highlander, reported stolen in an armed robbery on July 15 from the 13500 block of Riverport Drive in Maryland Heights. Items believed to have been stolen from the burglary at Midtown Phillips 66 were located in the vehicle, police said. Police declined to release surveillance video from the three gas stations. Bush's criminal history includes a pending felony property damage charge in St. Louis County. Charges said Bush was a former employee of the Applebee's restaurant at 11077 New Halls Ferry Road and that on March 30, he began smashing several stacks of dishes and tossing frozen food when the restaurant's manager told him his final paycheck wouldn't be available for several days. Police said he caused an estimated $6,000 in damages. Bush also had citations in St. Charles municipal court earlier this year for driving on a revoked license, trespassing and stealing. The address listed on the trespassing and stealing tickets is for the Ameristar Casino. In addition, Bush had a March 2 larceny citation in St. Louis County at a convenience store in Earth City. Joel Currier of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report. Updated with identity of the deceased man, a booking photo and details of his criminal history. The remains of a U.S. soldier in a flag-draped coffin at a repatriation ceremony in Da Nang in July, 2021. Photo by Vietnam News Agency Vietnam handed over two sets of remains suspected to belong to American soldiers who died in the Vietnam War to U.S. representatives on Thursday. The Vietnamese Office for Seeking Missing Persons held a handover ceremony in Da Nang City attended by officials from the U.S. embassy and the U.S. office for searching for soldiers missing in action in Hanoi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. The remains were found following a joint search by the two sides over the last five months. They were examined by Vietnamese and American forensic experts, who concluded they might belong to American soldiers from the Vietnam War (1955 1975). The remains will be sent to Hawaii, the U.S., for further examination. The search for missing U.S. soldiers' remains is an ongoing activity Vietnam has engaged in since 1988. ST. LOUIS Despite opposition from police employee groups, the Board of Aldermen on Friday passed legislation setting up a new agency to take over investigations of police misconduct allegations and use-of-force incidents. The boards 17-3 vote for the bill was a victory for Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, who had pushed for the measure. The bills sponsor, Alderman Shameem Clark Hubbard, said its needed to build public confidence in the police by providing more accountability. I pray we never have to use the process, said Hubbard, of the 26th Ward. The reality is history has shown its necessary legislation. In an unusual move, the St. Louis Police Officers Association, the official city police union, and the Ethical Society of Police, which advocates for Black officers, sent aldermen a joint letter urging them to delay action on the issue. This bill is extremely complex; it involves multiple legal issues including potential conflicts with state statutes and well-established common law, the groups presidents, Jay Schroeder and Donnie Walters, said in the letter. Postponing a vote, they said, would allow time for further review and work toward a revised version that would meet all the goals it is intended to achieve. The union announced its opposition to the current version on Wednesday and the ethical society did so on Friday. The St. Louis Police Leadership Organization, representing officers with the rank of sergeant and above, came out against the bill previously. The measure will set up a new Division of Civilian Oversight headed by a commissioner and staffed by 10 investigators and seven other employees. The agency will look into misconduct complaints and use-of-force incidents. Currently, those complaints are first investigated internally by police and then reviewed later by the citys existing Civilian Oversight Board. That board would be restructured and work with the new agency. So would a new jail oversight board. Under the new process, the commissioner Matthew Brummund, a retired FBI agent recently hired for a related city post will have power to take disciplinary action against police and corrections workers upon consultation and in consideration of recommendation by the police chief or corrections commissioner. Interim Public Safety Director Dan Isom has said the discipline decision ultimately would go to the city personnel director and then, if appealed, to the city Civil Service Commission. Isom said criminal use-of-force probes now conducted by the police departments force investigation unit would be handled by a new unit in the circuit attorneys office working with police. The police internal affairs division would continue in what Isom called a small contingent to investigate alleged violations of internal procedures. Aldermen Tom Oldenburg, 16th Ward, and Marlene Davis, 19th Ward, urged Hubbard to delay a vote until after the board returns from a two-month summer break that began after Fridays meeting. That would allow time to get more input, they said. We know there is an element in this city and throughout the country (that is) anti-police, Oldenburg said. He said its important that city officers feel a certain amount of comfort that such individuals wont be at the table in disciplining officers. Alderman Carol Howard, 14th Ward, added that correctional officers also needed to weigh in on the issue because they would be covered by the new process as well. It would be folly to move forward with this and do this to them, not with them, she said, referring to all affected employees. Clark Hubbard said she and others have been working on the bill for months but that the police groups didnt offer their concerns until recently. She also said there will be ample time to make changes after passage because it will take up to a year to implement the bill. Clark Hubbard and another supporter of the bill, 3rd Ward Alderman Brandon Bosley, also asserted that the bill isnt anti-police. Bosley said most officers do excellent jobs and the measure aims to separate them from those who have questionable interactions with the public. In the end, he said, the majority of officers would benefit from getting more support from the public in high-crime areas as the departments esteem grows because of the new complaint process. This has nothing to do with removing officers or trying to take their morale down, he added. Schroeder, the police union president, has said his organization is concerned that someone outside the police department would have a key role in discipline decisions. The Ethical Society, in a statement, called the bill an extreme measure that would hold current officers accountable for past, unacceptable behaviors of former officers. Good officers may leave in fear of a person or persons who have a hidden agenda against law enforcement, the Ethical Society said. The society and the police leadership group also cited various specific concerns about the new process. Sgt. Mickey Owens, president of the police leadership group, in a June 28 letter to Clark Hubbard also referred to the poor relations between city police officers and Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardners office. Giving Gardners office a major role in investigating officer-involved incidents is downright frightening, Owens said in the letter. Oldenburg and Howard were joined by Acting Aldermanic President Joe Vollmer in voting against the bill. Davis and Sharon Tyus, 1st Ward, voted present. Joe Vaccaro, 23rd Ward, and Pam Boyd, 27th Ward, abstained, noting they had relatives in the police department. Posted at 7:10 p.m. Friday, July 15. ST. LOUIS A murder suspect surrendered to police Friday morning after refusing to come out of a home in the Kingsway East neighborhood. The standoff was in the 4800 block of Leduc Street, a few blocks east of Kingshighway. St. Louis police said the suspect was connected to a killing on Leduc about 7:45 a.m. Friday. A man had been shot there and died at a hospital. The suspect ran into a home and refused to come out. By 9 a.m., the suspect was in custody, said police Sgt. Charles Wall. Wall had no additional details about the suspect or the man who died. ST. LOUIS COUNTY An inmate at the St. Louis County jail in downtown Clayton has died, a county spokesman said Saturday. Donald Matthews, 59, was transported on Saturday morning to SSM Health St. Mary's hospital in Richmond Heights, where he was pronounced dead, county spokesman Doug Moore said. Matthews was booked into the jail at 11:24 p.m. on Thursday for first-degree stalking and violation of an order of protection, Moore said. On Saturday morning, Matthews had breakfast in his cell and told jail officials he was fine during a routine check at 8:30. At 8:40, jail personnel were doing a medical check on some inmates Matthews had refused a drug screen when he was booked, so jail staff were watching him more closely, Moore said and they found him on the floor of his cell. Officers spoke with Matthews and helped him get back into bed. But he was going in and out of consciousness, and at 8:45 a.m., an emergency call for medical assistance went out to all radios in the jail. Two minutes later, 911 was called. Emergency medical services arrived at 8:53 a.m., Moore said. Paramedics departed with Matthews in an ambulance at 9:20 a.m. It arrived at St. Mary's at 9:26. Matthews was pronounced dead at 9:44 a.m. FERGUSON A St. Louis man faces 12 felony charges and four misdemeanors after allegedly firing shots at his ex-girlfriend's house on four occasions. Kaleek Harrington, 19, is charged in St. Louis County with shooting at the house near Robert-Superior Park on April 17, July 2, July 3 and July 5. After the last incident, police attempted to stop Harrington's car, a 2007 Mercedes Benz, which then crashed into a utility pole, prosecutors said. A man matching Harrington's description fled on foot. Among other charges, Harrington is accused of resisting arrest and leaving the scene of an accident. Witnesses said they had seen Harrington shooting at the house with a rifle, and one witness took a picture of his car outside the house during one incident. Bullet holes were found in the victim's house, a car belonging to someone else parked in the driveway and another residence. Harrington is being held without bond. "It's unbelievable that no one was killed or even injured after four violent episodes like this," St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell said in a statement. "We intend to hold this defendant accountable by sending him to a Missouri prison where he will have no access to a Mercedes or a firearm for many years." JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told President Joe Biden that Saudi Arabia had acted to prevent a repeat of mistakes like the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and that the United States had also made mistakes, including in Iraq, a Saudi official said. Biden said on Friday he told Prince Mohammed he held him responsible for the murder of the Washington Post journalist Khashoggi, shortly after exchanging a fist bump with the kingdoms de facto ruler. The kingdom has taken all measures to prevent similar mistakes in the future, the crown prince was quoted as telling Biden. The crown prince has denied responsibility for the Khashoggi killing. The Saudi official, in a statement sent to Reuters about Fridays conversation between the two leaders, said the crown prince said that trying to impose certain values by force on other countries could backfire. Biden, who landed in Saudi Arabia on Friday in his first Middle East trip as president, holds a summit on Saturday with six Gulf states and Egypt, Jordan and Iraq while downplaying his meeting with Prince Mohammed. That encounter has drawn criticism at home over human rights abuses. Biden had promised to make Saudi Arabia a pariah on the global stage over the 2018 murder of Khashoggi, but ultimately decided U.S. interests dictated improving relations with the worlds top oil exporter and Arab powerhouse. In the same year, similar regrettable incidents took place and other journalists were killed in other parts around the world, the crown prince said. The United States also made a number of mistakes like the incident of Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and others. Prince Mohammed, known as MbS, also raised the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh during an Israeli raid in the West Bank. All countries around the world, especially the United States and the kingdom, share values that they agree on and have others that they disagree on, the statement quoted MbS as saying. However trying to impose those values by force could have the opposite effect as it happened in Iraq and Afghanistan where the U.S. was unsuccessful, the statement said. Washington has softened its stance on Saudi Arabia since Russia invaded Ukraine earlier this year, triggering one of the worlds worst energy supply crises. Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir told reporters the two countries have moved on. Additional reporting by Jarrett Reshow. ELKO Lamoille Canyon is growing greener by the year as it recovers from a devastating fire in the fall of 2018 and a massive flood last summer. A careless target shooter at the Spring Creek Shooting Range started the fire on a Sunday morning, Sept. 30. It burned 9,000 acres, nearly half of which was in Lamoille Canyon. The fire made it about two-thirds of the way up the canyon, which is the primary tourist attraction and local recreation destination in northeastern Nevada. A lodge and some cabins at Camp Lamoille were destroyed. A number of different tree and brush species were burned and each species is responding in different ways under different timelines, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Aspen is the quickest to recover from fire. Regeneration occurs by shoots and suckers along the existing root systems. Plants expected to have the slowest recovery include whitebark pine and limber pine. No formal studies of the fire damage have been conducted, but the Forest Service is monitoring the canyons vegetation regrowth as well as noxious weeds. District Ranger Joshua Nicholes said he doesnt believe there has been a significant increase in invasive species since the fire. That being said, yes, there were invasives in the area before the fire and they continue to be an issue that all landscapes are facing across the West, he added. The Forest Service is continuing to perform noxious weed treatments along the canyon road. They say one way to reduce the spread of invasive species into burned areas is for people to keep their vehicles clean, which reduces seed build-up wedged in skid plates and vehicle undercarriages. A total of 300 sagebrush seedlings were planted after fire. Some trees and brush along the 12-mile long Lamoille Canyon road are being thinned out, as well as around the Thomas Canyon recreational cabins. The Forest Service has submitted a funding request to increase the pace and scale of the work. Most of the trees killed by the fire remain standing. Burned trees still provide habitat for wildlife and prevent erosion, according to the Forest Service. The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest would like to remind the public that wood cutting and wood gathering is not permitted within Lamoille Canyon. In addition, firewood collection permits are required on all lands managed by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. Contact the appropriate offices for more information. The Forest Service believes that the likelihood of another fire anytime soon in Lamoille Canyon remains unchanged, although any future blazes may vary in size and severity. Two fires occurred at the base of the mountains this week one near the Ruby 360 Lodge not far from Lamoille Canyon, and another near the Cowboys Rest retreat at the south end of the range. Firefighters held both blazes to 10 acres or less. Disaster struck Lamoille Canyon again in the summer of 2021, when heavy rains swept through the canyon. Mudslides on July 30 blocked the road in several places. One vehicle was hit by a boulder but no one was injured. Based on visual observations and drone flights, the Mountain City-Ruby Mountains-Jarbidge Ranger District determined that the origin of the debris flows were largely or entirely above the burn scars. Many of the debris flows occurred between Thomas Canyon and the Terraces Picnic Area. The scenic byway was completely closed for about a month. One lane remains closed on a short stretch halfway up the canyon. The Forest Service is using funds as they are available to repave and repair portions of the road. The damaged lane will be fixed sometime in the near future, according to the agency. Restoration work has included removing hazardous loose rocks from above the canyon road, and placing concrete barriers at spots prone to rockslides. Repairs from the fire and flood are ongoing. Last fall the Elko Lions Club replaced the lodge with a pavilion, and more work is planned to restore the camping facilities. Flood debris has been shuffled to line the road leading to leased cabins across from Thomas Canyon. As a result the 2018 fire, the Forest Service has increased its fire prevent messaging in the Lamoille Canyon area and worked with partners to increase hazard fuels reduction efforts. The Forest Service pointed out that 85% of wildfires nationwide are cause by people, and this is a statistic we can lower. The effectiveness of fire prevention programs including the University of Nevada, Renos Living with Fire and community engagement play an important role in reducing wildfire threats while increasing the understanding of impacts to communities, businesses, wildlife habitat and more. The public can learn more about four common categories of wildfire causes and what they can do (Campfire safety, Equipment safety, Vehicle and Towing safety and Target Shooting Safety) at www.nevadafireinfo.org. Regarding the editorial Missouris anti-choice law is vague and open to abuse. Lawmakers can fix that (July 13): Are you pro- or anti-appendectomy? I would say those are ridiculous questions. Health care emergencies should be taken care of by doctors. Doctors have gone to school for years to understand and take care of our health. Abortion care is no different. Right now in Missouri, some doctors are hesitating to treat a female hemorrhaging or suffering from an ectopic pregnancy without first considering their personal risk. Missouri has banned abortions, with no exceptions for rape or incest. A female can receive abortion care only if her life is at risk, and if a prosecutor thinks the female wasnt close enough to death to receive that care, the doctor could be charged with a felony. Its dangerous and horrific. Health care should not be political. Period. Doctors should be able to treat patients without consulting lawyers. How many will suffer because the GOP politicized health care? Katie Molitor Kirkwood Another Cold War era weapon (SADARM) has shown up in Ukraine, doing what it was designed for; destroy Russian tanks. Two NATO members (Germany and Sweden) manufacture 155mm artillery shells carrying two each Sense and Destroy Armor Munitions. Originally called SADARM munitions by its American developer (Textron) it had completed development when the Cold War suddenly ended in 1991. SADARM was not as effective as expected and the 155mm version was canceled in 2001. The U.S. Air Force has more success with the SADARM submunitions used in the CBU-105 cluster bomb (40 submunitions per half ton cluster bomb) because a bomb undergoes much less stress when used than an artillery shell. The air force and six export customers purchased hundreds of these bombs but sales were not high enough to keep CBU-105 in production after 2017. Meanwhile the U.S. Army noticed the success of an improved German SADARM shell called SMART as well as the similar Swedish Bonus. Both entered service in 2000 and both were successful as SADARM 2.0. The U.S. Army began ordering BONUS shells in 2018 and ordered more in 2020. BONUS is described as a fire and forget guided 155-millimeter ammunition designed for destroying armored targets. BONUS was a joint project by Britain, France and Sweden with the Swedes taking the lead in production. BONUS can be fired from standard NATO 155mm artillery and has a maximum 35-kilometer effective range. The round carries two submunitions, each with their own multiband IR (heat) sensors backed by laser radar. BONUS uses small winglets to slow its descent rather than small parachutes that are used in earlier similar submunitions, like the German SMART shell. The parachutes are easier to spot and more expensive and complex to use. The submunitions separate from the shell over the target location (using a time on target fuze) about 175 meters above the target areas and scan for targets. Each warhead can scan about 32,000 square meters and hit even moving targets within that area. The destruction is achieved by an Explosively Formed Penetrator (EFP) able to punch through more than 130 mm (five inches) of armor. This doesnt seem like much but the tank armor is strongest at the front and not at rear or top. The only defense against this top attack'' EFP is APS (Active Protection Systems) such as Trophy, but even these have difficulty dealing with things like EFPs. The APS systems work great against HEAT warheads because these disperse cumulative streams of superheated gasses, but not against molten metal projectile formed by an EFP. Moreover, thanks to two submunitions per shell, the artillery pieces remain for a shorter time on their firing position, so they are less likely to get caught by enemy counter-battery fire. The major defect of SADARM shells is that they are much more expensive than GPS guided Excalibur shells. Each submunition weighs 3.4 kg (7.5 pounds) and uses 945 g (2.08 pounds) of Octol explosives, which was designed to effectively form the self-forging penetrator. Most of the submunition weight goes to the sensors (including batteries) and design elements that slow descent and rotate the sensors to find a target. The American M898 SADARM (Search And Destroy Armor Munitions) dates back to the late 1970s when the U.S. Army started to look for a smart anti-armor 155 mm projectile. About a decade later SADARM had been developed and prototypes built but due budget restrictions in 1990 the program was slowed down. In 1993 the first tests were unsatisfactory because SADARM hadn't been able to hit a moving target and overall accuracy was poor. The manufacturer promised to improve the technology, and a year later the program was approved for limited low-rate production. Unfortunately for SADARM the later (1995, 1998 and 1999) tests showed only a little improvement. In all trials, the SADARM struggled to get an 80 percent reliability rate. This together with significant cost overruns were reason enough to end production in 2001. This failure did not mean the end of the SFW submunition technology, which was subsequently adopted by the U.S. Air Force as well as the developers of the SMART and BONUS shells. The submunition was always meant to be carried by a wide variety of projectiles including MLRS rockets, mortar shells and cluster bombs. Reliability of the SADARM submunition improved enough to work as the payload of CBU-105 half ton cluster bombs. Each of these bombs carries and disperses 40 submunitions Each SADARM submunitions has their own radar and heat sensor that searches for armored vehicles below and destroys them. SADARM sensors can search and attack vehicles within an area of roughly 150 x 360 meters, as they slowly descend. The self-forging metal projectile used by the SADARM submunition punches through the thinner armor on the top of the vehicle. If a target is not found, SADARM self-destructs. CNU-105 has not shown up in Ukraine because the Russians rarely use large enough concentrations of armored vehicles to justify use of CBU-105. Ukraine prefers to save it aircraft for air defense and use artillery and guided rockets for distant targets. The first use of the CBU-105 was in early 2003, when a B-52 dropped six of them on an Iraqi army column moving south from Baghdad. Most of the vehicles were later found destroyed. Since then, there have been several export customers for CBU-105 and the U.S. Air Force still has them stockpiled for future use even though production ceased in 2017. The Russians have a version of their own, SPBE-D, for sale to anyone who can pay for it. The American CBU-105 is preferred because the United States pioneered the technology, and demonstrated it could work in combat. India faces a large force of Pakistani tanks, and CBU-105 is an inexpensive and quick way to destroy lots of armored vehicles. Russia eventually responded to the SADARM submunition threat by developing a new generation of ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) that now covers the top of the turret and engine compartment of their tanks. In theory the new ERA should protect against SFW or at least reduce SFW effectiveness. So far ERA protections do not appear to be working against SFW. DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Generational Equity, a leading mergers and acquisitions advisor for privately held businesses, is pleased to announce the sale of its client, Warren Truss Co. to Stark Truss Company, Inc. The acquisition closed on June 10, 2022. Located in Newark, Delaware, Warren Truss Co. (WTC) is the oldest privately owned and operated wooden truss manufacturer in Delaware. The Company serves developers, builders, contractors, and homeowners throughout Delaware, Southern New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, and Eastern Maryland. WTC specializes in custom-engineered, design, and manufacture of wooden floor and roof trusses for commercial, residential, and agricultural projects. Whether a customer is planning a simple garage, large custom home, pole barn, or commercial project, WTC can deliver. Experienced designers on staff will work with clients to discuss and understand their specific needs. Then layouts and individual truss drawings will be generated and shown to the customer exactly what we will be provided. Once the drawings are finalized and approved, WTCs expert team of builders will fabricate the trusses, and the Company will deliver them in a timely and professional manner. Stark Truss Company (STC), is headquartered in Canton, Ohio and has fifteen locations located throughout the eastern half of the U.S. STC is one of the largest component manufacturers of roof and floor trusses in the United States today. Roof and floor trusses are used in a variety of applications, including new construction projects, additions, residential homes, commercial office buildings, multi-family communities, agricultural buildings and more. STC also offers high-quality customizable wall panels for all construction needs. STC has the durable components and experienced, dedicated employees to handle any job. Generational Equity Executive Managing Director, M&A-Technology Practice Leader, David Fergusson, and his team led by Senior M&A Advisor, Bill Shipman, with the support of Managing Director, M&A, Corey Painter, successfully closed the deal. This is an ideal combination of two long standing companies with exceptional industry reputations. STC will continue to carry on the service and quality products that WTC has provided for more than fifty years, said Shipman. About Generational Equity Generational Equity, Generational Capital Markets (member FINRA/SIPC), Generational Wealth Advisors, Generational Consulting Group, and DealForce are part of the Generational Group, which is headquartered in Dallas and is one of the leading M&A advisory firms in North America. With more than 300 professionals located throughout 16 offices in North America, the companies help business owners release the wealth of their business by providing growth consulting, merger, acquisition, and wealth management services. Their six-step approach features strategic and tactical growth consulting, exit planning education, business valuation, value enhancement strategies, M&A transactional services, and wealth management. The M&A Advisor named the company Investment Banking Firm of the Year three years in a row, Valuation Firm of the Year in 2020, and North American Investment Bank of the Year in 2022. For more information, visit https://www.genequityco.com/ or the Generational Equity press room. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220715005028/en/ Carl Doerksen 972-342-0968 [email protected] Source: Generational Equity PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: ESI Group (ISIN Code: FR0004110310, Symbol: ESI), a global simulation and virtual prototyping software partner for the industry, today announces a new step in its strategy to focus on its OneESI 2024 Focus to Grow plan by the sale of its non-core fluids simulation software product, which represented 4.6 million of revenue in FY21 for 24 million. Last October, ESI Group presented its strategic plan OneESI 2024 Focus to Grow, aiming to focus the companys investments to support its new Core Strategic Vision, and improve its top line, and profitability. As part of this initiative, the Group decided to sell its fluids simulation software product to a global leader and customer of the group for an amount of 24 million euros. Selling this software product illustrates the continued execution by the Group of its strategic plan. ESI Group continues to implement its strategic plan to keep improving its top-line growth and its profitability. The sale of this non-core asset to an industry leader, for approximately ~5 times revenue, delivers the best outcome for all its stakeholders: its customers, its employees, and its shareholders. Upcoming events Half-year results September 7th, 2022 Investors conference September 27th, 2022 About ESI Group Founded in 1973, ESI Group envisions a world where Industry commits to bold outcomes, addressing high-stakes concerns - environmental impact, safety & comfort for consumers and workers, adaptable and sustainable business models. ESI provides reliable and customized solutions anchored on predictive physics modeling and virtual prototyping expertise to allow industries to make the right decisions at the right time while managing their complexity. Acting principally in automotive & land transportation, aerospace, defense & naval and heavy industry, ESI is present in more than 20 countries, employs 1200 people around the world, and reported 2021 sales of 136.6 million. ESI is headquartered in France and is listed on compartment B of Euronext Paris. For further information, go to www.esi-group.com. Follow ESI: LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220716005004/en/ ESI Group Florence Barre [email protected] +33 1 49 78 28 28 Verbatee - Press & Shareholder Relations Jerome Goaer, [email protected], +33 6 61 61 79 34 Aline Besselievre, [email protected], +33 6 61 85 10 05 Source: ESI Group CHICAGO, July 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Basis Technologies (https://basis.net), a leading provider of cloud-based workflow automation and business intelligence software for marketing and advertising, today announced it is ranked No. 1 by Great Place to Work and Fortune magazine among this years Best Workplaces in Chicago. Basis Technologies is in the Small and Medium Companies category. The companys platform is a suite of integrated applications that automate manual operations, standardize business processes, and improve marketing and advertising performance. This years Best Workplaces in Chicago award is based on employee feedback collected through Americas largest ongoing annual workforce study of over 1 million employee survey responses and data from companies representing more than 6.1 million U.S. employees. In that survey, 97% of Basis Technologies employees said it is a great place to work. This number is 70% higher than the average U.S. company. Learn more at: https://www.greatplacetowork.com/best-workplaces/chicago/2022?category=small-and-medium. Basis Technologies believes that our success is predicated on the quality of people joining our mission. We are able to attract and retain cohesive team members because our company prioritizes their well-being, said Emily Barron, EVP of talent and development. Basis Technologies honor from Great Place to Work and Fortune magazine further strengthens our theory that happiness is good business. The Best Workplaces in Chicago list is highly competitive. Great Place to Work, a global authority on workplace culture, selected the list using rigorous analytics and confidential employee feedback. Companies were only considered if they are a Great Place to Work-Certified organization and headquartered in the Chicago metropolitan statistical area. Great Place to Work is a company culture award in America that selects winners based on how fairly employees are treated. Companies are assessed on how well they are creating a great employee experience that cuts across race, gender, age, disability status, or any aspect of who employees are or what their role is. As employee demands and expectations have dramatically changed over the past year, these companies have risen to the occasionand its not been easy, says Kim Peters, executive vice president of global recognition, research & strategic partnerships at Great Place to Work. Their hard work and dedication to listen to and care for the well-being of every employee, and support them in a way thats meaningful to all, is the standard all organizations will be held to. Among Great Place to Work and Fortune magazine honors, Basis Technologies also ranked No. 6 in Best Workplaces in Chicago in 2021 (Small and Medium). In 2020, it was ranked No. 52 in Fortune Best Medium Workplaces, No. 15 in Fortune Best Workplaces for Women (Small and Medium) and No. 4 in Best Workplaces in Chicago. About Basis TechnologiesBasis Technologies (https://basis.net), formerly operating as Centro, is a leading provider of cloud-based workflow automation and business intelligence software for marketing and advertising functions within enterprises. Its SaaS platform is composed of a suite of integrated applications that automate manual operations, standardize business processes, and improve marketing and advertising performance. The technology provides a comprehensive selection of buying methods across all channels and devices, utilizing all major creative types and formats. Basis platform creates a single system of record, seamless team collaboration, and actionable data-driven insights yielding material gains in productivity and increased profitability for users. Headquartered in Chicago with offices servicing North America, South America, and Europe, Basis Technologies has received numerous accolades for its commitment to employees and workplace culture. Learn more at https://basis.net. About the Best Workplaces in ChicagoGreat Place to Work selected the Best Workplaces in Chicago by gathering and analyzing confidential survey responses from its study of thousands of companies representing more than 6.1 million U.S. employees at Great Place to Work-Certified organizations. Companies must be headquartered in the Chicago metropolitan statistical area to be eligible. Company rankings are derived from 60 employee experience questions within the Great Place to Work Trust Index survey. Read the full methodology.To get on this list next year, start here. About Great Place to WorkGreat Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, it has surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust. Its employee survey platform empowers leaders with the feedback, real-time reporting and insights they need to make data-driven people decisions. Everything it does is driven by the mission to build a better world by helping every organization become a great place to work For All.Learn more at greatplacetowork.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Contact:Anthony Loredo[email protected]917-573-4157 A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8cb3e19b-4960-4dd6-b9d0-d580ea2d77f5 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/62b7cd50-4234-4bd7-8d42-a00bc829ba76 Emily Barron, EVP of talent and development Basis Technologies believes that our success is predicated on the quality of people joining our mission. We are able to attract and retain cohesive team members because our company prioritizes their well-being, said Emily Barron, EVP of talent and development. Source: Basis Technologies NEW YORK, July 15, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm, is investigating potential claims against Kohls Corporation (NYSE: KSS), and Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE: TD). Our investigations concern whether these companies have violated the federal securities laws and/or engaged in other unlawful business practices. Additional information about each case can be found at the link provided. Kohls Corporation (NYSE: KSS) On May 20, 2022, Macellum Advisors GP, LLC ("Macellum"), "a long-term holder of nearly 5% of the outstanding common shares of Kohl's", issued a statement addressing "[t]his quarter's extremely disappointing results," which Macellum described as "simply a consequence of a weak Board and management configuration leading to a flawed strategic plan and an inability to execute." Macellum also stated that "the current Board appears to have withheld material information from shareholders about the state of Kohl's in the lead-up to this year's pivotal annual meeting," which "suggests to us a clear breach of fiduciary duty." On this news, Kohl's stock price fell $5.84 per share, or 12.97%, to close at $39.20 per share on May 20, 2022. For more information on the Kohls investigation go to: https://bespc.com/cases/KSS Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE: TD) TD, a Toronto-based bank with 1,100 branches in the U.S., is seeking regulatory approval for the acquisition of Tennessee-based First Horizon. On June 15, 2022, CNBC reported that Lawmakers led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren asked a key regulator to block Toronto-Dominion Banks $13.4 billion acquisition of a regional U.S. bank because of allegations of customer abuse. In a letter sent Tuesday to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency obtained exclusively by CNBC, Warren cited a May 4 report by Capitol Forum, a Washington-based investigative news outfit, that alleged that TD used tactics similar to those in the Wells Fargo fake accounts scandal. On this news, TD stock fell $3.12 per share, or 4.5%, to close at $66.10 per share on June 16, 2022. For more information on the TD investigation go to: https://bespc.com/cases/TD About Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm with offices in New York, California, and South Carolina. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in commercial, securities, derivative, and other complex litigation in state and federal courts across the country. For more information about the firm, please visit www.bespc.com . Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Contact Information: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. Brandon Walker, Esq. Melissa Fortunato, Esq. (212) 355-4648 [email protected] www.bespc.com Chicago, Illinois--(Newsfile Corp. - July 16, 2022) - BookingKoala, a platform that helps entrepreneurs start and grow a service business from start to scale, launched a new streaming service. The company plans to provide an all-in-one experience from software and community to education, all at an affordable price. Booking Koala Cannot view this image? Visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8203/130875_bookingkoala.jpeg Filip Boksa, CEO of BookingKoala, said: "We are excited to release a new streaming service that we plan on working extensively on in the coming years. The goal is to deliver the best content from business owners who use BookingKoala and are thriving. The content will be centered around motivation, inspiration, and education so that new entrepreneurs can subscribe to the service and get all the information they need to grow any business in the service industry." About BookingKoala BookingKoala is a platform that helps start and scale service business efficiently and effectively. BookingKoala also provides a free community where entrepreneurs share tips and help each other grow. Media details Company Name: Bookingkoala Contact Person: Filip Boksa Business Mail: [email protected] Website: https://www.bookingkoala.com/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/130875 Within the framework of the free trade agreement between Canada, Mexico, and the United States (CUSMA, T-MEC, USMCA) and the Environmental Cooperation Agreement, the environment ministers of Canada, Mexico and the United States convened for the 29th Council Session of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation. ___________________ MERIDA, Mexico, July 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - We, the Environment Ministers of Canada, Mexico and the United States, met today for the annual Council Session of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) in Merida, Yucatan. The Council addressed many of the most pressing environmental challenges facing North America's communities, particularly vulnerable communities and Indigenous Peoples. This year's CEC Council Session builds on the November 2021 North American Leaders Summit, in which President Lopez Obrador, President Biden, and Prime Minister Trudeau highlighted the role of the CEC in developing a North American Climate Adaptation Workplan. We committed to building on the progress of the CEC's successful grant programs. Through 25 grants valued at more than US$3 million, the CEC is supporting climate resilience and COVID-19 recovery at the community level. With the Environmental Justice and Climate Resilience (EJ4Climate) and the North American Partnership for Environmental Community Action (NAPECA) grant programs, we are taking action for a healthier environment and building back a prosperous and equitable economy for all. We expressed a shared commitment to working to empower our citizens with effective solutions for a sustainable future, especially for an equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, we support action to preserve the knowledge and practices of Indigenous Peoples and local communities as part of our trilateral model and regional approach to environmental collaboration. Our shared vision to lead the way in promoting complementary regional environmental and trade policies rests on our unwavering commitment to sustainable development and environmental justice and equity. Through the CEC, we will continue to drive an ambitious agenda that promotes awareness and participation in environmental governance and stewardship, mobilizes collective action, and facilitates the inclusion of a diverse network of stakeholders and partners. Community-led environmental education for sustainable development This year's theme for the 2022 Council Session, "Community-led Environmental Education for Sustainable Development," focused on activities from across North America that support an understanding and awareness of key environmental concerns, from the perspective of communities directly impacted and working to develop and share best practices for adapting to a changing climate. The significance of this theme is timely, as it promotes the development of local and context-specific strategies as well as an international cooperative approach for managing and responding to environmental and socio-economic risks across the whole of society. This year's Council Session addressed several topics supporting the development of community-led projects and initiatives. Our exchange with the Joint Public Advisory Committee, the Traditional Ecological Knowledge Expert Group (TEKEG) and the CEC Secretariat, led to a constructive discussion of immediate priorities and pressing needs, including opportunities ranging from specific, innovative and nature-based solutions, to the improved use of traditional and local knowledge, including the incorporation of Indigenous perspectives. As part of the Council Session, we were pleased to benefit from the two open public forums, which provided an invaluable space for sharing information with the public, and an opportunity for questions, comments, and suggestions from the public on the CEC's trilateral work. This year's Session included both in-person and virtual attendance, with broad representation of diverse groups of interested individuals and stakeholders from across North America. Specifically, as part of the Council Session we: Announced an additional US$2 million to launch a new cycle of the EJ4Climate grant program that will focus on projects supporting environmental education to build resilience to climate change. The EJ4Climate grant program supports underserved and vulnerable communities, and Indigenous communities, in Canada, Mexico, and the United States to prepare for climate-related impacts; Announced a C$750,000 initiative to undertake work to support enhanced uptake of circular economy approaches with sustainable production and consumption patterns in North America; Announced a large-scale and multi-year initiative totalling C$1 million to strengthen community resilience to climate change; Contributed C$300,000 to support a JPAC-led initiative that will raise awareness in the three countries to advance sustainable forestry and responsible consumption of wood products; Endorsed a C$300,000 TEKEG-led initiative to address threats to food security by increasing our understanding of traditional Indigenous practices and knowledge related to food systems; Engaged with the winners of the 2022 CEC Youth Innovation Challenge from Canada, Mexico and the United States on their innovative and tangible solutions to assist communities in their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. We were impressed with their skill, dedication, and vision; and Reviewed the progress made under the ongoing CEC Operational Plan and the projects we endorsed last year. "The Government of Mexico has put forth concrete measures to realize environmental and social justice for all Mexicans, and we are convinced that the trilateral work propelled by the CEC will add to efforts to ensure the welfare of the sectors that are the poorest and most vulnerable to climate change in North America."Maria Luisa Albores Gonzalez, Mexico's Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources "Strong environmental cooperation among our three countries has never been more important. The impacts of climate change, from flooding to coastal erosion, dangerous heatwaves and wildfires pose a real threat to our health, safety and economic security. I am pleased to see that all parties are committed to ensuring that international environmental cooperation remains a top priority. I thank the other members in the CEC Council for supporting community-led solutions and working to advance sustainable development as we face these environmental challenges together."The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change "Advancing environmental justice and equity is vital for addressing the climate crisis both at home and abroad, and I am proud that the CEC is centering community engagement as part of our environmental agenda. The way to create long-term, sustainable solutions for our shared environmental challenges is from the ground up. I am committed to working hand in hand with communities, young people who are demonstrating incredible innovation, and our North American partners, to build a healthier, more equitable future for all people."Unted States EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan Moving forward Building on our strengths and longstanding tradition of facilitating cooperation and promoting public participation, we will strengthen our resolve to modernize and enhance the effectiveness of our regional efforts. We will strive to expand our collaboration by promoting awareness of issues of common concern as well as solutions for a more sustainable future, by sharing knowledge in support of evidence-based decision-making, and by contributing to building capacity in communities across North America. We affirm the urgent need to tackle the devastating effects that climate change poses on the well-being of our communities. We emphasize the unequivocal threat of this crisis, ranging from extreme weather events, such as floods, wildfires, and drought, to the implications for our food systems, for our continent's biodiversity, and for vulnerable and underserved communities, which all have lasting environmental, economic, and societal impacts. We underline the importance of promoting collective action, including in relation to innovation and green growth, to ensure clean air, land, and water for present and future generations, and to protect our ecosystems and the rich flora and fauna found in our shared environment. The path to a healthier environment and meaningful progress toward sustainable development in our region depends on our collective determination to succeed, as well as on the persistence to find and promote solutions that protect the environment, support the sustainable use and conservation of our natural resources, and maximize the socio-economic benefits from empowering our communities. As we prepare to welcome a new Executive Director for the CEC, we extend our thanks to Mr. Richard A. Morgan for his valuable service and contributions to the CEC mission during his three-year tenure as the CEC Executive Director. We take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation for his leadership, vision, and tireless work on behalf the CEC. We greatly look forward to our continuing work on regional environmental cooperation and meeting together next year at the CEC's Council Session in British Columbia, Canada. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2022-cec-ministerial-statement---north-american-environment-ministers-launch-ambitious-agenda-for-environmental-cooperation-301587706.html SOURCE Commission for Environmental Cooperation Syracuse, N.Y. (Tribune News Service) More than 100 Syracuse-based National Guard soldiers are headed to Germany to help train the Ukrainian military. One-hundred-forty soldiers from the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team left Friday for Fort Bliss, Texas, to prepare for a trip to Europe, according to a news release by the New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs. The soldiers from Syracuses 27th Infantry Brigade will replace 160 soldiers from Florida, who have been training Ukrainian military personnel since November first in western Ukraine and then in Germany in February after Russia began signaling it would invade. The Syracuse-based soldiers are expected to replace their predecessors in September, after theyve completed training in Texas, officials for the Division of Military & Naval Affairs said. The teams from New York and Florida are a part of a multinational training group that formed in 2015, the DMNA said. The U.S. has been sending troops overseas to help train Ukrainians in waves that have also included teams from Oklahoma and Tennessee, according to the DMNA. Canada, Lithuania, Denmark, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom have also helped in the training, officials said. United States military units support the training to strengthen relationships and affirm the United States commitment to European partners, officials said in the release. 2022 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit syracuse.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The Vietnamese students at the 2022 IMO (Photo: VNA) The results placed Vietnam at the 4th position out of the 104 teams participating in the competition, behind China, the Republic of Korean, and the US. The gold medals belonged to 12th grader Ngo Quy Dang and 11th grader Pham Viet Hung, both from the Hanoi University of Science High School for the Gifted under the Hanoi National University. Notably, Dang got a perfect score of 42/42. The silver medalists were Pham Hoang Son from the High School for the Gifted under the Ho Chi Minh City National University, and Nguyen Dai Duong from the Lam Son High School for the Gifted in the central province of Thanh Hoa. The two students are in the 12th grade. The Vietnamese delegation (Photo: VNA) The two bronze medals went to 12th graders Vu Ngoc Binh and Hoang Tien Nguyen from the Vinh Phuc High School for Gifted Students in the northern province of Vinh Phuc and Phan Boi Chau High School for Gifted Students in the central province of Nghe An, respectively. Vietjet named among Top 10 Best Low-cost Airlines Vietjet has been named for two international awards, the Value Airline of the Year and the Top 10 Best Low-cost Airlines for 2022 by AirlineRatings, the worlds renowned airline safety and product rating website, reported Vietnam News Agency. Vietjet named among Top 10 Best Low-cost Airlines (Photo: Vietjet) The awards recognize the airlines combination of expansive flight network, low fares, diversified services, clever promotion approaches and personalized options for busy and highly demanding passengers from all walks of life. Vietjet has been praised for its customer-centric strategy as the airline constantly expands flight network, offers diversified flight schedules and stays ahead of airfare competitions. The carrier is also recognized for its massive investment into new and modern fleet, technology adoption and pre-flight and in-flight services to meet passengers evolving travel demand, said Airlineratings Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas. Besides Vietjet, this years AirlineRatings Top 10 list also highlights other notable low-cost peers such as Ryanair, Fly Dubai, Southwest and EasyJet, etc. thanks to their excellent performances and contribution to affordable travelling and add-on values for their customers in the post-pandemic recovery. AirlineRatings also rates Vietjet at seven-star level, the highest ranking for aviation safety in the world for five consecutive years since 2018 and the worlds Top 10 safest low-cost airlines for 2022 among 385 global airlines. AirlineRatings rates the safety, in-flight product, and COVID-19 compliance of 385 airlines using its unique seven-star rating system. It has been used by millions of passengers from 195 countries and has become the industry standard for safety, product, and COVID-19 rating. The new-age carrier Vietjet has not only revolutionized the aviation industry in Vietnam but also been a pioneering airline across the region and around the world. With a focus on cost management ability, effective operations and performance, Vietjet offers flying opportunities with cost-saving and flexible fares as well as diversified services to meet customers demands. Vietjet is a fully-fledged member of International Air Transport Association (IATA) with the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certificate. As Vietnams largest private carrier, the airline was awarded the highest ranking for safety with 7 stars in 2018 and 2019 by the worlds only safety and product rating website airlineratings.com and listed as one of the world's 50 best airlines for healthy financing and operations by Airfinance Journal in 2018 and 2019. The airline has also been named as Best Low-Cost Carrier by renowned organizations such as Skytrax, CAPA, Airline Ratings, and many others. VinFast opens six stores in California, US Automaker VinFast has announced the simultaneous opening of the first VinFast stores in California, US, on July 15 (local time), reported Vietnam News Agency. The opening ceremony of VinFast stors at Santa Monica Place, California, US. (Photo: VNA) VinFast plans to open more than 30 other stores in the state this year while also exploring expansion to others across the US. VinFast stores include footprints designated as VinFast "1S, 2S, and 3S". VinFast 1S stores are primarily located in high-visibility shopping centres, focusing on vehicle display and sales. VinFast 3S stores have full car and parts sales, and service centres. VinFast 2S stores offer both parts and service, and also support nearby VinFast 1S stores. At VinFast Stores, customers can explore the interior and exterior details of VinFast's electric SUVs the VF 8 and VF 9, while experiencing the advanced technologies bundled as part of the VinFast Smart Driving package. Visitors can also learn more about VinFast's flexible and innovative sales plans and engage one-on-one with VinFast consultants on questions regarding both products and services. Le Thi Thu Thuy, Vingroup Vice Chairwoman and VinFast Global CEO, said the opening of the first six VinFast stores in the US marks an important milestone in the company's global journey - bringing premium products and services to American consumers. Introducing and interacting with customers one-on-one in VinFast-operated stores is the best way to build relationships with customers and to ensure quality service, she said. Hoi An makes its way into world's 25 best cities list The ancient Hoi An town in Vietnams central province of Quang Nam has found itself voted to the 20th place in a new global listing of 25 best cities chosen by readers of US magazine Travel + Leisure, reported Vietnam News Agency. Hoi An is an ideal place for culture explorers, food lovers and shoppers. (Photo: VNA) Readers ranked the cities based on factors such as the quality of hotels and restaurants, cultural heritage, attractions, cuisine, and COVID-19 protocols. Oaxaca in Mexico was voted the best city with a score of 92.96. San Miguel de Allende in Mexico came second followed by Ubud in Indonesia. Hoi An used to be a busy international commercial port from the 16th to 19th centuries, attracting merchant ships from China and Japan. It is a World Heritage site recognized by UNESCO. Recently, Dubai-based Time Out magazine has also listed Hoi An among "the very best places" to travel to in July with warm weather. "As the monsoon rains fall in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, savvy travelers in Vietnam head to the central coast where the weather is dry and warm," the magazine said./. HIGH POINT, N.C. (Tribune News Service) A new guided-missile destroyer will soon be patrolling the waters for the Navy, named in memory of a brave North Carolina native who distinguished himself as a war hero. The USS Jack H. Lucas, which was christened March 26, honors the memory of Jacklyn Harold "Jack" Lucas, a revered World War II veteran and Medal of Honor recipient. Adm. Mike Gilday, chief of naval operations, called the Jack H. Lucas "the most capable and sophisticated surface combatant ever built by man" at the ship's christening ceremony, held at the Ingalls shipbuilding facility in Pascagoula, Mississippi. "You have built the finest destroyer in the world," Gilday said. Lucas' widow, Ruby, said it's fitting that the ship honoring her late, tough-as-nails husband is a destroyer. "If it hadn't been a destroyer, he'd have come up out of that grave and haunted us," she joked at the christening ceremony. "May the Jack H. Lucas be indestructible, just like he was," she continued. "This first-of-its-kind ship is advanced in integrity, courage and commitment to serve our great country. Jack never ran from a fight, and I'm certain that all aboard his namesake will represent Jack with honor. Just as I feel his spirit with me, be assured that he will be with all of you all the time." The 510-foot-long warship has a displacement of more than 9,200 tons and is capable of a speed of approximately just over 34 mph. It will have 380 crew members and is equipped with cutting-edge air and missile defense technology, including significantly greater detection range and tracking capacity, according to the Navy. For now, the ship remains at the Ingalls facility, where weaponry, electronic systems and other equipment are being installed and tested, and the ship's officers and crew have begun familiarizing themselves with the new vessel. The Jack H. Lucas will officially enter the fleet in 2023, when it will be delivered to the Navy for commissioning. The commissioning date and location have not yet been determined. The ship honors a rough-and-tumble man whose wartime heroism is the stuff of legend. After lying about his age and joining the Marines at age 14, the Plymouth, North Carolina, native fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima. On Feb. 20, 1945, during a firefight with Japanese soldiers, he saved the lives of three Marines by selflessly hurling himself onto a pair of grenades, absorbing the blast with his body and nearly dying in the process. For his actions, Lucas who died in 2008 received the Medal of Honor from President Harry Truman at the White House on Oct. 5, 1945. He was only 17 at the time making him the youngest Marine ever to receive the honor and he went on to become one of the nation's most celebrated war heroes. Lucas enrolled at High Point College and graduated with a business degree in 1956. During his time at the college, he was an active member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and the Veterans Club. In October 2008, four months after Lucas' death in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, his widow gave a replica of his Medal of Honor to High Point University, along with his military gloves and hat, and a bit of sand from Iwo Jima. Those items are on permanent display in HPU's Smith Library, along with a photograph of Lucas receiving the Medal of Honor from Truman. ___ (c)2022 The High Point Enterprise (High Point, N.C.) Visit The High Point Enterprise at www.hpenews.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Djibouti, April 2, 2014: Petty Officer 1st Class Cindy Berkshir e keeps a lookout during a patrol of Djibouti port with Coastal Riverine Squadron-1 Forward Wave 2. The Navys Coastal Riverine Squadrons, formed soon after the 2000 terrorist attack on the USS Cole in Yemen, provide security for Navy ships navigating through dangerous waters around the world. A U.S. guided-missile destroyer steamed past a disputed island chain in the South China Sea on Saturday, the second such operation meant to challenge excessive maritime claims in the region since Wednesday. The USS Benfold cruised around the Spratly Islands, a group of about 100 islands between Vietnam and the Philippines, as part of a freedom-of-navigation operation, the U.S. 7th Fleet said in a Saturday news release. The Benfolds presence in the Spratlys comes just three days after it made a similar pass near the Paracel Islands on Wednesday. The two chains are about 500 miles apart. About 45 islands in the Spratlys are occupied by small military outposts from China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam, according to the CIA World Factbook website. Similarly, China has occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974 and has about 20 outposts throughout the archipelago. Both the Spratlys and the Paracels are claimed in full by China, Taiwan and Vietnam, and the operations were meant to challenge unlawful restrictions imposed by the three countries, such as requiring permission or advanced notice for innocent passage through territorial waters, according to the 7th Fleet. All ships, including warships, have the right to innocent passage through territorial seas under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. China considers much of the South China Sea to be its territory, and it regularly denounces the presence of warships in the region. On Wednesday, Chinas Southern Theater Command spokesman Air Force Senior Col. Tian Junli responded to the Benfolds operation by calling the U.S. a security risk maker in the South China Sea and a destroyer of regional peace and stability, according to the official China Military Online website. Beijing had not commented on the Benfolds passage near the Spratly Islands as of Saturday afternoon. Saturdays operation is the fourth of its kind by the Benfold this year. The destroyer on Jan. 18 cruised the Spratlys, and then turned north to steam through the Paracels two days later. Beijing responded similarly at the time, with the Southern Theater Command demanding in a statement that the U.S. immediately stop such provocative actions and warned of the serious consequences of unforeseen events. TOKYO The U.S. president or its ambassador to Japan should seek clemency for Navy Lt. Ridge Alkonis, who faces a prison term in Japan, his wife told CBS Mornings on Friday. Alkonis, 34, must report at 1 p.m. July 25 to serve three years for negligent driving causing the deaths of two people and injuring a third on May 29, 2021. A judge in Shizuoka District Court convicted Alkonis of falling asleep at the wheel and crashing into a restaurant parking lot in Fujinomiya. The Tokyo High Court on Wednesday denied Alkonis appeal for a suspended sentence. His wife, Brittany Alkonis, interviewed in Japan by CBS News senior foreign correspondent Elizabeth Palmer, said shes angry and called on President Joe Biden and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel to seek clemency for her husband. Just a phone call from President Biden; he could call and say hes coming home, Brittany Alkonis said. Her husband in court said he blacked out just before the crash due to altitude sickness after he, his wife and their three children hiked on Mount Fuji that day. The judge dismissed that explanation as unlikely. Killed in the crash were a woman, 85, who died that day, and a man, 54, who died in a hospital on June 11. A second woman, 53, suffered bruises. Alkonis expressed remorse in court and his family paid $1.65 million in restitution to the victims families. Palmer said the Japanese media and public may expect punishment, and that U.S. service members are punished lightly, if at all, for criminal offenses in the country. Theres a history of resentment against the U.S. military presence, she said. Many Japanese believe it has shielded those who have committed crimes from punishment, Palmer said during the interview. They are taken back to the base and into military justice and get off, if not scot-free, at least very lightly. That argument has some truth to it, Brittany Alkonis replied, but that has definitely changed over the past two to three decades. A spokesman for Ridge Alkonis, Jonathan Franks, in June suggested that Japanese authorities had mistreated Alkonis and should have returned him to U.S. military custody while he awaited trial. Alkonis parents, Derek and Suzi Alkonis, on Fox News on Friday echoed their daughter-in-laws plea. Even if there was some, you know, some sort of backroom deal that got him sent on a plane, his mother told Fox. Every military person here in this country is at risk of this exact same thing happening to them, and policies need to change so it never happens to anybody again. She said the White House needs to come forward and say [to Japan], Youre our ally, but you made a mistake here and he needs to come home right now, so this never happens again. JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia Capping a four-day trip to the Middle East, President Joe Biden laid out his vision of a future for the volatile region on Saturday, a framework he hopes amplifies American values and investment in this part of the world and blunts the influence of Russia and China. The day full of meetings with leaders from Iraq, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and other regional powers was in part an attempt to change the narrative that has been dominated by Biden's interactions with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto leader of the country who has been criticized for human rights abuses. "The United States is clear-eyed about the challenges in the Middle East and about where we have the greatest capacity to help drive positive outcomes," he said during his final remarks to a coalition of leaders from the gulf countries and some neighbors. "We will not walk away and leave the vacuum to be filled by China, Russia or Iran." But ultimately, it remains unclear whether Biden's gambit will deliver the results he is seeking. By the time Biden left the Middle East on Saturday afternoon, much of the policy announcements the White House touted were either already in motion or incremental. For Mohammed, who grinned widely as he chaired the leaders' summit, Biden's trip delivered what he desperately wanted: a full welcome back to the world stage. For Biden, meanwhile, it could be weeks or months to see whether the renewed ties with Saudi Arabia will fulfill his domestic objectives and outweigh the fierce blowback he faced for taking the trip. In more than four hours of meetings, Biden attempted to cover a lot of ground: extending the Yemeni cease-fire, increasing regional food security, addressing the ripples of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on energy markets, implementing stronger protections for human rights in the region and addressing the threat of an Iran feared to be seeking nuclear weapons. To that end, Biden announced $1 billion for food security assistance for the Middle East and North Africa, regions that face acute hunger in part because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Advisers said he stressed to his counterparts that he hoped their countries would be partners for decades and focused conversations on diplomacy and deterrence to avoid future conflicts, noting that he was the first U.S. president to visit the Middle East since Sept. 11 without troops involved in a major ground war in the region. As gas prices have skyrocketed in recent months, Biden has also faced immense domestic political pressure to lower prices at the pump and aides have hoped the president's trip would lead to Saudi leaders increasing production and bringing down oil costs. There were no such announcements during the trip, however, though Biden said Friday that "based on our discussions today, I expect we'll see further steps in the coming weeks." Yet in his opening remarks at the summit, Mohammed said Saudi Arabia had already agreed to boost its production from 12 to 13 million barrels a day back in May. "After that the kingdom will have no additional ability to increase production," he said. Getting the diverse group of Mideast leaders to buy into his blueprint is vital for the administration. If the United States doesn't attempt to exert influence, Biden and his aides have said repeatedly, then China and Russia will rush in and shape the future of the region. "The bottom line is: This trip is about once again positioning America in this region for the future," Biden said in a speech late Friday. Add to that, Biden's trip comes as he is limping at home. His approval ratings have plummeted, his domestic agenda remains hobbled and members of his own party have asked if he should even seek a second term. The struggles at home also raise questions about whether he will be able see any of his promises made in the region through. For weeks, Biden has unsuccessfully stressed that Saturday's sit-downs should not be overshadowed by his meeting with Mohammed, the man accused of greenlighting the killing of Washington Post contributing columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Still the trip to Saudi Arabia so far has been marked by the figurative chess match and literal fist bump between the two leaders. U.S. intelligence officials say Mohammed orchestrated Khashoggi's killing, and Biden had said Saudi Arabia's government should be a pariah. But Mohammed leads an oil-rich country the administration sees as vital to stabilizing the region and lowering gas prices, and so Biden reluctantly agreed to meet with him. All told, he spent three hours with the crown prince, participating in a bilateral meeting, and shaking hands with an array of Saudi officials. At the end of the night, Biden stressed that he took a hard line on human rights despite the apparent show of comity. Saudi officials later described an exchange that was much less confrontational than the president's description. The fist bump, which was captured by Saudi state media and quickly disseminated around the world, became a powerful symbol and a lightning rod for Biden. The president, who dreaded the one-on-one meeting, was sharply criticized for bestowing legitimacy on the Saudi government given their long track record of violating human rights. In a meeting with reporters Friday night, Adel al-Jubeir, a Saudi diplomat and former foreign minister, said the crown prince had assured Biden that Saudi Arabia had conducted its own investigation in Khashoggi's killing and the perpetrators had been arrested. "We had an investigation. People were put on trial. They were convicted, it went to appeal. The decision went to the Supreme Court and it was affirmed. And we have individuals who are paying the price in jail. This is what every civilized country does," he said. "We took responsibility for it as a country." Biden's interactions with Mohammed on Sunday were more abbreviated. Before heading into a meeting of the full coalition, the leaders posed for a group photo, a tradition at multilateral gatherings. Mohammed, the host of the day's events, escorted Biden in, and after the photo, the crown prince led Biden into the meeting room, chatting as they walked a few feet ahead of the other leaders. Yet Biden's meetings with Mohammed weren't the only ones shadowed by concerns about human rights. Ahead of the president's meeting with the leader of the United Arab Emirates, the country arrested Asim Ghafoor, an American citizen who previously served as a lawyer for Khashoggi. Ghafoor is a board member of Democracy for the Arab World Now, which was founded by Khashoggi, and it issued a statement that the arrest was on "trumped on" charges. "We are outraged at the unjustified detention of our board member and extremely concerned for his health and physical security given the well-documented record of abuse in the UAE, including torture and inhuman treatment," Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of DAWN, said in a statement Friday. "We urge the Biden administration to secure the release of an arbitrarily detained American lawyer before agreeing to meet with the UAE's leader (Mohammed bin Zayed) in Jiddah tomorrow," it added. DAWN said Ghafoor was arrested in connection with a money laundering case while calling his case "politically-motivated." The Abu Dhabi government media office did not immediately reply to questions about the nature of the charges against Ghafoor. A State Department official said the United States was aware of Ghafoor's arrest and consular officers have visited with him. A senior administration official said Biden was also aware of the arrest but declined to specify whether the president had raised the issue in his meeting Saturday. But Biden did invite the UAE leader, to visit the United States during their meeting. "Challenges you face today only make it a heck of a lot more important we spend time together," Biden said. The Washington Posts Sarah Dadouch in Beirut contributed to this report. The White House said it gathered intelligence that Russian officials recently visited an airfield in Iran twice to examine drones they are considering acquiring for the Kremlins war in Ukraine. The Iranian military showcased the drones on June 8 and July 5 at Kashan airfield, which suggested ongoing Russian interest in procuring the equipment, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement Saturday. The White House released a satellite image it said showed attack-capable unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, in flight while a Russian delegation transport plane was at the airfield. To our knowledge, this is the first time a Russian delegation has visited this airfield for such a showcase, Sullivan said after CNN first reported the U.S. assessment. The comments came as President Joe Biden meets with Gulf Arab leaders during his visit to the Middle East, which he cast as a way to help the United States curb Irans ambitions in the region and counter the influence of Russia and China. Earlier this week, the Biden administration said Iran was preparing to supply Russia with up to several hundred drones, including those capable of firing missiles. Such a delivery could boost Moscows bid to destroy Western-supplied weapons that are helping Kyiv fend off Russian advances. Irans Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian denied the U.S. allegation on Friday, calling it baseless in a call with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba, according to Irans official news agency IRNA. He said Tehran objects to any action that leads to escalation of conflicts. Without referring to the drone allegation, Kuleba said he had told the Iranian foreign minister that Russia must not get any military aid from anyone and that he had received assurances that Tehran would not buy looted Ukrainian grain from Moscow. The two spoke on the phone ahead of a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Iran set for next week, when he will attend a meeting with the leaders of Iran and Turkey. IRNA said Tuesday that Putin and the Iranian president would discuss deepening economic ties. Although Russia has an extensive arsenal of drones, Iranian aircraft could help offset losses suffered during almost five months of war. The Biden administration said the drones showcased to Russian officials included the Shahed-129, an Iranian model capable of attack and surveillance that resembles the U.S.-made Predator UAV deployed for overseas operations. Sullivan told reporters this week that it was unclear whether any UAVs had already arrived to Russia and that the administration believes Iran would also provide training on using the weapons. Construction Minister Nguyen Thanh Nghi and Lao Minister of of Public Works and Transport Viengsavath Siphandone (Photo: VGP) Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, Minister Nguyen Thanh Nghi said that at the 44th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee, the construction cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Construction and the Lao Ministry of Public Works and Transport continued to be included in the agreement on cooperation plan between the Governments of the two countries. In this MoU, the two sides will focus on cooperation on planning construction, urban planning, smart city development, infrastructure and housing. Since August 8, 2021, the new Lao National Assembly House, a gift from the Party, State and people of Vietnam to the Party, State and people of Laos, has been handed over and put into use. The Vietnamese side has continued to support Laos in the operation and maintenance of the project. Since then, the work has ensured its quality, successfully serving Lao National Assembly sessions as well as daily activities of Lao National Assembly agencies, Party activities, and Lao President's Office. For his part, Lao Minister Viengsavath Siphandone highly appreciated the quality of the Lao National Assembly building, and the Lao side expressed their desire to continue promoting cooperation with Vietnam in urban planning and development. In addition, Minister Viengsavath Siphandone proposed that the two sides jointly survey and study the development of residential areas along the Truong Son mountain range, the border area between the two countries, to attract investment, develop tourism, and improve quality of life for local residents./. WASHINGTON The Veterans Crisis Line will have a new and simpler phone number starting Saturday 988. "The new shorter number directly addresses the need for ease of access and clarity in times of crisis, both for veterans and non-veterans alike," said Tamara Campbell, acting executive director for the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA's 2021 National Suicide Prevention Annual Report states 6,261 veterans died by suicide in 2019. Firearm deaths accounted for more than 70% of veteran suicides that year. In November, the White House unveiled a national strategy to reduce military and veteran suicide. The administration said when the 988 hotline launches, it will create a system that will aid recovery and wellness beyond the crisis point. Matthew Miller, executive director for VA's suicide prevention, said the VA has increased staffing by more than 50% to meet the projected increase of calls when the new number launches. He also said the VA developed and implemented a peer support outreach call center. The agency hired veterans to be part of a peer support outreach to call back veterans after their initial call to the Veterans Crisis Line in a veteran-to-veteran discussion on how they're doing and what they need. In October 2020, the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act was signed into law, which designated 988 as the universal phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and connects people to a network of local crisis centers. Multiple suicide prevention hotlines had been united under the 988 number since the law was enacted. The law also required all telephone service providers in the U.S. to activate 988 by July 16, the nationwide launch date. "The [Veterans Crisis Line] has been preparing for this change since the inception of legislation," Campbell said. "Medical centers are working to update materials and communications with the new number to spread the word to veterans and their supporters and our community partners." Bobbi Hauptmann, VA public affairs specialist, said the Veterans Crisis Line website also will be updated to coordinate with the activation of 988. "It's one thing to answer the call quickly, [and] it's one thing to provide quality service within the call, both of which are absolutely essential," Miller said. "But what happens after the call? Our attention to after the call is something that uniquely distinguishes us within the VA and the Veterans Crisis Line." Bashir Oladipupo (22) was fined 1,000 at Dublin District Court A MONEY mule who let a fraudster use his credit union account to transfer 1,000 in crime proceeds naively thought he was just doing someone a favour, a court has heard. Bashir Oladipupo (22) loosely knew the man when he agreed to the transfer and was caught on CCTV withdrawing the cash and handing it to him outside. Oladipupo, a shop worker of Ellensborough Court, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to money laundering. Judge John Hughes fined him 1,000 at Dublin District Court and gave him four months to pay full compensation. Detective Garda John Tuthill said that on April 2, 2020, 1,000 was lodged into Oladipupos account at Tallaght and District Credit Union. The transfer was done through a debit card without the permission of the owner. It was done over the phone but there was no suggestion Oladipupo made the call. However, the accused went in and withdrew the money on the same day and was seen on CCTV outside the credit union handing it over. The card owner contacted his bank, an investigation was launched and the accused was co-operative with gardai. He had no previous convictions. An unidentified person who Oladipupo loosely knew had asked for his account details so money could be transferred into it and the accused didnt think anything of it, his barrister John Griffin said. He thought he was doing the right thing, obviously he wasnt, Mr Griffin said. It was not a very sophisticated operation from his end and he thought the money was being transferred as a favour for someone. There was an element of naivety involved and a lot of the people prosecuted for these offences were at the lower end of the scale, Mr Griffin said. Det Gda Tuthill said Oladipupo acted as a facilitator. The accused had since been offered a job at a financial institution and Mr Griffin asked the judge to leave him without a conviction. He had 100 compensation in court and would get the full amount. Judge Hughes said it was a serious matter and these cases with money mule accounts being used for nefarious purposes were becoming more common. It was somewhat ironic that Oladipupo now had a job offer at a financial institution, the judge added. The judge said: I cant help but think that theyre a shoplifting team. Appearing at Lisburn Magistrates Court by video link standing side by side in a police cell, 28-year-old Thomas Donohue was charged with five offences while Bridget Moorehouse (18) faced just one count. Donohue, from Cloonmore Avenue, is charged with stealing iPhones worth 18,900, damaging a door and lock bringing to Tesco, burglary of a storeroom, dangerous driving and failing to stop for police on the Belfast Road in Newry. Moorehouse, from Westend Gate, faces a single charge of stealing 50 of baby clothes from Tesco with all of the offences alleged to have been committed on July 14. Objecting to bail, a police officer told the court a police interceptor call sign had flagged a black Mazda three as suspicious and that a neighbourhood call sign spotted it in the car park of the Boulevard Retail Park in Banbridge and kept it under observation. Donohue was the driver and he became aware of the police and left but was stopped a short distance away. When the car was searched, a backpack containing multiple stolen iPhones was retrieved and police enquiries suggested that Donohue and another man had been captured on Tescos CCTV allegedly breaking a storeroom and using a backpack lifted from a nearby shelf to steal them. While Donohue and Moorehouse were charged to court, a man and a woman arrested alongside them have been released on police bail. Defence solicitor John Rocks said the pair had offered a bail address in Belfast and although he stressed that the items had all been returned, District Judge Rosie Watters said that was no thanks to them. I cant help but think that theyre a shoplifting team, said the judge who concluded she was refusing bail due to the risk of further offences. Remanding them into custody, she adjourned the case to 20 July. Break-ins are on the rise since pandemic restrictions lifted BURGLARY gangs have returned to the motorway network, with the rate of break-ins doubling in some parts of the country. Dublin and counties connected to the capital directly through the network of motorways have the highest burglary rates in the country. An analysis of crime figures by also shows that counties in the north-west have the lowest break-in rates in Ireland. While burglaries reduced significantly during Covid-19 restrictions, sources have warned they are returning to pre-pandemic levels. In recent months, burglary rates have doubled in some counties, while one garda division noted a six-fold increase. While the summer months traditionally see fewer burglaries, there are fears that gangs will target empty homes while owners holiday abroad this year. In the last three months, gardai have had high-profile successes against marauding burglary gangs, leading to several arrests. The most prolific gangs have been operating in teams of five and use high-powered cars, normally stolen from the UK and fitted with false plates, to carry out their crime sprees. The criminals have also been targeting homes in daylight with no apparent fear of being identified. In the 12 months to March of this year, Dublin had the highest rate of burglary related crimes per population in the country. There were 285 reported incidents per 100,000 people, which included burglary, aggravated burglary, and possession of tools to be used in a burglary. Most of the countrys organised gangs are based in south Dublin, so there is no surprise that counties with direct motorway access to the capital are also at the top of the crime table. Limerick had the second-highest burglary rate, with 246 per 100,000 people, followed by Westmeath, with 242, and Louth, with 234. Laois and Offaly, policed by the same garda division, saw 225 burglary related crimes per 100,000 people, with Wexford recording 214. The lowest burglary rate in that time period was in Donegal, which had 80 such reported crimes per 100,000 people, followed by Mayo, with 97. While most recent complete figures for the country are as of March, newer provisional figures show that many counties are seeing high increases in burglary rates in recent months. This includes Laois, where burglaries have more than doubled from 26 to 61 in a year, while Clare has reported an increase of 90pc. In Dublin, figures up to June show that burglaries have increased by 37pc compared to last year. The crime rates have risen in every garda division in the capital, with the highest increase of 54pc in the south, which comprises areas including Tallaght, Crumlin and Rathmines. A source said burglary figures are starting to creep up to 2019 figures, with increases recorded in most garda divisions. Bucking the trend is the Carlow/Kilkenny division which has only seen six burglaries so far this month, fewer than expected. Councillors in west Cork were also recently told that break-ins had risen significantly, from 10 in 2020 when there were Covid lockdowns, to 65 in recent months. While there have been returns to pre-pandemic levels, overall burglary rates have fallen significantly following the introduction of Operation Thor in 2015. One gang was captured on camera stealing a safe from a property in Donnybrook earlier this year, with one burglar nominated as a suspect after his face was clearly visible. Garda checkpoint Other criminals have been identified through recording devices inside a property they were burgling, resulting in prosecutions. However, despite several key arrests, in many instances the suspects were released on bail while awaiting trial and continue their crime sprees. Their usual modus operandi is to target unoccupied homes to operate undisturbed, although they have been known to use violence when confronted, particularly when involved in the unauthorised taking of high-powered vehicles. Investigations are ongoing into a number of burglaries around the country in recent weeks. Earlier this month, a vulnerable 64-year-old man needed a dozen staples in his head and stitches in a leg wound after he was attacked in his home. The mans attackers escaped with about 100 in the incident in Carlow, and detectives are investigating if it was carried out by an organised gang from outside the area and if the victim was targeted in a planned crime. Weeks earlier, on the night of June 24, up to eight homes were targeted in the Blackrock area of Dublin. The homes were ransacked and robbed, with the crimes bearing the hallmarks of an organised burglary gang. One gang was also suspected of carrying out dozens of burglaries on both sides of the border over several weeks in March. At one stage, they were suspected of using Belfast as a base to target Armagh, Newry and Lisburn, where there were more than a dozen burglaries in just a few days. In the other raids, safes were robbed from business people and bleach was used to destroy evidence by the gang. They were also suspected of using Dublin as a base and using the same stolen car in more than two dozen burglaries in Derry and Tyrone, while later focusing their activities on Dublin, Meath, Cavan as well as other counties in the Republic. The drugs lord was arrested after a search dog named Max found him hiding in brush in the town of San Simon in Sinaloa Infamous drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, who was behind the killing of a US drug enforcement agent in 1985, has been caught. The 69-year-old was captured by Mexican forces on Friday nearly a decade after walking out of a Mexican prison and returning to drug trafficking, Mexico's navy said. Caro Quintero was arrested after a search dog named Max found him hiding in brush in the town of San Simon in Sinaloa state during a joint operation by the navy and the attorney general's office, a navy statement said. The site was in the mountains near Sinaloa's frontier with the northern border state of Chihuahua. Mexico's national arrest registry listed the time of Caro Quintero's detention as around midday. There were two pending arrest orders for him as well as an extradition request from the US government. Mexico's attorney general's office said in a statement late on Friday that Caro Quintero had been arrested for extradition and would be held at the maximum security Altiplano prison about 50 miles west of Mexico City. A short video segment released by the navy showed Caro Quintero with his face blurred, dressed in jeans, a wet blue shirt and baggy khaki jacket, being held by both arms by men wearing camouflage uniforms and carrying assault rifles. Rafael Caro Quintero Caro Quintero walked free in 2013 after 28 years in prison when a court overturned his 40-year sentence for the 1985 kidnapping and killing of US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena. The brutal murder marked a low point in US-Mexico relations. Caro Quintero, the former leader of the Guadalajara cartel, returned to drug trafficking and unleashed bloody turf battles in the northern Mexico border state of Sonora. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has maintained he is not interested in detaining drug lords and prefers to avoid violence, but the arrest came days after he met US President Joe Biden at the White House. There had been tensions between the Mexican government and the DEA after Mexico enacted a law limiting the US agency's operations, but the US agency's new head in Mexico had recently received a visa, which US officials marked as a sign of progress in the relationship. An appeals court overturned Caro Quintero's verdict in 2013 but the Supreme Court upheld the sentence. It was too late by then; Caro Quintero had been spirited off in a waiting vehicle. He was on the FBI's most wanted list, with a 20 million dollar (16.8 million) reward for his capture through the State Department's Narcotics Rewards Programme. He was added to the FBI's 10 most wanted list in 2018. Caro Quintero was one of the primary suppliers of heroin, cocaine and marijuana to the US in the late 1970s. He blamed Mr Camarena for a raid on a marijuana plantation in 1984 and the following year the US agent was kidnapped in Guadalajara, allegedly on orders from Caro Quintero. His tortured body was found a month later. The nationwide warning comes into effect from 6am on Sunday and lasts until 9pm on Tuesday. The forecaster said that on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, exceptionally warm weather will occur over Ireland with daytime temperatures of 25C to 30C generally and possibly up to 32C in places on Monday. Night time temperatures will range from 15C to 20C. The body warned that the impacts could include heat stress, especially for the more vulnerable of the population, a high solar UV index and a risk of water related incidents. The nationwide warning comes into effect from 6am on Sunday and lasts until 9pm on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Dublin City Council, as the lead statutory authority in the Dublin region, is coordinating the response to ensure homeless persons at risk are sheltered for the duration of any extreme weather event. In response to the hot weather warning expected over the coming days, arrangements are in place with service providers to ensure that temporary shelter will continue to be available to all who wish to access it, the council said. The DRHE-funded Dublin Street Outreach Service and Housing First Intake Team (provided by Dublin Simon & Peter McVerry Trust) will be engaging with those at risk of rough sleeping in order to provide shelter for anyone who needs it. The teams will ensure the distribution of water and sunscreen, a statement from the council said Met Eireann said that highest temperatures today will be between 19 to 26C, warmest in the midlands in light, southerly or variable breezes. Tonight temperatures will not fall below 13C and 17C. Tomorrow will be very warm and dry with widespread, hazy sunshine. Highest temperatures of 22C to 28C, with the midlands set to experience the warmest temperatures. An overview for the coming days shows that the spell of hot weather will continue over the weekend and early next week, with daytime temperatures widely reaching the mid to high twenties and possibly the low thirties. It will also be very warm at night, particularly on Monday night. Temperatures on Monday could reach up to 32C in some parts of the east and midlands. On Tuesday, it will stay very warm in parts of the east and midlands with afternoon temperatures of up to 27C. It will start to get cooler along the west coast, with highs of just 18C. Wednesday will see an end to the very warm conditions, as temperatures return to more typical levels, with highs of 15C to 19C. Caz Mooney (33) has amassed more than 70,000 followers with her budget plan to feed her family A young mum who struggled to feed her family has gone viral after revealing how she feeds her brood for a fiver. Caz Mooney, 33, is now an Instagram sensation after revealing how she dishes up hearty dinners for her family of five for just 140 a month. A young mum who struggled to feed her family has gone viral after revealing how she feeds her brood for a fiver. Caz Mooney, 33, is now an Instagram sensation after revealing how she dishes up hearty dinners for her family of five for just 140 a month. A young mum who struggled to feed her family has gone viral after revealing how she feeds her brood for a fiver. Caz Mooney, 33, is now an Instagram sensation after revealing how she dishes up hearty dinners for her family of five for just 140 a month. Caz Mooney, 33, is now an Instagram sensation after revealing how she dishes up hearty dinners for her family of five Caz Mooney (33) has amassed more than 70,000 followers after revealing how she dishes up hearty dinners for her family of five for just 140 a month. Despite the huge wealth in Ireland, many families are struggling to make ends meet as the cost of living crisis bites. With so many families now watching every penny, Caz, who went on a career break following the birth of her third child, knows the importance of budgeting. I get some very difficult-to-read messages, she told the Sunday World. A lot of people are struggling to get by right now and they are not able to get their pay cheque to last the entire month and are struggling to feed their family and pay bills. A lot of them will get a big bill in and they are just paddling to try and keep going. How I came to make the 5 meals was that I was struggling myself. I remember I had to basically root in the couch and try and find a few coins one day. If youve been in that place youll understand it is a shocking feeling. Caz Mooney reveals how she dishes up hearty dinners for her family of five for just 140 a month. That is why I tried so much to change things financially for my family, for my husband and my kids who are now 12, 10 and my youngest who is one. The Offaly-based mum is doing her bit to help families dine out on everything from spaghetti aglio olio, bolognese, shepherds pie, butternut squash risotto, carbonara, and hearty roasts for less. I only started the page seven months ago, so it has just been crazy. I wanted to share my own journey and if I helped other people along the way, all the better. I definitely didnt foresee this happening. It has completely blown up. One of Caz Mooney's recipes Determined to slash her spending, Caz began sharing cost-saving tips on her Instagram page @irishbudgetingjourney. I thought back to that time when all I had was the five euro in my hand and thought I would have loved something like this page when I was struggling. Everyone is feeling the pinch now but we are still a single- income family. My husband is an engineer and is spending 700 a month travelling to work alone and thats like another mortgage. Despite Cazs thrifty savings, the mum says it is getting more difficult to cut costs. I was paying about 250 a week two years ago for my weekly food shopping and now it is 100 a week. I have that 100 budget for my family of five and that includes cleaning products and nappies. Caz Mooney A lot of staples like butter, milk and bread have gone up about 10 or 20 cent at a time. I feel like a lot of people who have never had to look at prices have had to start looking. Since going viral and clocking up more than 130,000 views on dishes like her take on chilli con carne, the mum has become somewhat of a local celebrity at home. Because I am in Offaly it wouldnt be the biggest place in the world and people will come up to me when they are doing their shopping. So what are the TikTok sensations instant hits? I got a great response from the chicken tagliatelle; it was a really quick meal and people loved the simplicity of it. The fish pie did so well too. My sauces have been a hit too. To be honest a massive saving is to make your own sauce, it can be overwhelming but it is really straightforward. Some people cant believe the cost of the meal and I would have a lot of people say, you dont have teenagers, but believe me my kids eat a lot, the portions sizes are there. Caz Mooney's Instagram page Adamant that budget cost doesnt mean budget taste, Caz has some cost-effective tips when it comes to slashing your grocery bill. I will look and see what I have in the press; if I have loads of pasta I will work around that and look in the freezer to see what else I can use. shops I look for deals in the shops, like the super sixes, basically six or seven vegetables that have been reduced. The supermarkets often do that as well with meat, so I look at the shops and see which ones work for my budget. I would often buy from the reduced section and then freeze it. I always bring cash because I do cash budgeting. If you know that you have 100 in your hand you cant go over that. I have had to put things back before I budgeted and now I calculate it before I get to the till. At the groundbreaking ceremony (Photo: baoquankhu7.vn) Speaking at the ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Huy Tang emphasized the great sacrifices of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts in exchange for the revival of the Cambodian people, escaping from the catastrophe of the Pol Pot genocidal regime. Leaders of Military Region 5, the Royal Cambodian Army, paid tribute to those great sacrifices, using the area of the campus of the Battambang Provincial Military Sub-Region to build the house. Ambassador Nguyen Huy Tang acknowledged the noble gesture of Metfone Cambodia Corporation and MB Bank branch in Cambodia for funding the project. Up to now, the militaries of the two countries have established 11 teams to search and repatriate the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts. Their remains need to be preserved solemnly before returning them to their motherland. The construction of the house for memorial and preservation of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts not only shows the spirit of gratitude of the leaders and employees of Metfone Corporation, MB Bank branch in Cambodia and Military Zone 5, Royal Cambodian Army, on the upcoming Invalids and Martyrs' Day (July 27), but also a practical activity on the occasion of Vietnam-Cambodia celebrating 55 years of diplomatic relations./. Stalled inspections and vetting procedures are also having an impact on the ability to accommodate refugees In some counties, less than half of the accommodation deemed viable has been occupied, while in others just 6pc of the properties available have been filled. There are around 9,000 vacant and shared houses assumed available for asylum seekers but figures provided by county councils show that in most areas less than half of pledged properties were found to be suitable. Hundreds of offers were also withdrawn or the property owners were uncontactable. Stalled inspections and vetting procedures are also having an impact on the ability to accommodate refugees. Despite more than 25,000 offers to house refugees being made to the Irish Red Cross (IRC) after the Russian invasion, a significant portion of them have now fallen through. The true number of pledges initially made may also be lower as some properties were offered multiple times. The Department of Children has allocated the properties available to local authorities and NGOs for them to accommodate refugees but the process has not been straightforward. IRC chairman Pat Carey said some local authorities are not acting as quickly as others in co-ordinating inspections of accommodation pledged for Ukrainian refugees. In Co Kildare, 131 accommodations were allocated, but just 33 were found to be viable and only two have been filled. Wicklow County Council said just 68 of the 128 accommodations pledged were suitable and 22 of these have been occupied so far. Not all local authorities responded and some said it was up to the Department of Children or the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) to deal with queries on the issue. Some county councils have yet to review any properties allocated to them, and others are struggling to fill available accommodation as they are located in rural areas where a car is needed. There are currently 44 vacant accommodations in Waterford, 33 in Mayo, 60 in Tipperary, 39 in Wexford, 43 in Co Cork, 50 in Louth, 28 in Carlow, five in Leitrim and Longford, two in Galway city, 30 in Co Galway, 22 in Fingal, Dublin, 22 in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, 16 in Westmeath and 12 in Laois. In Dublin, Fingal County Council said details of 106 pledged accommodations were provided to it, but upon initial assessment, just 36 of these were viable and 14 have been allocated so far. Mayo County Council said 20 properties are currently in use, but around 12 need work or inspections and 21 are available. Cork County Council was provided 190 vacant pledged properties for assessment, with 142 of these either withdrawn or not viable. Of the 48 available, five have been allocated, 15 are in the process of being matched and the rest are undergoing further assessment. Galway City Council had 40 properties pledged and of the 15 found to be viable, 13 have been allocated. Louth said 26 of the 50 assumed vacant properties including two mobile homes are to be assessed in the next fortnight. Limerick City and County Council said a further 144 bed spaces will be available from Monday for Ukrainians with temporary protection status. Ukrainians arriving in Ireland are currently being forced to sleep on blow-up mattresses in an old Dublin Airport terminal as there are no spaces left in State-provided accommodation. The Citywest Transit Hub is at capacity, with a tented camp catering for up to 200 people due to open at Gormanston, Co Meath, on Monday. Childrens Minister Roderic OGorman said the numbers of people fleeing Ukraine slowed between April and the end of June, but there has been an increase in recent weeks due to the Russian military targeting civilian areas. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) also said that the number of non-Ukrainians seeking refuge in Ireland has almost doubled since before the pandemic. The worst is the communication. Its awful, you cant get anyone to talk to you Theres conflicting information every day, said Kristina Gahan, (49), as she attempted to no avail to contact the baggage handling company Sky Handling using the courtesy phone at Terminal One yesterday that was out of order. Despite this, she and other passengers queued for over an hour at the companys customer service desk, only to be told to use the non-functioning phone. Its mission impossible, she told Independent.ie. Ms Gahan, who is originally from Latvia, but now lives in Donabate, north county Dublin, said she and her daughter returned to Dublin on July 4 on a Lufthansa flight from Riga and their luggage was nowhere to be seen. She had been trying every day since then to track down her luggage as she was planning to fly to Portugal today for a holiday. She came to the airport yesterday hoping to get some answers but when she finally got through to someone at the company, they couldnt tell her if her bag was here or not. While she considers herself lucky that she doesnt urgently need the contents of her bag, she was now looking at having to buy another suitcase for her upcoming trip and was frustrated over how passengers are being treated. The worst is the communication. Its awful, you cant get anyone to talk to you, she said. Ive never seen anything like this in my life. Meanwhile, Jenna Berndt, (35), arrived in Dublin on a Qatar Airways flight from her home in Cape Town, South Africa, to visit her brother in Dublin last Tuesday. She has been ringing Sky Handling continuously since then and has lost count of the number of voicemail messages she left as well as emails, but has had no response. This is the worst experience Ive ever had, she said. Its like no one really cares. While she has nothing of monetary value in her bags, she said she did bring some family heirlooms which she fears shell never see again. For Zoe Cheung, (30), from Belfast, the nightmare has been going on for weeks when her flight from Los Vegas via Toronto on Canadian airline Air Transat arrived at Dublin Airport three weeks ago. She waited at the baggage carousel for 90 minutes with no sign of her bag and queued another 90 minutes at the Sky Handling desk only to give them her details. She finally got word on July 4 that her bag had arrived but they couldnt tell her where. Ive emailed and Ive called them but nothing, she said. She finally drove down from Belfast yesterday to see if she could get any answers before she had to report for duty as a doctor at Craigavon Hospital. I came today with the hope of getting someone to help, but nothing, she told Independent.ie. It would be worse if I was going on holiday but its still really frustrating, she said. And for Brazilian native Caroline Costa (34), who now lives in Dublin, the first visit from her sister and brother-in-law since 2019, was affected. They brought gifts for her children in their luggage which she has been trying to retrieve since they arrived in Dublin on June 29 on a KLM flight. They finally went back to Brazil on July 10 without their luggage and had to buy clothes and toiletries for their stay here. She said their visit was ruined because they had to keep going back to the airport each day to track down their luggage to no avail. She has now stepped up to the plate, hoping to get their luggage but is still waiting. Its my fourth day here at the airport. I was here from 1pm to 7pm last Tuesday, she said. Its very upsetting, she said. The only information available to passengers was a sign above the courtesy phone from Sky Handling informing passengers that all passenger bag claims are being processed for delivery to the addresses provided and that they are unable to allow passengers access to the baggage reclaim area. It also advises them to contact their airlines for updates. And the situation is not much better at Terminal 2. To even find the baggage courtesy phone is challenging as a sign at the airport indicating the location of the baggage courtesy phone points towards a coffee shop, even though the phone is located in the opposite direction. One phone for Swissport which handles baggage for Delta and United Emirates airlines was working but callers can only get through to voicemail. A note beside the phone states the company is only open from 7am to 1pm. And while the phone to contact Aer Lingus baggage handling was working, callers cant get through as it just rings out, according to passenger Joe Mangan, (61), from Edenderry, Co Offaly. A spokesman for Sky Handling, said: We apologise for any inconvenience experienced by passengers during this period. "We have more than doubled our staff numbers at Dublin Airport in recent months to make it easier for incoming passengers to retrieve their bags. "The current delays are being caused primarily by staffing issues at overseas airports. These are resulting in a significant increase in passengers and their bags being separated on their flights into Dublin, with bags arriving on later flights, he said in a statement to the Irish Independent. We have invested heavily in technology enhancements to speed up the process of notifying passengers when delayed bags arrive and delivering bags to them at their location in Ireland without the need for them to return to Dublin Airport. We are making every effort to reunite passengers with belongings that have arrived on later flights as quickly as possible. But asked about the non-working phone, he said: We do also have a printed notice beside the courtesy phone advising passengers that their bags will be returned to them at the earliest possible date. Aer Lingus has been contacted for a response. The couple hugged each other throughout the 20-minute hearing A couple appeared in court today accused of threatening to kill a judge. In addition to making a threat to kill District Judge Nigel Broderick, Michael Wray (28) and his partner, 25-year-old Olivia Girvin, were also accused of threatening to kill a social worker. Appearing at Ballymena Magistrates Court by video link from police custody, the couple hugged each other throughout the 20-minute hearing where they were jointly charged with five offences alleged to have been committed between July 4 and 13 this year. In addition to the two charges of making a threat to kill, Wray, from Sunningdale Park and Girvin, from Ballyclug Mews, both Ballymena, Co Antrim, were charged with the improper use of a telecommunication network to send threatening messages, namely threats to kill and threats to damage property. Constable Magee said she believed she could connect each of the accused to the offences, adding that police were objecting to bail given the seriousness of the offences. She outlined how the offences came to light when a solicitor acting for the couple in parallel legal proceedings received three emails from Wrays account threatening I will burn that building down with them all in it if no one listens to me its their own fault if they get f***** up by me. Another message threatened that Im going to kill the social and Broderick. Lets have some f****** fun. I have lost everything. I have done everything you wanted me to, while the final mail declared all socials are targets. The officer told the court that when he add arrested, Wray claimed it was Olivia and when she was charged, she accepting sending two of the messages. Defence counsel Lauren Davey explained that because of the parallel proceedings, the couple had been having an extremely difficult time but stressed the messages were not sent directly to either the judge or the social worker. There was absolutely no intention to carry out these threats, said the barrister, they can see that this was not an appropriate way of conducting themselves. District Judge Oonagh Mullan said whilst I have every sympathy for the defendants in terms if what theyre going through, its not very often we get a situation where judiciary are under threat. She said given the spread of dates of the charges, this wasnt someone in the heat of the moment of a particular day and describing the offences as very serious charges, she told the couple their actions were totally unacceptable. DJ Mullan said her concern was that if she released them and they continue drinking, theres a real risk that these threats could be carried out. Im not going to put social workers or any member of the judiciary to that level of threat when all theyre doing is their jobs, concluded the judge as she refused to release them. Remanding the pair into custody, the case was adjourned to July 21. Ukrainian officials and local commanders have voiced fears that a second full-scale Russian assault on the northern city may be looming The deaths came after Russias top military announced it was stepping up its onslaught against its neighbour. Russian officials said defence minister Sergei Shoigu gave instructions to further intensify the actions of units in all operational areas, in order to exclude the possibility of the Kyiv regime launching massive rocket and artillery strikes on civilian infrastructure and residents of settlements in Donbas and other regions The new Russian attacks hit areas in the north, the east and the south of Ukraine. Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, has seen especially severe bombardments in recent days, with Ukrainian officials and local commanders voicing fears that a second full-scale Russian assault on the northern city may be looming. At least three civilians were killed and three more were injured on Saturday in a pre-dawn Russian rocket strike on the northern Ukrainian city of Chuhuiv, which is close to Kharkiv and only 75 miles from the Russian border, a regional police chief said. Serhiy Bolvinov, the deputy head of Kharkivs regional police force, said the rockets partly destroyed a two-storey apartment building. Four Russian rockets, presumably fired from around (the Russian city of) Belgorod at night, at about 3.30am, hit a residential building, a school and administrative buildings, Mr Bolvinov wrote on Facebook. The bodies of three people were found under the rubble. Three more were injured. The victims are civilians, he added. In the neighbouring Sumy region, one civilian was killed and at least seven more were injured after Russians opened mortar and artillery fire on three towns and villages not far from the Russian border, regional governor Dmytro Zhyvytsky said on Telegram. In the embattled eastern Donetsk region, seven civilians were killed and 14 wounded in the last 24 hours in attacks on cities, its governor said on Saturday morning. Nearby, however, Ukrainian troops repelled a Russian overnight assault on a strategic eastern highway, said Serhiy Haidai, the governor of the Luhansk region. Mr Haidai said Russia had been attempting to capture the main road link between the cities of Lysychansk and Bakhmut for more than two months. They still cannot control several kilometres of this road, Mr Haidai wrote in a Telegram post. Russias military campaign has been focusing on the Donbas, which includes the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, but Russian forces also have been pounding other parts of the country in a relentless push to wrest territory from Ukraine and crush the morale of its leaders, troops and civilians. In Ukraines south, two people were wounded by Russian shelling in the town of Bashtanka, north-east of the Black Sea city of Mykolaiv, according the regional governor, Vitaliy Kim. THE US Sanctions on the Kinahan organised crime group and the $5million rewards for the capture of the 'Dapper Don', Christy Kinahan Snr and his criminal sons, Daniel and Christopher Jnr, has been the peak point in the fight by law enforcement against their global cartel. But how do police try to take down a mafia and what does the involvement of the powerful United States mean? How will a piece of legislation passed by Barack Obama in 2011 actually affect the billion dollar empire of the Kinahans? Nicola Tallant talks with Roy McComb, the one time head of Organised Crime for the PSNI in Northern Ireland and the former Deputy Director at the National Crime Agency in the UK. He reveals how police face down the monster of an international drug cartel like the Kinahans and tells how they came into the sights of the US authorities. . Crime Word Podcast can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Soundcloud. MORE EPISODES tomb-foolery | Ancient Neolithic site in Meath is damaged in arson attack A controversial Murupara GP wont get the stockpile of Ivermectin he imported to treat Covid-19 after losing an appeal against Medsafes seizure of the pills. Between September 15 and October 19 last year, Dr Bernard Conlon imported 14,300 Ivermectin tablets from companies in India, across nine separate consignments. The drugs were intercepted by Customs at the border, tested by Crown Research Institute ESR, and some were found to be contaminated. Conlon took Medsafe to court in March asking that the drugs be returned, but lost the case and subsequently appealed the courts decision. But that has also been rejected, in a reserved judgement by Judge Robert Spear, made in the Rotorua District Court on July 12. The judge says Conlon had no reasonable excuse to import the medicine. Dr Conlon was unable to or declined to provide particulars of a patient to whom he intended to supply the Ivermectin that he imported, says Judge Spear in his decision. Dr Conlon accepts that it was his intention to stockpile the medicine so that he had a ready supply of the medicine available to be administered to any patient that presented to him with Covid-19 symptoms and whom he considered would benefit from that medicine. Ivermectin is not approved for use against Covid-19, and Medsafe the countrys medicines safety regulator says there was no clear evidence it was effective to treat or prevent the virus, and it may instead cause serious harm. Conlons lawyer Sue Grey argued he always intended to have everything tested but the seizure made it impossible. Photo: Stuff. Conlons lawyer, Outdoors & Freedom Party co-leader and anti-Covid-19 vaccine mandate campaigner Sue Grey, argued at a hearing at the Tauranga District Court in March that Conlon always intended to test the products himself before prescribing. She says he always intended to have everything tested whether or not it was taken by Medsafe. The seizure has meant it has been impossible for him to get any testing done, she says. Grey is under investigation by the New Zealand Law Society regarding her activities concerning claims she has made during the pandemic. Grey says Medsafes seizure of the medicines was an attempt at an unconscionable overreach by the regulator and that, under the Medicine Regulation Act 1984, if he had a reasonable excuse, there was no grounds to seize the medicines and there is no grounds why the court cannot release them. She also says the antiparasitic medicine Ivermectin was safe and had been used for decades, unlike so many of the other medicines available. Dr Bernard Conlon is a longtime GP at Murupara Medical Centre. Photo: Tom Lee/Stuff. However, Medsafes lawyer Sam McMullan says a key element of the act was a requirement for doctors to have a clearly identifiable patient for any such medicine. He had to specify he had a specific, identifiable patient in mind [for Ivermectin], he says. It is not for a medical professional to stockpile medicines for the purpose of treating future patients. In his July 12 decision, Judge Spear says Dr Conlon was prohibited from prescribing or administering this new medicine in the circumstances that applied when he imported it. That being so, he did not have a reasonable excuse to import the medicine. Conlon was suspended from practising medicine by the Medical Council of New Zealand in February this year, but had his licence temporarily renewed on May 20. His licence will expire again on August 31, and depending on the outcome of an investigation into his conduct by the Professional Conduct Committee, may or may not be renewed. Conlon, a long-standing and well-respected GP, is being investigated regarding comments he made about Covid-19 vaccinations, and his refusal to get vaccinated himself. - Stuff.co.nz/Matthew Martin. The Ministry of Health is today reporting 9241 new community cases of Covid-19, 761 current hospitalisations, and 29 deaths. There are 15 people in ICU around New Zealand. There are 38 people in Bay of Plenty hospitals and 17 in Lakes hospitals. There are 375 new community cases of Covid-19 reported in the Bay of Plenty in the last 24 hours, and 183 in the Lakes region. The seven-day rolling average of community case numbers today is 9984. Today we are sadly reporting the deaths of 29 people with Covid-19, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson. All these deaths occurred in the past 29 days. The Ministry of Health and Te Whatu Ora Health NZ are closely monitoring the continued increase in Covid-19 positive cases and hospitalisations as part of the ongoing review and updating of the response to the current community outbreak. The increase in cases and hospitalisations emphasises the importance of everybody doing the basics well to help prevent infection and serious illness. In particular, people should stay home if they are unwell, take a rapid antigen test (RAT) and upload the result on My Covid Record, and isolate if positive or while still symptomatic, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson. If youre heading out to pick up free RATs and masks, please check the Healthpoint website to find your nearest participating pharmacy as not all pharmacies are providing this service. People can also continue to request free COVID-19 RATs kits online. It is important to ensure you are up to date with all vaccinations, including COVID-19 vaccinations. Many are now eligible for a second booster dose, and flu vaccinations, which are free for many people. Mask up for added protection Wearing a mask remains one of the best measures to reduce transmission of infectious respiratory illnesses, including Covid-19. The more layers of protection people put in place - such as mask wearing, vaccinations, and staying home when sick - the more they reduce the risk of spreading respiratory viruses. Even if youre fully vaccinated, or have had Covid-19, continuing to wear a face mask is important in keeping you, your whanau and your community safe, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson. As a general rule, the Ministry urges people to wear a mask in public indoor settings outside the home and in poorly ventilated spaces, or when it is hard to physically distance from other people. You must wear a mask on public transport and at transport hubs like airports and bus stations, inside public venues like museums and libraries, when visiting a health care service, and inside retail businesses like supermarkets and shopping malls. Masking up is particularly important when around more vulnerable members of the community, especially those who are older, those in aged residential care and healthcare settings where appropriate. Wider availability of antiviral treatments From Monday July 18 2022, the access criteria for three antiviral treatments for Covid-19 will be widened to include a wider group of people at risk of severe illness from Covid-19 infection. This includes all people aged 75 years and over and those who have been admitted previously to an Intensive Care Unit directly as a result of Covid-19. Nirmatrelvir with ritonavir (branded as Paxlovid), molnupiravir (branded as Lagevrio) and remdesivir, an infusion treatment (branded as Veklury) are antivirals used in the community and hospitals to treat people with early Covid-19 at risk of severe illness. These antivirals reduce the risk of severe illness, which helps takes pressure off our health system, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson. Among other things, this means GPs will be able to provide back pocket prescriptions so that people at risk of acute respiratory illnesses can have their prescription ready should they test positive and can then start taking the medicine promptly. Covid-19 hospitalisations Covid-19 Cases in hospital: total number 761: Northland: 25; Waitemata: 130; Counties Manukau: 54; Auckland: 102; Waikato: 56; Bay of Plenty: 38; Lakes: 17; Hawkes Bay: 28; MidCentral: 30; Whanganui: 20; Taranaki: 16; Tairawhiti: 4; Wairarapa: 9; Capital & Coast/Hutt: 57; Nelson Marlborough: 8; Canterbury/West Coast: 118; South Canterbury: 11; Southern: 38. Weekly Covid-19 hospitalisations - 7 day rolling average: 727 (This time last week 520) Average age of current Covid-19 hospitalisations: 64 Cases in ICU or HDU: 15 Vaccination status of new admissions to hospital*: Unvaccinated or not eligible (56 cases); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (3 cases); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (75 cases); received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (381 cases). *These are new hospital admissions in the past 7 days prior to yesterday who had Covid at the time of admission or while in hospital, excluding hospitalisations that were admitted and discharged within 24hrs. This data is from Districts with tertiary hospitals: Auckland, Canterbury, Southern, Counties Manukau, Waikato, Capital & Coast, Waitemata and Northland. Covid-19 vaccinations administered Vaccinations administered in New Zealand Vaccines administered to date: 4,028,909 first doses; 3,981,542 second doses; 33,665 third primary doses; 2,693,940 first booster doses: 169,760 second booster doses: 265,051 paediatric first doses and 139,822 paediatric second doses Vaccines administered yesterday: 25 first doses; 41 second doses; 38 third primary doses; 1,181 first booster doses; 16,870 second booster doses; 78 paediatric first doses and 573 paediatric second doses More detailed information, including vaccine uptake by District, is available on the Ministry website. Tests Number of PCR tests total (last 24 hours): 3,485 Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 16,004 PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 3,313 Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last seven days as of 14 July 2022): 2.9 million Covid-19 cases Total number of new community cases: 9,241 Number of new cases that have recently travelled overseas: 308 Seven day rolling average of community cases: 9,984 Seven day rolling average of community cases (as at same day last week): 8,687 Number of active cases (total): 69,842 (cases identified in the past seven days and not yet classified as recovered) Confirmed cases (total): 1,484,227 Location of new community cases by district over past 24 hours You can also view a detailed breakdown of daily case numbers for each district since the beginning of the pandemic by clicking the download button on the right hand side of this page: New Zealand COVID-19 data. Please note, the Ministry of Healths daily reported cases may differ slightly from those reported at a district 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. Covid-19 deaths Todays reported deaths* takes the total number of publicly reported deaths with COVID-19 to 1,805 and the seven-day rolling average of reported deaths is 20. Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today: three were from Auckland region, four were from Waikato, two were from Bay of Plenty, three were from Lakes, two were from Hawkes Bay, two were from MidCentral, two were from Wellington region, three were from Nelson Marlborough, four were from Canterbury/West Coast, four were from Southern. Two were in their 60s, three were in their 70s, 16 were in their 80s and eight were aged over 90. Of these people, 19 were women and ten were men. 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 todays reported deaths. *Note that the number of deaths announced each day may fluctuate due to routine delays in reporting. Todays increase in reported deaths since yesterday reflects this delay, and includes eight people who died on July 14 and 11 who died on July 15. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. Illustrative image (Source: laodong.vn) He gave the comment in an article on the fight against corruption and investment opportunities in Vietnam, which was published on the website of the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC). In the article, Uch Leang wrote that such strong determination reflects transparency, respect for the law, abundant workforce, and good governance and business environment in Vietnam. Highlighting the firm and strong progress Vietnam has made in the combat, the author cited statistics from the Vietnamese press showing that over the past decade, Party Committees and Inspection Commissions at all levels disciplined more than 2,700 Party organisations and nearly 168,000 Party members, of whom 7,390 were punished for corruption. The Party Central Committee and its Politburo, Secretariat and Inspection Commission have also imposed disciplinary measures on more than 170 high-ranking officials, of whom 33 are members and former members of the Party Central Committee, and more than 50 general-rank officers of the armed forces. Notably, since the beginning of the 13th tenure of the Party Central Committee, 50 officials under the management of the Party Central Committee have been disciplined, including eight members and former members of the Party Central Committee and 20 general-rank officers. Uch Leang held that the corruption prevention and control efforts are Vietnams preparations for welcoming foreign investors as there will no harassments in the domestic business environment./. PM Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the third meeting of the national steering committee for implementing the commitments. (Photo: VNA) Addressing the third meeting of the national steering committee for implementing the commitments, the PM said the roadmap needs to set monthly, quarterly and five-year targets. PM Pham Minh Chinh, who is also head of the committee, urged the participants to raise solutions, and ministries and agencies to put them into place after the meeting. Ministries and agencies should revamp their leadership and management to better supervise the implementation of the commitments, and remove obstacles to the work, the PM noted. The participants reviewed what have been done since the previous meeting, and looked into a draft project on organising a conference with international organisations and development partners to discuss cooperation in achieving the net-zero emission target. COP26 was held in Glasgow, Scotland (the UK), last November, during which PM Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam will capitalise on its advantages in renewable energy and take stronger measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To this end, we will make use of our own domestic resources, along with the cooperation and support of the international community, especially from the developed countries, in terms of finance and technology, including through mechanisms under the Paris Agreement, in order to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, he said. Vietnam looks forward to advancing cooperation with international partners through investment programmes and projects, and sustainable development, he emphasised./. Gypsian BHPian Join Date: Jun 2022 Location: Bangalore Posts: 166 Thanked: 506 Times Jeeps and Gypsies on a wicked trail Jeeps and Gypsies on a trail, With a pace less than a snail. Over the top lies the temple, Whether we reach? Its a gamble. Through the slush and boulders we go, Over the rocky montago, No matter stock or custom rig, Crawling the rocks however big. Ditches and boulders were no less, But we ready for the mess. Tires are large, Low gears incharge, Which is why we barge. Inching over rocks looking at the sky, Hostile terrain hard to pass by. Tires and ground no interaction, Because we lost traction. When impossible we winch, Though not easy as a munch. One or two wheels in the air, Nevertheless we dropped gear. This the story of our climb to Achalu Betta, Don't attempt without much data. Glad to be at Kanakpura, Where adventures are plethora. - Gypsian (Ranganath Reddy R) Well,9 of us decided to head to Achalu Betta situated at Kanakapura Taluk, Karnataka on 9/7/22. The surroundings of Kanakpura were numerous tourist places and getaways are existent, hosts great off road trails and is an absolute paradise for adventure seekers. The sanctity of most of the off road trails that are carved out of rocky mountains around Kanakpura is that they lead to respective ancient temples. Achalu Betta ( Betta means small mountain or hills in kannada ) which is also called Achalu Muneshwara Betta is located in Achalu Village, Kanakapura Taluk, on the top lies Lord Muneshwara temple. Going by the version of the locals, this temple attains significance once every year where the village fair (Jathre) takes place. Consequently the pathway leading to the top is set right every year by earth movers every year before the village fair to make it walkable and approachable by tractors. The local villager's tale was that after pandemic since the fair did not take place, the local administration has forgotten the aforesaid hills and its pilgrimage site and will remain doing so until next year's village fair which has made the path way leading to the top absolutely undriveable and that even taking on the path by walk is arduous. Be that as it may, we reached Achalu Village from Bangalore which was about 2 hours drive (80kms), by about 11am and approached the trail leading to the top of Achalu Betta. The terrain lookes like its made of ditches, trenches, boulders, rock formations, loose mud and what not. For a moment we doubted if this was the pathway or dry riverbed. The continuous downpour of rains had dilapidated and disintegrated the pathway making it analogous to a river bed. At the outset the MM 540 driven by Rajavardhan led the convoy with it's MT tires and crazy articulation dived into the trenches and crawled out of it with all that torque put in by the mighty DI Turbo engine. Followed by my gypsy which is completely armored under body i.e. custom rock sliders, front and rear diff guards, t-case guard, engine sump and radiator guard, petrol tank guard, off road winch bumper, gas shock absorbers and added leaf spring blades for height increase and articulation, provided some peace of mind as the guard plates took a couple of hits over the boulders. Raj's MM 540 and my Gypsy were equipped with winch. The other two Gypsys belonging to Rohit ( Hard Top) and Kalyan were heightened and affixed with MT and AT tires respectively, the former being an hard top Gypsy. The Thar Crde was overall well equipped and modded for creature comforts owned by Ramachandra who is veteran off roader and knows the in and out of trails around Kanakpura. The entire team are Bhpians at heart and are avid readers of this beloved forum. The Gypsys as usual surpassed the obstacles with their momentum and the Mahindras with their signature slow and study style were inching the trail. Now comes a ditch long and deep enough to swallow half the rig. This huge ditch seemed like a show stopper. With no other way out, we decided to fill the ditch with rocks so that we can traverse over them. After bringing in some small rocks fallen around and dumping it in the ditch, it felt we may consume half a day of labour only to fill that particular ditch. Then we contemplated on dragging huge boulders with the winch and directing it to the ditch. We then put the snatch block to use for double line winching of boulder stones which helped us quickly fill 3/4th of the ditch and finally with great difficulty we surpassed that obstacle. Here is the link of the video as to how those ditches were filled. https://youtu.be/v7eoSgJy6Mk The next obstacle was a ditch with sharp edged boulders and the MM540 had to winch out itself after sweating it out with all its torque and articulation but to no vain. Once the MM 540 winched itself out, it was driven to elevation and reversed to winch out other rigs. As expected my Gypsy struggled over the rocks in the ditch and the 540 which was parked horizontally to the Gypsy started winching out the Gypsy, which is when we observed that the 540 had also started sliding down even after brakes were rammed. The 540 was then tied to a tree with a nylon sling on its rear tow hook, after which the 540 held steadily through out the winching process and pulled out rest of the convey to clear the aforesaid obstacle. The absence of diff lockers haunted us frequently during the course of escalating the trail. Thereafter the terrain eased on itself with small rocks and we could surpass this portion without getting marooned. Kalyan and Rohit after some strenuous attempts met with the same fate and were winched out, though Rohits Gypsy almost cleared,with those MT tires jumping all around the rocks. Here is the video link of the MM540 winching out my Gypsy. https://youtu.be/HoEfGI_rWMY The Thar Crde tackilng the rocks - https://youtu.be/b3jS15SF2Yo While the 540 had to winch out itself, we could not find a suitable tree to anchor the winch rope and then came this weird idea to tie the winch extension rope over a huge rock which was inturn connected with the D shackle to nylon sling followed by winch metal rope. Luckily this worked. By close perusal of the following video, one can understand how this happened. https://youtu.be/8Ordz59cfcc Another video of the 540 attempting to surpass the ditch - https://youtu.be/Sy5AJhtAyk0 As we scaled further we came across a huge rock formation on which the 'Nandhi' statute lies abutting the temple. Although we did not venture to get the rigs closer to the temple, ( as we are not supposed to after turning dark ) we ascended over the adjacent steep rock formation which was slippery and required continuous throttle to reach the peak. The view from the peak is mesmerizing one, surrounded by lush green hills kindred to the Western Ghats. Gypsies squeezing through the boulders - https://youtu.be/i8_841X5RTM Thar Crde struggles but the 540 does it with style - https://youtu.be/AfxYTKVeUMg Some rock crawling leading to the peak point - https://youtu.be/olbMRt44oEg Thereafter we decided to descend as the day light showed symptoms of vanishing soon, as such this trail would be a misery to traverse through in the dark. Although gravity favoured us, the descend was an experience in itself, which saw wheels being lifted in the air quite often and felt like the terrain that we never ascended. This was an unforgettable escapade which was an unanticipated endeavor. https://youtu.be/jCHQ5wbYEvA My favourite under-chassis shot captured on a GoPro during descend - https://youtu.be/ts6SnoFB8DY All of us returned home reminiscing the fantastic adventurous day and I contemplating on installing the diff - lockers before the next OTR. Compilation of some joy moments - https://youtu.be/SHRURFC56IY Last but not the least, I would want to thank Ramanji ( the short man in blue shirt and an hat ) who was instrumental in taming the terrain by helping us fill rocks into ditches, attaching winch ropes and snatch blocks etc without whom this excursion wouldnt have been this joyful. What was supposed to be a single day off road excursion on a moderate trail, turned out to be an hardcore off road drive which put us through some inhospitable, hostile terrain of the betta (hill) which tested us and our machines to the core. Before I pen down this adventure anecdote, I am putting forth a poem composed by me which is a reflection of the below narrated averments.Jeeps and Gypsies on a trail,With a pace less than a snail.Over the top lies the temple,Whether we reach? Its a gamble.Through the slush and boulders we go,Over the rocky montago,No matter stock or custom rig,Crawling the rocks however big.Ditches and boulders were no less,But we ready for the mess.Tires are large, Low gears incharge,Which is why we barge.Inching over rocks looking at the sky,Hostile terrain hard to pass by.Tires and ground no interaction,Because we lost traction.When impossible we winch,Though not easy as a munch.One or two wheels in the air,Nevertheless we dropped gear.This the story of our climb to Achalu Betta,Don't attempt without much data.Glad to be at Kanakpura,Where adventures are plethora.- Gypsian (Ranganath Reddy R)Well,9 of us decided to head to Achalu Betta situated at Kanakapura Taluk, Karnataka on 9/7/22. The surroundings of Kanakpura were numerous tourist places and getaways are existent, hosts great off road trails and is an absolute paradise for adventure seekers. The sanctity of most of the off road trails that are carved out of rocky mountains around Kanakpura is that they lead to respective ancient temples.Achalu Betta ( Betta means small mountain or hills in kannada ) which is also called Achalu Muneshwara Betta is located in Achalu Village, Kanakapura Taluk, on the top lies Lord Muneshwara temple. Going by the version of the locals, this temple attains significance once every year where the village fair (Jathre) takes place. Consequently the pathway leading to the top is set right every year by earth movers every year before the village fair to make it walkable and approachable by tractors.The local villager's tale was that after pandemic since the fair did not take place, the local administration has forgotten the aforesaid hills and its pilgrimage site and will remain doing so until next year's village fair which has made the path way leading to the top absolutely undriveable and that even taking on the path by walk is arduous.Be that as it may, we reached Achalu Village from Bangalore which was about 2 hours drive (80kms), by about 11am and approached the trail leading to the top of Achalu Betta. The terrain lookes like its made of ditches, trenches, boulders, rock formations, loose mud and what not. For a moment we doubted if this was the pathway or dry riverbed. The continuous downpour of rains had dilapidated and disintegrated the pathway making it analogous to a river bed.At the outset the MM 540 driven by Rajavardhan led the convoy with it's MT tires and crazy articulation dived into the trenches and crawled out of it with all that torque put in by the mighty DI Turbo engine. Followed by my gypsy which is completely armored under body i.e. custom rock sliders, front and rear diff guards, t-case guard, engine sump and radiator guard, petrol tank guard, off road winch bumper, gas shock absorbers and added leaf spring blades for height increase and articulation, provided some peace of mind as the guard plates took a couple of hits over the boulders. Raj's MM 540 and my Gypsy were equipped with winch. The other two Gypsys belonging to Rohit ( Hard Top) and Kalyan were heightened and affixed with MT and AT tires respectively, the former being an hard top Gypsy. The Thar Crde was overall well equipped and modded for creature comforts owned by Ramachandra who is veteran off roader and knows the in and out of trails around Kanakpura. The entire team are Bhpians at heart and are avid readers of this beloved forum.The Gypsys as usual surpassed the obstacles with their momentum and the Mahindras with their signature slow and study style were inching the trail. Now comes a ditch long and deep enough to swallow half the rig. This huge ditch seemed like a show stopper. With no other way out, we decided to fill the ditch with rocks so that we can traverse over them. After bringing in some small rocks fallen around and dumping it in the ditch, it felt we may consume half a day of labour only to fill that particular ditch. Then we contemplated on dragging huge boulders with the winch and directing it to the ditch. We then put the snatch block to use for double line winching of boulder stones which helped us quickly fill 3/4th of the ditch and finally with great difficulty we surpassed that obstacle. Here is the link of the video as to how those ditches were filled.The next obstacle was a ditch with sharp edged boulders and the MM540 had to winch out itself after sweating it out with all its torque and articulation but to no vain. Once the MM 540 winched itself out, it was driven to elevation and reversed to winch out other rigs. As expected my Gypsy struggled over the rocks in the ditch and the 540 which was parked horizontally to the Gypsy started winching out the Gypsy, which is when we observed that the 540 had also started sliding down even after brakes were rammed. The 540 was then tied to a tree with a nylon sling on its rear tow hook, after which the 540 held steadily through out the winching process and pulled out rest of the convey to clear the aforesaid obstacle. The absence of diff lockers haunted us frequently during the course of escalating the trail. Thereafter the terrain eased on itself with small rocks and we could surpass this portion without getting marooned. Kalyan and Rohit after some strenuous attempts met with the same fate and were winched out, though Rohits Gypsy almost cleared,with those MT tires jumping all around the rocks. Here is the video link of the MM540 winching out my Gypsy.The Thar Crde tackilng the rocks -While the 540 had to winch out itself, we could not find a suitable tree to anchor the winch rope and then came this weird idea to tie the winch extension rope over a huge rock which was inturn connected with the D shackle to nylon sling followed by winch metal rope. Luckily this worked. By close perusal of the following video, one can understand how this happened.Another video of the 540 attempting to surpass the ditch -As we scaled further we came across a huge rock formation on which the 'Nandhi' statute lies abutting the temple. Although we did not venture to get the rigs closer to the temple, ( as we are not supposed to after turning dark ) we ascended over the adjacent steep rock formation which was slippery and required continuous throttle to reach the peak. The view from the peak is mesmerizing one, surrounded by lush green hills kindred to the Western Ghats.Gypsies squeezing through the boulders -Thar Crde struggles but the 540 does it with style -Some rock crawling leading to the peak point -Thereafter we decided to descend as the day light showed symptoms of vanishing soon, as such this trail would be a misery to traverse through in the dark. Although gravity favoured us, the descend was an experience in itself, which saw wheels being lifted in the air quite often and felt like the terrain that we never ascended. This was an unforgettable escapade which was an unanticipated endeavor.My favourite under-chassis shot captured on a GoPro during descend -All of us returned home reminiscing the fantastic adventurous day and I contemplating on installing the diff - lockers before the next OTR.Compilation of some joy moments -Last but not the least, I would want to thank Ramanji ( the short man in blue shirt and an hat ) who was instrumental in taming the terrain by helping us fill rocks into ditches, attaching winch ropes and snatch blocks etc without whom this excursion wouldnt have been this joyful. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Gypsian : 16th July 2022 at 07:34 . GForceEnjoyer BHPian Join Date: May 2022 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 152 Thanked: 633 Times View My Garage Re: Was the old Indian company majority equity stake in automobile companies good in select cases? First, the objective should be clearly established. A new entrant into the market will most likely have survival as their main objective, while a dominant player abroad expanding their business and entering India might have growth or profit maximisation as their main objectives. These need to be communicated with employees in ways relevant to their individual roles, so that they can effectively work towards it. This is necessary to achieve efficiency in operation regardless of the type of ownership in any business; not just cars. In India, competition is very fierce from Maruti and Hyundai, which means that something innovative must be offered in order to encourage consumers to make the switch. The threat posed by substitutes (alternative forms of transport) isn't very high, but isn't negligible either. So once again, we are left with the need for the understanding of consumer needs. One major reason Maruti succeeded initially was because their fuel-efficient offerings got people from A to B with a low cost of running. They identified this consumer need as well as the fact that creating efficient cars was their strength. They effectively marketed it too, "Kitna deti hai?" The resulting brand loyalty is the reason that nearly every household at least considers a Maruti when buying a new car. Suzuki was able to provide technical know-how for this, while the Indian representation at an executive level led to its effective implementation. Today, Hyundai is growing increasingly dominant. They cater to the rising demand for cars which are above the bare-minimum; cars which give good value for the money. This allows them to cater to a different kind of consumer who wants something to be able to brag about (features). Additionally, the existence of cars like the Elantra, Sonata, Santafe and Tucson serves as halo products to improve their brand image. They did so without an Indian partner, because of their understanding of Indian consumers as well as having the right technical expertise from the start. Both these companies did their respective approaches right, leading them to becoming the two largest mass-market players. The big three German luxury car manufacturers cater to those who generally want a status symbol, a way to shout to the world about their success. Mercedes-Benz had the first-mover advantage when they entered in 1994, and they understood the pulse of the Indian luxury car buyer very well. Their extensive dealership network (for a luxury car brand) ensured that their products gained significant aspirational value. Today, they are the leading luxury car manufacturer here. So, the need of the hour would be to carry out extensive market research and keep updating the product range accordingly. These were two areas where Ford did not fare so well, for example. The Fusion was far too ahead of its time, when the crossover craze had not even begun, while the global Fiesta did not build on the strengths of its predecessor apart from handling. Then, they got complacent with products that did succeed, for example the EcoSport. Constantly reshuffling features and increasing prices did little to help their image, since it created a sense of uncertainty. They also failed to innovate to match emerging (at the time) rivals in the segment such as Hyundai and Maruti. The decision to remove the Sync3 system was a perplexing one in a market that gave tremendous importance to features! It was a similar story with the new Figo and Aspire. They had nothing particularly unique that they excelled at to make them stand out from the crowd. The go-kart handling and supernatural steering feel from the previous car had been lost, so had the tank-like build. What was left were products without a USP. Of course they bombed! With Ford, the stepmotherly treatment given by HQ was only part of the reason for the downfall. They let their bread-and-butter model, the EcoSport become increasingly irrelevant in a segment now saturated with offerings. They were too slow to react to changing consumer needs, resulting in them getting the axe by the global executive team due to unprofitability. Where was connected car tech when it was the most needed? Where was a diesel-automatic powertrain? Due to the brand no longer selling locally made cars, the fate of CBUs such as the Mustang was also jeopardised. Why would someone buy an imported 75 Lakh car from a brand that just quit India? Meanwhile General motors severely diluted their brand image by re-badging Chinese cars which proved to be disastrous in India. They also lacked direction, which ultimately left them with no realistic, quantifiable objective. Their reason for exiting was also an unprofitable business. In both these cases, more representation from Indian entities would certainly have helped communicating consumer needs in theory. To make that actually work, thorough market research would also be needed. It would provide them with valuable information, for example the growing demand for connected cars. Only then can efficient decisions such as focusing on connected car tech be made, which would lead to long-term profitability. Allowing the foreign HQ to overpower such decisions would negate any possible benefit. TLDR: Having an Indian partner in operations can help communicate consumer needs directly to manufacturers, but they would need to carry out extensive market research and make the right business decisions following it in order to aid implementation and be successful. However, with a proper strategy from the start, the same result can still be achieved without an Indian partner. It's all a matter of implementation. I'd love to hear others' views on this too, this topic calls for some serious thought. This is a very interesting topic without a clear-cut yes or no answer. Both strategies can work out, but it depends on the execution.First, the objective should be clearly established. A new entrant into the market will most likely have survival as their main objective, while a dominant player abroad expanding their business and entering India might have growth or profit maximisation as their main objectives. These need to be communicated with employees in ways relevant to their individual roles, so that they can effectively work towards it. This is necessary to achieve efficiency in operation regardless of the type of ownership in any business; not just cars.In India, competition is very fierce from Maruti and Hyundai, which means that something innovative must be offered in order to encourage consumers to make the switch. The threat posed by substitutes (alternative forms of transport) isn't very high, but isn't negligible either. So once again, we are left with the need for the understanding of consumer needs.One major reason Maruti succeeded initially was because their fuel-efficient offerings got people from A to B with a low cost of running. They identified this consumer need as well as the fact that creating efficient cars was their strength. They effectively marketed it too, "Kitna deti hai?" The resulting brand loyalty is the reason that nearly every household at least considers a Maruti when buying a new car. Suzuki was able to provide technical know-how for this, while the Indian representation at an executive level led to its effective implementation.Today, Hyundai is growing increasingly dominant. They cater to the rising demand for cars which are above the bare-minimum; cars which give good value for the money. This allows them to cater to a different kind of consumer who wants something to be able to brag about (features). Additionally, the existence of cars like the Elantra, Sonata, Santafe and Tucson serves as halo products to improve their brand image. They did so without an Indian partner, because of their understanding of Indian consumers as well as having the right technical expertise from the start.Both these companies did their respective approaches right, leading them to becoming the two largest mass-market players.The big three German luxury car manufacturers cater to those who generally want a status symbol, a way to shout to the world about their success. Mercedes-Benz had the first-mover advantage when they entered in 1994, and they understood the pulse of the Indian luxury car buyer very well. Their extensive dealership network (for a luxury car brand) ensured that their products gained significant aspirational value. Today, they are the leading luxury car manufacturer here.So, the need of the hour would be to carry out extensive market research and keep updating the product range accordingly. These were two areas where Ford did not fare so well, for example. The Fusion was far too ahead of its time, when the crossover craze had not even begun, while the global Fiesta did not build on the strengths of its predecessor apart from handling. Then, they got complacent with products that did succeed, for example the EcoSport. Constantly reshuffling features and increasing prices did little to help their image, since it created a sense of uncertainty. They also failed to innovate to match emerging (at the time) rivals in the segment such as Hyundai and Maruti. The decision to remove the Sync3 system was a perplexing one in a market that gave tremendous importance to features!It was a similar story with the new Figo and Aspire. They had nothing particularly unique that they excelled at to make them stand out from the crowd. The go-kart handling and supernatural steering feel from the previous car had been lost, so had the tank-like build. What was left were products without a USP. Of course they bombed!With Ford, the stepmotherly treatment given by HQ was only part of the reason for the downfall. They let their bread-and-butter model, the EcoSport become increasingly irrelevant in a segment now saturated with offerings. They were too slow to react to changing consumer needs, resulting in them getting the axe by the global executive team due to unprofitability. Where was connected car tech when it was the most needed? Where was a diesel-automatic powertrain? Due to the brand no longer selling locally made cars, the fate of CBUs such as the Mustang was also jeopardised. Why would someone buy an imported 75 Lakh car from a brand that just quit India?Meanwhile General motors severely diluted their brand image by re-badging Chinese cars which proved to be disastrous in India. They also lacked direction, which ultimately left them with no realistic, quantifiable objective. Their reason for exiting was also an unprofitable business.In both these cases, more representation from Indian entities would certainly have helped communicating consumer needs in theory. To make that actually work, thorough market research would also be needed. It would provide them with valuable information, for example the growing demand for connected cars. Only then can efficient decisions such as focusing on connected car tech be made, which would lead to long-term profitability. Allowing the foreign HQ to overpower such decisions would negate any possible benefit.Having an Indian partner in operations can help communicate consumer needs directly to manufacturers, but they would need to carry out extensive market research and make the right business decisions following it in order to aid implementation and be successful. However, with a proper strategy from the start, the same result can still be achieved without an Indian partner. It's all a matter of implementation.I'd love to hear others' views on this too, this topic calls for some serious thought. Last edited by GForceEnjoyer : 12th July 2022 at 15:41 . Why it matters: As Intel rolls out its freshman line of dedicated graphics cards, the first benchmarks are emerging. The company's latest official test tries to make the case for the A750 against Nvidia's midrange GPU, but many questions remain as both companies and AMD prepare to launch new cards in the second half of this year. This week, Intel published a brief benchmark of its upcoming Arc A750 graphics card, claiming it compares favorably with Nvidia's RTX 3060 in a few popular games. Previous Arc benchmarks, both official and unofficial, have been mixed thus far. The primary title Intel tested in its video (above) is Cyberpunk 2077, but it also showed comparisons for Control, F1 2021, Borderlands 3, and Fortnite. All the comparisons show the A750 performing about 15 percent better than the 3060. Intel's card manages around 60 frames per second in Borderlands, Control, and Cyberpunk at 1440p using the high graphics preset. F1 and Fortnite run well north of 120fps. However, the comparison doesn't mention image reconstruction -- another area where Intel wants to compete with Nvidia. All the tested games except Borderlands support Nvidia's DLSS, which would likely give the 3060 much higher framerates. Currently, none are on the list of games planning to feature Intel's XeSS. Only Cyberpunk and F1 support AMD FSR. The other Arc GPUs are also set to compete with Nvidia's entry-level and mainstream cards, but some tests have been disappointing. Official A730M and A770M benchmarks put them close to the RTX 3050 Ti and 3060. The A770 is supposed to match the 3070 Ti, but tests in April showed markedly worse results, possibly owing to incomplete Intel drivers. Last month, an early review of the budget A380 was even more dismal. While Intel's graphics cards are still only available in China and South Korea, the company maintains that it plans to launch them in other markets later this summer. Nvidia and AMD will each launch a new generation of GPUs later this year, which will likely further outperform Intel's products. Tesla Giga Shanghai's manufactured EV units cover around 50% of China's exported EVs, based on new data. (Photo : Photo by Xiaolu Chu/Getty Images) An aerial view of Tesla Shanghai Gigafactory on March 29, 2021 in Shanghai, China. Tesla Shanghai Gigafactory is reportedly producing vehicles at a rate of about 450,000 cars per year. In the first half of 2022, the Asian country was able to deliver more than 200,000 zero-emission cars outside of China. This detail was confirmed after the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) published its latest EV export data on Thursday, July 14. Aside from the overall number of exported electric vehicle units, CAAM also included how many Tesla Giga Shanghai-manufactured EVs were sold outside the country. Based on the information provided by CAAM, there are indeed lots of exported Tesla EVs. Tesla Giga Shanghai Breaks Local Demand Promise? According to Electrek's latest report, when Elon Musk announced his plan to construct the massive manufacturing plant in China, the billionaire promised that Giga Shanghai would only be used for local demands. (Photo : STR/AFP via Getty Images) Tesla CEO Elon Musk gestures during the Tesla China-made Model 3 Delivery Ceremony in Shanghai. - Tesla CEO Elon Musk presented the first batch of made-in-China cars to ordinary buyers on January 7, 2020 in a milestone for the company's new Shanghai "giga-factory", but which comes as sales decelerate in the world's largest electric-vehicle market. Also Read: Tesla Australia Removes Mobile Connector From EV Orders! Buyers Now Need To Pay Extra $550 However, CAAM's latest data shows the opposite. The Chinese association claimed that 97,182 Tesla electric cars were exported during the first half of 2022. This means that Tesla covers around 48% of China's overall exported EVs. Among the top-selling models manufactured by Giga Shanghai are Model 3 and Model Y. Before CAAM released its official EV export data, Tesla announced that it wanted to make Giga Shanghai its new export hub. The giant EV maker shared this decision during its Q2 2021 result announcement. "Due to strong U.S. demand and global average cost optimization, we have completed the transition of Gigafactory Shanghai as the primary vehicle export hub," said Tesla. Now, data shows that the automaker's sudden change of plan is working out pretty well. Is This Good for China? For the past few years, experts claimed that Western countries were commonly hesitant when it comes to purchasing EVs manufactured in China, even if European and American carmakers are the ones producing them. This is also the same scenario in other made-in-China products. However, Tesla was able to get the trust of its consumers outside China, allowing it to cover almost half of China's EV export. Aside from Tesla, Polestar, BMW, and Volvo are also seeing success in their China-based exported electric cars. On the other hand, the Tesla Supercharger now offers better experiences, thanks to the automaker's Starlink internet system integrations. Meanwhile, Elon Musk introduced the new Tesla Robovan concept. For more news updates about Tesla and other giant automakers, keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Tesla Giga Berlin Becomes Region's Largest Industrial Employer! Road to 500,000 EVs Yearly? This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) wants to raise the minimum broadband internet download speeds to 100Mbps. The minimum broadband speed metric in the United States today is 25Mbps of download speed, whereas the uploads are much lower at 3Mbps. (Photo : FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) A man surfs the internet in Beijing on June 15, 2009. And as such, the chair of the FCC, Jessica Rosenworcel, is now proposing to raise the minimum broadband metric. FCC Wants 100Mbps Minimum Broadband Speed As per the latest news story by PC Mag, the commission wants to significantly bump it up to a faster speed of 100Mbps in hopes to ditch the current standard of only 25Mbps. The FCC chair says that the new minimum speed that the commission proposes is part of its annual review of the current state of broadband internet in the country. Rosenworcel argues that "the needs of internet users long ago surpassed the FCC's 25/3 speed metric." The chairwoman of the commission further adds that the needs of folks online have also transformed "during a global health pandemic that moves so much of life online." The COVID-19 pandemic, which struck the whole world by surprise, has forced people to stay in the confines of their homes, pushing employees to work from home and students to learn in front of a screen. Not to mention that even reaching out to friends and family members has been greatly limited to video calls. This, in turn, has massively increased our dependency on the internet. And while things are slowly getting back to pre-pandemic times as we attempt to live with the coronavirus, our lifestyle has completely changed, normalizing hybrid work setup and video calls among our friends and family. According to a recent report by Telecompetitor, the FCC chair went on to say that "the 25/3 metric isn't just behind the times, it's a harmful one because it masks the extent to which low-income neighborhoods and rural communities are being left behind and left offline." Read Also: Starlink Gets FCC Approval for Satellite Internet Use on Moving Vehicles, 'Portability' Coming FCC's Minimum Broadband Metric Despite that, the FCC missed out on raising the minimum broadband speed in the US during the height of the pandemic. So the commission appears to be working on it as we've got a better sense of the "new normal." (Photo : Michael Bocchieri/Getty Images) Network cables are plugged in a server room on November 10, 2014 in New York City. In fact, PC Mag notes in its report that the last time that it increased the minimum broadband metric speed was in 2015. The FCC raised it to 25Mpbs download speed and 3Mbps upload speed, which is still the current standard these days. It was a radical move from the commission as the country was settling on the outdated 4Mbps download speed and 1Mbps minimum metric. The government watchdogs and the senators in the US have since urged the commission to look into its minimum broadband metric, arguing that modern times demand faster internet. Related Article: FCC Warns About US Military TikTok's Usage, But Why? Videos Posted by Soldiers and Other Details This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Teejay Boris 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Country Director of KOICA Vietnam Cho Han Deog and UNFPA Representative for Vietnam Naomi Kitahara signed a grant arrangement in Hanoi on July 15, under which KOICA will provide financial support of 250,000 USD to UNFPA. At the ceremony to launch "Anh Duong House" to support survivors of gender-based violence in Da Nang. (Photo: VNA) The grant aims to ensure the sustainability of the innovative One Stop Service Centre model, which is commonly known as Anh Duong House in Vietnam. The House was first established in April 2020 through the KOICA-funded project Building a model to respond to violence against women and girls in Vietnam, for the period of 2017 2021 with a total budget of 2.5 million USD. The grant arrangement covers a bridge phase through 2023, when a new and larger project is expected to be launched. It looks to continue supporting Anh Duong House and its hotline for victims of violence, and to organise outreach communication activities and advocacy efforts to sustain and replicate the model in other locations. UNFPA will work in partnership with the Ministry of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs and Quang Ninh province to implement the activities to ensure the continuous provision of integrated essential services for survivors of gender-based violence. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Cho Han Deog said during his recent visit to Anh Duong House in Quang Ninh, he observed how the House has effectively provided support and helped vulnerable women and girls. He said: KOICA has decided to continue supporting Anh Duong House in Quang Ninh as it has made significant contributions to the efforts made by the Vietnamese Government and by the local authorities of Quang Ninh to address gender-based violence and domestic violence. We want this model to be replicated in other locations. At KOICA, we embrace a zero-tolerance culture that says NO to any forms of gender-based violence. Anh Duong House became fully operational in April 2020, providing a wide range of services such as health care, psychological support, counselling, social welfare services, emergency shelters, police protection, legal and justice services, and referrals for many gender-based violence survivors, not only in Quang Ninh but also in 20 cities and provinces throughout the country. Anh Duong Houses hotline service, which is available 24/7, has so far received more than 15,300 calls in two years. Most survivors of violence who have called the hotline are female (accounting for 93.6%), and most gender-based violence survivors are aged 1659. Minors under the age of 16 account for 10% of calls. About 20% of calls came from Quang Ninh province and 80% from other provinces. In addition, nearly 500 service providers from police, justice, health, and social work from both provincial and grassroots levels in Quang Ninh, received training for the provision of essential services for gender-based violence survivors. With technical support from UNFPA, Anh Duong House has been duplicated in Thanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. In her remarks at the signing event, Naomi Kitahara said UNFPA will make sure that the funds from KOICA will be used effectively. UNFPA will continue to work closely with Vietnamese partners to implement the bridge-phase activities of the project at the national level and in Quang Ninh province. She added that zero-based violence and harmful practices is one of the three main pillars in the new UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2022-2025, and a clear priority for the UNFPA Vietnams new country programme 2022-2026. UNFPA will scale up efforts to end gender-based violence and harmful practices in Vietnam, she said. Gender-based violence is a manifestation of gender inequality which is deeply rooted in Vietnam. According to the 2019 national study on violence against women, nearly two in three women aged 15 64 experienced at least one form of physical, sexual, psychological and/or economic violence in their life time. Gender-based violence is very much hidden in society, when more than 90 percent did not seek any help from public services, and half of the women who experienced violence told no one about it. It is costing Vietnam 1.81 percent of GDP, which is significant./. On 14 July, 2022, the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) jointly held an information sharing session of Labour Law Review at China House in Freetown. Hon. Minister of Labour and Social Security Mr. Alpha Osman Timbo,Permanent Secretary of MLSS Ms. Fatmata Mustapha,Charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy Li Xiaoyong,Economic and Commercial Counsellor Du Zijun, representatives from Labour Congress and Employers Federation, officials from the Sierra Leone Government and representatives from Chinese enterprises attended the event. Mr. Li Xiaoyong expressed his gratitude to H.E. President Maada Bio and the Sierra Leonean Government for supporting the Chinese business in Sierra Leone. He said that over the past 51 years, China and Sierra Leone have been cooperating well in the fields of trade and investment, agriculture, mining, fishery, education among others. As the biggest investor in Sierra Leone, the Chinese enterprises have not only added revenue for the the Sierra Leonean government, but also brought a lot of jobs for the local people. China will continue to work with Sierra Leone to build a stronger China-Africa community of shared future under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Hon. Minister Timbo said that H.E. President Maada Bio and the Sierra Leonan government attach great importance to the protection of the interests of the Chinese investors and the legitimate rights of the employees. He appreciated the efforts the Chinese enterprises made in complying with labour laws and regulations. He said that by this information sharing of labour laws, the MLSS hoped that both the employers and the employees would understand more about the laws and regulations and the MLSS would continue to work with the Chinese businesses to ensure that a win-win result would be achieved. Mr. Du Zijun said that the Chinese enterprises are operating wellinthe infrastructure, mining, fishery and forestry sectors and have promoted the development of the local economy. He stressed that the purpose of the Information Sharing of Labour Law Review was to provide a platformof dialogue between the Chinese enterprises and the Sierra Leonean Government. He urged and believed that the Chinese businesses would understand more about the local regulations andcreate a more harmonious environment for their employees. The officials of the MLSS briefed and interacted with the participants on the labour law review process and some of the highlights of the new terms. The average daily net profit of the three major operators in the first half of the year was about 549 million yuan, and the penetration rate of 5G packages increased President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has said the occupiers must feel a fair response to terror, in particular, due to sanctions. "Today, the European Union announced the first details of the new, seventh sanctions package being prepared against the Russian Federation, and the task of Ukrainian diplomats is to do everything to strengthen this package," he said in a video address on Friday night. After an attack on Vinnytsia and other terrorist attacks by the Russian army, the occupiers must feel what a fair response to terror means, the president said. "In particular, it will be felt thanks to sanctions. Of course, the Armed Forces of Ukraine will certainly provide their part of the answer," Zelensky said. The number of victims of the Russian missile attack on the city of Dnipro on Friday evening has increased to 16, rescuers continue to extinguish the second fire due to shelling, Head of the regional military administration Valentyn Reznichenko has said. "According to updated data, the evening attack on our region claimed three lives, 16 people were wounded," Reznichenko said on his Telegram channel on Saturday morning. He also said that at an industrial enterprise in Dnipro, where a rocket hit the night before, rescuers extinguished one fire, another is still extinguished. As reported, on Friday evening in Dnipro, as a result of rocket attacks by the occupiers, three people were killed and another 15 citizens were injured, according to the head of Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration. "We have 'arrivals' in Dnipro. Missiles hit an industrial enterprise and a street next to it. Previously, this Russian attack claimed the lives of three people, another 15 were wounded," Reznichenko said in his Telegram channel. He said the extent of the destruction is being clarified. A specialist in the Department of transport and transport infrastructure of Dnipro City Council Ivan Vasiuchkov said that as result of explosions in Dnipro, a bus driver of one of the local city routes killed. "As a result of today's terrorist act of Russia in Dnipro, a bus driver of one of the city routes died. The man had already finished his working day and was heading to the park to return to work tomorrow at 05.00. He did not get there," Vasiuchkov said on Facebook. Earlier, Dnipro authorities confirmed the "arrival" during an enemy missile attack on the city, but they only report interruptions in water supply and other communications, although social networks are actively talking about the victims. Lara Nicholson writes for The Advocate as a Report for America Corps Member. Email her at lnicholson@theadvocate.com or follow her on Twitter @LaraNicholson_. To learn more about Report for America and to support our journalism, please click here. Two people were killed as a result of missile attacks by Russian invaders on the city of Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk region, on Saturday morning, their bodies were pulled out of the rubble. "At 10:15, rescuers removed the bodies of two killed from under the rubble. Work on the removal and release of people has been completed," the State Emergency Service of Ukraine said on its Telegram channel. The State Emergency Service's units will continue to provide assistance to the population at other addresses affected by the shelling. As reported, the Russian invaders on Saturday morning fired at Nikopol district of Dnipropetrovsk region from "Grad" multiple launch rocket systems. Some 12 residential buildings and two educational buildings were damaged, a woman was wounded. It was also reported that two people are under the rubble of destroyed apartments. Gov. John Bel Edwards talks about the end of the legislative session at the State Capitol earlier this month. The last time the leaders of Pacific Islands Forum met in person was in Tuvalu in 2019 when former prime minister Scott Morrisons dogged insistence on watering down language about climate change in the final communique caused anger and even tears during the talks. Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama described Morrisons conduct as very insulting and condescending. Australias renewed climate efforts, backed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, were welcomed at this weeks Pacific Island Forum talks. Credit:Joe Armao This week things were different. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese backed the groups declaration of a climate emergency and even won support for Australias bid to co-host the United Nations COP29 climate talks in 2024 with Pacific nations. Sunbakers and swimmers on two of Sydneys most popular beaches will be sharing the sand as Northern Beaches Council pushes ahead with a proposed trial of off-leash dog areas. But opponents say the plan puts beachgoers and the environment at risk from irresponsible dog owners who do not control or clean up after their pets. Michele Robertson, pictured with her dog Maddie at North Palm Beach, said Sydneys northern beaches lacked green open space, but had plenty of foreshore. Credit:Brook Mitchell Off-leash beaches are a contentious issue as councils attempt to strike a balance between environmental concerns, the potential disruption of beach users and the lack of suitable open space for pets. But Northern Beaches Liberal councillor Rory Amon said there was overwhelming community support for the off-leash dog trial on part of Mona Vale Beach (86 per cent) and North Palm Beach (87 per cent). The Catholic Churchs plenary council, held in Sydney from July 3-9, was a major moment for the Australian church. The gathering offered the chance for the nations bishops as well as its priests, nuns and lay people to debate the big issues facing the church as it seeks to rebuild its reputation following the clerical sex abuse crisis. Even with the decline of Christianity in Australia, as demonstrated by the most recent census results, one in five Australians still identify as Catholic. The Catholic Church matters, despite the increasingly secular nature of our society. The plenary council began promisingly, with the passage of motions apologising to sexual abuse victims and backing an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. But things went awry when the council failed to pass two motions on elevating the role of women in the church. About 60 of the 277 delegates staged a silent protest; some women were in tears. Pope Francis has signalled he is open to allowing women to serve as Catholic deacons. Credit:AP One of the motions which, among other unremarkable requests, called for women to be appropriately represented in decision-making structures of Church governance easily passed the first round of voting but failed to attract the required support of two thirds of the nations bishops. Is this decision, replicating the negative vote on the carbon reduction scheme of 2009, designed to continue the climate wars and maintain some sort of relevance for the Greens? How disappointing to see Adam Bandt and the Greens prepared to vote down a bill proposed by the Labor government to enshrine a minimum target of 43 per cent reduction of carbon emissions. Will it again result in undermining the only party of government determined to act on global warming and usher in a government of climate denialisms led by Peter Dutton? Have they learnt nothing? Ken Rivett, Ferntree Gully No room to move So, there are four or five people sitting in a train carriage, all of them wearing masks. The train stops at Richmond and 100 or so maskless people pile in and pack the carriage, talking at the top of their voices about the game. And the masked people are expected to move if they dont like it (Letters, The Age, 15/7)? Greg Walsh, Black Rock Nice, but not sustainable The recycling of former industrial areas for residential use is progressive thinking (Melbourne city goes west with new suburbs vision, 16/7), but the statement that a bigger inner Melbourne will be greener and more sustainable is incorrect. McCulloch wasnt a qualified lawyer and didnt profess to be. To someone like Roberts, a young man who had already lost an appeal against his conviction and was confronting the reality of spending the next 30 years of his life behind bars, he was a counsel of last resort. On the day the jury returned its verdict of not guilty, McCulloch was ecstatic. Few inside the Supreme Court had any inkling of his involvement. My part in this story was ever so small, he tells The Age. Without the commitment of his lawyers, his family and [former detective] Ron Iddles, his acquittal could have never happened. Jason Roberts walks out of custody for the first time in more than two decades after being acquitted of murdering police officers Gary Silk and Rodney Miller in Melbournes south-east in 1998. Credit:Jason South Roberts and McCulloch became friends shortly after McCulloch arrived at the maximum-security Barwon Prison, north of Geelong, in 2005. They would go running in the morning, work out at the gym and sit at the same table for meals. Their regular companions included Christopher Hudson, a hulking bikie who murdered a man and shot two other people in a senseless early morning rage in Bourke Street; Matwali Chaouk, jailed for targeting a member of a rival crime family in a drive-by shooting in Altona; and Daniel Porky Lovett, an accomplished boxer and sergeant-at-arms of the Melbourne chapter of the Hells Angels. McCulloch was older than the others and had spent enough time in jail to understand its bleak reality. He had previously worked with delinquent youths at the old Turana Boys Home. He now served as prison yard mentor, extolling the virtues of staying fit and keeping an active mind. While at Barwon, he was involved in a joint program with Deakin University aimed at deterring adolescent offending. Last year he related his jail experiences to 85,000 British prisoners through the BBCs National Prison Radio. McCulloch says Roberts paid a heavy price - nearly 10 years in solitary confinement - in pursuit of freedom. Credit:Hollie Adams In about 2007, Roberts started to talk to McCulloch about the Silk and Miller murders. At first McCulloch mostly listened, sceptical about what he was being told. The more Roberts confided in him and the more he learned about Bandali Debs, the remorseless career criminal who confessed to murdering Miller, the more he became convinced that, although Roberts was not an innocent man, he was no killer. Some days they would talk over walks around the prison yard. On other days, McCulloch would sit at his desk in the common room, taking notes of Roberts recollections. It got to a stage where he gained trust in me. I think that is eventually why I got the full story. For McCulloch, the most compelling part of Roberts story was his preparedness to reveal to him two locations where guns, duct tape, clothing and Silks police diary were hidden after the murders. Roberts said he knew this because, after Debs told him what hed done that night in Moorabbin, he helped him bury the evidence. He also confessed to McCulloch that he carried out 10 armed robberies with Debs in 1998, in the lead-up to the murders. Roberts said Debs had promised to come clean and support his version of events once his own avenues for appeal were exhausted. Armed with this information, McCulloch organised a delegation of influential prisoners to confront Debs, who was also in the Eucalypt Unit. Debs pledged to them, as he had to Roberts, that he would back up Roberts and tell police the younger man had no involvement in the murders. Sergeant Gary Silk and Senior Constable Rodney Miller. By the time Debs was transferred out of Barwon to the Goulburn supermax prison to stand trial over another murder, he had done nothing to uphold this promise. When he appeared as a prosecution witness at Roberts retrial, it became clear he never intended to. McCulloch says he urged Roberts to tell his lawyers, and eventually police, what he had told him. To have a chance, he had to come clean about the previous lies and the cover-up, McCulloch says. I said look, there is only one way around this, but you are going to have to be careful. McCulloch advised him on how to word his statement. He also explained to Roberts that once he started talking to police, he would be shifted into solitary confinement, away from the general population, and locked down 23 hours a day. Roberts ended up spending nearly 10 years in isolation. It was, McCulloch says, a high price to pay. Retired homicide detective Ron Iddles was called as a witness for the defence in the retrial of Jason Roberts. Credit:Penny Stephens Roberts made two approaches to police. The first, through barrister Sean Grant, was passed all the way up police command to then chief commissioner Simon Overland, but no action was taken. In late 2012, he contacted Marita Altman, a lawyer who represented him during his first trial in 2002. Through Altman, word reached Ron Iddles, a homicide detective nearing the end of his career, that Roberts wanted to set the record straight. Iddles agreed to listen to what Roberts had to say. Like McCulloch, Iddles treated the revelations about buried evidence as significant. At one site, a boat ramp in the Bass Coast town of Tooradin, only scraps of clothes were recovered following an extensive search of the area. At the second location, Toorongo Falls in Gippsland, neither the guns nor the diary was found but a roll of duct tape was. The items had little evidentiary value but for Iddles they corroborated Roberts version of events. Through the course of his investigation Iddles started to entertain an idea that, within Victoria Police, was taboo: the convicted cop killer might just be telling the truth. Loading The irony for McCulloch is that, perhaps as a consequence of the assistance he gave Roberts, he is marooned in London and, at age 73, unable to return to the country where he spent nearly all his adult life and where his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren live. As a non-citizen with a serious criminal record, McCulloch was always vulnerable to deportation. In 2015, then immigration minister Scott Morrison ruled that his visa should be revoked upon his release from Barwon. McCulloch fought this decision and by 2017 had convinced Morrisons successor Peter Dutton with the help of testimony from senior corrections administrators that he was sufficiently reformed to remain in Australia. In February 2019, Victoria Police provided a further, secret report to Dutton which catalogued McCullochs criminal past and raised speculative allegations about his involvement in unsolved crimes. It also characterised his jailhouse lawyering as a scam designed to rip off gullible prisoners. McCulloch says nearly all of his legal work was done pro bono. Loading The police report contained no evidence of criminal activity by McCulloch since his release from jail but served its purpose. Dutton reversed his decision and in early 2020, just before the pandemic grounded international travel, McCulloch boarded a plane to Britain. The most telling claim against McCulloch in the police report was that he supported a push, at the tail end of Melbournes gangland wars, for a royal commission into police corruption. History shows he had good cause. The drug trafficking charges which resulted in McCulloch serving 13 years at Barwon were based on a sting operation involving two police detectives since jailed for drug dealing: Wayne Strawhorn and Malcolm Rosenes. Rosenes alleges in an affidavit that evidence against McCulloch was planted in his apartment. McCulloch admits to earlier drug offending for which he also served jail time but insists that in 2005 he was stitched up by crooked cops. A functioning Pacific Islands Forum is itself a vital diplomatic asset for Canberra while Australia and New Zealand are members, China is not. Likewise, a passionate interest in rugby league, or union, depending on the nation, is an Australian connection unavailable to Beijing. Albanese is capitalising on it. He revealed on Thursday that hed already spoken with the NRL administrators about holding some State of Origin matches in Pacific nations: It would also be a good thing if we gave consideration about how you get a Pacifica team, a team with connections to PNG, Tonga, Samoa. He pointed out that Pacific players already are thriving in the NRL. Another authentic Australian connection to the Pacific that Beijing cant seek to match is its churches. Albaneses Minister for the Pacific, Pat Conroy, next week will meet a group of influential church leaders brought to Canberra by the Pacific Church Partnership Advisory Network, supported by federal funding set aside by the Morrison government. So camaraderie among the PIFs members is about much more than a footy match. Its a geopolitical advantage for Australia. This weeks PIF summit was not a paragon of unity. Kiribati pointedly pulled out and some bitterness remains over the secretary-generals post. But Fijis Prime Minister Frank Bainimarana has brokered a peace settlement on the matter, the so-called Suva Declaration, and its already paying dividends. Until this week, the angry rift had prevented the group meeting at all. Beijings ambitions to dominate the Pacific loom large. But its brazen efforts to roil the forum this week by calling a parallel meeting of its own in Fiji failed. Beijings plan? Its Foreign Affairs Minister, Wang Yi, had proposed hosting a meeting of 10 of his counterparts from across the Pacific. He called for a meeting in the same city, Suva, on the same day that the PIF leaders met, Thursday. It didnt happen. Wang was snubbed. He busied himself in Cambodia instead. Loading This was a second setback for Beijing in as many months. In May, Wang conducted a cyclonic sweep through Pacific capitals and asked 10 governments to sign a comprehensive security agreement with China at a climactic virtual meeting. He had overplayed his hand. They declined. Fijis Bainimarama remarked at the time: Geopolitical point-scoring means less than little to anyone whose community is slipping beneath the rising seas. Albanese had something to say about climate change too, of course. Pacific nations despaired over the Coalitions emissions targets. They welcomed the Albanese governments upgraded targets. Do the Pacific governments want Australia to do more? Of course, and some said so. But China is no competition on carbon emissions; it has reserved the right to continue increasing emissions till 2030. Even the Morrison targets were much better than Chinas. But Australias position as a climate pariah among rich nations gave everyone from Shanghai to Samoa licence to attack it. It was not a reason to prefer China over Australia, but it was used as an excuse by politicians who chose to for other reasons. Another winning offering from the Albanese government is its new immigration quota of 3000 places a year reserved specifically for Pacific peoples. Its also announced improved working visa access. These are real relationship builders over generations, a former Pacific leader commented. This weeks communique from the 18-member PIF welcomes the new Australian position on emisisons. It also endorses Australias pitch to host a COP climate summit. In the same week, Telstra finalised its $2.4 billion deal to buy the dominant Pacific mobile phone company, Digicell. This was a shotgun marriage arranged by the Morrison government to keep Pacific communications out of Chinas hands. And instead of China crashing the summit, the US, which isnt a member either, managed to make a splash. Vice-President Kamala Harris was allowed a video appearance: We recognise that, in recent years, the Pacific islands may not have received the diplomatic attention and support that you deserve. She promised a couple of new US embassies and $US600 million in extra aid over the next 10 years. Loading To top off Albaneses triumphal Pacific debut, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare repeated his promise that he wouldnt allow a Chinese military base in his nation, adding that if he allowed a foreign base it would put our country and our people as targets for potential military strikes. This persuaded some excitable Australian commentators and reporters that Australia successfully had frustrated Chinas plans. Albanese couldnt help but sound just a little smug at the end of his visit to Suva: Australian influence, which historically has been a country of great significance for the region, has been enhanced by this meeting. But then there was the other city. If Suva was friendship and footy, Washington DC was strategy and schemes. Albaneses deputy, Defence Minister Richard Marles, was asked during a visit this week what kept him awake at night? I slept better seeing the canvas largely blank, when he was in opposition and ignorant of the classified material he now receives as minister. Now, he says, being on the other side of the veil and having the canvas filled in and seeing the facts, circumstances that we do face. This is probably the most dangerous period that I have lived through. The idea that right now were witnessing the biggest military build-up since the end of the Second World War is a big thing to observe and a big thing to be happening. What is the conclusion of that? Other conclusions to military build-up of that kind in the past? Have they had happy endings? That is what keeps me awake at night. And the famously hawkish former US official John Bolton gave the world a reminder that the competition for global power is not a morality play: As somebody who has helped plan coups detat not here but, you know, other places it takes a lot of work. Much as our leaders like to speak of a rules-based order, the world ultimately is a jungle and Chinas Xi Jinping is determined to rule it. The US promises another $600 million for the Pacific; China has invested 10 times that over the past five years in the Pacific. Sogavare promises no Chinese military base in his country; China operates a civil-military fusion policy where civil infrastructure is built so it can also be used by the military. This allows a measure of deniability of any military intention as ports are built. Until its fleets arrive. And the chances of Sogavare knowing Beijings full plans are negligible. Wealthy businesswoman Therese Rein, wife of former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd, and Gina Rinehart come from different ends of the political spectrum, but have found common ground over an almost $10 million cottage on Queenslands Sunshine Beach. The classic beach cottage was advertised for sale last year and purchased by an investment company ultimately owned by Rein for $6.75 million, only to be resold six months later for $9.75 million. The two-bedroom cottage sold by Therese Reins investment company for $9.75 million is set on 588 square metres with a goat track to Sunshine Beach. Credit: The sale delivered the self-made businesswoman a capital gain of $3 million during her brief ownership, equating to $500,000 for each month that she owned it. The recent off-market sale of the two-bedroom house on Sunshine Beach was lodged in the name of Rineharts Hancock Prospecting subsidiary, BV Investments. The United States sees no indications that the weapons supplied to Ukraine could have been smuggled out of the country, a senior military official of the Pentagon has said. "We are not tracking weapons. And quite honestly, I mean, we feel pretty good that the Ukrainians are using the weapons that we've provided to them and have not seen any indications that those weapons have gone anywhere else other than to fight against the Russians," the official told a press briefing. He added that they also "aren't seeing any indication anywhere else that these weapons have been provided to anybody other than the Ukrainian Armed Forces." The military official said that the U.S. has sent the third batch of HIMARS to Ukraine, however, he said he was no aware of their use. "I know that they're using the first eight. I don't know, you know, what they're doing with the last four. We've transferred those to the Ukrainians. I don't know if they're in Ukraine or not," he said. At the same time, the U.S. official noted that the Ukrainian defenders effectively use the HIMARS systems, due to which "there has been significant impact on what's going on on the front lines." Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size In a four-part investigation, we go inside Ukraine to reveal how prosecutors will build their case for a prosecution against Russia. See all 10 stories. As Olekdsndr Fayizov shines his torch down the stairs leading to the basement of a railway station, about 30 bloody ovals appear on the wall. These are the marks made when Russian interrogators bashed prisoners heads against the concrete. Fayizov was one of those prisoners, and he proceeds to demonstrate how it was done. Olekdsndr Fayizov, 41, shows where Russian soldiers beat prisoners heads against the wall in the basement of the Trostyanets railway station. Credit:Kate Geraghty This is the anatomy of the torture cell: in the centre of a tiny, darkened room, there stands a wooden desk. Narrow corridors open up on two sides, leading to the spaces where the Russian soldiers slept. Now its a crime scene, one of hundreds being examined by investigators across Ukraine. Torture is a war crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Given Russian soldiers appear to have deployed it wherever they went in Ukraine, stacking up each case is now a monumental task for Ukrainian investigators and international organisations looking into war crimes. Ukrainian authorities have also been accused of torturing some of their prisoners since the Russian invasion. In a four-part series, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age is revealing new details of apparent war crimes committed in Ukraine including torture, unlawful killings and abductions based on first-hand accounts of victims and witnesses. It all started for Fayizov on the second day of the invasion, February 25, as the 41-year-old technician hid in bushes and reported to the Ukrainians the movement of Russian tanks rolling through his city of Trostyanets, about 40 kilometres from the Russian border. Advertisement Four days later, the Russians returned and captured the city. For more than two weeks Fayizov laid low, only venturing out to stock up on supplies. But early on the morning of March 16, five masked Russian soldiers arrived at his house, took his phone and passport and held him at gunpoint in front of his mother. Loading Pulling a hat over his eyes, they told him: We will take you to a secret place. Not so secret. It was only two minutes from his home; Fayizov knew it was the local factory. After duct-taping his eyes and hands, the Russians started beating him, questioning him over the whereabouts of the Ukrainian military and then beating him again. Then he was brought to that cell below the railway station. Advertisement For all the beatings and interrogations, Fayizov still regards his captors as incompetent rookie soldiers in way above their heads. He says they even asked if he had helped the Ukrainian military. They were dumb as f---, Fayizov says. They didnt even search me. I had my second phone and passport in my inside pocket all the time I was there. The soldiers were brutal if prisoners pushed back. Just ask Valentin Barannyk what happened when he tried to escape a beating. Valentin Barannyk shows where he was shot by soldiers who occupied Trostyanets. Credit:Kate Geraghty I had my ass shot through, Barannyk says, before pulling down his pants to show us the hole in his right buttock. Three ribs broken, injured forehead. They shot over my ear. Theres even a bullet hole in the collar of my jacket. Advertisement After a man named Mykola dared to express disappointment with the prisoners treatment, Russian special forces kicked him to death, Fayizov says. Fayizov tried to cry out for help, but he says Russian soldiers yelled back: We dont care, f--- off, you bastards. The more of you who die, the better. We will kill you all anyway. Loading His account differs dramatically to that of a Russian soldier who was on guard at the train station, who recently told a social media channel no one was killed. There was one drunk who died because of his alcohol fever. Nobody touched him, says the Russian soldier, whose voice Fayizov recognises. They threw him in there and he kept hitting his head on the wall. After Mykola died, there were five prisoners left in the room. On March 25, after days of noise, Fayizov says all of a sudden there was silence. Slowly, he worked his hands and legs free of their bonds and broke open the cage in which the prisoners were held. Advertisement In the space where the Russian soldiers had been sleeping he found piles of garbage, empty bottles and human faeces. The scene of squalor suggests a chaotic unit of soldiers drinking heavily, who lashed out in rage and beat their prisoners without even a detailed plan of what to do with them. It also fed this survivors contempt for his captors. Fayizov sees them as less than human. A destroyed Soviet tank monument in the street near the Trostyanets railyway station. Credit:Kate Geraghty I mean they are not humans, I dont know, he says. How can a human being shit beside the place where he sleeps? Its awful. I just refuse to understand. They have no self-respect at all. The Russians had left in a hurry that morning, so Fayizov walked past the bombed-out ruins of the town to his home. All that was left intact when the Ukrainians arrived the next day was an abandoned Russian tank. A town locked in a basement A similar story of chaos and filth can be found some 385 kilometres away in the village of Yahidne, north-east of the capital Kyiv. Advertisement The air defense forces of the Skhid (East) Air Command shot down four Kh-101 missiles that were fired by the enemy at Dnipro on Friday night, the press service of the Ukrainian Air Forces has said. "On July 15, at around 10 p.m., the occupiers mounted missile attacks on Dnipro. Four missiles were shot down by the air defense system of the Skhid Air Command," it said on the Telegram channel. The enemy Tu-95 TS strategic bombers fired the Kh-101 missiles from the northern section of the Caspian Sea. Kh-101 missile is one the most high-tech missile in service with the aggressor country, the Ukrainian Air Forces said, adding that its warhead weighs more than 400 kilograms, while its flight range is 5,500 kilometers and its speed is 720 kilometers per hour. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called on citizens not to ignore air raid warnings. "Now, when I am writing this appeal, there is an air raid alert almost throughout the entire territory of our state. There is preliminary information about hits in Dnipro, Kremenchuk, and Kyiv region," he said in a traditional video statement on Friday evening, July 15. "The invaders understand that we are gradually becoming stronger. The purpose of their terror is very simple to put pressure on us, to put pressure on our society, to intimidate people, to cause maximum damage to Ukrainian cities," he said. "I ask you once again not to ignore the air raid signals. The appropriate rules of conduct must always be followed, especially at sites that are of public importance," he said. The persecution of Falun Gong or Falun Dafa, a spiritual meditation practice, is ongoing in China. This July 20 marks the 23rd year of the persecution by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Falun Gong adherents from around the United States will gather on July 21 at the nations capital to commemorate and raise awareness. Beginning at 12 p.m. ET, EpochTV and NTD will livestream this event, which starts with a rally to end the persecution followed by a parade down the Washington National Mall from the U.S. Capitol building toward the Washington Monument. An expert panel will discuss the ongoing persecution, organ harvesting of practitioners, and the CCPs transnational repression of Falun Gong adherents in the United States and around the world. Join us on Thursday, July 21, 12 p.m. ET, live for this event. Access the livestream on this page. * Click the Save button below the video to access it later on My List. Follow EpochTV on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/EpochTVus Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/EpochTV Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@EpochTV Gettr: https://gettr.com/user/epochtv Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EpochTVus Gab: https://gab.com/EpochTV Telegram: https://t.me/EpochTV Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during the inaugural Moms For Liberty Summit at the Tampa Marriott Water Street on July 15, 2022. DeSantis is up for reelection in the 2022 Gubernatorial race against Democratic frontrunner Rep. Charlie Crist (D-FL). (Octavio Jones/Getty Images) Aerospace Entrepreneur Donates $10 Million to Gov. Ron DeSantis Reelection Effort A Nevada aerospace entrepreneur has donated $10 million to support Florida Gov. Ron DeSantiss reelection campaign. News of the $10 million was published by the Friends of Ron DeSantis statewide political committee on its website on Thursday. The donation was made on July 7 and is the largest single contribution that DeSantis, a Republican, has received. The donor is Robert Bigelow, the founder of Bigelow Aerospace, a general contracting, research and development company located in Las Vegas attempting to develop an expandable habitat in space. The donation comes amid speculation about whether DeSantis will announce his candidacy for president in 2024. Bigelows contribution is so large that it dwarfs the total combined donations made to DeSantis Democrat competitors as of July 1, NBC News reported. The political committee has so far raised more than $130 million to support and discuss DeSantis in Florida. Records show the committee has garnered a significant amount of financial contributions from big donors to micro donors alike (pdf). Billionaire Support DeSantis reelection efforts have reportedly seen support from at least 42 billionaires and their super wealthy family members, according to analyses, Tallahassee Democrat reported. The outlet reported that among the Florida governors noteworthy billionaire donors is Citadel founder and CEO Ken Griffin, worth $26 billion, according to Forbes. He donated $5 million. DeSantis reelection efforts have also been financially supported by Julia Koch, the widow of David Koch, worth more than $62 billion; Julie Jenkins Fancelli, one of the children of Publix founder George Jenkins, worth around $8 billion; and others. The worlds richest man, Tesla CEO and SpaceX founder Elon Musk, has also thrown his moral support behind DeSantis. Musk has said that hes leaning towards voting for DeSantis if he runs for president in 2024. Musk has also expressed the belief that DeSantis would win the presidency, while at the same time predicting that a red wave is coming in the 2022 midterms. DeSantis has welcomed Musks support but has not given any indication that he intends to run for president, saying that he is focused on the November midterms. Trump Considers Announcement Recently, former President Donald Trump teased an announcement about his decision regarding a 2024 presidential run. Trump has said that hes made up his mind on a decision but has not said what that would be. He is mulling whether to make an announcement before or after the midterms. Trump has acknowledged DeSantis eligibility as a Republican presidential nominee but ultimately believes the Florida governor would lose if the 45th president runs again. Having only served one term, Trump is eligible to run again. I dont know if Ron is running, and I dont ask him. Its his prerogative I think I would win, Trump told The New Yorker in June. Anaheim city councilors at Anaheim city hall on May 24, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Anaheim Campaign Finance Reform Law on Hold The Anaheim City Council withdrew July 12 an ordinance that would have prohibited councilors from voting on matters with which they have a financial conflict of interestafter discussing it for the third time. The campaign reform ordinance was introduced after the citys mayor, Harry Sidhu, resigned May 24 following the release of an FBI investigation report detailing his possible involvement in corruption during negotiations for the sale of the Angel Stadium. The council failed to agree on the specifics of the ordinance; and the author of the motion, Councilman Stephen Faessel, withdrew it after seeing his colleagues lack of support. Councilors previously discussed the matter, at the request of Councilman Jose Moreno, on June 7 and June 21, but failed to receive enough votes to pass. The ordinance would have done the following: Require councilors to sit out on any votes involving donors that contributed more than $250 to their campaign in the last 12 months, excluding independent expendituresdonations made without coordination with the candidate or his or her authorized political committee. Prohibit city officials from accepting donations 3 months after a vote related to a donors interest. Disclose any contribution of more than $250 within the last 12 months. Require a councilor who decides to vote on a matter to return the contribution or the portion exceeding $250, within 30 days of knowing about the conflict of interest. Sophie Li and Rudy Blalock contributed to this report. Jayland Walker poses with sister Jada (L) and his mother Pamela (R) in a file photo. (Courtesy of the Walker family) Autopsy Shows Ohio Police Shot Jayland Walker More Than 40 Times An autopsy report released on Friday revealed that Jayland Walker suffered dozens of gunshot wounds when Ohio police opened fire and killed him during a chase in which authorities said a weapon was fired from the suspects vehicle. The 25-year-old black male refused to stop during a traffic stop over equipment violations and instead decided to flee, prompting a vehicle pursuit, according to the Akron Police Department. About 40 seconds into the chase, Walker allegedly fired a gunshot from his car. At a press briefing early on Friday, Dr. Lisa Kohler, the medical examiner of Summit County, said Walker died as a result of blood loss caused by his internal injuries. The cause of death ruling was multiple gunshot wounds. The manner of death was ruled homicide, Kohler said. Our ruling of homicide is a medical ruling, meaning death at the hands of another and is not a legal conclusion. Kohler said it was impossible for her office to say which bullet killed Walker, who had several very devastating wounds. The office also failed to provide the exact number of shots that were fired. We have the 46 entrance wounds. Some of those wounds are on extremities. I cant say for certain whether wounds passed through an arm and then into the body or not. There is that possibility, so I cant say anything different than weve got 46 entrance slash graze wounds, the medical examiner said. She counted 41 entry woundsincluding to his heart, lungs and arteriesand five wounds from bullets that grazed him. He also had five wounds in his back, but it was impossible to say whether those came as he ran away or turned as he was being shot. Additionally, Kohler noted that no illegal drugs or alcohol were detected in Walkers body. Video footage released by Akron police shows the moment leading up to the shooting incident. Walker can be seen jumping out from the passenger side of his still-moving vehicle wearing a black bandit-style mask. Officers deployed their tasers in an attempt to stun the man, but these attempts were unsuccessful. The suspect then continued on foot into a nearby parking lot, where police opened fire after they felt threatened as Walker reportedly quickly turned towards the officers, making a threatening gesture. A still image taken from body camera footage shows Jayland Walker, 25, jumping out of the passenger side of his vehicle wearing a black mask as he attempts to flee a traffic stop over equipment violations. (Courtesy of Akron Police Department) Police chased Walker for about 10 seconds before officers fired from multiple directions, in a burst of shots that lasted 6 or 7 seconds. An unloaded handgun, an ammunition clip, and what appeared to be a wedding band were found on the front drivers seat of Walkers car, authorities said, adding that he was unarmed at the time he was shot. The eight officers directly involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave while the state investigates the incident. Seven of those officers are white, and one is black. Police in neighboring New Franklin Township had tried to stop and then chased a car matching Walkers for the same minor equipment violations less than 24 hours before the Akron chase. A supervisor there called off the pursuit when the car crossed the townships border with Akron. Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan declared a state of emergency earlier this month as daily protests rocked the city after authorities released body camera footage related to the fatal police shooting. Sheriff officers in riot gear as demonstrators gather outside Akron City Hall to protest the killing of Jayland Walker, shot by police, in Akron, Ohio, on July 3, 2022. (Matthew Hatcher/AFP via Getty Images) On July 3, the protest turned violent; participants threw objects at the Harold K. Stubbs Justice Center, broke windows of snowplows parked by the city to block off the street, launched smoke bombs into the streets, and set fire to two dumpsters, Akron Beacon Journal reported. As night fell and others began to join, the protests became no longer peaceful, Horrigan said in a July 4 statement. There was significant property damage done to downtown Akron. Small businesses up and down Main St. have had their windows broken. We cannot and will not tolerate the destruction of property or violence. Downtown Akron has since been under a curfew from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., until further notice. The city also shut the Patterson Park Community Center and the Akron Fulton Airport. The Associated Press contributed to this report. From NTD News A Bank of America logo in the Manhattan borough of New York on Jan. 30, 2019. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) Bank of America Fined $225 Million for Botched Disbursement of Jobless Benefits During Pandemic WASHINGTONBank of America has been fined $225 million by a pair of U.S. banking regulators over what they called a botched handling of jobless benefits during the pandemic. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) said the bank had a faulty fraud detection program that improperly froze the prepaid card accounts of thousands of people seeking jobless benefits in 2020 and 2021. In addition to the fine, the regulators ordered the bank to pay redress to harmed consumers, which the CFPB estimated would amount to hundreds of millions of dollars more. As jobless claims surged during the pandemic, the CFPB said the bank, which administered prepaid jobless benefit debit cards on behalf of 12 states, implemented an automatic fraud filter, which resulted in thousands of cardholders having their accounts improperly frozen. Worsening matters, regulators said the bank made it difficult for people to unfreeze their cards, insufficiently staffing their call centers and requiring people to spend hours on hold to try and address the matter. Taxpayers relied on banks to distribute needed funds to families and small businesses to rescue the economy from collapse when the pandemic hit, said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. Bank of America failed to live up to its legal obligations. And when it got overwhelmed, instead of stepping up, it stepped back. The bank did not admit nor deny the findings. In a statement, a bank spokesperson said states were responsible for reviewing and approving unemployment applications, and the penalties arose despite the governments own acknowledgement that the unemployment program expansion during the pandemic created unprecedented criminal activity. In addition to the fines, the bank now faces a pair of consent orders from the OCC and CFPB, which directs the bank to overhaul its policies and address shortcomings. Such consent orders can linger with banks for years, and subjects a firm to heightened regulatory scrutiny as it works to prove it has addressed underlying problems. As part of the orders, the bank is directed to establish a remediation plan to identify harmed consumers and determine how much they should be repaid. By Pete Schroeder and Elizabeth Dilts Marshall As a result of the Russian armed aggression in Ukraine, some 353 children were killed, over 662 children were wounded, the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) has said. "As of the morning of July 16, more than 1,015 children were wounded in Ukraine as a result of the Russian full-scale armed aggression. According to official information from juvenile prosecutors, 353 children killed and more than 662 were wounded of varying severity," the PGO said in the statement. It is noted that these figures are not final, since work is underway to establish them in places of active hostilities, in temporarily occupied and liberated territories. On July 15, in the city of Kherson, Russian servicemen killed a mother and her young daughter. In addition, it became known about three more children who were wounded on July 14 as a result of missile attacks by the enemy on the center of Vinnytsia. On July 15, Bakhmut district of Donetsk region was once again under fire from the invaders. In Verkhniokamiane was wounded by a 14-year-old girl, and in the village of Sviato-Pokrovske a 16-year-old girl. Some 2,138 educational institutions were damaged due to bombing and shelling by the Russian armed forces, of these, some 221 were completely destroyed. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Ur Jaddou delivers remarks during an event in Camp Springs, Md., on Nov. 9, 2021. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Biden Administration Makes Two Big Changes to Help Illegal Immigrants President Joe Bidens administration has made two major changes to immigration policies by re-interpreting federal law. Immigrants, many illegal, from certain countries are shielded from deportation and allowed to be legally employed if the secretary of homeland security decides their home country meets certain conditions. The designation is known as Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Fifteen countries are currently designated, including Afghanistan, El Salvador, Somalia, Ukraine, and Venezuela. Hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, of immigrants from those countries are protected. Up until July, those protected by TPS had to remain in the country unless they received approval to travel. If TPS beneficiaries did leave the country and returned, theyd have the same statusillegal or legalwhen they returned, based on language from Miscellaneous and Technical Immigration and Naturalization Amendments, even though they could remain temporarily protected by TPS. But U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which handles the nations legal immigration system, has changed that policy. Now, all beneficiaries that return will be inspected and admitted, a bureaucratic term that means one has entered the country legally. This is true even if the TPS beneficiary was present without admission or parole when initially granted TPS, USCIS said in an alert (pdf). That basically launders the fact that they came here illegally and that will put them on the path to a green card, Jessica Vaughan, policy studies director at the Center for Immigration Studies, told The Epoch Times. This is an end run on U.S. immigration law, and Congress, added Emilio Gonzalez, who directed USCIS during the George W. Bush administration. It really is a left-handed way of legalizing people. USCIS said in its alert that the change stemmed from a court decision, guidance from the lawyers at its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, and an evaluation of current and past policy. The agency did not respond to requests for comment. Supreme Court The Supreme Court in 2021 ruled that immigrants who receive TPS are not admitted for purposes of obtaining legal permanent residency. A grant of TPS does not cure a foreign nationals entry without inspection or constitute an inspection and admission of the foreign national, Justice Elena Kagan, an Obama appointee, wrote in the 90 decision. But USCIS seized on a footnote in the ruling, in which the court said it was not expressing a view on whether a parole enables a TPS recipient to become a legal permanent resident. The secretary of homeland security can parole an illegal immigrant, which allows them to enter or remain in the country legally. The USCIS also cited a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which said that the law mandates TPS beneficiaries who travel outside the country be inspected and admitted upon returning, and be treated as entering the United States legally, even if they originally entered illegally. The DHS Office of General Counsel, on the request of USCIS, reviewed the rulings and the law and concluded that USCIS was well within its authority to rescind Trump era guidance and allow illegal immigrants to use leaving the country and coming back to become legal. This is just a transparent workaround that I believe is illegal, and almost certainly is going to be challenged, Vaughan said. Activists and with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) march in Washington on Feb. 23, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Another Big Change The Immigration and Nationality Act, says that immigrants who were illegally in the United States and left cannot re-enter for a certain period of time. Illegal immigrants who were in the country for less than one year have to wait three years to be able to re-enter the country; those who were present for one year or more would be inadmissible unless he or she waits 10 years to re-enter. The immigrants were expected to wait outside the United States, to comply with the law. USCIS, though, is now saying that an immigrant can be inside the United States, and that will not reset the clock. The statutory 3-year or 10-year period begins to run on the day of departure or removal (whichever applies) after accrual of the period of unlawful presence. This statutory period continues to run, without interruption, regardless of whether or how the noncitizen returned to the United States during the 3-year or 10-year period. Thus, it is immaterial whether the noncitizen has spent the applicable statutory 3-year or 10-year period in or out of the United States, USCIS says in its policy manual. The change was made on June 24 to be consistent with two recent court rulings and an unpublished Department of Justice Board of Appeals decision, the agency said in an alert on the alteration. This is basically an invitation for any deported alien to pay the cartels to smuggle them back into the U.S. while they let the clock run out, Rob Law, who headed the USCIS policy office during the Trump administration and directs the America First Policy Institutes Center for Homeland Security and Immigration, told the Washington Times, which first reported on the update. Court Decisions The move stemmed from two 2020 rulings. In the first, a Japanese woman overstayed her nonimmigrant status by five years. She left voluntarily in 2003 but returned just two years later, well before the 10-year period mandated in the law. While she didnt follow U.S. immigration law, her lawyer argued she shouldnt have been denied permanent residency when she applied for it in 2019 because she was married to a United States citizen and because over 10 years had elapsed. Government lawyers said that aliens to whom the law applies must remain outside of the country for the entire duration of the inadmissibility period and, if they do not, they cannot be admitted. U.S. District Judge Consuelo Marshall, a Carter appointee, ruled for the plaintiff, agreeing on the argument that over 10 years had gone by before Yayomi Kanai asked for residency. This policy change would be great for our client. That means she could have been granted adjustment of status by the USCIS and she wouldnt have had to go through all these problems, Michael Piston, who represented Kanai, told The Epoch Times. It feels very, very good that theyre doing the right thing, Mario Urizar, a lawyer who represented the man in the other case, told The Epoch Times. In that case, a Brazilian national overstayed a tourist visa and was ordered deported in 1994. He left the United States in 2000. Two years later, the man re-entered, even though the 10 years had not elapsed. When he went to adjust his status later, in 2016, authorities noted he violated the law and thus remained inadmissible. U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty, an Obama appointee, ruled that the law is silent on the time after 10 years elapses. He said imposing what amounted to a lifetime ban from the United States was wrong. U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to the press after taking part in a working session with Saudi Arabia's crown prince at the Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, on July 15, 2022. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Biden Defends Meeting With Saudi Crown Prince U.S. President Joe Biden on July 15 defended meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman despite promising not to do so while running for president. The crown prince has been accused of orchestrating the murder of columnist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 after Khashoggi went into a Saudi embassy in Turkey. Biden told reporters after the meeting, which also involved other Saudi officials, that he raised the murder of Khashoggi, who was employed by the Washington Post, at the top of the meeting. I was straightforward and direct in discussing it. I made my view crystal clear. I said very straightforwardly: For an American President to be silent on an issue of human rights, is this consistent withinconsistent with who we are and who I am? Ill always stand up for our values, he said in prepared remarks. Asked how bin Salman responded, Biden said that he basically said he was not personally responsible for it. I indicated I thought he was, Biden said. The White House misquoted Biden, inserting a word he did not sayprobablybefore was in its official transcript of Bidens briefing. He said he was not personally responsible for it and he took action against those who were responsible, Biden added. While campaigning for the presidency, Biden said that if he were elected, the United States would stop selling weapons to Saudi Arabia and make them pay the price, and make them in fact the pariah that they are. After taking office, Biden restricted arms sales to the Middle Eastern country. Biden told reporters he did not regret his remark about making the nation a pariah. I just made it clear if anything occurs like that again, theyll get that response and much more, the president added later. U.S. President Joe Biden (center L) takes part in a working session with Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (center R) at the Al Salam Royal Palace in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah, on July 15, 2022. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Saudi Official Weighs In Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir, who took part in the meeting involving bin Salman on Friday, said on CNN that Biden brought up the Khashoggi killing but mentioned that he took Saudi Arabias assurances at face value. Bin Salman explained to him that this was a tragedy for Saudi Arabia and that those who were responsible for it have been investigated and faced [the] law and are now paying the price for the crime that was committed and the conversation then moved on in terms of the official discussions, al-Jubeir said. Biden faced criticism for meeting bin Salaman from Khashoggis widow and from human rights groups and journalism organizations. President Biden once vowed to make Saudi Arabia a pariah and even released U.S. intelligence reports that pinned Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for ordering the killing of Washington Post Columnist Jamal Khashoggi, Jon Schleuss, president of the NewsGuild, said in a statement. Yet today he met with Saudi leaders and avoided answering questions from reporters asking if he planned to condemn Khashoggis killing. The Committee to Protect Journalists is appalled that President Joe Biden did not make any meaningful statement about the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi after his meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, added Sherif Mansour, a program coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists. For Biden to say he has made his views crystal clear is empty talk. U.S. intelligence says MBS approved Khashoggis killing. Bidens failure to hold him to account suggests states can get away with sanctioning such killings and has profound implications for press freedom everywhere. President Joe Biden (center L) and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (C) arrive for the family photo during the "GCC+3" (Gulf Cooperation Council) meeting at a hotel in Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah on July 16, 2022. (Mandel Ngan/Pool Photo via AP) Biden Meets With Arab Gulf Countries; Saudi Arabia Says Cannot Greatly Increase Oil Production JEDDAH, Saudi ArabiaPresident Joe Biden, speaking at a summit of Arab leaders, said Saturday that the United States will not walk away from the Middle East as he tries to ensure stability in a volatile part of the world and boost the global flow of oil to reverse rising gas prices. His remarks, delivered at the Gulf Cooperation Council on the final leg of a four-day Middle East tour, came amid concerns about Irans nuclear ambitions and support for terrorists in the region. We will not walk away and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia, or Iran, Biden said. We will seek to build on this moment with active, principled, American leadership. Although U.S. forces continue to target terrorists in the region and remain deployed at bases throughout the Middle East, Biden suggested he was turning a page after the U.S. invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, Im proud to be able to say that the era of land wars in the region, wars that involved huge numbers of American forces, is not under way, he said. Biden announced $1 billion U.S. aid in food security assistance for the Middle East and North Africa. He also pressed his counterparts to ensure human rights and allow their citizens to speak openly. The future will be won by the countries that unleash the full potential of their populations, Biden said, and that includes allowing people to question and criticize leaders without fear of reprisal. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, convened the summit, which gave him an opportunity to showcase his countrys heavyweight role in the Mideast. Biden, who attended the summit, is eager to see Saudi Arabia and its OPEC partners pump more oil to help bring down the high cost of gasoline and ease the highest U.S. inflation in four decades. The prince said at the summit Saturday that more investment was needed in fossil fuel and clean energy technologies to meet global demand, and that unrealistic emission policies would lead to unprecedented levels of inflation. He said Saudi Arabia had announced raising its production capacity to 13 million barrels per day by 2027 from a nameplate capacity of 12 million now and after that the Kingdom will not have any more capability to increase production. Adopting unrealistic policies to reduce emissions by excluding main sources of energy will lead in coming years to unprecedented inflation and an increase in energy prices, and rising unemployment and a worsening of serious social and security problems, Prince Mohammed said. After a lunch with other leaders, Biden began his trip back to Washington, flashing a thumbs-up and waving to reporters as he boarded Air Force One. Earlier, Biden met individually with the leaders of Iraq, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates, some of whom he had never sat down with since taking office in January 2021. He invited Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who became president of the UAE two months ago, to visit the White House this year. Biden also met with King Abdullah II of Jordan. The White House later announced that the United States was extending and expanding financial assistance to the country, to no less than $1.45 billion per year. On Saturday, the White House released satellite imagery indicating that Russian officials visited Iran in June and July to see weapons-capable drones it is looking to acquire for use in Ukraine. The disclosure appeared aimed at drawing a connection between the war in Europe and Arab leaders own concerns about Iran. So far, none of the countries represented at the summit has moved in lockstep with the United States to sanction Russia, a foreign policy priority for the Biden administration. If anything, the UAE has emerged as a sort of financial haven for Russian billionaires and their multimillion-dollar yachts. Egypt remains open to Russian tourists. Bidens attendance at the summit followed his Friday meeting with the Saudi crown prince, heir to the throne currently held by his father, King Salman. President Joe Biden participates in a working session with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Al Salman Royal Palace in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on July 15, 2022. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo) The 79-year-old Biden had initially shunned the 36-year-old royal over human rights abuses, particularly the killing of U.S.-based writer Jamal Khashoggi, which U.S. intelligence officials believe was likely approved by the crown prince. But Biden decided he needed to repair the long-standing relationship between the two countries to address rising gas prices and foster stability in the volatile region. Biden and Prince Mohammed greeted each other with a fist bump, a gesture that was swiftly criticized by some lawmakers in the United States as well as the slain journalists fiancee. Biden later said he did not shy away from discussing Khashoggis killing when he and the crown prince met. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) greets President Joe Biden with a fist bump after his arrival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on July 15, 2022. (Bandar Aljaloud/Saudi Royal Palace via AP) Adel Al-Jubeir, the kingdoms minister of state for foreign affairs, called the visit a great success and brushed off questions about friction between the two countries. Maybe the skeptics are people looking for theatrics or drama. The reality, however, is that this relationship is very solid, he told Arab News, a Saudi news organization. Meantime, there are sharp divisions on foreign policy among the nine Mideast heads of state who attended the summit. For example, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE are trying to isolate and squeeze Iran over its regional reach and proxies. Oman and Qatar have solid diplomatic ties with Iran and have acted as intermediaries for talks between Washington and Tehran. Qatar recently hosted talks between U.S. and Iranian officials as they try to revive Irans nuclear accord. Iran not only shares a huge underwater gas field with Qatar in the Persian Gulf, it rushed to Qatars aid when Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt cut off ties and imposed a years-long embargo on Qatar that ended shortly before Biden took office. Bidens actions have frustrated some of the leaders. While the United States has played an important role in encouraging a months-long cease-fire in Yemen, his decision to reverse a Trump-era move that had listed Yemens rebel Houthis as a terrorist group has outraged the Emirati and Saudi leadership. Reuters contributed to this report. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson talks to the agency's workforce at NASA headquarters in the Mary W. Jackson Building in Washington on June 2, 2021. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images) Bill Nelson, Lori Garver, and How We May Lose the Moon to China Commentary Former Senator Bill Nelson, the current administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), told the German newspaper Bild on July 2, There is a new race to space, this time with China. Whether America and the free world will win that race has much to do with Nelsons budgetary and political battles with former NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver over the last decade. Garvers side of the story is relayed in her recent memoir, Escaping Gravity, My Quest to Transform NASA and Launch a New Space Age, one of this summers space policy literary events. Garver, who served in several planning positions at NASA during the Clinton administration, became the chief space policy adviser for former President Barack Obama, led his NASA transition team, and served as NASA deputy administrator from 2009 to 2013. If you are a liberal feminist Democrat space geek (and there are many), Garvers memoir is a satisfying rollercoaster of battles and resentments against NASAs male-dominated culture, former President George W. Bushs Constellation moon program, and then-Senator Bill Nelson. Nelson, NASAs senate appropriator, opposed Garvers main legacy by using NASAs budget to support the emergence of a growing U.S. private space sector, now led by Elon Musks SpaceX Corporation. But regarding Chinaone of the most contentious issues during her time at NASAGarver falls into a black hole. Recall that in 2009, Obama made an early push to convince China to engage in a partnership. In mid-2009, White House science adviser John Holdren spoke of using Chinas manned space capsule to take U.S. astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) in the wake of the impending retirement of the space shuttle. During Obamas November 2009 visit to Beijing, the Chinese communist regime rejected his appeals for a broad partnership but agreed to his ambition to begin manned space cooperation, as declared in a joint statement: The United States and China look forward to expanding discussions on space science cooperation and starting a dialogue on human space flight and space exploration. Both sides welcome reciprocal visits of the NASA Administrator and the appropriate Chinese counterpart in 2010. Of course, China would agree. At the 2009 Moscow Airshow, Russian sources told this analyst that Russia did not sell its space station technology to China at the time. The main explanation for the close similarity between early Chinese space station concepts and the Russian MIR space station was that Chinese engineers invited to Russian space companies as interns in the late 1990s had stolen that technology. Visitors take photos in front of the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft module during a Chinas First Spacewalk Mission exhibition at the Hong Kong Science Museum on Dec. 6, 2008. (SAMANTHA SIN/AFP via Getty Images) One could only imagine the sheer joy of Chinese space and military leaders at the prospect of hijacking gigabytes of ISS technology. Garver, however, offers no larger insight into Obamas space strategy for China. Did Obama truly believe that beginning manned space cooperation with China would temper the imperial ambitions of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)? Did he believe that doing so would diminish the strong China-threat motivation that helped drive the 2004 NASA Constellation program to return Americans to the moon by 2020, making it easier to cancel? Garver details the budgetary and programmatic failings that justified Obamas April 2010 cancellation of Constellation. Meant as an attack, Garvers memoir states, Senator Nelson criticized the President [Obama] for slashing the Moon program and said the move could cause the United States to fall behind other countries in space explorationmost notably Russia and China. But Garver says nothing about the nemesis of Obamas and NASAs pro-China hopes, Virginia Republican Congressman Frank Wolf, who chaired the House Appropriations Subcommittee responsible for funding NASA. Wolf, a staunch critic of the CCP, opposed Obamas intention to initiate manned space cooperation with China. To the enduring ire of space policy liberals, Wolf essentially made it illegal in his 2011 Wolf Amendment that forbade using NASA funds to cooperate with China. Perhaps its a measure of her resentment that Garvers memoir doesnt once mention Wolf. But the measure of Obama-era enthusiasm for cooperating with China in space is indicated by the advocacy of Obamas NASA administrator and former astronaut, Charles Bolden, who granted an exclusive interview to CCP propaganda department-controlled China Daily, published on Jan. 14, 2019, calling for the lifting of the Wolf Amendment. But back to Nelsons Bild interview in which he sounded an alarm about Chinas intentions on the moon: We must be very concerned about China landing on the moon and saying that it now belongs to the Peoples Republic [of China] and everyone else should stay out. Indeed, in December 2018, Chinese Academy of Sciences expert Bao Weimin described Chinas intention to establish an Earth-Moon Economic Zone with a $10 trillion annual economic output by 2045. This will be a giant leap for the CCP. As it rejected an Obama-defined partnership in 2009 but tried to rope Obama into a China-defined partnership in 20122013, the CCP will likely only accept U.S. subordination to a Chinese-controlled dominion of the moon. Bao also said the Chinese zone would require a transportation system. And in November 2020, China Daily reported that the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) concluded that China would need 60 of its 50-ton-to-the-moon Long March-9 space launch vehicles from 2030 to 2035, or 10 a year. Consider this a warning of the CCPs intention. CASC may also have a more efficient reusable first-stage version of the Long March-9 after 2035. But before 2030, Chinese astronauts may reach the moon on the less complex 25-ton-to-the-moon Long March-5DY SLV. Two of these are required for a manned moon mission and can also deliver supplies to early manned outposts. A partial model of the Chinese space station is on display at the Airshow China 2018 in Zhuhai, China, on Nov. 6, 2018. (WANG ZHAO/AFP/Getty Images) In comparison, a June 20 Ars Technica article by Brian Berger cites leaked NASA documents showing China only plans to build 11 of its $1 billion space launch system (SLS) 50-ton-to-the-moon heavy lift SLVs by 2034, and to send the first manned Lunar Habitat to the moon in 2034. By these measures, NASA and its Artemis program are strolling to the moon while China may be preparing to blitz the moon, with the likely intention of occupying choice locations in its southern regions that would have the best prospects for lunar ice water, key resources, and strategic advantage before the United States and its 20 Artemis Accord partners. Had Obama not embraced illusions about China, making peace with China in space, and instead embraced and improved upon Constellation, NASA and the free world would be in a better position to avoid the CCPs hegemony on the moon to complement its goals for hegemony on Earth. The United States might have been building a presence on the moon about a decade before China. Then NASAs very expensive, contractor-built Constellation rockets could have been succeeded by far more capable and much less costly huge private space launchers made possible by Garvers space private sector reforms. Now NASA is not just in a race with China, but is also in a budgetary and political race with itself. Can it accelerate the use of Musks SpaceX Starshipwhich is more efficient (cheap) because it is reusable and potentially can lift 100 tons to the Moonto succeed the SLS as the primary NASA transport to the moon? But Nelson must make a far more powerful case to the American people and President Joe Biden that NASAs moon program deserves much better fundingfunding that must be sustained even if Russia expands its war in Europe or the CCP decides to plunge Asia into war by invading democratic Taiwan. Sounding the alarm about the CCPs space intentions is a good start. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Lit Ming-wai, producer of Stage64 was interviewed by the Epoch Times in the UK on July 8, 2022. (Ben Lam/The Epoch Times) Blocked in Hong Kong, Stage64 Worldwide Screening Tells the Truth of June 4 Massacre Producer: CCP is erasing the truth, its now Hongkongers job to tell it honestly Stage64 is a theatrical group established in Hong Kong, that writes and produces live stage performances concentrating on the June 4, Tiananmen square massacre. Their first key production, Edelweiss, was performed in Hong Kong in 2009. From 2009 to 2019, they put on many performances at the Hong Kong Arts Centre and schools to let students know about the horrific occurrences that took place. But after the umbrella movement in 2014 and later the 2019 protests, the group says, it became more and more difficult to get school bookings. On June 4, 2020, they took a big step in screening live performances worldwide. Since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law in 2020, many pro-democracy political groups and civil organizations have been disbanded. Many former members of the now disbanded group, The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China (HK Alliance), had been arrested and charged with inciting others to subvert state power under the new National Security Law. There is little space in Hong Kong for performing shows commemorating June 4. Hence, Stage64 producer Lit Ming-wai decided to make a new life in the UK. Lit spoke with The Epoch Times in an exclusive interview about her plans on July 8. Lit said other than organizing 35th of May screenings worldwide, she is now preparing an English version of it; she hopes that it will be ready within the next two years. Hong Kong Schools Attitude Toward Stage64 Changed Lit said Stage64 celebrated the 20th anniversary of June 4, 2009, with the production of the theatrical play Edelweiss. As the play received incredible feedback, Edelweiss has become a signature play for the company since 2010. In the years between 2009 and 2019, Stage64 produced a total of seven plays. They also began touring secondary schools all over Hong Kong and used performing art to depict the story of June 4, 1989. That lasted until 2019. Lit remembers when she was in high school. She said, My alma mater would commemorate June 4 and explain its history with students yearly. Many schools carried that tradition for 20 years. We had over 40 performance invitations of Stage64 from different schools in 2009. That changed in 2014, after the Umbrella Revolution. Responses to the performance dropped as Hong Kong schools became more politically cautious regarding sensitive topics. Lit said, For a few years after the Umbrella Revolution, responses to our tour were not ideal. But then, as the 30th anniversary of the massacre arrived in 2019, things were starting to pick up again. During that time, Stage 64 performed a new play called Xiaobo and Liuxia in 42 local middle schools. The play is about the story of Nobel Prize Winner and Human Right Activist, Liu Xiaobo. Lit also said that about 30 schools had invited her theatrical company to perform a new production, 35th of May. Unfortunately, it was set back by the pandemic and the implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong. Some schools canceled the scheduled performance; teachers were also blunt about having no desires to be connected at all with Stage64. 35th of May Bloomed When discussing the new drama titled 35th of May, Li described the play as a harvest on stage and an art piece responding to current happenings. Stage64 spent about 1.5 years in its preparation and invited renowned director Lee Jan-chow and Chinese playwright Candace Chong Mui-ngam to join the cast. The general public enjoyed it as all 12 shows were sold-out. The drama, 35th of May snatched up five awards at the 29th Hong Kong Drama Awards, including Best Director, Best Production, Best Screenplay, Best Lighting Design, and Outstanding Creation of the Year. Since Lit moved to England, she has run 35th of May screening events worldwide with eight shows in her new home, three in Canada, 21 in the United States, and three in Taiwan, attended by over 1000 people. As she is now in a country that breathes freedom, Lit wants to continue to tell the story of Hongkongers. June 4, 1989, is not only a democratic movement for China, but also Hong Kong. It was my political epiphany that has impacted me heavily, so allowing me to continue to fight for freedom as a Hongkonger, Lit explained. The Words June 4 Are Now Taboo Since the anti-extradition protests in 2019 and the imposition of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, Lit conveyed that the date June 4 became a banned word, a taboo; Hongkongers now call it the 35th of May. She also said that the turn of events had reshaped June 4 to include a Hongkongers story. If You See the truth, it is Your Job to Tell it Lit explained that Hongkongers witnessed a catastrophic massacre on June 4, 1989, at Tiananmen Square, Hongkongers are now also experiencing this happening of history. As the truth and facts are blocked by the CCP and the Hong Kong government, we are responsible for telling it honestly. California Spent $500 Million on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training, Report Reveals California has spent up to $500 million on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in its local government, K-12 school districts, and higher education in the years between 2020 and 2022, according to a report from a nonprofit watchdog group. The Center for Organizational Research and Education (CORE) researches activist groups to report on their funding, agendas, and tactics. In recent years, the concept of critical race theory and its variantsoften camouflaged as more generic diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) activities, has entered the national spotlight, and infiltrated publicly-funded entities, CORE said. The analysis summarizes the results of 400 public record requests sent to state and local governments, and higher education and K-12 institutions in California, CORE said. The results are unmistakable: spending related to DEI and critical race theory-framed activities is a vast and growing component of taxpayer-funded spending at all levels of California government, CORE stated. DEI has become its own $1 billion industry funded by taxpayer dollars, CORE said. Based on the responsive documents our team received, we calculated at least $188 million directly linked DEI spending, and $308 million more in adjacent spending, totaling nearly $500 million in possible DEI spending in California, CORE said in its report. The total DEI represents 46 percent of requests for public records of DEI spending sent out, CORE said, with less than 11 percent of institutions responding that they had no records related to the request. Considering roughly 40 percent of our requests are still unfulfilled, we expect the true amount is much higher, CORE said. Our findings are proof that critical race theory and DEI are a vast and growing part of the California government. Anti-Racism in the Department of Conservation CORE points to the Department of Conservation, which, despite experiencing some of its worst-recorded forest fires and water shortages, the department spent $180,000 of its environmental budget on including critical race theory in its training. This included nearly $88,000 in training geared toward critical race theory and racial equity themes from contractors well connected within the state of California, CORE said. In a set of emails obtained through the records request, the Department of Conservation staff discuss the purchase of over $9,000 worth of Ibram X. Kendis book, How to be Anti-Racist, specifically to be handed out to staff including Supervising and Senior oil and gas engineers in the Departments Geologic Energy Management Division. It is unclear whether reading Kendi helped the engineers tackle Californias power shortages that summer, CORE said. Tapping into the Office of Workplace Equalitys $906,000 budget, the Department of Water Resources spent over $414,000 toward DEI goals, which included a full-time DEI staff person who earned $171,747 in salary. The department also conducted various anti-racism training sessions totaling $53,000 over the two-year span, CORE said. Bias Training in Local Governments, Universities and Colleges, and K-12 Schools On a local level, CORE said DEI-related spending activities totaled $110 million in county governments and nearly $90 million in city governments, creating a layered cost for taxpayers. Twenty-three of Californias public colleges and universities accounted for almost $103 million in DEI-related spending, the report found. CORE reported that a total of $36 million in DEI spending accounts for the 16 schools that responded. DEI expertsfunded by taxpayer dollarsalso seem particularly focused on turning schools into laboratories for progressive viewpoints, CORE said. Californias Newest Billion-Dollar Industry Both Fox News and the Daily Caller initially reported on COREs analysis of spending. A spokesperson for Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom told The Daily Caller, Unlike some states that aim to both-sides the Holocaust or erase slavery from history books, in California, we do it differently. Were proud to be the most diverse state in Americawe dont just tolerate that diversity, we celebrate it. So instead of engaging in clickbait culture wars, were going to stay focused on educational excellence and economic growth. The argument for critical race theory is often that its teaching real history, while those who would have critical race theory removed are trying to whitewash history; however, theres been no evidence of any public school attempting to erase entire sections of its curriculum on slavery. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is becoming Californias newest billion-dollar industryon the taxpayers dime, CORE lead researcher Will Coggin told Fox News Digital. Its everywhere from kindergarten in the classrooms to the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Instead of effectively addressing issues like housing, crime, or homelessness, California officials have chosen to line the pockets of well-connected diversity consultants, Coggin said. Products of chocolate and cocoa product maker Barry Callebaut are displayed during the company's annual news conference in Zurich, Switzerland, on Nov. 8, 2017. (Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters) Chocolate Factory to Restart Production After Salmonella Scare: Barry Callebaut BERLINBarry Callebaut said that it would restart the first chocolate production lines as of early August at its factory in Wieze, Belgium, following a salmonella outbreak at the site. The Belgian-Swiss chocolate manufacturer reported that the cleaning of the chocolate lines affected by the entry of salmonella-positive lecithin in its factory in Wieze, Belgium, is progressing well. Barry Callebaut halted production at the plant, which it says is the worlds biggest chocolate factory, after discovering salmonella in a production lot in late June. It said no tainted chocolate made it to retail consumers. Cory Morgan: Behind Ottawas Fixation on Maintaining Mandates for Travellers Commentary Canadas government is addicted to control and uses COVID-19 to get its fix. While nations around the world are dropping all pandemic control requirements at airports, from checking vaccination status to random testing, Canada refuses to back down on entrance requirements. With the pending return of random testing requirements for visitors entering Canada, one has to wonder if the government will ever relent on the restrictions harassing travellers and crippling the tourism sector. Vaccination has been proven to be ineffective in stopping the spread of COVID-19. Countries are realizing its pointless to demand that visitors be vaccinated. They are following the science, and relaxing if not completely dropping pandemic restrictions for travellers. Even Australia, where some of the most stringent pandemic restrictions on Earth had been imposed, has dropped all its restrictions. Canada is an outlier in stubbornly maintaining mandates and restrictions. We still insist on imposing testing and quarantines upon unvaccinated visitors. More than 30 percent of the world is still considered unvaccinated. While they could still travel to Canada, the quarantine requirements are intrusive and expensive. Many travellers are just choosing to go elsewhere, and it is coming with a cost. The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating for Canadas tourism and hospitality sectors. International tourism is down 57 percent from pre-pandemic levels. Most nations around the world are experiencing tourism booms right now as people have been waiting for two years to get out and about. Canada is lagging as we insist on maintaining restrictions. This is costing the nation billions, and it isnt making us any safer than any other country. Along with the fiscal expense, there is a serious social cost due to Canadas restrictions on travellers. Many Canadians have family members and loved ones around the world who they havent seen in years due to pandemic restrictions and vaccine mandates. Mandatory quarantine for an unvaccinated visitor can be a deal-breaker for some people. Why cross the world to visit a country if you have to spend weeks under a version of house arrest? Pretty much everybody in the developed world who wanted to be vaccinated has done so. Those who still refuse to be vaccinated will not be changing their minds any time soon. Some proponents of mandates have admitted that the intent was to annoy and inconvenience the vaccine-hesitant to the point where they will submit to an injection. Even if that rationale for mandates was morally justifiable, it is ineffective now. So if mandates and restrictions are costly and offer little public health benefit, why is the Canadian government so reluctant to remove them? There are three answers to that question. Politics, money, and spite. Politically, the mandates have been an effective tool for the Liberal government. The majority of Canadians are vaccinated and dont see the direct impacts of the restrictions. Restrictions and vaccines have made excellent wedge issues for the Liberals. Whenever a Conservative politician questions the mandates, they are accused of being anti-science and wanting to put citizens at risk. They can be labelled as anti-vaccination and of being conspiracy theorists. This worked very effectively in the 2021 federal election and the Liberals are counting on mandates to keep people divided. On the monetary end of things, the government has taken out vaccine procurement contracts for nearly 200 million doses in the next couple of years. If those vaccines dont end up in the arms of citizens, the government will face the embarrassment of literally pouring unused vaccines down the drain as they expire while billions of tax dollars are wasted. The state is well motivated to keep people inspired to take ongoing booster shots. With the pointless random testing returning to airports, one has to wonder how many contracts have been signed by the government for tests and processing. The worst reason of all for ongoing mandates and restrictions is vindictive spite. While domestic travellers no longer need to prove vaccination status, vaccine mandates for truckers crossing the border remain in place. There is no evidence that truckers crossing the border are a source of COVID transmission or that they ever were. That doesnt matter. The government has not forgiven Canadas truckers for sparking the Freedom Convoy protests last February. The government was sent into a panic and is now facing political repercussions for invoking the Emergencies Act. Rest assured, the mandates against truckers will be the last ones ever lifted. Airports around the world are congested, and Canadas are among the worst of them. Checking vaccine status and random tests are contributing to the backups, but the government wont relent. They have made mandates and restrictions a hill to die on and have dug their feet in while Canadas tourism sector pays the price. The pride of the government trumps the scientific and economic realities of pandemic restrictions. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Currency Swap Is Hong Kong Giving CCP Access to US$120 Billion for Free Experts: No mainland manufacturers would take RMB proves CCP economy is dead Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced on July 4, 2022, that it would optimize the currency swap with the Peoples Bank of China (PBOC). Financial experts analyzed the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) trade as handing over US$120 billion to the CCP on a silver platter. Politics Commentator, Gordon Poon Tung-hoi, mentioned in an interview with The Epoch Times that the reciprocal currency arrangements with China, also known as currency swap, continued to treat Hong Kong as an ATM: withdrawing money from Hong Kong systemically and regularly. Poon said, The CCP is taking Hong Kongs money to save the economy of mainland China. Financial experts analysis showed the Hong Kong dollar is pegged to the US dollar. That means exchanging HKD940 billion for RMB is equivalent to sending US$120 billion for free to the CCP. HKMAs Chief Executive, Eddie Yue Wai-man, stated in a press release on July 4, 2022, that HKMA would optimize the currency swap agreement with PBOC. Yue stated that HKMA would also change from the RMB liquidity arrangement to a standing agreement without renewal rules. By expanding and simplifying operation scales, Yue was confident that the city owns sufficient RMB liquidity as an offshore market. It will further support the citys unique advantage and positioning in its leading role in developing offshore yuan business. the release wrote. The scale has been expanded from RMB500 billion or HKD590 billion (US$75 billion) to RMB800 billion or HKD940 billion (US$120bilion). The HKMA stated that other details would be announced in due course. PBOC claimed that expanding the currency swap agreement would deepen and support mutual financial relationships. Besides helping Hong Kong as an international financial hub, the bank would also build its steady growth in the offshore RMB market. This is the first time PBOC has signed a standing agreement. And the signed agreement will be valid for a long time without regular renewals. Hong Kong Becomes CCPs ATM Gordon Poon mentioned, Currency swap is an ongoing strategy. It will weaken Hong Kong financially to support the RMB in the long run. Simply put, CCP treats Hong Kong as their ATM, draining the wealth systemically. It is a slow and painful death for Hong Kong. CCP is taking our money to save their economy. Columnist Simon Lee Sai-man pointed out that RMB is not a free-flowing or convertible currency. Hence, it is unnecessary for any currency swap. Lee believed the agreement was only to satisfy the Roadmap of Renminbi Internationalization. There would be no substance even if the deal were to be complete. As a managed market, the RMB offshore market is insignificant. Victor Ho, the senior media editor, said US$120 billion is about 25 percent of Hong Kongs foreign exchange reserves. The money in the vault would vanish because CCP had taken it away by currency swapping. Mr. T, a finance expert, denounced the agreement as a robbery. The Hong Kong dollar is pegged to the US dollar. The exchange of HKD940 billion into RMB is equivalent to US$120 billion. The Hong Kong government has no control over how their bank would use the US$120 billion given to CCP. Mr. T revealed that the so-called RMB internationalization was a flop; mainland manufacturers would instead take US Dollar than RMB from buyers. He also said, The recent seizure of money withdrawal at certain mainland Chinese banks reflects how dried-up the CCPs economy is. National security adviser John Bolton (L) listens as President Donald Trump speaks to members of the military during a trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, on Dec. 26, 2018. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images) Defending the Democratic Coup Could democratic coups work in Moscow and Beijing? Commentary Dictators in China, Russia, Burma (Myanmar), and Ethiopia are today conducting genocide. Others in North Korea, Iran, and Venezuela add to the millions of deaths, arbitrary detentions, torture victims, and refugees. They use force daily to stay in power and, thus, can only normally be removed by force. Sometimes with a helping hand from outside. But isolationists in the United States have forgotten their history. And they either dont care much about democracy and human rights abroad, they dont understand that letting dictators run rampant means the horror could eventually reach American soil, or they mistake wars of defense for wars of aggression. One of the least costly and most beneficial ways to overthrow the worst of dictators is through a bloodless democratic coup, in which the military gently removes a dictator from power, rapidly transitioning the country to democracy. These dictators can be offered millions of dollars to walk away peacefully into the south of France or to a Swiss chalet retirement. Americans (and dictators) should all support that kind of coup. The United States is one of the only countries capable of pulling it off, as it requires extensive planning, resources, logistics, and contacts in the autocracy needing help. Yet when former national security adviser John Bolton (20182019) said as much on July 12, mentioned off-handedly that he had planned such coups, and cited the example of Venezuela, the shock of his CNN interlocutor was palpable. The public reaction was swift, not only by the usual suspects in China and Russia, but by left-leaning mainstream media right here in the United States. Military delegates stand in formation after commemorating the 110th anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution, which overthrew the Qing Dynasty and led to the founding of the Republic of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on Oct. 9, 2021. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images) A reporter for The Washington Post, for example, quoted a cast of authoritarians, including from the three countries mentioned above, but found nobody to make the opposing argument. Even Fox News and The Wall Street Journal failed to defend Bolton. Democratic coups have occurred multiple times in history, as detailed by law professor Ozan O. Varol in the peer-reviewed Harvard International Law Journal in 2012 and Oxford University Press in 2017. In some contexts, argues Varol, a democratic coup is preferable to other forms of democratization. Military intervention may be the only available option to shepherd a nation through the tumultuous transition process to democracy because other methods of democratization have been blocked by the authoritarian or totalitarian regime, Varol writes in the journal. That sounds a lot like China and Russia today. But Varol went further back in history. For example, in Portugal in 1974, the authoritarian government ensured that the popular opposition against the regime remained too disorganized, socially and politically, to take the primary role in deposing the government, which prompted the Portuguese military to stage a coup to topple the government and replace it with a democratic regime, he writes. A girl carries red carnations while participating in a parade celebrating the April 25, 1974, revolution, also known as the Revolution of the Carnations, in Lisbon, Portugal, on April 25, 2017. The red carnation symbolizes the 1974 revolution that restored democracy to Portugal after nearly half a century of fascist dictatorship. (Armando Franca/AP Photo) The coup in Portugal against a right-wing dictator by leftist military officers admittedly almost led to disaster: the consolidation of a second dictatorship by the countrys Communist Party. Thankfully, that didnt occur. According to Cullen Nutt, a professor at the U.S. Naval Academy, America saved the day. (Im not being ironic.) Ambassador Frank Carlucci and the CIA encouraged moderate Portuguese officers, including with the promise of clandestine provision of arms, to force an election. The United States funded the Portuguese Socialist Party with, at minimum, hundreds of thousands of dollars in clandestine campaign donations, and it beat the Portuguese Communist Party. As a result, Portugal stayed in NATO as a democracy. It dodged the bullet of dictatorship. Other examples of democratic coups, analyzed by Varol, include those in 1960 in Turkey and 2011 in Egypt. Both resulted in elections and democracy in Turkey longer than in Egypt. Democratic coups arent failsafe, and the United States shouldnt fund candidates in mature democracies. But one has to wonder how much human suffering might have been averted if coups were launched against Lenin in 1917, Hitler in 1938, or Mao in 1949. Lacking that, we yet again face nuclear-armed and aggressive dictators in Moscow and Beijing who have no limits to their global ambitions. Their power and reach today are a direct result of World War II and are highly destructive. While it was perhaps a mistake in optics for Bolton to admit to planning coups, and the more facile mainstream media too easily deride and dismiss him, they do so from an ahistorical and arguably amoral perspective. If some brave and resourceful officers, supported by the United States or European Union, were to manage a democratic coup in Moscow or Beijing now, we might all be the better for it. Therefore, the possibility and Boltons neoconservative interventionism, as The Washington Post put it, should be taken more seriously. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Eight people were killed and 13 were wounded as a result of enemy shelling in Donetsk region on Friday, Head of Donetsk Regional Military Administration Pavlo Kyrylenko has said. "Eight people were killed, 13 were wounded," Kyrylenko said on the air of the national telethon on Friday evening. According to him, on Friday there was a lot of enemy shelling of Donetsk region, in particular, from multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), missiles and aircraft. Kyrylenko confirmed the shelling in the center of the city of Kramatorsk, but there were no civilian casualties as a result of it. According to the administration's head, the invaders fired at Avdiyivka, Sloviansk, Soledar, Bakhmut, Toretsk, Maryinka, Krasnohorivka, Vuhledar and Siversk. Tesla CEO Elon Musk arrives at Manhattan federal court for a hearing on his fraud settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in New York on April 4, 2019. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters) Musk Fires Back at Twitters Warp Speed Trial Request Elon Musk has fired back at Twitters request for an expedited trial in a lawsuit that seeks to force the Tesla CEO to follow through with his bid to buy the social media giant for $44 billion. The tech billionaires legal team alleged in a July 15 filing (pdf) in a Delaware court that Twitter is engaged in an unjustifiable request to rush the trial. A ruling thats unfavorable to Musk could legally require him to execute his pledge to buy Twitter for $54.20 per share, or about 36 percent above current market value. Twitters sudden request for warp speed after two months of foot-dragging and obfuscation is its latest tactic to shroud the truth about spam accounts long enough to railroad Defendants into closing, Musks lawyers wrote in the filing, opposing Twitters motion for an expedited four-day trial in September. Lawyers representing Musk said that the question of bots or automated accounts on Twitter is fundamental to the case and that more time is needed for discovery. Musks defense rests on the premise that the number of automated accounts, or bots, on Twitter is far greater than the 5 percent that the company has disclosed, representing a material adverse effect that justifies his backing out of the deal. While Musks team wants the trial postponed to February at the earliest, Twitter has based its request for a speedier trial on the fact that the buyout agreement Musk signed with the companys board expires on Oct. 24. But Musks lawyers reject that reasoning, arguing in their filing that Twitters bid for extreme expedition rests on the false premise that the termination date is Oct. 24, glossing over that this date is automatically stayed if either party files litigation. By filing its complaint, Twitter has rendered its supposed need for a September trial moot, they said. A Twitter spokesperson told The Epoch Times that the company had no comment about the filing. Elon Musks Twitter profile is seen on a smartphone placed on printed Twitter logos in this picture illustration taken April 28, 2022. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo/Reuters) Public Spectacle to Put Twitter in Play Twitters lawsuit against Musk, filed on July 12 in Delawares Court of Chancery, seeks to compel him to follow through with the deal. In its 62-page complaint (pdf), Twitter alleges that Musks actions have hurt its business and stock price. Having mounted a public spectacle to put Twitter in play, and having proposed and then signed a seller-friendly merger agreement, Musk apparently believes that heunlike every other party subject to Delaware contract lawis free to change his mind, trash the company, disrupt its operations, destroy stockholder value, and walk away, Twitter said in the complaint. Since signing the merger agreement, Musk has repeatedly disparaged Twitter and the deal, creating business risk for Twitter and downward pressure on its share price. Musk initially agreed to buy Twitter for $54.20 per share, which is about 36 percent above the current market price of $37.74 per share at the close of regular trading on July 15. The Tesla CEO has since moved to scuttle the deal, claiming in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing (pdf) that there are too many bots and automated accounts on the platform. Twitter fired back, saying it would try to enforce the deal and hit Musk with a lawsuit. We are confident we will prevail in the Delaware Court of Chancery, Bret Taylor, Twitters chairman, said in a July 8 social media post. Twitter lawyers have said theyll need just four days to convince the court to rule against Musk. The lawsuit will get its first day before a judge within days, with a hearing already scheduled at the Delaware Court of Chancery, which has a long history of rulings in high-profile corporate litigation cases. Judge Kathaleen McCormick, the chief judge of Delawares Court of Chancery, has set a 90-minute hearing on July 19 in Wilmington. Chuckmate Twitters lawsuit against Musk drew a defiant reaction from the Tesla chief. In a late-night Twitter post on July 10, Musk shared a meme featuring images of himself laughing, along with captions that marked several key developments in his buyout bid saga, including controversy over the number of bots on the platform. The Tesla CEO has repeatedly challenged Twitters claim that bots make up less than 5 percent of the total accounts on the platform. His legal team said in the July 8 SEC filing that Twitter has failed to give him sufficient access to its data to carry out his own analysis, while arguing that the company misrepresented its monetizable daily active user counts and so broke the terms of their agreement. Musk also posted a meme featuring action star Chuck Norris, sitting behind a chess board, smiling even though his opponent has a crushing advantage in the number of chess pieces. Musks single-word caption Chuckmate is a play on the word checkmate, a winning move in chess, suggesting that Musk thinks hell emerge victorious, even if the odds may be stacked against him. Twitter, in its lawsuit, has argued that Musk has been well aware of the platforms issue with bots. The company also accused him of breaching the terms of the merger agreement, including not disparaging Twitter, pointing to some of Musks tweets that are critical of the companys leadership. Musks filing addressed this issue, accusing Twitter of having the sense of humor of a bot. Twitter claims that Musk is damaging the company with tweets like a Chuck Norris meme and a poop emoji, the filing states. Musks lawyers said, Twitter ignores that Musk is its second-largest shareholder with a far greater economic stake than the entire Twitter board. An aerial view shows the P4 laboratory at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan in China's central Hubei Province on April 17, 2020. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) FBI Opened Inquiry Into NIH Funding of Wuhan Lab, Emails Show The FBI launched an inquiry into the National Institutes of Healths funding of bat research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, newly released emails show. The interest from the top U.S. domestic investigative agency adds to the international scrutiny of the Wuhan facility, which houses one of Chinas highest-level biosecurity labs and has been considered a possible source of the COVID-19 pandemic. In preparation for our call on Tuesday, Erik [Stemmy] (ccd) has provided responses to your initial questions below (also attached), wrote Ashley Sanders, an investigation officer at the National Institutes of Healths (NIH) division of program integrity, in an email (pdf) dated May 22, 2020, with the subject Grant Questions FBI Inquiry, and directed to FBI agent David Miller. The email was obtained by government transparency watchdog Judicial Watch through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, which sought records of communications, contracts, and agreements with the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). The scope of the inquiry is unclear because the rest of the email correspondence, five pages in total, is entirely redacted. But the name of the email attachment SF 424 AI110964-06 (received date 11/05/2018), corresponds to the NIH grant Understanding the Risk of Bat Coronavirus Emergence. The project in question is headed by Peter Daszak of EcoHealth Alliance, which funneled money to the lab in Wuhan. From 2014 to 2019, the New York nonprofit received six yearly grants totaling $3,748,715 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases under the NIH to fund the project, which was expected to end in 2026. The FBI inquiry had focused on at least two of the grants, in 2014 and 2019, respectively, the email subject line suggests. The 2014 grant aimed to understand what factors increase the risk of the next CoV emerging in people by studying CoV diversity in a critical zoonotic reservoir (bats), at sites of high risk for emergence (wildlife markets) in an emerging disease hotspot (China), according to the project description. Specifically, the researchers would assess the coronavirus spillover potential, develop predictive models of bat coronavirus emergence risk, and use virus infection experiments as well as reverse genetics to test the viruss transmission between species. World Health Organization team member Peter Daszak leaves his hotel after a group from WHO wrapped up its investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Wuhan in Chinas Hubei province on Feb. 10, 2021. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) In the project summary for the 2019 grant, EcoHealth stated that it had found that bats in southern China harbor an extraordinary diversity of SARSr-CoVs, and some of those viruses can infect humanized mouse models causing SARS-like illness, and evade available therapies or vaccines. Recently disclosed documents show that, under one grant, the WIV had conducted an experiment that resulted in a more potent version of a bat coronavirus. In the project that took place under the fifth grant, from June 2018 to May 2019, the researchers infected two groups of laboratory mice, one of which with a modified version of a bat coronavirus already existing in nature, and another with the original virus. Those infected with the modified version became sicker, Lawrence Tabak, at the time a principal deputy director at the NIH, wrote in a letter in response to a congressional inquiry. As sometimes occurs in science, this was an unexpected result of the research, as opposed to something that the researchers set out to do, he wrote. He acknowledged that EcoHealth had violated the grant terms by failing to notify the NIH right away about the finding. Security personnel keep watch outside the Wuhan Institute of Virology during the visit by a World Health Organization (WHO) team tasked with investigating the origins of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Wuhan, China, on Feb. 3, 2021. (Thomas Peter/Reuters) The experiment appears to fit the definition of gain-of-function research regardless of its intentions, according to some experts. The genetic manipulation of both MERS and the SARS conducted in Wuhan clearly constituted gain-of-function experiments, Jonathan Latham, executive director of The Bioscience Research Project, previously told The Epoch Times. He said the NIHs wording choice unexpected was absurd, when clearly these experiments were expressly designed to detect increased pathogenicity. An April 2020 memo (pdf) reveals that the State Department assessed that a lab leak was the most likely origin of COVID-19. The Wuhan labs remained the most likely yet least probed. All other possible places of virus origin have been proven false, the memo stated, citing circumstantial evidence such as safety standard lapses, experiments on bats by WIV researchers, and the labs role in a deliberate coverup, especially destruction of any evidence of leaks and disappearance of its employees as Patient Zero. The FBI declined to comment to The Epoch Times. The article has been updated with a response from the FBI. Then-White House Trade Advisor Peter Navarro speaks to the press outside of the White House in Washington, on June 18, 2020. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) Former Trump Adviser Peter Navarro Rejects DOJ Plea Offer Former White House trade adviser Peter Navarro has declined a plea offer to plead guilty to a contempt of Congress charge, the lead federal prosecutor in the case told a judge on Friday. Navarro had pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor counts of contempt of Congress on June 17 after he refused to cooperate with the House January 6 committees probe into the breach of the Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021. He cited executive privilege due to his former position at the White House under the Trump administration. But Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the chairman of the Jan. 6 committee, rejected his claims of executive privilege, and the committee voted in late March to advance criminal charges against Navarro. A grand jury indicted Navarro on June 3 on two counts: one for his refusal to produce the documents the committee requested, and the other for his refusal to comply with the committees subpoena to show up and testify. Each count carries a maximum of one-year imprisonment. At a status hearing on July 15, federal prosecutor Elizabeth Aloi told U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta that the Justice Department had offered to let Navarro plead guilty to a single count instead of the two he was indicted with. Prosecutors also said the deal would mean they would not have sought more than the minimum 30-day jail time. But the deal would have required Navarro to comply with the January 6 committee subpoena to the satisfaction of the Justice Department, Aloi said. Navarro attended the hearing with two defense attorneys. He had been representing himself before he was indicted on the criminal charges. Its a complicated constitutional case involving separation of powers, John Irving, one of the defense attorneys, told reporters outside the courthouse after the hearing. It involves not only the President of the United States asserting his executive privilege, but [also] over 50 years of DOJ opinions that make it clear that top presidential aides are able to assert absolute immunity and not testify before Congress. Not only that, but also the Justice Department has longstanding policies about not prosecuting someone criminally for this kind of situation, he added. So I wonder what changed. John Rowley, another defense attorney, told reporters: This is the first time in our nations 250-year history that a senior adviser to a president has been criminally charged for refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena. In essence, this is a dispute between the Office of the President and Congress, and Mr. Navarro was placed on the horn of the dilemmaeither to follow the executive direction or risk prosecution. Trumps attorneys have previously argued that former White House officials shouldnt comply with congressional subpoenas because the requested information is protected by Trumps executive privilege. Navarros trial is set for Nov. 17. Judge Expresses Concern Over Treatment of Navarro Mehta, an Obama appointee, said at the hearing that he was concerned about how Navarro was treated by the government. Navarro was arrested on June 3 at Reagan National Airport by the FBI as he prepared to board a flight to Nashville, and was hand-cuffed even though he had been in touch with the FBI previously and lives across the street from the FBIs office in Washington, D.C. He was later taken into custody by agents from the U.S. Marshals service. At the time, Navarro said that he was denied a call to a lawyer, which prosecutors have denied. The former White House adviser also said he wasnt informed that he needed to turn himself in before he was arrested. It is curious to me, at a minimum, why the government treated Mr. Navarros arrest the way it did, Mehta said on July 15. It is a federal crime, but it is not a violent crime. Its surprising that self-surrender was not offered as an opportunity, he added. Navarro is the second former Trump adviser charged for refusing to cooperate with the Jan. 6 committee. The first was Steve Bannon, who faces a similar set of two contempt charges. Bannons case goes to trial on July 18. Navarro in December 2020 released a report that alleged widespread election irregularities. At the time, he said the findings of the report suggest there was a coordinated strategy to strategically game the election process against Trump. Navarro released the report in his capacity as a private citizen, and had called on journalists and U.S. politicians to acknowledge the irregularities in the 2020 election and carry out investigations. Trump later praised the report. Thompson had cited the report among other references in announcing in February the Jan. 6 committees subpoena to Navarro. Mr. Navarro appears to have information directly relevant to the Select Committees investigation into the causes of the January 6th attack on the Capitol, Thompson said at the time, alleging that Navarro hasnt been shy about his role in efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election and has even discussed the former Presidents support for those plans. Joseph Lord and Reuters contributed to this report. Gascon Recall Proceeds, Requires Full Validation of Signatures A count of a random sampling of signatures for the recall of Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon pushed the endeavor into a new phase July 14 as the county clerk will now need to verify the rest of the submitted signatures. The LA County Clerk reviewed about 36,000 signatures at random, which is 5 percent of the nearly 716,000 signatures the campaign submitted. About 28,000 of the reviewed signatures were authenticated. That was higher than the nearly 26,000 threshold that would have automatically invalidated the recall petition. But it was still lower than the 31,000 needed for the petition to be automatically certified. Now the county clerks office must conduct a count of all signatures by Aug. 17. The recall requires 566,857 signatures to appear on the November ballot. Recall spokesman Tim Lineberger called the clerks random sampling validation another significant milestone in the campaigns effort. We remain confident the requisite 566,857 verified signatures to qualify the recall were submitted, and that once the recall qualifies, Gascon will be removed from office in a landslide, Lineberger told The Epoch Times. As we assumed, this was always going to be close, but we are right in line with where we need to be to qualify. Ultimately, we will exhaust every legal and statutory option available to demonstrate as much if necessary. Gascon was elected in December 2020 on a promise to implement bold progressive change to LAs criminal justice system. He was previously the DA in San Francisco and was replaced by Chesa Boudin, who was just recalled by voters during the June primaries. Several high-profile law enforcement unions, including the Los Angeles Association of Deputy District Attorneys, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, and the Los Angeles Police Protective League also support the recall. More than 30 cities in Los Angeles County, including Torrance, Santa Clarita, Lancaster, and Beverly Hills, support the recall, with more than a dozen passing votes of no confidence against Gascons policies. Gascon has defended his policies and called the recall effort against him an initiative driven by very conservative, very right-wing forces during a podcast interview on June 1. An email was sent to Gascons office. Girl Shot in Back While Riding in Car in Little Italy SAN DIEGOA 17-year-old girl was shot in the back July 16 while riding in a car in Little Italy, police said. The incident happened at 2:30 a.m. Saturday when a group of people from a motel went to get gas at a station on Pacific Highway and Laurel Street, said Officer OBrien of the San Diego Police Department. On their way back to the motel, the vehicle passed a group of three men and two women walking on the sidewalk and someone in the vehicle thought an object had been thrown at their car, the officer said. The driver turned around and confronted the group on the sidewalk and they got into a verbal altercation. Someone on the sidewalk fired several shots, one of which hit the girl sitting in the back of the vehicle, OBrien said. She was taken to a hospital with serious injuries that were not considered to be life-threatening. Detectives were investigating the incident. Lethbridge Police Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh speaks to the media following a hostage taking in Lethbridge, Alta., July 15, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh) Imminent Threat: Woman Charged After Female Hostage Stabbed in Alberta Law Office Police say they had no choice but to send a tactical team Thursday to rescue a hostage from a law office because her life was in imminent danger. They said Friday that a woman entered the Lethbridge Legal Guidance office demanding to speak with a specific lawyer who wasnt there and, after using the washroom, came out and pointed a gun at two employees. Acting Staff Sgt. Bruce Hagel said the suspect forced a 54-year-old woman into an office and closed the door allowing the others to escape. He said the tactical team made contact with the armed woman by phone and spent an hour trying to get her to surrender. Due to an imminent threat to the life of the hostage, members of the tactical team made entry to the building, Hagel said. The subject was holding a knife to herself, was taken into custody and officers then immediately began performing life saving measures to the victim who sustained serious injuries after being stabbed in the neck multiple times. The victim was given first aid by the officers and was later sent to hospital with life-threatening injuries. Police say she has had surgery and is in stable condition. Hagel didnt say what prompted police to believe the hostage was in danger, but said her injuries likely occurred in the short time it took police officers to enter. I would say in seconds. The tactical team made entry into the building and likely saved her life, he said. They were established very close because the No. 1 priority is that hostages life. At the scene, police recovered a knife and a black Airsoft handguna BB gun built to look like a real firearm. Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh commended officers for their professionalism and courage. Our members train for days like these and Im extremely proud of every officer and every employee behind the scenes, he said. Our crisis negotiators did everything they could to communicate with the subject, to de-escalate the situation before the imminent threat of violence required the tactical team to make entry. Courtney Louise Shaw, of Lethbridge, faces several charges including attempted murder, aggravated assault, taking a hostage, use of an imitation firearm while committing an offence and four counts of unlawful confinement. She has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to return to court July 22. By Bill Graveland Buildings are seen at sunset, almost a year after the global outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, on Dec. 12, 2020. (Aly Song/Reuters) In Chinas Wuhan, Cholera-Causing Bacteria in Turtles Strikes Nerve BEIJINGDetection in the Chinese city of Wuhan of a bacteria that caused cholera in a student and was separately found in samples from softshell turtles at a food market has struck a sensitive nerve with ordinary Chinese people, with some relating it to COVID-19. The food market where samples from softshell turtles tested positive of the pathogen capable of causing cholera has been disinfected, local authorities said late on Thursday. While no human cholera case was found among people who came in contact with the softshell turtles, the specific store selling them was ordered to shut down for three days. Authorities said that the vibrio cholerae O139 strain for the students infection, announced on Monday, and the contaminated samples are unrelated. Officials are also tracking unspecified products of the same batch as the softshell turtles that have been shipped elsewhere, said the disease control authority in Wuhans Hongshan district. Despite a lack of solid signs of a cholera outbreak, netizens worried about another disease outbreak still made this issue among the top trending topics on Chinas Twitter-like microblog Weibo on Friday, with 200 million reads. The earliest reported COVID-19 infections in late 2019 were initially linked to a local market in Wuhan that also sold seafood and fish products. The origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 remains a mystery and a major source of tension between China and the United States. Take the lesson of COVID, and hurry up in source tracing to secure evidence!!! wrote a weibo user. Reports of cholera, an acute watery diarrhoea disease potentially fatal if left without prompt treatment and usually linked to contaminated food or water, are rare in mainland China, with five cases in 2021 and 11 in 2020 but no deaths. The actual number of cases may be much higher as the Chinese regime routinely suppresses or alters information. The detection of Vibrio cholerae O139 does again remind us that wet markets, while culturally and economically important in Asia, have associated with them various public health risks, said Andrew Greenhill, a microbiology professor at Federation University Australia. At this point there is no major cause for concern while ongoing surveillance is important, Greenhill said, adding that O139 has been detected in various other countries and that large cholera outbreaks are unlikely in locations with safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. Wuhan, with a population of more than 12 million, said on Monday the case of cholera in a local university student did not cause further infections. Wuhan is yet to disclose sources of the bacteria for the student and the samples, or details on source tracing progress. An ultrasound in a clinic in Indiana in a file image. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) Indiana Doctor Who Disclosed 10-Year-Olds Abortion Did Not Violate HIPAA: University The doctor who performed an abortion on a 10-year-old girls fetus and talked about the procedure with the press did not violate privacy laws, her employer said on July 15. As part of IU Healths commitment to patient privacy and compliance with privacy laws, IU Health routinely initiates reviews, including the matters in the news concerning Dr. Caitlin Bernard, the employer, the Indiana University School of Medicine, told The Epoch Times in a statement. IU Health conducted an investigation with the full cooperation of Dr. Bernard and other IU Health team members. IU Healths investigation found Dr. Bernard in compliance with privacy laws, it added. Spokespersons for the university and a lawyer representing Bernard have not responded to requests for comment. Bernard told the Indianapolis Star in a story dated July 1 that she had a 10-year-old patient who traveled from Ohio for an abortion. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), a federal law, prohibits violating a patients privacy. HIPAA protects most health information that can be used to individually identify a patient, such as name, address, and birth date. Indiana law mandates reporting any abortions for girls under the age of 16 and the pregnancies of any girls under the age of 15. Possible Violations Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, a Republican, said this week that he was investigating whether Bernard had complied with state law and HIPAA. Rokita said he had been stymied in his efforts to obtain documents on the situation, and asked for the assistance of Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, another Republican. Shortly after, the Indiana Department of Health released forms to The Epoch Times showing Bernard reported the abortion to the department on July 2, which complied with state law. While Bernard reported the abortion as required, she listed the age of the father as 17. About two weeks later, police in Ohio arrested a 27-year-old man who authorities say is in the country illegally. The Indiana Department of Child Services declined to say whether Bernard filed the required forms with it, citing confidentiality laws. Still Investigating After the report was made public, Rokita said the probe is continuing. As we stated, we are gathering evidence from multiple sources and agencies related to these allegations. Our legal review of it remains open, he told The Epoch Times in an email. Kathleen DeLaney, a lawyer representing Bernard, told news outlets that the doctor took every appropriate and proper action in accordance with the law and both her medical and ethical training as a physician. She sent a cease-and-desist letter to Rokita on Friday, alleging that his statements have been false and defamatory. Attempts to reach Bernard have been unsuccessful. Bernard wrote on Twitter that Doctors must be able to give people the medical care they need, when and where they need it. It has been a difficult week, but my colleagues and I will continue to provide healthcare ethically, lovingly, and bravely each and every day, she said later, adding that she hopes to be able to share my story soon. Irvines Discussion on District Voting Moved to Closed Session IRVINE, Calif.After a heated discussion about giving voters the choice in November to expand the city council from four to six seats and changing how ballots are cast for those seats, councilors voted 41 on Tuesday to move the issue into closed session at their next meeting. The itembrought forward by Councilman Larry Agran last weekintends to not only increase the size of the council, but to split the city into six districts of roughly 52,000 residents each. If the measure is put on the ballot and approved by more than a 50 percent vote, residents would only cast ballots for the council seat that represents the district they live instarting November 2024. Currently, councilors are elected through at-large voting, meaning residents vote for all five candidates, as well as the mayor. Rules for mayoral elections would not change under the new system. Different geographic areas should be properly represented on a council, said Councilman Larry Agran at the meeting. Councilwoman Tammy Kim, who opposes changing the citys voting system, suggested the matter should be reviewed by expert demographers prior to being voted upon by her colleagues. She said her concern was that switching to district elections would cause the very problem it is meant to resolvediluting votes. We would be putting residents at risk by disenfranchising them from voting for councilors that make decisions concerning the entire city, she said. She then motioned to not put the items on the ballot altogether. Councilman Anthony Kuo questioned whether avoiding a ballot measure would put the city at risk of violating the California Voting Rights Act. The state law is aimed at ensuring local elections adopt voting systems that can protect the ability of underrepresented groups in respective regions to elect their desired candidates. City Attorney Jeffrey Melching said it is better to discuss the matter in a closed session, to which the council majority agreed. Councilman Mike Carroll cast the sole dissenting vote without providing comment. He was not immediately available for comment. Another Orange County city, Mission Viejo, recently switched to district election to avoid a lawsuit in 2018 alleging their at-large system disenfranchised Latino voters. Sophie Li and Rudy Blalock contributed to this report. Ivana Trump at the Cinema Against AIDS 2009 benefit at the Hotel du Cap during the 62nd Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2009 in Antibes, France. (Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for amfAR) Ivana Trumps Cause of Death Revealed The cause of death of Ivana Trump, the mother of three of former President Donald Trumps adult children, has been determined by the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME). The OCME on Friday said Ivana Trump died after an accidental fall that resulted in blunt impact injuries to the torso, Fox News reported. Having released this determination, OCME will not comment further on the investigation, an OCME spokesperson said in a statement obtained by the outlet. Authorities said that police in New York City responded to a call of a person in cardiac arrest on East 64th Street on the Upper East Side at 12:40 p.m. ET. According to ABC7, the person was identified as Ivana Trump. Ivana Trump, 73, who died Thursday, was remembered by the Trump family as an incredible womana force in business, a world-class athlete, a radiant beauty, and caring mother and friend. Ivana Trump was a survivor. She fled from communism and embraced this country, the Trump family statement continued. Ivana Trump was born in the former Czechoslovakia, a Warsaw Pact country that was controlled by the Soviet Union until its dissolution in the early 1990s. She was the mother to Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Eric Trump. Donald Trump has two other childrenBarron and Tiffany Trump. Billionaire Donald Trump and his wife Ivana arrive 04 December 1989 at a social engagement in New York. (SWERZEY/AFP/Getty Images) Ivana Trump taught her children about grit and toughness, compassion and determination, the Trump family added. She will be dearly missed by her mother, her three children, and ten grandchildren. On Truth Social, the former commander-in-chief praised Ivana as a wonderful, beautiful, and amazing woman who led a great and inspirational life rest in peace, Ivana! I am very saddened to inform all of those that loved her, of which there are many, that Ivana Trump has passed away at her home in New York City, former President Trump also wrote. After leaving Czechoslovakia, she married Donald Trump in 1977. The pair got divorced in 1992. Following their divorce, Ivana Trump developed her own lines of clothing, jewelry, and other products. She also authored several books, including one called Raising Trump, as well as an advice column. Her most recent ex-husband, Rossano Rubicondi, died in 2021. She later confirmed to People magazine at the time that she was devastated by his passing. Jack Phillips contributed to this report. On the night of July 16, the town of Chuhuiv, Kharkiv region, was subjected to a missile strike allegedly from the territory of Belgorod region, Deputy Head of the Main Directorate of the National Police of Ukraine in Kharkiv region, Head of the Investigation Department Serhiy Bolvinov said. "Four missiles of Russian fighters, presumably, flying out of Belgorod at night, at about 03:30, hit a residential building, a school and administrative buildings. Also hitting the ground, craters with a diameter of up to 14.5 meters. Part of the house was destroyed in a two-story residential building. The bodies of three people were found under the rubble, three more were injured. The victims are civilians," Bolvinov said on his Facebook page. According to him, at the moment, due to the rubble, it is impossible to determine the type of rocket. Rescuers continue to dismantle the rubble. Law enforcement officers continue to search the places of impact. Investigators of Chuhuiv district police department entered information under Part 2 of Art. 438 (violation of the laws and customs of war, combined with premeditated murder) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Former Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne talks to a reporter as he arrives at the Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. House Office Building to be interviewed the House select committee investigating the events on January 6, on July 15, 2022. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Jan. 6 Committee Closed-Door Hearing Was Cordial, Patrick Byrne Says Former Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne testified on July 15 before the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the Capitol, including on his key role in a post-election White House meeting where he urged then-President Donald Trump to investigate 2020 election fraud allegations. Byrne told The Epoch Times in an interview that his eight hours of closed-door testimony covered a wide range of topicsfrom his meeting with the president on Dec. 18, 2020, to his concerns over the integrity and safety of election equipment. Byrne, who was the latest witness to testify before the committee, described the meeting as surprisingly friendly, cordial, and professional. Notwithstanding the fact that we werent going to agree about the Nov. 3, 2020, election, we agreed that there was a lot for me to fill in from Nov. 4 until Jan. 7 [2021]. I think they seemed to be appreciative, he told The Epoch Times on July 16. They had a lot of questions, and they really did not know the answers, and I was happy to provide them with the answers. I do feel that if they knew the truth about everything, they would understand the truth was different than [what] they were guessingand significantly more benign. The White House Meeting Byrne had hoped to engineer a meeting with Trump when he used a prior invitation from a staffer to tour the White House with former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn and attorney Sidney Powell. The trio met with Trump in the Oval Office after the president happened to walk by, Byrne told The Epoch Times in an exclusive interview the day before his testimony. I was the guy that everyone should be looking into, he said. Im the guy who pulled that famous meeting together. Im the guy who presented the options. The proposal put forth at the meeting was to dispatch a team of cybersecurity specialists from the Department of Homeland Security to the six counties where questions of voter fraud had surfaced. Related Coverage EXCLUSIVE: Patrick Byrne on His December 2020 White House Meeting With Trump Byrnes group presented Trump with executive orders signed by former President Barack Obama in 2015 and Trump in 2018 regarding foreign interference in a U.S. election, which they said granted the president authority to launch such an investigation. That was the upshot of our discussion, Byrne said. That was the cat. I think the tiger they painted was going in with military commandos across the country, he said, referring to press coverage of a suggestion he said he made to the president to use the National Guard during an investigation. He said the idea was rejected by everyone in the room during the Dec. 18, 2020, meeting. Byrne cited three federal documents to support his claims, the first being an Oct. 22, 2020, joint advisory by the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warning about unauthorized Russian access to information technology systems used by U.S. election officials and efforts of Iranian state actors to sow discord among voters. The second document, an Oct. 30, 2020, joint advisory by the same agencies, stated that an Iranian hacker had targeted state election websites to obtain registration data and had succeeded in at least one state. The third was a Dec. 16, 2020, statement by the FBI, CISA, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on the breach of SolarWinds Orion platform. Rudy Giuliani, a former Trump lawyer and New York City mayor, was called to the White House two days after that to assess the documents and provide his opinion. I read through them carefully, I came back, and I said its clear to me that theres not enough [evidence] here, Giuliani said in his July 14 radio program. Byrne disputed Giulianis response, stating that the documents in question werent affidavits but government documents. The Militia Member On the morning of Jan. 5, 2021, the day before protests and the breach at the U.S. Capitol, Byrne said he was contacted by a person claiming to be part of a militia, who told him that a group of 10,000 people with firearms were coming in to take the city. The committee appeared surprised to hear about the militia, Byrne said. Byrne said he talked the militia out of the plan after the man expressed a willingness to follow his direction. Youre willing to take an order, whatever I say? Byrne recalled asking the man, who he said agreed. OK. One direction is absolutely not a single weapon, Byrne said he told the man. Thats the only thing that will make us lose. Untrustworthy Election The Jan. 6 committee at one point asked Byrne if he still believes the election in 2020 was rigged. I said: Absolutely. I believe our entire election apparatus is untrustworthy, he said. Its not about Democrats or Republicans. In a friendly way, I think we came to a realization that theyre seeing the world as lawyers, and Im seeing it as a business person. I think that they may have extended a bit of an olive branch, and I very much reciprocated. I hope I found for America an off-ramp for the tension thats brewing. LA County DA Gascon to Dissolve Unit That Notifies Victims of Assailant Parole Hearings Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon is dissolving an office unit responsible for notifying crime victims and their families when their assailant has parole hearings. Made up of victims advocates, the Parole Unitalso known as the Lifer Unitwill be disbanded by the end of the year. While a victim has a right to be notified, they also have a right NOT to be contacted, Gascons office said in a statement. Lawyers in the parole unit have been using Victim Service Representatives, paralegals, and Bureau of Investigation resources to contact victims and their next of kin who have not requested to be notified of parole hearings. An email sent to prosecutors in the unit stated that Gascons office has determined that it is not appropriate for the LADA to notify victims of crime and victim next of kin of those that were murdered that parole hearings are scheduled for the inmates that harmed them and their loved ones. The office will continue sending out notifications for cases assigned through October 2022, according to the email. The DAs office said the unit was already being downsized under former DA Jackie Lacey, and victims will still have access to free supportive services through the offices victim services representatives. However, Diana Teranrecently promoted Director of the Parole Division and oversees all resentencing casesissued an order that contradicted Gascons initial policy, stating this Office will continue to meet its obligation to notify and advise victims under California law. Immediately after he assumed office in December 2020, Gascon sparked controversy when he issued a directive (pdf) to remove prosecutors from attending parole hearings, saying that a prosecutors input and the crime of conviction is of limited value in considering parole suitability years or decades later. He also encouraged prosecutors to support granting parole after felons fulfilled their mandatory sentence minimum. Attorney Kathleen Cadyone of several former prosecutors who are providing pro bono assistance to crime victims in response to Gascons policiessaid in an emailed statement that the district attorneys latest move is indefensible. This systematic and pervasive violation of victims rights appears to be motivated by one goal: to release as many murderers, child molesters and rapists as possible from prison, Cady said. Keeping victims informed and protecting the people of California and victims rights just seems to get in the way. Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Ryan Erlich wrote on Twitter this week that Gascon has done a bunch of terrible things since Dec. 2020. But turning his back on the families of victims of violent crime is beyond callous. If he had EVER tried a homicide, he would know that we have a moral duty to, at least, support those folks at parole hearings. Elected on a promise to implement progressive criminal justice reform, Gascon could be facing a recall election in November, as almost 150,000 more signatures than the 566,857 required have been submitted to the LA County Clerks office for verification last week. The county clerk has until Aug. 17 to count and verify all signatures. Maryland State Police Hiring Practices Under Investigation by DOJ The U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) is investigating the Maryland Department of State Police (MDSP) to assess whether it has engaged in hiring and promotion practices that are racially discriminatory. The investigation will be conducted pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits any discrimination in employment on the basis of color, race, sex, religion, and national origin, the DOJ said in a July 15 statement. Under Title VII, DOJ has the authority to investigate local and state employers if there is reason to believe that a pattern or practice of discriminatory employment exists. The probe follows a series of complaints about racial discrimination from black officers who have accused their fellow white troopers of mistreatment. Last year, state Sen. Joanne Benson (D-Md.) said that black troopers were complaining about disparities in promotions and underrepresentation. More than 20 black officers submitted documents detailing their grievances. Clark F. Ahlers, an attorney representing black officers in multiple lawsuits, welcomed the DOJ investigation. He accused the Maryland police of engaging in discrimination against troopers of color, according to Fox News. Ahlers cited four cases in the past five years related to discrimination at the MDSP. However, none of them were directly related to hiring or promotion practices. In an emailed statement to The Epoch Times, Superintendent Col. Woodrow Jones said the department has taken significant action to address the issue and would continue to address even the perception of racism or unfair treatment of any kind. Working with the Coalition of Black Maryland State Troopers, the Legislative Black Caucus, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, the Maryland State Police Office of Equity and Inclusion and other stakeholders, I have implemented new procedures and initiatives, opened new lines of communication and hired subject matter experts, all for the purpose of ensuring the Department addresses these issues and is a law enforcement leader in these matters, Jones stated. He said in a statement that he was notified of the investigation and pledged the departments full cooperation. Discrimination Investigation Discrimination has no place in any workplace, especially in law enforcement agencies, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the DOJs Civil Rights Division said. All communities deserve law enforcement agencies that are fair and equitable, she added. Our investigation will determine whether the Maryland Department of State Police has created racially discriminatory barriers for black people seeking job opportunities and promotions and, if so, identify the reforms necessary to ensure equal employment opportunities, Clarke said. In the past, the Civil Rights Division has carried out several similar investigations into claimed violations of Title VII. The matter is being jointly investigated by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Maryland and the Employment Litigation Section of DOJs Civil Rights Division. Republican Gov. Larry Hogan also has been informed of the investigation, and has assured full cooperation. It seems that mass shootings come in clusters, and there have been many in the news of late, which begs the question: Is press coverage a contributing factor? How should the media cover these horrific events? Tom Teves lost his son Alex 10 years ago in the movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado, and hes been on a mission ever since. He founded No Notoriety to tell the media to stop giving endless coverage to shooters. Then, in America Q&A, we ask if you think the media should report in detail on every mass shooting? Next, professor Greg Perreault studies news coverage of these events. He says we should treat mass shootings like a virus and be aware that they can catch. Finally, last week, The Epoch Times field-tested an entirely new format for political debates in Tennessees 5th District Republican primary. There were no gotcha questions by newscasters; instead, substantive questions were asked by a panel of highly qualified, subject matter experts. And there was none of that petty take-down banter between candidates either. You can watch it here: EpochTim.es/NTDNewAmericanWay. In light of that, in our second America Q&A, we ask if you think the usual format for political debates works? * Click the Save button below the video to access it later on My List. Follow EpochTV on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/EpochTVus Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/EpochTV Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@EpochTV Gettr: https://gettr.com/user/epochtv Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EpochTVus Gab: https://gab.com/EpochTV Telegram: https://t.me/EpochTV Rafael Caro-Quintero, a Mexican cartel leader wanted for his role in the murder of a DEA special agent in 1985, has been named to the FBIs Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. (FBI via The Epoch Times) Mexican Drug Godfather Wanted for Killing US DEA Agent Arrested A fugitive Mexican drug trafficker who was behind the death of a U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) agent in 1985 was apprehended by Mexican authorities on Friday. Rafael Caro Quintero was found hiding in the town of San Simon in Sinaloa state during a joint operation between Mexicos navy and the Attorney Generals Office, Associated Press reported. The drug trafficker was wanted by the U.S. DEA for $20 million for the alleged kidnapping and murder of undercover federal agent Enrique Kiki Camarena, violent crimes in aid of racketeering, aiding and abetting, and accessory after the fact. He was also wanted by U.S. authorities for possession with intent to distribute marijuana and cocaine, murder, and operating a continuing criminal enterprise. There is a pending extradition request from the U.S. government. Caro Quintero was arrested around midday on Friday in a mountainous area near Sinaloas border with the state of Chihuahua in the north of Mexico, AP reported. Rafael Caro Quintero, a Mexican cartel leader, is wanted for his role in the murder of a DEA special agent in 1985. (FBI/Obtained by The Epoch Times) The drug trafficker is on the list of the FBIs top 10 most wanted fugitives with the massive reward for information leading to his capture or conviction. The FBI said Caro Quintero was believed to hold a leadership role in the Sinaloa cartel, known to frequent the area of Badiraguato, Sinaloa in Mexico. He was known to have formed the Guadalajara cartel in the 1970s. Camerena, who was described by the FBI as an enterprising agent, was kidnapped and murdered in 1985 on alleged orders of Caro Quintero while on his way to have lunch with his wife because the drug trafficker allegedly blamed him for a recent raid. The FBI described Caro Quintero as a narco of narcos and said he was considered a godfather to the Sinaloa cartel. Navy Helicopter Crash Kills 14 After Operation After executing Caro Quinteros arrest, a Mexican Navy Blackhawk helicopter carrying 15 people crashed near the coastal city of Los Mochis, killing 14 aboard. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Twitter that the crash happened as the helicopter was about to land in Sinaloa after completing the mission. I am very sorry for the loss of 14 members of the Mexican Navy and I hope that the seriously injured officer recovers. I send my sincere condolences and hugs to his family, colleagues and friends, he wrote. Jose Rafael Ojeda Duran, the secretary of Mexicos navy, will order an investigation to determine the cause of the crash. The Mexican president said the crash happened when they were about to land in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, after fulfilling the mission of supporting those who executed the arrest warrant against Rafael Caro Quintero. Undated colorized scanning electron micrograph of a cell (blue) heavily infected with CCP virusalso known as SARS-CoV-2particles (red), isolated from a patient sample at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility in Fort Detrick, Md., on Oct. 31, 2020. (NIAID) Natural Immunity From Omicron Strong Against Virus Subvariants: Study The protection afforded by surviving COVID-19 was strong against the latest virus subvariants, including the one currently dominant in the United States, scientists in Qatar found. People who were infected with Omicron, a variant of SARS-CoV-2, had 76.1 percent protection against symptomatic reinfection from BA.4 and BA.5 and 80 percent shielding from any reinfection, regardless of symptoms, according to the preprint study. SARS-CoV-2, also known as the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, causes COVID-19. Omicron became the dominant virus strain in many countries in late 2021. Since then, a number of subvariants have taken hold. BA.5 is the strain currently dominant in the United States. While protection from an Omicron infection provided robust shielding against reinfection, those who contracted a pre-Omicron strain had little protection, according to the Qatari scientists, who were led by Dr. Laith Abu-Raddad with Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar. Pre-Omicron infection provided just 15.1 percent effectiveness against symptomatic BA.4 and BA.5 reinfection and just 28 percent infection against any reinfection. The scientists analyzed data from national COVID-19 databases. Infections before Omicron were those that occurred before Dec. 19, 2021, when the variant wave started in Qatar. Protection Strong Protection of a previous infection against BA.4/BA.5 reinfection was modest when the previous infection involved a pre-Omicron variant, but strong when the previous infection involved the Omicron BA.1 or BA.2 subvariant, the scientists wrote. Natural immunity has long been found to be superior to the protection from COVID-19 vaccines, and the new study is no exception. Vaccines provide little protection against Omicron infection and perform worse against infection and severe illness from the BA.4 and BA. 5 subvariants, studies have shown. Natural immunity also waned against BA.4 and BA.5, highlighting how the subvariants are better at evading protection, the Qatari researchers found. The group has been studying natural immunity for years and recently discovered that the protection from prior infection against severe disease showed no signs of waning, regardless of what strain infected the person. Among the listed limitations for the new study was the young population of Qatar, where just 9 percent of residents are 50 years of age or older. That means the findings may not be generalizable to other countries where elderly citizens constitute a larger proportion of the total population, researchers wrote. Some experts, including Abu-Raddad and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, continue recommending vaccination for people with natural immunity, pointing to studies that indicate one or more doses increase protection, but others say vaccination isnt needed for people who survive COVID-19, since some research suggests the elevated protection is minimal and that the naturally immune are at higher risk of vaccine side effects. The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups found almost 50 percent of the DSE interviewees suffered from the most severe stress. The survey results were released at a press conference on July 13, 2022. (HKFYG) Nearly 50 Percent of HKDSE Students Experienced Severe Stress While Wait For Results Covid-19 pandemic causes fear of imperfection in school Life The results of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination, commonly known as DSE, will be released on July 20, 2022. These results are significant to students wishing to go to top universities. An organization found almost 50 percent of the DSE interviewees suffered from the most severe stress, while over 60 percent of the respondents pressure levels had reached the maximum. As many as 60 percent felt the pandemic had tremendously impacted their exam studies. The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups conducted an online survey with 581 current DSE students between June 22 and July 7, 2022. When asked how much stress the students felt on a scale of 1 to 10, 45.8 percent expressed their stress level was between 7 to 10. However, the number is slightly lower than last years figure of 49.2 percent. While 46 percent of the interviewees are concerned that they might experience signs of anxiety. Nearly 58 percent of the total participants feel support from their loved ones is essential and adequate. In 2022, the DSE was met with the worst wave of COVID in Hong Kong. As The Education Bureau had been indecisive and erratic with the local exam rearrangements and possible cancellations, 60.6 percent of students felt the pandemic had impacted their exam preparation extensively. While over half of the students expressed that their study progress has been affected, 47.2 percent agreed that the pandemic has negatively affected their exam performance. As the pandemic continues, 73 percent of the future graduating hopefuls said celebrations and extracurricular activities have been canceled, resulting in the feeling of missing something in life. File photo: Anti-abortion, and pro family activists hold placards during a prayer rally to protest against an abortion agenda in Nairobi, on November 14, 2019. (Simon Maina/AFP via Getty Images) Overturning of Roe v. Wade Galvanizes Africas Pro-Lifers The Reverend Kenneth Meshoe is not accustomed to celebrating unless he is presenting a sermon at his local evangelical church. As the leader of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), a political organization with only four seats in South Africas raucous 400-member parliament, where fists sometimes fly, he does not get much time to get his points across. When he does speak, his voice is often drowned out in a cacophony of jeers from members of bigger parties especially when he stands up to condemn the most liberal abortion laws in Africa. Meshoe has done this ever since the fall of apartheid and the induction into government of Nelson Mandelas African National Congress (ANC) in 1994. But these days, he is dancing on moonlight in the halls of Parliament in Cape Town. What has happened in America is wonderful, and I hope it serves as an example to Africa and to the world that life is sacrosanctthat only God should have the power to decide who lives and who dies, Meshoe told The Epoch Times, referring to the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, the seminal 1973 precedent that largely legalized abortion in the United States. The ruling was seen as a pivotal decision for womens health issues in the United States and indeed the world, and many countries took their lead from itAfrica included. File photo: A poster advertising illegal abortion pills is seen on a bin in Sophiatown, Johannesburg, on September 29, 2020. (Luca Sola/AFP via Getty Images) Like in the United States, the issue of abortion has for decades been politically divisive on a continent where it is anathema to many cultures, but where there has nevertheless been liberalization of abortion laws for the past 30 years. According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, abortion is prohibited under any circumstance in six countries on the continent, including Congo, Egypt, and Senegal. Three decades ago, this was the case in almost every one of Africas 54 countries. Seven countries that now allow abortion on request within a given gestational period, include Angola, Benin, Mozambique, South Africa, and Tunisia. Most African countries permit abortion in certain circumstances, such as if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, or if it will save a womans life. Meshoe takes issue with the changes. I dont like this word, liberalization, he scoffed. It implies something good. What has been happening in Africa down the years is abhorrent. Why cant all these unwanted children be put up for adoption? Why must they be killed? Im hoping the U.S. Supreme Court decision now spreads to Africa, big time. File photo: Demonstrators hold placards in front of dolls bearing the inscription Article 453, near the parliament of the Moroccan capital Rabat on June 25, 2019, to protest against an abortion law. Article 453, refers to a law which punishes the voluntary termination of pregnancy (abortion) with six months to five years of imprisonment except when the health of the mother is in danger. (AFP via Getty Images) For decades, the ACDP has waged a lonely struggle against termination of pregnancy in South Africa. It was the only party to vote against adoption of the final version of the South African Constitution, because it enshrined abortion on demand and the protection of sexual orientation. In South Africa, like in a growing number of African countries, a woman has the choice to have an abortion within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, and at a later stage under certain conditions. Its also one of three African countries (the others being Benin and Zambia) that permit abortion (extending into week 20 of pregnancy) if bearing the child would significantly affect the womans social or economic circumstances. Pro-abortion groups in Africa argue this is necessary on a continent with the highest poverty rates in the world. To Meshoe and other pro-lifers, however, the legislation is an abomination. With abortion available free-of-charge at most public health facilities in South Africa, there are at least 250,000 procedures performed in the state sector annually, according to the health department, with tens of thousands more arranged privately. Sanusha Naidu, a specialist in African affairs at the Institute for Global Dialogue based in Pretoria, expects the spread of abortion rights on the continent to at least slow because of the overturning of Roe v. Wade. The implications of this beyond the U.S. are quite staggering. Policies and decisions made in the U.S. usually echo around the world, she told The Epoch Times. It definitely emboldens conservative governments who believe abortion is a liberty that should not be guaranteed to women, and should be controlled by the state[s]. It definitely will have a snowballing effect. Amukelani Matsilele, public diplomacy researcher at the African Centre for the Study of the United States at Wits University in Johannesburg, told The Epoch Times that African governments often use the United States as a democratic reference point. Naidu argues that the U.S. Supreme Court decision could lead to a kind of rejuvenation of the global gag rule first implemented by President Ronald Reagan in 1984. Reinstated by President Donald Trump, the rule also known as the Mexico City policy, blocked U.S. federal funding to nongovernmental organizations associated with abortion services. Some African governments are very fond of citing so-called American expertise when it suits their purposes. In 2020, there was a study in Kenya that found that the Kenyan government was using the global gag rule to stymie abortion debate, she said. The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has repealed the rule, but Naidu says the overturning of abortion rights in America could easily lead to similar moves in Africa, where attitudes are already hard-set against abortion. One of the pro-lifers hoping to take advantage of the Roe v. Wade overturning is Nigerias Obianju Ekeocha, one of the continents most outspoken anti-abortion advocates and founder of the Culture of Life Africa organization. A frequent guest on American Christian television networks, Ekeocha says abortion is contrary to African culture. The international community makes a big noise about population explosion in Africa, but to Africans every child born is a gift to the community, she told The Epoch Times. In particular, Ekeocha hopes that events in the United States will bolster her fight against forces she said are using abortion to perpetuate population control in Africa. Weve heard some groups say that African womens fertility is a problem; that African womens fertility cannot go hand in hand with economic development; that a woman with more than one baby will be condemned to poverty, and so its best if she has an abortion. This is so untrue and its an insult to the ingenuity and strength of African women. I know of many large African families where all the siblings are doctors, teachers, nurses, and so on. They are all making a living just fine. Yes, there are many big families who are poor. But thats due to other factors, not because their family is large, she said. The World Health Organization (WHO) says limiting abortion rights doesnt decrease abortions; it simply results in women getting abortions illegally, procedures which sometimes prove fatal. It says 97 percent of all unsafe abortions happen in developing countries, mostly in Africa. But Ekeocha maintains there are better ways to ensure the safety of mothers. What makes the difference in maternal mortality rate is not abortion, not even contraception, but its actually basic antenatal and prenatal care, access to doctors during pregnancy, access to blood transfusion services for cases of bleeding, access to good obstetric care But, says Naidu, most countries in Africa are very far from gaining access to such healthcare. In its absence, she says, they depend on U.S. assistance to fund family planning and quality post-abortion services. That help, she says, is now in jeopardy. From Meshoes perspective, thats just fine. I have no doubt that the American taxpayer dollars can be used for better things in Africa, things that will improve health on the continent without killing babies, he said. Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mehmet Oz greets supporters after the primary race resulted in an automatic recount due to close results in Newtown, Pa., on May 17, 2022. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images) Oz and Fetterman: Pennsylvania Senate Race Tight Despite Differences Pennsylvanias U.S. Senate race is one of the most watched races in the country. The open seat, being vacated by Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), is pivotal to the Senates balance of power. It hasnt been held by an elected Democrat since 1969, although longtime Republican Sen. Arlen Specter switched to the Democratic Party in 2009 while in office. Specter served from 1981 until 2011, when Toomey was elected. The Senate currently has 50 Republicans, 48 Democrats, and two independents who caucus with the Democrats. Now, with no incumbent advantage in Pennsylvania, Democrats see potential to flip the seat. Their candidate, John Fetterman has consistently had a slight lead in the polls, after a comfortable victory in the primary. Republicans hope to regain power in the Senate by holding on to Pennsylvania with candidate Mehmet Oz and flipping seats in other states. Oz had a tough primary, and Republicans who supported other candidates are still working up their enthusiasm for him. Candidates Differ Greatly The candidates are vastly different, according to political analyst Terry Madonna, senior fellow in residence for political affairs at Millersville University in Pennsylvania. Different personalities. Different styles the whole way. I mean, its rare to find those kinds of huge differences, Madonna told The Epoch Times. Yet, the polling is close. Ive not seen a single poll that shows a double-digit lead for either, he said. John Fetterman fills out his emergency absentee ballot for the Pennsylvania primary election in Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital in Lancaster, Pa., on May 17, 2022. (Bobby Maggio via AP) Oz is a heart surgeon and television personality. Fetterman is the former mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, and the states current lieutenant governor, who has worked alongside Gov. Tom Wolf for the past four years. Oz wears suits and has a tidy haircut; Fetterman shaves his head and wears baggy shorts and hooded sweatshirts. But they have a few things in common. Both of them went to Harvard. Each has a level of political charisma. Neither has put discussion of serious voter issues at the forefront of their campaigns. Fetterman has avoided talking about issues, using memorable stunts to illustrate that Oz isnt a longtime resident of Pennsylvania, but moved to the state soon before campaigning. Fetterman sent an advertising airplane over the New Jersey shore, pulling a banner that said Hey Dr. Oz. Welcome home to NJ! [with a picture of a heart] John, and he posted a video on Twitter of Jersey Shore reality television personality Nicole Snooki Polizzi asking Oz why he would leave New Jersey to look for a new job. ICYMI we had a big weekend fun summer memories down the shore pic.twitter.com/jKMtGvzPN2 John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) July 13, 2022 Oz has posted Twitter memes highlighting high gas prices and the well-known I did that gas pump sticker with President Joe Biden pointing at the price, adding a similar sticker of his opponent, labeled the Fetterman Fee. He also posted a video welcoming Fetterman back to the campaign trail after Fetterman suffered a stroke just before the May primary and has been subsequently laying low since. In the video, wearing workout clothes, Oz finishes tying his shoes and starts jogging. Ive been praying for him. Im glad hes OK, Oz said in the video. Now that hes back, Fetterman cant keep hiding forever, he said. Joe Biden hid in his basement. How did that work out for us? Oz says he wants to debate Fetterman on the energy industry and crime. Im glad Fettermans healthy, so we can worry less about his heart and hoodie and more about the crazy leftist ideas in his head, he said. Im glad John Fetterman is returning to the campaign trail. I have a few questions for himmainly about his crazy ideas for Pennsylvania. pic.twitter.com/fZT0lRFs8h Dr. Mehmet Oz (@DrOz) July 14, 2022 Shifting Parties More voters are moving away from the Democratic Party. As of July 11, Pennsylvanias Department of State voter registrations show that 10,972 voters have switched their party from Republican to Democrat, while 35,600 voters have switched from Democrat to Republican. Thats because the Democratic Party has become the party of the left. These Democratsworking-class voters in the old mining and milling areas of Pennsylvania, became Democrats during Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal, Madonna said. Over the past decade, the Democrats became a much more progressive party, and there are profound differences. He cited cultural issues. Many working-class voters are pro-life, and they arent wild about gay marriage and LGBTQ issues, he said. The lefts approach to energy is another reason people are leaving the Democratic Party. In old coal mining and steel towns, theres now the natural gas industry. Progressive Democrats want to stop natural gas production, Madonna said. And lets talk about guns. Progressives are for gun control. Some literally want confiscation. These people are strong supporters of the Second Amendment. So on the fabric of the issues, working-class voters in the southwestern part of our state in particular, and in some areas up in the Northeast in the old anthracite coal region are dramatically different from the progressive Democrats. These voters are switching to the Republican Party, he said. But Republicans are switching to the Democratic Party in the suburbs and cities, especially college-educated suburban women, according to Madonna. The Republican base is now much more rural and small-town Pennsylvania, he said. As voter demographics change, where candidates go to campaign will matter. Fetterman has done something that Democrats have not done in recent years, Madonna said. He has gone out and campaigned among ordinary Pennsylvanians, particularly the working-class voters. Hillary [Clinton] couldnt find them. He also said Oz has been visiting a lot of small towns as well. Its in these interactions that voters will pick up more precise information about the candidates. Typically, theres a lull in campaigning over the summer, Madonna said. In mid-August, things will start to intensify. I dont think theres any doubt that its going to be one of theand maybe themost covered Senate elections in the country. Protesters gather at the police line on the west side of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Special to The Epoch Times) Prosecutors Seek 15-Year Prison Term for Man Convicted of Jan. 6 Crimes Federal prosecutors in Washington D.C. want a Texas man convicted in March of carrying a firearm in furtherance of civil disorder at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, to serve 15 years in prison, more than suggested in federal sentencing guidelines. Guy Wesley Reffitt, 49, of Wylie, Texas, was convicted on all five counts by a jury that spent two hours deliberating his fate on March 8. Other charges included obstruction of an official proceeding, entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a firearm, obstructing officers during a civil disorder, and obstruction of justice. In a 58-page sentencing memorandum filed in U.S. District Court on July 15, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nestler argued that Reffitt should receive a harsher prison sentence under a sentencing guideline related to terrorism. Reffitt will be sentenced Aug. 1 in U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. Guy Wesley Reffitt rinses his eyes after police doused him with pepper spray at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (U.S. Department of Justice/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) Although Reffitt was not charged with or convicted of terrorism, he deserves the upward departure in sentence because his Jan. 6 crime was calculated to influence or affect the conduct of government by intimidation or coercion, Nestler wrote. Nestler said Reffitt deserves the enhanced sentence for his central role in leading a mob that attacked the United States Capitol while our elected representatives met in a solemn Joint Session of Congressincluding his intention to use his gun and police-style flexicuffs to forcibly drag legislators out of the building and take over Congress. Reffitts wife, Nicole Reffitt, told The Epoch Times it was hard to process the sentence recommendation, which she said is a danger to more than just her family. To think the government wants my husband and the father of my children held for such a time for committing no acts of violence, or property damage, Nicole Reffitt said. This is where we are, a DOJ that wants to scare and intimidate other Jan 6ers into taking a plea, or even pushing them to the point of no return, horrified what could happen to their families, their careers, all because they dared to protest what seemed to be a fraudulent election and a corrupt government. The government has scared my family and other Jan. 6 families, and they continue to do so with this sentencing recommendation, she said. True tyranny is alive and thriving in the United States of America and it is not just towards my family. We are all in danger. Did Not Enter U.S. Capitol Reffitt did not enter the U.S. Capitol. Prosecutors said he carried a .40-caliber handgun in a holster while on Capitol grounds. Prosecutors said Reffitt charged at police on the west side stairs near the temporary scaffolding erected for the Jan. 20 inauguration. Police officers testified that they fired two types of projectiles at him to stop his advance, then hit him with pepper spray. Reffitts defense counsel, F. Clinton Broden of Dallas, challenged the assertion that Reffitt charged at police. Broden objected to that characterization in the pre-sentence report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. The description is contrary to the actual video of the event, Broden wrote in Reffitts sentencing memo. Nestler noted Reffitts membership in the Texas Three Percenters, described by prosecutors as an extremist militia group. He told other members gathered at the Ellipse earlier in the day of his plans to physically drag Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi out of the Capitol building by her ankles, with her head hitting every step on the way down, the sentencing memo said. Reffitts threatening statementsmade to two of his children after he returned from Washington D.C.were recounted at Reffitts trial. Prosecutors called Jackson Reffitt to testify, but not Peyton Reffitt. He specifically told his 18-year-old son Jackson and his 16-year-old daughter Peyton that if they turned him in to the FBI, they would be traitors, and traitors get shot, the report said. He also told Peyton that if she were using her cellphone to record him or post anything about him online, he would put a bullet through her phone. Prosecutors cited Reffitts statements recorded on a GoPro video camera mounted on his helmet, including: Im packing heat, and Im going to get more heat, and I am going to that [expletive] building, and I am dragging them the [expletive] out. Remarks About Pelosi Hyperbole Broden wrote in Reffitts sentencing memorandum that it is imperative that a distinction be made between what the government alleges that Guy Reffitt did and what he did not do in relation to the events of Jan. 6. Broden said his client never removed the handgun from its holster and did not assault police officers. His remarks about Pelosi, while certainly concerning, appear to be hyperbolic. While the paranoid statements Reffitt made to two of his children cant be condoned, he never gave any indication he would actually harm his children, Broden wrote. Indeed, his wife has stated that, while she was understandably disturbed by her husbands extreme statements to his children, she did not believe that he would ever act on those statements. In a letter to U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich, Peyton Reffitt said she is not afraid of her father. She told a pre-sentence investigator that Reffitt is a great father and a good man. Hes always been very protective over the family. I never felt threatened; my father doesnt threaten me, she wrote to Judge Friedrich. I rather get annoyed about his dramatic way of speech that often uses outdated references and recitations. Peytons letter said the prosecutions decision not to put her on the stand at trial was because I wasnt going to benefit their narrative. Reference letters written to Judge Friedrich spoke of Reffitts bombastic style of speaking, Broden wrote. His daughter Sarah wrote, [a]lthough some of his language sounds alarming, if you knew him, you would know that he talks with a lot of hyperbole and exaggeration, but really what he means is much more of an understatement. Sarah described her father as selfless. Guy and Nicole Reffitt (Courtesy Nicole Reffitt) He is considered a second dad by many of my friends, she wrote. He always opened his home to me and my brother and sisters friends who may have stressed or troubled lives at their own home. I had a fair share of friends who were not comfortable in their own house, whether it was neglect, abuse, or they didnt have a safe space. My dad wanted them to know that they always have a safe space in his home and made sure they always felt welcome. Broden asked Judge Friedrich to consider giving more than day-for-day credit for the more than 19 months Reffitt has been held in jail because of the harsh conditions. He said that Reffitt and other Jan. 6 detainees were allowed no visitors for nearly a year. The 22 to 23 hours a day spent in a cell is closely akin to the dangers of solitary confinement, Broden wrote. In the pre-sentence report prepared for the court, Reffitts wife, Nicole, said that after the 2016 election, her husband soon became enamored with [then-President Donald] Trump and felt that the former presidents policies were speaking to him, the report said. She noted that the defendant was obsessed with watching the news during the pandemic, and he and his family members often argued over politics in the home. Nicole Reffitt wrote to Judge Friedrich that her husband has always put others before himself. Much of Guys personality comes from the fact that he has been on his own since he was fifteen, and he has had only himself to back himself up, she wrote. Guy is exactly who he is; even if his words are conflated, his heart is true. In a letter to Judge Friedrich, Reffitt expressed insurmountable regret and said he was truly ashamed of his actions on Jan. 6. He acknowledged that the harm his criminal case caused his family is all my fault. I simply ask for a chance to prove myself again, Reffitt wrote. By Trend Reiterating its commitment to Sri Lanka, India on Thursday said that New Delhi will continue to stand with the people of the island nation and their aspirations through democratic means and a constitutional framework. Addressing the weekly media briefing today, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that India denied having any role or facilitating Gotabaya Rajapaksas departure or his travel from Sri Lanka. You would have seen comments that our High Commission made. Weve categorically denied having any role or facilitating his (Gotabaya Rajapaksa) departure or his travel from Sri Lanka. Im not in a position to guess wheres he. I have seen media reports right now that he is in Singapore, he said. We will continue to stand with the people of Sri Lanka, and their aspirationsthrough democratic means and a constitutional framework, MEA spokesperson added. According to media reports, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who flew from the Maldives arrived in Singapore on board a Saudia Airlines flight today. Singapores Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Rajapaksa has been allowed entry into Singapore on a private visit and he has not asked for asylum and nor has he been granted asylum. In response to media queries, it is confirmed that Mr Rajapaksa has been allowed entry into Singapore on a private visit. He has not asked for asylum and neither has he been granted any asylum. Singapore generally does not grant requests for asylum, said the Singapore MFA. The flight touched down at Singapore Changi airport at 7.17 pm (local time). Rajapaksa is however expected to be in Singapore only in transit and is expected to fly to the Middle East later in the day, reported Daily Mirror. Russia is deliberately seeking to destroy the Ukrainian identity and cultural heritage of Ukraine, so international organizations should increase pressure on the aggressor state, Culture Minister of Ukraine Oleksandr Tkachenko has said. "As of today, the Russians have committed 423 crimes against our cultural heritage. They are targeting our heritage on purpose. Each speaker expressed his vision of the war in Ukraine and this is the only one Russia is trying to destroy our identity. International organizations should increase pressure on Russia to stop this terrorism against the Ukrainian nation," Tkachenko said on his Telegram channel following the meeting of the UN Security Council on Friday. He said the meeting was attended by both permanent representatives of countries to the UN, and representatives of UNESCO and International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). "All participants (except Russia, of course) condemned Russia's aggression against Ukraine, which destroys the cultural heritage, our language, literature, plunders our museums. This is an attempt to wipe everything Ukrainian off the face of the earth. But the whole world understands this and Russia will not succeed," the minister said. He also thanked Albania and Poland for organizing and all participating countries for supporting Ukraine. "Only together can we stop the aggressor," Tkachenko said. The effects of psychoactive drugs should be part of mass shooting discussion We dont know if Robert Crimo III, the confessed attacker in the mass shooting at a Fourth of July parade in a Chicago suburb, was on psychoactive drugs when he acted but we do know that police were called to his home in 2019 for suicidal behavior and that he was remanded to the psychiatric system. Mass shooters in the United States tend to be young, obsessive, male loners and many have been prescribed psychoactive drugs. For example, Eric Harris, one of the two shooters at Columbine High School in Columbine, Colorado, in 1999which ushered in the current spate of mass shootingswas on the psychotropic drug Luvox. Prescribing information for the antidepressant says, Close supervision of patients and in particular those at high risk should accompany drug therapy. Jeff Weise, who fatally shot his grandfather, his grandfathers girlfriend, and then seven others at the Red Lake Senior High School in Minnesota in 2005, was on the well-known antidepressant Prozac. Two years later, Cho Seung-Hui, who perpetrated the Virginia Tech mass shooting, also was found to be on psychoactive antidepressants. We urgently need a national debate about guns. But we also urgently need a national debate about the epidemic of mood-altering drugs being prescribed to young Americans, Arianna Huffington wrote in 2007 after the Virginia Tech killer shot 32 people and then himself. The following year, in 2008, another university was targeted. Steven Kazmierczak fatally shot seven at Northern Illinois University. He had also been prescribed Prozac, which he had recently stopped taking. BBC Questions Another Mass Shooters Medication Few can forget the Batman shootings at an Aurora, Colorado, movie theater in 2012. James Holmes, the gunman who fatally shot 12 and wounded scores, was on antidepressants. The suspicion among some reporters and doctors that the antidepressants explained the rampage was so strong that the BBC created an in-depth report titled The Batman Killer a Prescription for Murder? in 2017. Why else would a clever, shy guy with no history of violence, from a loving home, carry out such a heinous attack? except for the effect of the psychoactive drugs, BBCs Shelley Jofre wrote in the report. He had no enemies, no terrorist ideology to drive him on. Dr. David Healy, a psychiatrist and psycho-pharmacologist who has written books about the risks of antidepressants, studied Holmes case and interviewed him in prison. These killings would never have happened had it not been for the medication James Holmes had been prescribed, he concluded. Dr. Wendy Burn, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, on the other hand, is cited in the BBC report as disagreeing and doubting Healys pronouncement. In all treatmentsfrom cancer to heart diseasemedicines which do good can also do harm, she said. Current evidence from large-scale studies continues to show that for antidepressants, the benefits outweigh the risks. Attack Spawned by Racial Hatred Dylann Roofs fatal shooting of nine congregants at Charlestons Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in 2015 showed racism and gun violence at its worst. While the United States has seen other racially motivated and church shootings, the cold-blooded calculation of Roofs murders brought the nation to a new level of outrage and horror. Two years later, 19 documents unsealed by U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel revealed that Roof, too, was on antidepressants. Two other mass shootings had preceded Roofs slayings. In 2013, Aaron Alexis fatally shot 12 people at the Washington Navy Yard in southeast Washington, where he had security clearance. Less than a month before the killings, Alexis was prescribed the antidepressant trazodone. The following year, Army Specialist Ivan Lopez, fatally shot four people on the Fort Hood military base near Killeen, Texas, after a highly publicized Fort Hood shooting in 2009. According to The Washington Post, Gen. Mark A. Milley, who was then the bases commander, said Lopez had behavioral health and mental health issues and was taking antidepressants. Sixty-four mass shootings have occurred in the United States since Lopezs rampage eight years ago, including the recent Fourth of July shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, according to a gun violence database. Disturbing Psychoactive Drug Side Effects Are Well-Known Awareness of these unpredictable medications is not new. Four days after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012, when awareness of mass shootings reached a peak, Geoffrey Ingersol of Business Insider wrote that psychoactive drugs the FDA pumped out [had] an ability to exact the opposite desired effect on people: that is, you know, inducing rather than inhibiting psychosis and aggressive behavior. Antipsychotic drugs, which the Sandy Hook shooter was originallyand mistakenlythought to have taken, are not the only ones that can cause the opposite of their desired effect, Ingersol noted. Several antidepressant medications are also restricted to adults, for the depression they inspire in kids rather than eliminate. Ingersoll is likely referring to the warning about paradoxical and dangerous drug effects in young people that appears on the labels of most psychoactive drugs. For example, prescribing information for Prozac includes a boxed warningthe FDAs strictestthat reads WARNING: SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS. Increased risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults taking antidepressants. Monitor for worsening and emergence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Psychoactive Drugs Often Behind Mass Shootings Many and perhaps most health care professionals dispute a link between mass shootings and psychoactive drugs. I do not know of any research linking medications to mass shootings and, in fact, there is some work showing benzodiazepines decrease violence, Michael Rocque, associate professor of sociology at Bates College, told WUSA9. In other words, I would not be confident linking the medication to violence, let alone mass shootings. Some worry that such a link would eclipse the need to stop killers from getting guns or would stigmatize the mentally ill. Yet, writing in the journal New Male Studies a few years ago, Jeanne Stolzer, associate professor of child and adolescent development at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, observes that despite the multitude of international drug regulatory warnings on all classifications of psychiatric medications citing adverse reactions such as suicidal ideation, homicidal ideation, violence, and psychosis, not one local, state, or federal commission has investigated the correlation between the mass shootings in America and the use of psychiatric medications. Clearly not all mass shooters are on psychoactive drugs nor do the drugs always cause out-of- control behavior. On the other hand, a 2019 article on the website Thought Catalogue lists and documents 37 mass shooters who were on psychoactive drugs when they committed their spreesa fact that should make public health and law enforcement officials take notice. News reports following a mass killing seldom include information about shooters psychoactive drug use and we likely wont know about the psychoactive drug status of the Fourth of July attacker. Still, along with discussion of gun laws, mass depression and anxiety, and violent movies and video games, the effects of psychoactive drugs should be part of the mass shooting discussion. Then-Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer speaks during an event at the Library of Congress for the 2022 Supreme Court Fellows Program hosted by the Law Library of Congress in Washington, on Feb. 17, 2022. (Evan Vucci-Pool/Getty Images) Retired Justice Stephen Breyer to Return to Harvard Law School Faculty Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer has been appointed as a professor at Harvard Law School, where he previously taught for more than a decade. In a release, the school said 83-year-old Breyers appointment at the school as the Byrne Professor of Administrative Law and Process is effective immediately. The Byrne chair, which [Breyer] will now hold alongside Professor Todd Rakoff 75, was previously held by Justice Felix Frankfurter LL.B. 1906 from 1924 until his appointment to the Supreme Court in 1939, Harvard Law School announced. Breyer, an appointee of Democratic President Bill Clinton, joined the Supreme Court in 1994. He retired from the court on June 30 after having served on the Supreme Court for almost 30 years. He was succeeded by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Breyer graduated from Harvard Law School in 1964 and joined the Harvard faculty where he taught from 1967 to 1980. He also held a joint appointment at the Kennedy School of Government from 1977 to 1980. According to Harvard, Breyer will teach seminars and reading groups, continue to write books and produce scholarship, and participate in the intellectual life of the school and in the broader Harvard community. I am very pleased to return to Harvard to teach there and to write, Breyer said in a statement. Among other things, I will likely try to explain why I believe it important that the next generations of those associated with the law engage in work, and take approaches to law, that help the great American constitutional experiment work effectively for the American people. The Harvard Law School release said that Breyer has written extensively on wide-ranging subjects, including administrative and regulatory policy, comparative constitutional law, and statutory and constitutional interpretation. Cass Sunstein, a professor at the faculty, praised Breyers scholarship in administrative law. More than anyone, Breyer has injected regulatory policy into administrative law, and demonstrated that the two must be studied in tandem, Sunstein said in a statement. He also praised Breyer as a colleague. [Breyer] is a generous critic, full of constructive suggestions; he combines natural academic instincts with practical experience, which leads to some unique, and uniquely valuable, perspectives on other peoples projects. Rotten Tomatoes now has The Bourne Legacy (2012) at critics: 55, audience: 58. This is very surprising, considering this is a rip-roaring actioner with crackling tension throughout, very well made, and highly entertaining. Normally, a film like this would rate at least in the mid-80s with audiences. The critics take is predictable. More on the low audience Rotten Tomatoes score later. Agent #5, Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner) and Dr. Marta Shearing (Rachel Weisz) getting lost in a crowd to escape hitmen, in The Bourne Legacy. (Universal Pictures) Bourne Movies The wildly successful Bourne movies have certain common ingredients, starting with some form of identity crisis of the central character, a rogue CIA black ops agent (assassin) whos off the reservation and usually has memory loss. In addition, the franchise features exotic and riveting, realistic fight scenes utilizing the Israeli militarys Krav Maga and Filipino stick-fighting art of Escrima. They also include buildering (climbing buildings, as opposed to bouldering, climbing boulders), and parkour (the gymnastic ability to navigate and flow in and around structures without assisting equipment in the fastest and most efficient way possible). There are usually rooftop escapes from fellow CIA assassins, and lastly, idyllic tropical endings on boats. Agent Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner) rescuing doctor Marta Shearing in The Bourne Legacy. (Universal Pictures) The Bourne Identity, the first movie of the Bourne series, was so engrossing that it started a Hollywood-wide trend. Every action film since then has been heavily influenced by it. No less so the fourth installment in this hit franchise, The Bourne Legacy. New Actor Although Matt Damons Jason Bourne was no longer in the franchise at this point, Legacy was easily the best action-thriller of summer of 2012. Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner) rescuing of the doctor in charge of his meds, in The Bourne Legacy. (Universal Pictures) Unlike Jason Bourne, Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner of The Hurt Locker, and Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe) is not an assassin of the CIAs Treadstone program, but an Outcome operator, belonging to the Department of Defense. Outcome agents are utilized for even more dangerous, deep-cover assignments than Treadstone. Both the Treadstone and Outcome programs share the highly unethical, top-secret genetic and chemical tampering by a pharmaceutical behemoth, but Outcomes tampering produces a more lethal operator; sort of like the T2 Terminator. (Interestingly, the current TV series, The Terminal List also features a pharmaceutical behemoth called Capstone (instead of Treadstone), that likewise deals in surreptitious governmental/military genetic tampering with soldiers and agents.) When Jason Bournes off-the-reservation status becomes public knowledge, the hidden existence of Outcome also becomes vulnerable. Someone under a rock somewhere, in the shadows, cant have that. Col. Eric Byer, USAF, Ret. (Edward Norton) in The Bourne Legacy. (Universal Pictures) The omniscient camera-eye turns over that rock, exposing one Col. Eric Byer (Edward Norton). Hes the one originally responsible for building all these black-operations programs. Byer feels the sword of Damocles hanging over Outcomes existencethe science is in danger of getting on CNN. As the CIA fails to cover up Bourne, Byer makes the decision to raze Outcome to the ground, including everyone involvedagents, doctors, lab technicians, and all. Dr. Marta Shearing (Rachel Weisz) doing a workup of Outcome agent #5 (Jeremy Renner), in The Bourne Legacy. (Universal Pictures) The CIAs Doh! Factor Outcome agents, while having more cutting-edge abilities than their Treadstone predecessors, are also harder to control. Having one of these human pit bulls become disgruntled and manage to escape its kennel (another Bourne ingredient) means the CIA is immediately at risk of getting severely bitten in the proverbial backside. Outcome Agents #3 (Oscar Isaac) and #5 (Jeremy Renner) in the Alaskan outback, in The Bourne Legacy. (Universal Pictures) Set largely in Alaska, there are aspects of the movie The Grey. Timber wolves abound, but unlike that film, the Bourne wolves get more than they bargained for with a genetically enhanced assassin. Alaskan timber wolf deciding that Outcome Agent #5 (Jeremy Renner) would make a splendid lunch, in The Bourne Legacy. (Universal Pictures) Theres an encounter with unfriendly Outcome agent #3 (Oscar Isaac) whos been banished to an outpost in the mountains for a romantic transgression; a Predator drone on snow pontoons looking for them in Alaska, Lethal Predator drone tracking Outcome agents in Alaska, in The Bourne Legacy. (Universal Pictures) and lots of intrigue, second-guessing, and mind games. We experience how devastating a drone strike really is. Theres an especially tense massacre in a chemical lab. And when Legacy finally cuts to the chase, its one heck of a chase. Rachel Weisz and Jeremy Renner in the action-adventure thriller The Bourne Legacy, about an elite CIA assassin trying to avoid assassination by his own agency. (Universal Pictures) Low R.T. Rating Matt Damon owned Jason Bourne so thoroughly, much like Sean Connery owning James Bond, that its most likely the case that audiences and critics alike felt a bit betrayed by the introduction of Jeremy Renner. The universal knee-jerk reaction seems to have been get this new guy out of here! I myself felt the same way but decided to reserve judgement; Renner should be innocent until proven guilty. Outcome Agents #3 (Oscar Isaac, in a tree) and #5 (Jeremy Renner) in Alaska. in The Bourne Legacy. (Universal Pictures) It could be argued that it was Matt Damons humble everyman persona and no-nonsense sensibility that made the Bourne series so believable, and therefore riveting. Damon specializes in everyday men who are somewhat bland on the surface yet genius-level brilliant underneath. Thats who he is in real life, a good-looking but regular Joe. Who just happened to attend Harvard. Jeremy Renners stock-in-trade is an even more regular-looking guy who radiates a powerful undercurrent of danger. Given the new storyline, Renner was a perfect casting replacement for Damon. Outcome agent Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner) rescuing doctor Marta Shearing, in The Bourne Legacy. (Universal Pictures) What also made the first Bourne movie so compelling was the redemption aspect. Bournes loss of memory allowed a different consciousness to step in, one that appeared to still have an unsullied conscience, and which recoiled in disgust upon discovering his earlier existence as a trained assassin. Renners Aaron Cross knows exactly who he is and what he does for a living. When the chems in his system wear off, he may have a change of heart. But thats another movie. For now, in The Bourne Legacy, hes just dangerousand highly watchable. Movie poster for The Bourne Legacy. The Bourne Legacy Director: Tony Gilroy Starring: Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton, Albert Finney, Joan Allen, Stacy Keach, Oscar Isaac, Scott Glenn MPAA Rating: PG-13 Running Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes Rating: 4 stars out of 5 Russia Says It Is Stepping Up Operations as More Rockets Hit Ukraine KYIVRussia has ordered its forces in Ukraine to step up operations, its defence ministry said on Saturday, as rockets and missiles pounded the country in the latest of a series of bombardments that Kyiv says have killed dozens of people in recent days. In the latest strikes, missiles hit the northeastern town of Chuhuiv in Kharkiv region, killing three people and wounding three more, the regional governor Oleh Synehubov said. To the south, regional governor Valentyn Reznichenko said more than 50 Russian Grad rockets fell on the city of Nikopol, on the Dnipro River. Two people were killed, emergency services said. Ukraine says around 40 people have been killed in such attacks on urban areas in the last three days. Russias defence ministry said in a statement on its website that Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu had ordered military units to step up their operations to prevent strikes on eastern Ukraine and other territories controlled by Russia. It said Shoigu gave the necessary instructions to further increase the actions of groups in all operational areas in order to exclude the possibility of the Kyiv regime launching massive rocket and artillery strikes on civilian infrastructure and residents of settlements in Donbas and other regions. The ministry said Shoigu had issued his order after listening to reports at a command centre from generals leading the South and Centre command groups of Russian forces operating in Ukraine, as well as other commanders. It was not clear from the statement, or the silent footage provided, exactly when the meeting took place or whether Shoigu and the commanders were in Ukraine at the time. Ukrainian rocket strikes using Western-supplied systems have destroyed more than 30 Russian military logistics centres in recent weeks and significantly reduced Russias attacking potential, Ukraine claimed on Friday. While the focus of the war, now in its fifth month, has moved to Ukraines eastern Donbass region, Russia forces have been striking cities elsewhere in the country with missiles and rockets in what has become an increasingly attritional conflict. Late on Friday, Russian missiles hit the city of Dnipro, about 120 km (75 miles) north of Nikopol, killing three people and wounding 15, Reznychenko, governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region that includes both cities, said on Telegram. Russia said on Saturday it had destroyed a factory in Dnipro making missile parts. Emergency services work next to a damaged building at the site of a Russian military strike in Vinnytsia, Ukraine, on July 14, 2022. (Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters) Conflict Divides G20 The war dominated a meeting of G20 finance ministers in Indonesia. U.S Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said differences over the conflict had prevented the finance chiefs and central bankers from issuing a formal communique but that they agreed on a need to address a worsening food security crisis. Western countries have imposed tough sanctions on Russia and have accused it of war crimes in Ukraine, which Moscow denies. Other G20 nations, including China, India and South Africa, have been more muted in their response. Despite the bloodshed, both Russia and Ukraine described progress towards an agreement to lift a blockade in recent talks. Mediator Turkey has said a deal could be signed next week. By Tom Balmforth and Max Hunder Supreme Court Nixes Double Royalties for Streaming or Downloading Music Online Songwriters are entitled to just one royaltynot twowhen their music is streamed or downloaded through an online service, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled. The top courts decision Friday clarifies the meaning of a Canadian copyright law provision dealing with communication of a work to the public online. Canada ushered in the provision after signing on to an international treaty that obliged member countries to protect on-demand transmissions and give authors the right to control when and how their work is made available for downloading or streaming. The Copyright Board of Canada ruled the legislative provision meant that making a song or other artistic work available was a separately protected activity for which there must be compensation. The board said this entitled rights holders to two payments when a work is distributed online: one when it is made available on a platform such as iTunes or Spotify, and a second when it is actually streamed or downloaded by a listener. The Federal Court of Appeal tossed out the boards decision. The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada and Music Canada, which represents major record labels, asked the Supreme Court to overturn the Court of Appeals decision and adopt the boards interpretation. Parties including Apple Canada and major telecommunications companies said the court should reject this position on the grounds copyright law does not require payment of two royalties each time a work is streamed or downloaded. In writing for a majority of the Supreme Court, Justice Malcolm Rowe said the Copyright Act does not exist solely for the benefit of authors. Its overarching purpose is to balance authors and users rights by securing just rewards for authors while facilitating public access to works, Rowe wrote. When this balance is achieved, society is enriched. Authors are encouraged to produce more works, and users gain access to works which they can use to inspire their own original artistic and intellectual creations. The court said the boards interpretation undermined the purpose of copyright law, violating the principle of technological neutrality by requiring users to pay additional royalties to access works online. This principle holds that, absent parliamentary intent to the contrary, the Copyright Act should not be interpreted so as to favour or discriminate against any form of technology, Rowe said. It protects authors and users by ensuring that works attract the same rights and give rise to the same royalties regardless of the technological means used to distribute the works. The Copyright Act provides authors with rights related to the reproduction and performance of their works. Similar to off-line distributions, downloading or streaming works will continue to engage only one copyright interest and require paying one royaltya reproduction royalty for downloads or a performance royalty for streams, Rowe wrote. Under the law, a work is performed as soon as it is made available for on-demand streaming, he added. At that point, a royalty is payable. If the work is later streamed by a user, no additional royalty is payable because the stream is part of a continuous act of performance that began when the work was made available. The value of these rights was not at issue in the appeal, Rowe noted. Therefore, setting the appropriate royalties when these rights come into play is a matter for the board to decide. By Jim Bronskill Flags of Taiwan and the United States are placed for a meeting in Taipei, Taiwan on March 27, 2018. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters) Taiwan Welcomes Fifth US Arms Sale Under Bidens Administration The Taiwanese government on Friday welcomed its fifth prospective arms deal with the United States under the Biden administration. In a statement, Taiwans Presidential Office said the deal includes the purchase of spare parts for tanks and combat vehicles, including contractor logistical and technical support, worth $108 million. [The deal] will not only help maintain the proper equipment of the army vehicles and implement combat readiness training tasks, but also effectively enhance the self-defense capability of the national army, it stated. The Presidential Office said the U.S. approval of the arms sale demonstrated that Washington placed great importance on Taiwans national defense needs and honored its security commitments to Taiwan. Taiwan will continue to demonstrate its self-defense determination, strengthen its self-defense capabilities, and safeguard its national security and the free and democratic way of life of its people, it added. US Aims to Maintain Taiwans Political Stability The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DCSA) said in a statement that it had delivered the required certification notifying Congress of the possible arms sale. According to the DCSA, the proposed arm sale would help Taiwan maintain its security and political stability, as well as military balance, economic and progress in the region. The proposed sale will contribute to the sustainment of the recipients vehicles, small arms, combat weapon systems, and logistical support items, enhancing its ability to meet current and future threats, it said, adding that it would help to enhance Taiwans interoperability with the U.S. and other allies. US Security Policy on Taiwan However, the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council said the deal demonstrates that the Biden administrations security policy on Taiwan no longer prioritizes force modernization of its military, instead focusing on sustainment and munition. The [Chinese Peoples Liberation Army] will naturally focus on these emerging vulnerabilities, as they adapt to the shortcomings of U.S. policy, council president Ruppert Hammond-Chambers said in a statement. The U.S. Taiwan Business Council again call on the Biden administration to provide strategic clarity on where U.S. forces will fill gaps in Taiwans defense brought on by these changes to U.S. policy, he added. Chinas communist regime claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to conquer it by force if necessary. President Joe Biden has said that Washington will defend Taiwan if China attacks, but the U.S. policy on Taiwan remains unchanged. According to the State Department, Washington does not support Taiwans independence and opposes any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side, although it would still provide Taiwan with the capabilities necessary to maintain its defense. Texas Man Detained in 4 California Killings From Decades Ago LOS ANGELESA man has been arrested in Texas in connection with the Southern California slayings of four women decades ago, police said. Billy Ray Richardson, 76, was arrested on Thursday by detectives from the Los Angeles and suburban Inglewood police departments with the assistance of officers from Fort Worth, Texas, police. Richardson was charged by Los Angeles County prosecutors with four counts of first-degree murder with the special circumstance of multiple murder and murder in the commission of rape, Los Angeles police said in a statement. The statement said investigative and forensic work over the decades linked Richardson to the 1980 killings of Beverly Cruse, Debra Cruse, and Kari Lenander in Los Angeles and the 1995 slaying of Trina Wilson in Inglewood. Prosecutors said all four victims were raped and that DNA evidence linked Richardson to the crimes. It was not immediately known if Richardson had an attorney to comment on his behalf. He was in custody in Texas on Thursday awaiting extradition to Los Angeles, police said. Beverly Cruse, 25, and Debra Cruse, 22, were sisters who were found dead by their brother in Beverlys apartment on March 6, 1980, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing its story from that time. Prosecutors said in a statement Friday that each woman had been shot in the head three times. Leander was 15 when she was found strangled on a street on July 26, 1980, prosecutors said. Wilson, 28, was slain on Dec. 31, 1995, at Inglewoods North Park. Her throat had been slashed. Lush vegetation and turquoise waters make for a beautiful backdrop at The Racha. (fivetonine/Shutterstock) Thailand to Offer Land Ownership to Eligible Foreigners Thailands Interior Ministry said on Friday that it would draft regulations to allow eligible foreigners to buy land as the government seeks to stimulate the countrys economy and foreign investment. Foreigners would need to invest 40 million baht ($1 million) in Thailand for three years to be eligible for land ownership, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said, Bangkok Post reported. Thanakorn said the scheme would allow foreigners to buy up to 1 rai of land (about 0.4 acres), including some tax incentives and a 10-year visa, which is aimed at skilled professionals and pensioners. The scheme, which will be reviewed after five years, is expected to contribute one trillion baht (around $27 billion) to Thailands economy and increase investment by 800 billion baht ($21.8 billion), he added. Mixed Reactions From Locals However, the scheme was met with ambivalent responses from local organizations, who worry that it could result in foreigners taking up more land in Thailand. As a lot of Thai people still own no land, why should we allow foreign investors to take more of the countrys land? said Pornpana Kuaycharoen, founder of Land Watch Thai, according to Thaiger. Sanan Angubolkul, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the government should impose additional requirements for foreigners to buy land, such as allowing land purchases only in designated zones. Foreigners with the privilege must purchase first-hand land and property only and resell it to Thai nationals only, and purchases must be made in designated zones, Sanan said. Under current legislation, foreigners are only allowed to own at most 49 percent of a condominium building and rent land in Thailand. Malaysia is the only Southeast Asian nation that offers land ownership to foreigners. Naomi Wolf, author of The Bodies of Others: The New Authoritarians, COVID-19 and the War Against the Human." (Ruilian Song/The Epoch Times) The War on Humanity How Big Tech and big government are driving society apart and pushing cruelty over tolerance It isnt just the virus or the vaccine, says columnist and author Naomi Wolf, regarding the growth of tyranny in America. Its a little bit of cruelty, a little bit of inequality, a little bit of discrimination. In a recent episode of American Thought Leaders, host Jan Jekielek and Wolf discussed Big Techs role in the pandemic, the erosion of American freedoms, and ways to counter these attacks on our Constitution and on our way of life. Her latest book is titled The Bodies of Others: The New Authoritarians, COVID-19, and the War Against the Human. Jan Jekielek: A major thesis in your book is that we in free societies have started behaving more like people in unfree societies. Naomi Wolf: A year ago, we were in a freer America than we are now. President Joe Biden in April declared an extension of emergency law, and, for the first time, his declaration is without an ending date. At least 22 states are under emergency law. In another of my books, this is what I call step 10, the last stage of the closing down of a democratic civil society. The pandemic provided cover and a pretext for a handful of bad actors such as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the World Economic Forum, and tech companies to exploit the crisis to reengineer our democracies, especially the United States. This is a targeting, not just of our Western freedoms, but also of our culture, specifically our families and our children. I wanted to tell that story as wellthe human side. My husband and I, for example, were excluded from gatherings because we arent vaccinated. Friends of mine who would never discriminate against someone on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, or race were happily embracing a discrimination which labeled some people as clean, valuable members of society, while ostracizing the unvaccinated. I also tell the stories of friends and neighbors, like restaurateur Paul in Boston who was struggling to keep 20 workers families fed when the board of health wouldnt let him open up, and the waitress at the local diner, a single mom, and her son having to come home from college, through no fault of her own. The American dream was closing for small business owners, landlords, mom-and-pop shops, and other hard workers. Suddenly, no matter what they did, they couldnt survive, compete, or protect their families and livelihoods. Mr. Jekielek: One thing that fascinated me was your take on Big Tech involvement. Ms. Wolf: One of the buzzwords of the tech industry is disruptive. That isnt a negative. Its usually considered a high compliment to say that someone has created software or a digital process disruptive to an industry. Thats the context for understanding one of the core revelations in The Bodies of Others. Tech companies had an active hand in shaping legislation and in presenting the drama of COVID and lockdowns to us. They also presented the vaccine rollout so as to change human behavior and human society. When you understand that Big Tech companies are competing with human beings gathering in human spaces, you understand why there was a vested interest in suppressing human assembly. Because when youre a tech company, you cant really compete with humans. When humans gather to worship, a digital platform cant compete with that. When they gather in person in a town hall, they can create outcomes and solutions much more efficiently than they can in even the best Zoom meeting. So one thing they want to disrupt is human assembly. Every time you shop at your local baker, and you chat with your neighbors afterward in a cafe, no money is being made by digital technology companies. When youre at school or worshipping in church, they arent making money. But if you can disrupt all of that, lock people in their homes and drive them onto their screens, then youre harvesting money in multiple ways. There are really only three basic business models for most software companies: eyeballs, meaning your attention; subscriptions, meaning a paywall; and your data, which theyre harvesting as youre surfing the web. There are vast marketplaces for selling your data; when people gather with their friends, none of that is happening. So businesses like Amazon went up 20 to 25 percent in net revenue, as did Google, Microsoft, and Nintendo in the two years from 2020 to 2022. Vaccine passports are the current gold rush. The tech companies have hit their limits of growth being in your computer, but the human body isnt yet fully colonized by digital technology. If you can create laws to compel people to have vaccines, be in a vaccine registry, and require a vaccine passport to access activities like commerce, schooling, and public transportation, you can switch peoples access on and off through their vaccine passport. It compels you to ask permission of technology to be human. Bodily autonomy is a basic human right of any real democracy. You get to decide what happens to your body. Thats just a fundamental right from the First Amendment, the Fourth Amendment, the Constitution, HIPAA [Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act], ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act], the Geneva Conventions, and the Nuremberg Code. But it isnt just the virus or the vaccine. Its a little bit of cruelty, a little bit of inequality, a little bit of discrimination. Until recently, we were a decent, inclusive culture that respected peoples boundaries and freedoms. Now we tolerate a CCP-style cruelty, not at the level of China, but far beyond what free societies are supposed to tolerate. Mr. Jekielek: And a significant number of people are actively engaged in the cruelty. If I were to say this even to some folks I know well, they might say: Youre crazy, Jan. What are you talking about? Ms. Wolf: I know what youre talking about. This is one more kind of splintering. In a way, America is now divided based on what news you consume. People I love and respect who read The New York Times and watch CNN and MSNBC are being lied to every single day about the vaccines and the pandemic. Some have spoken about mass formation psychosis. People in that bubble I just mentioned say things like, Dont show me that primary source documentation. But thank God theres the other half of the country. That half of the country is conservative and libertarian, and they follow a lot of independent media. Conservative media has been a lot better on these issues, and also, The Epoch Times. Theres also one more division in this country: the weaponization of the pandemic as a propaganda device. It didnt play on excluding and hating another person for their color, race, or religion. Whats so demonically brilliant about this propaganda is that it was altruistic. People asking questions or gathering or worshipping were cast as ignorant, infectious, and selfish. This brilliantly upended American culture, because it cast freedom as selfish, whereas a kind of CCP-style groupthink, submissive to authority and the community, was defined as altruistic and good. Mr. Jekielek: What can we do? Ms. Wolf: As I say in the book, one thing that feels so wrong is that were Americans, but were now expected to behave more like people in a tyrannical society. But Im also heartened, because when you understand whats coming at you, you can strategize a lot better. There are many things we can do, and one of them is just practical. My company, DailyClout, hired a lawyer, and we drafted legislation called the Five Freedoms Bill. Besides addressing opening schools now, the bill calls for no mask mandates, no vaccine passports, no emergency law, and freedom of assembly. We passed variations of those bills by working with state legislators in 33 states. America is freer than Canada, Australia, Britain, and Europe right now, largely because of actions like those. But the most important thing, in addition to understanding whats coming at us, is to assemble. Theres a weakening of resources when people are kept apart. But when we gather in town halls, when we invite friends or neighbors over for a potluck, then we can coordinate. Already theres this incredible grassroots resistance I describe in The Bodies of Others, groups like Moms for Liberty and the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance. Left and right are coming together at a grassroots level, saying, We have to save our Constitution, our freedoms, and our kids. A lot of people want the United States to fail. The smartest thing they can do is keep us apart from one other, from bonding the way we used to bond. Thats all the more reason to put down your digital device, restart all the volunteer organizations and community centers in your neighborhood, and take back this country. America was a beacon to all nations, and thats what theyve tried to kill off. We need to lay claim once again to our country, our culture, and our founding documents. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. Jan Jekielek Senior Editor Follow Jan Jekielek is a senior editor with The Epoch Times and host of the show, "American Thought Leaders." Jans career has spanned academia, media, and international human rights work. In 2009 he joined The Epoch Times full time and has served in a variety of roles, including as website chief editor. He is the producer of the award-winning Holocaust documentary film "Finding Manny." A logo of Toyota Motor Corp. at the company's showroom in Tokyo, on June 14, 2016. (Toru Hanai/Reuters) Toyota Revamps Crown Range, With New Models Including SUV to Be Sold Outside Japan MAKUHARI, JapanToyota Motor Corp. unveiled four new models of its Crown range on Friday, including a sport-utility vehicle (SUV) for the first time, seeking to reboot the 67-year-old brand as Japan branches out from its long love affair with sedans. The 16th generation of the Crown will be sold outside Japan for the first time in earnest, with plans to reach about 40 countries and regions. The first new model will be a crossover that will be available in Japan around this autumn. The Crown was a symbol of Japans affluence and Japanese pride. It was also a car that brought together Japans world-class technology and human resources, said Toyota President Akio Toyoda during a presentation. The new Crown is filled with such Japanese underlying strengths. The models will be released over the course of next year and a half, said Hiroki Nakajima, president of Toyotas mid-size vehicle company. Customers from around the world will now get a chance to drive this historic Japanese nameplate born out of passion, pride, and progress, Toyoda said. The four new models are a sedan, an SUV, a station wagon, and a crossover, which combines a sedan with an SUV. The crossover will be offered as a hybrid, while the powertrain of the other models has not been decided. Reuters reported in April that the worlds largest automaker by sales was aiming to launch an SUV version of the Crown. The Crown, which debuted in 1955, was the first passenger car developed and built entirely in Japan, marking a pivotal moment in the countrys rise to a global automaking giant. It was also the first car Toyota exported to the United States, in 1958. Two years later, Toyota was forced to suspend exports as the Crowns engine wasnt capable of speeds needed on American freeways. Toyota sold more than 200,000 of the sedans in 1990 at the height of Japans economic boom, but by last year domestic annual sales had dwindled to 21,000. After missile attack in Vinnytsia 55 multi-apartment, private houses, 40 cars, two trams damaged or destroyed service In Vinnytsia, work has been completed to remove the rubble after enemy missile attacks on July 14, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine said on Saturday. "In total, as a result of the shelling, 55 multi-apartment and private residential buildings, 40 cars and two trams were damaged and destroyed," the State Emergency Service said in a Telegram channel. "According to the regional military administration's health department, 23 people were killed, including three children, as a result of the shelling. Some 202 people asked for help, 68 of them were hospitalized, including four children, some 110 received outpatient care. All the victims are provided with the necessary medical assistance," the service said. Three people were rescued by the State Emergency Service. Migrants who recently crossed the border and were caught, are directed to walk back to Mexico, in Laredo, Texas, on June 15, 2022. (Veronica G. Cardenas/Reuters) Unlawful USMexico Border Crossings Remain High Despite Drop in June Border crossings along the United States southwest border with Mexico saw a decline in June from the previous month but continue to remain high when compared to the past three years. There were 207,416 land encounters along the southwest border in June, a nearly 14 percent decrease from Mays 240,991 encounters, latest data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) showed. However, the June 2022 encounter number is 9.72 percent higher than June 2021, 527 percent higher than June 2020, and 98.8 percent higher than June 2019. Nationwide total encounters for fiscal year 2022 to date came in at over 2 million. Of the total June encounters, 26 percent were individuals who had at least one prior encounter in the previous 12 months, which is higher when compared to the average one-year re-encounter rate of 15 percent during the five years between fiscal 2014 and 2019. Single adults made up 68 percent of all southwest land border encounters. Out of these, 56 percent were processed for expulsion under Title 42 and the remaining under Title 8. Among family unit individuals, 14,028 were expelled under Title 42 and 37,752 under Title 8. In a July 15 press release, the CBP noted: The large number of expulsions during the pandemic has contributed to a higher-than-usual number of migrants making multiple border crossing attempts, which means that total encounters somewhat overstate the number of unique individuals arriving at the border. CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus said in a statement that the department is committed to implementing strategies to cut down irregular migration. My message to those considering taking this dangerous journey is simple: this is not an easy passage, the human smugglers only care about your moneynot your life or the lives of your loved ones, and you will be placed in removal proceedings from the United States if you cross the border without legal authorization and are unable to establish a legal basis to remain, he said. Increase in Smuggling Activities Nationwide, drug seizures rose by 25 percent in June compared to the previous month. Cocaine seizures rose by 62 percent, heroin by 49 percent, fentanyl by 41 percent, and methamphetamine by 14 percent, the CBP press release stated. Almost 1,223 shipments containing counterfeit goods worth over $166 million were seized in June. The CBP identified more than $20 million in duties and fees owed to the U.S. government through 40 audits it finished in the month. The agency also issued 5,618 emergency action notifications related to prohibited or restricted animal and plant products entering the country. Increasing migrant numbers as well as continuing criminal activities along the border have attracted criticism against the Biden administration. In a recent statement to Fox News, Rep. Michael Cloud (R-Texas) blamed the White House for being derelict in their duty to protect the nation. The Biden administration continues to shrug off Americans calls for increased border security while criminal cartels exploit and attack our nation, he said. A man uses a cell phone in New Orleans, La., on Aug. 11, 2019. (Jenny Kane/The Associated Press) US to Launch New 988 Mental Health Hotline for Emergencies Starting Saturday, Americans can dial 988 to get help for urgent mental health care and suicidal thoughts, when the new national three-digit hotline will open. The new three-digit dialing code is designed to be as easy to use as dialing 911 for emergencies that require police, firefighters, or paramedics, except 988 dispatchers will connect callers with trained mental health counselors. Dr. Brian Hepburn, a psychiatrist who heads the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, called it one of the most exciting things that has happened in mental health care, The Associated Press reported. But he cautioned that 988 will take a number of years in order for us to be able to reach everybody across the country. The 988 system builds on the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which has more than 200 crisis centers across the country and received around 2.4 million calls in 2020. The Federal Communications Commission and Congress in 2020 designated the 988 dialing code for Americans to reach support from Lifeline. The purpose of the 988 number was to make it easier for people to remember in times of distress, instead of the former toll-free Lifeline number (1-800-273-TALK). The 1-800-273-TALK will remain operational alongside the new 988 number. Starting July 16, people can contact 988 by phone, text, or chat to get help from trained crisis counselors who will help the individual through the crisis or, if necessary, dispatch a mobile crisis team to their location. By dialing 988, people can access counselors who can provide emotional support, screening, referrals, or dispatch a mobile crisis team that is composed of behavioral health professionals, and often peer support specialists with lived experience. The National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors noted that only 2 percent of calls result in dispatching a mobile crisis team. States Prepare for Calls Crisis workers in Florida are preparing for a surge in calls from Saturday when the 988 number opens, Miami Herald reported. Florida Mental Health Advocacy Coalition board president Gayle Giese told the outlet that she wants 988 to be an alternative to calling 911. 911 is still needed if its a high-risk situation. If someone is in the midst of taking their own life, certainly call 911, or if someone has a weapon, call 911, she said. But for most behavioral health crises what you need is a calm de-escalation by a well-trained counselor, possibly a mobile response team or someone to come to your home, and possibly somewhere to go to be stabilized and receive services. Amy McClellan, a long-time Miami-Dade and Monroe counties mental health services advocate, said that the vision is to have 988 become a portal into suicide prevention, veterans crisis, and also just behavioral health crisis, because we dont have that right now. McClellan thinks the 988 system could help young people get help sooner, noting that most mental health issues develop in the teenage years and early 20s, but can take over a decade before a diagnosis is made, Miami Herald reported. If you are willing to turn to someone in your moment of crisis, 988 will be there. 988 wont be a busy signal, and 988 wont put you on hold. You will get help, said Xavier Becerra, the secretary of Health and Human Services, at a recent press briefing. Via this genetic engineering experiment, theyve literally injected seeds of demise into everyday people like a cockroach spray. Based on a 2011 estimate, he believes an extra 700 million will be killed from this bioweapon and theyve known about the risks since 2005. The projected illiquidity of the Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid programs by 2028 suggests the fewer people who are recipients of these programs, the better; Martin believes this may be why people 65 and over were targeted with COVID-19 shots first When asked what timeframe these people may die in, Martin suggested theres a lot of economic reasons why people hope that its between now and 2028 The objective for the decade of vaccination was a population reduction of 15% globally, which would be about 700 million people dead; in the U.S., this may amount to between 75 million and 100 million people dying from COVID-19 shots Martin believes the number that may die may have been revealed back in 2011, when the World Health Organization announced their decade of vaccination David Martin, Ph.D., presents evidence that COVID-19 injections are not vaccines, but bioweapons that are being used as a form of genocide across the global population In this revealing interview with Greg Hunter of USAWatchdog.com, David Martin, Ph.D., presents evidence that COVID-19 injections are not vaccines but bioweapons that are being used as a form of genocide across the global population.1 In March 2022, Martin filed a federal lawsuit against President Biden, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services alleging that COVID-19 shots turn the body into a biological weapons factory, manufacturing spike protein. Not only is the term vaccination misleading when referring to COVID-19 shots, its inaccurate since they are actually a form of gene therapy.2 And we are not only not going to be sued for, you know, any libel or misinformation, we are actually holding people criminally accountable for their domestic terrorism, their crimes against humanity and the story of the coronavirus weaponization that goes back to 1998, Martin says.3 SARS-CoV-2 Has Been in the Works for Decades Martin has been in the business of tracking patent applications and approvals since 1998. His company, M-Cam International Innovation Risk Management, is the worlds largest underwriter of intangible assets used in finance in 168 countries. M-Cam has also monitored biological and chemical weapons treaty violations on behalf of the U.S. government, following the anthrax scare in September 2001.4 According to Martin, there are more than 4,000 patents relating to the SARS coronavirus. His company has also done a comprehensive review of the financing of research involving the manipulation of coronaviruses that gave rise to SARS as a subclade of the beta coronavirus family. Much of the research was funded by the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the direction of Dr. Anthony Fauci.5 Martin explained:6 I think its important for your listeners and viewers to remember that it was 1999 when Anthony Fauci and Ralph Baric at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill decided to start weaponizing coronavirus they patented in 2002 and you heard that date correctly, thats a year before the SARS outbreak in China. You know, they knew it was a bioweapon since 2005. They knew it was effective at harming populations, intimidating and coercing populations COVID-19 Shots Are an Act of Bioterrorism According to Martin, the spike protein that the COVID-19 shots manufacture is a computer simulation of a chimera of the spike protein of coronavirus. It is, in fact, not a coronavirus vaccine. It is a spike protein instruction to make the human body produce a toxin, and that toxin has been scheduled as a known biologic agent of concern with respect to biological weapons for the last now decade and a half, he said.7 Rather than being a public health measure as they were widely campaigned to be, COVID-19 shots are an act of bioweapons and bioterrorism. Martin shared that in 2015, Dr. Peter Daszak, head of the EcoHealth Alliance that funneled research dollars from the NIAID to the Wuhan Institute of Virology for coronavirus research, stated:8 We need to increase public understanding of the need for medical countermeasures such as a pan-coronavirus vaccine. A key driver is the media and the economics will follow the hype. We need to use that hype to our advantage, to get to the real issues. Investors will respond if they see profit at the end of the process. Daszak, who Martin refers to as the money launderer in chief, actually stated that this entire exercise was a campaign of domestic terror to get the public to accept the universal vaccine platform using a known biological weapon. And that is their own words, not my interpretation, Martin said.9 Martin: 100 Million May Die Due to COVID Shots Both Pfizer and Modernas COVID-19 shots contain nucleic acid sequences that are not part of nature and have not been previously introduced to the human body. This amounts to a genetic engineering experiment that did not go through animal studies or clinical trials. However, already people are dying from the shots and, Martin states, many more will due to issues such as blood clots, damage to the cardiovascular system and problems with liver, kidney and pulmonary function.10 An onslaught of reproductive and cancer cases related to the shots are also anticipated. The fact of the matter is an enormous number of people who are injected are already carrying the seeds of their own demise, Martin said.11 As for how many may die, Martin believes the numbers may have been revealed back in 2011, when the World Health Organization announced their decade of vaccination:12 Based on their own 2011 estimate, and this is a chilling estimate, but we just have to put it out there When the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Chinese CDC, the Jeremy Farrar Wellcome Trust and others published The Decade of Vaccination for the World Health Organization back in 2011 their stated objective was a population reduction of 15% of the worlds population. Put that in perspective, thats about 700 million people dead and that would put the U.S. participation in that certainly as a pro rata of injected population somewhere between 75 and 100 million people. When asked what timeframe these people may die in, Martin suggested theres a lot of economic reasons why people hope that its between now and 2028.13 This is because of a tiny little glitch on the horizon the projected illiquidity of the Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid programs by 2028. So the fewer people who are recipients of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, the better, Martin said. Not surprisingly, its probably one of the motivations that led to the recommendation that people over the age of 65 were the first ones getting injected.14 Other populations at risk are caregivers, including health care providers, and others in the workforce who were forced to be injected, such as pilots. Why is it that were suddenly having 700 flights a day being canceled because, allegedly, airlines dont have pilots? the dirty secret is there a lot of pilots who are having microvascular problems and clotting problems, and that keeps them out of the cockpit, which is a good place to not have them if theyre going to throw a clot for a stroke or a heart attack, Martin said. But the problem is were going to start seeing that exact same phenomenon in the health care industry and at a much larger scale, which means we now have, in addition to the problem of the actual morbidity and mortality, meaning people getting sick and people dying. We actually have that targeting the health care industry writ large, which means we are going to have doctors and nurses who are going to be among the sick and the dead. And that means that the sick and the dying also do not get care.15 Why COVID Shots May Change Your DNA Its been stressed by the media and public health officials that COVID-19 shots do not alter DNA. However, Martin brings attention to a little-known grant from the National Science Foundation, known as Darwinian chemical systems,16 which involved research to incorporate mRNA into targeted genomes. According to Martin:17 Moderna was started on the back of a 10-year National Science Foundation grant. And that grant was called Darwinian chemical systems the project that gave rise to the Moderna company itself was a project where they were specifically figuring out how to get mRNA to write itself into the genome of whatever target they were going after. That could be a single-celled organism, it could be a multi-celled organism or it could be a human. And the fact of the matter is Moderna was started on the back of having proven that mRNA can be transfected and write itself into the human genome. It is completely unknown what the short- or long-term effects of the spike protein analog thats inside people who received COVID-19 injections will be. But with respect to alteration of the genome, Martin states that data show mRNA has the capacity to write into the DNA of humans, and as such, the long-term effects are not going to merely be symptomatic. The long-term effects are going to be the human genome of injected individuals is going to be altered.18 Fraud Removes Big Pharmas Liability Shield The 2001 anthrax attack, which came out of medical and defense research, led to the passage of the PREP Act, which removed liability for manufacturers of emergency medical countermeasures. This means that as long as the U.S. is under a state of emergency, things like COVID-19 vaccines are allowed under emergency use authorization. And as long as the emergency use authorization is in effect, the makers of these experimental gene therapies are not financially liable for any harm that comes from their use. That is, provided theyre vaccines. If these injections are NOT vaccines, then the liability shield falls away, because there is no liability shield for a medical emergency countermeasure that is gene therapy. Further, lawsuits that can prove the companies engaged in fraud will also negate the liability shield. Martin states:19 One of the convenient things about the PREP Act is the immunity shield from liability actually is only as good as the absence of fraud. Because if there was fraud in the promulgation of the events, leading to an emergency use authorization, then all of the immunity shield gets wiped out. So the reason why it is so important for conversations like the one were having to actually be promoted and be advanced is because the pharmaceutical companies and this includes Pfizer and Moderna and J&J know they are perpetuating a fraud. The great thing about this is when that fraud is established, 100% of the liability flows back to them. when a fraud was the basis for a fraud, then we actually have a number of other legal remedies that allow you to pierce that veil. So in the end, theres no question and its quite evident based on the current mortality and morbidity data that given the fact that when it comes to biological weapons and bioterror each count comes with $100 million penalty. Thats what the federal statute gives us. The penalty for corporate domestic terrorism, when you have per count $100 million a pop liabilities that is an existential threat that takes a company like Pfizer or takes a company like Moderna out of existence. And that is what were working for every day. If youd like to follow the progress of the ongoing legal cases seeking to expose the truth that a criminal organization is seeking to obtain control over the global population via the creation of patented bioweapons marketed as novel viruses and injections you can find all the details at ProsecuteNow.io, a website compiled by Martin and colleagues.20 Originally published July 16, 2022 on Mercola.com Xi Jinping Visits Xinjiang Ahead of Bid to Remain in Power for 3rd Term Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited Xinjiang, the home of the Muslim Uyghur minority, on July 12 15, to purportedly promote national unity and reinforce the regimes ambition to influence the world. According to State-run Xinhua and CCTV, Xi went to a Uyghur neighborhood in the capital city Urumqi. He also visited a unit of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, a quasi-military organization that the regime has used to control and develop the region since the 1950s, in Shihezi city, about 85 miles west of Urumqi. This was Xis first Xinjiang visit in over eight years. His last trip concluded on April 30, 2014, the day of a bomb and knife attack in the capitals train station that killed three and injured 79. Beijing described the incident and similar ones as violent terrorist attacks by Muslims and hence speeded up its Sinicization of Islam campaign, that is, policies designed to eradicate Muslim practices and force the religious believers to believe in the Communist Party. In August 2018, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination first revealed that about one million ethnic Uyghurs were held in internment camps in Xinjiang. where they are forced to do labor and are brainwashed with the communist theories and way of thinking. It brings me pain to see these images [photos and videos of Xis Xinjiang visit] after knowing exactly what Uyghurs have gone through, Omer Kanat, executive director of Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP), told The Epoch Times via email on July 15. Weve documented countless cases of Uyghurs detained and sentenced for this very expression that the government now turns on its head and claims to value and protect. A facility believed to be a re-education camp where mostly Muslim ethnic minorities are detained, in Artux, north of Kashgar, Xinjiang region, on June 2, 2019. (Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images) In the past years, the United States, European Union, Canada, and Australia have boycotted forced labor-made products, such as cotton, the polysilicon used in solar panels, and batteries for electric vehicles, from Xinjiang. The West hopes these actions can stop the Chinese regimes persecution of Uyghurs. On June 21, the U.S. Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) came into effect. This potentially far-reaching legislation prohibits imports that are made by forced labor in Xinjiang. Xis Xinjiang Visit During his four-day trip, Xi visited a university, a land port, a museum, and a Uyghur neighborhood in Urumqi. In Shihezi, he visited a museum and farmlands. In Turpan, a city about 110 miles east of Urumqi, he visited a vineyard, a village, and the ruins of the ancient city Jiaohe. State-run CCTV explained the purpose behind Xis itinerary: Xi wants the people in Xinjiang to support the regime and give up their pursuits. During the trip, Xi also frequently said that ethnic groups in Xinjiang are members of the Chinese family, which belies their actual treatment. China imports and exports goods to Central Asia via Urumqi. The land port in Urumqi is key to the Chinese regimes Belt and Road Initiative (BRI, also called One Belt One Road). BRI, launched in 2013, is used by Beijing to invest and build infrastructure projects in developing countries, but in reality, also puts these countries into debt, giving BRI the nickname debt trap. The ancient city of Jiaohe, now the site of ruins, was an important town on the Silk Road. Xi visited the ruins of Jiaohe city and the port in Urumqi and to promote the BRI. CCTV also detailed Xis visit to a cotton field in Shihezi. Xinjiang produces about 90 percent of Chinas cotton. The boycott of Xinjiang-made cotton forced the Chinese textile industry to import cotton to make products for export. A Chinese farmer picks cotton during the harvest season in Hami, Xinjiang Region, on Sept. 20, 2015. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Xis Intentions Xi Jinping wants to label his regime as a successful ruler in Xinjiang, Tang Jingyuan, a U.S.-based China affairs commentator told The Epoch Times on July 15. Xi is bidding to remain in power for a third term now. Theres no free media inside China, and all media outlets are the regimes propaganda tools, Tang said, and the Chinese people dont know the true situation in Xinjiang and are fooled by the state-run media. China doesnt adopt the Western-style election system. Xi needs to convince the other factions of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that he deserves a third term, Tang said. The CCP will hold its annual Beidaihe conclave soon. All top officials will participate in this meeting and debate the key issues the regime faces. This year, the conclave will decide the leader who will be in power for the next five years. The results will be announced in the fall at the 20th CCP Congress. Tang has been observing the repressions in Xinjiang in the past decades. He believes that Xi would use more force to maintain his power in the region. The Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, known as Bingtuan, is the force used to farm the land and defend the regime. Xis visit to the corps on July 13 means he recognizes the achievement that the corps had, and he would use the corps to do more in the future, Tang said. Tang didnt foresee a big change politically in Xinjiang. A group of female protestors demand safe passage home for their relatives, who are missing, jailed, or trapped in Chinas Xinjiang region outside the Chinese consulate in Almaty, Kazakhstan on March 9, 2021. (Abdulaziz Madyrovi/AFP via Getty Images) The Chinese regime has built hundreds of so-called vocational skills education centers and demolished thousands of mosques and other Islamic worship places in Xinjiang since 2017. The regime claims that the Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities are receiving education in the centers, but victims and investigative reports tell a different story. A Cook County man will spend nearly 60 years in prison for the attempted murder of an Illinois State Police trooper in 2019. Volodymyr Dragan, 46, of Wheeling, Illinois was sentenced recently for the attempted murder of a trooper and aggravated unlawful restraint of another trooper, an ISP press release read. The charges stem from two incidences on Aug. 15, 2019. According to the Daily Herald, Dragan was speeding on the Tri-State Tollway near Glenview when he was pulled over by an ISP trooper. "While seated in the back seat of the squad car, prosecutors say Dragan pulled out his handgun, directed it at the trooper and said, "This is serious. You are not the boss here." He then drove off on his motorcycle," the Daily Herald article reads. Later, when officers executed an arrest and search warrant for Dragan's residence, Dragan fired shots and an ISP Officer was shot in the forearm. The officer sustained life-threatening injuries but later recovered. At the time of the incident, the 32-year-old trooper was a five-year veteran of the department. The trooper has since returned to full duty. "Due to the tireless efforts of the ISP, our law enforcement partners and the assistant states attorneys in this case, this dangerous individual has been brought to justice, stated ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly in the press release. The ISP appreciates the courts strong sentence as we continue our fight to make Illinois safer, not just for members of law enforcement, but for every resident of Illinois. The investigation into the incidences was handled by ISP District 15 Investigations with the assistance of ISP District 15 Patrol, ISP Division of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Zone 1, ISP SWAT, Cook County Sheriffs Office, Wheeling Police Department, and the Cook County States Attorney. "We have here a defendant who has blatant disregard for the authority of the police," Cook County Judge Joseph Cataldo said in pronouncing the sentence, according to the Daily Herald article. "He is a dangerous man with no respect for authority, no respect for the police and no respect for human life." The Daily Herald reports Dragan apologized to the trooper and their family. Dragan was sentenced to 57 years, with credit for 1,065 days in custody. According to the Daily Herald, Dragan must serve 85% of his sentence before even being considered eligible for parole. U.S. President Joseph Biden and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman discussed the situation in Ukraine at a meeting in Jeddah and expressed their readiness to continue supporting the Ukrainian people, the White House press service has said. "The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to providing critical assistance to the Ukrainian people, and to ensure the unhindered export of grain and wheat products to alleviate the global food crises, which threatens to acutely impact a number of Middle Eastern and African states," according to the final communique. The two sides underscored that a rules-based order lies at the heart of international security, emphasizing the importance of the respect for international law, territorial integrity, and national sovereignty. They reaffirmed the principles as set forth in the March 2, 2022, UN General Assembly Resolution ES-11/1, endorsed by all GCC members. Nigerian hip-hop star and DMW boss, Davido Adeleke says the voters in Osun State are rejecting vote buying and not engaging in monetary corruption at the ongoing elections. Davido who has been giving mass support to his uncle, Senator Ademola Adeleke, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made this known on Saturday. The award-winning musician, on his verified Twitter, said: People rejecting money being offered to them left and right of the state todayGREAT TO SEE. There is still hope for Nigeria. There is so much wave of movement as many youths are structurally involved in changing the narrative of the politics in the country. The political terrain in the country is truly tensed up and filled with a lot of intrigues. Only those strong hearted politicians will be able to wade through the political landmine and come out successful. Even the electorates are not equally taking the preparation for 2023 general elections easy. The number of people that have lately registered for the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and those still pushing to register are not only frightening but mouth numbing. It is now a statement of fact that Nigerians want to see the political and challenges of this country fizzle in and out in 2023 and the poor leadership predicament wanes. But to achieve this feat, many, a very large number of Nigerians are of the views that for enduring peace to be achieved in the country and the election bear the targeted outcome, the ruling All Progressive Party (APC) must drop the proposed Muslim-Mislim joint ticket. Aside from giving Christians in the country an opportunity to participate in the leadership affairs of their country, the idea of Muslim-Muslim ticket needs to be dropped for the survival of our democracy. Nigerians must learn from history. They concluded. Indeed, while this piece views this inherent gully of division associated Muslim-Muslim President and Vice President as fears that cannot be described as unfound, and therefore should be given urgent correctional attention it deserves by the affected political parties, there are however, even more reasons to believe that the current challenge particular the mutual suspicion scourge among the fait based groups bedeviling the nation goes beyond what we think. It has a pride of place in the nations political history. Take as an illustration, Lee Kuan Yew, the pioneer Prime Minister of Singapore after his first visit to Nigeria for the Common Wealth of Nations meeting, among other concerns noted thus; I was not optimistic about Africa. In less than 10 years after independence, Nigeria had had a coup and Ghana a failed coup. I thought their tribal loyalties were stronger than their sense of common nationhood. This was especially so in Nigeria, where there was a deep cleavage between the Muslim Hausa northerners and the Christian and pagan southerners. As in Malaysia, the British handed power, especially the army and police, to the Muslims. In Ghana, without this north-south divide, the problem was less acute, but there were still clear tribal divisions. Unlike India, Ghana did not have long years of training and tutelage in the methods and disciplines of modern government. Essentially, while there exists reasons to draw serious lesson from the above observation, there exists also much more reasons for Nigerians to recognize that to move this nation forward socioeconomically and infrastructural, there exist also are reasons for all Nigerians particularly our leaders to also draw a lesson of performance and creative leadership from documented evidence of performance by Lee Kuen Yew- especially in the following areas; economy, infrastructure, job creation, electoral practices and fight against corruption. As he has used his public leadership performance to teach leaders across the world that public order, personal and national security, economic and social programmes, and prosperity is not the natural order of things but depends on the ceaseless efforts and attention from an honest and effective government that the people elect. He is equally a leader that firmly believes that it takes a prolonged effort to administer a country well and change the backward habits of the people. Separate from the fact that Singapore as a country had in the past met with challenges Nigeria currently battles with, of which learning how they tackled and succeeded would be an important lesson for the nation at this critical moment, there exists yet another reason why the study of Lees leadership sagacity is important to our forthcoming leaders, and it stems from the fact that any personality who want to grow in leadership must almost always scale and be open to learning. They must be molded by new experiences and to improve their leadership skills. In fact, leaders who scale do so regardless of background, skill and talent. Rather, they scale because they take deliberate steps to confront their shortcomings and become the leaders their organisations or nation need them to be. Instead of floundering, they learn to fly. Beginning with effective resource management, Singapore, under Lees administration was a country with a GDP of $3billion in 1965 which grew to $46billion in 1997, making it the 8th highest per capita GNP in the world according to the World Bank, In fact, its progress, is a reflection of the advances of the industrial countries-their inventions, technology, enterprise and drive, a united and a determined group of leaders, backed by practical and hard-working people who trust them made it possible, It is part of the story of a leaders search for new fields to increase the wealth and well being of his people. In the words of the Prime Minister Lee (as he then was), the country had no natural resources for MNCs to exploit. All it had were hard-working people, good basic infrastructure, and a government that was determined to be honest and competent. Our duty was to create livelihood for 2 million Singaporeans. The second part was to create a First World oasis in a Third World region. This was something Israel could not do because it was at war with its neighbours. If Singapore could establish first world standards in public and personal security, health, education, telecommunications, transportation and services, it would become a base camp for entrepreneurs, engineers, managers and other professionals who had business to do in the region. This meant we had to train our people and equip them to provide First World standards of service. I believed this was possible, that we could reeducate and orientate our people with the help of schools, trade unions, community centres and social organisations. If the communists in China could eradicate all flies and sparrows, surely we could get our people to change their Third World habits. We had one simple guiding principle for survival that Singapore had to be more rugged, better organised, and more efficient than others in the region. If we were only as good as our neighbours, there was no reason for businesses to be based here. We had to make it possible for investors to operate successfully and profitably in Singapore despite our lack of a domestic market and natural resources. Another profound lesson was Lees explanation that; after grappling with the problems of unemployment in the country, he came to the recognition that the only way to survive was to industrialize. Add just immediately, he concentrated on getting factories started. Despite their small domestic market of 2 million, he protected locally assembled cars, refrigerator, air conditioners, radios, television sets, and tape-recorder, in the hope that they would later be partly manufactured locally. To this end, considering the slow growing economy but scary unemployment levels in the country, the current administration and of course the forthcoming administration, in my opinion will continue to find itself faced with difficulty accelerating the economic life cycle of the nation until they contemplate industrialization, or productive collaboration with private organizations that has surplus capital to create employment. On the fight against corruption, he has this to say; we made sure from the day we took office that every dollar in revenue would be properly accounted for and would reach the beneficiaries at the grass root as one dollar, without being siphoned off along the way. So from the very beginning we gave special attention to the areas where discretionary powers had been exploited for personal gains and sharpened the instruments that could prevent, detect or deter such practices. We decided to concentrate on the big takers in the higher echelons and directed the CPIB on our priorities. But for the small fish, we set out to simplify procedures and remove discretion by having clear published guidelines, even doing away with the needs for permits and approvals in less important areas. As we ran into problems in securing convictions in prosecutions, we tighten the laws in stages. Brief and Simple! To win, he advised that nations must recognize that a precondition for an honest government is that a candidate must not need large sums to get elected, or it must trigger off the circle of corruption. Having spent a lot of money to get elected, winners must recover their costs and possibly accumulate funds for the next election as the system is self-perpetuating. It is up to Nigerians!!! Utomi is the Programme Cordinator (Media and Public Policy), Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), Lagos. He could be reached via; j [email protected]/08032725374 Uganda has declared Swahili as the second official language though I thought this has been the case for some years. English was already our first official language. The irony about this is that neither Swahili nor English is the most spoken language the country since majority of people speak Luganda. I think its a reflection of how much Ugandans hate themselves and local stuff. Some people may call this cultural warfare, but I think we should protect our local languages, and I have always found this disturbing that Luganda has no official status in the country. We can learn the lesson from Georgia, Ukraine, or Belarus. Belarusian language is losing status because of Russian language. Our languages are part of our heritage. Contrary to the popular myth, "Swahili" does not originate from Uganda. It was brought to us by Tanzanians who helped to get rid of Idi Amin in 1979. So, its as foreign as English or Chinese Mandarin, but its ok to learn them if anybody wants. Yes, speaking and understanding Swahili is an advantage as communication with our neighbouring countries, and it would boost the spirit of the East African Community. However, I doubt there are so many Ugandans that do business in Kenya and Tanzania, but I know several now floating to the Middle East in search of jobs and opportunities a lot of Ugandans go to Dubai to buy and sell stuff, too. So, it would make sense if more of our graduates learn Arabic more than Swahili now. Otherwise, there will just learn Swahili and rarely use it; more like buying a book and never get to read it. There is a word for that in Japanese - tsundoku. Swahili use in Uganda will grow on its own the more the East African countries, where its used, grow. For instance,the whole world is learning Chinese Mandarin now because China has grown -it has made itself attractive. Even my 12-year-old daughter is now learning it in school here in the UK. With self-motivation, she taught herself Japanese at home. In schools we can have 3rd language (Swahili or Mandarin) or National Language (Spoken Luganda) camps during holidays. This promotes interaction between races and hopefully foster friendship and unity when students become adults. But theres no reason to make Swahili a mandatory subject in schools. Spending that time learning the language gives no career advantages and comes at the sacrifice of practical education like art and cooking or even music and dancing. English is the dominant language in the Uganda schools and its already compulsory, thus its understandable it is the language of instruction. But we have got to ask ourselves, If English that has been in our schools since the colonial times, is still a difficult language for a lot of Ugandans, what makes people think that Swahili will grow in the country in a few years? Languages shouldnt be forced on people. Yes, Swahili is a good language to learn but the government needs to make it more appealing to people (outside school). What we fail to notice is that it takes a village to teach a language and people need to feel motivated to learn it. Today, it is indubitable that Nigeria faces enormous challenges that have severely diluted its capacity to discharge its responsibilities, exercise its authority, command loyalty from Nigerians and earn the respect of the comity of nations. With an array of unprecedented quagmires assailing it from all corners and as the confidence of citizens in its ability to guarantee their security, welfare and prosperity witnesses a steep decline, the overwhelming feeling is that there may be no respite at all in the nearest future. The problems that have brought Nigeria to this moment of seeming atrophy are legion and the most virulent are the unenviable quartet of corruption, religiosity, ethnicism and nepotism. The monstrousness of corruption combined with the institutionalization of sectionalism, the withering of merit and a sprinkling of religiosity have wrecked incalculable havoc on our polity and psyche. There is also the extinction of established norms and values and the weakening of societal customs, traditions and institutional authorities which have devastated Nigeria in terms of the near evisceration of the family as the building block for nurturing decent citizenship and the total collapse of social order as the vital instrument for development and organization. Invariably, both the state and society are now at serious crossroads with the axiomatic loss of credibility in Nigeria by Nigerians. For years, Nigerians have described the Nigerian state as uncaring, lackadaisical, wicked and pernicious. Thus, the diversion of enormous resources to training and integrating terrorists, while abandoning their victims who are now internally displaced refugees in camps and treating bandits, herdsmen, corrupt public servants, failed contractors and politically exposed persons with kid gloves, while hauling sledgehammers at small time offenders, little criminals, petty thieves etc has widened the credibility gap between the Nigerian state and Nigerians.. Multiple incidents of impropriety purportedly involving key public officials, their associates and families and ostentatious display of wealth beyond their means makes the states sermons about good citizenship, good governance, transparency and accountability rather insubstantial and hypocritical. Such inconsistencies hardly inspire confidence and breed insincerity. The Nigerian state needs to urgently change this narrative by demonstrating fairness and consistency in how it relates, interfaces, applies principles, delivers services and discharges its responsibilities and becoming a concerned and compassionate institution that not only says it cares for its own, but actually extends that care to Nigerians irrespective of ethnicity, religion culture, gender, social origin, educational background and political beliefs. Unfortunately, lamentation, nonchalance, apathy, subversion and criticism have been the most organized response to government inaction and insensitivity. Nigerians conveniently forget that the nuances and policies of the Nigerian state are simply a reflection of and basically an agglomeration of the collective attitudes of Nigerians .Yet if all we do is to castigate Nigeria, then we have missed the opportunity to join hands and work towards creating a truly responsive and receptive nation. What we fail to realize is that Nigerians cannot divorce themselves from the situation of Nigeria. Both are like Siamese twins. If the Nigerian state is ailing, it is definitely because of the actions and inactions of Nigerians since the state is a continuous part of the wider Nigerian culture. Again, the credibility of Nigeria is also linked with the credibility of Nigerians. The manner Nigerians openly slander, ridicule, disparage and embarrass Nigeria beggars belief. Such actions seriously hurt and weaken all of us in the long run. The despoilers of the Nigerian state should also know that the nation has a rich and well documented history of care and concern for its citizens and neighbors. In the days of old, the main object of government was promoting citizenry welfare, peace, prosperity and security. Back then, the state was an open sanctuary and refuge whose treatment of society was consistent and fair because the state, society and citizens had shared goals. This is not the situation today, the epoch of shared goals and moral rectitude has vanished and has been replaced by a repulsive public square characterized by individual and collective greed, vanity and desperation. Politics and governance has become highly ethnicized, mercantilized and personalized and failure to affirm particular identities is perceived as incompatibility and enmity. The exposition of personal convictions, non conformist views and traditional values is tantamount to attracting the enmity of Nigerians and the odium of society. The pervasiveness of corrupt practices is now the norm and not the exception. Misappropriation has been given a stamp of societal legitimacy. Nigerians have almost lost all sense of empathy and humaneness resulting in the acquisition of a pathologically bizarre and lascivious craving for power, wealth and position at all costs and the predictable outcome is that the Nigeria is increasingly becoming inclement to honesty, decency and industry. The Nigerian state must devote attention to regaining credibility with its constituency. The first step is to start taking its responsibilities to Nigerians with renewed vigor. What might this look like? placing emphasis on service, welfare, security, peaceful coexistence, shared goals, participation, protection of justice, enjoyment of rights, equitable distribution of public burdens, citizens concerns, fear and needs, progressive development of work and business and other areas that can make the lives of Nigerians better and happier. Regardless of our differences, when good laws, responsive governance, moral righteousness and conscientious neighborhood exists then collective peace, prosperity and contentment of the community is guaranteed As Nigerians sincerely take the state seriously and genuinely participate in moving Nigeria forward, Nigeria would slowly witness decline in the current level of national toxicity and increase in positive transformation, which would grow incrementally and exponentially in many ways. Obviously, because of diverse entrenched interests, change will experience massive resistance and engagement with government would face formidable obstacles from what Ann Hallock described as the pernicious attitudes of those exploiting others, whose injustices are tolerated and whose suspicious gains are regarded as the emblem of success. Nigerians can still thrive by fusing our individual freedom with our corporate belonging without much difficulty to enable us fulfill our duties towards Nigeria and simultaneously ensuring that Nigeria lives up to its responsibilities to Nigerians. This is where a real constitutional conference can truly structure Nigeria in a way that guarantees common good and communal progress for all Nigerians Patriotism is a key ingredient for national sustainability and progress. For the state to be responsive and live up to its responsibilities, Nigerians too must as a matter of fact discharge their own duties as law abiding citizens. Not a few Nigerians are ready to sell Nigeria short without an iota of compunction. If Nigerians are shirking their duties towards Nigeria, invariably Nigeria cannot be in a position to adequately care for Nigerians. The problems of Nigeria are manmade and are caused by the same Nigerians that are quick to vandalize, disown and destroy it. Reclaiming Nigeria in the face of the present moral abyss would require the reinvigorating of the ethos of the past when Nigeria was to a great extent functional. We really have to understand that there is no conflict in the strict sense between the goals of Nigerians and the progress of Nigeria because Nigerias progress is eventually for greater good of Nigerians.. Carefully approaching our challenges altruistically and patriotically means Nigerians should seek as advanced by Jacques Maritain "the sociological integration of all the civic conscience, political virtues and sense of right and liberty, of unconsciously operative hereditary wisdom, of moral rectitude, justice, friendship, happiness, virtue and heroism in their individual lives. The natural consequences of the above are the emergence of the mutual passion for collaboration to ensure that the overall national progress takes precedence over private interests, sacrificing of personal gains for common welfare, showing allegiance towards, protecting and serving society diligently and recognizing that Nigerians are all one family and what affects one affects others. Adekunle Tinuoye is a Labour educator and employee relations specialist at the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies, Ilorin, Nigeria. Since 2018, he has served as an external faculty associate, Global Labour Research Centre, York University, Toronto Canada. Government set to dangle land bait BUSINESS: Academics, the private sector and non-governmental organisations have expressed mixed reactions to the governments plan to allow foreigners to hold land ownership of one rai for residential purposes. land By Bangkok Post Saturday 16 July 2022, 03:30PM Bangkok seen from the 76th floor of King Power Mahanakhon Building. Foreigners would be allowed to fully own residential land in Thailand under a plan still to be approved by the cabinet. Photo: Somchai Poomlard Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said the Land Department is drafting the regulations to allow the land ownership. The policy is in line with the governments plan to woo affluent foreigners for lengthy stays to shore up the economy, reports the Bangkok Post. He said foreigners who are eligible must meet criteria set by the Interior Ministry and must invest at least B40 million for at least three years within designated sectors of the economy. He said the government aims to attract four groups of foreigners - those with enormous wealth, wealthy pensioners, those who want to work from Thailand, and highly skilled professionals. Over a five-year period from this year through 2026, the government hopes to attract more than a million qualified people to Thailand. About B1 trillion is estimated to be injected into the economy with an B800 billion baht increase in investments and another B270bn in revenue collection. In January this year, the cabinet approved rules to woo affluent foreigners for lengthy stays with the aim to boost the economy and investment in the country. The new regulations were jointly proposed by the Interior Ministry and the Labour Ministry with the former offering long-term resident (LTR) visas to applicants and the latter dealing with work permit facilitation. The Interior Ministrys package, which was published in Royal Gazette on June 2, will take effect in September this year. Sanan Angubolkul, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the long-term resident visa will be a boon to the construction and real estate development sector. The sectors annual value stands at B800-900bn and the value is expected to increase two-fold, making up for some 8%-9% of GDP, he said. If 100,000 foreigners are lured by the scheme, they will generate investments worth at least B4trn. Mr Sanan suggested that a few requirements should be added; foreigners with the privilege must purchase first-hand land and property only and resell it to Thai nationals only and purchases must be made in designated zones. Nipon Puapongsakorn, a distinguished fellow at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), said the country does not lack funds, but a comprehensive policy to shore up investor confidence. Vietnam has more free trade agreements than Thailand, which gives investors a wider market, he said. Investors also face the cost of doing business due to numerous regulations, not to mention that Thailand has a shortage of skilled labour. Foreign capital... so what? Its short-term. The government must create an investment environment and improve laws to make investors feel it is worth doing business here, he argued. Pornpana Kuaycharoen, Founder and Coordinator of Land Watch Thai, said she totally disagreed with the policy. I would like to turn the question around. Who really benefits from this policy? Its rich people. Those who already own the majority of land in the country will make a profit from selling it to investors and make the problem of land ownership inequality in Thailand even worse, Ms Pornpana said. As a lot of Thai people still own no land, why should we allow foreign investors to take more of the countrys land? Somphop Manarangsan, president of Panyapiwat Institute of Technology, said the government must ensure the privileges extended to foreigners will bring long-term benefits such as technological development and innovations. He said mobilising foreign investments using land ownership as an incentive is nothing new in other countries. Due to the Ukraine-Russia war, it may attract some wealthy people, retirees or start-up firms. If it can have a multiplier effect in the economy, it should proceed, he said. However, he stressed that Thais should not be hit by rising land prices. On Thursday, July 14, the president of the Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Ukraine Artem Goncharenko, the head of Kontramarka Help Oleksandr Poryadchenko and the rector of KNUBA Petro Kulikov handed over a 4x4 jeep to the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, among whom are university employees. This is a contribution to the logistical support of the military unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Artem Goncharenko, president of the Reconstruction and Development Fund of Ukraine, noted that only in support is the strength of unity. Colleagues and comrades in the rear should support their brothers at the front. "We are strong together, we in KNUBA are not only rebuilding Ukraine, but also created the International Construction Fund "Ukraine", which is already starting housing construction projects for "War Heroes", and today we supported our colleagues by providing them with a car." "Choosing a car, looking at a bunch of options, and finding this one, bargaining for it and talking to the owner in Europe, I realized that the former owner really wants a faster victory for our country, he even left the icons. While driving the car to our guys, I thought about the fastest victory and how we at Kontramarka Help can still help, and the feeling of driving was like driving a tank-supercar," Oleksandr Poryadchenko commented on the gift. Rector Petro Kulikov made a speech to the military and volunteers: "Each of us is a cog in a big machine that is aimed at victory, everyone tries to help, together we collect and coordinate assistance to the Armed Forces, and not only in the construction direction." We believe in our own strength and continue to build our future together. Because we are united by love for Ukraine, unique and unique. And love will win. Yes, right now you may feel that darkness is all around you. But tomorrow the sun will rise again over our peaceful sky. Press service of KNUBA Phuket disaster chief calls for confidence in tsunami-warning system PHUKET: The series of underwater earthquakes off the Andaman and Nicobar Islands last week has shaken local disaster officials in conducting a full review of the islands tsunami-warning system and the readiness of local officials to quickly evacuate risk areas in case the need arises. disasterstourismSafety By Chutharat Plerin Saturday 16 July 2022, 09:30AM Officials inspect the tsunami evacuation route in Kamala. Photo: Kamala Disaster Monitoring Centre Two tsunami-evacuation drills will be held on the island next Wednesday (July 20), Prapan Kanprasang, Director of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Region 18 office, based in Phuket, told The Phuket News earlier this week. One evacuation drill will be held in Rawai, home to Nai Harn Beach, while the other will be held in Sakhu, south of Phuket International Airport, Mr Prapan said. Details of the exact locations and times of the evacuation drills had yet to be confirmed, Mr Prapan added. Mr Prapan urged people to have confidence in officials ability to warn local residents and tourists at the beaches of any impending tsunami with enough advance time to evacuate risk areas and make it to safety zones. We have 19 tsunami-warning towers along the coast in Phuket. In total there are 112 warning towers in coastal areas along the Andaman Coast, he said. Officers had been dispatched to test all 19 towers on the island to ensure they are functioning properly. Following an order from the National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC) in Bangkok last week, the towers are now tested at 8am each day by playing the national anthem. Any towers with sirens found to be playing the national anthem at a less-than-desired volume will be rectified, Mr Prapan said. Mr Prapans call for confidence in the warning system comes as the two tsunami-warning buoys that Thailand has contributed to the Indian Ocean tsunami-warning network remain not functioning. Station 23461, installed in the Andaman Sea approximately 340km from Phuket, stopped transmitting data on June 9. The buoy is, or was, positioned halfway between the Thai coast and where the underwater earthquakes continued to rattle southeast of the Nicobar Islands last week. Station 23401, installed in the Indian Ocean a distance of 965km west of Phuket, was discovered on Oct 22 last year to have slipped its mounting and had stopped transmitting data. The NDWC is responsible for the maintenance and repair of both buoys, and has repeatedly announced that it will launch a mission to repair or replace the buoys in November, during the usual window for repair and maintenance once every two years. Mr Prapan highlighted that Thailands tsunami-warning system relied on the Indian Ocean Tsunami Detection Network, which the NDWC in Bangkok monitored closely. There are five channels through which official tsunami warnings are issued. One of them is a direct SMS service to inform the Governors Office, he said. The others are networks of groups including government officials and members of the public, with some of the groups including amateur radio operators. The main warning system can issue warnings by cutting across television and radio broadcasts, Mr Prapan added. The system is set not to activate automatically unless an earthquake of at least 7.8 magnitude is registered. The system can be overridden to issue manually activated warnings, he said. Local officials have also been dispatched to ensure that tsunami-warning signs and evacuation route signs in their respective areas are in good condition, and that evacuation safety zones are in good, clean and clear condition, ready for use, he added. Please do not panic, brothers and sisters. If the need arises, our system will immediately warn you, Mr Prapan said. The system will give advance warning of at least 30 minutes up to about 1 hour and 45 minutes, he added. Everyone needs to know what to do if something happens, including in which direction you have to flee, Mr Prapan said. Please follow the warning signs or follow the map and rehearse evacuating to higher ground. And most importantly, do not take your luggage with you. Please stay away from the beach areas as far as possible, he advised. Mr Prapan also called on people to not heed any posts online that do not cite official government notices or other substantiated sources. Dont be fooled by news in the online media that may cause panic with no base and no origin, he said. Additional reporting by Eakkapop Thongtub Phuket lifeguards ordered to ramp up surf safety PHUKET: Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew has called on lifeguards to ramp up their efforts to protect tourists at Phuket beaches while strong waves and rip currents continue to plague the islands west coast. tourismSafetypatongweatherdeath By The Phuket News Saturday 16 July 2022, 08:30AM During an inspection of lifeguards efforts at Patong Beach yesterday (July 15), Governor Narong called on all government agencies to step up efforts to protect tourists. The inspection followed two tourists drowning at Kata Noi Beach on Thursday (July 14). Lifeguards reported that the two men, one a British man on his honeymoon in Phuket, had ignored the red no swimming flags and entered the water where it was dangerous to swim. However, one eyewitness at the beach commented to The Phuket News that one of the two men who drowned, British national Ali Mohammed Mian, 33, lost his life trying to save the other tourist, a 55-year-old Thai man from Chiang Mai, as lifeguards were too slow. They were both swimming between red and yellow flags when they were swept out and across the breach. I witnessed the whole event, the observer said. State news agency NNT in marking Governor Narongs Patong inspection yesterday reported, Red flags have been posted to warn tourists to swim with caution, and lifeguards are stationed at the beaches to closely monitor the safety of tourists to prevent unexpected events and to build confidence for tourists. According to the report, Governor Narong said that his visit was to support the lifeguards working at Patong Beach. This is the [southwest] monsoon season when the waves are strong, and we are aiming to invite tourists to come to Phuket and have fun, and not have any unpleasant incidents, Governor Narong said. All sectors and all relevant officials have been ordered to take care of tourists as best as possible, he said. As a result of the strong winds during this period, special emphasis has been placed on vice governors, district chiefs, local government officials, police, lifeguards and those who work closely with tourists to closely monitor the safety of tourists visiting the area. So far we have found that the lifeguards are ready, which will give confidence to tourists who come to travel in Phuket, the report concluded. Wildfires blaze across sweltering southwest Europe EUROPE: Southwest Europe baked under sweltering temperatures yesterday (July 15) for a fifth day, with the heat sparking devastating wildfires, forcing the evacuations of thousands and ruining holidays. weatherhealthSafetypollution By AFP Saturday 16 July 2022, 09:01AM A young boy cools off in the fountains of Square Charles de Gaulle, in Toulouse, southern France, on Wednesday (July 13) as temperatures soar. Photo: AFP Armies of firefighters battled blazes in France, Portugal and Spain as Britain braced for extreme heat in coming days and even Irish forecasters predicted a taste of blistering Mediterranean-style summer temperatures. As French President Emmanuel Macron vowed authorities would do everything to mobilise resources to fight the fallout, the Bordeaux public prosecutor indicated a criminal origin was its main line of inquiry for at least one fire near the southwestern city. The furnace engulfing swathes of southwest Europe is the second in weeks, with scientists blaming climate change and predicting more frequent and intense episodes of extreme weather. In Portugal, five regions in the centre and north - where temperatures hit a July record 47 C on Thursday before dropping back - were on red alert again yesterday as more than 2,000 firefighters tackled four major blazes. A plane that was battling forest fires in the Braganca region crashed yesterday near Vila Nova de Foz Coa in northern Portugal, killing its pilot, the civil defence said. As of late Thursday, the fires had killed one person and injured around 60. Nearly 900 people had been evacuated and several dozen homes damaged or destroyed, authorities said. Wildfires have destroyed 30,000 hectares (75,000 acres) of land this year, the largest area since Portugals horrific summer of 2017 when around 100 people died. In neighbouring Spain, where temperatures were as high as 37C by 7:00 am, a fire that broke out Thursday near the Monfrague National Park, a protected area renowned for wildlife in the Extremadura region, continued to blaze. Spanish authorities reported close to 20 fires still raging out of control with one near Mijas in the deep south, inland from regional capital Malaga, forcing some 2,300 people to evacuate their homes. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez tweeted he was closely following the evolution of active fires posing an extreme risk. The mercury reached 45.4C in Spain on Thursday, shy of the all-time high of 47.4C registered in August last year. In southwestern France, flames have destroyed some 7,700 hectares since Tuesday and forced the evacuation of 11,000 people - including many holidaymakers who decided to abandon their vacation rather than remain in makeshift shelters set up by local authorities. Southern France, battling temperatures around 40C yesterday, is bracing for more heat next week with 16 departments already on orange, a severe alert. Across the Mediterranean, authorities said one person was found dead in northern Morocco as forest fires raged. Authorities also evacuated hundreds of people from more than a dozen villages in northwestern Morocco. Post-apocalyptic One fire was raging in pine forests near Frances Dune du Pilat, Europes tallest sand dune and a magnet for tourists. Ive never seen this before and you get the feeling that its post-apocalyptic, said resident Karyn on Thursday shortly before the preventative evacuation order at Cazaux village near the dune. Fire commander Laurent Dellac spoke of tunnels of fire around Teste-de-Buch, in the middle of the Landes forest to Bordeauxs southwest - although nobody was reported hurt. The blazes are still not under control, and unfortunately conditions are windy again, firefighter spokesman Matthieu Jomain told AFP. Britains meteorological agency meanwhile issued its first ever red warning for exceptional heat with nights exceptionally warm. The Met Office said there was a 50% chance on Monday or Tuesday of temperatures topping 40C for the first time, and an 80% chance that the countrys previous record of 38.7C set in 2019 will be exceeded. Risk to life UK hospitals have warned of a surge in heat-related admissions and train operators have told passengers to expect cancellations. The Irish meteorological office issued a weather warning for tomorrow, Monday and Tuesday with exceptionally warm weather. A high of 32C was possible on Monday, Met Eireann said, just short of Irelands record high 33.3C set in 1887. Belgian authorities said they expected much higher temperatures next week, with a high of 38C in parts of the country forecast for Tuesday. Scientists blame the increasing regularity of heatwaves on global warming. Climate change is driving this heatwave, just as it is driving every heatwave now, said Friederike Otto, senior lecturer in climate science at the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London. Greenhouse gas emissions, from burning fossil fuels like coal, gas and oil, are making heatwaves hotter, longer-lasting and more frequent, she said. Montreal, CA (H4T1V6) Today Some sun this morning with increasing clouds this afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 29C. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Considerable cloudiness. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 17C. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Ambassador Korniychuk discussed with the president of the University of Haifa the expansion of the integration of Ukrainian students and teachers into Israeli universities Ways to expand the integration of Ukrainian students and teachers in the work of higher educational institutions in Israel became the subject of a meeting between the Ambassador of Ukraine to Israel Yevhen Korniychuk and the president of the University of Haifa, Ron Robin, and the academic staff and teachers of the higher education institution. This is reported on the Embassy's Facebook page. The ambassador informed Israeli educators about the difficulties faced by higher educational institutions in Ukraine as a result of barbaric destruction by the Russian army on the territory of Ukraine. Ways to expand the possibilities of integration of Ukrainian students and educators into the work of the relevant institutions in Israel were discussed, - the message reads. The head of the diplomatic mission also met with scientists from Ukraine who are currently studying and doing research work at Haifa University. WOOD RIVER In the two weeks since US Steel announced its plans to cease operations in Granite City, Madison County officials are looking at how the closure will impact its workforce and communities. We may not know everything that is happening just yet, Chairman Kurt Prenzler said. But what we do know is this closure will be a loss for Madison County. The impact this will have on the workforce, their families and local communities will be felt throughout the Metro East. On June 28, U.S. Steel announced its plans to sell and repurpose the blast furnaces at its Granite City Works facility. The company signed a non-binding letter of intent with SunCoke Energy Inc., a raw material processing and handling company, to acquire the two blast furnaces and construct a new 2-million ton facility to produce pig iron. It will take approximately two years to complete the new facility, which will end all steelmaking operations and at that point officials expect the majority of workers will be laid off. The United Steelworkers Union reported as many as 1,400 workers could be laid off from the mill. US Steel would need 100 to maintain a small coating operation and SunCoke could hire around 400, leaving 900 workers without jobs. The thought of losing a job is stressful, Prenzler said. Although there may be some workers hired by SunCoke, its not even half the workforce that is expected to be let go. We want workers to know there is help to include finding out about the current job market or preparing to change career paths. Madison County and the state will offer services once workers are laid off, however Prenzler said employees can reach out now to Madison County Employment and Training Department to get a look at the job market and also get help with resume writing. The Employment and Training Department offers assistance to employees during layoff transitions. Director of Employment and Training Tony Fuhrmann said the objective of the services is to help workers transition from notification of layoff to re-employment as quickly as possible. He said the countys role when US Steel does announce layoffs will be to offer retraining of its workforce or assist in finding them other jobs. Prenzler said there are current opportunities in the county for those seeking another job. Alton Steel-ASI has 51 job openings and World Wide Technology needs to fill 300 positions, Prenzler said. Alton Steels starting pay is $18 per hour, with an increase in two months to $19, and a total employee compensation packages (health, dental and overtime) that is equivalent to $47/hour. WWT is paying $18-25/ per hour to experienced workers. Visit Madison County Employment and Training www.co.madison.il.us/departments/employment_and_training/index.php to find out more. Director of Madison County Mental Health Board Deborah Humphrey said although the announcement of the closure provides as much time as possible for the workforce to prepare for transition, it doesnt prepare them for the emotional ups and downs. Coping with a job loss can negatively impact mental health, Humphrey said. Coping with unemployment is difficult and can lead to anxiety, depression, and isolation. Job loss can create financial pressures and adversities that create family stress and difficulties. Humphrey said two mental health board funded community mental health centers Centerstone of Illinois and Chestnut Health System can assist with counseling as well as a number of other mental health and community providers. Visit www.centerstone.org or call 618-462-2331; or www.chestnut.org or call 618-877-4420 Let's hope that the new PM, whoever he or she turns out to be, listens to the business and financial community more closely than the current incumbent has done. That is not a comment on Brexit, or on the tax debate that is dividing the candidates, and it is certainly not a call for the Government to do everything that the commercial lobbyists want. It is plea for the new Government to think about the financial consequences of its decisions, rather than airily assuming that the private sector can cope. Changing of the guard: The race is underway to replace Prime Minister Boris Johnson Stand back and think about economic policies. They fall into three main groups. There is fiscal policy, the whole tax and spend side of things, and an enormous amount of attention is paid to that. There is monetary policy, subcontracted to the Bank of England but with the Government ultimately on the hook when things go wrong. It is the taxpayer that has to bail out the banks or pay the higher interest on the national debt if rates go up. And there are a vast range of things that governments do in regulation and legislating that affect the economy. These are lumped together as structural policies. Most of the debate is about the first two, and not nearly enough about the third. But how? Last weekend, this newspaper carried some thoughtful comments from business leaders. Marks & Spencer chairman, Archie Norman, himself a former Tory MP, called for a post-Brexit reset 'a long-term plan for productivity and competitiveness'. John Allan, chairman at both Tesco and Barratt Developments, said much the same. A reset 'is long overdue and hopefully now a possibility'. He wanted the Government to set out 'a comprehensive strategy that it is willing to commit to for the long term'. I can see the need for a reset of policy and the attraction of longer-term thinking. And I'd urge the new Government to work far more closely with business leaders. But I would also urge caution. Those long-term plans have to be right. Germany made the long-term plan to rely on Russian gas, shutting down its nuclear power stations and building more pipelines to get the gas in. That does not look very bright now. Or you could point to failures of business planning, including in companies such as M&S and Tesco. M&S shares are down 56 per cent in the past five years. And Tesco's failed effort between 2007 and 2013 to build its Fresh & Easy brand in America is a classic study of how careful, detailed planning can go catastrophically wrong. It cost shareholders $2billion (1.7billion) to extract Tesco from the US. That is not to blame the current chairs, both of whom are making a decent fist of trying to pull those companies round. It is rather to focus attention on a different aspect of what the Government should do. It needs a reset certainly, but not so much in strategy, rather in attitude. The UK is in the middle of two economic transitions. One is the shift of trading relations away from Europe and towards the rest of the world, the other the shift to new technologies. Governments need to foster both. They need enormous attention to detail. In the case of the first the task is not so much to sign deals with other trading blocs, though that is helpful. It is more a question of looking at why exporters are meeting headwinds, why domestic producers are finding it tough to increase market share, how we help importers diversify away from Europe to cheaper suppliers elsewhere and so on. Are we taking advantage of regulatory freedoms, or are we creating new regulations that place an additional administrative burden on business? Customers pay for that admin in higher prices. As a twist to the point about regulation, that is the concern of small and medium-sized enterprises. Big business can hire professionals to cope. Small ones can't. So regulation actually helps big business at the expense of small fry. The second transition is ultimately even more important than the shift of trade. We have to build the businesses of the future, but no one knows what those businesses will be. The UK does not do badly by European standards in business start-ups, but we do not do as well as the US. So we need a Government that will listen to everyone, to universities, to would-be entrepreneurs, to investors the whole, complex, chaotic world of the market economy. And then, bit by bit, take what it is hearing, and think of the business implications of everything it does. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 15. To date, there is no feasibility study for the railway to be built in the Mehri section of the Zangazur corridor, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said addressing the meeting dedicated to the results of six months of this year, Trend reports. "The second negative point is that in the 10 November Declaration is that contact was supposed to be established between the main part of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, and Armenia obediently agreed to this and assumed this obligation. But so far we have not been given this opportunity. The Lachin road is open, and we made a commitment in the Declaration of 10 November that the Lachin road would work and that Azerbaijan guarantees the safety of that road. We have taken this upon ourselves as a commitment and we are following it. But we do not have the opportunity to go to Nakhchivan from the main part of Azerbaijan. Not only do we not have the opportunity to do that, we do not even see any work being done in this direction in the territory of Armenia. To date, there is no feasibility study for the railway to be built in the Mehri section of the Zangazur corridor. No project can be implemented without a feasibility study, and it takes several months to prepare a feasibility study for the construction of a railway. So this work has not been started yet. The route of the highway has not been given to us. A year and eight months have passed. I have raised this issue many times, including three times during meetings with the Prime Minister of Armenia and President of the Council of Europe. To this day, we have not been given the route. The distance there is just 40 kilometers away. There cannot be multiple routes. It is also clear that there are not so many road routes that can be used in all seasons and 24 hours a day. So there is a reason why this route has not been given to us. Work in this direction has not been carried out, the feasibility study has not been prepared Armenia does not want to fulfill this obligation, but it does not admit that. This is why we are demanding our own rights. If we are implementing all the provisions of the 10 November Declaration, we demand the same approach from Armenia. A year and eight months have passed since the end of the war, so everyone should take this into account," the head of state said. The magnitude of the debacle engulfing Britain's aviation sector has been laid bare in recent days - and it is not a pretty sight. For what should be a relaxing break away for millions of people this summer, it has turned into a myriad of worry about last minute cancellations and airport chaos. This week, Dubai-based airline Emirates rejected an order from Heathrow that it must cancel flights to and from the airport to comply with a new cap on passenger numbers. Heathrow has capped passenger numbers to 100,000 a day until 11 September, and told airlines to stop selling summer tickets. Shambolic: Swathes of passengers are facing lengthy queues and delays at airports Last week British Airways, previously seen by many as a stalwart of the nation's aviation sector, announced plans to cut a further 10,000 flights to the end of October. Other airlines like easyJet have also made sweeping cancellations to try and rein in the chaos. What is going on in the aviation sector? How has this shambles emerged and why weren't airports and airlines adequately prepared for the surely inevitable surge in demand for travel following the pandemic? This is Money asked two experts to find out. From their analysis, it appears a potent cocktail of factors have combined, triggering the shambolic scenes seen now. It is also not just Britain's airports and airlines struggling. Problems are occurring across Europe, with airports like Schipol in Amsterdam also hit hard. Speaking to This is Money, Rhys Jones, an expert at Head for Points, said: 'Fundamentally, the chaos we are seeing at airports and airlines in the UK is the result of multiple issues happening at the same time. 'Perhaps the biggest problem was the fact that the furlough scheme ended in the autumn, before air travel demand had returned to anywhere near its previous highs, leaving airlines and airports to make difficult decisions about staffing levels. 'This was further compounded by Omicron, which stalled the recovery of the sector, and the lack of clarity from the Government about how and when travel restrictions would be lifted. 'Last December it would have been extremely hard to predict whether travel would bounce back in 2022 or whether Omicron would result in further lockdowns and travel restrictions. 'It could have gone either way, and the aviation industry was careful not to overstretch itself for fear of losing more money than it already had, so there was a lot of caution about ramping up again.' He added: 'The ramp up of the past six months is also unprecedented, going from very low volumes of traffic to very high ones in a very short space of time, which is very difficult to manage. 'I don't think the aviation industry has ever experienced such a huge bounce-back over so short a space of time - I believe post-9/11 and post-2008 were more gradual, for example.' Cancellations: British Airways has axed thousands of flights until the autumn Notably, Jones does not believe any one entity is to blame for the current chaos, because a number of factors have played a role in exacerbating the situation. In terms of when the current chaos will start to calm down, Jones said: 'I'm hopeful that issues will be resolved by late summer/autumn, which is of course too late for the peak school holiday season which is also the most profitable period for airlines and airports.' Gordon Smith, a travel expert and aviation journalist, told This is Money: 'While there was little doubt that a rebound would eventually occur, the scale and speed of the surge in passenger demand caught many businesses off guard.' He added: 'There are serious fault lines appearing between the airlines who planned properly and are ready for the summer, and those who are struggling to cope. 'The enormous frustrations stem from the fact that aviation is a complex ecosystem, and carriers are only as strong as their weakest partner. 'You might have your own house in order, but if a contractor or supplier is struggling, you - and your passengers - will soon start feeling the pain too.' How to find travel insurance The simplest way to look for travel insurance is to use a comparison site. Results will similar across most comparison sites but some may have special deals, so it could be worth using more than one. If you have previous serious medical issues consider a specialist insurer or broker. This is Money has partnered with Compare the Market to help you find great travel insurance. You can compare prices and cover at the link below. > Travel insurance: Check policies with Compare the Market On the issue of passenger number restrictions and the sector's outlook, Gordon said: 'After more than two years of begging us to get on a plane, some airlines are now going out of their way to keep passenger numbers down. 'It's a farcical state of affairs, but with no quick fixes, it looks likely that this turbulence will continue for the rest of the summer season.' Another factor that cannot be ignored centres on one word: recruitment. In recent months the aviation sector has been scrambling to hire new staff after axing thousands of jobs during the pandemic, and also seeing many quit for better paid work in other industries. British Airways alone shed around 10,000 staff during the pandemic. Now, those aviation firms that cut their staffing levels to the bone have been unable to recruit fast enough after the Government suddenly lifted all travel restrictions in March, fuelling a huge surge in bookings. Jones told This is Money: 'We're in one of the hottest employee markets ever right now, so a lot of staff previously working in menial labour jobs at airports and airlines have found they can get better paying jobs with better hours elsewhere. 'Who wants to get up at 3am to move baggage around on minimum wage?' British Airways is offering new cabin crew a 1,000 'golden hello' as the airline battles to recruit workers. While the situation is gloomy, it is, Jones told This is Money, important to note that not all airlines and airports are floundering. Jones said: 'While British Airways, Wizz Air and easyJet are having a particularly tough time, Ryanair and Virgin Atlantic have fared much more favourably. 'If you haven't booked your summer holiday yet, it pays to do your homework and find out who and where is holding up well.' If your flight is cancelled or you face hefty delays while at the airport, it pays to know your rights and what compensation you may be entitled to. This is Money has a handy guide on your rights for flight cancellations, detailing what you should do if, for instance, you cannot go on holiday because your flight is cancelled or what to do if you are stuck at an airport for hours. In a new series, we answer YOUR burning money questions... I used to have an EHIC in case I needed medical help when on holiday in Europe. Now we have left the European Union, what has the EHIC been replaced by and how do I get one? SW, Lincolnshire. Ruth Jackson-Kirby replies: The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) afforded British travellers free medical treatment when travelling in Europe. Since January last year, British citizens can no longer apply for one. All change: The European Health Insurance Card has been replaced by the Global Health Insurance Card The good news is that the EHIC has been replaced by the new Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). And if you still have an EHIC you can use it until it expires. The GHIC entitles you to the same free treatment that locals receive in state-run hospitals and GP surgeries in Europe. You should get free emergency treatment and care in an accident and emergency department in most countries. You also won't usually have to pay for treatment for pre-existing medical conditions and maternity care unless you have gone abroad to give birth. If needed, you should also get free oxygen and kidney dialysis in most places. However, state healthcare is not free in all European countries, so there is no guarantee a GHIC will get you the treatment you need for free. Ceri McMillan, travel insurance spokesperson for comparison website Go Compare, says: 'Many countries don't have a free healthcare service as we do in the UK. If private healthcare is your only option, a GHIC will not cover this.' You should therefore still take out travel insurance for trips in Europe, even if you have a GHIC. That way, you are covered if you need private care or need to be flown home. McMillan adds: 'Travel insurance is still needed for eventualities such as cancellations, disruptions, and if anything happens to your luggage or personal belongings.' Also, don't be fooled by the name of the GHIC: it does not cover you all around the globe. It covers you in the 27 member countries of the European Union, but not the non-EU countries that the EHIC covered, which were Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican don't accept the GHIC or the EHIC. However, the UK does have reciprocal healthcare agreements with a few other countries including Australia and New Zealand, and Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo. This means that you can use your GHIC to access free state medical care in these countries. However, make sure you read up on the agreement before you travel to any of them, so you know exactly what you are covered for. You can apply for a GHIC for free on the NHS website at nhs.uk/usingthe-nhs/healthcare-abroad/ apply-for-a-free-uk-global-healthinsurance-card-ghic. If you cannot apply online you can phone 0191 218 1999 for assistance. Make sure you apply for a GHIC directly via the NHS website. There are a number of third-party websites that try to charge you to apply for one and they are often made to look similar to the official website, so beware. You should never have to pay for a GHIC. To apply for the card, you'll need to provide your National Insurance number, and, in some cases, you may be asked for your NHS number. You will also be asked for your full name, address and date of birth. You can find your NI number on a payslip or letters about your pension or benefits. If you don't have your NHS number, you can look it up at nhs.uk/nhs-services/onlineservices/find-nhs-number. GHICs last for five years and if you lose yours you can apply for a replacement online at NHS.uk. Finally, don't forget to take your GHIC with you when you travel, and print out details of your travel insurance. You will need to show both to medical staff when seeking treatment and to make an insurance claim. It is also worth taking a photo of your GHIC and emailing it to yourself so you have a copy should you lose it while abroad. If you do forget your GHIC and need medical assistance while you are in an EU country, you can apply for a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC) via the NHS Overseas Healthcare Services. Go to: nhsbsa.nhs.uk/contact-us/ overseas-healthcare-services-contact-us. Someone else can apply for a PRC on your behalf if necessary. According to the NHS it is taking longer than usual to process new GHIC applications. It advises that if you need emergency treatment while abroad and have not yet received a card, you should apply for a PRC. Will 653 million be enough to keep the wolves from Aston Martin's door? The Mail on Sunday revealed in January that the luxury car marque might have to ask share investors for fresh funds for a fourth time. But in response to that story, a spokesperson for Aston Martin said: 'Aston Martin Lagonda has no requirement or plans to raise additional funds.' Driving a hard bargain: Aston Martin said it wants to carry out a rights issue and placing totalling 653m Then in an about turn, Aston Martin said last week it wants to carry out a rights issue and placing totalling 653 million backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Mercedes-Benz and Lawrence Stroll's investment vehicle. James Congdon, who runs the Quest research unit at broker Canaccord Genuity, said: 'The quantum of money being raised this time means Aston Martin have bought themselves a bit of time, maybe two to three years. 'But it is still basically burning through cash and has a load of debt. If there is a real recession Aston Martin might have to raise money again in three years.' IAG climbing short positions table British Airways' owner International Airlines Group is creeping up the leaderboard for London-listed companies with short positions placed against them. According to Shortracker.com, 4.8 per cent of IAG shares are on loan, making it the eighth most shorted stock. Amid IAG's summer woes, do the hedge funds scent further bad news for the shares? IAG had to raise 2.75billion via a rights issue in July 2020 and some wags claim it may soon have to tap shareholders for fresh funds. FirstGroup offer sour for Robert Tchenguiz A 1.2billion-plus cash offer for bus and rail operator FirstGroup is likely to leave Robert Tchenguiz with a sour taste. During the March 2020 stockmarket rout, the tycoon's stockbrokers closed out his near 100million punt on FirstGroup, sending the shares as low as 32p. Since then his brokers have been chasing him for money they claim he owes on the investment in FirstGroup that went wrong. Now gossips claim FirstGroup could soon be on the receiving end of a 150p-a-share cash bid from infrastructure investor I Squared Capital and that the bid could be unveiled as early as next week because it has a 'put up or shut up' deadline. If only the colourful tycoon had managed to keep hold of his 100million bet on FirstGroup! Frisson of excitement around Ted Baker Rumours began to circulate around the ailing fashion brand that it might be close to concluding its sale process with a formal offer for the company. Authentic Brands, the owner of Reebok, and US-based private equity firm Sycamore Partners have previously been reported to have given up their respective pursuits of Ted Baker. Now, the talk is that a US-based private equity house has shown a strong interest in buying the company and may be close to tabling a formal offer at 130p a share. Whether, though, that potential offer comes from Sycamore Partners or another American buy-out house remains to be seen. The former chief executive of British Airways owner IAG has slammed the boss of Heathrow airport for his failure to cope with a surge in demand this summer, describing the situation as 'farcical'. Willie Walsh told The Mail on Sunday he has no sympathy for airport chief John Holland-Kaye as holidaymakers prepare to jet off for their summer breaks. He said the airport 'should have been better prepared' and 'clearly can't cope' with the rise in demand. Flying into trouble: Willie Walsh said the airport 'should have been better prepared' and 'clearly can't cope' with the rise in demand Walsh stopped short of calling for top bosses at the debt-laden airport to be sacked over the crisis. But he added: 'If we are in the same position next year, then without question people should be fired.' He made his comments amid calls for Holland-Kaye to find a better solution to the issue. He has been given an ultimatum by the Department for Transport to draw up a 'credible' plan to end the continuing travel trouble. But the condemnation by Walsh, one of the most powerful figures in the industry and who now represents a group of the world's largest airlines, will pile further pressure on Holland-Kaye and the airport's foreign investors. Heathrow last week told airlines to stop selling tickets for summer and imposed a new daily limit of 100,000 passengers until September. It said the cuts would keep service at an acceptable level as long queues, baggage delays and cancellations have left the airport in chaos. Walsh who runs IATA which represents hundreds of airlines including British Airways, American Airlines and Virgin Atlantic told the MoS: 'I think they should have been better prepared. It is farcical imposing these restrictions at the last minute on airlines when in many cases they have sold tickets. It is a terrible way of doing business.' Walsh also backed up comments by the Civil Aviation Authority that Heathrow investors the Spanish giant Ferrovial and the Qatar Investment Authority may now need to stump up cash. 'The shareholders are extremely rich,' he said. 'They have done extremely well out of Heathrow. I think there is a strong case that has been made that, if Heathrow's balance sheet needs to be repaired, the first place it should go now is to its shareholders.' The world's largest airline Emirates has also criticised the passenger cap, describing the dire situation at the airport as 'Airmaggedon'. Holland-Kaye said the unprecedented measure was vital after '40 years of passenger growth in just four months' with some of its critical functions still 'significantly under-resourced'. On Friday, he was told by Ministers to say how he would solve Heathrow's issues, particularly security screening and helping disabled passengers. Disruption is set to continue at Heathrow this week as staff at one of the airport's key refuelling companies prepare for a three-day strike which will affect major airlines including Virgin Atlantic, Delta and KLM. It is understood many in the industry are speculating Holland-Kaye is running out of time to solve the crisis. The problems have shifted focus to the airport group's stretched balance sheet. The Mail on Sunday has found that Heathrow's parent company paid no corporation tax in five of the last ten years of its operation. An investigation into its finances over the past decade show the airport paid out roughly 10billion in 'finance costs' largely to service its vast 15billion debt. Such payments can significantly reduce profit at indebted companies and, therefore, count as corporation tax liabilities. At the same time it paid dividends of about 4billion. Analysis of Heathrow's company filings reveal that Holland-Kaye was paid almost 10million since 2018, with his pay rising by 700,000 to 1.5million last year. A Heathrow spokesman said the firm is 'one of the largest taxpayers in the UK, contributing 210million of tax in 2021'. It said its tax contribution over the past six years 'exceeds 1.7billion' including 762million in business rates. But MP Ruth Cadbury, who is on the Parliamentary Transport Committee, said Heathrow's finances 'need looking at'. She said: 'You can be a company in debt, pay your shareholders and the taxpayers get nothing. Yet ordinary people are having to face a National Insurance rise. That is shocking.' Walsh added that Heathrow's 'mindset was all driven around economic regulation and not looking after the customer'. Telecom giants Vodafone Group and Three are considering a merger of their UK divisions, according to City sources. The combination would be a joint venture with ownership split equally between the two groups, the sources said. It would bring together the third and fourth largest mobile network operators in the UK behind BT's EE and Virgin Media O2. It's good to talk: Vodafone had revenue of 6.6billion last year, while Three UK's revenue stood at 2.5billion Three UK's Hong Kong owner, CK Hutchison, would likely inject a lump sum of cash into the venture, in part due to its smaller size, the sources said. It is understood a merger between the pair was due to be announced at Vodafone's full-year results in May but the process has been delayed. Vodafone had revenue of 6.6billion last year, while Three UK's revenue stood at 2.5billion. Speculation that Vodafone is considering a partnership with Three UK has been ongoing since Europe's largest activist investor, Cevian Capital, emerged with a stake in the group earlier this year. Cevian has called for mergers and acquisitions in key markets, including the UK, to improve Vodafone's ailing share price. Vodafone chief executive Nick Read last year said he was in favour of consolidation in the UK. Hutchison has been keen to offload Three UK for a while, having struggled to generate returns on the investment, City sources said. One said its owners may even close the business if a solution is not found. He added that telecoms firms already had sizeable energy bills and the recent rise in energy costs will have piled further pressure on Three UK's financial performance and it is 'feeling the squeeze'. Industry watchers are hoping for the UK Competition and Markets Authority to follow the European Union's lead in allowing telecom mergers. A merger of Vodafone and Three in the UK would mean the number of dominant players would be reduced from four to three. But City lawyers are doubtful the CMA would clear any deal, saying its outlook on mergers has not changed since the attempted linkup of O2 and Three UK, when it expressed 'serious' concerns to the European Commission about the impact on UK consumers. Analysts at Assembly Research expect prices would be 'top of mind' for the CMA when assessing any merger or partnership between Three and Vodafone, 'particularly given the cost of living crisis'. Vodafone, Hutchison and Three UK were contacted for comment. Perhaps it is understandable that the French-Moroccan billionaire stalking BT was, until recently, unknown to most Britons. One of the most powerful businessmen in France and regarded by some as an ally of President Emmanuel Macron, Patrick Drahi had built up his sprawling empire while barely troubling the UK. But in the past year he has exploded on to the scene, ruffling feathers not only in the telecoms industry and stock market, but with senior figures in Whitehall. Last week, Ministers extended an investigation into his interest in BT, already under way for seven weeks. That is unlikely to trouble a man so clearly used to biding his time. Plugged in: Patrick Drahi is now the biggest single shareholder in BT Drahi, worth an estimated 5billion, has spent three decades building up his vast network of companies across France, Israel, Luxembourg and beyond. The Mail on Sunday can this weekend reveal his entrepreneurial endeavours stretch back to the early 1990s when he was awarded a mandate for the launch of a cable network in Beijing. He slowly built his expertise, first advising European cable firm UPC on its acquisitions strategy, then creating his company, Altice, in 2001. But analysis of his business journey suggests it has only been in the past decade that his group reached a significant global scale. At first largely limited to France, Altice has in more recent years used the availability of cheap debt to snap up rivals in Europe and the US to build the $11.7billion (10billion) behemoth of today. Not much is publicly known about Drahi, who also owns auctioneer Sotheby's. But in France he remains a significant influence. He has stakes in venerable Left-wing daily Liberation, co-founded in 1973 by French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, and magazine L'Express. He has also been described as a 'friend' of Macron. Drahi's firm was also forced to respond to reports in 2016 linking him to the Panama Papers a giant leak of private financial information on offshore holdings with the telecoms mogul's people issuing a fierce rebuttal of any wrongdoing at the time. Other analysis also shows how Drahi's vast business empire has spawned firms in other tax-friendly vicinities such as Luxembourg and Guernsey. Again, there is no suggestion of impropriety. But there is growing interest in his activities ever since Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng confirmed an investigation into Drahi's stake in BT. Ally: Emmanuel Macron and wife Brigitte The group, formerly known as British Telecom, provides the UK with its internet and telecom services through its fibre infrastructure company Openreach, as well as owning mobile network EE and providing security software. It also provides service contracts across Government departments and it is understood to be used by Britain's security forces. Altice Europe increased its stake in BT from 12.1 per cent, first declared just over a year ago, to 18 per cent in mid-December, making it the single biggest shareholder. At that stage Drahi said he did not plan to buy the business outright. But his interest has sparked widespread speculation that he may still launch an 18billion takeover of the national asset, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. A Government source said BT, Britain's largest telecommunications provider, is the 'exact kind of critical infrastructure' that national security legislation is meant to protect. It is not yet clear what issues are being investigated by officials, but it is understood intelligence is being shared across different ministerial departments. Only last week the investigation was extended amid reports the Government had requested more information about the situation piquing interest. It is almost certain the Government would intervene in any takeover attempt. The most drastic outcome could even include Kwarteng forcing Drahi to sell his existing shares, City sources suggested. The billionaire has a reputation for slashing costs. He was once described by the Financial Times as the 'king of cost cutting'. The newspaper said suppliers to SFR were asked for big discounts after he bought the French telecoms giant. It is unclear if concerns about such strategies, or the potential use of debt in any acquisition of BT, form part of the Government's worries. One City lawyer described the purpose of the investigation as a 'mystery', but said the recent delay means there 'must have been some issues it wants to work through'. The lawyer said: 'Altice's chief executive doesn't have the best reputation for cost cutting and shedding jobs'. Carl Murdock-Smith, a telecoms analyst at Berenberg Bank, expressed similar observations, adding that Drahi's 'love of leverage' using debt to buy companies was self-evident. He said: 'That can make you rich when it works, but is it the approach for a strategic national asset?' Sources said the Government might impose conditions on Drahi keeping his existing stake. At the very least, he has found himself on the Government's radar and he is likely to remain there until his long-term intentions become abundantly clear. TikTok has ordered London staff back to the office for a minimum of two days a week to 'inspire creativity' and make the business 'stronger'. The social media giant emailed employees encouraging them to attend the office three days a week with a minimum of two days on site required, after some staff spent the past two years working remotely. 'We believe that face-to-face interaction can inspire creativity and creates irreplaceable value,' the email said. Finger on the pulse: TikTok emailed employees encouraging them to attend the office three days a week with a minimum of two days on site required It added: 'Spending time together helps build mutual understanding and trust, which makes us a closer team and a stronger business. We want to balance the need to bring our people together while offering flexibility that respects team and employee needs.' Employees have been told to make the change this month, with some granted a period of grace until September before they have to complete the move. It is understood the approach may vary across teams and exceptions to the two-day rule may be made according to the demands of different jobs and individual circumstances. Other big tech firms have already begun to make the shift. Google required employees to be in the office at least three days a week from April. Google chief executive Sundar Pichai told The Wall Street Journal: 'I think we can be more purposeful about the time they're in, making sure group meetings, collaboration, creative brainstorming, or community building happens then.' But he added many staff will continue to 'enjoy the flexibility of working from home a couple [of] days [a] week, spending time in another city for part of the year, or even moving there permanently.' The number of home movers fell by more than a third in the first half of this year, but the total remains above pre-pandemic levels. There was a 133 per cent increase in home movers during the tax break, according to Halifax, so it was likely the number would fall this year. However, the number of home movers is still up compared to pre-pandemic levels and apart from last year, is the busiest start to the year for home movers since 2008. House prices for home movers continue to climb, increasing 5% in the last year and 42% over the past five years The stamp duty holiday lasted from July 2020 to September 2021. Home movers now make up just under half (47 per cent) of all home purchasers, with the rest accounted for by first-time buyers and landlords. Last year saw an exceptionally high number of movers due to the Government's stamp duty holiday which was put in place to support the housing market during the covid pandemic. Regionally, Greater London saw the biggest drop in movers with the total falling 45 per cent compared to the first half of 2021. Just 13,765 people made a move in the Greater London area in the first half of this year, according to Halifax. In contrast Scotland saw a much smaller fall in movers, just 13 per cent which was the lowest of any region in the UK. Andrew Asaam, homes director at Halifax, said: 'The number of home movers so far this year is lower than the record high set last year: this was not unexpected, and the housing market has remained buoyant in 2022 so far. 'When looking at the five-year trend, a different story emerges, with the number of home movers in the London area remaining relatively flat. 'With the cost of the average home for movers in London now at 733,628, it is perhaps unsurprising the market in London is self-correcting, with many likely priced out of moving in and around the capital without additional support.' Chris Sykes, technical director at mortgage broker Private Finance said that while the figures are strong the slowdown was still worrying. 'A second step is a large one for many. Going from your typical first time buyer small house to a larger family home these days seems impossible for some with the costs involved,' he added. 'For example, someone may have bought a 350,000, two-bed flat as their first purchase a few years ago, paying a 10 per cent deposit, 2,500 stamp duty with the first-time buyer discount, and a few thousand pounds in legal and other fees. 'Now, they want to buy a 500,000, three-bed terraced property to start a family. The stamp duty alone for this move would cost 15,000, selling fees on their current home would be a few thousand, and solicitors' costs for a sale and purchase a few thousand. 'They may find they need a bigger than 10 per cent deposit depending on their incomes for this next purchase, too. That is a lot of money to find for many. 'This could cause a real issue in the long term creating a lack of first time buyer property stock.' While the number of house movers has dropped over the year, the average house price for home movers risen 5 per cent to 403,163. Over five years the average price has seen a sharp jump of 42 per cent. In cash terms, it means those buying a home now have 134,108 on average to put towards their move onto the next rung of the ladder. In 2017, this figure was 98,219. At the UK level, the typical deposit is now 33 per cent for all home movers, compared to 20 per cent for first time buyers. Commenting on the figures, David Hollingworth from L&C said: 'The growing requirement for a bigger deposit underlines the fact that buyers are contending with higher prices and are putting down larger sums as a down payment. 'Some of that may be possible as a result of a higher selling price for their previous home, but ever higher prices will naturally put pressure on affordability. The number of home movers in Greater London fell 45% compared to last year, the biggest fall of anywhere in the country. 'At the same time, cost of living increases will have been starting to bite this year and home buyers will also have felt higher rates feeding through into the market. 'Home movers will likely want to fix their rate to protect against further rate rises especially as other costs such as energy are also volatile currently. They have the choice of short to very long term fixes depending on how much stability they want to build in. Fixing for ten years or more is possible, but borrowers just need to consider any applicable lock in period and whether that could affect flexibility later.' Taking a regional look across the UK, Scotland has seen the lowest change to house price growth since 2017, at 30 per cent. Movers in London have to put down the largest deposits for their new home, with the average for the capital coming in at 248,379. The type of home movers are choosing has also changed. Detached and semi-detached homes are the most popular type of home for people to move to, with a 29 per cent and 28 per cent share of the home mover market respectively. Over the past decade, detached homes have increased in popularity, experiencing a seven percentage point increase. Retiring young: Is it too tough or worth the sacrifices needed? The extreme saving tactics of the 'Financial Independence, Retire Early' movement are unrealistic for most people and 'one way to work yourself into loneliness', according to critics. In recent years, some have been inspired to pursue retirement as early in life as they can via a combination of frugality, maximising income and aggressive investing. Opinion is divided on how successful this approach is unless you are a relatively high earner, and willing to make significant financial sacrifices while still young. Even naysayers agree that starting to save early and sticking to a financial plan are a good strategy, but urge people to set realistic goals and beware the pitfalls of leaving the workplace too soon. 'Financial Independence, Retire Early' was born as a movement from financial self-help books and has gathered momentum on social media and podcasts. Tactics can vary but typically its fans aim to retire in their 40s by boosting their earnings as much as possible, saving some 70 per cent of their income by living simply, and building up their savings by investing. 'According to most FIRE how-to guides, you need to save up around 25 times your annual expenses to achieve financial independence,' explains Richard Harwood, financial planner at Brewin Dolphin. 'This is known as your 'FIRE number'. So, if you expect to spend 20,000 a year when you retire, you'd need to save around 500,000. 'This calculation is based on the assumption that you withdraw 4 per cent of your savings each year in retirement a withdrawal rate that the FIRE method believes is sustainable if you invest.' Want to retire early? Your income could take a drastic hit People determined to retire early have to accept a significantly lower income or risk their pension pot running dry, according to a study published by AJ Bell earlier this year. This looked at the impact of retiring at either 55 or 65 with a pot worth 91,000, the average size in the UK, if you want it to last to age 90. AJ Bell also ran the same exercise with a pot worth 200,000. Anyone choosing to wait usually benefits from more investment growth, so they can afford bigger withdrawals and their savings are likely to last longer. He adds: 'Quitting work at age 40 might seem like the dream, but it's a tough goal that might not be right for everyone.' Sean McCann, chartered financial planner at NFU Mutual, says: 'While the idea of retiring in your 40s is appealing to some, the level of sacrifice required and the need to save aggressively make it unrealistic for most. 'However, there are elements of the FIRE movement's ideas that we can learn from.' What are the pros of setting a radical early retirement goal? Having a plan 'It's great to have an early plan in place to take control of your financial future,' notes Harwood, though he is sceptical of many other aspects of the FIRE strategy. 'The FIRE movement may not be for everyone, but the planning aspects of the movement certainly could prove beneficial to all investors, without necessarily compromising on their quality of life.' McCann says: 'Having a retirement age in mind allows you to plan and work out the level of savings you need to make now, whether you want to retire at 45 or 75.' Looking to the future 'It is encouraging that so many young people are now thinking about the future and considering sacrificing spending today to secure the lifestyle they want in their later years,' says Tom Selby, head of retirement policy at AJ Bell. 'People just need to set sensible, achievable goals and consider the spending/saving balance that best meets those goals.' McCann adds: 'Time is one of the key elements when it comes to building up enough funds to achieve financial independence and starting to save as early as possible allows you take advantage of compound growth.' When will you retire? The rising state pension age has prompted more people to work for longer, often out of financial necessity. At present, men and women start drawing the state pension at 66, and this is worth 9,300 a year if you qualify for the full amount. It is due to rise to 67 between 2026 and 2028, and the Government is currently considering whether to increase it again to 68 between 2037 and 2039. The minimum age to tap private pensions will rise from 55 to 57 in 2028, to keep it tandem with the state pension. Setting a budget 'Questioning everyday expenditure is sensible,' notes McCann. 'Whether you're buying a holiday, a mortgage or your weekly grocery shopping, taking the time to find the best deals can save you thousands of pounds.' Gaining tax breaks This is good practice, and pensions are one of the most tax-efficient ways to save for retirement, according to McCann. 'For every 80 you pay in HMRC will add another 20, and higher rate tax payers are able to claim back additional sums too. 'However, you can't access your pension until you reach 55 and from 2028 this rises to 57 so if you want to retire before then you'll need to fill the income gap. 'Isas can provide a tax-free income alternative.' 'If you're married or in a civil partnership make sure you're using the tax-free allowances you both have. Using both personal allowances, savings allowances and dividend allowances can allow a couple to enjoy an income of 31,140 tax-free. 'Moving income producing assets between you can help you maximise the income you hold on to.' See the box above for more on retirement ages, and scroll down to find a guide on plugging the financial gap if you retire earlier. What are the downsides of trying to retire in middle age? Sacrificing your youth 'Selling an unrealistic dream of financial independence at the expense of your younger years is ill-conceived and one way to work yourself into loneliness,' says Harwood. 'Would you really like to look back on your life and see that you'd spent your 20s and 30s sacrificing valuable experiences? 'You may have money later, but the time is probably lost forever, for the sake of 20k a year- if you're lucky.' Richard Harwood: 'Selling an unrealistic dream of financial independence at the expense of your younger years is ill-conceived' He adds: 'It's crucial to consider the sacrifices involved to achieve a very aggressive savings rate, and to work out what's realistic, particularly if children could be on the horizon or are already in the picture.' Selby says: 'Most people will prefer to balance enjoying life today with saving for the future. 'There is nothing wrong with targeting early retirement, although the extreme saving methods often associated with the so-called FIRE movement won't appeal to the majority and often involve making huge sacrifices in your youth.' Running out of money 'The biggest risk is that you retire and discover your retirement pot isn't sufficient to fund what could be an extremely long retirement if your calculations fall short,' warns Harwood. 'It's worth noting that it will be hard to go back into the workplace 10 or 20 years after that early retirement, bearing in mind that you can't access money inside personal pensions until age 55 - rising to 57 from April 2028.' Harwood also cautions: 'It's worth noting that the 4 per cent withdrawal rule was developed using US market performance data from 1926 to 1992 and targeted at retirees with a 30-year time horizon. 'For a UK investor in the 2020s, with a 50-year time horizon, there's a real risk that relying on the 4 per cent rule results in savings being depleted too quickly.' Selby says you need to be clear about the trade-offs involved because ultimately the earlier you retire, the longer your pension pot will need to last for. 'You need to consider the lifestyle you want to enjoy when you stop working and how much it will cost to fund that lifestyle,' he says. He reckons the biggest challenge to the FIRE strategy is likely to be achieving a sustainable long term income. 'A healthy 40-year-old can expect to live another four or five decades - for a 4 per cent withdrawal rate to be sustainable over that period of time would require some serious heavy lifting from your investments. 'The big danger here is that you will end up running out of money early and left relying on the state, potentially for decades. Few people's retirement dreams would involve being on the breadline in their 60, 70s and beyond.' >>>How to invest your pension and live off it in retirement: Read This is Money's 12-step starters' guide here. Relying on Isas If you want to retire at 40, you would need to save a large chunk of money in Isas or other vehicles to see you through until you can start drawing private pensions and the state pension, points out Harwood. But he cautions: 'Whilst Isas are a tax-efficient way of saving and investing, they don't have as many tax saving benefits as pensions. 'Without a workplace pension, individuals will miss out on employer contributions and tax relief on personal contributions, both of which can supercharge retirement funds.' State pension age is 66 and rising 'If you are planning on retiring in your 40s, you do need to factor in that you won't receive the full state pension when you reach your state pension age unless you have 35 years of qualifying National Insurance contributions,' says McCann. You can make voluntary top-ups to improve your state pension, which is currently worth around 9,600 a year if you have a full record. A majestic, pillared branch of Bank of Scotland has stood proudly on Forres high street for 168 years. Bank of Scotland and its predecessor Caledonian Bank have served generation after generation of residents and small firms in the north Scotland town. Like so many rural bank branches across the UK, the Forres branch was until last week at the core of its community. But at 3pm on Monday, as the clock tower bell chimed three times, the door shut for business for the last time. Tearful staff and customers said their final farewells. A dozen cards with messages such as 'Sorry to see you go' adorned the counter. Tragedy: Michael Fassbender, left, in the 2015 movie Macbeth and, above, the Forres site where a bank has stood for the last 168 years The closure means there is now not a single bank branch in Forres. Its small business owners and 12,000 residents will have to travel 12 miles to the nearest branch, which is in Elgin. Those without a car will need to pay 8.50 to get there on the irregular train service. Forres is the setting for Shakespeare's play Macbeth, so locals are well versed in double-dealings and bloody plots. But even they have been shocked at the betrayal of the banks that were part of their community for so long. Forres, 25 miles east of Inverness on the Moray Firth, is one of hundreds of communities being abandoned by banks as branches are shut in their droves. Campaigners warn that banks are dashing to get out of town before new rules kick in that will make it harder for them to do so. They fear that amid the upheaval of a new Prime Minister, the introduction of new regulations could take even longer, triggering even more branch closures. Derek French, a former bank executive and founder of the Campaign for Community Banking Services, says: 'Banks are understandably falling over themselves to get out of town before regulations are introduced to stop them fleeing. 'I fear at this rate, by the time rules are introduced it will be far too late for many there must be a stop to all closures with immediate effect.' Experts fear the number of closures could accelerate in the second half of the year with more than 500 closing in total throughout 2022. Already Lloyds has announced it is axing at least 88 branches this year including some under its Bank of Scotland and Halifax brands. Barclays is shutting more than 130 while HSBC is to cut at least 69. TSB is shutting 70 branches, and Santander and NatWest also plan to wield the bank axe. The Mail on Sunday has long campaigned for legislation to protect access to cash and banking services in all communities. As many as 5.4million people in the UK rely on cash for their day-today needs, including the most vulnerable in society. After years of campaigning by The Mail on Sunday and consumer groups, the Government finally announced plans in May to introduce rules to stop the last bank in town from quitting a community without a full consultation. The new rules are part of the Financial Services and Markets Bill, which is due to go before Parliament this year. But, the plight of Forres is a perfect example of the harm being done while we wait for the regulations to kick in. There are around 200 more towns like Forres at risk of losing their last bank branch. Conservative Moray MP, Douglas Ross, says that Bank of Scotland's departure from his constituency town of Forres is 'totally unacceptable and a dereliction of duty to local customers'. He says: 'This closure beggars belief. Many customers particularly the elderly and vulnerable rely on this bank. Broadband is not reliable around Moray and online services are just no substitute for a face-to-face service.' Residents who do not wish to travel will have to rely on basic banking services at the Post Office, positioned at the back of the local Spar mini-market where queues can snake out the door. Many come simply to withdraw cash, a service that will be even more in demand now that Bank of Scotland is also removing its ATM machine. Lloyds justifies the Forres closure by claiming branch usage has fallen by more than half in five years, with many customers now preferring to bank online. Usage fell by a fifth over the last year. But at nearby Macbeth's Butchers and Game Dealers, butcher Karen Logan shakes her head in disbelief at its excuses. The 48-year-old says: 'This bank has been at the heart of our town for more than a century and always been really busy. As a business customer this closure is distressing. 'All this talk of everyone wanting to go digital and bank online is utter rubbish it is just a front for a greedy cost-cutting drive.' Opposite the Bank of Scotland branch is The Bike Bothy shop owned by Kevin Riddoch, who is disappointed the bank has not adapted with the times, unlike his bike shop that has gone almost all-electric in the past couple of years. Kevin says: 'Why could the bank not explore the shared banking hub idea as other communities have adopted? Surely a thriving town like ours would be perfect for such an idea. There was no consultation or other solutions explored it simply decided to shut up shop.' Shared banking hubs were heralded as one solution to bank branch closures. Five high street banks share one outlet and offer basic banking services to all of their customers. The banks NatWest, Santander, Lloyds, HSBC and Barclays also offer more extensive services to their customers, each on a different day of the week. Anger: Karen Logan of Macbeth's Butchers and Game Dealers in Forres cannot believe the bank has closed However, the shared hubs roll-out has been mired by delays. So far only two have opened, in Rochford, Essex, and Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire. A further five hubs were due to be opened this year, but plans appear to have stalled. These were for Acton, West London; Brixham, Devon; Carnoustie, Angus; Knaresborough, North Yorkshire; and Syston in Leicestershire. It was announced earlier this year further shared bank hubs will open in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire; Cottingham in Yorkshire; as well as Troon in South Ayrshire. Cash machine network Link is being charged with finding locations for potential future shared bank branches. It, too, is still waiting for legislation to be finalised. John Howells, chief executive of Link, says: 'Cash remains popular. We still expect legislation to be published soon that places the Financial Conduct Authority in charge of access to cash and makes Link responsible for helping to protect communities.' As well as requesting a shared banking hub, communities without access to cash can also ask that Link installs a free-to-use ATM. The 100th was installed last week. Cash campaigner and chair of the Access to Cash Action Group, Natalie Ceeney, adds: 'We are fighting for freedom of choice giving everyone the right to choose cash in addition to other payment methods is vital. Many are dependent on cash for budgeting and with the cost-of-living squeeze they are highly dependent on access to cash.' Back in Forres, resident and estate agent Rebecca Garner fears bank closures can rip the heart out of communities and leave some of the grandest central buildings abandoned. The 32-year-old says: 'Such closures are a huge loss to the spirit of communities. Boarding up buildings in the centre of town and leaving them empty for sometimes years can turn a bustling high street into a ghost town. 'It is wrong banks can close without showing a shred of social responsibility towards the community they served.' Three doors down from the Forres Bank of Scotland is the old Clydesdale, which shut in 2015 after more than 100 years serving the community. The dilapidated boarded-up front is a reflection of how the newly closed neighbour might soon look. A TSB shut earlier this year is also now boarded up. Sadly, it is a bleak future facing many high streets unless action is taken immediately to stop such closures. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 16. The Azerbaijani economy has once again demonstrated successful development of the country and fulfillment of all the set tasks in the first half of 2022, Trend reports. The economic reforms enabled to attract two billion manat ($1.18 billion) to the budget through the tax line in excess of the forecast in the reporting period. From January through June this year, the economic growth and the growth of non-oil economy amounted to 6.2 and 9.6 percent, respectively. General industrial production increased by 2.1 percent, and non-oil industry - by 11.5 percent. Besides, the income of the population increased by nearly 20 percent. The foreign trade of Azerbaijan also significantly grew - by more than 70 percent. The export of Azerbaijani goods more than doubled, and non-oil exports rose by 25 percent. For six months, the positive balance of the foreign trade balance amounted to $12.1 billion. As of July 1, 2022, Azerbaijan's external public debt amounted to 10.7 percent of GDP. Economic expert Emin Garibli commenting on the issue said that the growth of macroeconomic indicators in the first half of 2022 was achieved as a result of reforms carried out in recent years under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev. "The reforms carried out in our country should be divided into two parts: natural resources and hydrocarbons, and since 2011 the economy has been actively diversified by strengthening human capital. Since 2014, Azerbaijan has been following an active and targeted policy in this direction, Garibli noted. On the basis of these works, a document aimed at the development of priority sectors in Azerbaijan was prepared. Besides, the country began to provide tax and customs preferences, as well as preferential loans. Another important factor here is the implementation of social policy. These reforms have led to a growth in wages and pensions, which is the basis of economic growth of the country's budget," he expert noted. According to him, the reforms carried out by the Azerbaijani government to provide preferences will continue to develop in the future. "We see how business entities and the population are actively using state incentives and programs for the development of business and human resources. The exemptions from tax, customs and other types of fees in industrial zones, including those in Azerbaijans Karabakh, will give an additional impetus to economic development," he further said. The expert also noted that the restoration of the liberated territories in accordance with the concept of "smart" cities and villages will also contribute to the economic development of both Karabakh itself and Azerbaijan. "The use of innovations and technologies increases the investment attractiveness of the country, and as a result of the creation of "smart" cities and villages, the investment potential of Azerbaijan will increase significantly, Garibli pointed out. The ongoing diversification reforms will continue in the future, and the importance of Azerbaijan will grow not only within regional economies, but also globally," he added. According to another expert, Ilgar Valizade, a number of works carried out contributed to the growth of macroeconomic indicators. "Reforms to diversify the economy take an important place among the works. Its no coincidence that non-oil exports, as well as the sector as a whole, have been growing rapidly in Azerbaijan in recent years. The share of value-added products in the structure of Azerbaijani exports is increasing, which indicates the stimulation of entrepreneurship, and the development of the production base. The growth of the budget is also influenced by the favorable situation in world prices for energy resources, primarily for oil and gas," Valizade said. "The income from gas exports and oil exports have recently become equal. This success was achieved as a result of far-sighted actions and steps taken by the leadership of Azerbaijan," the expert emphasized. He noted that at the beginning of the implementation of gas projects in Azerbaijan, many critics claimed that this sector was unprofitable. "However, the Azerbaijani government was determined to implement the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline and the Southern Gas Corridor projects. Today we see how gas prices are rising, especially in Europe, and the infrastructure created in Azerbaijan is now in great demand, the expert said. Our country, in accordance with the current realities, is ready for the market challenges. Moreover, substantive negotiations are underway to expand the gas infrastructure, as well as increase the supply of Azerbaijani gas. Besides, according to him, an important factor is that Azerbaijan has become a supplier of electricity. "The volume of electricity sold by Azerbaijan on foreign markets is constantly growing. Our electricity is imported not only by the countries of the region but also by the Balkan states," Valizade said. As for the budget surplus in the first half of 2022, according to the expert, the budget grew due to significant revenues to the economy from exports. "The country's government predicts that the state budget of Azerbaijan will reach about $67 billion by the end of this year. This is a rather impressive figure, which indicates that Azerbaijan will cope with all the set tasks, including the restoration of the liberated territories and the implementation of large infrastructure projects in other regions of the country," concluded Valizade. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 15. The attention to martyr families and disabled veterans in Azerbaijan is one of the priority directions of the states social policy, MP Jeyhun Mammadov told Trend. According to Mammadov, measures aimed at improving living conditions and increasing the social well-being of the martyr families are constantly taken in the country. Azerbaijan is one of the few countries in the world where the martyr families and disabled veterans are given great attention and care, and the state provides them with apartments and cars," Mammadov also noted. He stressed that more than 13,000 people from the above category in Azerbaijan have been provided with housing, and 7,400 - with cars. "This is a big figure. Participants and veterans of the first Karabakh war, standing in line, will be provided with housing in the near future, Mammadov said. All the above testifies to the successful implementation of social policy in Azerbaijan. The state is taking important steps to further improve the well-being of people in this category. This attention and care will continue in the future," the MP added. According to another MP, Azer Badamov, the state always pays attention to the martyr families and war disabled citizens. "President Ilham Aliyev's meetings with our servicemen injured during the 2020 second Karabakh war, and instructions given by him on the spot to solve certain problems are a clear display of this concern, Badamov said. At all meetings, the head of state instructs officials to pay attention to the problems of martyr families and disabled veterans. In accordance with the presidential orders, many state programs are being implemented to strengthen the social protection of martyr families and disabled veterans. A lump-sum allowance in the amount of 11,000 manat ($6,470) was paid and a monthly allowance was assigned to all martyr families. All disabled people, depending on the disability degree, are paid insurance funds and are assigned pensions, the MP noted. A state program is being implemented to improve the living conditions of martyr families and disabled veterans. Within the framework of these programs, more than 12,500 martyr families and disabled veterans were provided with housing or private houses. This program provides housing for all martyr families and disabled veterans until 2025, he further said. More than 7,500 cars have been provided to the disabled veterans of the first and second Karabakh wars, and the implementation of this program continues. Expenses for the education of martyrs children are covered by the state, and health camps are organized for them, Badamov noted. By the order of the head of state, the YASAT Foundation was established, and at the expense of donations received by the foundation, the rehabilitation of disabled veterans is carried out, and their treatment is organized abroad. Citizens who have lost limbs are provided with high-tech prostheses. The state is also creating rehabilitation centers that organize the treatment of thousands of veterans," added Badamov. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 15. Political consultations were held in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur for the first time between Azerbaijans and Malaysian Foreign Ministries, on July 15, Azerbaijani MFA told Trend. Ministry said that delegations headed by Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov and Malaysian Deputy Foreign Minister Kamarudin Jaffar discussed the current condition of bilateral relations during political consultations, also issues of expanding partnership in political, economic, energy, agricultural and humanitarian spheres. The sides also exchanged views on the development of prospects for cooperation within the framework of regional and international organizations. Mammadov met with Malaysian Foreign Minister Sri Saifuddin Abdullah on July 15, as part of his visit to Southeast and East Asia countries. The level of ties between the two countries was highly appreciated at the meeting, the importance of bilateral political dialogue was emphasized, and existing opportunities for expanding cooperation in various areas, including in energy, agricultural and humanitarian spheres, were discussed. Azerbaijani side expressed gratitude to Malaysia for the consistent and constant support of Azerbaijans territorial integrity and sovereignty. Exchange of views between two countries on issues of partnership within the framework of international organizations and regional and international security also took place during the meeting. EAST POESTENKILL -- The First Baptist Church of East Poestenkill is a proud country church with a website that displays a photo of a congregation member being baptized in a clear mountain stream surrounded by green rushes, goldenrod and wildflowers - delicate, snowy Queen Anne's lace and purple bellflowers. The lovely photo was taken by Heather Nelson, wife of pastor Andy, whose work serves the congregation while raising five sons. Their church in the pretty hamlet of East Poestenkill is part of Village Missions, a movement that tackles a crisis; keeping small town rural churches alive when they are dying by the hundreds across America. And the movement aims for more than survival. It wants rural churches to be lively, charitable and engaging to the small towns they serve. "Since 1948, we have been keeping country churches alive in North America," the website says. "We place pastors in rural churches and help those churches get back on their feet. We care about the country church and are working to keep the church a vibrant and vital presence in more than 230 rural communities throughout North America. Were here when crisis hits, when the community is searching for somewhere to turn for answers." The Rev. Andy Nelson's official title is Village Missionary although his flock calls him pastor. His wife said the current congregation numbers about 35 although she hopes it will recover some of its pre-pandemic attendees. This week, First Baptist hosted its Community Night on the Mountain, which boasted music, hot dogs, watermelon and CornHole, 4Square and Frisbee. But social events are just one way this summer the church will serve the community. Baptists from Indiana are visiting the church to help with other church projects. This week, the focus will be on clearing overgrowth and rubbish from hiking trails at Poestenkill Elementary. In August, Boy Scouts will join in working to make the trails beautiful. "If all goes well, we will be working on Poestenkill trails that have been abandoned for many years," Heather Nelson explained. "The PTA and elementary school principal have a heart to see them be used once more this fall. My husband, Andy, and I are involved in the PTA, which has been a great way for our church family to know better how to serve Poestenkill." She said that nine members of a church in the small town of Fishers, Indiana, drove to East Poestenkill on Monday and will be "sleeping in an Airbnb in West Sand Lake" while helping her church with community projects. "They worked tirelessly today to help make our property ready for Community Night," she said. The congregation meets in a white frame church with a steeple and hosts children's summer activities like Vacation Bible School, men's and women's fellowships and lots of volunteer work. If you would like to help bring the overgrown trails back to life, call (518) 283-5186 to volunteer. HUDSON A Columbia County jury acquitted an Austerlitz man Friday of more than 350 counts of child sexual abuse. Michael Lawrence, 71, was arraigned back in 2019 in Columbia County County Court, in the city of Hudson, on more than 350 counts that included predatory sexual assault, first-degree rape and first-degree sexual abuse. He was also charged with criminal sexual conduct, a criminal sex act, and three counts of second-degree sexual abuse. The grand jury alleged that Lawrence had sexual contact with three children from 2009 through 2013, resulting in the large number of felony criminal charges filed against him. On Friday, Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka said a 12-person jury acquitted Lawrence, whom Czajka declined to identify by name once the jury announced its decision, after three hours of deliberation. Columbia County Court Judge Jonathan Nichols oversaw the trial. NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via When the genealogy documentary series "Who Do You Think You Are?," an American adaptation of the British BBC series of the same name, returned to NBC last Sunday 10 years after the network had canceled it following its third season, Tony and Emmy Award-winning actor and singer Billy Porter ("Pose," "Kinky Boots") was the celebrity subject investigating his family tree. But for Capital Region residents, it was the clips of the next episode, airing this Sunday at 7 p.m. EST, that might have generated the most interest. In them, actor, writer and comedian Nick Offerman ("Parks and Recreation") is shown strolling past surging fountains across a suspiciously empty Empire State Plaza in Albany, captured in both ground-level tracking shots as well as elevated bird's-eye views from a crane or drone. ATLANTA (AP) Lawyers for the state of Georgia urged a federal appeals court to allow the state's 2019 abortion law to take effect now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled there is no constitutional right to an abortion. Ruling in a case out of Mississippi, the Supreme Court on June 24 overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, which had protected the right to an abortion. Because the groups challenging Georgia's law relied on that precedent, they now have no case, lawyers for the state wrote in a brief submitted Friday to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Attorneys for groups challenging the law acknowledged that the ruling allows the state's ban on many abortions to take effect. But they argued in their brief that a provision that grants personhood to a fetus should remain blocked. The Georgia law bans most abortions once a detectable human heartbeat is present. Cardiac activity can be detected by ultrasound in cells within an embryo that will eventually become the heart as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, before many women realize theyre pregnant. The Georgia law includes exceptions for rape and incest, as long as a police report is filed. It also provides for later abortions when the mothers life is at risk or a serious medical condition renders a fetus unviable. The personhood provision gives a fetus the same legal rights as people have after birth. A federal judge in 2020 f ound Georgias law unconstitutional based on the precedent that had endured for nearly 50 years. The state appealed that ruling. A three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit in September said it would wait to rule on the Georgia appeal until the Supreme Court ruled in the Mississippi case. Hours after the Supreme Court ruled in that case, lawyers for the state asked the 11th Circuit to allow Georgia's law to take effect. The 11th Circuit gave the lawyers on each side three weeks to submit briefs explaining how the Supreme Court ruling affects the Georgia appeal. That deadline was Friday. Lawyers for the state wrote in their brief that the appeals court should reverse the lower court's decision and lift the injunction that had kept the law from taking effect. Lawyers with the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights who had filed the lawsuit challenging the law on behalf of Georgia abortion providers and an advocacy group acknowledged in their brief that the Supreme Court ruling allows the limits on abortions provided for in the 2019 law. But they argued that the personhood provision is unconstitutionally vague and should remain blocked. Lawyers for the state argue that the personhood provision would support families before a child is born. They note that it would expand child support obligations to include medical and pregnancy-related expenses and would allow parents to claim a fetus as a dependent for state income tax purposes. They reject arguments that it is unconstitutionally vague. But the lawyers challenging the law argue that the vagueness of the personhood provision creates uncertainty for doctors who might be hesitant to provide critical medical care for pregnant patients out of fear of being prosecuted. And that could lead to delayed diagnostic and treatment services for patients, the brief says. They cited a ruling by a federal judge in Arizona earlier this month that blocked a personhood law there, saying it appears to be unconstitutionally vague. The judge wrote that if the law were to take effect, it would be anyone's guess what criminal laws abortion providers may be breaking if they perform otherwise-legal abortions. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Scotia Police Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Scotia Police Show More Show Less 3 of 3 SCOTIA - Village police say they are investigating after "multiple incidents" of a man trying to lure a child into a vehicle. Incidents were first reported to the police at 8 p.m. Thursday. A child was walking toward school when she was approached by a man in a white pickup truck, according to the report. The driver followed her to school and asked if she needed a ride, police said, but she was able to make it to the school and later reported the incident to police. In what's regrettably becoming an annual New York tradition, a statewide official will be leaving office in late August under an ethical cloud. That would be Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, whose exit will follow that of ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo by a year and a week. To be sure, the cloud over DiFiore is a mere passing shower compared to the enormous bruise-colored thunderheads of scandal that accompanied Cuomo's departure. She's the subject of an ethics complaint filed by Dennis Quirk, a now-retired court officer who remains the president of the state court workers union, for allegedly interposing herself in the 2020 disciplinary process that resulted in Quirk's suspension for distributing the chief judge's address amid a fierce dispute over required COVID vaccinations. Quirk is, in the parlance, a real piece of work a vendetta-minded fireplug straight out of the Staten Island bureau of Central Casting who has led the union for almost half a century. He responded to DiFiore's 2020 call for an investigation into his alleged racist remarks and other conduct by threatening her with posting old tabloid stories about the chief judge's personal life in every courthouse in the state. As the Times Union's Robert Gavin and others reported last week, Quirk accused DiFiore of violating judicial ethics rules in an "impact letter" sent by the judge on Aug. 24 quite literally the day Cuomo resigned to the independent hearing officer presiding over Quirk's disciplinary process. The clear implication of the chief judge's letter was that Quirk should have the proverbial book thrown at him. Which is a problem, when you consider that DiFiore is not only the target of Quirk's ugliness but also the person who runs the judiciary system that was disciplining him. It is hard to imagine that a former chairwoman of the state Joint Commission on Public Ethics could get her ethical wires crossed in this fashion. But these things can happen. DiFiore's letter was sent roughly six months after another episode in which she ran the risk of inserting herself into two roles in a workplace disciplinary matter in this case, the one that led to Cuomo's downfall. It occurred on Feb. 28, 2021, a gray Sunday in Albany that followed the New York Times' Saturday-night web publication of the account of Charlotte Bennett, the former Executive Chamber aide who alleged that Cuomo had attempted to "groom" her for a sexual relationship by asking wildly inappropriate questions about her private life. He would later claim he was only trying to offer kind counsel to a young woman who had shared her account of sexual abuse. The Times story, coming roughly a month after Lindsey Boylan's detailed allegations of harassment by Cuomo, called out for a comprehensive investigation of his behavior. The governor's initial response, of course, was to try to hand-pick the investigator: a former federal judge with ties to Steve Cohen, one of the governor's closest confidants and staunchest defenders. When that idea was quickly laughed off the stage by Attorney General Letitia James, the Legislature and most of the rest of the world, Cuomo drafted DiFiore to team up with James in the selection of the outside investigators. (The go-between who communicated this idea to her? Steve Cohen.) And the chief judge, for some bizarre reason, went along with it. It didn't take long for observers to note that DiFiore's involvement would be wildly inappropriate, leaving aside the fact that she owed her high position to Cuomo. If the investigation resulted in an impeachment proceeding not a remote possibility, even at that point the chief judge and the other members of the Court of Appeals would join the state Senate as the "jury" in a trial to determine whether Cuomo should be booted from office for good. Sign up for the Observation Deck newsletter Read the latest Times Union opinion, perspective and letters to the editor on Mondays by signing up for our Observation Deck newsletter. Unknown at the time was a detail that Brendan J. Lyons would report a few months hence: DiFiore, like others in Cuomo's good graces, had taken advantage of the Health Department's VIP COVID-19 testing program in the summer of 2020. ("It was the one and only time," her spokesman explained.) By nightfall that Sunday, a boxed-in Cuomo announced he would let James select the investigators. For a politician with a well-known horror of independent watchdogs, it must have felt like the beginning of the end. And it was. So are we to believe that DiFiore's exit is due to either the current ethics inquiry by the state Commission on Judicial Conduct or the fact that it's just not as much fun being chief judge when Cuomo's not around? On the first: Probably not, though it's a bad look for the state's top jurist to even face the prospect of admonishment or censure. On the second: Who's to say? If she stayed, DiFiore would have faced considerable hurdles in her ongoing efforts to restructure the court system, a project that will require the assistance of a state Legislature dominated by Democrats whose redistricting plan was trashed by a 4-3 decision in which DiFiore wrote the majority opinion. While the application of justice is not supposed to be a business of relationships, politics is a different beast. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 15. It is completely unacceptable for Armenian armed forces to remain on the territory of Azerbaijan, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said addressing the meeting dedicated to the results of six months of this year, Trend reports. "Regrettably, there are more negative developments. One of them is Armenia's refusal to address the issues identified in the Declaration signed on 10 November 2020. The Declaration of 10 November actually represents an act of capitulation on the part of Armenia, and as a side defeated in the war, Armenia assumed certain obligations. These obligations are explicitly stated there. One of them is the withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from Karabakh. This issue has not been resolved to this day. We have raised this issue many times, but Armenia keeps delaying it. At the same time, we raised this issue with the Russian military leadership, and a high-ranking official of the Russian Defense Ministry, while on a visit to Azerbaijan a few months ago, promised to our Defense Ministry that Armenian armed forces would withdraw from Karabakh by June. It is the middle of July now, but this issue has not been resolved yet. Armenia does not fulfill this obligations in contravention of the 10 November Declaration. Russian peacekeepers the Russian side also signed the 10 November Declaration do not force them to do so, so to speak. Of course, this is an intolerable situation because it is completely unacceptable for Armenian armed forces to remain on the territory of Azerbaijan. We are a victorious country and we have restored our territorial integrity. If Armenia does not intend to withdraw its armed forces from the territory of Azerbaijan, then it should let us know this in clear terms, and we will consider our further actions. What will be our response? It would probably be inappropriate to say it now, but this is a flagrant violation of the 10 November Declaration," the head of state said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SARATOGA SPRINGS Trainer Christophe Clement had more than one reason to be elated after City Man came from ninth place in a field of 11 to win the $175,000, Grade III Forbidden Apple, Saratogas Friday feature race. The French-born horseman said, Hes been a bit unlucky lately, so it was fun to have a good trip. And he won well. To double his enjoyment, Clement reminded his post-race interviewers, I did train Forbidden Apple, a horse that won eight races from 31 starts (most of those stakes) to earn $1.6 million in purse money during his racing career. City Mans win also gave the New York breeding program a boost. The 5-year-old son of Mucho Macho Man, who was bred by the Moonstar Farm, is now 7-for-22 on the racetrack and has banked more than $660,000 for Reeves Thoroughbreds and Peter and Patty Seaeries, his owners. The $96,250 City Man earned in the Forbidden Apple came after he needed some racing luck for most of the mile trip. He and jockey Joel Rosario were a little tardy coming from the gate in the one-mile contest over the Spas Inner Turf Course. They were forced to go six wide around the tight turn at the Union Avenue end of the course. If trouble was to come, that was the place it was most likely to happen. For a second, I was passing between horses passing the three-eighths (pole), Rosario said. Sometimes, hes a funny horse (in traffic). But he was handling everything fine. Rosario and his charge went on to challenge the leaders at the head of the homestretch. The dark bay horse poked his head in front passing the 16th pole and got home to win by 2 3/4 lengths over Atone and Flavien Prat. The British-bred Public Sector and his rider, Irad Ortiz, Jr., finished third. Set Piece, the 2-1 favorite who was seeking his fifth win in 15 starts, was last out of the starting gate and could do no better than a sixth-place finish. City Mans troubled trips in Belmont Parks Kingston Stakes and the Grade II Fort Marcy were the prime causes for the betting public almost ignoring him. When the gate opened and the bell rang, he was 12-1 on the odds board. When the Official sign went up after the race, those who did bet $2 on City Man collected $26.60 for the win, $12.60 to place and $7.50 to show. Atone was worth $7.10 to place and $4.70 to show. Public Sector, the second choice in the wagering at 5-2, paid $3.80 to show. A $1 exacta with the numbers 10 and 8 paid a hefty $91.25. Clement planted the seed for a possible stallion career for City Man when his racing days are over. Hes a good New York-bred. But, hes also a good horse, Clement said. He won an open stake (the Dangers Hour) at Aqueduct in April. So lets all enjoy this and see whats next. Page Not Found It looks as though the page you're looking for doesn't exist or the link you followed was incorrect. Please ensure that you have input the correct address or contact us to let us know the bad link and we will endeavour to fix it as soon as possible. Back in May our blog community was the first KCMO newsy outlet to call out council lady Andrea Bough for her sketchy environmental plan. For those who don't remember her cringe-y AOC imitation . . . Here are the basics of her scheme courtesy of a lesser blog . . . Councilwoman Andrea Bough, District 6 at-large, is proposing a new set of building codes that would make new developments more energy efficient. We as a council have made the decision through various years to take climate protection resiliency seriously, Bough said. This is our opportunity to address one of those existential crises that we face as a city. We can do something. We can act. Kansas City currently operates under the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code. The updated codes, published in 2021, propose further changes for new residential and commercial buildings. The plan essentially aims to make buildings more energy-efficient and help them last longer. The codes also include wiring buildings for eventual electrification, even if they use fossil fuels like natural gas when they are first built. Now . . . INSIDERS RAMP UP THEIR CRITICISM OF KC'S CLANDESTINE GREEN NEW DEAL BECAUSE IT THREATENS MASSIVE HOUSING COST INCREASES AMID A GLOBAL RECESSION!!! Here's the word . . . "At a time when we need more building at affordable prices, this legislation accomplishes the opposite of that . . . The requirements are so cost prohibitive that only millionaires will be able to buy new homes in Kansas City. I don't understand the council here . . . They tell us that they want 'affordable' housing and then nearly double the costs of building anything in Kansas City. "Whoever devised this ordinance doesn't know anything about how construction really works and they're doing a disservice to people they supposedly trying to help." Developing . . . Iraqs Islamic banking sector assets are likely to continue growing over the medium term, says Fitch Ratings. This will be supported by the governments strategy for promoting Islamic finance and financial inclusion amid the low banking penetration in Iraq. The Iraqi banking sector is, in general, underdeveloped and fundamentally weak. There is a lack of confidence in the banking system, and low awareness of the Islamic finance industry, which could slow the sectors growth trajectory. Growth potential The Islamic banking sectors medium-to-long-term growth potential in Iraq (B-/Stable) is positive. Demand will be supported by the countrys predominantly Muslim population, which has very low banking penetration. Iraqs credit/GDP ratio was low at only 15% at end-2021. About 81% of the adult population did not have a bank account in 2021, versus 60% in the Arab world, according to World Bank. About 24% of the unbanked population cited religious reasons as a barrier, amongst the highest globally. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) seeks to increase financial inclusion by promoting Islamic banking and digitalisation as part of its strategic plans for the banking sector. The CBI has been working on reforming the Islamic banking system with the introduction of new regulations and instructions for Islamic banks since 2015. Low market share The Iraqi Islamic banking sector is small, with an 8.1% market share of the total banking systems assets at end-2021 (2017: 5.3%) and a 3.7% market share of the total banking systems deposits (2017: 3%). Islamic banks total assets reached IQD12.9 trillion ($8.8 billion) at end-2021, representing sizeable growth of 18.2% yoy (2020: 9.7%). It outpaced conventional banks 2021 asset growth of 15.1% yoy (2020: 4.1%). The Iraqi banking system had IQD159.4 trillion ($109.2 billion) total assets at end-2021. Islamic banks have high capital ratios higher than conventional banks, although such levels of capital can be consumed quickly in such a weak and volatile operating environment. Islamic banks capital represented 42.2% of the total capital of Iraqs banking sector at end-2021, despite a much smaller market share of assets than conventional banks. Weak operating environment Iraqs share of global Islamic banking assets remained small at 0.4% at end-3Q20 and was lower than in neighbouring Jordan (0.7%) and Oman (0.7%), according to the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB), mainly due to the weak operating environment. Thirty out of 76 Iraqi banks were Islamic in 2021, made up of one state-owned bank and 29 private banks. Key banking industry issues include a challenging operating environment, political instability, limited lending opportunities, lack of comprehensive regulations governing the industry, weak financial regulation enforcement, issues in reporting and transparency (contributing to the lack of confidence in the banking system), money laundering concerns and under-skilled human capital. Islamic banking-specific challenges include low awareness of Islamic products, lack of standardisation, limited product range, and a lack of Islamic liquidity-management tools. Some Iraqi banks act largely as treasury functions, deploying excess liquidity into CBI placements with no real banking business models. Capital markets underdeveloped Iraqi capital markets, including the sukuk market, are significantly underdeveloped with issuers generally not having access to domestic or international capital markets. Additionally, the takaful market was almost absent in Iraq before 2019. However, in 2019 the CBI issued takaful regulation and established the first takaful insurance company, allowing Islamic banks to offer takaful products. The CBI has adopted the Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) standards and joined the IFSB. In 2018, the CBI issued regulations on sharia supervisory boards, sharia and internal auditing and sharia compliance for Islamic banks. The CBI has also established the supreme sharia advisory committee within the central bank.-- TradeArabia News Service BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 15. Our overland borders are and should be closed. Why? So that people don't get infected. Because this disease mostly spreads across land borders. Therefore, we keep our borders closed and we are doing the right thing. We will keep them closed for as long as it is necessary we are talking about land borders, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said addressing the meeting dedicated to the results of six months of this year, Trend reports. "Unfortunately, there is information coming in, which, in fact, is being circulated by the World Health Organization, that some countries have to switch back to masks again. Of course, we are monitoring these trends. During the most difficult period of the pandemic, we also introduced certain restrictions, but after the situation improved, we canceled them. In other words, it is an ongoing process. Our overland borders are and should be closed. Why? So that people don't get infected. Because this disease mostly spreads across land borders. Therefore, we keep our borders closed and we are doing the right thing. We will keep them closed for as long as it is necessary we are talking about land borders. We are doing this to protect the health of our people, in order not to lose them. This is our goal. During the COVID period, we allocated billions of dollars. I dont want to repeat that now," the head of state said. In the aftermath of a SCOTUS abortion crackdown . . . Local places of worship have come under attack. Check the Missouri Senator hoping to curb the trend . . . Hawley's bill proposes that suspects arrested for attacking such facilities face felony charges. If convicted, they would be punished with a fine of up to $25,000. Pro-abortion militants found guilty of committing arson against a pregnancy center or house of worship would receive a mandatory seven-year prison sentence. Also, Hawley's legislation proposes no less than $20,000 in legal assistance to churches and pregnancy centers damaged or destroyed by such attacks. A bit of background on the headline and pro-life advocatest getting carried away with themselves . . . Kristallnacht or the Night of Broken Glass, also called the November pogrom, was a pogrom against Jews carried out by the Nazi Party's Sturmabteilung paramilitary forces along with civilians throughout Nazi Germany on 910 November 1938. The German authorities looked on without intervening. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . WoodGreen is one of the largest social service agencies in Toronto, delivering integrated programs from physical, mental health and disability services to affordable housing and pathways to employment. - WoodGreen logo BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 15. In the future, we can organize the exports of electricity through the Zangazur corridor, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said addressing the meeting dedicated to the results of six months of this year, Trend reports. "I want to say a few words about the energy sector, because it has always been a priority for us. Our energy capabilities are of great importance for many countries today. We are systematically working in this area too. Of course, a lot of preparatory work has been done over the years so that renewable energy is developed in Azerbaijan, primarily at the expense of foreign investors, and we have finally been able to achieve this. Foreign investors are building three solar and wind power plants with a capacity of 710 megawatts in Azerbaijan at their own expense. Two are already under construction, and preparations are under way for the construction of the third station, in Jabrayil district. The construction of this station will probably begin next year. And this is just the beginning. According to the agreements we have already reached with foreign investors, there are plans to build solar and wind power plants with an additional capacity of 2,000 megawatts, as well as a further 2,000 megawatts. In addition, the generation capacity of hydroelectric power plants in Kalbajar and Lachin districts is being revaluated, because after the war we calculated the generation capacity of only hydroelectric power plants destroyed by the Armenians. There used to be a total of 32 hydroelectric power stations there, which the Armenians savagely destroyed when leaving Kalbajar and Lachin. Having calculated this, we announced a certain figure. But a deeper analysis is being carried out now, because it is possible to build larger hydroelectric power plants there. An analysis is being conducted now, and we will probably be able to receive more than a thousand megawatts from small hydroelectric power plants alone in the future. Within a year and a half, the construction of nine hydroelectric power stations has either been completed or will be completed by the end of this year. This will provide us with an additional 50 megawatts. In other words, this area was a priority for us even before the second Karabakh war, but it has risen to a completely new level now. I want to say again that the state does not invest a single manat in the production of renewable energy except for hydroelectric power plants. Only foreign investment is made. Of course, this will allow us the opportunity to export more electricity. Today we are exporting it in the conventional manner through existing high-voltage lines. In the future, however, we can organize the exports of electricity through the Zangazur corridor, and Europe has presented a new project. There is also a project to lay a cable from Georgia to Romania along the bottom of the Black Sea, and we are interested in this project as well. So there are great prospects in this area. At the same time, this will allow us the opportunity to save natural gas and export it, especially considering that the demand for our gas has increased dramatically lately. The reason for this is very well known, and we, of course, are working in this direction. We have envisaged the gas that will be produced from promising fields both for the domestic needs and for exports. So far, the Shah Deniz field is our resource base for exports, but in the near future, gas production is also expected at Absheron, Shafag, Asiman, Umid-Babek fields and the deep-water portion of the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli fields. So this is a tremendous resource, and extensive work is currently underway on all the projects I have mentioned. These are not just exploration projects hard work is underway. On 18 July, there are plans to sign a memorandum in the field of energy between the European Union and Azerbaijan. In other words, this is also our contribution to the energy security of Europe and other countries," the head of state said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 15. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev made a phone call to President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the occasion of July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day, Trend reports. The head of state expressed his condolences to the Turkish President regarding the victims of the July 15 victims, and asked him to convey his condolences to the families and relatives of the victims. President Ilham Aliyev once again expressed the support of the Azerbaijani people for the brotherly people of Turkiye, and emphasized the personal role and leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdogan in defeating the coup attempt. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan thanked the head of state for the phone call and attention. During the conversation, the sides hailed the comprehensive development of friendly and brotherly relations between Turkiye and Azerbaijan, expressed mutual support and solidarity, and discussed future contacts. Russian forces on Friday shelled the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region using Uragan multiple launch rocket systems, injuring six people. The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office said this in a statement posted on its website, Ukrinform reports. "Invaders' shells hit the administration of the local market and the building of shops, with six civilians suffering mine blast injuries and shrapnel wounds. In addition, about ten apartment blocks and private buildings were destroyed or damaged, and cars burned down," the report said. Criminal proceedings have been launched for violation of the laws and customs of war (Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). Law enforcement officers and rescuers are working at the scene. The investigating is being conducted. Photo credit: Donetsk Regional Prosecutor's Office Ukraine will come to the day when Russian terror will become impossible, but it is necessary to fight for this. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in an evening video address, Ukrinform reports. Ukrainians! Ukrainian men and women! Today, the European Union announced the first details of the new, seventh sanctions package being prepared against the Russian Federation, and the task of Ukrainian diplomats is to do everything to strengthen this package. After an attack on Vinnytsia and other terrorist attacks by the Russian army, the occupiers must feel what a fair response to terror means. In particular, it will be felt thanks to sanctions. Of course, the Armed Forces of Ukraine will certainly provide their part of the answer. The occupiers will have no restful nights. The identification of all those guilty in the attack on the city of Vinnytsia has already begun. Both at the national level and at the international level, we will do everything to make absolutely all Russian murderers responsible for what they have done. The Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine reported to me today full information about the rescue operation that was run in the city. In total, almost two hundred people applied for medical help. Four people are currently in critical condition, unfortunately. Four citizens are still missing in the list. Everything is being done on the ground to clarify their fate. The death toll has not changed at this time 23 people. The minister also briefed me on the attack of the Russian army on the city of Mykolaiv this morning. The buildings of two institutes pedagogical and shipbuilding have been destroyed. There are no such words in normal human language that can describe the state to which the Russian state has degraded. It is a double crime to destroy particularly pedagogical institutes, so that there is no educational institution, and new educators cannot be trained... But let the terrorists not hope that this will give them something. We will definitely restore everything they destroyed. Each of the more than two thousand educational institutions all kindergartens, all schools, institutes, universities. And most importantly, we will preserve our humanity and our civility. But Russian society with so many murderers and executioners will remain crippled for generations, and through its own fault. The United States of America is preparing a defense budget for the new fiscal year - with supplemental assistance to Ukraine. In particular, it is about expanding the capabilities of our military aviation. This and other US assistance to our country will significantly strengthen our defense potential. It is important. I want to once again express my gratitude to the American people, President Biden, the US Congress for all the support we receive. By the way, only in the last two weeks, $3 billion were transferred to the Ukrainian budget from the United States of America, and this enables us to ensure the current social needs of Ukrainians today. America is truly a leader in the global defense of freedom. Right now, as I am writing this address, the air alert is over almost the entire territory of our state. There is preliminary information about strikes - Dnipro, Kremenchuk, Kyiv region. The occupiers realize that we are gradually becoming stronger, and the goal of their terror is very simple to put pressure on you and me, on our society, to intimidate people, to cause as much as possible damage to Ukrainian cities, while Russian terrorists are still able to do it. So I'm begging you, once again: please don't ignore the air alert signals now. Appropriate rules of conduct must be followed at all times, especially at public objects. Of course, we will come to the day when Russian terror will become impossible. But it still needs time. We still have to fight. And we will fight. Today, I signed a new decree on awarding our soldiers. A total of 242 combatants were honored by state awards. Eternal memory to all those who gave their lives for you and me, for Ukraine! Eternal gratitude to all who defend our state! Glory to Ukraine! Ukrainian defenders destroyed 47 Russian troops, as well as a significant amount of military equipment, including eight howitzers, in southern Ukraine over the past day. The Operational Command South said in a Facebook post, Ukrinform reports. "Two our attack aircraft was attacked by an enemy Su-35 fighter jet and air-to-air missiles over the Kherson region two times over the past day. However, no losses were inflicted. Instead, our attack aircraft twice managed to strike at a concentration of enemy personnel and equipment in the area of Novohryhorivka and Davydiv Brid," the report reads. It is also noted that with two of Ka-52 helicopters, the enemy tried to inflict fire damage on the positions of the Armed Forces in the Kakhovka district. Nevertheless, the attempt was unsuccessful, no losses were reported among the Ukrainian defenders. The losses of the enemy over the past day included: 47 soldiers, 6 Msta-B howitzers, two 122-mm howitzers, a T-62 tank, 8 units of armored vehicles and 14 vehicles. iy As of the morning of July 16, 353 children were killed in Ukraine since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion. "According to the official information of the juvenile prosecutors, 353 children were killed and more than 662 children were injured," the Prosecutor General's Office posted on Telegram. As noted, these numbers are not final as efforts are being made to establish casualties in areas of active hostilities, in temporarily occupied and liberated territories. According to the Prosecutor General's Office, most children were affected in Donetsk region 353, Kharkiv region 191, Kyiv region 116, Chernihiv region 68, Luhansk region 61, Mykolayiv region 53, Kherson region 52, Zaporizhzhia region 31. In particular, according to the Prosecutor General's Office, Russian servicemen killed a mother and her young daughter in Kherson on July 15. It also became known about three more children injured in Russian missile strike on Vinnytsia city center on July 14. On July 15, a 14-year-old girl was injured in the Russian shelling of the village of Verkhnokamianske, Donetsk region, and a 16-year-old girl was injured in the Russian shelling of the village of Sviato-Pokrovske, Donetsk region. A total of 2,138 educational institutions were damaged as a result of bombings and shelling by the armed forces of the Russian Federation, of which 221 were completely destroyed. On February 24, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Russian troops shell and destroy key infrastructure facilities, massively fire on residential neighborhoods of Ukrainian cities and villages using artillery, MLRS, aerial bombs, and ballistic missiles. ol Russian invaders deliberately destroy cultural heritage sites throughout Ukraine from Luhansk region to Lviv region. "All the cultural heritage of the entire country, both tangible and intangible, is now under attack and must be protected for all humanity," Kateryna Chuyeva, Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, said speaking at the Arria-formula meeting on the destruction of cultural heritage as a consequence of the Russian aggression against Ukraine via video link, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. As noted, out of 453 damaged or destroyed cultural sites checked by the Ministry's employees, 128 have the status of monuments, 147 are religious buildings, 33 are museums and nature reserves, 59 are cultural centers, theaters and cinemas, and 40 are libraries. In particular, 136 buildings belonging to Christian communities were destroyed or damaged, four belonging to Muslim communities, six to Jewish communities. Chuyeva recalled that some of Russia's attacks had been aimed directly at the destruction of cultural sites, in particular the Hryhoriy Skovoroda Museum in Kharkiv region and the Ivankiv Historical and Local History Museum in Kyiv region. Damage and destruction caused by rocket attacks, bombings, and artillery fire have been recorded in 15 regions throughout the entire territory of Ukraine from Luhansk and Donetsk regions to Lviv region. Some museum collections, such as those in Mariupol and Melitopol, were stolen and taken away by the invaders, the deputy minister added. The Arria-formula meeting on the destruction of cultural heritage as a consequence of the Russian aggression against Ukraine was held at the UN Security Council on July 15, organized by the Permanent Mission of Albania which presides over the UN Security Council in July, in cooperation with the delegations of Ukraine and Poland. ol BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 15. The reforms carried out in the economic sphere have made it possible to collect 2 billion manats in excess of the forecast in the tax sphere in six months, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said addressing the meeting dedicated to the results of six months of this year, Trend reports. "Why? Because there is transparency, accuracy and accountability. A few years ago, business people were given time to switch to normal tracks and shake off the shadow economy. Those who patronized them, as they say, were taught a lesson as well. Therefore, the tax authorities alone collected an additional 2 billion manats in six months, and we are using these funds. There are still about six months left until the end of the year. This is the key factor behind our financial and economic opportunities. As for economic growth, of course, we always divide it into two parts economic growth and the growth of the non-oil economy. There are good results in both directions. The economy grew by 6.2 percent, the non-oil economy by 9.6 percent, total production in the field of industry by 2.1 percent and in the field of the non-oil industry by 11.5 percent. These are very good results, and we are seeing them in real life, because it allows us the opportunity to raise salaries and pensions. The income of the population has increased by about 20 percent. True, inflation absorbs a part of this growth, so to speak. It is just over 12 percent, but this is a general trend all over the world. Even in countries where inflation may have been at 0-0.5 or 1 percent, it is approaching double digits now. In other words, this is a general trend, and we are part of the global economy," the head of state said. Ukraine and Poland are jointly counteracting the Russian propaganda regarding the export of Ukrainian grain to Asian and African countries. The relevant statement was made by Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Poland Vasyl Zvarych in an interview with Ukrinform. According to Zvarych, Ukraines grain exports to the Middle East and Africa are a major problem, not only in terms of the export itself but in terms of relevant information support. Russia attempts to insist that the food supply crisis is an effect of Western sanctions and shift the blame on EU countries. At times, such an outright disinformation finds a fertile ground in the Middle Eastern and African countries, where Russians try to promote their narratives. Hence, Kyiv and Warsaw closely cooperate to counteract the Russian propaganda in this area. In cooperation with the Polish side, we inform the diplomatic officials of the Middle Eastern and African countries about the state of affairs and show that the main cause of the food crisis is the aggressive policy and war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine. Ukrainian ports have been blocked not by EU sanctions but by the Russian armed forces and, in order to resolve this crisis, it is necessary to stop the aggressor and unblock Ukrainian ports, Zvarych noted. In his words, a separate working group has been established in the Government of Poland to work on the logistic routes of Ukraines grain exports via the territory of Poland towards the Polish ports. Ukrainian and Polish ministries signed a joint memorandum to facilitate the procedures related to the transportation of agricultural products from Ukraine and ease Polands certain phytosanitary control requirements for transit goods. mk Ukraine calls on heads of U.S. and European banks to sever ties with companies that trade Russian oil and stop providing credits to finance Russian war crimes. Economic advisor to the President of Ukraine, Oleg Ustenko wrote to bankers including JPMorgan Chase's Jamie Dimon and HSBC's Noel Quinn, asking them to stop financing companies that trade Russian oil and sell shares in state-backed oil and gas groups Gazprom and Rosneft, reads the report posted on the website of the Ukrainian Presidents Office. Referring to an article from the Financial Times (the UK), the Presidents Office said that in the letters, which were sent this week and also went to Citigroup and Credit Agricole, banks were accused of "prolonging" the war by providing credit to companies that ship Russian oil and told they would be blocked from participating in the postwar reconstruction of Ukraine. In addition, Ustenko told the FT that Ukraine intends to sue the banks at the International Criminal Court (ICC) once the war ends, and that Ukraine's security services were collecting information on the financial institutions supporting Russian fossil fuels. In particular, HSBC's and Credit Agricole's asset management arms hold shares in Gazprom and Rosneft, Russia's state oil and gas firms. Citigroup provides credit facilities to Russian oil and gas giant Lukoil and to Vitol, which trades in Russian oil, according to the letters. JPMorgan extends credit lines to Vitol, while its Russian Securities investment trust holds stakes in Gazprom, Sberbank and Rosneft, described in the letter as some of the Kremlin's most important economic assets. As reported, the European Union has so far adopted six packages of sanctions against Russia over its armed aggression against Ukraine. Designating Russia as a terrorist state would have dramatic legal consequences for the war in Ukraine, and its time for the world to act. Thats according to an oped, penned by the chief of the Ukrainian Presidents Office, Andriy Yermak, for Politico. The official notes that Ukraines Western allies have unanimously condemned Russias indiscriminate attacks on non-military targets, but they could also put a meaningful legal definition to these atrocities: Russia has engaged in widespread terrorist activity. Terrorism isnt a tactic of political coercion that can only be utilized by rogue groups against a more powerful adversary. It can also be pursued by a major state power against a smaller country. The tactics, methods and outcomes remain the same, Yermak wrote. Read also: Another body of civilian killed by Russians discovered in Kyiv region The definition of terrorism is a deliberate, indiscriminate attack on civilians with a political goal, the chief of the presidents office recalls. Despite their support in many important areas, however, incredibly, Ukraines Western allies still dont formally recognize Russia as a terrorist state, or state sponsor of terrorism. Such a move would have dramatic legal consequences: No one in the West does business with terrorists, and such a designation would further limit the Russian regimes access to the finance it needs to fund its war machine, said Yermak. The head of the President's Office also cited as examples of Russia's terrorist activities in relation to Ukraine the killing of civilians on the streets of Ukrainian cities, missile attacks on residential buildings, the bombarded drama theater in Mariupol, where civilians, including children, were sheltering at the time, as evidenced by the large inscription outside the theater building. As reported by Ukrinform, an international conference will be held in The Hague on July 14 to coordinate the efforts of the international community aimed at investigating crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine, and ensuring justice. It is expected that the parties will explore opportunities for cooperation and coordinate their efforts on the inquiry in Ukraine under the auspices of the ICJ Prosecutor's Office. Recommendations will also be provided on gathering and storing evidence, as well as on enhancing cooperation with non-governmental organizations. At the conference in The Hague, Kuleba will propose to work out the signing of an international agreement on setting up a special tribunal to investigate the crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine. Poland sees military assistance to Ukraine as a guarantee of its own security and the security of Europe as a whole. Warsaw trusts in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and will continue to provide military support. The relevant statement was made by the newly appointed Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland Vasyl Zvarych in an interview with Ukrinform. According to Zvarych, it is no secret that Poland provides military assistance to Ukraine, and the weapons received from Poland are effective and valuable to the Ukrainian military on the front line. When presenting the credentials, I told the President of Poland: Polish weapons in Ukrainian hands are a true and real brotherhood of weapons, which the future generations of both nations will be aware of. From our common history, we remember the year 1920, when the Ukrainian Peoples Republic and Poland together resisted the Bolshevik onslaught. Together we defended Europe against the Bolsheviks then, and today we can also defend Europe together against the Russian aggression, Zvarych noted. In his words, Polish-manufactured Krab howitzers, Piorun man-portable air-defense systems and other weapons successfully stop the enemy across all directions on the front line. We are confident that Poland will continue to provide military assistance to Ukraine in the future. Poland trusts in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and sees this defense as a guarantee of its own security and the security of Europe as a whole, Zvarych added. A reminder that Poland has already handed over to Ukraine about $1.7 billion worth of military equipment, namely 240 modernized T-72 tanks, Piorun man-portable air-defense systems, Krab self-propelled gun-howitzers, grenade launchers, artillery shells, etc. mk The political crisis engulfing Mario Draghi's government threatens to deny Ukraine vital military support in its fight against Russia. Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said this in a phone interview with Politico, Ukrinform reports. According to him, Draghi's critics are doing Russian President Vladimir Putin's work. The foreign minister launched a passionate last-ditch appeal for political parties not to bring down the government in next week's confidence vote in the Italian parliament. "The Russians are right now celebrating having made another western government fall," Di Maio said. He expressed doubt that "we can send arms [to Ukraine]." "It is one of the many serious problems," he said. Read also: Kuleba thanks Italian foreign minister for steadfast support of Ukraine He noted that if the government collapses, it will continue in a caretaker role with limited powers until after an election. That could lead to paralysis, leaving the country without the authority to continue to arm Ukraine, help families with the cost-of-living crisis or sign new gas deals to build up reserves in case Russia turns off the taps, Di Maio cautioned. "If the government falls on Wednesday, we won't have the power to sign any new energy contracts and this is serious because we are headed into winter," the minister said. The 5Star Movement, which has been part of Prime Minister Draghi's coalition, boycotted a confidence vote on Thursday, leading Draghi to offer his resignation on July 14. Head of state Sergio Mattarella rejected the resignation. Ukraine's Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova has said that she does not remember such a level of cooperation, understanding and mutual transparency between Kyiv and Washington as they have now. She said this in an interview with the Voice of America, Ukrinform reports. "I am involved in all communications. I can't tell about all of them, but I don't remember such a level of cooperation, understanding and mutual transparency as we have now. There is not even a day when we don't exchange information, including from our side," she said. Markarova noted that Ukraine provides its partners with a full understanding of how it uses funds and weapons - as much as it is possible in the conditions of active hostilities. In addition to exchanging information with the Pentagon and the White House, the Ukrainian authorities constantly inform Congress as well, she said. "This was the initiative of the Ukrainian side. When they started allocating the first tranches for the Ukrainian budget, we provided full reporting as soon as these funds were exchanged for hryvnias and spent. We sent these reports not only to the U.S. administration, USAID and the World Bank, through whose account these funds go. We also send the same reports to the Congress, and the World Bank also does it separately," she said. Last week, Congresswoman from the Republican Party Victoria Spartz wrote a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden about the need to check whether the head of the President's Office, Andriy Yermak, has alleged Russian connections. In addition, in other addresses, she voiced concerns about oversight over the supply of U.S.-made weapons to Ukraine. On the day of the adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine managed to maintain the stability of state institutions during the war. During such a war, we were able to obtain the status of the EU candidate. We have maintained the stability of public institutions. The power system was rebuilt to work in the power grid of the European continent. All logistical processes in the state military and economic were rechanneled, the President said in his latest address. According to Zelensky, the important thing is that the Ukrainians maintain internal unity, having overcome conflicts and contradictions that hindered in the past. We must all remember the cost of mistakes and discord that made it difficult for previous generations to achieve the results we have today. We must remember how much our people had to go through until it became possible to restore Ukraine's sovereignty and independence, the President noted. He noted that the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine had been endorsed on this day 32 years ago. The document confirmed the right of the Ukrainian people to live independently and in a democratic way. Thirty-two years later, after eight years of war in Donbas and on the 143rd day of the full-scale war against Russia, it may seem that the text of the Declaration could be different, particularly from a security point of view. But at that time this text was also of a revolutionary character. The Declaration restored the tradition of Ukrainian state-establishing, and it was on its basis that the Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine was later adopted, the President said. And today, when our people are fighting for independence, we have our right in every sense of the word historically, politically, culturally and, what is very important legally. In particular, our people's confidence in victory is based on this, Zelensky added. He underscored that Ukraine would gradually liberate the occupied areas of our country. On February 24, Russia began a new stage of the eight-year war against Ukraine the full-scale invasion. The Russian troops shell and destroy key infrastructure facilities, massively fire on residential neighborhoods of Ukrainian cities and villages using artillery, MLRS, aerial bombs, and ballistic missiles. ol Chad requires greater humanitarian and development support as it continues to host hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing violence on its eastern, western and southern borders as well as grappling with its own insecurity challenges, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said following a four-day visit to the country that ended on Friday. Located in Africas turbulent Sahel region, Chad is home to more than 1 million forcibly displaced people, including 580,000 refugees from conflicts in neighboring Sudan, Central African Republic and Cameroon, a further 380,000 Chadians who have fled insecurity to other areas, and 100,000 former refugees who have returned to the country. During his visit, Grandi travelled to meet some of the roughly 400,000 Sudanese refugees who have been living in camps scattered across the vast eastern region of the country since the start of the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region nearly 20 years ago. Among them was Hassan Nour Ahmat, 40, a Sudanese refugee living with a disability who has spent the last 18 years in Mile camp, close to the border with his country. The camp currently hosts more than 25,000 refugees from the Darfur region. Ahmat, who fled his village of Amfarass riding a donkey, said residents in Mile camp had recently experienced a noticeable decline in the support they receive as levels of assistance had failed to keep pace with rising needs, with more refugees fleeing violence in Darfur in recent years. "The aid is not like it was in years past, and when we ask questions, the answer is always the same: lack of resources," Ahmat said. See also: Darfur clashes displace thousands Chad is one of the largest operations in the region for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. Grandi said that in addition to more humanitarian funding, the international community should prioritize longer-term solutions to the challenges facing the country and its government. "The purpose of my visit here is to help the very generous authorities of Chad, who kept their borders open to all these people, to mobilize resources not only to meet humanitarian needs but also to mobilize development resources in order to create new opportunities for these populations," Grandi said. Nearly 1,000 kilometres away on Chads southwestern border with Cameroon, Grandi met Cameroonian refugees living in Kalambari camp, who are among more than 40,000 currently hosted by Chad after fleeing inter-communal clashes in the north of the country over scarce water supplies. The violent confrontations between herders and farmers over dwindling resources are a stark example of how the climate crisis is exacerbating fragility in the region. See also: Dwindling rains in northern Cameroon spark conflict and displacement "We are very grateful to our Chadian brothers and sisters. But they too have their own problems because it is difficult for everyone, explained Hawa Kamsouloum, 37, a single mother who fled the clashes with her six children in late 2021. What we want is to be given the opportunity to restart our lives again here, because I don't see myself going back home any time soon," she said. Climate change is increasing competition for water and other resources across the Sahel region, where temperatures are rising 1.5 times faster than the global average. Water levels in Lake Chad have decreased by as much as 95 per cent in the past 60 years, impacting communities from Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria that rely on the lake and surrounding rivers for their survival. "Chad cannot do it alone." With little prospect of a quick resolution to the environmental and security challenges in the Sahel, the High Commissioner concluded by urging governments not to overlook the vital contribution of countries like Chad and ensure they have adequate resources to continue offering safety to people fleeing their homes. "The generosity of local and national authorities must be matched by international donors and development organizations, who should provide the necessary resources and expertise to create opportunities for people who cannot yet return home," Grandi said. "Chad cannot do it alone and should not do it alone. The country needs the support of the international community." BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 16. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov left for a working visit to Georgia, the press service of the Foreign Ministry told Trend. During the visit, meetings are planned with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 16. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov met with Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili as part of a working visit to Georgia on July 16, Trend reports. Bayramov underscored the strength of friendly relations, good neighborliness, and strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Georgia. The minister stressed that the high-level political dialogue between the two countries and intensive mutual visits of officials give a positive impetus to the further development of bilateral relations. In turn, Garibashvili expressed satisfaction with the relevant development of Azerbaijan-Georgia relations. Moreover, the sides exchanged views on economic, trade, energy, transport, and humanitarian cooperation. Thanking Georgia for organizing the meeting between Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers, Bayramov outlined the actions taken to normalize relations during the post-conflict phase. Garibashvili welcomed the peace efforts to achieve peace and outlined Georgia's support for the process. The sides also discussed other issues of mutual interest. (@FahadShabbir) San Francisco, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Jul, 2022 ) :Anxious employees, wary advertisers and hamstrung management: Twitter is limping along as it waits to learn how the fight over Elon Musk's buyout bid will end. Just days before the first court hearing in Twitter's lawsuit seeking to force the Tesla boss to close the $44 billion deal, the firm is stuck in limbo. "The best conclusion for me would be that he leaves us alone, so that we can go on our merry way," an engineer at the key social media network told AFP on condition of anonymity. The engineer spoke of employees departing and a "climate of uncertainty that does not leave one with a peaceful state of mind." "We're still trying to do our work normally, because the main reasons why we chose to work for Twitter still hold true," he added. But there's been nothing normal about Musk's unsolicited bid that he's now backed away from, saying Twitter has obfuscated on the number of fake accounts on the platform. He has harangued the network, on its own platform no less, with mocking tweets about its management and direction. "Musk's repeated disparagement of Twitter and its personnel, create uncertainty... that harm Twitter and its stockholders," the firm's lawyers argued in their lawsuit lodged this week. The billionaire's comments "also expose Twitter to adverse effects on its business operations, employees, and stock price," the lawyers added. A judge has set the first hearing in the case for Tuesday in a court in the eastern state of Delaware. - Sluggish ad sales - "Twitter is facing a huge image crisis, and confidence in its leadership is wavering," eMarketer analyst Debra Williamson told AFP. "But whether the Musk situation has affected its revenues is unclear." She said the most loyal advertisers have likely stuck around, but those less committed to Twitter may have scaled back their spending while waiting for the endgame. Angelo Carusone, president of watchdog group Media Matters, thinks the damage is already done because Musk has been a frequent critic of content moderation. The fight against hate and disinformation is widely defended internally, but also by many advertisers, concerned that their brands are not associated with toxic messages. Carusone said that in early May, at an annual marketing event where companies negotiate large advertising deals, Twitter was "not able to give advertisers any clarity or confidence" that it would continue to be safe showcase for them. "They didn't go anywhere close to what they normally sell at that event. And it's obviously been sluggish since then," he added. The San Francisco-based social network cannot afford to lose customers. Unlike big fish such as Google and Facebook parent Meta, which dominate online advertising and make billions in profits, Twitter lost hundreds of millions of Dollars in 2020 and 2021. The group will capture less than one percent of global ad revenue in 2022, according to eMarketer, compared to 12.5 percent for Facebook, 9 percent for Instagram and nearly two percent for booming upstart TikTok. On top of that, Twitter's user base is barely expected to grow and may even shrink in the United States, noted Williamson, the eMarketer analyst. - 'Twitter can't meaningfully respond' - Musk once had potential Twitter investors salivating with his talk of growing revenue fivefold and aiming for a billion users by 2028. Instead, a court battle is building to "end either with Twitter being owned by an unhappy investor who decided he didn't want it after all, or with Twitter on its own and weaker than it was before this all started," Williamson added. The battle is set to last for months, and at a time when economic headwinds are steady and firms need to be nimble to monetize new audio and video formats, diversify revenue sources and attract younger audiences. "At least Facebook can respond to current threats, even if they're responding poorly, they can respond," said Carusone, the Media Matters president. "What Twitter cannot do right now is meaningfully respond to anything." The social network's lawyers have blamed Musk for withholding consent for two employee retention programs "designed to keep selected top talent during a period of intense uncertainty generated in large part by Musk's erratic conduct." Internally, some employees have also lost confidence in management, which they would have liked to be more combative in dealing with the world's richest person. Parker Lyons, a financial analyst at Twitter, went so far as to tweet several memes that took aim at the firm's board for its deal with Musk. In one, the board is shown firing bullets into Twitter above the sarcastic caption: "Who could have done this?" Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz on Saturday said that the one doing politics of service would win in the by-elections as the people would reject the baseless narrative and false slogans of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf with the power of their vote LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Jul, 2022 ) :Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz on Saturday said that the one doing politics of service would win in the by-elections as the people would reject the baseless narrative and false slogans of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf with the power of their vote. The CM directed the administration and police to ensure security of the voters, adding that the Punjab government would protect the respect of the vote. He issued directions to ensure security of the voters as well as to maintain peaceful environment during the by-elections. He warned that no miscreant would be allowed to spoil the environment during the polling process and underscored that the motive of the PML-N politics was doing public service, adding that Imran Khan was doing politics of falsehood and deception. Hamza Shahbaz denounced that the PTI chief had adopted the narrative to humiliate the institutions for the sake of his political motive. He outlined that the people would reject the leader attacking the institutions along with his party with the power of their vote. He directed the police and administration to remain completely impartial and neutral during the by-elections. He directed the police and the administration to perform their constitutional and legal responsibilities in letter and spirit. The CM directed the administration and the police to fully implement the directions of the Election Commission. (@FahadShabbir) ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Jul, 2022 ) :Minister for Railways and Aviation Khawaja Saad Rafique on Saturday announced 10 per cent cut in fares for the passengers travelling in the economy class of main express trains, as well as both the economy and business classes of the Pakistan International Airline (PIA), domestically. "Following the footsteps of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Pakistan Railways and PIA have decided to pass on the benefit of the fuel prices drop to its passengers," said the minister in a video message. He said the reduction in fares would remain in effect for the next 30 days and a notification in this regard would be issued on Sunday (tomorrow). Saad noted that the economy class of railways and PIA accommodated 94 per cent and 90 per cent of passengers, respectively. The minister said the Civil Aviation Authority would also ask the private airlines to slash their airfares. He hoped that the provincial governments would also make efforts to bring down the fares of local transport by reaching out to the transporters. (@FahadShabbir) WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th July, 2022) New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that her office is postponing depositions of former President Donald Trump, Donald Jr. and Ivanka Trump because Trump's former wife and the three children's mother, Ivana, has died. "In light of the passing of Ivana Trump yesterday, we received a request from counsel for Donald Trump and his children to adjourn all three depositions, which we have agreed to," James said in a statement quoted by NBC. "This is a temporary delay and the depositions will be rescheduled as soon as possible. There is no other information about dates or otherwise to provide at this time." James said the Attorney General's Office offers condolences to the Trump family. The Trumps were supposed to answer questions under oath next week as a part of James' continuing investigation into claims of tax fraud by the Trump organization. The investigation is looking into allegations that Trump and the Trump Organization, inflated financial statements. When the deposition takes place, investigators are expected to ask Trump about the statements, which James alleges was boosted by hundreds of millions of Dollars and signed off on by the former president. The former president and Trump Organization officials have denied any wrongdoing, and Trump has characterized James' probe as a political "witch hunt." MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th July, 2022) Riyadh and Washington has signed 18 agreements and memorandums of cooperation during US President Joe Biden's visit to Saudi Arabia, a Saudi Arabian state media reported on Saturday. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that the said agreements cover space, investment, energy, information and communications technology, healthcare, and other spheres. These agreements provide new avenues for cooperation in the said spheres, according to the report. Among these agreements is one signed between the Saudi Space Authority and US space agency NASA for the joint exploration of the Moon and Mars. Other agreements of cooperation were also concluded with Boeing Aerospace, Raytheon Defense Industries, Medtronic and Digital Diagnostics, IKVIA, and IBM. The agreement with IBM stipulates career development courses for some 100,000 young women and men over five years within eight innovative initiatives, the report read. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 16. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on organizing the activities of Azrsgorta OJSC, Trend reports. In accordance with the decree, in connection with the implementation of the Order of the President of Azerbaijan No. 2907 dated September 22, 2021 "On the transfer of Azer-Turk Bank OJSC and the State Insurance Commercial Company to the management of the Azerbaijan Investment Holding" and the settlement of a number of issues arising from this, it is decided: 1. Reorganize the state insurance commercial company of Azerbaijan by reorganizing it into Azrsgorta OJSC (hereinafter referred to as the society). 2. Determine that: 2.1. The Company is a commercial legal entity carrying out insurance activities in the manner prescribed by the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Insurance Activities"; 2.2. To carry out general management and control over the activities of the company, a Board of Directors is created, consisting of three members, including the chairman; 2.3. The board of directors of the company exercises the powers stipulated by Articles 26.1.426.1.6 and 29.1 of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Insurance Activities". Togo's army on Saturday said several people were killed and others wounded when gunmen attacked villages in the country's far north, where a jihadist insurgency is spilling over the border from Burkina Faso Lome, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Jul, 2022 ) :Togo's army on Saturday said several people were killed and others wounded when gunmen attacked villages in the country's far north, where a jihadist insurgency is spilling over the border from Burkina Faso. Togo's government had already reported the attack between Thursday night and Friday in Kpendjal and Kpendjal-Ouest regions but had not given details on casualties. The army said gunmen carried out "coordinated and complex" raids on several villages in the area. "This attack caused several deaths and a few injuries who were quickly taken care of by the first elements of the Togolese Armed Forces who arrived," the army said in a statement. Togolese media reports had said 10 to 15 people died. It was the fourth attack in Togo since last year as the West African country and other coastal states Benin, Ghana and Ivory Coast face a growing threat from jihadists in the Sahel north of their borders. Togo has declared a state of emergency in its far northern provinces to allow security forces more flexibility to operate. Eight Togolese soldiers were killed in May in an assault claimed by a Mali-based alliance of Al-Qaeda affiliated jihadists. Gunmen also clashed with Togo troops outside a military post in Goulingoushi area in Togo's far northwest in June, before they were forced back across the border. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 16. Welcome the Azerbaijani-Armenian dialogue in Tbilisi, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili wrote on his Twitter page, Trend reports. "Welcome the Azerbaijani-Armenian dialogue. Georgia remains committed to play its positive role/further host meetings in a dialogue format that contribute to peace &stability in our region. Peace is absolutely essential to the prosperity of our nations," noted the prime minister. As gang violence continues to ravage Haiti, the UN Security Council adopts a resolution that calls on all countries to stop the transfer of small arms, weapons and ammunitions to the country. Archbishop Max Leroy Mesidor of Port-au-Prince insists on the urgent need to disarm criminal gangs. By Lisa Zengarini The U.N. Security Council has unanimously approved a resolution extending the mandate of the U.N. mission in crisis-torn Haiti (BINUH) until July 15, 2023, and calling on all countries to stop the transfer of small arms to any party on the island supporting gang violence and criminal activity. The resolution drafted by the United States and Mexico passed by 15 votes to zero on Friday against a rival text proposed by China that would have authorized a U.N. arms embargo on the island nation. Growing poverty It comes as gang-related violence continues unabated in the country amid a crippling economic crisis and socio-political turmoil, causing many Haitians to flee to the Dominican Republic or to the United States. Haiti, one of the poorest nations in the world, has been contending with a down falling economy, political instability and a rising spate of insecurity for years. The situation has further deteriorated after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, on July 7, 2021, and the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that followed in August killing over 2,000 people and plunging Haitians into further poverty. Read also 07/02/2022 Haitian Bishops appeal for political unity to end crisis The Bishops Conference of Haiti is calling on political leaders to prevent the country from slipping further into turmoil and chaos. Gang violence increasing Since then gang-related killings, kidnappings and turf wars have increased even more also targeting the Catholic Church, an institution that has long been a pillar of Haitian society, with several religious kidnapped for ransom. In the latest incident, an Italian nun, Sister Luisa DellOrto, who dedicated her life to caring for poor children in Haiti, was killed on June 25 in Port-au-Prince, during an armed robbery. A daily curse for Haitians This week, officials in Haiti's capital reported that at least 89 people had died as a result of days of fighting between rival gangs in the violent Cite Soleil neighbourhood. Condemning this latest spate of violence, the head of the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince, Archbishop Max Leroy Mesidor, once again appealed to police and state authorities, but also to the international community, for bold and immediate action to stop the gang violence. In a country already marked by so much misery and suffering, violence and insecurity have become a daily curse for people, he said. He decried the complete absence of State institutions allowing gangs to operate unhindered, but also the lack of support from other countries. Bandits seem to enjoy unlimited freedom. They hold meetings to prepare for their attacks. Worse still, the social networks offer them a wide publicity, in utter contempt for the suffering and the right to justice of the victims. Urgent need to disarm gangs Archbishop Mesidor insisted on the urgent need to disarm gangs: People have the right to expect immediate action from the police to disarm illegal gangs, he said. The UN resolution The UN resolution adopted on Friday urges the Haitian government to strengthen the rule of law, tackle social and economic problems, initiate violence reduction programs, singling out the need to target sexual violence and manage weapons and ammunition. It also calls for the illicit trafficking and diversion of arms and illicit financial flows to be urgently addressed. Pope Francis sends a message to the people of the Dominican Republic, as they prepare to mark the Altagracian jubilee year, and urges each person to entrust themselves to the care of the Virgin Mary, kindling the flame of hope. By Francesca Merlo Pope Francis on Saturday greeted, with affection, all "the brothers and sisters of the beloved Dominican Republic", as they prepare to celebrate the jubilee year of the canonical coronation of Our Lady of Altagracia, Mother and Protectress of Dominicans. The Pope noted that "this Marian devotion so deeply felt by you is a sign of the Christian roots that characterise and give life to your land". It is for this reason, he said that he exhorts each Dominican "not to lose heart in your witness of faith, to care for and strengthen, through the example and intercession of the Virgin Mary, your love for Jesus and for the Church". Closeness and tenderness Pope Francis went on to explain that through the Virgin, God gives us a sign of His closeness and of the infinite tenderness with which He cares for us. "The loving gaze of the Mother contemplating the Child who sleeps confidently on her lap is an invitation for us to learn to see, through her eyes, Jesus present in our neighbours, and to remember that we are part of the same human family called to live together in fraternity and solidarity", stressed the Pope. In this way, he continued, "the Virgin of Altagracia has been, for the Dominican, people a source of unity in difficult moments and a sure hand that supports them in the setbacks that arise in their daily lives". It is with her protection and shelter that she urges us to take care of and keep "burning the flame of hope that our elders bequeathed to us in faith, and to pass it on to others with humility, trusting in the grace of the Lord", sais the Pope. Walk together Bringing his message to an end, Pope Francis urged his Dominican brothers and sisters not to be afraid to walk together, beyond divisions and mistrust, united in fraternity in the direction that Jesus indicates in the Gospel. "Do not hesitate to seek God's will in simplicity, for He is a Father of tenderness who embraces all and never abandons us", said the Pope, and "trust that His divine light transforms hearts and leads them to an encounter with him and with their brothers and sisters; and have faith that the power of the Holy Spirit impels you to carry out with joy and constancy works of love and goodness for those who need it most". Finally, he prayed "that Jesus bless you and Our Lady of Altagracia protect and accompany you" In a video message, Archbishop Jose Domingo Ulloa, Archbishop of Panama, announces that the Catholic Church accepts the call to mediate the situation in the country, after more than a week of protests over the increase in fuel and food prices. By Vatican News "In view of the call made to us by the government to serve as mediators to find a solution - inclusive and participatory - to the situation that the country is experiencing, we communicate to the citizens that the Catholic Church accepts the invitation to be mediators in the construction of consensus necessary for peaceful coexistence". Archbishop Jose Domingo Ulloa, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Panama, made the announcement in a video message in view of the crisis caused by the social protests that the country is experiencing due to the increase in the prices of basic necessities, such as medicines, electricity, and, above all, fuel. The protests have included marches and demonstrations, which in some cases have led to clashes with the police. The archbishop urged "all those called to give ourselves a chance to make the right decisions for the common good", adding, "The people deserve honesty, coherence, and respect from everyone, without rigid positions or preconditions that prevent dialogue". He also indicates that the Church will make available, "the contribution of the mediation experts that the Church has at its disposal in the Pastoral Social Caritas and the Catholic University Santa Maria la Antigua". Archbishop Ulloa concludes the video message by entrusting this dialogue to the Patroness of Panama, Santa Maria la Antigua (Saint Mary the Ancient), "so that it will not be a discussion or debate of ideas, but a vehicle for the search for the common good". At the end of their first Plenary Assembly of the year, which was held in January, the bishops of the Panamanian episcopal conference highlighted the "situations of division, polarization, intrigue, and misinformation that exist in different environments". "We must talk less and act more", they urged, calling for rebuilding "public confidence, especially where it has failed. Institutions must act and decide unequivocally with the person and the common good at the centre". One tonne 965 kilos of seized drugs in Mexico's Jalisco State are incinerated by employees of the Attorney General's Office in July (AFP or licensors) A notorious Mexican drug cartel leader has been captured by a Bloodhound tracker dog, and now the US Authorities are insisting that he be extradited before the trail goes cold. By James Blears US Authorities offered a twenty million dollars reward for the re-capture of notorious drug trafficker Rafael Caro Quintero. And it was the Mexican Navy`s dogged work, thanks to six-year-old bloodhound MAX, who gets a pat on the back, for pulling off the arrest after a lead, finding the former cartel leader behind a bush, off the beaten track in the mountainous Badlands of his home State of Sinaloa. Drug lord Caro Quintero, aged 69, is now being held in a maximum security prison near Mexico City. He was jailed for forty years, having been convicted of ordering the torture and murder of Drugs Enforcement Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camerena in 1985. After serving twenty-eight years, a Judge oddly released him in 2013, ruling he should have been tried in a State, rather than a Federal Court. By the time the decision was reversed, his henchmen had spirited him away and he was long gone. It`s taken until now to re-capture him and the United States wants him behind bars on US soil. Deadly drug war A quarter of a million people have died in Mexico`s ongoing Drug War, which started in 2006. But narcotics trafficking on a major scale, started long before this. Caro Quintero`s illicit organization smuggled heroin, cocaine and marijuana into the United States. Now it looks like he`s headed there himself, thanks to canine intervention. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 16. Under the instruction of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev, the training level of military personnel and combat capability of units of the Azerbaijan Army are increased, Trend reports citing the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. In accordance with the training plan for 2022, a ceremony of presenting certificates and berets to servicemen, who successfully completed the Commando Training Courses, was held. First, the memory of the national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev, and the Martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, was honored by observing a minute of silence. The National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was performed. The positive impact of the Commando Training Courses, organized on the basis of the experience of the Turkish Armed Forces, on improving the combat capability of units and increasing the professional level of servicemen was emphasized at the graduation ceremony. The servicemen, who successfully completed the courses, were wished success in their further military service and presented with certificates and berets. In the end, the military personnel solemnly marched in front of the podium. Infamous drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, who was behind the killing of a U.S. DEA agent in 1985, was captured Friday by Mexican forces nearly a decade after walking out of a Mexican prison and returning to drug trafficking, according to the Mexico's navy. Caro Quintero was arrested after a search dog named Max found him hiding in brush in the town of San Simon in Sinaloa state during a joint operation by the navy and Attorney General's Office, a navy statement said. The site was in the mountains near Sinaloa's border with the northern border state of Chihuahua. Mexico's national arrest registry listed the time of Caro Quintero's arrest as around midday. There were two pending arrest orders for him as well as an extradition request from the U.S. government. A very short video segment released by the navy showed Caro Quintero his face blurred dressed in jeans, a soaking wet blue shirt and baggy khaki jacket held by both arms by men wearing camouflage uniforms and carrying assault rifles. A navy Black Hawk helicopter carrying 15 people crashed near the coastal city of Los Mochis during the operation, killing 14 of those aboard, the navy statement said. The available information indicated it was an accident, the cause of which had not yet been determined, the statement said. Caro Quintero had walked free in 2013 after 28 years in prison when a court overturned his 40-year sentence for the 1985 kidnapping and killing of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena. The brutal murder marked a low point in U.S.-Mexico relations. Caro Quintero, the former leader of the Guadalajara cartel, had since returned to drug trafficking and unleashed bloody turf battles in the northern Mexico border state of Sonora. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has maintained that he is not interested in detaining drug lords and prefers to avoid violence. But the arrest came just days after Lopez Obrador met with U.S. President Joe Biden in the White House. There had been tensions between the Mexican government and the DEA after Mexico enacted a law limiting the U.S. agency's operations. But recently, the DEA's new head in Mexico received a visa, which the U.S. officials marked as a sign of progress in the relationship. Shortly before Caro Quintero's arrest Friday, U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar told a gathering of reporters there had been progress in the security relationship. "I have been in meetings with the foreign minister and with the security Cabinet, along with all our agencies that have included the new head of the DEA sitting at my right hand," Salazar said. "So if we weren't welcome here in Mexico that wouldn't happen." An appeals court overturned Caro Quintero's verdict in 2013, but the Supreme Court upheld the sentence. It was too late by then; Caro Quintero was spirited off in a waiting vehicle. He was on the FBI's most wanted list, with a $20 million reward for his capture through the State Department's Narcotics Rewards Program. He was added to the FBI's top 10 most wanted list in 2018. Caro Quintero was one of the primary suppliers of heroin, cocaine, and marijuana to the United States in the late 1970s. He blamed Camarena for a raid on a marijuana plantation in 1984. In 1985, Camarena was kidnapped in Guadalajara, allegedly on orders from Caro Quintero. His tortured body was found a month later. Late Friday, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland expressed the U.S. government's deep gratitude to Mexican authorities for Caro Quintero's arrest and offered condolences for the Mexican military personnel who died in the helicopter crash. "There is no hiding place for anyone who kidnaps, tortures, and murders American law enforcement," he said in a statement. "Today's arrest is the culmination of tireless work by DEA and their Mexican partners to bring Caro-Quintero to justice for his alleged crimes, including the torture and execution of DEA Special Agent Enrique 'Kiki' Camarena. We will be seeking his immediate extradition to the United States so he can be tried for these crimes in the very justice system Special Agent Camarena died defending." Armed men killed at least 12 civilians in overnight raids on villages in northern Togo, where Islamist militants have staged several attacks, two local activists and a medical source said Friday. Spared until recently by the jihadi violence that has ravaged its northern neighbors for the better part of the past decade, Togo has over the past two months experienced a spate of attacks. They are part of a broader spillover of militant violence into coastal West African countries from the landlocked Sahel region. Benin and Ivory Coast have also been targeted in the past year by militants believed to belong to an al-Qaida affiliate. The overnight raids were the deadliest to hit Togo to date, topping an ambush in May that killed eight soldiers. The al-Qaida-linked Jamaa Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), which is based in Mali, claimed responsibility for that attack. A local rights activist, who asked to not be named for security reasons, said suspected jihadis killed 10 civilians in the village of Sougtangou and 10 in Blamonga, both of which are near the border with Burkina Faso. Another local activist said suspected jihadis had killed at least 12 civilians and a medical source said the death toll was at least 14. They also spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons. Government spokesman Akodah Ayewouadan confirmed to a local radio station that there had been an attack. "Clearing operations are currently under way, and we fear that there are victims," he said. The government declared a state of emergency last month in the Savanes region, where the overnight attacks took place, and has bolstered security to try to prevent militants from spilling over from southern Burkina Faso. The army said Thursday that it had killed a group of civilians, all teenagers, last Saturday night in an airstrike after mistaking them for jihadis. U.S. President Joe Biden returned to Washington late Saturday after his Mideast tour. Biden met Saturday with Arab leaders in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he laid out his vision for U.S. engagement in the Middle East to counter Iran and reasserted influence in the strategic competition with China and Russia. The United States is invested in building a positive future in the region, a partnership with all of you, Biden said in remarks at the GCC+3 Summit, a gathering of leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates plus Egypt, Iraq and Jordan. We will not walk away and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia or Iran, he said. We will seek to build on this moment with active, principled American leadership. Biden laid out key principles of American engagement in the region, including strengthening partnerships and supporting defense capabilities of countries that subscribe to the rules-based international order, and deterring foreign and regional powers that seek to dominate through military action and jeopardize freedom of navigation. He named Iran's destabilizing activities in the region, Russia's war in Ukraine, and China's actions in the Indo-Pacific as examples of efforts to undermine the rules-based order. Biden said Washington will also work to reduce tensions and end conflicts wherever possible, and support human rights and values outlined in the U.N. Charter. Supporting the rules-based order doesn't mean we always have to agree on every issue, Biden said. But it does mean, we align around the core principles to allow us to work together on most pressing global challenges. Highlighting those global challenges, he announced $1 billion in food security assistance for the Middle East and North Africa. He welcomed the $3 billion pledge from Arab leaders for the global infrastructure and investment initiative that Washington is launching to counter Chinas Belt and Road program. Summit leaders also announced a deal to connect Iraqs electric grid to the GCCs grids through Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, thus reducing Baghdads dependence on Iran. They did not discuss increasing oil production to offset rising prices triggered by Russias war on Ukraine. It wasn't really a subject for the summit, said Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud to reporters. OPEC+ will do what they believe is necessary to maintain balance in the markets, he said. The statement confirmed what U.S. officials have said that no oil output announcements are expected until next month's meetings of the 13 members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries plus 10 other oil producers, including Russia. TehranMoscow The administration warned of growing ties between Russia and Tehran, with National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan saying the U.S. has intelligence indicating the Iranian government is preparing to provide Russia with several hundred drones, or UAVs, including weapons-capable UAVs. The White House released three photos of the Shahed-191 and Shahed-129 unmanned aerial vehicles capable of carrying precision-guided missiles. Russia is effectively making a bet on Iran, said a senior official in a briefing to reporters Saturday. We are making a bet on a more integrated, more stable, more peaceful, prosperous Middle East region. The war in Ukraine has led to a rapprochement between Russia, China, and Iran, said Bernard Haykel, director of Princeton Universitys Institute for Transregional Study of the Contemporary Middle East. There's a kind of an axis of countries that are coming closer, he told VOA. Drones is only one aspect of this closeness. The Saudis say they reject a zero-sum approach. The region has matured and that means we have developed strategic relationships with a number of partners, said Faisal bin Farhan. He said while the summit clearly demonstrates that Washington remains the regions main strategic partner, that doesn't mean that countries cannot also have strong partnerships and relations with others. Human rights In his remarks, Biden said foundational freedoms are key to who we are as Americans. He told the roomful of Arab men that the future belongs to countries where women can exercise equal rights and contribute to building stronger economies, resilient societies, and more modern and capable militaries. Biden did not speak of the global struggle between autocracies and democracies a theme many observers see as his foreign policy doctrine. But in a mild rebuke, he said the future belongs to countries where citizens can question and criticize their leaders without fear of reprisal. That statement may not temper sharp criticism over Bidens meeting and fist bump with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who, according to U.S. intelligence, was behind the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist, U.S. resident and a critic of the kingdom. Biden said he raised Khashoggis murder at the top of his Friday meeting with the crown prince, often referred by his acronym MBS. Biden said MBS told him that he was not personally responsible for the murder. Asked on his return to the White House if the Saudi foreign minister was telling the truth when he said he did not hear Biden accuse the crown prince of Khashoggis murder, Biden said No." CNN reported quoting an unnamed source that when confronted about Khashoggi, MBS reminded Biden of the abuse of prisoners by American forces at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison in 2004. Some observers say Biden has no choice but engage with the Saudis, not just for energy and regional security, but also in its strategic competition with China and Russia. The U.S.Saudi reset will reaffirm U.S. security assurances in exchange for expectations that the Kingdom will align itself with core U.S. interests when they are threatened by its global rivals, said Dan Shapiro, former ambassador to Israel, now with the Atlantic Council. Today, Ukraine; tomorrow, perhaps, Taiwan. Pivot back to the Middle East? Earlier in his Middle East trip that began in Israel, Biden said Washingtons strategic pivot away from the Middle East had been a mistake. His tour is designed to reassure Arab countries of American staying power as they seek greater security protection from Washington to manage Iran's destabilizing activities. That includes in Yemen, where a proxy-war between Riyadh and Tehran that began in 2014 is held by a fragile truce. We further agreed to pursue a diplomatic process to achieve a wider settlement in Yemen, Biden said in remarks following his meeting with MBS and his father, Saudi King Salman. In this context, we discussed Saudi Arabias security needs to defend the Kingdom, given very real threats from Iran and Irans proxies. Administration officials declined to elaborate about which security assurances were agreed upon by Washington and Riyadh. The Saudis are seeking a durable security partnership from Washington that will not be subject to partisan domestic swings, said Sanam Vakil, deputy director at Chatham Houses Middle East North Africa Program, to VOA. Only over time and with concessions regarding Saudi's relationship with China can they secure the security guarantee they are looking for. Under the Trump administration, Washington significantly reduced the number of troops deployed in the region. Last year, the Biden administration reduced the number of U.S. antimissile systems in the Middle East as it focuses on challenges from China and Russia. Integrated missile defense network In remarks to Arab leaders, Biden did not mention Israel's security or regional integration - themes his aides have said are the focus of the trip. Officials have touted Biden's tour as an opportunity to gain momentum toward creating a network of air and missile defense capabilities powered by American and Israeli technology to combat drone and missile attacks from Iran and its proxies. In our bilateral discussions with several nations, we believe, they believe, that there is a great advantage to try and see if we can't network some of those capabilities together, a senior administration official said in a briefing with reporters Saturday. A significant step toward this decades-long goal happened last year, when the Pentagon transferred Israel from the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) that coordinates military operations and relations with partners in the Middle East. The realignment was aimed at strengthening deterrence against Iran as Arab countries normalized relations with Jerusalem under the Trump-era Abraham Accords. Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and parts of Iraq have come under drone or missile strikes claimed by or blamed on Iranian-backed militias. Other regional countries also rely on drones in conflict zones, including the Turks in the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and Israelis against Hezbollah in Lebanon. The concept of regional missile defense coordination through CENTCOM is supported in theory, Vakil said, but in practice developing technology to align these systems will take time, trust and commitment. The Saudi foreign minister said summit leaders did not discuss a GCC-Israeli defense alliance, and he noted that diplomacy is the best solution to Irans nuclear program. In the end, it's up to Iran to decide if it wants the path of diplomacy or not, he said. We hope they do. Siamak Deghanpour, Kevin Nha contributed to this report. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 15. The Houses of SMEs in Azerbaijans Khachmaz and Yevlakh cities provided 31,317 services to entrepreneurs in the first half of 2022, the Azerbaijani Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA) told Trend. According to the agency, 12,347 of the services were provided in Khachmaz, and 18,970 - in Yevlakh. In most cases, the entrepreneurs' appeals were related to tax issues, issuance of a certificate of origin, and utilities, the SMBDA noted. The rate of satisfaction of entrepreneurs with the services of the Houses of SMEs made up 98 percent, added the agency. The level of satisfaction of entrepreneurs with the services provided by the Houses of SMEs in the above cities is measured using an electronic system. U.S. President Joe Biden meets Saturday with Arab leaders in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he will lay out his vision for U.S. engagement in the Middle East. Biden will attend the GCC+3 Summit, meeting with members of the Gulf Cooperation Council Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates plus Egypt, Iraq and Jordan. He is also expected to discuss energy security with the leaders of the Gulf countries, but aides say there are not likely to be any announcements on oil output until next month's meetings of OPEC+, a group of 13 OPEC members and 10 other oil producers, including Russia. "I don't think you should expect a particular announcement here bilaterally because we believe any further action taken to ensure that there is sufficient energy to protect the health of the global economy will be done in the context of OPEC+," Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser, told reporters Friday on the flight to Jeddah. Biden and GCC+3 summit leaders are expected to announce an agreement to connect Iraq's electric grid to the GCC's grids through Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, thus reducing Baghdad's dependence on Iran. On Friday, Biden met with Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, and afterward Biden said they had a "good discussion" on ensuring adequate oil supplies to support global economic growth. "I'm doing all I can to increase the supply for the United States of America, which I expect to happen," Biden said. Biden flew directly to Jeddah from Tel Aviv, just hours after the kingdom announced the opening of its airspace, effectively ending the country's ban on flights to and from Israel. The gesture from Riyadh is part of a broader warming of relations between Israel and the Arab world as they align against Tehran. Biden is claiming the move to be the result of his administrations push toward a more integrated and stable Middle East region. "That is a big deal. A big deal," Biden said. "Not only symbolically but substantively, it's a big deal," Biden said, adding that he hopes the move will eventually lead to a broader normalization of Saudi-Israeli relations. The two countries currently do not recognize each other. Biden said his talks with Saudi leaders help to reassert U.S. influence in the Middle East, part of a strategy of engaging the kingdom, whose poor human rights record he has condemned in the past. "We're not going to leave a vacuum in the Middle East for Russia or China to fill," Biden told reporters following his meeting with the Saudis. "And we're getting results." At the top of Biden's meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed and other Saudi royals, both sides ignored shouted questions from the U.S. press, including, "Is Saudi still a pariah?" and "Jamal Khashoggi will you apologize to his family?" U.S. intelligence has concluded that the crown prince approved the brutal murder of Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and U.S. resident. Biden, who during his presidential campaign said the kingdom should be treated as a pariah, told reporters he made his views on human rights and Khashoggi's murder "crystal clear" to the crown prince, who in turn claimed, according to Biden, that he "was not personally responsible for it." "I indicated I thought he was," Biden said he replied. Biden's Saudi visit "came across as a slap" in the face of all those who stand for human rights, said Agnes Callamard, secretary-general of Amnesty International in an interview with VOA. "What President Biden is doing is suggesting that human rights are cheap and can be bargained out for a range of other impact," she said. Bidens Middle East trip has also taken him to the West Bank, where he met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and Jerusalem, where he held talks with Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid. Chinese astronauts, known as taikonauts, and a ground crew are working to finish their country's first permanent orbiting space station and the world's second by year's end, official media outlets say. That milestone will boost China's national pride and provide it with new channels for economic development and a possible new tool for military use on the ground, analysts say. The space program advances China's goal of being "strong and prosperous" by 2049, said Dexter Roberts, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Asia Security Initiative and author of "The Myth of Chinese Capitalism." That year marks the 100th anniversary of Communist Party rule in China. "Developing the economy, becoming wealthier and raising national prestige globally and becoming stronger geopolitically are all very, very clear goals of the party," he said. A crew aboard the Shenzhou-14 spacecraft last month kicked off six months of work on the Tiangong space station, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. Personnel in space and on the ground will finish building the space station, expanding it from a single-module structure to triple-module national space laboratory, Xinhua said. The U.S. space agency, NASA, bars China from using the International Space Station on military security grounds, prompting China to embark on its own 10 years ago. China launched its broader space program in the 1960s. Pride and power projection China's space station has been designed to be a "versatile space lab" that can hold 25 "cabinets" for experiments such as comparing the biological growth mechanism in varying at different gravitational levels, Xinhua said. As conducted at the space station and on other space platforms, research into biology, life systems, medicine and materials is expected "to expand humanity's understanding of basic science," the State Council Information Office said in a January outlook for the program. Other countries have already used China's satellite services, including the BeiDou satellite navigation system, which was made available two years ago to Pakistan. Those systems can survey the aftermath of disasters and help launch satellites. Officials in Beijing have not said whether the space station will help the People's Liberation Army. Space programs, including BeiDou, have a military and security side, said Yun Sun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center in Washington. "The Chinese will argue that while using (the) BeiDou system, you can navigate the weather, you can forecast the natural disasters, and you can also use the satellites to investigate and explore the terrains," she said. "I think that's one example of how Chinese space technology is having a real impact over countries on Earth," Yun said. But, she said, "we all know that's just one narrative." The People's Liberation Army could technically dock military equipment systems in space or use satellites to survey the ground, experts have told VOA. China has the world's third-strongest armed forces, a source of alarm for the West and smaller Asian countries. Chinese President Xi Jinping will probably note the space station as an achievement during the national party congress expected before year's end, Yun said. Experts say Xi is likely to seek appointment at the congress to a third five-year term as party general secretary. "National prestige and security" are top concerns for Chinese leaders as they finish their space station, said the Roberts, of the Atlantic Council. The Chinese government is probably pushing the commercial side of its space program because it wants to catch up to the scale of NASA, he said. Chinese leaders may hope to develop their own aerospace technology through the space station, said Yan Liang, professor and chair of economics at Willamette University in the U.S. state of Oregon. Some of today's components could be imports, she said. "Definitely I do think that with the communication aspect that is about big data and all these other high-tech industries, it's definitely in the interest for China to be able to do that and maybe later to export to other countries," Liang said. Tiangong's first module was christened last year. It operates 340 miles above the Earth's surface, farther away than the International Space Station. After a Chinese Shenzhou-14 crew reaches gets to the space station, it will begin research projects and perform spacewalks from the lab module, Xinhua reported. The Republic of Congo's ruling party won a majority in last week's parliamentary election, based on provisional results seen by AFP on Saturday as opposition groups alleged electoral fraud. Congolese Territorial Administration Minister Guy Georges Mbaka announced the results of the July 10 poll on national television early Friday. His ministry subsequently allowed journalists, including an AFP correspondent, to see the provisional results on Saturday. According to these results, the Congolese Labour Party (PCT) won 103 out of 151 assembly seats. The PCT is the party of President Denis Sassou Nguesso, a 78-year-old former paratrooper who first came to power in the central African nation in 1979. Smaller parties allied with the PCT won 13 seats, according to the provisional results. "The PCT won again because it is a unifying party that has no ethnic problems," said party representative Serge Ikiemi. Opposition groups in the Republic of Congo, which is also known as Congo-Brazzaville, denounced the results as fraudulent. A civil-society group called "Let's Turn the Page" said Friday the vote was marked by "cheating, fraud and scenes of open corruption." Independent candidate Vivien Manangou, who was defeated by a PCT member in a bid for an assembly seat, told AFP that "the results did not come from the ballot box at all." The country's leading opposition party, the Pan-African Union for Social Democracy (UPADS) won four seats, according to the provisional results. UDH-Yuki, another opposition party, won two. Two other small opposition parties boycotted last week's vote over fears the election would be rigged. A run-off vote scheduled for July 24 will decide 27 unfilled assembly seats. Fighting raged in Ukraines eastern Donbas region as Russian and Ukrainian forces exchanged artillery fire Saturday. Earlier, Russian cruise missiles exploded across several Ukrainian cities and towns including damaging residential buildings. Workers cleaned the area within the central city of Dnipro, where officials reported three people were killed and 15 others were wounded in the missile strike, said Governor Valentyn Reznychenko on Telegram. Ukraines air force said it intercepted four additional missiles fired at the city. In the northeast region around Ukraine's second city of Kharkiv, Governor Oleg Synegubov said an overnight Russian missile attack killed three people in the town of Chuguiv. In the central Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia, officials said the death toll rose to 24 from Russian strikes after a woman died of her injuries in a hospital Saturday. Ukraine said three children were among the dead. The latest fighting comes as Russias defense minister directed his troops operating in Ukraine to further intensify their military operations. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the move was to prevent strikes on eastern Ukraine and other territories controlled by Russia in a statement posted on the ministry website. The statement said Shoigu gave the necessary instructions to further increase the actions of groups in all operational areas in order to exclude the possibility of the Kyiv regime launching massive rocket and artillery strikes on civilian infrastructure and residents of settlements in Donbas and other regions. In other developments, Ukraine's atomic energy agency accused Russia of using Europes largest nuclear power plant to store weapons and shell the surrounding regions of Nikopol and Dnipro that were hit Saturday. Petro Kotin, president of Ukrainian nuclear agency Energoatom, called the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant extremely tense with up to 500 Russian soldiers controlling the plant. The plant in southeast Ukraine has been under Russian control since the early weeks of Moscow's invasion, though it is still operated by Ukrainian staff. The reports came after U.S. officials unveiled photographic intelligence claiming Iran may be preparing to provide Russia with several hundred weapons-capable unmanned drones. The unmanned aerial drones could be used in the war in Ukraine. U.S. and Ukrainian officials say U.S. rocket systems provided to Ukraine are having a large impact on the fight against Russia, helping Ukrainian forces hold off Russias military in the Donbas region. It comes as thousands of people have fled the area since the start of the war in late February, with civilian areas coming under attack. Russia has denied targeting civilians in Ukraine. U.S. President Joe Biden called Russia's war in Ukraine, an example of efforts to undermine the rules-based order. Bidens comments came during bilateral meetings with leaders in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. Grain exports Despite the fighting, both sides have indicated signs of progress toward an agreement to end a blockade of Ukrainian grain. Turkey, which has been mediating the efforts, says a deal could be signed next week. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said a final document had been prepared and was set to be completed in the nearest time according to The Associated Press. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday there is broad agreement on a deal between Russia and Ukraine, with Turkey and the United Nations, to export millions of tons of Ukrainian grain stuck in silos since Russias invasion February 24. More than 20 million tons of Ukrainian grain are being stored in silos at the Black Sea port of Odesa, and dozens of ships have been stranded because of Russia's blockade. Turkey said it has 20 merchant ships waiting in the region that could be quickly loaded and dispatched to world markets. VOA National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin contributed to this story. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. President Joe Biden met Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah on Friday to bolster Israel's security against the threat of Iran and reassert U.S. influence in the Middle East, engaging a kingdom whose poor human rights record he has condemned in the past. "We're not going to leave a vacuum in the Middle East for Russia or China to fill," Biden told reporters following his meeting with the Saudis. "And we're getting results." Biden flew directly to Jeddah from Tel Aviv, hours after the kingdom announced the opening of its airspace, effectively ending the country's ban on flights to and from Israel. The gesture from Riyadh was part of a broader warming of relations between Israel and the Arab world as they align against Tehran. "That is a big deal. A big deal," Biden said. "Not only symbolically but substantively, it's a big deal," he said, adding that he hoped the move would eventually lead to a broader normalization of Saudi-Israel relations. The two countries currently do not recognize each other. Biden welcomed Saudi Arabia's extension of a nearly four-month-old U.N.-mediated truce in Yemen, and Riyadh's commitment to reach a wider settlement of the conflict that began in late 2014. The proxy war between a Saudi-led coalition and Tehran-backed Houthi militias has turned Yemen into a breeding ground for jihadi groups and killed more than 300,000 people. "We discussed Saudi Arabia's security needs to defend the kingdom, given the very real threats from Iran and Iran's proxies," Biden said. Biden also announced the withdrawal of multinational peacekeepers from Tiran Island in the Red Sea, effectively returning its control to Riyadh in an agreement that Washington facilitated among Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Israel. He characterized it as a historic deal that transforms a flashpoint "at the heart of Middle East wars into an area of peace." Tiran and nearby Sanafir are uninhabited but strategically located islands at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba, which is bounded by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Jordan. The islands have for decades been the source of conflict among the countries. Peacekeepers, including American troops stationed in Tiran since 1978, will withdraw by the end of the year, allowing the area to be used for "tourism, development and peaceful pursuits," the White House said in a prepared statement. Some have speculated that Israel's agreement to the transfer of Tiran to the Saudis may have facilitated the opening of Riyadh's airspace to Israeli planes. "Or it may be just that that is an excuse for something that the crown prince wanted to do anyway," Jonathan Rynhold, head of the Political Studies Department at Bar-Ilan University, told VOA. "Either way, it was convenient." Unlike King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, often referred to by his initials MBS, has signaled openness in engaging with Israel. The two countries are also discussing establishing direct flights from Israel to Jeddah for next year's Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage. These small steps are important in fostering a different regional environment in the Middle East, said Brian Katulis, senior fellow and vice president of policy at the Middle East Institute. "One that moves beyond the wars, conflict resolution and peacemaking phase and cracks open the door to a new, not yet fully realized phase: one of greater regional integration and normalization," Katulis told VOA. No oil deal Biden did not secure any announcement that could lower the price of oil, saying only that he and the Saudis had a "good discussion" on ensuring adequate oil supplies to support global economic growth. "I'm doing all I can to increase the supply for the United States of America, which I expect to happen," Biden said. His aides have said no details will be announced until next month's meetings of OPEC+, a group of 13 members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and 10 other oil producers, including Russia. "I don't think you should expect a particular announcement here bilaterally, because we believe any further action taken to ensure that there is sufficient energy to protect the health of the global economy will be done in the context of OPEC+," Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser, said to reporters on the flight to Jeddah. OPEC+ members are limited by production quotas agreed to in April 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. An increase in output to offset price hikes triggered by the war in Ukraine would require unanimous agreement from the group, including from Moscow. Biden also announced initiatives connecting Washington and Riyadh in areas including 5G technology, transition to renewable and clean energy, cybersecurity and space exploration. Human rights At the top of Biden's meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed and other Saudi royals, both sides ignored shouted questions from the U.S. press, including, "Is Saudi still a pariah?" and "Jamal Khashoggi will you apologize to his family?" U.S. intelligence has concluded that the crown prince approved the brutal murder of Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and U.S. resident. Biden, who during his presidential campaign said the kingdom should be treated as a pariah, told reporters he made his views on human rights and Khashoggi's murder "crystal clear" to the crown prince, who in turn claimed, according to Biden, that he "was not personally responsible for it." "I indicated I thought he was," the president said he replied. Biden's Saudi visit "came across as a slap" in the face of all those who stand for human rights, Agnes Callamard, secretary-general of Amnesty International, said in an interview with VOA. "What President Biden is doing is suggesting that human rights are cheap and can be bargained out for a range of other impact," she said. The last item on Biden's Middle East agenda on Saturday will be the GCC+3 Summit in Jeddah, with members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates) plus Egypt, Iraq and Jordan, where he will lay out his vision for U.S. engagement in the region. Biden and summit leaders are expected to announce an agreement to connect Iraq's electric grid to the GCC's grids through Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, thus reducing Baghdad's dependence on Iran. VOA's Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. Sirens warned residents in southern Israel of an incoming rocket attack from Gaza early Saturday. Israel said four rockets were launched toward Israel. One was intercepted, while the other three fell to open space, according to the military. The Israel Defense Force said it retaliated with a fighter jet attack, targeting two Hamas sites. One site the IDF said, was a Hamas underground complex containing raw materials used for the manufacturing of rockets. Hamas is the militant Islamic group that governs the Gaza Strip. The attack comes just hours after U.S. President Joe Biden left Israel, a stop on his current Mideast tour with a goal of deepening Israels integration into the region. Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesperson, told Reuters that the Israeli attacks on Gaza reflected U.S. support and encouragement the Zionist entity had received to pursue its aggression and crimes. Some information for this report came from Agence France-Presse and Reuters. North Macedonia has approved a French proposal that opens the way for negotiations to join the European Union and overcome Bulgarian objections. There were 68 votes in favor of the proposal in the 120-member chamber, with the leftist coalition, which has 61 seats, getting the backing of small ethnic Albanian parties. Opposition lawmakers left the chamber in protest, abstaining from the vote. Protesters gathered again outside Parliament, as they have done every day for 10 days, but the protest ended peacefully. Under the proposal, announced by French President Emmanuel Macron last month, North Macedonia would commit to changing its constitution to recognize a Bulgarian minority, protect minority rights and banish hate speech, as Bulgaria, an EU member since 2007, has demanded. The deal would also unblock the start of negotiations for neighboring Albania, another EU hopeful. Macron had stressed that the proposal doesn't question the official existence of a Macedonian language, but he had noted that, like all deals, it "rests on compromises and on a balance." But revising the constitution may prove too high a hurdle, since that requires a two-thirds majority, or 80 votes. The main opposition party, the center-right VMRO-DPMNE, and its allies, as well as a small leftist party, with 46 seats among them, have declared they will never agree to change the constitution. Talks start July 19 Later Saturday, after a Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski announced that North Macedonia will start accession talks with EU July 19. "With this, we conclude another objectively historical step for our country. We have a negotiating framework in which the Macedonian language and identity are protected," he said. The country's ruling coalition has backed the proposal as a reasonable compromise that doesn't endanger national interests or identity, while the opposition has denounced it a national betrayal that caves into Bulgaria's questioning North Macedonia's history, language, identity, culture and heritage. The French proposal has also roiled Bulgaria, where Prime Minister Kiril Petkov has accepted it. His centrist government was toppled in a no-confidence vote June 22 when allies described Petkov's willingness to lift the veto of North Macedonia into the EU as a "national betrayal." Deal welcomed EU and U.S. leaders welcomed North Macedonia's decision to back the deal. Charles Michel, president of the European Council, called the parliament's vote "a crucial step for North Macedonia and the EU. Our future is together, and we welcome you with open arms." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, "this decision comes at a critical moment for North Macedonia, the Western Balkans, and Europe." "A European Union that includes all of the Western Balkans, including Albania and North Macedonia, will be stronger and more prosperous. Now is the time to build momentum," Blinken said in a statement. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama also hailed North Macedonian parliament's decision, which also opens the way for EU talks for his country too. "This is not the end of the road but only the beginning of a new part of the road we want Albania to be in," he said. Many people walk by the unassuming 19th-century white-brick row house in the historic area of Alexandria, Virginia, outside Washington, not realizing it was part of a horrible chapter in U.S. history. A sign out front indicates it used to be the Franklin and Armfield Slave Office, one of the major centers of the U.S. domestic slave trade in the 19th century. Today, it has become the Freedom House Museum, which looks at a brutal past but also on the accomplishments of African Americans in Virginia. Beginning in 1828, two slave traders, Isaac Franklin and John Armfield, used the building and three adjoining lots as a holding pen or jail for thousands of enslaved Blacks. The enslaved were brought to the pen from local plantations where they had picked tobacco until the soil became exhausted. Then they were either bought directly or remained at the jail until they were shipped south to Natchez, Mississippi, and New Orleans, Louisiana, where they were sold at even higher prices to pick cotton and harvest sugarcane. The slave jail grew to become one of the largest slave-trading companies in the United States until 1836. "One of the scary things is that they created this almost perfect model for trafficking human beings," said Audrey Davis, the Freedom House Museum director who also heads Alexandria's Black History Museum. "They would buy the enslaved people at a good price and bring them to Alexandria and then sell them again for more profit." The Freedom House Museum contains exhibits that show the atrociousness of slavery, but it also looks at the accomplishments of Black Americans in Alexandria. The museum recently reopened after being closed for renovations. "The exhibitions talk about Alexandria's role in the domestic slave trade, but also stress that African Americans are not defined by slavery," Davis told VOA. "We have many years of perseverance from surviving enslavement and want to make sure that people are getting the full view of the African American experience in Alexandria." At the museum entrance, a sign explains, "This exhibit honors the memory of the enslaved people who created our nation." And on an entryway wall, some of the names and ages are listed of the more than 8,500 enslaved people who went through the doors of the jail. Treyvon Harris, 14, from Fort Washington, Maryland, scanned the names of the young and old, but stopped when he saw a 1-year-old child. "That means a baby could be a slave for his whole life and even be taken away from his family," he said in disbelief. The slave pen took up an entire block and contained a kitchen, infirmary, dining area and outdoor courtyard for exercise. Since the traders knew healthier and better-looking enslaved people would bring higher prices, they were given a little more food. A tailor shop at the complex also provided new clothes for them to wear at the auction market. "The U.S. had a large and growing population of enslaved labor," explained Cassandra Newby-Alexander, a professor of Africa diaspora studies at Norfolk State University in Virginia. "The buying and selling was a big business that also fueled other industries, like steamships and schooners that transported enslaved people." Davis said the reaction to the slave pen in Alexandria was mixed at the time, with some people believing slavery was wrong and others accepting it as an important part of the economy. "People in Alexandria certainly knew what was going on, even though there were high walls around it," Davis said. "They would have seen the trafficking of human beings by the nearby Potomac River where the people were boarded on boats." Several domestic slave trading firms operated the pen until it was liberated in 1861 by anti-slavery Union troops during the U.S. Civil War. The pen was turned into a jail for Confederate soldiers and unruly Union troops. Today, all that remains of the slave jail is the house. However, Davis said she doesn't want Freedom House to be defined just by the period of enslavement. "While we must understand what happened during slavery, it is not the only defining moment of the African American people," Davis said. "African Americans have had amazing achievements that have helped our culture and society." An exhibit called "Determined: The 400-Year Struggle for Black Equality" shares inspiring stories of extraordinary individuals who struggled for equality. In Alexandria, they included Albert Johnson, the first Black physician allowed to practice in the city, and Shirley Marshall-Lee, the first African American certified scuba diver. Visitor Ingrid Schoenburg from Fairfax, Virginia, said, "What is so compelling is that the museum shows the power of the human spirit when faced with adversity." Lakisha Jones from Houston, Texas, agreed. "This place is a reminder of what our people went through," said Jones, who is African American, "and how they persevered and continue to do so today." The emergence of Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of exiled former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin, as a political figure and possible prime ministerial candidate herself at the next general election could exacerbate political divisions in Thailand. Paetongtarn was appointed in October as chief of the Inclusion and Innovation Adviser Committees for the main opposition Pheu Thai Party, the countrys largest party, whose de facto head is Thaksin. Following the appointment, many now believe she will be the partys candidate for prime minister in the next general election, which could take place next year. At this point, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha is expected to run for reelection. Thaksins opponents, who supported the last two coups against him and his sister, former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, already say that this could be Shinawatra Part 3. However, Paetongtarn, who has never held any political position before her Pheu Thai appointments, has largely remained silent on the topic. Pheu Thai leader Chonlanan Srikaew told VOA the party is only testing her popularity at the moment. No, we do not have that idea right now, Chonlanan said when asked whether the party would nominate Paetongtarn to run for prime minister. Paetongtarn is now the head of the Pheu Thai family who is helping with the expansion of the familys base and this appointment has no direct connection with the candidacy. For the question of whether Paetongtarn should be a candidate or not, this is also what we wanted to ask the people, he said this status is seen as a way to test her popularity without incurring criticism that Thaksin still controls the party. Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a professor and director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University, told VOA that Pheu Thai is only testing the water, but no matter what, Paetongtarn is now the partys symbolic leader. He said the recent strong show of support for Paetongtarn when she went to the countrys Northeast, the partys main stronghold, by members of the anti-junta, pro-Thaksin Red Shirt faction, was a good sign for her possible nomination. So far, she fits the bill, Thitinan said. She is well-received by the partys supporters, the Red Shirts are regrouping around her, and she seems to be learning the ropes really quickly and they might need her, and Thaksin needs her, he said. Thitinan said what Thaksin learned from the Yingluck era is that he needs someone more directly connected to him, and at this moment his youngest daughter is the answer. Thaksin opponents said the only reason why Pheu Thai would nominate Paetongtarn is that Thaksin is still looking for ways to return to Thailand without having to spend a day in jail. Thaksin fled the country after Thailands 2006 coup because of various charges against him, including a corrupt land deal, an illegal holding of shares in the state's phone concessions and a royal defamation charge, which he said were politically motivated. Suthep Thaugsuban, who led People's Democratic Reform Committee protests against Yinglucks government before the 2014 coup, said in a video in April that Paetongtarn could be as corrupt as her father and vowed that he would continue to fight against the Thaksin regime. I was afraid after I heard about the landslide strategy and that one party could be running the country again, Suthep said. Pheu Thai has a strategy of winning more than 250 of the parliamentary seats or at least 18 million of 35 million votes so they can out-vote the 250 junta-appointed senators who are likely to support Prayut or another candidate of the ruling pro-military Palang Pracharath Party. I was afraid because I saw it before, the brother [Thaksin] was corrupt, the sister [Yingluck] was corrupt and if the daughter becomes the prime minister and she is also corrupt, what can we do? I do not want to go out to protest on the street again, Suthep said. Chonlanan denied Sutheps claims and said that those in power have been using the excuse of eradicating the Thaksin regime to dissolve Thaksins parties in the past and they are still looking for ways to use it against the Pheu Thai Party. That is what they have already accomplished so it is normal for them to be wary of the children of the Shinawatra family, Chonlanan said. The party has been closely monitoring such rhetoric and we have been showing the people that we are transparent, that we are not under the control of one family, he said. Thitinan said the Pheu Thai Party still has a strong base in the countryside of the North and the Northeast and they are gaining supporters from the Red Shirts, which means that the party has a chance to gain the most MP seats at the next general election and a landslide is very possible. Thitinan said the next general election will be a referendum on Prayut, Thailands unpopular prime minister. It would not be surprising if there is going to be a lot of anti-military and anti-coup votes that will play into the Pheu Thai support base, he said. However, winning in a landslide might not always be a good thing, he said. To me, the crisis began in February 2005 when Thaksin was reelected by a landslide, he said, referring to the subsequent two coups, massacre of Red Shirts, and political division and tension between pro-democracy and royalist supporters. The worst thing you can do it Thai politics is to run for office and get elected by a landslide, since once you become a political juggernaut from elected office in Thailand, there will be a lot of jealousy, and the knives will come out because the real power holders in this country are not elected, he said, referring to Thaksin and Yingluck. Thitinan said he expects there to be some kind of accusations and attempts to derail Pheu Thai soon and there could be another party dissolution Thaksin parties were dissolved by the constitutional court in steps political experts believe were meant to get rid of Thaksin. He said one of the accusations could be that Thaksin is pulling the strings behind the party, which would be considered a violation of the law, which prohibits a party from being influenced or controlled by an outsider. He said if Pheu Thai were dissolved, it could lead to another protest against the government like the Red Shirt uprising in 2009 against the government of Abhisit Vejjajiva, who they believed had been installed by coup makers who toppled Thaksin, and the cycle will continue. Thitinan said that apart from judicial dissolution, the ultimate last resort is a military coup. However, a military has a very high cost so the military would want to avoid that so they will try probably work with the judiciary push again, he said. Gunmen have attacked a checkpoint just 70 kilometers from Bamako, Malis capital, leaving six dead, in a sign of increasing insecurity in Mali as the French army withdraws from the country and tensions rise between the U.N. and Malis military government. Malis security ministry posted on Facebook that Security Minister Daoud Aly Mohammedine visited the town of Zantiguila, where the attack occurred Friday. The ministry said the six dead included three civilians and three members of the security forces. Zantiguila is on the main road connecting Bamako with Segou, 240 kilometers to the north. Mali has been fighting an Islamist insurgency for a decade and has seen increasing insecurity in recent months in the center and north of the country as the French army has gradually withdrawn from Mali following a breakdown in France-Mali relations and concerns about Mali working with Russian mercenaries. Tensions have also mounted in recent weeks between Malis military government and the U.N. mission to Mali, MINUSMA, with Mali refusing to allow the U.N. to carry out human rights investigations as part of its mandate. Following the arrest of 49 soldiers from Ivory Coast, who came to Mali as support for a U.N. contingent, the Malian government Thursday suspended all rotations of U.N. forces in the country until further notice. MINUSMA has supported the Malian army in maintaining security in much of the country since its creation in 2013. Attacks near Bamako, Malis southern capital, are usually rare, but the security ministry also announced an attack in Fana, Mali, just 130 kilometers from Bamako, in June. Hong Kong: 3.5k local COVID-19 cases found The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 3,533 additional locally acquired COVID-19 cases, of which 1,408 were directly identified through nucleic acid tests and 2,125 via rapid antigen tests that were verified. Separately, 229 imported cases were reported. The centre added that six care homes have identified positive cases involving residents and workers. Moreover, one special school and one kindergarten reported positive cases. The classes concerned will suspend face-to-face lessons for a week. Meanwhile, the Government made a restriction-testing declaration to cover Kai Chun House of Kai Chuen Court in Wong Tai Sin, 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 residential buildings in Eastern, Islands, Kwun Tong and Yuen Long districts, the Housing Department 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 Governments dedicated webpage. This story has been published on: 2022-07-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. UAE-based Azizi Developments has signed a partnership deal with Trent Building Materials Trading, a top interior fit-out firm in the UAE, for the supply and installation of Swiss brand Forbo's vinyl flooring across 29 buildings in Phases 1 and 2 of its flagship waterfront project Riviera in Dubai. A major global brand, Forbo is renowned for its wide selection of environment-friendly linoleum, premium vinyl flooring, and other high-end fit-out options. On the deal, CEO Farhad Azizi said: "Our signing with Trent Building Materials Trading is yet another considerable stride in our pursuit of sourcing only the very best of materials. We are thrilled to be collaborating with this renowned provider and thereby securing our investors and end-users market-leading, quality vinyl flooring by Forbo, one of the most high-end brands in the domain." "The procured vinyl flooring by this exceptional, sophisticated Swiss brand meets Rivieras elevated quality standards, with it being highly sustainable, durable, low-maintenance, and outstandingly stylish," he added. Part of Azizi's award-winning portfolio, Riviera is a premium waterfront-lifestyle destination located in the heart of MBR City that is planned to comprise 71 mid-rise buildings with approximately 16,000 residences upon its completion, conveniently located in the midst of all the business, leisure, and retail hubs of the city.-TradeArabia News Service BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 16. Azerbaijan boosted industrial zone production by 53 percent in the first half of 2022, Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov said at a meeting chaired by President Ilham Aliyev, dedicated to the results of six months of 2022 on July 15, Trend reports. "Despite the negative global economic trends, Azerbaijan recorded significant economic growth in the first half of 2022. Thus, among the priority sectors of the non-oil industry, value added in the non-oil and gas industry increased by 11 percent, in the transport sector by 27 percent, in tourism and public by 86 percent, and in the information and communications sector by 14 percent. The industrial zones' contribution to industrialization processes is growing as well. In the reporting period, production in industrial zones increased by 53 percent, while exports by two times compared to the same period of 2021," Jabbarov said. Afghanistans cash-strapped Taliban government has tripled prices for coal in less than a month to raise revenue from its mining sector amid a lack of direct foreign funding and booming coal exports to neighboring Pakistan. The spokesman for the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum in Kabul, Esmatullah Burhan, on Saturday told VOA that each ton of coal is priced at $280. On June 28, the Taliban-led Finance Ministry raised coal prices to $200 per ton from $90 per ton. Customs duties also were raised by 10 percent, totaling 30% on each ton, although Afghan coal is still comparatively cheap about 40% of the international market value. Burhan said Afghanistan is exporting about 10,000 tons of coal a day to Pakistan. He asserted that the government is selling coal to private Afghan traders in local currency (known as Afghani) and they are then exporting it, primarily to the neighboring country. He told VOA that out of Afghanistans 80 coal mines, 17 are currently in use. The repeated Afghan coal price hikes came just after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced plans last month to increase coal imports from Afghanistan using local currency, as opposed to dollars, to save foreign reserves. Officials in Kabul insist that coal prices have been revised after studying regional markets and rising global prices in the wake of the war in Ukraine to ensure Afghan traders could receive as much revenue as possible and prevent Pakistani importers from switching to other options. Sharif told a recent cabinet meeting that importing Afghan coal could help Islamabad save more than $2.2 billion annually. His decision comes against a backdrop of rising coal prices on the international market in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine. Pakistan, which reportedly imported 70% of its thermal coal from South Africa to run its cement, steel and Chinese-built power plants, is facing an energy crisis. South African coal prices have increased in recent weeks because of higher demand from Europe. The shortages have forced coal-based facilities in Pakistan to either operate at significantly reduced capacities or to shut down plants temporarily. Customs duties from coal exported to Pakistan are a key source of revenue for the Taliban. The Islamist group reclaimed control of Afghanistan nearly a year ago, but sanctions on the Afghan banking sector and the suspension of foreign financial aid have severely hampered the war-torn countrys economy. No country has formally recognized the Taliban government, citing concerns over human rights of Afghans, particularly restrictions placed on womens rights to work and education. Islamabad already has eased the visa regime for Afghan nationals and removed duties on all imports from Afghanistan to help facilitate bilateral trade. Additionally, Taliban authorities, in collaboration with Pakistani counterparts, are said to be working to smooth the transportation of coal exports at border crossings between the two countries. Hundreds of trucks carrying coal pass daily through three dedicated border crossings, and both sides are planning to add more space for additional trucks and open customs facilities for longer durations per day, instead of 12 hours currently. A high-level Pakistani delegation, led by top commerce ministry officials, will travel to Afghanistan Sunday to further the discussions. Pakistani officials said Islamabad would discuss the pricing issue, as well as propose to keep border terminals open 24 hours for coal imports and infrastructure-related improvements on the Afghan side. Ukraine's deputy minister of culture said Friday that her country's heritage is under attack by Russia and must be protected. "The president of Russia, Mr. Putin, announced that Ukrainian culture and identity is a target of this war," Kateryna Chueva, deputy minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, reminded an informal meeting of the U.N. Security Council. She said the Russian bombs and missiles that have damaged and destroyed Ukrainian cities also have hit scores of important cultural sites. The U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has verified damage to 163 cultural sites since Russia's Feb. 24 invasion. They include religious sites, a dozen museums, 30 historic buildings, 17 monuments and seven libraries. More than half are in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions. UNESCO says cultural sites in the capital, Kyiv, have also sustained considerable damage. Chueva says the figure is much higher. She told the council her ministry has verified damage and destruction to at least 423 objects and institutions of cultural heritage. Destruction of cultural heritage is a potential war crime and a violation of the 1954 Hague convention for the protection of cultural property in conflict, of which Russia is a signatory. Chueva noted that destruction of cultural heritage is not limited to structures and objects. "Every single person is a bearer of culture, of knowledge and traditions," she said. The director of UNESCO's World Heritage Center, Lazare Eloundou Assomo, urged Russia to take precautions to protect cultural heritage sites. He said from Paris that the agency has also worked with Kyiv to take steps to clearly mark protected sites and is verifying reports of damage, including through satellite imagery. "The verification on the ground will enable UNESCO to unveil the scale of damage to cultural sites, as well as to verify the impact of the war on movable cultural property and to prepare for future recovery," he said. UNESCO is also providing technical and financial support to the cultural sector and plans to help Ukraine train law enforcement officials in the prevention of trafficking of cultural heritage. Russia's representative at the meeting, Sergey Leonidchenko, denied that Moscow targets heritage sites and says coordinates are provided to their military in advance in order take precautions. He accused Kyiv of targeting Russian culture and language even before the February invasion. "Demolition of monuments to Russian writers, poets, musicians and World War II heroes, renaming streets devoted to them, confiscation of school textbooks, Russian language and Russian literature in general," Leonidchenko said. He said the Kyiv regime wants to "rewire people" to forget who they are. Several Ukrainian cities did rename some streets and squares associated with Russia following the invasion, and a Soviet-era monument symbolizing friendship between Russia and Ukraine was dismantled in Kyiv. The U.S. representative said Moscow has been destroying parts of Ukraine's heritage in an effort to rewrite history, dating back to its invasion of eastern Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea in 2014. "This campaign has been in motion since 2014, when Russia began to remove artifacts, demolish grave sites, and shutter churches and other houses of worship in the Donbas region and Crimea," Lisa Carty said. "Even before Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia reportedly illegally exported artifacts from Crimea, conducted unauthorized archaeological expeditions, demolished Muslim burial sites, and damaged cultural heritage sites." Ireland's deputy ambassador underscored the importance of accountability. "When protection cannot be insured, it is necessary to build an evidence base so that accountability can be pursued when conditions allow," Cait Moran said. The U.N. Security Council on Friday unanimously threatened targeted sanctions against criminal gangs and human rights abusers in Haiti and called on countries to stop the flow of guns to the strife-torn Caribbean country. Violence has soared since the assassination last year of President Jovenel Moise, which created a political vacuum that gangs have used to expand control over territory. While China voted in favor of the resolution on Friday, which extended a U.N. political mission in Haiti for 12 months, it expressed disappointment that the 15-member body had not imposed a formal arms embargo on gangs in Haiti. "We hope that this will not send any wrong signals to the gangs," China's U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun told the council, adding that Beijing would continue to push for a U.N. embargo. China took an unusually active stance in the Security Council negotiations on the resolution, drafted by the United States and Mexico. To the ire of China, Haiti has long recognized Taiwan's sovereignty. Some analysts say Beijing may see the impending political transition in Haiti as a chance to persuade the country to swap its diplomatic ties to China from Taiwan. "Its statement about gangs may be a constructive way for it to market a switch ... while also recognizing that Chinese companies would operate in Haiti following such a change, and thus it has real practical interests in getting the gang violence under control," said Evan Ellis, a Latin America research professor with the U.S. Army War College. Zhang said China's only interest was to help the Haitian people and the Haitian government. "I don't think it's reasonable today to link the two issues," he told reporters. "It's true that they have diplomatic ties with Taiwan and we are against it. However, on this issue, that's not the basis of our position." The U.N. political mission in Haiti works with the government to strengthen political stability and good governance, rights protection and justice reform and to help with the holding of free and fair elections. U.N. peacekeepers were deployed to Haiti in 2004 after a rebellion led to the ouster and exile of then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Peacekeeping troops left in 2017 and were replaced by U.N. police, who left in 2019. A new United Nations report says African countries must diversify exports if they are to survive economic shocks. A report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, UNCTAD, calls on African countries to broaden their exports beyond commodities if they are to escape poverty. UNCTADs economic development in Africa report for 2022 says that global crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and Ukraine war threaten African countries economies. It says millions of Africans already struggle to make a living in the middle of a rapidly rising food and energy crisis. U.N. economists say Africa will not get out of its poverty trap if the continent remains dependent on exports of primary products, mainly in the agricultural, mining, and extractive industries. They note commodities still account for more than 60% of total merchandise exports in 45 of Africas 54 countries. UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan says 1 out of 2 Africans, more than 600 million people, are severely vulnerable to food, energy, and finance shocks. She says Africa must diversify its economy to become more resilient. The report makes clear the great potential for African countries to transform their economies through services, supporting the continents long-standing economic diversification goals, boosting productivity and development," Grynspan said. UNCTAD says knowledge-intensive services, such as information and communication technology, or ICT, and financial services, could be a game-changer for Africa. However, they note the sector currently accounts for only 20% of the continents services exports. Grynspan says traditional services, such as travel and transport, dominate, accounting for about two-thirds of the total services trade. The analysis we are sharing today provides convincing evidence that high-value services, especially high-intensity ones in ICT and finance, are often the missing links that explain why diversification has not been achieved in the continent," Grynspan said. Grynspan says economic diversification should be a priority in Africa. She says it is the only path to sustainable growth and to high-quality jobs for young people. The UNCTAD report calls on African countries to implement policies to better link trade in high-value services with other sectors, especially manufacturing. It also calls for removal of protectionist measures that limit the development of high value-added services trade. The U.S. Navy says it has asserted its navigational rights and freedoms in the South China Sea by sailing one of its destroyers near the disputed Spratly Islands. The 7th Fleet said the freedom of navigation operation conducted Saturday by the USS Benfold upholds the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea recognized in international law by challenging restrictions on innocent passage imposed by the Peoples Republic of China, Vietnam and Taiwan. Several Asian nations also have declared overlapping claims to the South China Sea. China says it does not halt the passage of ships and has accused the U.S. of stirring trouble with such claims. Freedom of navigation is considered essential for modern commerce as it is the means of transportation of billions of goods. The Navy said in a statement, The United States upholds freedom of navigation for all nations as a principle. An international tribunal has invalidated Chinas South China Sea claims, but that has not stopped China from producing artificial islands in the waterway, with some of the manmade landscape housing airports causing some international concerns about what China intends to do with the islands. U.S. President Joe Biden and Middle East leaders have reaffirmed security cooperation in the face of threats, including Iranian military and nuclear activities. Saudi Arabia and other regional players also offered to increase oil production to stabilize energy markets rattled by the Ukraine conflict. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman presided over the Jeddah summit Saturday, as leaders listened to U.S. President Joe Biden present his vision of his country's role in the Mideast in the face of Iranian military aggression and the expansion of Russia and China. Biden insisted that Washington, under his watch, would not take a back seat to a growing role by Russia or China in the region. "The United States is going to remain an active and engaged partner in the Middle East,' biden said. "As the world becomes more competitive and the challenges we face more complex, it's only becoming clearer to me how closely interwoven America's interests are with the successes of the Middle East." Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman also addressed Iran's threat to the region during his remarks to the summit. He says that the summit comes at a time of major threats to the countries in the region and that Iran should not be allowed to interfere in (the Yemen conflict) and that Irans nuclear program should abide by the rules of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi called for "mutual efforts to end conflicts in the region and stop outside intervention in those conflicts." He also blasted countries that "move mercenaries from one country to another and create militias to destabilize countries." He also decried the spread of nuclear weapons in the region, without specifically referring to Iran. Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Khadhimi, whose country and government are under pressure from neighboring Iran, thanked neighbors Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt for agreeing to connect their electricity grids with Iraq's and help alleviate growing energy shortages. He also urged further cooperation to address food and energy security that are threatening his country and others in the wake of the Ukraine conflict. Egyptian political sociologist Said Sadek tells VOA that Saudi Arabia, while not giving President Biden the warm welcome given to other regional leaders, made a gesture to the U.S. president to increase its oil production and address U.S. domestic energy concerns. "The Saudis had to come up with some rewards (for the U.S.). Now we see that (they) are going to raise their domestic oil production from 10 million barrels (per day) to 13 million barrels in (the coming) months...," said Sadek. Sadek went on to say that despite Biden's tough talk against Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman during the election campaign, he appears to have softened his position toward him and that the U.S. "really has no other alternative to MBS," who is likely to succeed King Salman, when he dies. The United States has pulled out of the systems that monitor the peace process in South Sudan because of the country's failure to meet reform milestones, the State Department said Friday. South Sudan continues to face chronic instability even after rival leaders President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar agreed to form a unity government more than two years ago, following a conflict that left nearly 400,000 people dead from 2013 to 2018. A transition period is set to end in February 2023, but many key provisions of the deal have not been met, including drafting a permanent constitution. The United States cited that "lack of sustained progress" Friday as the reason for withdrawing from two peacekeeping organizations monitoring the impoverished country's path to implement the transition: the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) and the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM). "South Sudan's leaders have not fully availed themselves of the support these monitoring mechanisms provide and have demonstrated a lack of political will necessary to implement critical reforms," State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement. The statement called out South Sudanese leaders' failure to establish a "unified, professional military"; to protect civil society members and journalists; and to enact necessary financial reforms. The United States will continue to provide about $1 billion in humanitarian and development aid and in support to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), among other financial backing, the statement said. The U.N. peacekeeping mission, one of the world's most expensive, was renewed for another year in March. The U.N. has repeatedly criticized South Sudan's leadership for its role in stoking violence, cracking down on political freedoms and plundering public coffers, and has accused the government of rights violations amounting to war crimes over deadly attacks in the southwest last year. South Sudan, one of the poorest countries on the planet despite large oil reserves, has faced a decade of instability from war, natural disaster, hunger, interethnic fighting and political bickering since it gained independence in 2011. Here's a summary of Uyghur-related news around the world: Xinjiang scholar in Canada says renewing Chinese passport could endanger her The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported that Guldana Salimjan, a Xinjiang human rights scholar in Canada with an expired Chinese passport, asked the Canadian government to issue her a document to travel to the United States, where she has a job waiting at Indiana University. She said she feared that renewing her Chinese passport would lead to harassment by the Chinese, and that the Canadian government had not yet issued such a document, putting her career and personal safety at risk. Chinese media used Muslim holiday as 'propaganda,' Uyghur rights groups say Radio Free Asia reported that Chinese media showed local cadres happily offering gifts and help to Uyghurs during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. Uyghur rights groups in the U.S. described the government's actions as surveillance, "state repression," "propaganda" and "manufactured happiness." State media also showed a video of Uyghurs dancing, scenes that some observers suspected were staged. Kazakh refugee from Xinjiang detained in Germany for illegal entry Ersin Erkinuly, an ethnic Kazakh originally from Xinjiang, was living in Ukraine when Russia invaded the country. Along with other refugees, he fled Ukraine. He eventually landed in Germany, where he was arrested for illegally entering the country, according to a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty report. Erkinuly said he lost his Chinese passport and fears torture and imprisonment if he returns to China. Rights groups have accused China of persecuting Xinjiang's Muslim ethnic groups, which Beijing has repeatedly denied. German officials said they would not deport people to countries that would pose such threats. Chinese state to buy Xinjiang cotton to ease losses to mills from US ban The price of cotton has fallen since the U.S. Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which bans imports of cotton and other goods made from forced labor from Xinjiang. China is buying up cotton from Xinjiang to replenish state reserves and stabilize its cotton market. A Xinjiang cotton-ginning mill owner said that even with the government stepping in, he will be losing money, reported the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post. US lawmakers ask why some Chinese solar firms not on forced labor list U.S. lawmakers asked the Biden administration why some Chinese solar companies allegedly involved in Uyghur forced labor had been excluded from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection list of firms whose goods are banned under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, Reuters reported. Scientist blames low Uyghur birth rates in Xinjiang on 'forced cultural shift' Yi Fuxian, a U.S.-based Chinese dissident and scientist in obstetrics and gynecology, analyzed China's census and recent history as well as the current education and economic situation in Xinjiang to understand why Uyghur birth rates slowed from 2010 to 2020. In his op-ed piece on the website Project Syndicate, Yi said a "forced cultural shift" played a significant role in the decline. Xi visits Xinjiang for second time in eight years This week, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Xinjiang's capital unannounced. State news agency Xinhua said Xi emphasized "social stability and lasting security" as the Communist Party's goal in governing Xinjiang. In brief Last week, the U.S. Justice Department indicted one former Department of Homeland Security agent and a current one in connection with an alleged Chinese government "transnational repression" scheme to "silence, harass, discredit and spy on" U.S.-based critics. The victims ranged from a prominent Chinese sculptor in California to a Chinese American Army veteran running for a congressional seat in New York. Quote of note Xi Jinping's visit to Xinjiang "certainly is a symbol that Beijing feels firmly in control of the region. That there isn't a concern about any attack or instability." Adrian Zenz, a researcher at the Washington-based Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. The world was sadder and more stressed out in 2021 than ever before, according to a recent Gallup poll, which found that four in 10 adults worldwide said they experienced a lot of worry or stress. Experts say the most obvious culprit, the pandemic and the isolation and uncertainty that came with it is a factor but not entirely to blame. Carol Graham, a Gallup senior scientist, says the culprit for declining mental health includes the economic uncertainty faced by low-skilled workers. There are some structural negative changes that make some people in particular more vulnerable. And in the end, mental health just reflects that, says Graham, who is also a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a professor of public policy at the University of Maryland. For young people who do not have good higher levels of education, what they're going to do in the future is very unknown. What their stability will be like, what their workforce participation will be like. Rising levels of inequality between skilled and unskilled workers is another part of it, having to do with technology-driven growth. Gallup spoke to adults in 122 countries and areas for its latest Global Emotions Report. Afghanistan is the unhappiest country, with Afghans leading the world when it comes to negative experiences. Overall, the survey results were not surprising to psychologist Josh Briley, a fellow at The American Institute of Stress. Things are moving faster. There's so much information being thrown at us all the time, he says. And of course, media thrives on the bad stuff. So, we are constantly being bombarded with crisis after crisis in the news, on social media, on the radio and on our podcasts. And all that is drowning out the good things that are happening. Psychologist Mary Karapetian Alvord says being more connected online means people in one country can feel profoundly affected by what happens in another country, which wasnt always the case in the past. For her U.S. clients, uncertainty is the biggest stressor. Uncertainty of life and how it's going to impact them on a daily basis. Prices going up and gas going up. And then the supply chain issues that are impacting people in their daily lives, Alvord says. But I think the bigger issue is that uncertainty and so much suffering. Of course, the shootings have come up. A lot of people are really stressed out and feeling like, Where is it safe? There have been more than 300 shootings involving multiple victims in the United States so far in 2022. Happiness worldwide has been trending downward for a decade, according to Gallup. All three psychologists who spoke with VOA point to social media and the flood of unfiltered information as contributors to declining mental health and happiness. We've seen this explosion worldwide, and I think that's a big sort of tectonic shift in how humans interact and experience emotions and all sorts of things. And we're seeing that there's some real downsides to it, Graham says. Briley says part of the problem is that although people are more connected online, theyre often less connected in real life. The connection that we have with people, the physical connection has changed. We're more connected than ever before with people all the way around the world, but we may not know our neighbors names anymore, he says. So, we don't necessarily have that person where if my car breaks down, who do I call for a ride to work? More optimism, despite frowns On the upside, the survey found that the percentage of people who reported laughing or smiling a lot was up two points in 2021, while the number of people who say they learned something interesting increased one point. Alvord says looking beyond the negative is critical to maintaining mental health. It's important for people to also find moments of, if not joy, at least satisfaction in life, she says. I think sometimes we reach for happiness and that's just not attainable and so, our expectations need to be realistic. Minorities in the United States might already be doing that. The survey found that people from marginalized groups are among the most resilient. Their anxiety may have increased but their optimism, particularly for low-income African Americans, remains very high, Graham says. It was a finding I've seen for many years, but it surprised me that even during COVID, it held. I think that's more due to the kind of community ties and other ties that minority communities have built, almost informal safety nets, that have been very protective many, many times in history. U.S. and Ukrainian officials say U.S. rocket systems provided to Ukraine are having a large impact in the fight against Russia, helping Ukrainian forces to hold off Russias military in the eastern Donbas region. A senior U.S. military official speaking on the condition of anonymity Friday to discuss the war said U.S.-supplied rocket systems known as HIMARS are having a very, very significant effect in the fight against Russia. Ukraine's Defense Ministry spokesperson, Oleksandr Motuzianyk, also singled out the role played by the HIMARS long-range rocket systems. "In the last weeks, over 30 of the enemy's military logistical facilities have been destroyed, as a result of which the attacking potential of Russian forces has been significantly reduced," Motuzianyk said Friday on national television. The U.S.-supplied rockets are more precise than Ukraine's Soviet-era artillery and have a longer range, allowing Ukraine to hit Russian targets farther back from the front line. The senior U.S. official said Russian forces are limited to incremental if any gains in the Donbas region and are being held off by Ukrainian forces. The U.S. official also dismissed Russias claim that it targeted a military meeting in Ukraines central city of Vinnytsia on Thursday in an attack on an office building that Kyiv says killed 23 people, including children. "I have no indication that there was a military target anywhere near that," the official said. Russia's Defense Ministry said Friday it was targeting a meeting between military officials and foreign arms suppliers. In his daily address late Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that after the attacks on Vinnytsia and elsewhere, the occupiers must feel what a fair response to terror means. He said, In particular, it will be felt thanks to sanctions. Of course, the armed forces of Ukraine will certainly provide their part of the answer. The occupiers will have no restful nights. Much of the fighting in Ukraine is currently centered in the eastern Donbas region. Russian forces, however, also regularly fire on cities in many other parts of the country, including on Thursday in Vinnytsia, hundreds of kilometers from the front lines. Ukraine said the strike on the central city was carried out by cruise missiles launched from a Russian submarine in the Black Sea. Among the dead was a 4-year-old girl with Down syndrome, whose image has gone viral. Ukrainian officials say more than 100 people were wounded in the attack. Rescue teams searched Friday through the debris for people still missing. Residents of the city created a makeshift memorial with flowers and teddy bears. Late Friday, Russian missiles hit the central city of Dnipro, killing three people and wounding 15 others, governor Valentyn Reznychenko said on Telegram. The governor said a factory and surrounding streets were hit. Ukraines air force said it intercepted four additional missiles fired at Dnipro. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. Zanu PFs so-called affiliates have attacked Godfrey Tsenengamu, a former Zanu PF member, who recently warned President Emmerson Mnangagwa that he will leave the presidential post in disgrace if continues intimidating and harassing some party members and other Zimbabweans. Tsenengamu, leader of the Front for Economic Emancipation in Zimbabwe, said Mnangagwa wont win the 2023 presidential election. He said, This habit of behaving like a cow that gives others a torrid time in a kraal Your end will be miserable. It will be disgraceful if you dont change the way you are doing things. 2023 you wont win if you are the candidate. Even if you will be contesting against me, you wont win. Those near Mnangagwa tell them that that fool Shumba said stop your bad ways. You are going no way. If we reach 2023 and if you are a candidate, you wont win. The only thing you can do it so make amends with some people Tsenengamus remarks were echoed by Jim Kunaka, a former Zanu PF militant Youth League member, who said, Mnangagwa has to pave the way for Vice President Constantino Chiwenga as was promised when he became president. Reacting to these remarks, youth affiliates of the ruling party, including Zimbabwe Youth Action Platform president Tonderai Chidawa, Cde Zimbio of the Zimbabwe National Youth Service, Pastor Zakaria Ncube (Zimbabwe Preachers Association), Jones Musara and Wellington Mtisi of Varakashi4ED, warned them that they are playing with fire. In a series of tweets posted on the ZANUPF Official Twitter handle, Chidawa said, Those going about creating their own candidates in the name of ZANU PF are wasting their time. The sooner they realize this the better. 2030 Tinenge Tichipo. Fellow Zimbabweans it is very unfortunate and sad to hear an expelled renegade in one Godfrey Tsenengamu, an embattled former member of our Partys Youth League issuing unbridled threats on our leadership and the President in particular, based on his imaginary allegations In his hollow, rumblings to the media, typical of an attention seeking urchin, Tsenengamu purportedly invites a fallen member of the cabal in Saviour Kasukuwere whom he confuses with Christ the Savior. We wish to make it clear to the media, that ZANU PF as the colossal revolutionary Party cleansed itself from unprincipled renegades and factional thugs who find political relevance through creating and fronting divisions. Chidawa said there is no friction between Mnangagwa, Chiwenga and other top leaders to the lowest level. We advise Zimbabweans to ignore the nonsense from this renegade, who was expelled from the Party. Akadzingwa nezita nemutupo for seeking to front divisions in the Party under the false cover of fighting corruption when in actual fact, he was abusing his position to black mail business people in return for money during his time as PC of the Youth League. In his stupidity, Tsenengamu is trying to be the kingmaker of ZANU PF politics outside the ruling party. For starters, Tsenengamu is Morris Nyathi of our time. He is trying to export his renegade Morrison Nyathi politics into our Party using dirty money. Tsenengamu is being used by an embattled Kasukuwere who thinks Zimbabweans from whom he stole through corrupt shenanigans are his people. Nothing can be further from the truth. On their own, with everything in their hands, Kasukuwere and crew failed to bury the man called President ED Mnangagwa. Having failed in that regard they have now sort (sic) the services of a well-known political prostitute Tsenengamu. One wonders who the bigger fool is between Tsenengamu and his handlers. Tsenengamu easily reminds us of a stupid bird which spends the whole day on the back of a cow and goes to sleep thinking its a cow too. He claimed that Tsenengamu may have in the past been in the same room with senior leaders of ZANU PF but he certainly has never been a senior leader in ZANU PF. Tsenengamu should use the empowerment benefits he got from ZANU PF to fend for himself and his wives than to engage in futile rent seeking activities. The pair of Kasukuwere need to be reminded that those who told him they would one day rule Zimbabwe lied to them. Let this be known for the record and going forward. We have defended President ED Mnangagwa and the entirety of the collective of his leadership from the first day and we are always ready to do so. We can't allow a mere Tsenengamu to plot the destruction of our country through nefarious overtures to topple our leadership. Stop patting yourself on the back and building castles in the air. Muka ubike doro mufanha. Our Party wings have endorsed President ED Mnangagwa as our sole candidate for the Presidency ahead of 2023 Harmonized Elections. But a person, whose Twitter hand is Blingbling007 had a few works for Chandawa and his colleagues. He said, General Chiwenga for President. ED has failed in his 5 years. General Chiwenga is the only way forward if the party wants to have a chance to win next year's elections. Funeral Announcements A daily list of current funeral annoucements as heard on KXRA 1490 AM/100.3 FM News Updates The daily news, sports, and events delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Sports Update This current sports headlines delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Upcoming Events This email is the events of the area delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Breaking News The big news. Sent only as it happens. (The Center Square) Nineteen attorneys general, led by Arizona AG Mark Brnovich, filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in a case the Biden administration is fighting after a federal judge in Texas ruled against it last month. Texas and Louisiana sued over a Department of Homeland Security directive altering deportation policy. The states won in federal district court last month. The Department of Justice appealed, requesting the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issue a stay of the lower courts ruling. The court denied the stay pending appeal July 6. The DOJ then appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, requesting a stay of the district courts ruling. In response, the attorneys general filed an expedited brief with Associate Justice Samuel Alito, the Circuit Justice for the Fifth Circuit. At issue is DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas changing enforcement of immigration policy by issuing a series of memorandums and directives. He first issued an interim guidance Jan. 20 followed by a Feb. 18 ICE memorandum, which drastically altered deportation policy, including limiting issuing detainer requests for dangerous criminal aliens. His final September 2021 memorandum purports: The fact an individual is a removable noncitizen therefore should not alone be the basis of an enforcement action against them. We will use our discretion and focus our enforcement resources in a more targeted way. Justice and our countrys well-being require it. The directives are contrary to immigration law established by Congress, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry argued, and also violate the Administrative Procedures Act. Since then, Mayorkas has issued other memorandums over which Paxton, Landry, Brnovich and others have sued. Judges have also ruled in favor of lawsuits filed by Paxton, Landry and Brnovich, and others, having argued Mayorkas doesnt have the legal authority to change law established by Congress. A federal judge in Texas expressed similar sentiment. In June, he ruled in favor of Texas and Louisiana, vacating the final memo, prompting the administration to appeal. U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton said Mayorkas policy was arbitrary and capricious, contrary to law, and failing to observe procedure under the Administrative Procedure Act. He also denied all other requested relief brought by the administration. In their appeal to the Supreme Court, the AGs argue, The Amici States and their citizens continue to suffer significant costs from illegal immigration including billions of dollars in new expenses relating to law enforcement, education, and healthcare programs as a direct result of Defendants failures to enforce immigration law. Those harms are exacerbated by DHS increasingly brazen disrespect for the requirements of our nations immigration laws and the Administrative Procedure Act. The border is in crisis, they argue. This DHS Administration is lawless. And the States continue to suffer escalating irreparable harm as the border crisis continually intensifies to successive, ever-more unprecedented levels of illegal crossings. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar with the DOJ requested the Supreme Court stay the district courts ruling outside of Texas and Louisiana. She argued the only concrete harm the district court identified is that, over a span of several months, the Guidance caused DHS to rescind a total of just 15 detainers in Texas. That does not remotely justify allowing the district courts nationwide vacatur to continue in effect for a prolonged period while the courts disruptive and unprecedented holdings are subject to appellate review. However, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has repeatedly quantified the cost to Texas. The state legislature allocated more than $4 billion to border security efforts and is expected to allocate even more. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey recently signed a $564 million border security bill allocating $335 million in state sales tax revenue to build a wall on state land along its shared border with Mexico. These costs are additional to others the state has spent on border security efforts. They also exclude those borne by taxpayers covering their respective states portion of costs for federal welfare programs afforded to illegal immigrants, including Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP, food stamps, housing, as well as transportation and education costs. Paxton has estimated the cost to Texas taxpayers have totaled over $850 million a year prior to the border security efforts Abbott and the legislature implemented last year. The states joining Arizona include Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming. (The Center Square) Data from the Federal Transit Administration sheds light on how the COVID-19 pandemic crippled public transportation in the U.S. As passengers abandoned public transit during the pandemic, many systems were kept alive by the $69.5 billion the federal government gave transit agencies throughout the country in three relief packages. The transit system that serves the Washington D.C. area was an example of a system that was able to continue service due to the federal bailout. It reported a 25% reduction in passenger miles delivered in 2020, but its operating expenses increased by 4% that year. That's because the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority got taxpayer money from the federal government, which increased funding for the transit's operating expenses by more than 400%, or $220 million, from 2019 to 2020. The data comes from the Federal Transit Administration. Public transit ridership peaked in 2014. That year, public agencies reported 10.7 billion unlinked passenger trips. Since that peak, unlinked passenger trips have declined nearly every year. By 2019, 9.9 billion unlinked passenger trips were reported to the National Transit Database. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, unlinked passenger trips plummeted to 4.7 billion, meaning ridership dropped by just over half in one year. In March 2020, with government-imposed shutdowns across much of the country, public transit agencies were running nearly empty buses and trains. Marc Scribner, senior transportation policy analyst at the Reason Foundation, said public transit was heavily subsidized even prior to the pandemic. Scribner said that transit was getting a third of combined highway and transit federal funding but only providing 2.5% of the person trips nationwide. But the pandemic ravaged transit. "The pandemic caused a collapse in transit ridership," he said. Scribner said the federal government threw more money at transit during the pandemic and once that money runs out, transit agencies will have to cut service or depend on additional federal subsidies to survive. "Transit will undoubtedly remain a niche mode of transportation in the U.S. and will probably never account for more than 2% of nationwide person trips again," he said. "It will remain important in a handful of U.S. cities, but needs to be rethought in the vast majority of the country. Running more mostly empty transit vehicles isn't environmentally friendly, doesn't reduce traffic congestion, and cannot enhance the employment or social opportunities of the poor." P.S. Sriraj, director of the Urban Transportation Center at the University of Illinois Chicago, said that public transportation ridership started falling nationally on a year-to-year basis in 2014 as a result of multiple factors, including the emergence of ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Lyft and changing office policies. Then came COVID-19. "There was a very perceptible, very slight drop in ridership every year and the pandemic took the bottom out of that and made the ridership fall to precipitous lows," he said. "Even without the pandemic, ridership would have slowly eroded, but the pandemic accelerated that erosion." Sriraj said that because of that base erosion, ridership may never return to pre-pandemic levels. "I don't think that ridership will ever go back to what it was," he said. "But to what levels it will drop is the more important question." If local, state and federal governments want to continue giving transit agencies operating funds, it would require significant changes. "If the powers that be decide that it is the only way they can sustain transit in this country, then they can very well continue it and make it law and create a new funding stream to support operations of public transportation, but that movement has not happened yet from the legislative side," Sriraj said. "As of now, it is only a stopgap relief measure. It is set to sunset by 2025, so what after that? That's a big question mark." The $69.5 billion in federal relief for public transit agencies is almost enough money to run the state of Michigan, home to about 10 million people, for a year. That's also about enough money to buy five of the latest U.S. Navy aircraft carriers. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 13. Prime minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko and his Kyrgyz counterpart Akylbek Zhaparov during a phone conversation confirmed their mutual interest in further expanding bilateral cooperation, Trend reports via the Government of Belarus. During the conversation, topical issues of Belarusian-Kyrgyz relations, as well as the implementation of joint industrial projects within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), were discussed. In addition, the parties discussed preparations for the meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, which is scheduled on August 25-26, 2022 in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. Meanwhile, the trade turnover between the two countries from January through May 2022 amounted to $43.2 million, which is an increase of 40.7 percent compared to the same period of last year. Europe is in the midst of a record-breaking heatwave. Italy faces another wave of intense heat over the coming days, driven by an anticyclone which has seen hot air currents from north Africa sweep in across the country. The latest heatwave has been christened "Apocalisse4800" by Italian weather forecast website Ilmeteo.it, an "apocalyptic" reference to the heights the heat could reach, leading to fears of ice and snow melting in mountain glaciers up to 4,800 metres in altitude. The new wave of hot weather, which comes after Portugal registered a record 46.3C on Wednesday, "will probably be one of the most intense in history at a European level, said meteorologist Andrea Garbinato, editor of Ilmeteo.it. Temperatures are set to climb to 38/40C in the coming days in many parts of Italy, including the north which is battling the worst drought in 70 years, according to Il Meteo. Rome has issued a Level 2 "orange" heat warning for the weekend of 16-17 July, with civil protection authorities operating a 24-hour hotline, tel 800854854. Photo credit: James Dalrymple / Shutterstock.com Controversy erupts over lack of security cameras at Rome landmark. Rome's Pantheon has been vandalised with graffiti that reads "Aliens Exist" alongside what appears to be two flying saucers, sprayed on the exterior of the ancient building which dates back almost 2,000 years. The incident, first reported by the Italian media on Saturday, is believed to have occurred some time on Monday night. The vandalism was first noticed by local traders on Tuesday morning, and the state archaeological superintendency is studying the best methods to remove the graffiti from the walls of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rome police have launched an investigation into the incident however their work has been hampered by the absence of functioning security cameras in the area, reports Corriere della Sera. The site's director Gabriella Musto, told the Corriere that the security system inside the Pantheon - a place of worship - is shared with the diocese of Rome. "However outside, the responsibility lies with the city and I believe that the camera a few metres from the graffiti is part of a system that has been abandoned for some time and never replaced", said Musto. Experts from the superintendency are set to remove the graffiti using solvents and a laser technique, Musto said, and the site should be restored by early next week. The incident has come to light days after a Canadian tourist used a stone to carve the initials of her name into the Colosseum while in May an American tourist was rescued by firefighters after he attempted to climb the dome of the Pantheon in an act of bravado at dawn. In 2019, in pre-covid times, the Pantheon attracted more than nine million visitors, making it the most visited site in Italy. Photo Margherita Corrado Placeholder while article actions load The US Supreme Courts decision last month to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, ending the constitutional right to abortion, will set women back by decades. Economic gaps will widen: Those who can afford to travel will continue to find the terminations they need in order to live healthy lives, study and work but the most vulnerable will not. We know this, because multiple studies have told us so, over decades. And yet still the data and its implications are in dispute. To find out more about the the link between reproductive rights and womens advancement, the post-Roe debate and its consequences, I spoke to Caitlin Myers, professor of economics at Middlebury College and one of the economists behind an amicus brief filed to the Supreme Court in 2021 that makes the case and highlights decades of research. Advertisement Clara Ferreira Marques: Proponents of abortion restrictions including the State of Mississippi argue that women can thrive without abortion rights. Your work suggests the exact opposite. Caitlin Myers: Its been deeply disappointing to see the court assert that its hard to know what impact abortion has had on peoples lives. In fact, this is a question that has been extensively studied, and on which there is broad, rigorous and convergent literature. We have answers to these questions thanks to situations in which there has been a sudden change in peoples access to abortion, which afford us an opportunity to compare what happens to a group thats experiencing a change in access and another group that is not natural experiments. The first really significant one came in the early 1970s, when five states and the District of Columbia legalized abortion several years in advance of the Roe decision. You can look in the data and see the immediate effect on peoples lives. Economists studying the era estimated it reduced the fraction of women who became teen moms by a third, and the fraction of women who married as teens by a fifth. Advertisement If they do use abortion to prevent an unwanted birth, what happens? Well, theyre way more likely to go to college, theyre way more likely to finish college, theyre way more likely to enter professional or managerial occupations. They earn more, they avoid poverty and not only for themselves, but for the children they go on to have. CFM: Theres the years-long Turnaway Study too, which tracked and compared the fates of a group of women who sought abortions, some of who received them and some of whom were turned down because of clinic policies on gestational age limits. CM: Ill confess that I was initially skeptical of this research design. What were the circumstances that caused somebody seeking an abortion to be a little bit too late? Maybe that person was already experiencing greater poverty, greater instability, so their outcomes would have looked worse anyway? But the researchers actually successfully addressed that concern, making this a really compelling study. The researchers adopted a clever strategy by taking these women and matching them to their Experian credit reports, a very objective measure of their financial circumstances. If my concern was founded, then what we would have seen was the two groups already looking different, but that was not the case at all. Their financial circumstances were similar right up to the pivotal moment when they experienced an unintended pregnancy and sought an abortion. Advertisement The large financial impact on women who were turned away is remarkably clear. They experienced about an 80% increase in adverse credit events like bankruptcy, compared to the women who werent. Its a compelling result though not a particularly surprising one, because weve long known how closely tied childbearing is to womens economic fortunes. CFM: The economic impact of restrictions is even more pronounced, of course, for the most vulnerable. CM: One of the most important things to understand is that reversing Roe isnt eliminating abortion access. Its creating tremendous inequalities in abortion access. What is going to happen is that there will be large numbers of women seeking abortions who are going to travel hundreds or thousands of miles to reach the providers that remain. Youll see women flooding out of ban states in search of abortions they need. But not everyone can do that. Advertisement Weve had several recent natural experiments that have led us to estimate how women respond to travel distance. The first one occurred in Texas when half of their providers closed overnight in 2013 in response to a state regulation, another in Wisconsin. I would project about three-quarters of people for whom bans increase travel distance are still going to find a way to get there. Not because its easy, but because its incredibly important to their lives. About a quarter wont, and that quarter will be the most vulnerable, most marginalized, most disadvantaged. They will disproportionately be young, and disproportionately be women of color. Theyre going to be trapped, and its that trapped group that really bears the burden of the Roe reversal. CFM: Given the wealth of evidence, why has the social and economic impact so often been overlooked? Why is the State of Mississippi able to say that women can have it all, when they so obviously cannot? CM: Perhaps part of whats going on is the inability to imagine what it is to be a poor woman in America, and particularly a poor woman of color, in the Deep South, parenting children. Mississippi asserted that advances in public policy now afforded women the opportunity to almost effortlessly balance motherhood with their economic lives. Mississippi and their advocates told stories, for instance pointing to Justice Amy Coney Barrett [a mother of seven], to the attorney general of Mississippi [Lynn Fitch, a mother of three] as examples of women who were both mothers and managing highly successful and demanding careers. I thought that was just so jaw-droppingly blind to the realities of class. Advertisement I was raised by a single mother in the rural deep South who struggled to make ends meet. In my early 30s, I had two young children and my husband died in a car accident. I suddenly found myself a single mother, like my mom had been. Except it wasnt the same because I was a professional woman with the income to hire a nanny. I could afford high-quality, flexible childcare. And as awful as my husbands death was, from an economic and life perspective, having those financial resources made all the difference. You have to recognize the incredible difference between a working mother with financial resources, and one without. People making [the Mississippi] arguments just dont understand that a poor woman working shifts cant afford a nanny, or $10,000 of daycare a year. People can disagree about ethics, but reasonable people cannot disagree about how inextricably linked motherhood and womens economic lives are. And because it was an inconvenient fact, the court just wanted to ignore it. When 150 economists, leading names in our field, came forward with ample scientific evidence, that was completely ignored in the majority opinion. Its really distressing to me, because I believe in evidence-based policy. CFM: Economics can also be part of the solution here, preventing the need for abortions in the first place and limiting the damaging consequences for women forced to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term. Advertisement CM: There are a lot of reasons women obtain abortions, and theyre not all economic. But many people are seeking abortions because they are economically fragile, concerned that they cannot support a child, often another child. These are people intimately familiar with how frayed Americas social safety net is. And the policies that we could enact to support them are also the policies that would help support the women who are going to have children as a result of these bans. They include, first of all, expanding access to leave, and particularly to paid leave. Expanding access to health care, expanding access to childcare. When I look to direct financial support, I would point to the enormous successes of the EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) and child tax credits, so theres a need to continue and to expand those programs. But I would also emphasize that most of our investments in the social safety net in the last 30 years have really been focused on the working poor, and have not reinforced the poorest of the poor, who arent working. When a woman has a newborn, its a time when its really difficult to work. Welfare benefits to vary state by state, but in almost all they are laughably inadequate. If a woman lives in Mississippi and is thinking about going on welfare to support herself and a newborn for a while when she cant work, her maximum monthly benefit, to support a family of three, is $260. If shes having another child, Mississippi also has a family cap. The state should instead be looking at anti-poverty programs, paid leave, investments in early childhood education. All of these can support poor families. CFM: Do you see a wider economic impact, if people and companies choose to position themselves because of states policies on abortion? Advertisement CM: I hear a lot of liberals in the northeast, where I live, predicting that people are going to start relocating in response to the bans. I think it remains to be seen. Im certainly not so sure. As somebody who comes from rural Deep South, I feel like theyre not entirely cognizant of the fact that lots of people in places with bans support them. And for a company to think about relocating, that could be very politically divisive and difficult. My observation is a lot of companies just seem to want to stay as far away from this as possible. So far, the only companies that have really come out and supported travel to obtain abortions, they are talking about salaried workers with benefits thats not the group that cant get out. They might appreciate the help, but the people who cant get out are the poorest of the poor. Is Walmart going to offer travel benefits for its part-time, hourly workers? Is McDonalds?Its similar for women choosing where to live. Abortion, by its nature, isnt something that women generally plan for. Its an unintended pregnancy or tragic news of a fetal abnormality you werent planning for it. Perhaps, however, if the end of Roe also severely limits effective care for miscarriages and pregnancy complications, then this might make a difference to womens locational decision. Theres a lot of fear about how this might constrain medical care for pregnant women experiencing complications, and I think if peoples worst fears come true, it could become a lot riskier to be a pregnant woman in the Deep South. CFM: We talk a lot about the economic impact on mothers, but what about the impact on their existing and future children? CM: Well, the best way is to think about it is very carefully, because this is where the ethical considerations become complicated and contested. First, a little over half of women seeking abortions are already parenting children. Those children are directly impacted by their mother and their familys economic fortunes. As are the children that these women may eventually go on to have when theyre more financially and economically stable. And we do know that access to abortion reduced child poverty in the 70s and 80s. Advertisement The reason I say this is tricky is because abortion access reduces child poverty by reducing the number of children born into poverty. I dont want to argue against those children being born. Instead, Id argue that all children deserve to be wanted. More From Bloomberg Opinion: Google Should Delete Abortion Search Queries, Too: Parmy Olson Focus the Abortion-Rights Fight on the Vulnerable: Rhonda Sharpe How Criminalizing Abortion Affects Black Women: Sarah Carmichael 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 This account, in previously unreported detail, shines new light on the road to war and the military campaign in Ukraine, drawn from in-depth interviews with dozens of senior U.S., Ukrainian, European and NATO officials. MORE COVERAGE If you visit Barangaroo Houses rooftop bar or Chiswick in Woollahra this month, you can order from a special menu of cocktails that will never give you a hangover, no matter how many you knock back. Stroll into a Dan Murphys or a BWS and you might be offered a non-alcoholic beer or wine and see them featured more prominently in store displays. Smoke at Barangaroo House and Chiswick have partnered with Lyres Spirit to bring customers an alcohol-free cocktail menu for Dry July 2022. Credit:Solotel During Dry July, bars, pubs and liquor stores drum up buzz to support consumers going booze-free for a month, and has become an established cultural movement that counts everyone from niche craft breweries to up-scale cocktail bars and Australias biggest retailers as proponents who say its popularity is all-year round. When she complained to Sothebys, the auction house said there was little it could do, saying its guarantee of authenticity was good only for a time. The company has offered her an $18,500 credit towards their fee on any future sales of artworks she owns, a gesture she calls inadequate. I trusted them through all those years, Clegg, 73, said in an interview. They were supposed to be reputable experts and I relied on their expertise. Now Clegg is in a standoff. Through her lawyer, she has asked Sothebys for $175,000. The auction house says there is no legal basis for that request and the discount it has offered on future sales would match the fee it earned from the 1994 sale of the painting. Given that the initial sale took place well over 20 years ago, we are far outside the period of time during which Sothebys guaranteed the authorship of the work and would have had any recourse with the seller, an auction house executive told Clegg in a 2020 letter. Among the vagaries that make the art world such a compelling, if risky, marketplace is the fact a change in attribution can sink the value of one work, or swell the value of another. Case in point: the Salvator Mundi, which reportedly sold at auction in 2005 for $1175 when it was thought to be by a nobody, and then soared to sell for $450 million in 2017, after several experts decided it was the work of Leonardo da Vinci. Auction houses have sought to reduce their exposure to unfavorable changes in attribution by limiting the time they will guarantee that a work is genuine. In Sothebys case, it tells buyers that it will warrant the work for five years. Clegg contends Sothebys bears more responsibility than it is accepting for the situation she is in, given its extensive involvement with the painting as the original auction house, subsequent appraiser and recent adviser on its potential resale. Her lawyer, Carter Reich, has accused the auction house in a letter of breach of contract, fraudulent misrepresentation, negligence and breach of fiduciary duty. Lawyers for Sothebys have denied all those claims, arguing the auction house acted responsibly and in accord with its standards and procedures. Clegg has held on to the page from the 1994 Sothebys catalogue that advertised the work, a signed watercolour and gouache on paper titled Le couple au bouquet de fleurs. The catalogue said Chagall had created it about1950 and it listed the paintings previous owners as L. Praeger, Galerie Petrides, both of Paris; a private collection; and then Achim Moeller Fine Art Ltd. in New York. In an email, Achim Moeller said he had no memory of being involved with that work but added through his lawyer that he would research his gallery records. Sothebys auction catalogue identifying the page from the 1994 catalogue that advertised the work, a signed watercolor and gouache on paper titled Le couple au bouquet de fleurs. Credit:New York Times Sothebys pointed out in a statement that, while it is rare, there are occasions when new and revised scholarship results in works being deemed inauthentic, something the auction house does not make assurances against. Sothebys respects and maintains the confidentiality of its consignors and buyers, and does not comment on matters that are not of public record, the statement said, adding: This particular work was known to the market, and was traded multiple times prior to the auction in 1994. The Chagall hung for years on the wall of the bedroom Clegg shared with her husband, Alfred John Clegg, before going into storage when she moved to a smaller home. Thats where it was, she said, when Sothebys suggested in early 2020 that if she were interested in selling, her Chagall might do well. The work was shipped to the Comite Marc Chagall, a panel of experts founded in 1988 that makes decisions on the authenticity of works attributed to the artist. In late 2020, the panel released its findings regarding her work. In a letter to Clegg, Meret Meyer, one of Chagalls granddaughters and a member of the panel, reported that it had unanimously found the work to be inauthentic, adding that it is an amalgam of several other works including Le couple au bouquet, from about 1952, and Les amoureux au cheval from 1961. Cleggs painting included recurrent iconographic elements of Chagalls work, including a bouquet, lovers, a horse profile, a rooster profile, a village silhouette and a crescent moon, the committee wrote but those lacked real presence, according to a translation provided by Cleggs lawyer. The letter went on to say that Chagalls heirs were requesting the judicial seizure of the painting so that the work may be destroyed. In France, courts have recognised the authority of expert panels to destroy works determined to be counterfeit. Nearly a decade ago, the Chagall panel moved to destroy a work, Nude 1909-10, that a British businessman, Martin Lang, had bought in 1992 for 100,000, thinking it was by Chagall, the BBC reported. Lang objected but then tweeted in early 2014: I have decided not to fight this expensive court battle! These committees lack human compassion! Loading Several authentication committees have been sued after ruling that a work was not genuine and panels that officially reviewed the works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock have disbanded. Cleggs lawyer, Reich, declined to comment on the possibility of suing the Chagall committee. For the past twelve years, his wifes social circle has played out on screen thanks to her role on reality series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Now international property mogul Mauricio Umansky is taking centre stage in the harbour city step aside Gavin Rubinstein! Fresh off a superyacht in Portofino, Italy, the founder and CEO of international brokerage firm The Agency has landed in Sydney ahead of his speaking engagements for the Crown Group on Monday night. Mauricio, Kyle with daughters and Real Housewives EP Andy Cohen. Credit:Internet The father-of-three has sold upwards of $4 billion in property and represented some of the worlds most noteworthy properties and owners including the Walt Disney estate, Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan and Prince. Guests attending the intimate evening include business figures, media and influencers, who will hear Umansky explore his key tips for selling property, and secrets to his success. Filming is understood to have recently wrapped for his coming Netflix series, Buying Beverly Hills. A reality series, much like local series Luxe Listing, will follow Umansky, agents and clients within The Agency as they navigate the high-stakes world of luxury real estate in Los Angeles. The series will star agents Santiago Arana, Ben Belack, Joey Ben-Zvi, Jon Grauman, Brandon Graves, Allie Lutz Rosenberger, Melissa Platt and Sonika Vaid as well as step-daughter Farrah Aldjufrie and daughter Alexia Umansky. After all his effort on the design and completion of the space, it feels like another beating-down of his legacy. You wouldnt see changes like this happen to an old concert hall in Europe, she said. Son Henry Hall, a creative director, said he appreciated the tricky situation the Opera House was in, that it needed to move with the times to cater for rock, hip hop and acoustic concerts as well as symphonies in the Concert Hall. The textured box fronts in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall. Credit:Nick Moir In the almost 50 years it has been open I can appreciate the acoustic requirements and function of the room have changed. It was designed to deliver optimal symphonies acoustics. There are so many more genres and styles performing in that space now. You do have to wonder, though if this was, say, another architect and not Peter Hall, would they have dared touch it? he said. Opera House CEO Louise Herron said the Concert Hall upgrades were developed and delivered with the utmost care and respect for the Opera Houses state, national and World Heritage significance and are in keeping with their Conservation Management Plan, which safeguards the heritage values of the work of Jorn Utzon and Peter Hall. We did this by consulting widely with a number of experts and stakeholders, including the Opera Houses Design Advisory Panel, Conservation Council and Building & Heritage Committee, all of whom have been engaged throughout design, planning and construction, she said. Peter Hall completed the designs for the Sydney Opera Houses Concert Hall. Credit: Rhett Wyman I understand that any change to the Concert Hall is difficult for Peter Halls family. We have involved them throughout the project. We are committed to better recognising Peter Halls significant contribution both in the way that we speak about the work of Hall, Todd and Littlemore [Peter Halls company] but also through physical recognition on site. I look forward to welcoming the Hall family to the Opera House next week for the reopening concerts, so they can experience the transformative impact of these works, particularly acoustically, which will secure the future of the Concert Hall and the legacy of their fathers work for many years to come, she said. John Rourke, a spokesman for OpusSOH, the team of architects, interior designers, and consultants who worked for Hall, Todd and Littlemore in completing the Opera Houses original interiors, said the renovations to the Concert Hall were enabled by technology that was not existent when they worked on the building in the 1960s. In the brief for the architecture when Jorn Utzon left, we were asked to turn a multi-functional hall into a symphonic hall. Now we have gone the other way around - back to the original design brief, said Rourke, who helped to decide the seat size in the Concert Hall. Willy Hall, son of Opera House architect Peter Hall. Credit:AAP Both OpusSOH and the Hall family are hoping the Sydney Opera House Trust will grant their request to rename the Drama Studio the Peter Hall Playhouse, in the manner the Utzon Room has been named in honour of the original Danish architect who dreamt up the building. The Drama Theatre would not have been there were it not for Peter - it was the under the stage machinery space for the original hall Utzon designed, and when we were told to remove the machinery he suggested we turn it into another space for drama, Rourke said. Peter Hall, who took over from Jorn Utzon as lead architect for the Sydney Opera House. Credit:Ronald Leslie Loading When Hall reluctantly took on the job of completing the building in the 1960s at the request of the then NSW Government Architect Ted Farmer, he did so with the belief he would be following Utzons original plans, or at least working with him in consultation. If such plans existed, Hall and his team at Hall, Todd and Littlemore were not given access to them after Utzons departure. At the request of the then NSW Askin government, Halls team were ordered to change the main hall from a multi-purpose hall for opera, ballet and symphony, to one focused mainly on symphony concerts, to cater for the needs of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra which was then run by the ABC. Their collections can now sell out in 60 seconds, but its been a slow rise to the top, says STAX fashion label founder Don Robertson, whose original idea left him $80,000 in debt. What started in 2013 as a failed fitness supplement brand at a Perth gym is now a multimillion-dollar luxury activewear brand. Affordable activewear brand STAX was launched in 2015 by Don Robertson and Matilda Murray. Credit:James Brickwood When I opened the initial supplement store, I tried to build this really big e-commerce website, and wanted to dominate the nutrition space, Robertson says. I was working four different jobs and fighting to stay alive; it ended up costing me upwards of $80K. TEHRAN, Iran, July 16. The new ambassador of Switzerland to Iran Nadine Olivie met with Iranian Health Minister Bahram Einollahi, Trend reports citing IRNA. The Minister of Health, Treatment and Medical Education of Iran referred to historical relations between Iran and Switzerland, asking Switzerland`s ambassador to make all her efforts to develop bilateral cooperation in the field of health. Iran's Health Minister, as the head of the joint commission of Iran and Switzerland, announced his readiness to develop bilateral cooperation in all areas, including health and education. In this meeting, the new ambassador of Switzerland announced her country's readiness to expand bilateral ties. Iranian official thanked Swiss pharmaceutical, food, and medical equipment companies for their cooperation with Iran during the sanctions. This story is part of the July 16 edition of Good Weekend. See all 14 stories. Maine is the American north-eastern coastal state where people rich enough to summer as a verb like to do it. The less said about the colder months, the better theres a reason locals call it the lobster tundra. Lobster rolls were dreamt up by lobster fishermen wanting to use up leftovers from the days catch. Credit:Getty Images Lobster is synonymous with Maine. Visiting the state for the first time recently, I was excited to try the lobster roll in its native habitat. Though technically invented in Connecticut and popularised at Pearl Oyster Bar in New York City, its Maine that has made the lobster roll its own. Recipes vary, but the gist is, chunks of crustacean are tossed with mayonnaise and chives and stuffed into a buttered, white-bread roll. Loading The market price of a lobster roll is $US30 ($44), sometimes even $US40 ($59), and the cost is as steep in Maine as it is in Manhattan. Curiously, a dish now symbolic of summer hedonism was dreamt up by lobster fishermen. They were looking for ways to use up less than perfect specimens from the days catch. Amanda travelled to Paris for the launch, her first time out of Australia, along with two of Sally Gaboris great-granddaughters, Narelle and Tori. Sue Lee went too, to help smooth the bumps of international travel. Its a big year for the Gaboris not only has their mother been named a Queensland Great, she is starring in her first major international exhibition, in Paris at the prestigious Fondation Cartier pour lart contemporain, which was opened by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on July 1. I meet Amanda, 56, and Dorothy, 64, at their Brisbane hotel with their helper, the gentle Sue Lee, whos known the family for more than a decade and was with them by Gaboris side when the artist died in 2015, aged 91. Sally Gabori has been named one of this years Queensland Greats, and her daughters are here in Brisbane in early June to represent their large extended family, which includes five surviving children (of 11) and so many grandchildren and great-grandchildren that the sisters have stopped counting. Theres more coming, Dorothy, says with a grin as she finishes her eggs on toast. Amanda adds, deadpan: It goes on and on and on, too many too count. At last theyre here, to receive an honour on behalf of their late mother, Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori, whose tale of painting prolifically through her 80s, and finding national and international acclaim in the process, is one of the most remarkable Australia has seen. Its been an exhausting couple of days for Dorothy and Amanda Gabori. Theyve made the taxing 1800-kilometre journey by plane from their homes on Mornington Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria all the way to Brisbane, facing delays, a cancelled flight and an unscheduled night in Cairns. The debate about whether the Gabori paintings that Evans unlawfully sold should continue to be traded and hung goes to the heart of some of the key tensions in the commercial art world: who has the right to say whether a genuine work should be traded, and by whom; what happens when the gatekeepers dont all agree, or dont agree with the family; and who has the right to say that a work of art that nobody says is fake should or should not exist in the public sphere? This is not the first time the art trade has been racked by scandal and it wont be the last. But this scandal is different. It doesnt involve fakes, or the grubby deals of so-called carpetbaggers who exploit Indigenous artists by getting them to paint in sweat-shops and under other unsavoury conditions. It centres on ethically produced art dishonestly sold, a celebrated artist denied her due, and what happens to the market for her work as a result. Evans is in jail in Brisbane, but his crime continues to reverberate. Some of the paintings he improperly sold ended up in the private collections of the rich and famous, bought in good faith by people with no knowledge of his crimes but now caught up in its aftermath. Brett Evans was the long-standing manager of the Mirndiyan Gununa Aboriginal Corporation, commonly known as the Mornington Island Art Centre, where Gaboris painting life began in 2005. Evans played a central role in promoting Gaboris early career, but in February this year he was sentenced by the Mount Isa District Court to four-and-a-half years jail for fraudulently selling 176 of her paintings while she was still alive and pocketing the money rather than distributing it between the artist and the art centre, as required by the centres terms of business. But this year of triumph for Sally Gabori has a tragic subplot, of the kind all too often associated with successful Indigenous artists from remote communities. In her final years, Gabori was cheated by the very person paid to safeguard her interests. They are over the moon, says Dorothy, who is not fond of flying and stayed home. Tori cant stop talking about Paris. Name changes were the least of the Kaiadilts troubles. In an all too common strategy, the Kaiadilt were forbidden to speak their language and their children taken from them and placed into dormitories. As Nicholas Evans writes in his essay for the Fondation Cartier, the Kaiadilts despair was so great that for several years after the move, no newborns survived. It was during this difficult time that Sally Gabori became a mother. She lost her first three children in infancy, but eventually had eight more. In her 20s, Gabori would face the greatest upheaval of her life. From the early 1940s, the Presbyterian missionaries on Mornington Island had been trying to persuade the Kaiadilt to move to the mission. The Kaiadilt wanted nothing of it. But in 1948, in the aftermath of a cyclone and tidal wave that contaminated Bentinck Islands freshwater supply, they had little choice, and the 63 surviving Kaiadilt people were evacuated to the much bigger island to their north, Mornington Island. There, Mirdidingkingathi became Sally, the name bestowed on her by the missionaries. Gabori is believed to be a corruption of her husband Pats name, Kabararrjingathi. Born around 1924 on the Gulf of Carpentarias Bentinck Island, the traditional lands of the Kaiadilt people, her name, Mirdidingkingathi, means born at Mirdidingki, a small creek in the islands south, while Juwarnda refers to her conception totem, the dolphin. Gabori lived a traditional life, doing womens work such as repairing the islands stone-wall fish traps, finding shellfish and gathering plant food. As a teenager she fell in love with Kabararrjingathi Bulthuku Pat Gabori. Her older brother, King Alfred, forbid their relationship, following which Pat led an attack on King Alfred, killed him and claimed Sally as his fourth wife. The couple lived together until Pats death in 2009, and, Im told, had an enduring love. Before then, Gabori was known foremost as a shy grandmother with a talent for weaving. Belonging to the last coastal-living Aboriginal people to come into contact with Europeans, she barely spoke English and could not write her name. Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori was around 80 years old when she first picked up a paint brush. Absolutely everyone was surprised when, all of a sudden in 2005, she took off, says Nicholas Evans, a linguist at the Australian National University with a long connection to Gabori and Mornington Island (and no relation to Brett Evans). It really came out of nowhere. Seven months after her first painting workshop, Gabori had her first solo exhibition, at the Woolloongabba Art Gallery that same year. Her canvases jostled with tightly-packed, colourful circles that referred to the glistening schools of fish on Bentinck Island: big black mullet, mangrove jack, black bream, yellow fish. There were paintings, too, of a turtle nest, a crocodile, rock cod swimming, hunting grounds, all rendered in big, bright, blocks of colour. Despite her initial reticence, Gabori was hooked. She would eagerly wait for the bus to pick her up from the aged care hostel at 8.30am every weekday to take her to the art centre, and if the bus were late, she would set off on foot, determined to walk the kilometre or so. Gaboris first painting, My Country, is small, 60cm by 30cm, and somewhat ungainly, but it hints at whats to come: paint thickly applied with assertive brush strokes, confident blocks of contrasting colour, a spontaneity and freedom that marks the beginnings of the radical abstract style for which she would become famed. Sally Gabori wasnt all that interested in painting and asked instead to be taken out bush to gather grass to spin and weave. But Brett Evans, the art centre co-ordinator at the time, gave her a small canvas and convinced her to try. With that small gesture, he changed the course of Gaboris final years and released one of the most original Indigenous artists Australia has seen. At this advanced age, most people would happily wind down, but Gabori would soon find expression in the most vital and startling of ways. In 2005, the Mornington Island Art Centre began holding painting workshops in collaboration with Brisbanes Woolloongabba Art Gallery. At first, it was the senior Lardil men who were invited to the workshop, but the manager of the old peoples home pointed out that the women needed something to do as well. The traditional owners of Mornington Island are the Lardil people, and the Kaiadilt believed they were only moving there temporarily. They would not return to Bentinck Island until the 1990s, however, when a small housing development was established on the island, at Nyinyilki, following land rights battles. Sally and Pat Gabori were among those who returned and resumed their traditional way of life. But their homecoming was short-lived. In the early 2000s, the lack of healthcare and funding for the community at Nyinyilki forced them back to Mornington Island, where Sally and Pat entered an old peoples home. In 2016, following the artists death, Knight became the art agent for the Gabori estate. Beverly was like a second mum to us, and a sister to mum, Dorothy Gabori says. Knight held a solo Gabori exhibition practically every year after that and could be rightly said to have built the market for the artist, who she has represented as her primary dealer from late 2005. Weve never not had a sell-out exhibition of Sallys work, Knight tells me. With the exhibition in tow, Evans approached respected art dealer Beverly Knight, director of Melbournes Alcaston Gallery, to tell her about the dynamic new artist on his books. Knight flew up for the Brisbane exhibition and was immediately taken by what she saw. The following year she exhibited Gabori at the Melbourne Art Fair, and in 2007 she held the artists first major solo show at Alcaston. She may even be accused of starting to dress like an artist and shows definite signs of eccentricity, wearing her stylish hats to the art centre. In the catalogue is an essay by Brett Evans, who warmly describes Gaboris transformation from being too shy to look at people, to interrogating anyone who came into the studio. He continues: She may even be accused of starting to dress like an artist and shows definite signs of eccentricity, wearing her stylish hats to the art centre. When I visit the Woolloongabba Art Gallery, a modest space on a busy road in inner Brisbane, the director, Bob Mercer, a chatty, easy-going man in his 70s, describes Gaboris first exhibition as incredible. He gives me a copy of the catalogue, which features the artist on the cover, standing in front of one of her vibrant canvases with a big smile, wearing a polka-dotted skirt, patterned shirt and jaunty, checked bucket hat. As Gaboris confidence grew, so did her canvases, becoming larger and bolder. Within the space of a decade, the small, unassuming woman had become an art world sensation, shown at international fairs and galleries from the Venice Biennale to Londons Royal Academy of Arts, acquired by prominent private collectors such as Annabel and Rupert Myer, of the department store dynasty, by major state galleries and international institutions including Pariss Musee du Quai Branly, and commissioned by the Queensland Supreme Court and Brisbane Airport for site-specific work. Whats all the more extraordinary about Gaboris meteoric rise is the Kaiadilt do not have a tradition of rock or bark painting, and their body painting is simple. From the very beginning, Gabori was inventing a visual language of her own, joyously mapping her ancestral land in seemingly abstract works, using acrylic paint largely unmixed. Nicholas Evans suggests that Gaboris native language, Kayardilt, which defines space in topographical blocks, deeply influenced her idiosyncratic vision. In the year after her death, Gabori was honoured with a retrospective at the Queensland Art Gallery, which subsequently travelled to the National Gallery of Victoria. Since then, no other Aboriginal artist has explored the immediate power of paint more than her, writes Judith Ryan, a former long-time senior curator of indigenous art at the NGV, in the Fondation Cartier catalogue. Judith Ryan, a former senior curator of indigenous art at the NGV, says that since Gaboris death, No other Aboriginal artist has explored the immediate power of paint more than her. Credit:Thibaut Voisin Brett Evans is a hefty, bald, bearded man whose looks have been likened to that of media personality Rex Hunt. Hes variously described to me as lazy, flighty, erratic, a poor communicator, and someone whose office was always out of bounds. A qualified teacher, Evans arrived on Mornington Island in 1982 from Grafton, NSW, and taught for a couple of years before holding various other jobs. He started at the art centre in 1990, when it was still known as the Woomera Aboriginal Corporation. In 2005, he was appointed its co-ordinator, a role that required him to work closely with artists, supplying and preparing their materials, managing their sales and promoting their work. By 2009, he was promoted to manager, and four years later he was chief executive officer. But Evans did not see out his two-year contract as CEO; he left the art centre in 2014, as details about financial mismanagement started to emerge. In March 2017, the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC), a federal government body set up in 1978 to oversee the running of Aboriginal corporations and ensure that they operate within the law, launched an investigation into Evans. Three years later, charges were filed by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions in Brisbane Magistrates Court, charging Evans with 35 counts of using his position dishonestly to gain an advantage for himself. Twenty-eight of those charges related to the sale of 176 paintings by Gabori, amounting to $415,128. Loading Community-run art centres are meant to be safe havens for remote Indigenous artists, places where theyre shielded from exploitation. Art centre artists generally receive 50 to 60 per cent of the sale price of their works, with the remainder going to the centre to pay for materials, documentation, travel and other expenses such as staff and rent. But Evans siphoned the money for those 176 works into his own bank accounts. Gabori was not the only artist he robbed: he dishonestly sold the artworks of seven other women too, including Gaboris daughters, Amanda and Elsie. But Gabori was the most celebrated of the artists and, as Evans himself acknowledged in court, she accounted for 90 per cent of the centres sales. Gabori was prolific, producing more than 2000 paintings in the last 10 years of her life. But not all of these were considered suitable for sale. Beverly Knight, in consultation with Brett Evans, had set aside paintings deemed low quality or too experimental to be sold. Its not unusual for a primary dealer to control when and how an artists work will be sold, strategically releasing artworks for sale as a way of protecting an artists status and market price. Gabori was prolific, producing more than 2000 paintings in the last 10 years of her life. But not all of these were considered suitable for sale. Gaboris lesser quality paintings were stored in a shipping container on Mornington Island, where they were to remain until Knight determined what to do with them. But that container proved too much of a temptation for Evans, who sold the works in it cheaply. What he did with the money is unclear. There are rumours he gambled it away. Evans claimed Gabori gave him the paintings in gratitude for all the work hed done for her over the years. The court rejected this story. It found that from August 2011 to September 2014, in the final years of Gaboris life, Evans faked invoices and certificates of authenticity, so that buyers thought they were paying the Mornington Island art centre for Gaboris works, not Evans himself. In February this year, aged 62, Evans was sentenced to four-and-a-half-years jail with a non-parole period of 20 months. He pleaded guilty to all 35 charges, sparing a lengthy and expensive trial. The court ordered him to repay the $421,378.20 owed to the artists and art centre, but that hasnt happened. Many doubt it ever will. Brett Evans ran the Mornington Island Art Centre where Gabori painted and stole from her. Credit: People are angry, says the art centres new manager, John Armstrong, who took over in 2018 and has had to deal with the emotional and economic fallout. The most common response I have had is, He only got four-and-a-half years, he should have got 14-and-a-half, because he was in the community for so long, he had family here, he was initiated here, he had kids. People felt really betrayed. And it was not just what he did to Sally, its what he did to the other artists as well. Brett Evans is married to a local artist, Emily Evans, a Lardil woman with whom he has three children. Without excusing the crime, Nicholas Evans offers another perspective on the man. He was someone who was helping things happen, Evans says. As the art centre co-ordinator, he took some decisive early steps which meant that not only Sally but that whole Kaiadilt art movement took off, encouraging her, giving her a paint brush, saying, Look, this could work. Not that hes any form of art connoisseur at all; hed be the first to say that. These were all really positive things about Brett, and the terrible thing about Bretts story is that its just like, you know, a Shakespearean tragedy, of someone who starts off with a couple of flaws, like we all have, and circumstances just amplified them, and some rotten things happened because of that and its hurt people in the community and its hurt him. Then there was this other thing with the famous shed with all of the unsold canvases, which, yeah, its a sort of Pandoras Box waiting to be opened at some point in the future. Thats what did happen and thats when the top blew off it all. The aftershocks keep coming, with differing opinions on whether the paintings Brett Evans dishonestly sold should be returned to the Gabori estate. For Dorothy and Amanda Gabori, the issue is clear-cut. When I meet them in Brisbane they tell me the works were stolen and should be given back. They describe Evans crime as elder abuse. What Evans did remains deeply hurtful to the sisters, and its not something they like to talk about. He took advantage of an old lady, Dorothy tells me in a near whisper. Significantly, the court made no ruling on whether the paintings should be returned to the Gabori estate. Nor will ORIC be taking any further action. ORIC investigated the fraud associated with the sale of the artworks; ownership was never in question, the organisation wrote to me in February, when I sought clarification of the issue. But the law is one thing, perception another. In the art trade, provenance an artworks sales history is paramount, and for some collectors the knowledge that these paintings were initially sold dishonestly may dampen their enthusiasm for owning one. As Judith Ryan puts it, Once we have someone jailed for such an offence, it means that the works that changed hands as a result of this are tainted, so collectors would not necessarily want those on their walls. Ryan, who is now a senior curator at the University of Melbourne art museums, takes a strong stance. People will say they didnt know that this is what happened, but thats why when you have a betrayal like this, its so undermining of all art centres and artists. Its exploiting the vulnerable members of the community, which is not to be countenanced. Philanthropist Pat Corrigan was one of the biggest buyers of Gaboris works. Credit:Wolter Peeters Almost half the works Brett Evans dishonestly sold were bought by one of Australias biggest collectors of Indigenous art, well-known Sydney philanthropist Pat Corrigan, who made his fortune in the freight business. Corrigan, who bought the paintings from Evans in several lots before the crimes came to light, feels like the whipping boy in the whole Brett Evans saga. Evans did the crime, but Corrigan feels hes in the firing line. Why is all the focus on me all the time? he asks when we meet in Sydney. I suggest its because he bought so many Gabori paintings from Evans, at bargain-basement prices. Why arent they focusing on the other people? he responds. Court documents show that among the other buyers of the Gaboris from Evans are a medical practitioner, Andrew Clift, who travelled to Mornington Island between 2009 and 2011 as part of his work with the Mount Isa Base Hospital. Over two years, Clift bought a total of 60 works, paying $90,000 in total (an average of $1500 a piece). Theres also Hobart gallery Art Mob, which bought 15 works over two years, paying $52,681 (an average of $3512); the Yaama Ganu Gallery, in the regional NSW town of Moree, which bought 12, also over two years, paying $43,000 (an average of $3583); and a few other individuals, including Pat Corrigans art adviser, Adam Knight (no relation to Beverly), who bought two works for himself at a total cost of $6000. Corrigan is a likeable fellow. He has an ease about him, and a mischievousness that seems to act as a kind of foil. He manages to be candid and circumspect all at once. Approaching 90, controversy is the last thing he needs, especially after a lifetime building a reputation as a generous supporter of the arts. He texts me several weeks after we meet, hoping my story will be All. Joy and pleading with me to Leave. Be. Controversy. Still, Corrigan didnt hesitate when I asked whether I could visit him in Sydney to discuss the Evans case and his entanglement in it. At about midday on a sunny, crisp Saturday in June, Corrigan picks me up from my hotel in his small white Suzuki. He looks dapper in a long black coat and a pair of black leather slip-ons with white sneaker-like soles. He may be almost 90, but hes not skimping on style. He puts on a pair of black designer sunglasses with mirror lenses and off we drive toward his part of town. First, theres lunch at his favourite Double Bay cafe, followed by a gallery tour. Wherever we go, people warmly greet him by name and he relishes the attention. When we finally make it to his apartment in Darling Point, several hours later, the winter sun is beginning its descent over Sydneys towers. Corrigans apartment is a shrine to his joyfully Catholic taste for contemporary art. On display is a cacophony of styles, shapes, mediums, colour: Ken Whissons scratchy abstract paintings on the wall; Alex Setons marble palm trees on the coffee table; a Ben Quilty painting of a hamburger in one of the halls; the fabulously garish ceramics of Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran on a side table. No sign, though, of paintings by Gabori theyre in storage, he tells me although a Perspex box housing three paint-stained brushes that belonged to her is sitting on the coffee table. The brushes are surprisingly small, about the thickness of a big thumb. Looking at Gaboris works, one imagines she used huge house-painting brushes, but thats not the case at all. According to the court documents, from March 2013 to June 2014 Corrigan purchased 83 paintings by Gabori from Evans, although he emphasises to me that he never dealt with Evans directly, leaving Adam Knight to do business for him. Corrigan paid a total of $214,447 for those 83 paintings, an average of about $2600 a piece, which Beverly Knight says is well below the wholesale price. She told ORIC that the total wholesale price for those 83 paintings should have been about $1 million at the time of purchase, an average of about $12,000 a piece. (The Australian and New Zealand Art Sales Digest, which records the results of art auctions, shows that from 2011 to 2014, the time of Brett Evans offending, prices for Gaboris paintings ranged from about $4500 to $36,000.) Loading Its not unusual for dealers to buy art in bulk in order to negotiate a better price and maximise profits when they on-sell. I ask Corrigan whether this was why he bought so many. No, he says, sounding slightly hurt by the proposal. Its because I wanted to do the book. I am not a dealer, he insists. Im a collector, and Im a bit of a nutty collector. I ask if the very low price of the works, relative to Gaboris market price, raised any suspicions in him. If Adam had started offering me some of these for $50 or $75 I would have got suspicious and pulled out of the deal, he says. [But] I paid the normal price. The book he refers to is a hardback, 222-page tome commissioned at Corrigans expense and published under the Macmillan imprint in April 2015, two months after Gaboris death. Titled The Corrigan Collection of Paintings by Sally Gabori, it cost Corrigan $150,000 to produce and was launched at a succession of high-profile events across the country, by prominent figures including Rupert Myer, then chair of the Australia Council for the Arts, in Melbourne, and former governor-general Quentin Bryce, in Brisbane. Beverly Knight was unimpressed when she got hold of The Corrigan Collection of Paintings by Sally Gabori a week after its Melbourne launch. Within it, she recognised many of the Gabori paintings shed set aside not to be sold. Thats when she realised something was awry on Mornington Island. Knight was so disturbed by the book that she rang all the public art gallery bookshops in Australia, asking them not to stock it. Only the National Gallery of Victoria agreed. Knight continues to condemn the book and wants any remaining copies pulped. Corrigan finds her reaction difficult to fathom. This was a fun thing to do, he says. Cant some people work out certainly Beverly cant theres got to be some fun in this whole art thing? The whole thing is meant to be a happy venture. He proudly shows me the letter from ORIC thanking him for his co-operation in the investigation. US comedian Steve Martin, a serious collector of Indigenous art, owns work by Gabori. Credit:Getty Images I ask Corrigan what he thinks about the quality of the paintings sold by Evans. As proof of their artistic merit, he tells me that some were bought by American comedian Steve Martin, a serious collector of Australian Aboriginal art. Martin is one of the major clients of ambitious Melbourne art dealer DLan Davidson, former head of Aboriginal Art at Sothebys Australia who has been vigorously growing his business in the secondary market for Aboriginal art, forging ties with big international players such as mega-gallery Gagosian. Corrigan sold some of his Gabori paintings through Davidsons gallery, DLan Contemporary, which is where Steve Martin acquired one. When I ring Davidson to ask, among other things, whether I can speak with Martin about the Gabori paintings, hes incensed that I even have the nerve to ask. Davidson is a keen self-promoter, but this is not the kind of attention he wants. In her 70s, with silvery bobbed hair and dressed in layers of black, Beverly Knight has a brusque manner and a reputation for being territorial. After so many years promoting Gabori, and building a relationship with the family, shes protective of her patch. It was when this book came out that I knew there was a problem, Beverly Knight tells me as we sit in her third-floor office in Market Street, Melbourne, around the corner from her gallery, with a copy of Corrigans book on the table. I was knocked off my feet because a lot of the works in the book were works I had put away, she says. I had no evidence up until then what was going on. All I knew was that there were occasional poor works appearing on the market, and people were thinking they were fakes. And then getting Sally when she was near death, Knight adds, pointing to the photos of the artist in the book. Some of the photos are just appalling, really heartbreaking. Beverly Knight, the Melbourne gallery director who became Gaboris primary art dealer and art agent of her estate. Credit:Thibaut Voisin Knights office glows with the works of Gabori. In the entrance hang some particularly strong examples, such as Dibirdibi Country, 2012, sweeps of yellow, orange, magenta and white sparring with each other. I ask Knight to point out some of the paintings in Corrigans book that she considers of lower quality. She indicates a couple, and to my eye they dont seem radically different to those shes sold, Gaboris work being in essence raw and spontaneous. Might she have sold such work in the future, though? Maybe, Knight says. It wouldnt be up to me, because the estate owns them. I dont own them. Artists works are open to reassessment, Knight explains, and part of the process a dealer goes through entails returning to certain works and looking at them afresh. Knights decision to publicly criticise the paintings in Corrigans book has created friction in the art trade, foremost between her and the younger dealer snapping at her heels, DLan Davidson, a strikingly tall and confident 40-something. Knight asked Davidson not to sell any works from Corrigans collection while the Brett Evans case was pending. Davidson sought his own advice. In this exceptional circumstance, we made direct contact with the lead investigative body of the case ORIC and we relied on the information that they provided to me personally, Davidson says. In December 2020, Davidson launched an exhibition of 10 works by Gabori, eight of which were from the Corrigan collection. Prices ranged from $14,000 for smaller works to $88,000 for large works, with two works being price on application, including one that Corrigan had bought from Beverly Knights gallery, and had pictured on the cover of his book. This painting Knight had pointed to as an excellent example of Gaboris work. I believe in those paintings, Davidson tells me. We put them up for sale because we did everything right, we did our due diligence, we paid copyright ($3400) and resale royalty ($18,053), and we were proven right. When I ask what he means by proven right, he says that the paintings were purchased legally and have clear title. Gaboris paintings on display at the Fondation Cartier exhibition. Credit:Thibaut Voisin Knight disagrees. She defines clear title as a direct line from the point of sale back to the artist, and since Gabori was not paid for the Evans works, Knight says there is no direct line with them. She tells me shes been contacted by several international collectors concerned about the provenance of their Gabori paintings. One collector asked Davidson for a refund, which he duly provided. As it turned out, this was for a Gabori painting that had nothing to do with the batch that Brett Evans unlawfully sold, highlighting how easily buyer confidence can be undermined when theres a hint of scandal surrounding an artist. Knight also asked the auction house Deutscher and Hackett to check in with her on any Gabori paintings from Corrigan that might be coming up for sale while the Brett Evans case was ongoing. It agreed. Navigating the situation was delicate for auction house co-founder Chris Deutscher, who has dealt with Pat Corrigan for 40-odd years. I think the works are great, there is nothing wrong with them, Deutscher tells me. When I saw DLans catalogue, I was envious. How come Pats selling his Gaboris? I didnt think he ever wanted to sell them there are some very good examples. Some of them are verging on the spectacular. Amid this stand-off, Davidson went on the offensive and pitched for Knights job, offering his services as art agent for the Gabori estate. I ask the Gabori estates lawyer, Jeneve Frizzo, whether change is likely. She responds via email: Beverly Knight Art + Business is the Agent for the Estate. The Estate is very grateful to the Agents ethical and skilled stewardship of the artists legacy. The estate is not considering changing agency arrangements. Loading The court case may be over, but the Gabori estate holds the trump card: from now on it can refuse copyright for any of the paintings Brett Evans unlawfully handled, prohibiting them from being illustrated in auction house or dealer catalogues, thereby hampering their sale. Thats the instruction from the estate, Knight tells me. Copyright is denied for any works listed in the [Evans] court documents. Whether all this affects the prices for the Evans-sold works if and when their current owners want to trade them remains to be seen, as, too, whether the controversy around them has a dampening effect on Gaboris entire market. As to legal avenues for the estate to seize the Evans works, it is not known if any exist and, if so, whether they are being pursued. In the meantime, Frizzo writes that the estate would be grateful to any person in possession of such works who would return them to the estate. On the other side of the world, far from the power plays of Australias commercial art world, Sally Gaboris name is writ large on the glass facade of the Fondation Cartiers spectacular Jean Nouvel-designed building in Montparnasse. Beverly Knight jubilantly texts me photos from Paris: Narelle, Tori and Amanda, standing in front of the massive poster bearing their mother and grandmothers name; another of Amanda, inside the exhibition, in front of one her mothers vast ice-cream works, painted in luscious pastels. The Fondation Cartier was established in 1984 by the French luxury goods company to present contemporary art in its broadest sense, including painting, photography, design, performance, video and fashion. Its long-standing director, Herve Chandes, has exhibited the biggest names in contemporary art, among them Damien Hirst, Takashi Murakami, Matthew Barney and Australians Ron Mueck and Marc Newson. But nothing prepared him for Sally Gabori. When Chandes was first shown a catalogue of Gaboris work several years ago, his reaction was visceral. I said to myself, immediately, and to everyone around me at the Fondation, Lets do it! Chandes tells me by video from Paris. I was completely overwhelmed by the colours, by the composition, the scale, the size, the beauty, the space. Really, it was shocking. Shocking! And so beautiful. Gaboris exhibition, the first of an Australian Indigenous artist at the Fondation, is a milestone as significant as that experienced by another late-flowering artist, the much-lauded Emily Kame Kngwarreye, who was honoured with a comprehensive solo exhibition in Tokyo, Japan, in 2008, also posthumously. Thirty of Gaboris paintings are being exhibited across the Fondations two floors, as well as three collaborative paintings created with other Kaiadilt artists including her daughters, Amanda and Elsie. The subterranean floor is exclusively for Gaboris monumental canvases, those measuring two metres by six metres, which Judith Ryan, who also travelled to Paris for the opening, tells me reminds her of stepping into the room of Monets Water Lilies at the Musee de lOrangerie in Paris. Following its four months in Paris, the Gabori exhibition will travel to Italy for the Milan Triennale early next year. Shes not here, but somewhere, we are talking to her. And the show is her show its not her memories, shes alive! And its for the family, its for the community. I ask Chandes whether he thinks many French people will have heard of Sally Gabori. Except us, no one, he says flashing a charming smile. Thats the idea, to introduce her work with a solo exhibition and a fantastic selection of artwork. Our wish is to make something important for Sally Gabori. First, for Sally Gabori herself. We are talking to her. Shes not here, but somewhere, we are talking to her. And the show is her show its not her memories, shes alive! And its for the family, its for the community. Sally Gaboris Queensland Supreme Court mural was commissioned more than a decade ago, but Amanda and Dorothy Gabori have never seen it. On a cool June morning, we make our way along Brisbanes Roma Street to the courts, the fresh breeze skipping around the Gabori sisters colourful skirts. On a curved wall in the public square before the buildings entrance, Japanese artist Yayoi Kusamas Thousands of Eyes installation sizes us up. Sally Gabori is in good company. We pass through security, take a lift to the third floor and go searching for the Banco Court, where the mural is housed, only to find the room is locked. A barrister in long, black robes points us to a judges associate who might help. Her face lights up when we explain why were here. What an honour it is to meet you, I love that artwork, she tells the sisters. She swipes her card against the court doors lock and in we go. In the hush of the empty court room, I hear Dorothy and Amanda draw breath. Oh, its so beautiful, they murmur in unison. Amanda and Dorothy Gabori in front of their mothers mural at the Supreme Court in Brisbane. Credit:Sue Lee The murals scale and energy takes us all by surprise its four metres high and 16 metres wide, sweeping across the entire back wall. Vigorous white brush strokes dissolve into the primary colours layered beneath, giving the painting an ethereal sea light. Artists Jeph Neale and Hilary Jackman were entrusted with transferring Gaboris artwork to the Banco Court, travelling to Mornington Island in June 2010 to meet the artist, by then in her mid-80s, and learn first-hand her method of paint application. They have done a superb job; the mural radiates Gaboris spirit. We all struggle to hold back tears. Could I go and touch it? Dorothy asks shyly. She walks quietly towards the wall, past the judges bench, until she is face-to-face with the painting. She reaches up to the mural and holds her right hand against it. Her long, elegant fingers rest there for a sustained stretch of time. Dorothy stands, silent, hand tenderly pressed against the mural as though summoning her mothers spirit, connecting with her ancestral lands. The moment feels too sacred, too private, to watch. It is a moment of clarity in the complicated story of Sally Gabori. To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Brisbane Times. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The NSW hospital system is sick. So sick that instead of acknowledging and fixing its mistakes, it buries them. And so sick that it needs an independent regulator to oversee healthcare in NSW. That is the diagnosis of twelve eminent clinicians who have spoken to the Herald in the wake of a string of troubling deaths in regional hospitals. These senior doctors have told the Herald that a culture of cover up has become endemic within parts of the NSW Health bureaucracy, and speaking up about preventable patient deaths can be a career-ending move for even the most senior doctors and nurses. It comes after a Herald investigation revealed the disturbing circumstances surrounding four potentially avoidable deaths in regional NSW hospitals. They included the death of Tony Coulston, who was left vomiting blood for hours after falling from his hospital bed; Carmel Haynes, whose blood vessel was pierced during an unnecessary procedure; Heather Smith, whose torn oesophagus went undetected for 11 days after elective surgery and a man whose fatally high potassium levels were not acted on by staff. None of the deaths were scrutinised outside the local health districts where they occurred because they were either not reported to the coroner or the coroner chose not to investigate, angering the patients families. Carmel Haynes (right) with her twin sister, Rose Carroll, with whom she was inseparable. Carmel died during an unnecessary procedure at Orange Hospital in 2021. The clinicians, who have each risen to distinguished positions and have decades of experience, have spoken of a deep rift between the doctors and nurses on the hospital floor and back-room health administrators. Advertisement The clinicians allege they have been made to work in often dangerously under-resourced environments and sidelined by a bureaucracy that deflects blame at every level when its budget-driven decisions lead to medical mishaps and patient deaths. Six of the 12 clinicians spoke on the condition of anonymity because they feared being blacklisted for airing their concerns. Their comments mirrored damning findings recently handed down by a parliamentary inquiry, sparked by a Herald investigation into failings across the regional NSW hospital network. The inquiry savaged the behaviour of NSW Health and its local health district bureaucracies, finding a culture of fear had staff scared of reprisals for raising patient safety and resourcing issues. Tony Coulston after a fall in Port Macquarie Base Hospital that would ultimately kill him. Health Minister Brad Hazzard did not comment when the report was released in May, referring queries to Regional Health Minister Bronnie Taylor. When the Herald put further questions to Hazzards office for this article he was unavailable, directing questions to NSW Health. Advertisement Deputy secretary Joanne Edwards said NSW Health was committed to improving the safety and care of patients and made regular, ongoing improvements to workplace culture in line with its core values of collaboration, openness, respect, and empowerment. NSW Health has a strong culture of identifying, reporting and learning from patient safety incidents and promotes a just culture, where staff are encouraged to report problems openly and honestly and learn from mistakes, she said. The inquiry proposed an ombudsman to investigate patient deaths and oversee the health bureaucracy, but the clinicians were dubious the position would resolve the deep-rooted problems. Dr Kerrie MacDonald, whose efforts were recently lauded by the NSW Coroner after she led a group of doctors who exposed the death of teenager Alex Braes, is spearheading calls for the establishment of an independent healthcare regulator in NSW. Dr Kerrie MacDonald led a group of doctors who blew the whistle on the death of Alex Braes. Credit:Terry Cunningham Long-standing Riverina GP Dr Marion Magee said while the parliamentary inquiry pulled no punches and nailed the problems, there remained a glaring omission in its final report. A root cause analysis asking: why? If we imagined that NSW Health was a patient, lets be honest, its 2am, theyre in the resus room, Im firing off the paddles ready to give them a shock, Magee told a regional health forum in Griffith in May. Advertisement Magee said the problems could be traced back to the 1990s when the sidelining of clinicians began with the abolition of local hospital boards. It took away the two-way conversation, she said. Tension between managers and clinicians boiled over at the landmark Garling inquiry in 2008. It led to the establishment of 15 local health districts (LHDs), to be advised by clinical councils, touted as giving doctors and nurses a say over the running of hospitals. Heather Smith, right, with son Phillip Smith. Heather died in 2019 from a torn oesophagus after routine surgery went wrong in Dubbo Hospital. In 2019, NSW Auditor-General Margaret Crawford found the reforms had not met expectations and inadequate clinician engagement required attention as priority. MacDonald, a paediatrician with over four decades experience, said Alex Braes death illustrated how the system kept administrators insulated from the consequences of their decisions. In that case, the ginger-haired teenager succumbed to sepsis after presenting four times to emergency with searing pain in his knee. His vital signs were not checked because of a business rule introduced by hospital administrators discouraging observations being taken. Advertisement Broken Hill teenager Alex Braes, who died of septic shock after being sent home from Broken Hill Hospital. A group of doctors, who were incensed after the Far West LHD downgraded the severity classification of Braes death meaning it didnt have to be investigated, blew the whistle on the saga. This year the coroner vindicated their efforts to expose the wholly inadequate response to Braes death. However, only doctors appeared before the inquest and not administrators, meaning it remains a mystery who devised the business rule and who downgraded the incident. The lack of accountability angered senior doctors. Nobody was shamed, nobody lost their job, one said. At least it got to a coroner. You can bet your bottom dollar there are Alex Braes all over this state in a steady little trickle and very rarely does anything come of it. Loading Like Magee, MacDonald felt the parliamentary inquiry failed to diagnose the underlying problem why the ministry and its LHD executives had allowed country hospitals to become so dysfunctional in the years since the Garling inquiry. MacDonald believed the fault lay with a culture of managing upwards and prioritising budgets over health outcomes and safe work conditions for doctors and nurses. Advertisement Anthony Albanese is the beneficiary of a unique diplomatic honeymoon that has the potential to place Australia on the shortlist of nations that are seen as moral middle powers. From Asia to Europe and now the Pacific, Australias 31st prime minister has been greeted with public displays of affection that his more charismatic Labor predecessors would have killed for. Three images in particular come to mind. Illustration: Simon Letch Credit: Last month, Indonesian President Joko Widodo took Albanese for a bike ride around Bogor Palace a greeting no other foreign leader has received to emphasise their shared humble origins. On Wednesday, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare hugged Albanese, echoing the theatrical embrace that French President Emmanuel Macron gave the Australian leader a fortnight earlier. Albanese would appreciate that these gestures are not really about him as an individual. In fact, his peers would have a double-take if they realised the man they are cheering onto the international stage ran a tongue-tied election campaign and that Labor squeaked into office with its lowest primary vote since the Great Depression. From masks and vaccines, to the office and testing heres a guide to making the right calls. See all 5 stories. What can we do as individuals to combat the winter COVID-19 wave? In the third instalment of a special series, The Ages health team asks experts for the best advice on testing. RATs, PCRs ... the once-unknown abbreviations that are now part of our common parlance will continue to play an important role as new COVID-19 subvariants whip through our homes, schools and hospitals. Rapid-antigen tests are less reliable than PCRs. Credit:Getty Images Standing in a queue to get a PCR test is less common given the rise of rapid-antigen tests to help monitor, isolate and report coronavirus infections. RATs are an excellent screening tool for the virus, but they are not foolproof. New COVID-19 strains with measles-like infection rates have Australias leaders and health authorities concerned about a case surge that will heap pressure on hospitals and doctors over the next two months. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the reinstatement of $750 pandemic leave payments for workers without access to sick leave, which will be available until the end of September at a cost of nearly $800 million. Prime Minsiter Anthony Albanese has extended pandemic leave payments until September 30, with COVID cases expected to surge over August. Credit:Flavio Brancaleone The change came after sustained pressure from health experts, peak bodies, unions and state and territory leaders as COVID-19 cases continued to rise. Albanese backed down on keeping the original payment end date after a meeting with health experts late on Friday, and pulled forward the snap national cabinet meeting to Saturday to discuss the changes. Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly told national cabinet the new wave of infections was being driven by the highly infectious BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants of Omicron, which will increase the pressure on our health system. Why did you come here? What for? Why did you come here to liberate us? she asked them, tears streaming down her face. Eventually, they told Natalia she was free to go. But they took her husband away. Natalia watched as Yevhen was forced to his knees at gunpoint, while the Russians seized their mobile phones, computer, camera, gold and jewellery. Looting is a war crime, but the soldiers didnt appear to care. Natalia still doesnt know for sure whether Yevhen is dead or alive. Credit:Kate Geraghty It was March 18, three weeks into the invasion, when the Russian soldiers arrived at the door of their home armed with machine guns. I think they might have told him that theyd do something to me unless he talked, Natalia Kulakivska says from her home in Bucha. The Russian soldiers were pointing at Yevhen Kulakivskiys wife Natalia when he started talking. In a four-part investigation, we go inside Ukraine to reveal how prosecutors will build their case for a prosecution against Russia. See all 10 stories. In a four-part series, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age are revealing new details of apparent war crimes committed in Ukraine including enforced disappearances, torture, unlawful killings and indiscriminate bombings based on first-hand accounts of victims, witnesses and forensic investigators. Enforced disappearance is a crime against humanity. Many of the practices associated with making someone disappear torture, depriving them of a fair trial and inhumane treatment are also war crimes under the Geneva Conventions. Natalia Kulakivska with her missing loved ones. From top right: nephew Vladyslav Bondarenko; brother-in-law Serhiy Lyubych and husband Yevhen Kulakivskiy, Bondarenko is now confirmed dead. Credit:Kate Geraghty Yevhen is among thousands of Ukrainians who have disappeared since Russia invaded on February 24. It is still difficult to know exactly how many, but Ukraines national police has received more than 9000 missing person reports since Russia invaded. Your government doesnt want to give them to us, the soldier said. But you already have. What are you doing here ? Natalia responded. No, we didnt come here to liberate you, we came here to take the Crimea and Donbas from you, one soldier said. Thats only a fraction of the actual number of cases, she warns. The Russian side has not spoken, they have not given figures on how many people they hold. Matilda Bogner, an Australian who heads the United Nations human rights mission in Ukraine, says her agencys investigators have documented 270 cases of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance committed by Russian forces so far. It has also identified 12 cases committed by Ukrainian authorities. According to Ukrainian Prosecutor-General Iryna Venediktova, Russia has committed more than 22,500 war crimes and crimes of aggression against Ukraine since the invasion. For its part, Russia has repeatedly denied targeting civilians. While it is impossible at this stage to say exactly how many war crimes have been committed in Ukraine, stacking up and prosecuting each case will be a long and arduous process for investigators. The International Criminal Court has described Ukraine as a crime scene and deployed its largest ever team of detectives to the country to assist in multiple investigations. Eleven days after Natalias brother-in-law went missing, her husband was taken right in front of her. Hours later her nephew Vladyslav Bondarenko, 20, also went missing. He is now dead. By March 12, Russia had complete control of the city. The battle for Bucha, a Kyiv satellite city of about 37,000 residents, was still raging and nobody could find out anything. Fearing the worst, the family evacuated the couples two children with a stranger. Yevhen, 42, wasnt the first to disappear in Natalias family. Her sisters husband Serhiy Lyubych, 37, had gone to collect water for neighbours on March 7, as the town was already cut off from electricity, gas and running water. He never came back, leaving his wife Snizhana wondering what happened to him. It is a form of torture or ill-treatment of the families as well, by keeping them in the dark, she says. And thats one of the key elements of enforced disappearance the family becomes the victim as well. Bogner says enforced disappearances are terrifying not only for the person but for their family. Since then, the Russian Red Cross has confirmed that Serhiy is alive in a prison near the city of Bryansk, but there has been no news about her husband. Days after learning of her nephews death, Natalia heard from other released Ukrainians that Yevhen and Serhiy had been taken to prisons in Russia. The man, who doesnt wish to be identified, was held with her husband and nephew in large freezers at an airport in the nearby town of Hostomel, before they were shipped to Belarus on March 22. On the way, Vladyslav panicked and tried to escape from a truck. He was shot dead by Russian soldiers. His body was buried by strangers. A man is dwarfed by the ruins of one of the many buildings impacted by Russian shelling and missiles in Bucha. Credit:Kate Geraghty Then on April 20, weeks after the Russians had fled Bucha, a man turned up in her street who had been released by Russia as part of a prisoner exchange. For more than a month, Natalia had no idea where they were. They checked basements and morgues but found nothing. Three men were taken from my family. We will never see one of them again, Natalia says. I dont know who can influence the Russians, I dont know who can influence those who decide the fate of my relatives and loved ones and thousands of other people, Natalia says. But I am begging begging if there is a chance, to reach their hearts and for this to end. More than 1300 civilians in Bucha and its surrounds were killed by Russian soldiers. Credit:Kate Geraghty Crimes must be investigated After Ukrainian soldiers liberated Bucha on March 31, authorities had to exhume a mass grave of 117 people in the grounds of the citys Orthodox church. Many had been carried there by relatives and friends after they were shot in the street or beaten to death. Father Andriy Halavin stands at the rear of the church, in front of the memorial and plaque at the site of the mass grave of civilians killed by Russian soldiers. Credit:Kate Geraghty Andriy Halavin, the priest at the Church of the Holy St Andrew the First-Called, says many residents still dont know what happened to their relatives. Loading Its twofold. On the one hand, they cant find the bodies. On the other hand, a lot of people have been forcefully taken to Belarus and then deported to Russia, he says. Justice wont come overnight, the priest says, but it is important the crimes that have been committed here the murders, the looting, the rapes are investigated and the criminals prosecuted. In response to a series of questions on these cases and others, the Russian embassy in Australia said many of the allegations of war crimes were unverified and were being fed by Ukrainian propaganda. Nadiya Kuksenko weeps as she talks of the pain they have suffered in Bucha. She says the hardest part is collecting prayer messages residents write at the church as she takes on the pain of each prayer. Credit:Kate Geraghty "With no substantiation, lack of identifying data or at least indication of sources, most of your questions hardly deserve consideration," the embassy said. I spent a night under a dead body Tradesman Boris Popov, who was held for weeks in a Russian prison with Natalias brother-in-law Serhiy, has some of the answers. Popov has provided the full account of what happened to Ukrainian prosecutors and the UN body investigating war crimes in Ukraine. Now he wants to tell his story to the world, partly in a bid to secure the freedom of men such as Yevhen and Serhiy still stuck in Russian prisons. Willing to testify: Boris Popov has been through an unimaginable ordeal. Credit:Kate Geraghty On March 5 Boris was on his way to Vorzels town centre, about six kilometres from Bucha, to fetch water. His wife, also called Natalia, would not see him again for almost two months. Four Russian soldiers in camouflage emerged from the forest and ordered him to strip naked and lie on the ground. They broke his nose, smashing his face with their guns, then blindfolded him with tape and tied his hands. The next morning they threw him in a room with about 30 Ukrainian prisoners in the nearby town of Hostomel. One by one, the men were taken to be interrogated and tortured. Shots rang out. They put a gun to Boris head, asking him where the Ukrainian military was positioned. I told them that I really didnt know and that I was a civilian. But in the last moment, they took the gun away and shot over my ear. Boris Popov stands in the forest glade where he was captured by the Russians. Credit:Kate Geraghty The soldiers told Boris they would release him; he could go back to his home in Vorzel. At a cemetery on the outskirts of his town, the soldiers let the prisoners untie themselves and walk across a field. As Boris began to run, grenades exploded and gunfire whistled overhead. The prisoners were surrounded by more than 50 Russian armoured vehicles. I felt like I was being hunted down like an animal just for fun, Boris says. Black bags were pulled over their heads and the Ukrainians were taken to a dugout in the forest where theyd been captured. Then, he says, the most terrible things started to happen. He saw a man tied to a tree trunk, who he later learnt was a lieutenant colonel with Ukraines intelligence agency, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). Days earlier, hed grabbed an old grenade launcher from his house in Bucha and tried to fire on the Russian convoy, but it had jammed. Boris watched as a young Russian commander slammed a wooden peg deeper and deeper into the lieutenant colonels skull. But the officer, knowing he would die, was taunting his attackers. The other prisoners were beaten with wooden hammers and made to lie on the ground with their legs and arms spread before being kicked under the ribs. Months later, Boris left ribs still ache; he is sure some of them were broken. The soldiers ordered Boris to finish off the colonel with an axe. Put him out of his misery, they said. Guys, I am afraid of blood, I just cant, Boris replied. The soldiers threw Boris blindfolded into a hole and pretended to shoot him multiple times. The bullets whistled past his head and into the ground. I was an atheist before, but I started to remember prayers. I started talking to God, Boris says. Then all the other prisoners including the lieutenant colonel about 30 men were thrown into the hole with Boris, who was stripped to his underpants in sub-zero temperatures. While they were beating me I didnt care about the weather in the heat of the moment, but as the night was closing in I started to freeze, Boris says. The soldiers also made the men shout Hail Russia! every 15 to 20 minutes, and if they failed one of the soldiers would hit them over the head with a wooden hammer. Around midnight, the lieutenant colonel asked for a doctor as blood gushed from his head. A doctor or paramedic, who Boris says was drunk, then came and said: You f---ing Ukrainian bastards dont need a doctor. He gave the lieutenant colonel half a pill, which Boris believes was aspirin. Boris then asked for a blanket, but the soldiers said one more word out of him would lead to his certain death. The prisoners huddled for warmth. Boris thought the colonel had fallen asleep, but then noticed his mouth was open and full of soil. The colonel was dead. At first it was very frightening. But then a thought came to me that I should cover myself with the corpse, so I dont freeze to death, Boris says. I managed to push myself underneath him and the rest of the night I spent under a dead body. A stick marks the grave of the former colonel who died in the pit next to Boris. Credit:Kate Geraghty At about 11am the next morning, the soldiers put a bag over Boris head and allowed him to put his clothes back on. The prisoners were taken to a locked room back in Hostomel, where they drank from a puddle of muddy water to slake their thirst. Then Boris and nine other men were locked in a freezer chamber, six metres long and 2.5 metres wide. Thats where Boris met Serhiy, Natalias brother-in-law. In those terrible nights, when suffering triggered hallucinations and men died around them, Boris and Serhiy and some of the others became what Boris calls a circle of comrades. Boris and Serhiy began to plan an escape by pulling one of the radiators out of the wall. There were about 20 men alive in the chamber when the Russians brought in a former Ukrainian general in his late 70s. The former general told the Russians it was against the Geneva Conventions to force 20 prisoners to sleep on the concrete floor. He also told the Russian captain that he recently had COVID-19 and he needed medicine and vitamins. Later, a new body bag appeared. The former generals body was inside it. On March 17, 12 days after they were captured, the men were told they would be moved to Russia. Instead, they were taken to a warehouse in Belarus, whose president Aleksandr Lukashenko is a staunch ally of Vladimir Putin. The beatings werent as bad in Belarus, Boris says just enough to show us whos boss. The Belarusian soldiers, identifiable by their accents and dark green uniforms, took photos of every prisoner and showed them documents stating they were prisoners of war rather than civilians. Boris says Serhiy was handcuffed when worsening back problems meant he failed to comply with an order to put his head down. After two days in Belarus, Serhiy was moved to Russia. Boris was taken a day later, on March 20. This meant neither man witnessed the murder of Serhiys nephew, Vladyslav. On the seven-hour drive to Russia, Popov says he passed out from low blood sugar and woke when a Russian soldier burnt his fingers with a lighter. At some point near the end of the trip, he managed to lift the tape over his eyes and saw a sign that read Bryansk Jail No. 3 a jail in the Russian town of Novozybkov. In the prison cell, still blindfolded, he heard Serhiys name and knew his comrade was there. Every morning, in cell 47, Boris had to greet the warden with: Comrade citizen, my name is Boris Popov. The Russian anthem would play over the speakers followed by other patriotic songs. Dizzy from low blood sugar, Boris was frequently made to strip naked and squat on his toes as the guards beat him over the heels with batons. The prisoners also walked through a tunnel of soldiers as they beat them. They stand on both sides and just beat you as much as they can. And you have to pass this tunnel while they are beating you, he says. Then you get an ice-cold shower. On a good day, Boris had a light beating to his head and ribs. When its a bad day they take you to the hallway and three people just beat the shit out of you, he says. Prisoners were beaten with wooden hammers to make them obey. Credit:Kate Geraghty On a good day, Boris says he would only be beaten around the head and ribs. Credit:Kate Geraghty The head doctor was one of the worst, Boris says, a bulky woman in her mid- 40s whose uniform indicated she was a major in the Russian military. Ukrainians like to get sick a lot, she would grumble. Boris complained to her about his ribs. The doctor, flanked by three special forces soldiers, told him: Our guys could never do such a thing. She looked at the soldiers, who then kicked him in the chest. Do you understand now that our guys could never do such a thing? You have probably fallen somewhere in your Ukrainian trenches or something. Do you understand? the doctor asked. Boris demonstrates the stress position he had to hold while soldiers beat him. Credit:Kate Geraghty Yes, certainly, no problem, Boris responded. I understand now. In the middle of April, things started to change. Boris, stripped naked, was assessed for injuries by a doctor who gave him pills and injections. A few days later, the prisoners were allowed to go for short walks. Boris suspected the Russians might be preparing them for release. On April 29, soldiers told Boris and his cellmates to get ready to be exchanged. They were flown to the town of Taganrog in the north of Russia, where more Ukrainian prisoners boarded the plane, which then headed to Crimea, a region in southern Ukraine illegally annexed by Russia in 2014. There they were put in a farm truck and driven to the Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhya. At a bridge, he and 14 other Ukrainians were exchanged for five Russian soldiers. As he crossed the bridge, Boris said the sun began to shine brighter to me, the sky was bluer and everything was simply better. Natalia Popova embraces Boris Popov. Credit:Kate Geraghty The Russian soldiers headed in the other direction appeared to be in good condition, Boris noticed, while he weighed 57 kilograms and was severely injured after almost two months of beatings. The Russians had clean clothes, were well fed, fresh-faced and were looking at us with contempt, he says. But later I analysed it all and realised that we would be taken home in a comfortable van while these clean and tidy Russians will have to get in a truck used for pigs, he says. This is the difference between us. When Boris returned to Vorzel, neighbours didnt recognise him. They hid behind the curtains in their house because they didnt want him to see them crying over the poor state he was in, his wife Natalia says. He didnt look like himself. Boris still doesnt know what happened to his friend Serhiy. With Fedir Sydoryk Read part two of this series here. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for the weekly What in the World newsletter here. The National Oil Corporation (NOC) of Libya on Friday announced full resumption of operation at all oil fields and ports in the country after about three months of closure amid waves of protests, Trend reports citing Xinhua. "Upon resumption of oil production in all of the oil locations, we will coordinate with the Ministry of Oil and Gas to raise the daily production to the highest possible rates," said Farhat Gdora, the newly-appointed chairman of NOC, told a press conference in the eastern city of Benghazi. In mid-April, many oil fields and ports in Libya were shut down by local protesters who demanded Prime Minister Abdul-Hamed Dbeibah hand over power to the government appointed by the parliament in March. Dbeibah, however, has been refusing to do so, saying his government will only hand over power to an elected government. Libya failed to hold general elections in December 2021, because of disagreements on the election laws among the parties. The North African country has been suffering escalating violence and unrest ever since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011. Saudi Arabia and the United States agreed on Friday to strengthen cooperation in the fields of 5G networks, cybersecurity, space exploration and public health, Trend reports citing Xinhua. The agreements were made on the sidelines of U.S. President Joe Biden's first state visit to the kingdom, where he met with top Saudi officials to review the kingdom's defensive needs and the importance of global energy security. In a statement after the meetings, Biden welcomed Saudi Arabia's fresh signing of the NASA-led Artemis Accords, an outer space exploration treaty, saying the United States "reaffirms its commitment to the responsible, peaceful, and sustainable exploration and use of outer space." BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Robert Reeg has been a retired New York City firefighter since 2003, but he remembers 9/11 like it was yesterday. "As I'm looking straight up at the South Tower it started to crumble," Reeg said. "Dirt and parts of the building were rocketing past us. I got hit in the head real hard, hit in the back, it sent me flying." His story, and those of thousands of other first responders that day, deserve to be told. That's why the Tunnels to Towers Foundation mobile exhibit is so important, bringing the 9/11 museum to states across the U.S. "It's important that we never forget and important that we educate our youth who weren't around at that time," said Kathy Rowinski, Account Manager for Miller Keystone Blood Center. The Tunnels to Towers Foundation was started by the Siller Family after their brother, Stephen, a New York City firefighter, lost his life that day after rushing on foot through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers, where he gave up his life while saving others. The exhibit is a way to continue telling the story of 9/11. "It's important that the kids learn about what happened and learn how we came together afterwards," Reeg said. The exhibit is set up at the Miller Keystone Blood Center in Bethlehem this weekend, ready to educate families, and of course give people the opportunity to donate blood. "Our goal over the weekend is to collect 343 units of blood, that's one unit for every firefighter that lost their life on 9/11," Rowinski said. The exhibit will be here all weekend long. You can check it out, donate blood, and save a life. The Czech Republic took over from France at the helm of the six-month rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), Trend reports citing Xinhua. The presidency was launched with a joint meeting of the Czech government and the European Commission, headed by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the eastern Czech town of Litomysl. In a tweet following the meeting, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said his government had discussed with the European Commission the current problems that concern the EU and Czech citizens. "One of the main tasks lying ahead of us is the energy self-sufficiency of the EU. If we act unitedly, we have a chance to solve the current crisis," he said. Von der Leyen said a lot of work lay ahead for the Czech presidency, including energy security, climate protection, economic recovery and digitalization. "I'm sure we will make good progress on strengthening our energy security while delivering on our climate goals; combining investment and reforms for a robust economy; and deepening our global partnerships," she tweeted. The Czech Republic joined the EU in 2004, and assumed its first EU Council Presidency in 2009. This year, it has said that its priorities during its presidency will be the refugee crisis and aid to Ukraine, energy security, defense reinforcement and resilience of the European economy. During a visit to the Czech Republic on Thursday, European Council President Charles Michel said the Czech presidency comes at a "turning point" for Europe. "Never has our Union faced such great challenges," he said, adding that an informal EU summit will be held in Prague on Oct. 6-7. (The Center Square) Housing underproduction isnt just a problem along the coasts anymore: high rents are becoming a problem across the nation. A new report from Up for Growth, a research group focused on housing shortages, notes that the United States went from underproducing 1.65 million units of housing a decade ago to underproducing almost 3.8 million units of housing by 2019. Pennsylvania, by the groups estimate, is missing 98,000 housing units statewide. The shortage is most pronounced along the eastern half of the commonwealth, according to The New York Times, and in Centre County, where Penn State University is located. The public has taken notice. In a ranking of community concerns, housing affordability outpolled drug addiction, the economic and health effects of COVID-19, and crime, Up for Growth CEO Mike Kingsella and COO Leah MacArthur noted in the report. Housing prices in Pennsylvania rose by 14% from 2020 to 2021, including a 40% increase in apartment rents since 2017 in central Pennsylvania, as The Center Square has previously reported. In Philadelphia, almost 50% of households are rent burdened, defined as spending at least 30% of income on rent. Philadelphia isnt unique for rent-burdened problems. According to the Up for Growth report, only one of Pennsylvanias 67 counties has fewer than 30% of renters who arent rent-burdened. Almost a dozen counties have at least 50% of renters who are rent-burdened. The U.S. Housing and Urban Development agency defines rent-burdened as families "who pay more than 30% of their income for housing and may have difficulty affording necessities such as food, clothing, transportation, and medical care. Severe rent burden would be 50%. Though Pennsylvania's population has declined in recent years, the commonwealths population has also shifted toward larger metro areas and the southeast part of the state. A lack of new housing, and more demand for existing supply, has driven up prices. On the state level, the General Assembly has made it easier for counties to encourage affordable housing construction. On Monday, Gov. Tom Wolf signed House Bill 581 into law, granting more powers to municipalities to approve tax abatements and other incentives for affordable-housing projects, as The Center Square previously reported. The effort is part of an approach to allow counties to respond to their housing needs, rather than the state government taking the lead. Pennsylvanias housing prices could also push residents to go elsewhere. While many Pennsylvanias move to a border state when they leave, others head to economically growing states such as Florida, North Carolina, Virginia and Texas, where rents tend to be cheaper. As Sri Lanka reels under political and economic crisis, India on Thursday said it continues to stand with the Lankan people and hoped for an early solution to the situation, especially related to the government and its leadership through democratic means and constitutional framework, Trend reports citing NDTV. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India was monitoring the evolving situation in Sri Lanka and it remained engaged with all relevant stakeholders in that country. The comments came on a day outgoing Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa landed in Singapore from the Maldives, a day after he fled from the island nation in the face of massive mass protests. "We will continue to stand with the people of Sri Lanka as they seek to realise their aspirations for prosperity and progress through democratic means and values as well as established institutions and constitutional framework," Mr Bagchi said. He was replying to a volley of questions on the situation in Sri Lanka during a media briefing. "We are monitoring the evolving situation in that country. Our ties with Sri Lanka are historic and comprehensive and we continue to engage with all relevant stakeholders in Sri Lanka," Mr Bagchi added. "We look forward to an early solution of the situation related to the government and its leadership through democratic means and values and established institution and constitutional framework," he added. Promoted Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com The spokesperson said Sri Lanka needs to "find a way forward, they need to find a solution ahead." "We are there to support the people of Sri Lanka whichever way we can and we have demonstrated that with our economic assistance," Mr Bagchi added. Over 50 million new vinyl albums were sold in North America in 2021, every last one of which came cloaked in shrink wrap. Theres a reason its called that; leave a record in its tight-fitting sheath long enough and its bound to warp. That brings us to Mike Sarazin, founder of Vinyl Storage Solutions, a local success story that turns out clear-as-day, fully recyclable vinyl record sleeves meant to protect an album jacket and its innards once the outer plastic has been removed. Online reviews for his products are almost universally positive, ranging from outstanding to brilliant to my albums never looked so good. Thats music to his ears, of course, but the piece of praise that has stuck with the 58-year-old engineer the longest had little to do with how functional his patented designs are, when it comes to shielding peoples prized LPs from wear, tear and achoo! dust. Sarazin shows off patents for protective LP record sleeves he has designed. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press) Not long ago, Sarazin was on the receiving end of a message from a first-time customer living in the United States who had previously placed a sizable order for Vinyl Storage Solutions 12-inch, dual-pocket sleeves, which, as their name implies, include one sleeve for the album cover, and a second for the vinyl itself. It wasnt a personal purchase, he indicated; rather, they were meant for a record collection that used to belong to his father, who had died a few months earlier. In his email the fellow detailed how he and his mother spent a few hours one afternoon, carefully placing his dads cherished albums inside Sarazins sleeves, one by one. While doing so, they smiled over and over, as they discussed how much his father had enjoyed listening to this or that artist, or where and when he might have picked up a certain title. Doing so brought us closer together, and I just want to thank you for not only making everything look great, but for preserving a memory, too, the writer concluded. One couldnt ask for a nicer compliment than that, Sarazin contends, seated in an Academy Road coffee shop, where other customers peek over at a small pile of records he brought along to demonstrate precisely how his variously sized sleeves work. That was definitely nice to read, he continues, and all I can say is Im pleased my products were able to play a part in what sounded like a very meaningful experience. Vinyl Storage Solutions was founded in the fall of 2018, but the story of the innovative venture actually begins in Sarazins hometown of Sudbury, Ont., where he spent many a Saturday afternoon as a teenager combing through the bins of a neighbourhood Sam the Record Man outlet. Sarazin joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1981. He served 14 years in the military, three of which were spent studying at the Canadian Forces School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. One of the first things he did after leaving the army in the mid-1990s was gather possessions hed left at his parents place, including a few crates of record albums. He brought those same records with him when he and his wife moved to Winnipeg from Ontario eight years ago. He didnt give them much thought until 2017, when a company hed done consulting work for ceased operations, and he suddenly found himself with time on his hands. Sarazins sleeves protect record covers from wear due to friction. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press) He was sifting through his albums one morning when he became impressed with how ones that had been stored in plastic sleeves for close to 40 years looked almost as good as new. On the other hand, those with bare jackets showed visible signs of ring wear; that is, the impression of the vinyl album had transferred to the album cover, Shroud-of-Turin style, owing to friction. Donning his engineers hat, he thought, what if he built a better mousetrap, by using the experience hed gained running a polystyrene plant in Kitchener, Ont., to design what in his mind would be the worlds pre-eminent plastic record sleeve? One that, unlike the sort he was staring at, wouldnt get cloudy over time? (Without getting overly technical, cast polypropylene, the film Sarazin settled on for his sleeves, isnt just clearer than what was previously available, its also more moisture-proof and heat-resistant, as well as being highly resistant to cracks and crinkles.) Heres the interesting part: it was never Sarazins intention to market what he came up with commercially. Except after spending close to a year perfecting his design, only to learn the minimum order the Canadian manufacturer hed chosen to produce them was 5,000, he decided to keep however many sleeves he needed for his records, around 800, and sell the remainder to interested parties via the internet. That turned out to be easier said than done. Sarazin says with a chuckle, noting he sold zero, zilch over the span of six months. Even when he approached record-store owners to offer free samples, they told him he definitely had a superior product, but doubted the average record buyer would be willing to fork over a buck per sleeve, versus the lower quality PVC variety, which cost about a dime, each. After learning the minimum order for producing the record sleeves was 5,000, Sarazin kept what he needed and sold the remainder online. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press) Everything changed for the better in the spring of 2019, after the host of a popular YouTube channel dedicated to all-things-vinyl put together a video touting Vinyl Storage Solutions sleeves. Sarazin sold out within days, which caused him to tell his wife he was contemplating placing an order for 50,000 more. What did she think, he asked? Hey, youre the entrepreneur, you tell me, came her reply. Three years and thousands of satisfied customers in dozens of countries later, Vinyl Storage Solutions has become the full-time gig for the father of two. Steve Ward is the owner of Selkirks Hi Tone Records, one of 150 retail locations in Canada that carry Sarazins sleeves not just 13- and 12-inch models for conventional albums, but smaller versions, too, for 45 r.p.m. singles and compact discs. Ward twigged into Sarazins handiwork two years ago, when he was trying to source Canadian-made sleeves. His ultra-clear sleeves make albums look stunning; the cleanliness and quality put them head-and-shoulders above the competition, Ward says. Vinyl Storage Solutions clear covers are made of cast polypropylene. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press) Ward acknowledges Vinyl Storage Solutions sleeves are a higher-end product, but finds serious collectors dont mind paying a tad more for quality. Nor do 20-somethings who have dropped $40 on the latest Taylor Swift or Harry Styles release, and dont want the jacket to get scuffed up. In addition to selling Mikes sleeves in packs, I use them on my premium, used vinyl, and also give my customers a free sleeve with every new album purchase, Ward goes on. This obviously cuts into my profits slightly, but my customers seem to appreciate it and often return looking to buy a pack, to upgrade from their older sleeves. In late May Sarazin received his third utility patent, this one for a plastic sleeve with fold-out, squared-off edges targeted specifically at multi-album box sets. No sooner had he gotten around to filling pre-orders than people began sending him shots of box sets theyd encased in his sleek-looking coverings. That happens almost daily, he says, turning his phone around to show off a pic of a persons freshly sleeved, 50th anniversary edition of Elton Johns Madman Across the Water. Hes pleased as punch with the success hes had to date, yet still feels as if hes barely scratched the surface. Something like 150 million albums were sold worldwide last year, so yeah, a pretty big number he says, adding he recently inked a licensing deal with a European distributor, which should allow him to turn his attention to the massive market south of the border. Throw in all those records in peoples private collections and sales of two or three million sleeves per year seems entirely doable. Thats the goal, at least. david.sanderson@freepress.mb.ca Canola wasnt even invented when folk artist Pete Seeger sang his way to fame in the early 1960s asking where have all the flowers gone? However, the question is resonating with a few farmers as this years growing season plays out across the Prairies. True the region is awash in yellow canola blooms as usual, but look a little closer and all is not right with Canadas signature oilseed crop. There are reports trickling in from across the West that canola plants in some fields dropping their flowers before forming those valuable oilseed pods. This has happened before. Last year it was pinned to the extraordinarily hot weather during the flowering stage, which causes the phenomenon known as heat blast. But this year, with more than adequate moisture and a slightly cooler-than-average growing season to date, its been bit of a mystery as to why the canola crop is struggling. Social media is rife with speculation, ranging from weather to insect pests to the decline in pollinator populations and even a few conspiracy theories thrown in for good measure. Adding to the uncertainty is a shortage of herbicides such as glufosinate and glyphosate this year, which are tied to the herbicide-tolerant varieties farmers have in their fields. Thats given the weeds an opportunity to leap ahead of their crop, setting the stage for yield reductions and harvest issues. The agronomy team with the Canola Council of Canada has been monitoring the situation and concluded in this weeks newsletter that in the fields most affected by the dropped flowers, the crop is suffering from the after effects of a dry, cooler-than-normal spring. After inspecting fields and consulting with plant physiologists, we believe the failure to flower and lack of normal pod development is caused by plants experiencing a hormone imbalance following early season environmental stress, it said. Different stress factors or combinations of stress factors (from cold to heat to moisture challenges) likely caused similar symptoms in different areas. The council bulletin cautions that while there is evidence of insect pests such as lygus bugs in some of the fields inspected, thats not what is causing the aborted flowers. In other words, the solution wont be found in expensive pesticide or other remedial treatments. We are not aware of any crop protection or fertilizer products that can more quickly alleviate these symptoms, it says. The council is advising farmers not to panic if the crop is looking a bit ragged right now. Canola plants do seem to outgrow these peculiar symptoms, resuming normal bud and flower formation and going on to produce reasonable yield, the council says. Thats asking farmers to take a huge leap of faith. The late planting season combined with a huge spike in production costs is already making this years crop one of the most expensive theyve ever tried to grow. But Curtis Rempel, the councils vice president of crop production and innovation said thats all the more reason to stay steady on the course for production decisions. Dont spend money on things that wont give you an economic return, Rempel said. Look at the yield potential of the crop. Rempel said the canola plant has a remarkable ability to recover from early season stresses. Farmers best course of action is base their management decisions on economic thresholds and yield potential. The end of the drought has also meant the return of a multitude of plant diseases that thrive in warm, humid conditions. These are popping up in canola, cereals and in fields of peas and lentils. Conditions are perfect for the for the development of cereal diseases such as fusarium head blight. Fusarium can cripple yields and destroy end use quality in some cases, making the grain unusable even for livestock feed. That said, industry observers have been pleasantly surprised at how quickly the crops generally are catching up after the delayed seeding. The fields are taking full advantage of the long days, warm nights and plentiful moisture. If this continues, the yields from the productive areas of the fields could well compensate for the low-spot acres lost to excess moisture. Laura Rance is vice-president of content for Glacier FarmMedia. She can be reached at lrance@farmmedia.com A cannabis company has shuttered its three Winnipeg locations amidst a lawsuit it launched against its Albertan business partner. A notice on Uncle Sams Cannabiss flagship store tells would-be customers the business has ceased operations. Owner Josh Giesbrecht points to the lawsuit, and his Alberta business partner, as the reasons for closure. MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Josh Giesbrecht, owner of a weed store called Uncle Sams Cannabis at 171 Bannatyne Ave. I originally had thought there might be a way to keep things going, Giesbrecht said. It became apparent in the last few weeks and days that that wasnt going to be possible. He owns 60 per cent of Winnipegs Uncle Sams Cannabis branch. Uncle Sams Cannabis Ltd. in Alberta holds the remaining 40 per cent. Giesbrecht closed his Ness and McLeod locations in June. The last remaining store, on Bannatyne Avenue, shuttered earlier this month. The company cant function at this point, Giesbrecht said. Recently, the entrepreneur announced he received licensing from the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba to deliver cannabis products through The Half Circle, his latest venture. Hell continue with the delivery business. It will not sell Uncle Sams Cannabis items, Giesbrecht said. He launched a lawsuit against Uncle Sams Cannabis in Alberta, its director Wissam El Annan and Delta 9 Cannabis last month. He alleges El Annan broke a contract in which the two agreed theyd sell their Uncle Sams Cannabis stores together. Delta 9 Cannabis announced last March it had bought all or substantially all 17 Uncle Sams Cannabis stores in Alberta. Giesbrecht said he found out about the deal through the media. Now, hes seeking the staying of Delta 9s purchase, a reversal of any stores transferred to the company, and compensation of $2.4 million to cover specific damages for loss of interest in the consolidated Uncle Sams Cannabis sale. Im confident in our case, he told the Free Press Thursday, after both El Annan and Delta 9 Cannabis had filed notices of motions to strike all or part of his court statement. Delta 9 declined comment on the matter. Its in front of the courts, said Ian Chadsey, the companys vice-president of investor and media relations. Delta 9 Cannabiss notice of motion, filed June 23, calls for striking Giesbrechts statement of claim entirely or partially including any allegations against Delta 9. It says Giesbrechts statement lacks specificity relating to alleged breaches and damages attributable to Delta 9. El Annan and Uncle Sams Cannabis Ltd. filed their own notice on July 7. The notice claims Giesbrecht breached his obligations under the Uncle Sams contract and committed wrongful conduct against the Alberta company, resulting in losses. The notice asks, in part, for a leave so El Annan and the Alberta company can take derivative action against Giesbrecht. El Annan could not be reached by print deadline. Former employees of Uncle Sams stores in Winnipeg have alleged mistreatment, as first reported by CityNews. It was a really unfortunate experience something that I really regretted, said Sadie-Phoenix Lavoie, who said shed worked at the Ness and McLeod shops last winter. She said employees safety concerns about closing shop for the night werent addressed. I would get followed to my car, Lavoie said. Giesbrecht said Uncle Sams Cannabis stores had cameras and panic buttons to keep staff safe. There was a lot of issues around not being paid on time, Lavoie said. Behind closed doors, there was a lot of mismanagement. Giesbrecht rebutted, saying he has no outstanding claims with the Manitoba Labour Board. In January, we got hit by Omicron pretty hard, so we had a bit of a rough patch there, he said, noting employees werent paid on time then but were compensated later. Employment Standards received one claim against Uncle Sams Cannabis last January regarding unpaid wages. The claim was closed due to the claimants lack of participation, a provincial spokesperson said. gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com A proposed six-storey multi-use development is gaining mixed reviews from Osborne Village residents. For some, the space is seen as a fresh addition to the corner of Osborne Street and Gertrude Avenue. For others, the demolition of the former home of local businesses Gags Unlimited, AAA Consignment, Village Laundry and Peg City Yoga turns fond memories to rubble. I think its a great thing. Its good to see those buildings gone, said Burke Ratte, who drove past the site daily for 25 years as a Winnipeg Transit bus driver. I think it was an eye sore. They were falling apart if you ever went in to do a bit of shopping. photos by MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS A six-storey multi-use development with 90 residential units and commercial spaces on the main floor is planned for this lot, now cleared of its former buildings, at the corner of Osborne Street and Gertrude Avenue. In my opinion, anythings an improvement compared to what was there. The proposed development would include 90 residential units, with 14 suites being considered affordable by the standards of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. It would also feature commercial spaces on the main floor, which could attract local business, according to Adam Sharfe of Sharfe Developments. I listened to neighbours and local businesses to see what everyone found to be the most important esthetic, what should be included and what shouldnt be included, Sharfe said. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Construction of the proposed development at Osborne Street and Gertrude Avenue is expected to take around 20 months. Im optimistic its going to send a spark to revive the area and give new local businesses the opportunity to lease some space thats newer and more sound to hopefully flourish and become successful. Sharfe said due to fluctuating prices of construction and suppliers, he is hoping to have an estimated price for the development by August. If all goes according to plan, occupancy would open in two years time: The construction timeline would be around 20 months. Sharfe said its hard to be the one to remove meaningful buildings from an area, but he hopes the new space will be positive for the community. I had memories in the old buildings, so Im already reminiscing of walking through there when I was a kid, even after I bought it. Its something thats on my mind, but Im very encouraged by the amount of support and positivity Ive been receiving from residents and businesses in the area. Lindsay Somers, executive director of Osborne Village Business Improvement Zone, said the proposed building would be a nice entrance to the neighbourhood. This project is exciting. Its going to bring more businesses and homes to Osborne Village. Its further increasing our density, which is good socially and economically for the area, she said. It will add investment to that part of Osborne Village that hasnt seen any growth in decades. The changes werent as popular for Alexa Parker Mackintosh, who used to live in Osborne Village, but moved for reasons related to the changing scene. Its just really sad to see yet another group of iconic buildings die in order to make room for even more cookie cutter condos on a strip that used to be so walkable and fun. There are so many things that couldve been done to revive the area, but it just keeps getting worse, she said. If it were livelier and more affordable, the young folks would be coming in droves, like they did when I was in my teens and 20s. bryce.hunt@freepress.mb.ca OTTAWA Manitobans might have noticed a surprise deposit in their bank accounts Friday, as the federal government tries to make the carbon tax rebate more visible. Whats the payment? The Liberals call the program the Climate Action Incentive, and it comes from the gradually increasing levy that Ottawa collects on fuels. By law, Ottawa remits all revenue from the carbon tax to the source province, in full. Some of it pays for green retrofits in schools and public buildings, but the vast majority arrives in an income-tax credit. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES The carbon tax rebate comes from the gradually increasing levy that Ottawa collects on fuels. Ottawa imposed the levy on Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Ontario, after they failed to implement a stringent carbon plan, a practice the Supreme Court deemed constitutional. Is this rebate new? No. Manitobans have been getting the payments since shortly after the tax started being applied to the province in 2018. The money used to be buried in annual income taxes, offsetting any money owed to the government or adding to a rebate. The Liberals have changed the system to have money put in Canada Revenue Agency accounts every quarter, though Fridays payment accounts for the past six months. The next payments will arrive Oct. 15 and Jan. 15 in half the amounts paid out Friday. How much am I getting? An adult living alone in Winnipegs metropolitan area should be getting $208, including residents of St. Francois Xavier, Springfield and Brokenhead. Single Manitobans living outside that area get $228.80 as part of a 10 per cent increase for rural communities. A family of two adults and four kids will get $832 in Winnipeg and $915.20 outside the city. An adult living with their parents can expect $52 to $57.20. Did I get the payment? The best way to tell is to log in to your CRA account, and go to the benefits tab. If you have direct deposit, your bank account could have a payment titled CANADA FED or Federal Payment. The CRA warns the payment may take as long as 10 days to come through, asking people not to call unless the money isnt listed by July 25. The agency said Friday it needed more time to explain that lag. People who dont file their taxes generally cant get the payment, and those living in another province dont qualify. Is this a net plus for most people? Thats disputed. The idea behind the plan is that people who consume more carbon will spend more than the amount of tax that is equally remitted to everyone, so someone who takes the bus would make more than the driver of a gas-guzzling SUV. The Parliamentary Budget Office confirmed in March that most households indeed get back more in tax rebates than the added costs they face. However, the analysis weighs economic costs, such as the loss of employment and investment income due to the federal climate plan, and found the average Manitoba household would have a net loss in 2030 of $1,145 after rebates. Environmentalists panned that report for not accounting for green jobs that are still being created. dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca Emirates Development Bank (EDB) has signed a credit facility agreement with Valiant Healthcare to support its key expansion plans in the UAE. It is the owner of Valiant Clinic & Hospital, a boutique multi-specialty clinic and hospital located in CityWalk Dubai. The agreement will extend financing to for both capital investment and operational expenditures, allowing it to fulfil its expansions plans and while accessing essential working capital, said a statement from EDB. Healthcare is one of the priority sectors that EDB targets with its range of flexible financial and non-financial solutions, owing to its development and deployment of advanced technology, its contribution to non-oil GDP and its importance to social and economic development. EDBs patient debt approach, in which financing is available with long tenors, extended grace periods and competitive rates, is available to customers and projects in the UAE that support economic diversification, facilitate high-skill job creation and deliver tangible economic impact, it stated. Speaking at the signing ceremony, CEO Ahmed Mohamed Al Naqbi said: "Healthcare is one of the most important sectors in the UAE both in terms of its growth potential and its centrality to the wellbeing of our society. To meet the increasing demand for high-quality clinical and diagnostic services, healthcare spending is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.9%, reaching AED107 billion by 2029." The signing ceremony was attended by Valiant Healthcare Chairman Faisal Juma Belhoul, CEO Ahmed bin Juma Belhoul alongside other senior officials from both entities. "Our agreement with Valiant Healthcare demonstrates our commitment to enhancing the national healthcare ecosystem by expanding the provision of high-quality healthcare in the UAE. Crucially, and central to EDBs broader mission, it will also have an important developmental impact," stated Al Naqbi. "This deal underlines EDBs role as a strong, trusted, and reliable partner for local and international businesses in priority sectors that are looking to expand or setup their business in the UAE," he added. Juma Belhoul pointed out that with EDBs support, Valiant will move forward with its comprehensive buisness plan. "We will introduce our patients to additional highly valued premium inpatient rooms, in addition to a state of the art Cath-lab & EP lab, lead by UK, American and European board certified Physicans, adding value to the entire UAE healthcare industry & in line with Dubais vision of being a medial tourism hub," he added.-TradeArabia News Service A separatist group on Saturday attacked civilians in Nduga district of Indonesia's eastern Papua, killing 10 people and seriously injuring two others, a police spokesperson said, Trend reports citing Xinhua. The group, which the Indonesian government called "a criminal armed group (KKB)," launched separate attacks on four sites in the district, provincial police spokesperson Ahmad Mustafa Kamal said. One of the attacks was an ambush of a truck carrying civilians, by 20 members of the armed group with three long rifles and one pistol, he said. The truck was shot several times from a distance of 50 meters, he told Xinhua over phone, adding that bodies were recovered and injured persons were found at all the sites of attacks. "Totally, 10 people were killed, and two others suffered from injuries, they are all civilians," he said. Nereo Zorro was crouched down in front of a Spence neighbourhood garage last week, with a can of spray paint in his hand, when a man approached him and asked a question tinged with a touch of suspicion: what exactly are you doing? Zorro understood the mans concern: most garage doors and fences along the alleyway, pockmarked with potholes, had at least a trace of unwanted graffiti. But the 36-year-old artist, who looks about half his age, took a moment to explain himself as he sprayed the colours of a red fox onto the metal door. He was asked to paint this. ETHAN CAIRNS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Artist Nereo Zorro put a call out on social media seeking willing home owners who wanted creatures, such as the red fox, painted on their garages. Zorro, a chosen last name which coincidentally means fox in Spanish, was born and raised in Winnipeg, and his first home was a stones throw away on Furby Street. A skilled muralist, in recent years, Zorro began examining his old stomping grounds, more particularly, its back lanes. Where others might see broken concrete, overflowing dumpsters, and unwanted graffiti, Zorro saw potential to reimagine an untouched spatial resource. These back lanes which had fallen into disrepair were indicative of greater societal issues poverty, inequity, misallocation of resources not any problem inherent to the West End or its residents. As an artist is wont to do, he wondered whether a little bit of colour might help. ETHAN CAIRNS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Nereo Zorros spray paints his mural of a fox behind 500 Langside St. So a few weeks ago, he put out a call on social media for a special project, seeking willing garage owners: painting creatures, like the red fox, which lived in the neighbourhood before any buildings were ever put up. These animals used to roam these lands before us, he says. Im open to all worthy creatures because the world is not just Winnipeg, he adds. We need to recognize the connection that we have with nature, and all living beings who share our world. The first homeowner to volunteer their door Zorro does charge a flat rate to cover the cost of each mural lived in an ideal spot: directly behind the Furby Tot Lot. ETHAN CAIRNS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Nereo Zorro wants to inject more colour and life into the core area. Early on a warm summer Thursday, there were no tots in the lot, the play structure dormant. On one side of the lot, behind an apartment building, was a section of back lane about 20 metres wide, filled with all manner of garbage old mattress frames, food wrappers, discarded furniture. I was talking to someone on the street the other day and she said she hadnt been back in 20 years, and my, had the neighourhood changed, says Zorro. It was clear she didnt think the change was for the better. But thats the thing about change: if it can happen in one direction, it can happen in the other. Thats Zorros hope for the murals. I want them to help change perceptions, maybe add some more colour and more life into the area, especially ones where kids are connected to, he says. They can get inspired. Its like looking at a pretty flower or looking at a sunset. The same thing applies. It has the same effect. Nereo Zorro spray paints his mural of a fox in the alley of 500 Langside St. (Ethan Cairns / Winnipeg Free Press files) He knows that first-hand: after a rough few years in the 1990s, the rise of local arts organizations such as the Graffiti Gallery, where Zorro has worked, rose up to transform the idea of what you could do with a spray can. More recently, Zorro has worked with young people embroiled in the criminal justice system in projects related to art therapy, and saw a remarkable transformation in the participants demeanour: some rival gang members who could hardly look at each other were holding hands and laughing in a matter of days. In other words, he knows art can change the world. And when he looks at piles of garbage, he shakes his head at the notion that the garbage itself is the issue: its a symptom of underlying societal concerns that have bedevilled low-income neighbourhoods for years, with the pandemic making things much worse. To clean up the garbage week after week and not change anything else would be a Band-Aid solution, he says. I am more interested in the back end of things, he adds. The back lanes. They can teach you a lot about a neighbourhood. Maybe even more than the front yard. The back lane is out of the direct eye of the public: its where the truth of a place often lies, unvarnished and unconcerned with judgment. Zorro, who spent most of his life in the West End and has recently taken up residence in Costa Careyes, Mexico, looks at the lanes as dormant ecosystems: a lot of space which do not get enough use, or attention. In Wolseley, he saw the wild-life centred garage murals of his friend, the local artist Kal Barteski, and thought something similar could enhance life in the lanes a bit further east. His goal is to paint 37 murals across the country on garages to help enliven the alleyways, with commissions from homeowners in Calgary and Toronto already in the works. But Zorro hopes to do the bulk of his work in the neighbourhood where he grew up. Last week, he pulled up his golden Honda Odyssey van to the house on Langside, putting it in park and sorting through an impressive array of spray paints. The red fox is significant to him: not only is fox his chosen last name, its a name he gave his son, inspired by a fox sighting at Seven Sisters Falls a decade ago. He pushed on the cans trigger, and fumes of colour spurted out in controlled beams. Chefs sometimes say if you want to get a rooms attention, start chopping. Painters start painting. Then, the neighbourhood takes notice. A tattoo artist approached Zorro to talk about the art on her body. Families asked about the process. Some children pointed at the project from the Tot Lot They were looking at this, instead of at that, he says gesturing to the mess of trash. And then a neighbour emerged to ask a question tinged with suspicion. When Zorro explained, the man eased up, and then told the artist he was doing something good. That was probably my favourite interaction, because it was a transformation that happened in one conversation, Zorro says. It changed. ben.waldman@winnipegfreepress.com The City of Winnipegs workforce is slowly becoming more diverse, a new civic report finds. However, the study says staff diversity still lagged behind that of the community itself in 2021, especially for women and people with disabilities, while the median pay for those within equity groups was also lower that of all city employees. A human resources expert said the data provides valuable insight. Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press Files A recent report found female employees only represented 28.2 per cent of the City of Winnipegs workforce but about 51 per cent of the total population. These diversity reports help remind the privileged among us that there are still barriers, there are still problems, there is still work to do, said Katherine Breward, who teaches human resource management at the University of Winnipeg. Last year, people who self-identified as Indigenous represented 11.1 per cent of the citys workforce, and 12.2 per cent of the overall population. Racialized peoples represented 16.4 per cent of the workforce, and 25.7 per cent of the total population. Women represented 28.2 per cent of the workforce, and about 51 per cent of the total population. Those with self-identified disabilities represented 4.5 per cent of the workforce, and 34.3 per cent of the citys population. Coun. Markus Chambers, a member of city councils human rights committee, said more work is needed to ensure consistent employment equity in all categories over the coming years. Theres always room for improvement. We are trending in the right direction but it is a matter of continuing to provide opportunities not only for employment but for transferring of skills. Breward said a key challenge for employers is to determine the barriers that act as obstacles to meeting diversity goals. The reason that (progress is so) slow is a lot of the barriers that are faced are really subtle. They are not things that people are doing on purpose. There are things that people dont even recognize are barriers, she said. For example, Breward said many potential employees with autism excel at work that involves pattern recognition and attention to detail but may struggle with reading social cues during job interviews. That interview is a meaningful and substantial barrier to people getting employment, said Breward. Among three of the citys traditional equity groups, representation was slightly higher in 2021 than during the previous year, with the exception of women, who made up about one percentage point less of the overall workforce than in 2020. Breward said COVID-19 pandemic demands to care for elderly relatives who fall ill or isolate with sick children disproportionately affected women. Women are (often) expected to take on (caregiving) responsibilities and employers dont provide adequate supports for that, she said. While the median annual salary for city employees was $62,116 in 2021, medians for each equity group fell thousands of dollars lower. That amount dropped to $57,608 for Indigenous staff, $56,975 for racialized employees, $57,059 for female staff, and $51,708 for workers with disabilities. Breward said the pay gap reflects the fact equity-seeking people often take on entry-level jobs and then face barriers to promotion, while womens career prospects are more likely to be affected by family duties. Certain employees are also far more willing to negotiate their wages than others, she added. There is a lot of data that shows men are much more willing to negotiate their starting salary than women (and) people with privilege generally feel more confident negotiating their starting salaries. Breward said another key challenge for employment equity is access to education, which can be a key requirement to obtaining management-level positions and higher salaries. The 2021 data marks the first time the city reported on the representation of LGBTTQ+ and newcomer community members within its overall workforce, which account for 1.5 per cent and 0.31 per cent, respectively. Data on how that compares to the general population was not available, while Statistics Canada figures were used for other groups. Since the diversity report is based on self-declared data, it may not fully reflect the workforce, the city warned. Overall, Chambers said hes glad to see an apparent increase in diversity: Its (important to) ensure that services that we are providing and the person that is administering them are reflective of the community that were serving. In an emailed statement, spokesperson Tamara Forlanski said the city is taking several steps to increase diversity, including a job fair that invited 100 low-income, Indigenous and newcomer youth earlier this year. joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga Five Manitobans set to stand trial next month for repeatedly violating pandemic restrictions were in court Friday as Crown officials tried to block their charter challenge of the charges. Retiree and lockdown opponent Gerry Bohemier, Hugs over Masks organizer Sharon Vickner, anti-lockdown rally organizers Todd McDougall and Patrick Allard, and Church of God (Restoration) pastor Tobias Tissen were individually charged for alleged repeated violations of public health orders involving outdoor gatherings between November 2020 and May 2021. The five co-defendants have filed notices of application arguing their arrests were in violation of their charter right to assembly. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Anti-lockdown rally organizers Todd McDougall is anti-lockdown protesters individually charged for alleged repeated violations of public health orders involving outdoor gatherings between November 2020 and May 2021. The Crown countered with its own motion to dismiss the defence motion, arguing before provincial court Judge Victoria Cornick on Friday that the issue had already been settled in an October ruling by Queens Bench Chief Justice Glenn Joyal. Joyal dismissed legal challenges launched by Gateway Bible Baptist Church and six other churches. They argued the provinces pandemic public health orders unfairly violated their rights and were improperly enacted into law. The churches specifically challenged three provincial orders that in the fall of 2020, at the height of the second wave of the pandemic in Manitoba, restricted private and public gatherings and limited on the number of people who could attend in-person worship services. Joyal ruled that although the orders did restrict the freedoms of religious expression and peaceful assembly, they didnt infringe upon charter rights to liberty and equality. He said they were justified as a pandemic response based on credible science. The issues being raised arent new, Crown attorney Charles Murray told Cornick. They were all dealt with in (the) Gateway Baptist (decision). Lawyer Alex Steigerwald, who represents four of the five co-defendants, argued Joyals decision focused on indoor church services, with only a cursory mention of outdoor gatherings. There is a fundamental distinction between this case altogether and the Gateway case, he said. We are here today for outdoor gatherings. Steigerwald argued people opposed to pandemic restrictions constituted a distinct group of people and as such were discriminated against by the government, which was inconsistent in its enforcement of outdoor gathering restrictions, noting in particular a local Black Lives Matter rally held in June 2020 that was allowed to proceed without interference. The government was treating different groups differently in this case not based on what they were doing, but what they stood for, he said. Cornick will rule on the Crowns motion on Aug. 2. The trial is set for five days, beginning Aug. 22. dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca Opinion Many Canadians believe we have a better track record on womens participation in politics than the facts warrant. A record number of women became MPs after the 2019 and the 2021 federal elections thats good news. But the increase was minimal: from 98 women in 2019 to 103 women out of 338 MPs in 2021 hardly worth boasting about. Currently, only 30.5 per cent of MPs are female, even though just over 50 per cent of Canadians are women. As of May 2022, Canada ranks 59th in the world for female representation in Parliament, below such countries as Cameroon and Chile, Spain and Senegal. As a collective, MPs dont reflect the Canadian population that they are elected to serve. That needs to change. Scholars and journalists have identified many long-standing reasons for the gender imbalance, such as parental leave policies and the tendency to nominate women in less winnable ridings. But another problem is newer, getting worse and needs our immediate attention: online abuse and harassment of women political candidates. In 2019, I was part of a team that examined online abuse of all political candidates during the federal election. We developed a machine-learning model that classified all the tweets at political candidates as positive, neutral or low/medium/high negativity. By negativity, we meant something that attacked candidates for their identity, not robust discussion around policies. Sadly, but unsurprisingly, our research found only seven per cent of tweets were positive, while 16 per cent were abusive and around 40 per cent negative. We also interviewed 31 candidates and campaign staff to understand how online abuse affected campaigning. One NDP MP, Jenny Kwan, noted abuse and misinformation often intertwine, telling us misinformation is often the first step. Then it can escalate to an attempt to generate negativity and hatred toward certain groups of people. Former MP Celina Caesar-Chavannes described how online abuse increased whenever she garnered greater public attention, particularly after she started to discuss her experiences of discrimination as a Black female politician. Former Green Party leader Elizabeth May worried that harassment leaves decent people out of the space because its so unpleasant to be in it. Some candidates also expressed regret that they now had to use social media as a bulletin board rather than a space to engage with constituents. Overall, we found online abuse exacerbates distrust in politics and presents another barrier to political participation by people from under-represented groups. Unfortunately, surveys indicate the problem of online abuse is worsening, and certain types of abuse are likelier to affect women than men. In a 2021 survey, 39 per cent of female and 32 per cent of male journalists said they experienced online harassment at least once a month; 78 per cent of female journalists said in 2021 that online harassment has increased in frequency over the last two years. Women were nearly twice as likely to receive sexualized messages or images, and six times as likely to receive threats of rape or sexual assault. LGBTTQ+ and those with multiple marginalized identities receive the most harassment. What can be done? Along with Chris Tenove, we published a report making wide range of recommendations for how to address this situation. First, candidates and campaign teams need to develop proactive plans to manage harassment. Candidates should also communicate norms for productive online discourse to their own supporters to discourage them from abusing opponents. Second, political parties should ensure they provide training and resources to candidates that also address candidates diverse experiences and risks. Third, social media platforms need to improve their transparency and be more responsive to threats, particularly during elections. Fourth, policy-makers can create regulations that mandate transparency from platforms, push for more effective content moderation and provide support to groups addressing online abuse. Finally, individual users can consider their own behaviour online and how far their knee-jerk comments or retweets might be contributing to the problem. They can also think about how to support those who are experiencing abuse. Canada has had female MPs for more than 100 years. Yet Switzerland, where women only gained the right to vote in 1971, comes closer to parity with 42.5 per cent female parliamentarians. If Parliaments composition is ever going to reflect the Canadian population, we need to address the full range of issues keeping women from running and winning. Heidi Tworek is a Canada Research Chair and associate professor in international history and public policy at the University of British Columbia. Opinion Consider the following not-so-fictional scenario: a labour organization, whose members provide crucial services that safeguard the lives of Manitobans, cries out for more resources during a time of immense crisis and profound staffing challenges. How does the provinces Progressive Conservative premier respond? Well, it seems that depends. If the organization in question is the union representing nurses who have worked through the pandemic under unimaginable stress, in conditions so desperate that many have either been broken by the strain or have, for purely self-preservational reasons, left the profession altogether the answer amounts mostly to platitudes and promises. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Premier Heather Stefanson: We have their backs. In response to the nurses ongoing plight, Premier Heather Stefanson has offered a pledge that more nursing graduates are on the way E.T.A. a few years hence and vague assurances of sympathy and support. Pretty thin gruel, really, for health-care heroes who have endured seemingly ceaseless overtime demands, been forced into unfamiliar roles, and worked (until last fall) for four and half years under an expired collective agreement the province seemed disinclined to renegotiate. If, however, the aforementioned labour group happens to represent rank-and-file law enforcement offers, whose bargaining agency is at loggerheads with the Winnipeg Police Services senior commander, Ms. Stefanson seems more than willing to wade directly into the fray. On Tuesday, the premier took it upon herself to offer unsolicited comments relating to the current unease between WPS Chief Danny Smyth and Winnipeg Police Association president Moe Sabourin. Mr. Smyth, having earlier made remarks about recent assaults at The Forks that some characterized as dismissive of public concerns, was the target of pointed rejoinders from Mr. Sabourin, who used the occasion to call for an increase in general foot patrols (read: more police jobs) as a step toward addressing the rise in violent crime. A day after Mr. Sabourins public lambasting of the chief, Ms. Stefanson, for reasons that remain unclear, tweeted in support of front-line officers, who have done such amazing work throughout very, very difficult times. The premier was blunt: We have their backs. Upon returning from a gathering of provincial premiers in Victoria, Ms. Stefanson doubled down on her Twitter tidbit, saying she wants Manitobans to feel safe, and that her government will work with our front-line police officers who are out there doing incredible work day in, day out. JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS In response to the attacks at The Forks, police are doing more foot patrols and will have a full-time presence on weekends for the time being, said police chief Danny Smyth. Not surprisingly, Mr. Smyth admitted to being taken aback a little bit by the premiers Twitter-finger trespass into matters of civic jurisdiction. All of which leaves a single, over-arching question: why? There was actually nothing inaccurate or particularly controversial about the chiefs comments. Violent crime is, in fact, not new to this city, and the citys police force has a role to play in combatting it. But as Mayor Brian Bowman rightly pointed out, its root causes poverty, addiction, mental-health issues and families in crisis are very much areas of provincial jurisdiction. So why would Ms. Stefanson choose to insert herself into the WPSs ongoing internal spat? And, more puzzling, why would the leader of a government that has made it its mission to obstruct and frustrate organized labour side with the union, while casting shade on the same chief whose hands-off approach she vocally supported during last winters trucker-convoy encampment outside the legislature? Theres only one possible answer: perceived political advantage. Clearly, the premier is aware of her partys current polling trajectory, and is scrambling to find issues on which to campaign in next years fixed-date election. In other words, dont be surprised to see a 2023 PC campaign in which crime, safety and good ol law and order are front and centre. In June, Minnesota State College Southeast hosted two summer camps for high school students. The students explored a range of career options, technical and trade experiences, and college classes. Ive never seen a CNC machine before and I found it interesting, said one student. Also, we got to make cool coins! Welding was very fun, and it brightened my future ahead, said another. Southeast Explorers Camp (June 13-17) was a five-day residential experience that drew 22 students from across the Southeast region, nearby Wisconsin, the Twin Cities and beyond. The students stayed in the dorms at Winona State University and enjoyed activities on campus and off including canoeing at Whitewater State Park. Camp Trade and Technology (June 21-23) was an opportunity to explore several career fields with half-day sessions offered in CNC machining, construction, electronics, mechatronics, auto body repair and automotive tech. Participants could select which sessions they wanted to attend they could choose only one or attend all six, according to their interests. While Southeast Explorers Camp offered a residential experience and Camp Trade and Technology was broken into shorter sessions, both camps gave high school students a glimpse of the college experience and a view toward future career paths. The camps were made possible by the generous support of Ashley Furniture Industries and The Ron & Joyce Wanek Foundation, so the students were able to participate at no cost. We are grateful to Ashley and to the Wanek Foundation, not only for their support of these camps, but for their commitment to providing opportunities to engage young people in career and technical education experiences, said Josiah Litant, MSC Southeast Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Executive Director of MSC Southeast Foundation. They share our belief that education at a technical and community college is a pathway to prosperity for students, and we are deeply appreciative of their partnership and investment in our community. MSC Southeast was able to bring Camp Trade and Technology (Camp T&T) back to campus after missing the past two years due to Covid. Camp T&T is a great opportunity for high school students to explore multiple career paths, working with our faculty to complete hands-on projects in our state-of-the-art labs, said Calvin Clemons, director of trade and technology. Southeast Explorers Camp is a totally new program, organized by Pao Vue, director of equity and inclusion. Southeast Explorers attracted students from rural and urban locations, representing a wide range of racial and ethnic backgrounds. Further, many of the students would be first in their families to attend college, said Pao Vue. We had two goals: to expose students to potential career pathways at MSC Southeast, and to show students that Southeast Minnesota is a great place to attend college and ultimately live. Biology instructor Elizabeth Micheel took Southeast Explorers students to a nearby stream and pond to collect invertebrates and water samples. The purpose was to determine the environmental health of the water. It was wonderful to see the students so engaged. Some jumped right in the water and were very happy to learn that there are careers where they can be out in nature every day, she said. It brought a smile to my face as I heard several rounds of Look! Look what I found! from students that day. Students in both camps explored CNC Machine Tool with instructor Todd Ives. They learned what CNC machining is, and that everything they come in contact with was produced from a machine shop at some level, he said. They were engaged, eager and ready to try new things. This was a great opportunity to expose students to a variety of trades programs that some never knew existed. Southeast Explorers students had positive comments to share about the sessions they attended. I was able to do the hands-on experience, said one welding student. Another added, I like working with my hands to do things. Following the nursing session, one student said, It was fun and a great learning experience, while another simply exclaimed, My future job! Calvin Clemons said, After Camp T & T, all the students said that they learned something new and that the camp was fun and engaging, he commented. Additionally, several students expressed interest in attending our college after high school graduation and continuing their education in one of the technical programs they experienced. A Mauston artist who specializes in wood carvings earned recognition for his work in Madison during the weekend of July 9-10. J.J. (Jim) Lynes, who uses a variety of different woods for his designs, was awarded the Best of Category, Wood Blue Ribbon for his carvings at Art Fair Off the Square in the states capital. He earned the recognition at a fair featuring roughly 140 artists with different forms of materials and work. Lynes said that he was one of the Wisconsin artists set up on Martin Luther King Drive in Madison near Monona Terrace. Each artist was judged by their booth at the fair, and that each category had a winner, he said. There were 11 categories, including wood, ceramics, glass, photography, painting, fiber, graphics, jewelry, mixed two-dimensional and three-dimensional, and sculpture. He added that another art fair, Art Fair On the Square, featured artists from Wisconsin, as well as the rest of the United States and other parts of the world. The fair was open during the same days as Art Fair Off the Square and was located around the Capitol Square as well. Oh Arts, an art gallery in Mauston, sells Lyness works. One of the five owners of the gallery, Diane Dahl, lauded Lynes for his wood carvings and said he is much deserving of his recognition. She also said Lynes has taught art along with his creations. He is a great, nice guy and his skill is incredible, said Dahl. He is just a top-notch artist and he works hard at it. He is one of those talented artists who works hard and deserves everything he gets. Dahl said that during the summer time, when Lynes presents his works at different fairs and shows, his work comes and goes from Oh Arts. He is trying to support the gallery and we are trying to support him, said Dahl. Lynes was born and raised in Independence, Iowa. He moved to Madison from Iowa before living in the Fox River Valley area (Appleton, Neenah, and Menasha). Prior to living in Mauston, where he has resided for roughly 15 years, he lived in Stevens Point. He is married to his wife, Cathy, and has two children, Ryan and Kristin, along with five grandchildren. Along with presenting his own work, Lynes enjoys seeing the variety of art from others at the fairs in which he exhibits. Works that Lynes has created include bird houses, Native American heads, carvings made using the texture of tree bark, and more intricate carvings such as one depicting a gold mine. Based on the amount of labor he puts into his projects, he has sold them from as low as $25 to nearly $10,000. One of his bird houses has a human face with a large beard carved into it. The site of the humans mouth is where the birds enter and exit the house. He also carved a caricature of a smoking pipe to the side of the mouth-like entrance, for which he used wood from a white cedar tree branch. Lynes said carving his bird houses range from roughly 90 to 120 hours of labor time. The Native American head, which features many intricate carvings, was carved into butternut wood and was a 430-hour project, according to Lynes. He said the butternut grain allows for a lot of detail. A unique part of a cypress tree, the knee, was the basis for the mountainous portion of his gold mining carving. The knees usually grow around the tree and Lynes described them as jutting out of the water in swamps. For the houses on the 275-to-300 hour mine project, he used the bark from cottonwood trees. Another face carving, the Wood Spirit, was largely done based on the shape of the bark it was carved into. Because of Lynes usage of the natural shape of the source to guide the project, he said this piece was less labor intensive, taking roughly a day to complete. The bark indicates what I might see in there to carve, said Lynes. I made the hat with part of the bark. Not a full hat, but I can indicate it was a leather hat. You have to kind of work with what youve got. Lynes used cottonwood bark again for the Wood Spirit and said it is easier material to carve than cedar or butternut. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday discussed the establishment of a coordination center in Turkiye for grain exports via the Black Sea with French President Emmanuel Macron, along with bilateral relations and regional issues, Trend reports citing Daily Sabah. In a phone call with his French counterpart, Erdogan told Macron that it was decided to manage the export process of Ukrainian grain from a coordination center that will be established in Turkey's largest city Istanbul and will consist of Turkish, Russian, Ukrainian and United Nations officials, the Presidency's Directorate of Communications said. The Turkish president said that the early implementation of the plan will provide great relief in the context of global food security, the statement added. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will provide Egypts Ministry of Health and Population with a grant worth $11.2 million to support patients suffering from HIV and tuberculosis as well as to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19. Turned away for being 5 pounds over; Family says daughter publicly humiliated about her weight at Raging Rivers Waterpark Ukraine's harvest becomes the new battlefield, as fires blacken its arable heartlands World War II veterans take flight in the B-25 'Show Me' in Paducah Israeli occupation forces said they had killed a Palestinian man who allegedly tried to stab their officers during a raid on his home in east Jerusalem early Monday. A view from Wrexhams Member of Parliament Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South Members of Parliament and Assembly Members to write a monthly article with updates on their work in their respective Parliaments and closer to home you can find them all here. Today, Wrexhams MP Sarah Atherton writes Ahead of Wrexham Council submitting their bid to the UK Governments Levelling Up Fund, it was an honour to join Spencer Harris, organiser of the petition, and Thomas Wynne Lewis, from the daily post, in delivering the 16,000-signature petition to No.10. The petition shows the strength of feeling across the globe for the redevelopment of the Racecourse Grounds Kop Stand, which forms part of the Gateway Levelling Up Fund bid. Currently, if you live in Wrexham and want to watch an international game, you need to travel to Swansea, Cardiff, or go over the border. The redevelopment of the Kop Stand would allow Wrexham to, once again, host international sporting events by increasing the capacity and facilities of the stadium. The sheer support behind the petition proves the value of UKG Levelling Up initiative after Wrexham has been neglected by Labour for two decades. Fingers crossed for a successful outcome! The UK Government has listened to Wrexham constituents concerns about the cost-of-living crisis and announced a new 650 cost-of-living payment for 9,600 families in Wrexham. Payments are made automatically and have started now. On top of the nonrepayable 400 energy bills rebate set out by the Chancellor in March, this extra support includes an automatic 650 payment for households on means-tested benefits starting in July, a separate 300 payment for pensioners, and a 150 payment for eligible disabled people. Once again, the UK Government is dedicated to supporting hard-working families in Wales through a total of 37 billion worth of support across the UK so far this year. As a nurse myself, ensuring Wrexham has access to high quality and timely healthcare has always been one of my priorities. It has been a lonely place calling for better healthcare in Wrexham, but I am pleased that politicians of all party colours have now started to join this cause. Last month, a BBC Wales documentary on healthcare in North Wales focused on the shocking state of Wrexham Maelor Hospital. Watch via this link: BBC iPlayer BBC Wales Investigates Under Pressure: Spotlight on the NHS Following this report, I raised these concerns in Parliament with the Health Secretary, who responded by agreeing with me that Wales has lots of lessons to learn about running the NHS. As usual, I am in regular contact with the Chief Executive of BCUHB and the Managing Director of Wrexham Maelor Hospital recently to raise my concerns and address individual constituents concerns. Last year, I launched a survey to assess parking options in Wrexham. 69% said that they were dissatisfied with the availability of car parking spaces in Wrexham, and many commented on the sharp practices of private car parking firms. However, I have pressed the Council for the free after 11 am scheme to continue. Following this, I raised residents concerns to Ministers and in response, the UK Government announced a package of measures in February 2022 that would see charges reduced from 100 to 50, and a new Code of Practice to keep cowboy private parking firms in check. However, this has been put on hold due to legal challenges from the parking companies. However, I will continue to raise this issue in Parliament until such time as the court rule. Since August 2020, I have advocated for the Rossett Focus Group (RFG). Their objection is based on the flood risk of the land proposed for development in Rossett by the Castle Green Development. As the situation evolves, I chaired a meeting between Naural Resources Wales (Welsh Government) and RFG to ensure both sides could put forward their case. I will continue to support Wrexham residents in any way and ensure that constituents voices are heard within local planning processes. As always, if you are a resident in Wrexham and need my assistance with any local or national issues, please contact me by emailing sarah.atherton.mp@parliament.uk Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South Welsh and UK Parliament representatives to write a monthly article with updates on their work and closer to home you can find them all here. Talented Wrexham butchers in bid to become world champions A group of talented Welsh butchers is stepping up training and honing skills in preparation for the World Butchers Challenge in the United States this autumn. Craft Butchery Team Wales will make its debut at the global competition, which will be contested by 14 countries in Sacramento, California on September 2 and 3. Defending champions are Celtic cousins Ireland. The team, formed in 2020 and managed by retired butcher and experienced competition judge Steve Vaughan from Penyffordd, is a division of the Culinary Association of Wales. Team captain Peter Rushforth from Innovative Food Ingredients, Lytham St Annes, is joined by Craig Holly, from Chris Hayman Butchers, Maesycymer, Hengoed, Tom Jones from Jones Brothers, Wrexham, Matthew Edwards, a lecturer at Coleg Cambria, Connahs Quay, Dan Raftery from Meat Masters Butchers, Newtown, Liam Lewis from Hawarden Farm Shop and Ben Roberts from M. E. Evans Butchers, Overton-on-Dee. Team sponsors are the Food and Drink Wales, the Welsh Governments department representing the food and drink industry, Atlantic Service Company from Newport, Kepak from Merthyr Tydfil, AIMS (Association of Independent Meat Suppliers), Hybu Cig Cymru Meat Promotion Wales, Cambrian Training Company, Innovative Food Ingredients, M. E. Evans Butchers, Dick Knives and Tiny Rebel. With butchers from across the globe going head to head to become world champions, the competition is often referred to as the Olympics of Meat. The competition is conducted over three hours and 15 minutes, with competing teams given a side of beef, a side of pork, a whole lamb and five chickens which they must then transform into a themed display of value-added products. Teams are allowed to provide their own seasonings, spices, marinades and garnish to finish products that are designed to inspire and push the boundaries, yet which are also cookable and would sell. Independent judges score each team based on technique and skill, workmanship, product innovation, overall finish and presentation. Ben Roberts will represent Wales in the World Champion Butcher Apprentice competition. Modelled on the World Butchers Challenge, butcher apprentices have just two hours and 15 minutes to break down a range of primal cuts into a display of pre-determined products and their own creations. Craft Butchery Team Wales co-ordinator Chris Jones, head of Cambrian Training Companys food and drink business unit, praised the commitment of the team members who meet weekly and train every fortnight. Its an entirely new experience for the butchers because this will be their first team competition and they dont come any bigger than the World Butchers Challenge, said Mr Jones, who will be Wales judge at the competition. What they lack in team competition experience, they more than make up for in commitment and dedication. They are a tight-knit group that has known each other for a long time and training is going really well. They are all understandably proud to be representing Wales, because not many people get that chance, and we shall be doing our utmost to fly the Welsh flag with style. Its a far bigger competition this year than it has been in the past, so Wales will not be the only country making its debut. Train cancellations announced for Monday and Tuesday due to hot weather Network Rail and Transport for Wales (TfW) are urging customers to only make essential journeys on Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 July, with record breaking temperatures on the way The Met Office has issued a rare amber warning for extreme heat from Sunday (17 July) with temperatures expected to reach the high thirties in some parts of Wales on Monday and Tuesday. Over the border a red warning meaning a risk to life is in place for large parts of England, including the West Midlands and North West England. The currently forecasted temperatures will see the introduction of speed restrictions on railway lines across the country to ensure the safe running of trains, which means journeys will take longer. TfW has announced that services on routes within the areas covered by the red weather warning will be cancelled. The routes affected include: Shrewsbury-Birmingham Chester-Liverpool Chester-Manchester Chester-Crewe Crewe-Manchester Conwy Valley Line Network Rails extreme weather action teams (EWATs) will be using track-side probes and mini weather stations installed around the network to monitor conditions and working closely with weather specialists to adapt plans. Steel rails absorb heat easily and tend to be around 20 degrees above the surrounding air temperature. When steel becomes very hot it expands and rails can bend, flex and, in serious cases, buckle. The overhead electric lines which power trains in some parts of the country are also susceptible to faults in extreme temperatures when the steel wires overheat, which can cause them to hang too low and increase the risk of getting caught on passing trains and knocking out the electricity supply. TfW is working to provide additional capacity on key services to avoid overcrowding, but services are expected to be very busy particularly to coastal destinations such as the North Wales coast resorts, West Wales and Barry Island, along the Heart of Wales Line due to the Royal Welsh Show, and in South Wales due to university graduations in Cardiff and Swansea and conditions onboard are likely to be very uncomfortable in the extreme weather. Passengers are strongly advised to check before travelling in case of further changes to the timetable or on-the-day disruption. Passengers should not travel if they feel unwell, and should stay hydrated by taking a bottle of water while travelling. Free water refill points are available at Llandudno, Machynlleth and Cardiff Central stations Network Rail and TfW are working closely to ensure the safety of passengers needing to travel. Nick Millington, acting route director at Network Rail Wales and Borders, said: Rail passengers in Wales should only travel if necessary on Monday and Tuesday as there may be delays and cancellations to train services due to the extreme heat were expecting. The wellbeing of our passengers is our first priority so were asking everyone who decides to travel to take time to prepare before leaving the house. Remember to bring a water bottle with you, along with whatever else you need to keep yourself well in the heat. Journeys will take significantly longer and delays are likely as speed restrictions are introduced to keep passengers and railway staff safe, so make sure to allow considerably more time to complete your journey and be prepared for very hot conditions. Were working closely with MetDesk to monitor forecasts and adapt our plans, and with our train operator colleagues to make sure we can get passengers who need to travel to their destinations safely. Colin Lea, TfWs Planning and Performance Director, said: The extreme weather that we are set to see on 18 and 19 July is likely to pose a risk of serious illness or danger to life, particularly in the West Midlands and North West England where temperatures will be at their highest. We strongly advise customers to carefully consider whether their journey is necessary, check before travelling in case of changes to services, and allow more time for any journeys they need to make. Warning of increased risk of wildfires due to increased heat and lack of rainfall With an amber weather in place for extreme heat and a lack of rainfall in recent weeks, the Fire and Rescue Services is asking people to be aware of the heightened risk of grass fires and other fires during this period of dry and hot weather. Temperatures are set to sore across the UK over the next three days, with temperatures set to peak on Tuesday afternoon. At the time of writing there is uncertainty about how hot it will get in Wrexham, however forecasts show it could be more than 35C. The hot weather combined with a lack or rainfall in recent weeks means there is heightened risk of wildfires. The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Services Peter Greenslade, Chair of Operation Dawns Glaw, said; We are currently experiencing hot and dry weather conditions, and the forecast for the coming weekend and next week predicts that it will get even hotter. I, therefore, urge people to be extra careful and be aware of the heightened risk of grass fires. If you are planning a barbeque, you must ensure that the barbecue is placed on a flat, non-combustible service, and well away from a shed, trees or shrubs. If you are planning to burn rubbish, please reconsider this. Think, can you take it to a local authority waste disposal site instead? It is illegal to burn grass at this time of year and if you come across somebody burning grassland you can report them, anonymously, to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111, or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org. If it is an emergency, you must always call 999. Lets all enjoy this glorious weather responsibly and safely. By following the above advice, you will reduce the risk of fire and reduce the impact on our fire crews, our communities and the environment. Deputy Minister for Social Partnership, Hannah Blythyn MS, added: Many of us will be thinking about visiting the countryside during this weekends hot weather. Its really important to remember, though, that in dry and hot conditions like this even a discarded cigarette or glass bottle can start a major and devastating fire. I would urge people to heed the advice of our emergency services, to do what they can to keep themselves and others safe, and to keep our Welsh countryside beautiful. On Friday, Summit County medical examiner Dr. Lisa Kohler released a preliminary autopsy report confirming that Jayland Walker died after being shot 46 times by Akron, Ohio, police officers. The unarmed 25-year-old worker was gunned down on June 27 by cops who fired more than 90 rounds at their victim following a brief chase. Nearly three weeks later, the police involved in the shooting have neither been identified nor charged. Dr. Kohler confirmed that Walker did not have any drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of death, and that the cause of death was homicide via multiple gunshot wounds. Police body camera footage released on July 3 confirmed that Walker was unarmed and posed no threat to the 13 police officers who were pursuing him after an alleged equipment violation. Since the release of the footage, Democratic Mayor Dan Horrigan and Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett have imposed a nightly curfew from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. which, as of this writing, is still in effect. Jayland Walker The curfew zone encompasses the downtown core, which includes the police station, two major hospitals, the University of Akron and several residential blocks. Since the imposition of the curfew, some 56 anti-police violence protesters have been arrested and dozens more have been injured by police, who have used tear gas and deployed armored BearCats, SWAT teams and undercover snatch squads to intimidate protesters, effectively criminalizing peaceful protests against police murder. At the press conference held Friday morning to announce her findings, Dr. Kohler confirmed that her office recovered 26 bullets from inside Walkers body. She said Walker suffered several very devastating injuries that would cause death. Dr. Kohler said the injuries included 15 gunshot wounds to Walkers torso, and that he had wounds to his heart, lungs, liver, spleen, left kidney, intestines and multiple ribs. She added that 17 gunshot wounds injured the pelvis and upper leg one bullet struck the face and fractured the jaw eight gunshot wounds injured the arms and right hand five gunshot wounds injured the knees, right lower leg and right foot. Dr. Kohler said that Walker suffered massive blood loss after receiving 41 entry wounds and five graze wounds. She noted there were 15 exit wounds as well, and that some of the bullets fired at Walker may have caused multiple wounds. At least five of the entry wounds were on Walkers back, but it is unknown if those occurred as he was fleeing from the cops or during the roughly five to six seconds when police shot dozens of bullets at Walker after he had collapsed on the pavement from the initial fusillade. Akron police murdering Jayland Walker on June 27, 2022 In a brief question and answer session, Dr. Kohler said she could not determine which bullet wound caused Walkers death, as many of the injuries he suffered were life-threatening. But she did confirm that he arrived to the coroners office with his hands cuffed behind his back. Dr. Kohler said she did not find it strange that Walker was still restrained by the cuffs when he arrived, noting that she keeps a handcuff key on hand because, apparently, the practice of Ohio police depositing shackled corpses at the coroners office is not unusual. Following the Dr. Kohlers press conference, Jayland Walkers family released a statement through its attorneys stating that the report confirms the violent and unnecessary use of force by the Akron Police Department on an unarmed young man, who, as the family expected, was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The statement continued: That Jayland suffered 46 gunshot wounds to his body is horrific. The fact that after being hit nearly four dozen times, officers still handcuffed him while he lay motionless and bleeding on the ground is absolutely inhumane. The family is devastated by the findings of the report and still await a public apology from the police department. The Akron Police Department has confirmed that eight of the 13 cops present during Walkers murder have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the completion of an Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) inquiry. The BCI is not in any sense an independent or fact-finding organization. It exists to provide a veneer of accountability where none exists. As is stated on the Office of Ohio Attorney General website: BCI is committed to serving the law enforcement community, which it does by helping Ohioans feel safe in their communities and inspiring trust in law enforcement On Friday, Clay Cozart, the president of the Fraternal Order of Police Akron Lodge 7, confirmed in an interview with Fox 8 that the eight police officers who shot at Walker had given statements to BCI investigators. Cozart confirmed that some of the cops spoke to investigators last week, while others only gave their statement this week. Walker family lawyer Bobby DiCello has stated repeatedly that none of the police who shot at Walker on June 27 gave a statement that night or prior to viewing the body camera footage that was aired on July 3. This appears to be confirmed by Cozarts statement. Upon completion of the BCI investigation, a report will be commissioned that will be reviewed by far-right Ohio Republican Attorney General David Yost, an ardent defender of the police, who will then decide whether to convene a grand jury and bring charges against one or more of the cops. At a press conference held Thursday, Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett confirmed that the eight cops who shot at Walker are still on paid administrative leave. He reiterated his refusal to release their names. Mylett claimed, without providing any evidence, that the entire police department was receiving death threats, and that there were bounties on officers heads. Mylett said that on the basis of these alleged and unsubstantiated threats, he had authorized every single Akron police officer to take their name tags off. He complained that people were getting their [the police officers] names off of their uniforms, getting on social media and elsewhere and going into our Facebook page here in the police department to identify, get a picture, send that picture and that image out into the public. He said that if a cop was asked by a person for his identifying information, the officer should give their employee number. He continued, If the person was not satisfied with that, the supervisor would be summoned to the scene and deal with the situation. While Mylett claims the motive for concealing the names of officers is safety concerns, the real motive is to give the cops even freer rein to beat and kill people. It is also a response to the fact that local anti-police violence protesters have uncovered a fascist police gang known as Tango-22 that is operating within the Akron Police Department. Tango 22 members and self-identified police officers. [Photo] Last year, local Akron residents forced an investigation into Akron cop Phil Senior, after noticing his III Percenter tattoo on police body camera footage. The III Percenters, like the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, are a fascist militia group that recruits police and military elements. At least eight III Percenters have been arrested for participating in the January 6 coup, one of whom, Texas III Percenter Guy Reffitt, was found guilty on five felony counts earlier this year. Tango 22 members and self-identified police officers. [Photo] The Tango-22 fascist gang includes Akron police officers Todd Stump, Wallace Lytle, the aforementioned III Percenter Phil Senior, and Nate Milstead. Screengrab from Tango-22 website, a fascist police gang operating inside the Akron Police Department. [Photo] As part of their research into Senior, Akron anti-police violence researchers discovered that the Tango-22 gang had its own website, which until recently featured photos and names of the gang members, as well as short biographies confirming that they all had military experience and had all worked in law enforcement. Screengrab from Tango-22 website. [Photo] In addition to the usual glorification of guns and nationalism, the Tango-22 website features a recent social media update that reads, in part: [W]e have temporarily unpublished our social media due to baseless accusations by sham activist groups. We all know they are a cancer to our society, and will eventually go away. Prior to the deletion of photos posted to their social media accounts, this author was able to save some of the images. They show not only their police equipment, but also their far-right politics. Some of the memes posted on the Tango-22 Instagram page downplay the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, while others seem to indicate support for honorary Proud Boy and fascistic killer Kyle Rittenhouse. When the same Akron residents who exposed Senior tried to get the Akron City Council to investigate the Tango-22 gang, they received no support from the local capitalist media or the political establishment. Image posted by "Tango 22" Instagram account showing various right-wing patches including membership in the Ohio Tactical Officers Association. (Top left) [Photo by Instagram] One Akron resident told this reporter that an Akron Council person told him, off the record, that the Department of Justice should investigate this. That was over a year ago. In an interview with PBS on July 13, Kathleen Belew, an associate professor of history at Northwestern University and author of Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America, spoke about the growth of far-right militia elements in the military and police prior to and after January 6, 2021. She said that it was very typical for the white power movement to target active duty members and service members for recruitment because they want those skills that those people bring. She noted the indifference of the US government to the growth of fascistic and white supremacist movements within the military and the police. The Department of Defense has only in the last two years or so begun the process of taking a tally of how many people have this kind of belief system within the armed forces, she said. But plain and simple, she continued, we dont know how big a problem this is because nobody has been keeping an accurate count. And its even worse in police officer record keeping, because there is no centralized record keeping there at all. With a great sense of loss, we report the untimely death of comrade Jerani Ratnayake, a life-long member of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP), the Sri Lankan section of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI). Jerani Ratnayake After being hospitalised with COVID-19 for several days, she died in the early hours of Friday, July 8 due to a heart attack in a Colombo hospital. Jerani was the wife and lifelong partner of Kamilasiri Ratnayake, the national editor of the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) in Sri Lanka. She leaves behind her son, Jayan Ratnayake, daughter, Vaneja Ratnayake, their spouses and four grandchildren. Jerani was a tenacious fighter for Trotskyism in her own right. She was born on February 7, 1949 in Colombo. Her family was living in Mount Lavinia, on the southern outskirts of the city, and her father worked at the Colombo Municipal Council. Her early education was at the Girls High School in Mount Lavinia. Ever since the formal end of British colonial rule in 1948, successive Colombo governments have responded to every serious political crisis by fomenting communal hatreds. The first major anti-Tamil riots took place in 1958, under the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) government. It had come to power in 1956 on the communal program of making Sinhala the countrys only official languagea policy that relegated the islands Tamil minority to second-class citizens. Following the anti-Tamil riots in 1958, Jeranis father was forced to return to Jaffna. Hundreds of Tamils living in the Colombo area, including Jeranis family, were put on a ship and sent to Jaffna. Before entering University of Colombo for her Tamil special degree, she went to the highly regarded Vembadi Girls High School in Jaffna. After graduation she started to work in the Economic Research Department in the Central Bank in 1973. Jerani met comrades of the SEPs forerunner, the Revolutionary Communist League (RCL), at the Central Bank and joined the party. From that time, she was deeply committed to the perspective of Trotskyism and an important figure in the RCLs faction within the Central Bank Employees Union (CBEU). Through its intransigent political struggle, the RCL won the leadership of the CBEU, despite the opposition of defenders of capitalism and their left stooges. Jerani served on the CBEU executive committee several times and also held the post of assistant treasurer. Jeranis decision to join the RCL was significant in many ways. She overcame the social barriers, which exist in a backward country like Sri Lanka, to actively participate in politics and was drawn to the partys revolutionary politics and its fight for the unity of the working class, regardless of race, language and gender. Her uncompromising fight for this perspective won the respect of bank workers. Her speeches at CBEU meetings are still recalled by her former co-workers to this day. Part of a Revolutionary Communist League demonstration in Colombo during the 1970s In joining the RCL, she rejected the perspective of the petty-bourgeois Tamil nationalist movements, such as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), that emerged in the 1970s as a consequence of the 1964 betrayal by the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), which entered the bourgeois coalition government of Sirima Bandaranaike and her SLFP. The LSSP, which claimed to be Trotskyist, abandoned socialist internationalism and accommodated to the SLFPs Sinhala populism. In the 1970s, the second Bandaranaike coalition government with the LSSP and Stalinist Communist Party (CP) rammed through a new communal constitution in 1972 and extensive discriminatory measures against Tamils, triggering a wave of opposition among Tamil youth. Jerani devoted a great deal of her time to Tamil translations for the RCLs Tamil newspaper, Tholilalar Pathai (Workers Path). She worked closely with the newspapers editor, Sabaratnam Rasendran, who died in 2002, and was in the forefront of the RCLs fight against Tamil nationalism. The party also relied on her Tamil language expertise to translate speeches delivered at meetings, including by the founding RCL general secretary Keerthi Balasuriya, for Tamils in the audience. K. Ratnayake, who also worked in the central bank, was elected as CBEU president in 1974, during the second Bandaranaike coalition government. At the time, the RCL fought the ruthless state repression of the coalition government and in the process exposed the left parties such as LSSP as the stooges of capitalism. The party led the CBEU politically, demanding that the LSSP and CP, which falsely claimed to speak in the name of the working class, break from the coalition and fight for a workers and peasants government committed to socialist policies. The RCL group inside the CBEU exposed in particular the pernicious political role of the left centrist group led by Tulsiri Andradi. As the SEP explained in its the Historical and International Foundations of the Socialist Equality Party (Sri Lanka): Tulsiri Andradi criticised the RCL for creating illusions in the reformist partiesthe LSSP and the CPby demanding they take power. The RCLs demand, however, was not aimed at promoting these parties, but rather at breaking their grip over socialist-minded layers of the working class who still grudgingly looked to the LSSP and CP for leadership. Andradis left-sounding denunciation was in fact an evasion of the essential political task of exposing the LSSP and CP and thus left workers in the hands of these parties. The betrayal of this mass movement by the LSSP, CP and LSSP(R) paved the way for the UNP [United National Party] to return to power. At the July 1977 election, the coalition parties suffered a crushing defeat: the UNP won 140 of the 168 seats, the SLFP retained just 8 seats, and the LSSP and CP lost all their seats. Young Jerani was a front-line fighter in this principled political struggle. In 1974, she married K. Ratnayake and became his life-long companion and comrade-in-arms. Their children were born in 1976 and 1985. They lived in Ratmalana, an industrial area on the outskirts of Colombo, where their home became a second home for party comrades. Jerani and Kamilasiri Ratnayake The LSSPs betrayal and its embrace of Sinhala supremacism were major factors in the sellout of the general strike of workers in 1976 against SLFP-led coalition government and the coming to power of the right-wing pro-US UNP government of J. R. Jayawardene in 1977. The UNP government was one of the first in the world to implement the pro-market agenda of opening up the country to the unfettered operations of international finance capital. A second broad-based general strike movement of the working class, centred on the demand for higher pay, erupted in July 1980 against the Jayawardene government. The RCL fought to transform the general strike to a political movement against the government, which was opposed to the fake lefts of the LSSP and CP and their centrist apologists, who declared it was just a pay dispute. Comrade Jerani participated in the strike along with other RCL members, despite Jayawardenes threat to declare the strike illegal. The treachery of the left parties in deliberately limiting the strike opened the door for the government to sack tens of thousands of striking public sector workers. The mass sackings were a heavy blow to the working class. Both members of the Ratnayake family lost their jobs, like many other RCL members, and faced a very hard time living a hand-to-mouth existence. In response to the general strike, the UNP turned sharply to whipping up anti-Tamil chauvinism to divide the working class. Its anti-Tamil provocations culminated in horrific anti-Tamil pogroms in July 1983, which marked the onset of the bloody communal war against the LTTE that engulfed the island for the next 26 years. During the 1983 anti-Tamil pogroms, pro-government thugs burnt the Ratnayake home to the ground and the family had to take refuge in houses of party members. Jerani and their son Jayan lived in the home of comrade Wije Dias for a period. After moving from house to house for months, the family re-built their burned-down house after Jerani was employed as a new entrant into the Central Bank at the end of 1983. Throughout the communal war against LTTE by successive Colombo governments, Jerani continued to courageously campaign in the working class for the RCLs perspective. She sold the partys newspapers, Kamkaru Mawatha and Tholilalar Pathai, in door-to-door campaigns in working class neighborhoods. During the 198586 split of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), Jerani was a staunch supporter of the ICFI in the decisive political struggle against the opportunist and nationalist positions of the British Workers Revolutionary Party (WRP). The defeat of the WRP enabled the Trotskyists to assume control of the ICFI and led to a flowering of genuine Marxism, which was crucial in the difficult political struggles in Sri Lanka. Under the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord signed in July 1987, the Indian government sent troops to northern Sri Lanka to suppress and disarm the LTTE, freeing the Sri Lankan government to unleash state repression against social unrest among Sinhala rural youth in the south of the country. The RCL opposed the Accord on the basis of fighting for the unity of Tamil and Sinhala workers against both governments. Just two weeks after the Accord was signed, the party held a public meeting on August 16 in Navalar Hall in Nallur (near Jaffna), calling for united working-class opposition to the joint repression unleashed by the Indian and Sri Lanka governments. Jerani played an important role in translating the main speech by comrade K. Ratnayake into Tamil. It was a landmark event in the RCLs fight against communal repression and was prominently reported in the media in Jaffna and South India. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) opposed the Accord on the basis of Sinhala communalism, defending the unity of the nation, not the unity of the working class. Its gunmen shot and killed workers, trade unionists and politicians who opposed its reactionary campaign. In November 1988, the RCL called for a united front of all parties and organisations of the working class to take concrete measures against state repression and the JVPs attacks. The party called for workers defence squads, action committees and joint picket lines. Three RCL comrades were murdered by JVP thugs during its fascistic rampage in 198889. In 1988, the RCL again won the leadership of the CBEU by fighting for its perspective. The RCL group in the Central Bank played a pivotal role in the campaign for the united front. Jerani was very active in leafletting, campaigning and explaining to co-workers the complex political issues at stake. In 1996, in the midst of the civil war, the LTTE bombed the Central Bank. Jerani had a narrow escape as she could not report to work that day due to ill health. The RCL lost several comrades in the bombing. Most of the dead and wounded were militant CBEU members. Jerani was deeply saddened by this heinous crime and visited the homes of the victims untiringly one after another. In 2016, comrade Jerani visited Paris with comrade K. Ratnayake who attended the founding conference of Parti de legalite socialiste (PES), French section of the ICFI. She was remembered by her comrades in France, many of whom are Tamil exiles won to the party, she expressed her happiness that the energy she had devoted to fighting for Trotskyism in Sri Lanka had played a central role in building a Trotskyist party in France. Jerani was a sensitive and cultured woman. Literature and music were part of her life. She possessed an aesthetic mind, and enjoyed listening to classical music of many varieties. She was a well-versed reader of classical novels in English and Sinhalese in addition to her native Tamil. Her free time was spent in reading. Biographical novels and movie reviews interested her most. She enjoyed watching movies, historical and theme-based movies in particular. Among party comrades, Jerani, was fondly known for her generous hospitality and culinary skills. Her home was a rendezvous for comrades, especially during difficult periods when the state repression was intense. She never tired of providing for comrades, irrespective of the numbers, and her home was opened for party activitiesincluding in one period as the party office. Her political activities continued until, in 2020, her ailments prevented her from engaging with her usual energy and resourcefulness. It is a tragedy that she was hospitalised with COVID-19 and became another victim of the criminal let it rip policies of governments in Sri Lanka and around the world. The SEP salutes the memory of comrade Jerani Ratnayake. Amid a rapidly worsening pandemic disaster, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced today that the Labor government will temporarily reinstate meagre pandemic leave payments for those infected with, or exposed to, COVID-19. Anthony Albanese addresses media after the National Cabinet meeting on July 16, 2021 (Screenshot: ABC) At a meeting of the National Cabinet this morning, the same federal, state and territory leaders who have axed virtually all pandemic safety measures, allowing the virus to mutate, agreed to a 50-50 split for the reintroduced payments, which will be terminated again on September 30. The payments, established by the former Liberal-National government, expired on June 30, provoking criticism of the federal Labor government by big business as well as anger among workers because of a massive surge in infections, hospitalisation and death, fuelled by the official profit-driven refusal to take any action to eliminate COVID-19. Throughout the week, the Labor government had adamantly defended the scrapping of the payments, along with another of the few remaining scraps of pandemic policy, the provision of free rapid antigen tests (RATs) to pensioners and welfare recipients, over the objections of health authorities and medical experts. Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorsid said: The last thing you need when you have such huge numbers of cases around is for the government to pull its supports for people to do the right thing. Todays decision by the National Cabinet has nothing to do with criticism from health experts, however. It is primarily a response to the demands of business groups, which complained that the rapid growth of infections was exacerbating staff shortages throughout the supply chain. Having ruthlessly demanded the axing of public health measures, the corporate elite now hopes that publicly-funded pandemic leave payments will limit the decimation of workforces through COVID-19 infection, while allowing employers to continue to refuse paid sick leave for workers. Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief Andrew McKellar said: The last thing we need is an uncontrollable spread of illness that would put even more pressure on businesses already struggling with labour shortages. The real effect of the payment is to subsidise the dangerous operations of the same corporate interests that bear chief responsibility for the crisis itself. Increasingly throughout the pandemic, health policy has been dictated by big business, which has opposed mask mandates, lockdowns and other essential measures, allowing COVID-19 to run rampant. The trade unions have been entirely complicit, ensuring workers remained on the job throughout the pandemic, whatever the danger, and opposing calls to shut down production. Fully-paid pandemic leave, not just the $750 weekly allowances, is essential to keep infected workers out of financial straits and reduce the pressure on them to keep working, inevitably spreading the virus to their colleagues. Under conditions where access to accurate polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing has been slashed, infected people also have to resort to unreliable RATs to access potentially life-saving anti-viral treatments, and avoid spreading the virus to others. What remains of the free RAT program will now be left up to the states and territories, however. The escalating COVID crisis is a direct result of the let it rip policies embraced by all Australian governments. While these homicidal policies are commonly associated with former Liberal-National Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Labor governments at state and federal level are now leading the charge. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler declared on Wednesday: There are going to be millions of people infected by COVID in this coming few weeks. Butler has not called for a single measure to end the wave of infection. Throughout the week he refused to even extend pandemic leave payments and the free RAT program, insisting on the need for fiscal responsibility. On Tuesday, Labors Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas announced she had defied the recommendation of the states Chief Health Officer to implement a mask mandate, because it conflicted with the demands of big business. Victoria has seen a 91 percent increase in hospitalisation over the past three weeks, with more than 800 people currently being treated for COVID-19, for the first time since February 2. Numerous hospitals across the state have been forced to cancel elective surgeries as a result of the influx of COVID-19 patients and growing staff shortages due to infection. Labor Premier of Western Australia (WA) Mark McGowan said on Thursday he would not set hard and fast rules, but continue to monitor the situation. The situation is that there are more than 35,000 active cases in the state and 333 people are hospitalised for COVID-19, the highest number during the pandemic. McGowan was previously associated with maintaining a hard border that helped suppress COVID-19 in the state for almost two years. There was not a single COVID-19 death in the state between May 4, 2020 and February 2, 2022. State governments are still slashing the few remaining restrictions. In Tasmania, mandated mask-wearing in health facilities was dropped on June 30. Since then, COVID-19 hospitalisations in the state have more than tripled to 138, far in excess of previous highs. Governments are increasingly adopting the program of the extreme right: No lockdowns, no masks and no vaccine requirements. In NSW, unvaccinated teachers will be allowed to return to work from Monday, while aged care facilities in the state will remove limits on visitor numbers and the requirement for visitors to be vaccinated. Since December 16, 2021, despite 90 percent of people over the age of 16 having had two vaccine doses, 8.5 million infections have been reported in Australia and 8,533 people have died from COVID-19. In NSW, in the week ending July 10, 59.4 percent of people hospitalised for COVID-19 had received at least three shots, close to the states three-dose vaccination rate of 64.8 percent. This reflects the minimal protection the vaccines afford against the now dominant Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants. The refusal of capitalist governments throughout the world, with the exception of China, to suppress transmission of the virus continues to create the conditions for the development of new, more contagious and vaccine-evading variants. More than 40,000 new infections are being reported each day across Australia, and the real figure is likely twice as high, according to health experts. There are 4,719 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, the highest number since February 2. In the past week, 358 people have died from the virus, an average of more than 51 per day. Based on 2019 figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, this would make COVID-19 the leading cause of death in Australia, ahead of ischaemic heart diseases. There have been at least 3,104 COVID-19 deaths in aged care since the start of the pandemic, including more than 2,187 this year and 132 in the past week. Since the beginning of the pandemic, almost 67,000 aged care residents and 49,000 staff have been infected. Yesterday, there were 7,947 active COVID-19 cases in 857 ongoing outbreaks in residential aged care facilities. Far from pouring in the necessary resources, Federal Aged Care Minister Anika Wells confirmed this week that a six-month deployment of 1,700 Australian Defence Force personnel to cover staff shortages in sector will end on August 12. The refusal of all Australian governments, spearheaded by Albanese, to follow the advice of health experts guarantees that this horrific situation will worsen. The working class cannot leave their health and lives in the hands of a ruling elite that is utterly unconcerned by the loss of more than 50 lives each day, as long as nothing stands in the way of corporate profits. Workers must oppose this policy of mass infection and take up a fight for the elimination of COVID-19. This will require a break with Labor and the trade unions and the formation of rank-and-file committees in workplaces, schools and neighbourhoods, so that workers can take matters into their own hands. US President Joe Biden held joint investment talks Thursday with Israel, India and the United Arab Emirates, as Washington seeks to counter the global reach of China. The multilateral summit was convened in Jerusalem where Biden is on his first Middle East tour as president, with leaders from India and the UAE joining remotely. During the summit, the UAE announced it would invest 2 million euros (dollars) in agricultural projects in India, which will supply the land. Private firms from Israel and the US will be invited to also finance the scheme. An Indian solar and wind energy project was also discussed in Jerusalem. Biden joined the summit before speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, during which the president said he wants to secure US interests in the Middle East. "I want to make clear that we can continue to lead in the region and not create a vacuum, a vacuum that is filled by China, and or Russia, against the interest of both Israel and the United States, and many other countries," Biden said. The president departs for Saudi Arabia on Friday, following talks with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in the occupied West Bank. Search Keywords: Short link: A 27-year-old man was arraigned Wednesday in Franklin County Municipal Court in Columbus, Ohio, where he was charged with the rape of a child under 13 years of age, a felony that can carry a sentence of life in prison. The accused, Gershon Fuentes, is being held on $2 million bond. The man has confessed to raping a 10-year-old girl at least twice, resulting in her pregnancy. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost speaks in Columbus, Ohio, on Feb. 20, 2020. [AP Photo/Julie Carr Smyth] The young girls pregnancy came against the backdrop of the US Supreme Courts June 24 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, which struck down the 1973 landmark decision of the high court in Roe v. Wade upholding the constitutional right to abortion. The ruling by the high courts right-wing majority returned the power to the states to define abortion rights or restrictions. The reactionary ruling opened the way for states with anti-abortion trigger laws in place to severely restrict or outlaw abortion. As one of these states, Ohio now bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, or when a fetal heartbeat can be detected. The ban does not allow exceptions for rape or incest but only in cases of a threat to the life of the mother or her severe compromised physical health. As the Ohio childs pregnancy was determined to be of six weeks and three days gestation, she was not eligible to receive an abortion in her home state. She was reportedly taken by her mother to Indiana, where the procedure is legal up to 22 weeks, to receive a medical abortion on June 30. The girls case was first reported July 1 by the Indianapolis Star, which said that an Indianapolis obstetrician-gynecologist who performs abortions, Caitlan Bernard, received a call from a child abuse doctor in Ohio who had a 10-year-old patient in need of an abortion. The Star reported that the girl soon was on her way to Indiana to Bernards care. Rather than provoking sympathy for the plight of the young girl and her family, the Stars story was met by howls of fake news by the conservative print media, Fox News hosts and right-wing elected officials. Surely, they argued, the article could not be true and must be the work of fanatical abortion rights advocates seeking to push their agenda. These forces were particularly incensed that President Joe Biden had referred to the case during his remarks on his toothless executive order on reproductive rights on Friday, July 8. The next day, the Washington Post published an article by its fact checker Glenn Kessler, which began, This is the account of a one-source story that quickly went viral around the worldand into the talking points of the president. On Monday evening, July 11, Fox News Jesse Watters said that if the story was not accurate, the mainstream media and Biden would be seizing on another hoax. The following night, Foxs Tucker Carlson proclaimed the story not true. Along the bottom of the screen ran banners like Media Ran with Story of 10-year-old Pregnant Girl. Appearing Monday on Fox News, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, a Republican, said he had heard not a whisper from law enforcement in Ohio about any reports or arrests made in connection with the case. Republican US Rep. Jim Jordan tweeted in reaction, Another lie. Anyone surprised? The tweet has since been deleted. After the story was proven to be true, Watters preposterously tried to take some credit for Fuentes arrest, which had already been in progress before his reactionary comments. Alongside a graphic that read, Justice Served, Watters said, Primetime covered this story heavily on Monday, put on the pressure, and now were glad that justice is being served. Watters brought Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita (Republican) on his show, who is calling for an investigation of the doctor who provided abortion care to the girl from Ohio with the aim of stripping her of her license. According to documents obtained by numerous news outlets, however, Dr. Bernard not only filed a terminated pregnancy report but filed the report within the required timeframe. On Tuesday, July 12, the Wall Street Journal penned an editorial headlined An Abortion Story Too Good to Confirm. After quoting Biden, who said, Ten years old. Raped, six weeks pregnant. Already traumatized. Was forced to travel to another state. Imagine being that little girl, the Journal wrote, The tale is a potent post-Roe tale of woe for those who want to make abortion a voting issue this fall. One problem: Theres no evidence the girl exists. The Journal expressed outrage that so far no one has been able to identify the girl or where she lives (do they think she should be publicly named?) and feigned concern that Dr. Bernard failed to say where the alleged crime occurred or identified the Ohio doctor who referred the case. Medical professionals, they write, have a duty to report child rape to law enforcement. Following the arrest, the Journal posted a single-paragraph Editors note above the July 12 editorial which noted a man had been charged, admitting that the girl had indeed traveled to Indiana for an abortion and that police were made aware of the pregnancy through a referral to local child services by the girls mother on June 22. The newspaper followed up with another editorial on Thursday, July 14, headlined Correcting the Record on a Rape Case, in which it attempted to defend its previous stance by saying, The Stars story was based on a single source and provided no other confirmation. As if this could justify the despicable claim in the earlier editorial that the horrific story of the 10-year-old girl forced to travel out of state for an abortion resulting from rape was a fabrication! As for Fox News, now that its claims that the story was lies and fake news have been disproven, they have shifted gears to combating illegal immigration. They say an ICE source has told them that the accused, Fuentes, a Guatemalan national, is undocumented. Echoing Trumps xenophobic rant during his first presidential bid that immigrants are selling drugs, theyre rapists, Rep. Roger Williams, Republican of Texas, commented on the case, Wheres the conversation about an illegal person doing this? How do you defend this? How do you defend this guy who came over illegally, and weve got 5 million of them over here? Ohio Attorney General Yost claimed initially that there is not a scintilla of evidence that the raped child had to travel to Indiana for an abortion. Once news of the arraignment of the Columbus man came out, he issued a single sentence statement: We rejoice anytime a child rapist is taken off the streets. Yost said Monday on Fox News that the Ohio girl actually may not have had to leave the state to get an abortion, attempting to paint the states law as being less draconian than it is. Rep. Jean Schmidt, Republican of Ohio, is the sponsor of legislation that would make promoting abortionmaking, selling or distributing drugs or devices used to perform illegal abortionsa misdemeanor crime. Schmidt said in an interview on talk radio earlier this week that the legislation could be used to target companies, including some in Ohio, that have announced they will cover the costs of employee travel to seek an abortion. I do believe we have the votes in both chambers, and we have the full support of the governor on this bill, she said. On Thursday in the US Senate, Senator James Lankford, Republican of Oklahoma, blocked a Democratic request to unanimously pass a bill seeking to protect interstate travel for abortion, as well as to protect health care providers who provide abortions to out-of-state patients. Does that child in the womb have the right to travel in their future? Lankford asked. Do they get to live? Politico reported Thursday that according to the general counsel for the National Right to Life Committee, under a model law written for state legislatures considering more restrictive abortion measures, the 10-year-old Ohio girl who crossed state lines to receive an abortion in Indiana would have been required, i.e., forced by law, to carry her pregnancy to term. Jim Bopp, an Indiana lawyer who authored the model legislation, told Politico, She would have had the baby, and as many women who have had babies as a result of rape, we would hope that she would understand the reason and ultimately the benefit of having the child. Such fascistic statements make clear the reactionary, far-reaching ramifications of the Supreme Courts Dobbs decision. A 10-year-old girl, who is not anatomically mature to carry a child to term and give birth, would be forced to do so, risking her very life, not to mention her mental well-being. According to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights, more than 7,000 girls aged 14 or younger in the US were pregnant in 2013. About half of those pregnancies were terminated through abortion. Laws are now on the books in numerous states preventing such abortions from taking place and compelling young girls to carry their pregnancies to term. On Thursday, Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles met with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin for their second face-to-face discussion since the Labor government was elected last May. The Albanese government used the meeting, and Marles four-day tour of Washington, to reiterate its full-throated support for the militarist US-Australian alliance and American imperialisms confrontations with Russia and China. Richard Marles addressing the Center for Strategic and International Studies, July 12, 2022 (Photo: Twitter/RichardMarlesMP) Marles first engagement, on Tuesday, was at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, one of the most hawkish US think tanks. There he was given a heros welcome, because of Labors role in aggressively campaigning for the US anti-China line throughout Asia and the Pacific. Marles is also deputy prime minister. His speech included denunciations of Moscow and Beijing and the outline of a massive military build-up in preparation for direct hostilities in the Asian region. The meeting with Austin was held behind closed doors, but their public statements were along the same lines. Each declared that the US-Australia alliance was unbreakable. They presented it, not only as an Indo-Pacific pact but a global partnership aimed at aggressively prosecuting the interests of US and Australian imperialism. Department of Defence (DOD) News described the meeting as more of a family reunion than a strategic summit. Austin particularly hailed Australias contribution to the US-NATO proxy war against Russia in Ukraine. Im grateful for Australias leadership in supporting the Ukrainian people as they fight for their lives, and our freedom and our democracy, he said. In reality, the US deliberately provoked the reactionary Russian invasion, and has used it to prosecute longstanding plans for a direct confrontation with Moscow. Austin is at the centre of this militarist conspiracy. He is chair of the US-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which has funneled more than $50 billion in weaponry and aid to the Kiev regime from the US alone since the Biden administration took office. Australia is a member of that group and Marles boasted it was the largest non-NATO contributor to their assistance. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged $100 million in military aid earlier this month, during a visit to Kiev, taking the countrys total dispatchments to the equivalent of $390 million, the overwhelming majority in arms and military materiel. Austin and Marles stressed that the Ukraine conflict was one prong of a global confrontation, again linking aggression with Russia with the US-led campaign against China. According to DOD News: Marles said the global rules-based order is being put under a pressure not seen since the end of World War II. That is the global order dominated by US imperialism and its junior partners such as Australia. Marles warned that China seeks to shape the world around it in a way that weve not seen before. He accused the Beijing regime of orchestrating a massive military build-up That is a very significant phenomenon, which presents enormous challenges to both of us. As has always been the case, such assertions are being used to justify the far greater military expansion of the US and its allies such as Australia. In the lead-up to the meeting with Austin, Marles said a particular focus would be on the roll-out of AUKUS, the military pact unveiled with the US and Britain last September. Marles said they would discuss expediting the processing of US export controls covering military technologies. No details of that discussion were released. But the day after meeting Austin, Marles declared there would be an announcement at the beginning of next year on Australias acquisition of nuclear-armed submarines. The vessels, being procured under AUKUS, have greater stealth, long distance and payload capabilities, and are viewed as crucial to the waging of a maritime war. Marles confirmed that such submarines would be purchased off the shelf, all but dispensing with previous claims that they may be built in Australia. They would either be procured from the US or from Britain. Last month, former Liberal-National Defence Minister Peter Dutton disclosed that a plan had been in place, prior to the May 21 Australian federal election, for the purchase of two Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines from the US by 2030. At the time, Marles denounced Dutton for supposedly revealing national security information, but did not differ with the substance of the report. The timing of Marles latest statement on the submarines strongly suggests that a deal was agreed upon or finalised in the meeting with Austin. As with every aspect of the war drive, the plans to acquire highly-dangerous weapons systems, including the submarines and hypersonic missiles, costing tens of billions of dollars, are proceeding entirely behind the backs of the population. The resulting dangers were underscored in an article published by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Tuesday. Based on anonymous Australian defence sources, it claimed that Australias HMAS Parramatta warship was tracked by a Chinese attack submarine and military vessels as it recently traversed the East and South China Seas. The article indicated the scope of Australian military activities in the contested waters, which have been transformed into a key flashpoint for potential conflict, by US provocations and the stoking of longstanding regional disputes. In the space of a month, the HMAS Parramatta had travelled from Vietnam to South Korea and then Japan, travelling near Taiwan. This was part of a US-led regional presence deployment. The anonymous defence official stated: Formal challenges have occurred, such as telling us that were entering Chinas territorial waters. This suggests that while they may not have formally conducted a freedom of navigation operation, Australian forces have come close to it. Freedom of navigation is the duplicitous banner for provocative US incursions into waters claimed by China. As with previous murky incidents of Australian and Chinese military aircraft coming near one another in May, the limited information provided in the ABC report brands Australia as the aggressor. A further ABC article stated: Military observers believe the tempo of ADF [Australian Defence Force] activity in the region is high. It specifically referenced the South China Sea. That article featured warnings from Professor Don Rothwell, an international law expert at the Australian National University. Rothwell stated: I think its becoming increasingly difficult because it is clear that there is a pattern associated with Australias activities now [that is] very much aligned with the way in which the United States conducts similar activities. Rothwell said the risk of miscalculation is one that is very live. In other words, any one of the Australian military operations in the region could trigger a direct clash with Chinese forces, threatening a potentially catastrophic conflict. Tufan Tastans intriguing You Me Lenin had its world premiere at the 43rd Moscow International Film Festival in 2021 and made its Turkish debut at the 40th Istanbul Film Festival this year. The film, which began streaming on Netflix Turkey in May, received many awards, including Best Screenplay at the 22nd International Frankfurt Turkish Film Festival. You Me Lenin is Tufan Tastans first feature film. Tastan co-wrote the screenplay with author and screenwriter Bars Bcakc (Bizim Buyuk Caresizligimiz, Aramzdaki En Ksa Mesafe, Dogum Lekesi Gibi Bir Gulumseme). Leading cast members Bars Falay and Saygn Soysal are joined by Melis Birkan, Serdar Orcin, Nur Surer, Salih Kalyon, Hasibe Eren, Binnur Kaya and Serkan Keskin, who are well known to theater and cinema audiences in Turkey and have collected many awards. You Me Lenin (2021) The movie is a fictionalized account of an actual event. A statue of Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin was thrown into the sea after the Stalinist bureaucracy dissolved the Soviet Union in 1991. Two years later it washed ashore in Akcakoca, a town in the western Black Sea province of Duzce in Turkey. In 2009, officials in Akcakoca discussed erecting the Lenin statue in the town square or displaying it in a museum to boost tourism, but the proposal was never acted upon. Instead, the wooden statue was left to rot in a municipal warehouse. The story of Akcakocas Lenin statue was previously the subject of a short documentary, Welcome Lenin, directed by Ahmet Murat Ogut, Aylin Kuryel, Begum Ozden Frat and Emre Yeksan. With the support of the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry, this short documentary dealt with the journey of the statue in a humorous way. The creators of the documentary, winner of the 2016 Johan van der Keuken Special Jury Prize at Documentarist / Istanbul Documentary Days, emphasized that the work was the product of a collective effort. The short was also screened at the ARTIST 2017 / 27th Istanbul Art Fair on the theme 100th Anniversary of the October Revolution, which took place simultaneously with the 36th International Istanbul Book Fair. You Me Lenin As noted, You Me Lenin tells the story of a statue of Lenin washed up on the shore of a town on the Black Sea and stolen just before an opening ceremony, complete with the participation of the Turkish and Russian prime ministers. Two policemen dispatched from Ankara search for the missing statue in the town. In an interview with film journal Bagmsz Sinema, director Tastan described the genesis of the film as follows: One day I called Bars [Bcakc] and asked him, What would have happened if the Lenin statue that reached Akcakoca in the 2000s had actually been erected in a conservative town in the Black Sea region? Bars replied, That would have been a movie. The film has been in development since November 2016. One of the principal reasons for the films delayed release was the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, Tastan explained in an interview that after their request for support from the Culture Ministry was rejected, they were unable to work with the producers they had and the first full-length version of the film could not be shot. The final film, a crime thriller and black comedy shot in 12 days, which doesnt abandon the original story, was made on the basis of a second, shorter script. This film too is the result of collective work in the face of financial difficulties. You Me Lenin did not have a mass audience in Turkey at the time of its release, partly due to the fact that it could only be seen in 124 theaters in its first week. Moreover, that number dropped to 30 theaters in the second week; the movie remained in cinemas for only four weeks. During the pandemic, which has deeply affected the production of and access to cultural and artistic works, the filmmakers made the effort to have You Me Lenin released in order to reach a wider audience. Despite taking place in a single location, the movie manages to keep the audience glued to the screen with its rapid pace and the tragi-comic situations of the townspeople. Through the theft of the Lenin statue, the film is able to address a phenomenon that has occurred countless times in the last four decades: the Turkish states kidnapping and disappearance of leftists and Kurdish nationalists. This criminal practice, which became widespread after the NATO-backed military coup in 1980, reached its peak in the early 1990s. One of the films leading characters, Gul Ana (Nur Surer) explains that her leftist husband was detained by the police in the early 1990s and vanished in the Black Sea. Disappearance at sea brings to mind the first major state murder during the period of the founding of the Turkish republic. Mustafa Suphi, leader of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP), founded as a section of the Communist International in 1920, along with 14 comrades, was put on a boat and murdered in the Black Sea by elements linked to the Kemalist Ankara government. You Me Lenin unfolds through scenes of interrogation of the people involved in the incident in the town. The investigation reveals that the statue was stolen not by enemies of Lenin, but by a group of idealistic leftists who are disturbed by the attempt to exploit it as a commodity to promote tourism. At that point the police officials begin to interrogate the known leftists in this seaside town. Fikret (Serdar Orcin), who photographed the statue, says, At the beginning I liked the statue being displayed. I was happy that people would be curious about Lenin and learn about the experience of the Soviet Union. But then things got out of hand. Unimaginable things happened. The interrogation of a teacher in You Me Lenin (directed by Tufan Tastan) Idil (Melis Birkan), a young teacher newly hired in the town, explains, On the one hand, the affair turned into commerce; on the other hand, the statue turned into a mausoleum. Whereas I thought Lenin would change the town, the town changed Lenin. This more or less summarizes what happens in the community after the statue washes ashore. Throughout the movie, the characters interviewed on suspicion of stealing the Lenin work reflect to a certain extent the current political and class structure in the country. You Me Lenin makes an impression on the viewer with its music, as well as its cast and cinematography. In the films final moments, a song based on Mendilimde Kan Sesleri, (The voices of blood in my handkerchief) a poem by Edip Cansever, one of the most important poets of the Second New Movement, composed by Bars Diri, is performed. You Me Lenin is one of the best films in the black comedy genre that has appeared in Turkey in recent years. The film was followed with great interest after its release on Netflix and continues to be appreciated by audiences. In the interview with Bagmsz Sinema, director Tastan observed that I am of the opinion that it is not the statue of Lenin that is important, but his ideas. In You Me Lenin, we wanted to raise this issue. From June 24 through July 6, the Ukranian section of the International Socialist League (ISL) published an eight-page document on its Facebook page in the name of its head and the leader of the Zakhyst Pratsi (Labor Defense) trade union, Oleg Vernyk. The post, which has now been published in English, Spanish, French and Ukrainian, was a response to exposures by the WSWS of the integration of the ISL into the NATO war against Russia in Ukraine and the promotion by its Ukrainian leader, Oleg Vernyk, of figures and documents of the fascist Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN). The post fully confirms the WSWS warnings of the pro-imperialist, pro-capitalist and extreme right-wing orientation of this petty-bourgeois nationalist tendency. At the beginning of its statement, the ISL openly states that it is guided by the basic principle of the defense of Ukraine as a political subject and the struggle for the preservation of the integrity of the State. These are the words not of a left-wing, much less revolutionary or socialist tendency, but of an organization that is consciously dedicated to defending the capitalist Ukrainian statefirst and foremost, against the working class. In a Letter to a young Trotskyist in Russia, David North, the chairman of the World Socialist Web Site, exposed the reactionary nature of the political line of the ISL and elaborated on the principles of revolutionary internationalism and the historical continuity of Marxism, upon which the Trotskyist movement bases its opposition to the imperialist proxy war against Russia in Ukraine and the Putin regime. The politics of the ISL are directly opposed to these Marxist and internationalist principles. In an extraordinary amalgam of historical lies, omissions and distortions, the ISL and Vernyk effectively seek to whitewash the crimes of Ukrainian fascism and justify their present-day alliance with the far-rightthe principal shock troops for the imperialist proxy war against Russia in Ukraine. The fraud of the 1943 democratization of the OUN and the role of Petro Poltava In the post, the ISL defends Vernyks promotion of materials by OUN-B and UPA members, writing: He (Oleg Vernyk) never made propaganda in favor of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists. On the contrary, he always proposed to make a deep analysis of the liberation and nationalist movement in Ukraine and the dynamics of its evolution, considering its branches both on the right and on the left, and advised against ignoring the complexities and problems that characterized these movements. In addition, Oleg Vernyk has always been very critical of the figure of Stepan Bandera, who had precisely been the leader of the ultra-radical right-wing branch of the OUN (Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists), also expressing himself strongly against the democratization of the political figure of Bandera and against his conversion into leftist leader. The entire post belies these claims. In fact, what the ISL presents is a revival of the same historical lies and myths that the OUN-B and UPA and their apologists have propagated for decades. Most strikingly, in the entire post, the terms fascism, Nazism, genocide, pogrom, anti-Semitism and racism are not used once in relation to the OUN or UPA. There is no discussion of the origins or ideology of the OUN, which was founded in 1929 as a fascist, terrorist organization with the explicit goal of destroying the social conquests of the October Revolution and founding an ethnically pure Ukrainian state. Nor is there any mention of the fact that the OUN helped the German Wehrmacht prepare its invasion of the Soviet Union, and then helped instigate and perpetrate pogroms against Jews that resulted in an estimated 13,000 to 35,000 victims. While the OUN had split in 1940 into a wing headed by Andrei Melnyk (OUN-M) and one headed by Stepan Bandera (OUN-B), both collaborated with the Nazis. Even as leaders of the OUN-B were arrested by the Nazis, who had opposed the OUN-Bs proclamation of an independent Ukrainian state, the membership of the OUN as a whole was integrated into the Nazi occupation machinery and auxiliary police, which played a major role in the Nazi-led genocide of the Jews. A Jewish woman during the July 1, 1941, pogrom in Lviv. While encouraged by the Nazi occupiers, the pogrom was principally carried out by Ukrainian nationalists, especially the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists. Completely ignoring the role of the OUN in the Second World War, the ISL and Vernyk seek to create the impression that there was a political and ideological separation between Bandera and the OUN from 1943 onward. Defending Vernyks post of the pamphlet What are the Banderites and what are they fighting for by Petro Poltava (Fedun), a leading ideologist of the UPA and OUN-B, the post claims: Mr. Petro Poltava narrates in that work how he had begun to propagate ideas that were absolutely opposed to the ideology of Stepan Bandera. Precisely those ideas that were proclaimed during the 3rd Regional Congress of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists in 1943 were described by Stepan Bandera as Bolshevik ideas, that the Congress had been organized by some Bolsheviks and that he (S. Bandera ) would never accept the resolutions approved by that Congress. S. Bandera, who at that time was imprisoned in a German concentration camp called Sachsenhausen, had perfectly understood that a tendency towards democratization was beginning to appear within the ranks of the OUN (Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists), towards the ideas of the left and the incitement to a simultaneous war against German national socialism and against Stalinism. Obviously, this position was firmly rejected by Bandera and by the other members of the right-wing branch of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists. These are blatant lies. Despite Banderas imprisonment in Sachsenhausenwhere he lived under highly privileged conditions and was able to stay informed about the OUNs workhe remained the acknowledged leader (providnik, the Ukrainian translation of Fuhrer) of the OUN-B. And far from propagating ideas that were absolutely opposed to the ideology of Stepan Bandera, the pamphlet by Poltava proudly proclaimed that the Banderites derived their name from the glorious son of the Ukrainian people, the long-term revolutionary fighter for the freedom and state independence of Ukraine, the leader of the revolutionary Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN)Stepan Bandera. [1] Indeed, historians have frequently cited this well-known pamphlet as an example of the propaganda efforts of the OUN-B and UPA to whitewash their own crimes during and after World War II, as it explicitly denied any genocidal massacres by the OUN and its collaboration with the Nazis. Its fraudulent socialist demagogy was the result of the OUNs attempts to appeal to layers of the East Ukrainian peasantry, who were overwhelmingly hostile to the very idea of the restoration of capitalism, despite the immense crimes of Stalinism. An image of Stepan Bandera that was included in the 1950 Ukrainian edition of Poltavas pamphlet Who are the Banderites and what are they fighting for? At the top, there is a dedication by Poltava To the friend of the leader, S. Bandera. At the bottom of the image, it says, Stepan Bandera, Leader of the OUN. [Photo: WSWS] The ISL post stands in the tradition of this far-right propaganda. It presents the national socialist demagogy of Poltava as left-wing, even Bolshevik. In reality, the political and ideological origins of the OUN-Bs national socialism and its fascist violence lay in the reaction against the internationalist and Marxist program of the October Revolution. In a 1946 essay entitled, The revolutionary elements of Ukrainian nationalism, Poltava himself made this very clear, writing: Ukrainian nationalism is also fighting against all those epigones of socialism of 1917-20 on Ukrainian soil, who stand on the position of internationalism, who fight for a class liberation that is elevated above the struggle for national liberation, without understanding that the destruction of social oppression in Ukraine can only come as a result of national liberation. [2] It is this nationalist opposition to the October Revolution and Marxism that petty-bourgeois nationalist forces like the ISL and Oleg Vernyk share with Poltava and the OUN-B. Their insistence on 1943 as a turning point in the OUN-Bs supposed evolution toward democracy and left-wing views is not only based on historical lies. It reveals, above all, their own political orientation toward an alliance with imperialism and readiness to tolerate and deny the crimes of fascism for the sake of the defense of the Ukrainian state. The democratization of the OUN-B in 1943 was a political fraud, designed to lay the foundations for what has become a decades-long alliance of the Ukrainian far right with US and British imperialism. It was also the beginning of an ongoing cover-up and whitewash of the genocidal crimes of Ukrainian fascism. Following the defeat of the German Wehrmacht at Stalingrad in the winter of 1942-43, the Ukrainian fascists realized that their only hope for the establishment of a Ukrainian capitalist nation-state lay in an alliance with the US and Great Britain. The OUN-B undertook certain changes to its program, but these were, as historian John-Paul Himka noted, programmatic window dressing, aimed at ensuring American and British aid for their cause. [3] Thus, at its Congress in August 1943, the OUN publicly announced the recognition of equal rights for minorities and began to tone down its anti-Semitic and racist rhetoric. But just days before the Congress, the members of the SB (security organization) of the OUN-B received orders to annihilate all enemies of UPA, which was to be understood as all Poles, Czechs, Jews, Komsomol members, Red Army officers, workers of the militia, and all Ukrainians who have even the slightest sympathy for Soviet power. [4] Most importantly, in the spring of 1943, the OUN-UPA had embarked on a genocidal campaign against the Polish population of Volhynia and Galicia, which claimed between 70,000 and 100,000 lives in 1943-44, the majority of them in 1943. Map of Woyn (Volhynia) and Eastern Galicia in 1939 Entire villages were wiped off the map; their residents burned alive, shot or tortured to death. The UPA also frequently forced Ukrainians who had married Poles to murder their Polish spouses or children. The bodies of the dead were often mutilated horribly. Historian Gregorz Rossolinski-Liebe writes: The UPA was the army that the OUN-B leaders expected to cleanse the Ukrainian race. Perhaps as a result of this conviction, acts of pathological sadism occurred frequently. In May 1943 in the village Kolonia Grada, for example, UPA partisans killed two families who could not escape as all the others had, after they realized that the UPA was attacking the neighboring village of Kolonia amane. The partisans killed all the members of these two families, cut open the belly of a pregnant woman, took the fetus and her innards from her, and hung them on a bush, probably to leave a message for other Poles who had escaped the attack and might come back to the village. [5] Polish civilian victims of the UPA massacre in Lipniki on March 26, 1943. The UPA was also systematically hunting down and murdering the few Jews who had so far managed to survive the Holocaust. There was even an order to kill anyone who had hidden Jews. By the end of the war, a shocking 98.5 percent of the Jews of Volhynia, the center of the OUN-Bs activities, had been murdered, one of the highest death rates in all of Europe. There is not a single note in the ISLs eight-page document even mentioning, let alone condemning, any of these horrific crimes. Instead, the ISL alleges that in 1943, that is, at the height of its genocidal massacres, the UPA had turned towards the ideas of the left and the incitement to [of] a simultaneous war against German national socialism and against Stalinism. This too is a lie. While the UPA, which had been founded in 1942 independently from the OUN, had engaged in some partisan warfare against the Wehrmacht, in 1943, the UPA was violently taken over by the OUN-B. The organizations leadership now consisted, in the words of historian Per Anders Rudling, of ruthless OUN(b) activists, most of whom were trained by Nazi Germany, and many were deeply involved in the Holocaust. [6] Moreover, in spring 1943, an estimated 5,000 members of the 12,000 men of the Ukrainian auxiliary police, which had played a central role in the Holocaust, joined the UPA. Throughout 1943, even as the formal alliance with the Nazis by the OUN was put on hold, agreements made between the two sides preempted attacks by the UPA on German forces, reducing them to a minimum. In 1944, the alliance with Nazi Germany was revived at the initiative of Bandera, and when the Nazis withdrew from Ukraine, they left the OUN-UPA tons of arms and ammunition. The German army regarded this cooperation as a good investment in the war against the Soviet Union. [7] Following the end of World War II and the incorporation of West Ukraine into the Soviet Union, the OUN-UPA continued an insurrection against Soviet rule into the early 1950s, killing an estimated 20,000 Ukrainian civilians, most of them collective farmers and workers. In this civil war, the UPA and OUN relied on logistical support and weapons from the US and UK, whose secret services had established close relations with Bandera and other OUN leaders. The Soviet bureaucracys response to this insurgency was both bankrupt and politically criminal: Fearing nothing more than a mobilization of the working class which would have also threatened its own rule and could have formed the basis for an international extension of the October Revolution, the bureaucracy resorted to violent bureaucratic measures of repression to thwart the insurgency. Hundreds of thousands of people were deported from Western Ukraine, and an estimated 150,000 people were killed by the NKVD. This violent repression proved to be water on the propaganda mills of the Ukrainian right. Above all, it served to divide and confuse the working class. Over three decades later, when the Stalinist bureaucracy under Mikhail Gorbachev moved to restore capitalism and destroy the Soviet Union in 1985, the latent Ukrainian far-right forces, both in the diaspora and within the Soviet Union, violently broke to the fore, becoming, yet again, a central prop for the intervention of imperialism in the region. Using the crimes of Stalinism to whitewash fascism: The role of Danylo Shumuk and the 1953 Norilsk uprising In the founding document of the International Committee of the Fourth International, James P. Cannon insisted that Trotskyists had to know how to fight imperialism and all its petty-bourgeois agencies (such as nationalist formations or trade union bureaucracies) without capitulation to Stalinism; and, conversely, know how to fight Stalinism (which in the final analysis is a petty-bourgeois agency of imperialism) without capitulating to imperialism. [8] The ISL turns this principle on its head. It cynically exploits the crimes of Stalinism to justify its alliance with the far right and imperialism. Central to this effort is the figure of Danylo Shumuk, a veteran of the UPA and leader of the 1953 Norilsk Gulag uprising. As a youth, Shumuk had been a member of the Communist Party of Western Ukraine (CPWU), which then functioned as an autonomous organization under the control of the Polish Communist Party (CPP). In 1938, as part of the Great Terror in the USSR, in which tens of thousands of revolutionaries from across Europe were murdered, Stalin dissolved the CPP and the Communist Parties of Western Belarus and Western Ukraine along with it. Danylo Shumuk, probably in the late 1960s-early 1970s. Using the crimes of Stalinism to justify Shumuks turn to fascism, the ISL writes: Danylo Shumuk waited until 1943, when the UPA (Ukrainian Insurgent Army) had begun its war on two fronts, that is, against German National Socialism and against Stalinism. That is when he enlisted in the ranks of the UPA. Unfortunately, Stalins executioners had taken Trotskys life by 1943. Therefore, it is very difficult for us to predict what tactics and strategy Leon Davydovich might have proposed to the communists of western Ukraine, considering the complex context of that time. He left that question to future discussions among comrades. It is difficult to think of a more brazen lie. Leon Trotsky not only led the Red Armys struggle against counter-revolutionary nationalist forces, not least of all in Ukraine, in a civil war from 1918 to 1921 to defend and extend the conquests of the October Revolution. The Trotskyist movement has historically always insisted on rooting the opposition to Stalinism in the defense of the internationalist principles of Marxism against the bureaucracys counter-revolutionary and nationalist program of socialism in one country. And far from promoting alliances with nationalist, let alone fascist forces, Trotskyists have fought to build an independent revolutionary leadership for the international working class. Leon Trotsky leading the Red Army during the Civil War following the Russian Revolution Whatever the tragic elements of Shumuks life and the crimes of Stalinism, it must be stated clearly that he never had anything to do with Trotsky and his struggle for internationalism and the political independence of the working class. His memoirs, which were published in English in 1984, have long formed an important part of the historical myth-making about the OUN and UPA by the far-right Ukrainian diaspora in Canada and the US. In his memoir, Shumuk fails to mention, let alone condemn, the Nazi-led genocide of over 1 million Ukrainian Jews, in which the OUN-UPA was deeply implicated. Instead, he justifies the (unspecified) crimes of the OUN-B as a response to the crimes by the NKVD, the typical argument of the Eastern European far right. [9] Shumuks glorification of the rank and file of the UPA and his insistence that he himself had always been motivated by nothing but truth, kindness and love squarely fall in the category of propaganda and myth-making. [10] By his own acknowledgement, he worked as a political instructor for the OUN-Bs most elite and most violent unit, the SB, and led a large UPA unit with many OUN-B and SB members in a period when the UPA was engaged in genocidal massacres. Despite Shumuks sinister record, the ISL doubles down, with Vernyk posting about the memoirs of this unrepentant right-wing nationalist and his involvement in the 1953 Norilsk Gulag uprising. Trying to both defend Shumuk and create the impression that he worked closely with the left, they write that Trotskyist prisoners played a key role in the organization and execution of the plan for the 1953 Norilsk Gulag uprising, which Shumuk co-led. Again, the ISL resorts to historical distortions and amalgams for definite political purposes. Out of the two individuals it mentions to prove its claim about the alleged involvement of Trotskyists, historical records indicate that one, Maria Shimanskaya, was not involved in the Norilsk but in another Gulag uprising a year later. [11] The other reference, to a certain Klichenko, is also misleading. The historical documents published about this uprising do not contain this name, but rather mention a certain Ivan Pavlovich Kliachenko. And the only existing reference to a political conversation with Kliachenko by another prisoner indicates that his group was in a minority and limited itself to the status of opposition to the plans of the Ukrainian nationalists who dominated the strike committee. [12] In both cases, it is unclear whether either of them ever were members of Trotskys Left Opposition, whose membership was murdered almost entirely during the Great Terror of the 1930s. With these misleading references and statements, the ISL seeks to sow confusion about the character of the political forces involved in the uprising and blur the lines between left-wing and right-wing opposition to Stalinism. The 1953 Norilsk uprising was the first in a series of Gulag uprisings that took place amidst a staggering crisis of the Stalinist bureaucracy, which was accelerated by the death of Stalin on March 5, 1953. After years of renewed repression in the Soviet Union, including openly anti-Semitic purges and a bloody crackdown on left-wing youth groups, a series of strikes and uprisingsmost notably in East Germany in June 1953now shook the Stalinist bureaucracies. The overwhelming majority of the Soviet working class and youth felt a powerful allegiance to the ideals and conquests of the October Revolution which they had just defended against fascism in World War II, and the dominant sentiment was to seek a return to the real Lenin. Fearing the development of a broader left-wing movement in the working class, the bureaucracy responded with extraordinary violence to these developments, including to the Gulag uprisings. However, while the political forces involved in these uprisings were extremely heterogenous, ranging from genuinely left-wing and anarchist groups, as well as religious sects, to the far right, historical documents indicate that, tragically, it was right-wing and nationalist forces that managed to dominate and direct many of these uprisings, especially the one in Norilsk. By 1953, the Ukrainian far right, in particular, had established a sophisticated underground network in many camps. This included a revival of the feared Banderite secret organization (SB), a general staff, as well as combat groups and groups for the execution of terrorist acts, political education and material provisions. [13] In Norilsk, where the prison population included a particularly large contingent of both Ukrainian and Baltic nationalists, Shumuk created aself-help organization composed of former UPA members years before the uprising. Along with other right-wing nationalist forces, among them Russian and Baltic Nazi collaborators, they managed to dominate the strike committeeoften by thoroughly anti-democratic meansand picked a former official of the Nazi propaganda ministry to fulfill the role of propaganda minister. The hymn of the uprising was composed by a Belarusian nationalist to the tune of a UPA song and directed against the tyranny of Bolshevism. [14] Principal responsibility for allowing the far-right to play such a major role, which by far outstripped its actual popular support, lies with Stalinism. Stalins Great Terror of the 1930s had resulted in the massacre of entire generations of socialists and revolutionaries, including the Trotskyist opposition to the Soviet bureaucracy. This mass murder, culminating in the assassination of Leon Trotsky in 1940, politically beheaded the working class not just in the Soviet Union but in Europe as a whole and created immense damage to the socialist and historical consciousness of generations of workers. Anyone committed to the fight for socialism today would see it as his or her primary task to establish the true historical record of these events and the crimes of Stalinism in order to politically arm the working class. The ISL does the opposite: It employs the Stalinist methods of historical lies and amalgams in order to sow historical confusion and cover up the crimes of the far right. As always, the historical lie serves the purpose of political reactionin this case, it is the ideological cement for the ISLs line-up behind imperialism and the Ukrainian far right. Indeed, just days after this document was published on the ISLs Facebook page, on June 29, Vernyk took part in a Ukrainian program for a 45-minute discussion with Oles Vakhnyi, one of Ukraines most notorious neo-Nazi skinheads. Vakhnyi has publicly endorsed the fascist attacks by the Norwegian terrorist Anders Breivik, who killed over 77 people, and made the Heil Hitler greeting in front of French TV cameras. In his discussion with this fascist thug in front of a Ukrainian flag, Vernyk expressed his support for the Ukrainian governments ban on opposition parties and strikes. Oles Vakhnyi (left), wearing a T-shirt with the OUN symbol, and Oleg Vernyk (right) in a program on June 29. The rapid shift to the extreme right of the ISL contains important lessons for workers everywhere. Its open promotion of Ukrainian fascist forces is only the most extreme expression of the rapid rightward lurch of the petty-bourgeois ex-left internationally, which the ICFI has been documenting for many years. The ISL and Vernyks trade union are connected to various organizations in Latin America, Turkey and Europe, as well as the Progressive International, which was co-founded by the Sanders Institute of Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders, who has voted in support of tens of billions of dollars for the arming of the Ukrainian army and fascists in the war against Russia. But there is also another side to this class development: While the petty-bourgeois pseudo-left is being sucked into the capitalist war machine and is rallying to the defense of the bourgeois nation-state, the working class is being driven into an open struggle against imperialist war and capitalism on a world scale. This struggle will be waged in direct opposition to these nationalist forces on the basis of socialist and internationalist principles. The critical task now is to prepare the revolutionary leadership necessary for this struggle by building the sections of the Trotskyist International Committee of the Fourth International, the world party of socialist revolution, including in Russia and Ukraine. End Notes [1] Petro Fedun (Poltava), Khto taki banderivtsi ta za shho vony boriutssia, in: Petro FedunPoltava, Kontseptsiia Samostiinoi Ukrainy, Tom 1: Tvory, Lviv 2008, p. 323. [2] Petro Fedun (Poltava),Elementy revoliutsiinosti ukrayinskogo natsionalizmy, in: Petro FedunPoltava, Kontseptsiia Samostiinoi Ukrayiny, Tom 1: Tvory, Lviv 2008, p. 122. [3] John-Paul Himka, Ukrainian Nationalists and the Holocaust: OUN and UPA Participation in the Destruction of Ukrainian Jewry, 1941-1944, Stuttgart: Ibidem 2021, p. 368. [4] Ibid., p. 372. [5] Grzegorz Rossolinski-Liebe, Stepan Bandera: The Life and Afterlife of a Ukrainian Nationalist. Fascism, Genocide, and Cult. Stuttgart: Ibidem 2014, pp. 268-269. [6] Per Anders Rudling, The OUN, the UPA and the Holocaust: A Study in the Manufacturing of Historical Myths, Carl Beck Papers No. 2107, November 2011, p. 10. The paper is available online. [7] Rossolinski-Liebe, Stepan Bandera, p. 284. [8] James P. Cannon, A Letter to Trotskyists throughout the World. Available on the WSWS: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2008/10/open-o21.html [9] Danylo Shumuk, Life Sentence. Memoirs of a Ukrainian Prisoner, Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies: University of Alberta, Edmonton, 1984, p. 346. [10] Ibid., p. 100. [11] Istoriia stalinskogo Gulaga. Konets 1920-khpervaia polovina 1950-kh godov. Tom 6. Vosstaniia, bunty i zabostvki zakliuchennykh, ed. by V. A. Kozlov, Moscow: ROSSPEN 2004,pp. 611, 626, 628. The volume is available online: https://statearchive.ru/474 [12] The reference by a camp official to Kliachenko as a Trotskyist involved in the Norilsk uprising can be found in a document published in: Istoriia stalinskogo Gulaga, tom 6, p. 325. The discussion with him is recounted by Hrycyak, a former member of the OUNs youth branch, who co-led the Norilsk uprising, in his memoirs, which were published by a OUN-affiliated publishing house. Yevhen Hyrcyak, The Norilsk Uprising. Short Memoirs, Institut fur Bildungspolitik in Munchen, Munich 1984, p. 23. [13] Istoriia stalinskogo Gulaga, p. 81. [14] Shumuk, Life Sentence, p. 213; Gimn norilskikh povstantsev. Available online under: https://www.sakharov-center.ru/asfcd/auth/?t=page&num=7564 New York City and its surrounding region have seen a massive increase in the official number of people infected with COVID-19 in the last month. The city is recording a daily average of nearly 5,000 cases. On July 14, 1,182 people were hospitalized from the disease. The test positivity rate is over 15 percent for the city. Over-the-counter rapid antigen tests, which may now comprise most tests, are not counted in this figure, and it is likely that the number of those infected is much higher. Mayor Eric Adams According to media reports, cases citywide have increased 33 percent in the last week, and 45 percent in the borough of Staten Island alone. The number of people hospitalized has increased 28 percent. The daily average of deaths from COVID-19 is 11 people. Fifty-seven percent of the tests sequenced indicate infection from the highly infectious BA.5 subvariant of the Omicron variant of the virus. The increase in sicknessand the deaths and the persistent Long-COVID disabilities that come with itis no surprise. The systematic ending of COVID mitigations and COVID tracking and testing in the city by Democratic Mayor Eric Adams and New York state Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul has fueled the current wave of infection. Scientists and members of the public, particularly those who work in crowded workplaces and follow the progress of the disease closely, such as educators, have predicted the inevitable climb in cases. The Frost Valley YMCA summer camp in Claryvill, New York in the Catskill mountains, popular with youth from New York City, closed early last week because of COVID infections. Staff at one nursing home in the Hudson Valley just north of the city told the WSWS, anonymously, that the disease was spreading rapidly among staff and residents despite mandatory testing of visitors. No doubt this is the tip of the iceberg for elders in the area who remain one of the populations most vulnerable to the disease. One high school teacher, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retribution by the citys Department of Education, told the WSWS: More and more New Yorkers are following the lead of our reckless mayor and other politicians, going maskless and dropping all mitigations, even as BA.5 spreads and BA.2.75 waits in the wings for the fall. I fear for what will happen with BA.2.75 in fall and early winter now that most New Yorkers no longer take COVID seriously. I am gravely concerned this coming fall/winter will make last winters Omicron surge of disease in NYC schools look minuscule in comparison. Last week, the citys Health Department tweeted, To help slow the spread, all New Yorkers should wear a high-quality mask, such as an N95, KN95 or KF94 in all public indoor settings and around crowds outside. But this is little more than a pro forma gesture. There are no mandates from the city or the state. The requirement to wear masks on public transportation is not enforced and observers have noted that the yellow masking signs on subways and buses have begun to disappear. The months-long propaganda by the capitalist media to convince the public that the pandemic is over has encouraged millions to unmask indoors and in crowded areas. Early this month, the Adams administration eliminated the citys color-coded COVID warning system. The web page where it appeared now reads, We are re-evaluating the citys Covid Alert system. Check back here for updates in the coming weeks. The page adds, There are currently high transmission levels of COVID-19 throughout the city, so you should continue to take the following precautions. It has apparently not been updated since at last July 1, although the city continues to publish COVID data. In response to questions about his abolition of the warning system, Adams told a press conference last week, The color-coded system was fighting an old war. And as COVID shifted, it became a new war, he said. So were not going to hold onto something thats an old weapon merely because we had it. No, were going to create new weapons to fight this new war. He added that the citys COVID statistics were at a good, stable place. Just as ominously, according to a special report in Gothamist, the city has begun to close city-run COVID testing centers. The news site noted that according to its analysis of publicly available data, Hospital testing sites were cut in half citywide from mid-February to mid-Aprilfrom 270 sites to 144 locationsleading to fewer hours of testing availability. This shrunken landscape includes both brick-and-mortar clinics as well as mobile testing vans. In January, as the first wave of the Omicron variant spiked, some media websites also noted that testing centers had been shut down. Despite public outrage at the time, it is now clear that the closures continued immediately after the last surge began to subside. Officials from the Adams administration have responded to the news of the closing by saying that they have increased availability of the less reliable at-home testing kits. In a grotesque display of cynicism and hypocrisy, former Mayor Bill De Blasio, who gutted COVID protections and opened schools as panic raged in the city, criticized the COVID policy of his successor Adams. A proper response from our federal and city government starts and ends with clarity from our institutions, the ex-mayor, now running for the Democratic nomination for the 10th Congressional District, told a press conference on Thursday. This is the former mayor who, in lockstep with the Biden administration, eliminated social distancing in schools and claimed that schools were the safest places in the city, a lie made possible only because of his administrations systematic and deliberate undertesting of students and staff. This is not all. Hypocrisy and mealy-mouthed deception are in good supply from the authorities in New York. Governor Hochul announced earlier this week that she would seek an outside investigation of the states response to the COVID-19 pandemic, saying, I wanted to know a complete picture of what happened during the pandemic, the good, the bad, the ugly. This is not just a report to point fingers at what went wrong. I need to create the action plan going forward. In relation to the current wave of the pandemic, which had infected 9,253 people and killed 47 on July 13, Hochul announced, We're not looking at more restrictions right now because this time around, adding, This is going to be more endemic. People are getting used to living with it. But, unsurprisingly, pride of place for deception and hypocrisy goes to the New York Times. In an article on the reaction of New Yorks population to the current wave of infection, As Sixth Covid Wave Hits, Many New Yorkers Shrug It Off, the Times sought blame the population of New York itself for supposed indifference to the new wave of the pandemic. Across the city, many New Yorkersfrom the unvaccinated to the boostedsaid that neither BA.5s prevalence nor its worrisome attributesincluding its ability to override immunity from past infections and vaccineshad them dramatically rethinking risk, the newspaper reported. The article goes on to suggest that this rethinking is motivated by the Adams administration and there remain real risks to COVID, including Long COVID and cardiovascular disease. It then quotes a complacent physician, Dr. Bruce Farber, the chief of infectious diseases at Northwell Health, the largest private health care business in New York state. I think we all know that the public is not interested in masking, Dr. Farber said. Theyre not terribly interested in boosters. Theyre not terribly interested in vaccinating their children. Thats very disappointing to somebody in public health, and I think its somewhat foolish, but nevertheless, its a fact of life. And so you just deal. Just deal has been the unofficial COVID slogan of the New York Times since April 2020 when it began to urge a return to normal in scores of articles and opinion pieces that downplayed the effects of the virus from Thomas Friedmans notorious call for mass infection in May 2020 to the Times incessant demands that schools open. In its coverage of New York City, in fact, the Times developed a cadre of education misinformation specialists, such as Eliza Shapiro, who sought to promote the need of students to return to infectious school buildings as soon as possible and regardless of the consequences. The latest wave can be stopped, and the pandemic can be stopped, but by the collective action of the working class in pursuit of the elimination of COVID-19 on a global scale. The WSWS has outlined an efffective program of action in this video: What must be done to end the pandemic. A meeting of the Health Workers Rank-and-File Committee (Australia) was held last Wednesday to expose the persecution and coordinate the defence of Dr David Berger, a highly respected remote area general practitioner. Berger was ordered by the Medical Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) on June 7 to undertake a disciplinary education program for his criticisms of the dropping of any measures to stop the spread of COVID. [Photo: WSWS] Health workers from across Australia attended Wednesdays meeting, including nurses, doctors, hospital admin staff members, and aged care and disability workers. The report to the meeting, written by a Queensland junior doctor, described Bergers background and placed AHPRAs attack in the context of a new wave of COVID-19 infections and deaths, with governments in Australia and internationally rejecting scientifically-guided public health measures to stop its spread. David Berger was born in the UK and is the child of Jewish refugees who fled Nazi genocide, the report explained. The experiences of his family combined with what he described as an idealistic desire to be of public service, instilled during his training as a doctor, inspired him to work as a general practitioner (GP) in rural and remote communities. He has worked around the world, including the UK, Solomon Islands and northern Australia. He is an experienced and dedicated health communicator and, along with his social media comments and broadcast media interviews, Berger has written extensively on the pandemic and how to fight it. His articles have been published in the Age, Sydney Morning Herald, Guardian, BMJ (formerly, British Medical Journal) and the Medical Journal of Australia. Dr. David Berger (Photo: Supplied) From day one, Dr Berger has fought strenuously for a scientific approach to COVID and called for its elimination through mass testing and vaccination, supported by lockdowns, masking, quarantines, and internationally coordinated travel restrictions, policies collectively known as Zero-COVID. This is not a fringe position. Principled scientists and doctors, including in Australia, Raina Macintyre, Brendan Crabb and Guy Marks, all internationally respected scholars and clinicians, have advocated for Zero-COVID. Their principled and humane stand, mandatory for anyone who calls themselves a health worker, is in stark contrast to the official spokespeople for the various state and federal health departments. One by one, as per the call of big business, they have fallen into line downplaying the severity of COVID, some more enthusiastically than others. Nick Coatsworth, former Australian Deputy Chief Medical Officer and infectious disease physician, in November 2021 claimed that if Omicron is milder than Delta, you actually want it to spread within your community it could be that we want Omicron to spread around the world as quickly as possible. He had not a shred of evidence for this. More than 8,000 people in Australia have died since. He has not been deregistered, or even censured by AHPRA for this misinformation. The report stated: Health workers must see this attack on democratic rights and scientific truth as a call to arms. The ultimate target of the silencing of opposition is that of all health workers. We will advance at the end of this meeting a resolution calling for the defence of Dr Berger, his right to speak, ending his persecution by AHPRA, and to mobilise and build the rank-and-file committees with this demand. Following the report, there was extensive discussion about how to take this campaign forward, including through developing a resolution that workers can put forward in their workplaces. One worker commented: I didnt know of Dr Bergers principled work until I read the WSWS article. The attack on him is appalling and clearly has serious implications. I am glad to be a part of this committee and any efforts to support him. The meeting unanimously adopted the following resolution to take forward the defence of Dr Berger and the demand for AHPRAs restrictions to be lifted: This meeting condemns the censorship imposed on Dr David Berger by the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency and demands that all restrictions on him be lifted immediately and unconditionally. Dr Berger has won a following of millions of people in Australia and internationally because he has consistently warned of the great dangers of COVID-19 and has advocated the necessary public health measures to deal with it in opposition to the let it rip policies carried out by governments and their agencies on behalf of powerful corporate and financial interests. He has been a tireless advocate for the health interests of the population and has spoken the truth. All his warnings, made in the face of official opposition, have been confirmed by events. This is why attempts are being made to silence him. The AHPRA demand that Dr Berger undergo a program of education and produce a reflective practice report is akin to the measures imposed by authoritarian and dictatorial regimes. The censorship is aimed not only at him. It is intended to silence the growing number of medical and health professionals appalled and concerned about official policy based on the scrapping of all necessary public health measures. The censorship imposed on Dr Berger must be ended immediately so that he and others can continue their advocacy in support of the necessary public health measures to deal with the most dangerous pandemic in more than 100 years, and possibly ever. The meeting also announced the establishment of the Health Worker Rank-and-File Committee (Aus) Twitter account, which can be followed here. One attendee, after the meeting, wrote on Twitter: Today was a day of great hope for me. I attended my 1st Health Workers Rank and File Committee meeting. We moved a resolution defending Dr Berger against govt attempts to silence him via AHPRA which I will publish asap. A new Twitter presence is born @HealthRandF_Aus Join us Another health worker who attended the meeting, Marie, said: What is happening to Dr Berger is so unfair. We all should have the right to say our opinion. It is just so unfair that he cant say what he wants and needs to say against COVID. Marie [Photo: WSWS] I think we have the right to know what is going on with the pandemic. It is obvious something is wrong with AHPRA. What is the matter? I think they should have listened to him and his knowledge. Why not give him a chance? Most people are not wearing masks on public transport; they are confused if we should wear them or not because the government is not implementing mask mandates now. There needs to be public health education, and Dr Berger has been fighting for that. To get involved in the Health Workers Rank-and-File Committee, write to sephw.aus@gmail.com, or contact us on Twitter @HealthRandF_Aus The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature. Asia Myanmar garment workers strike About 2,000 garment workers from the JW factory in Yangons Zaykabar Industrial Park walked out on July 7 claiming the company keeps cutting their pay while demanding they work longer hours. It was the first major industrial action in Myanmar since last years military coup. The JW factory is owned by Great Glowing Investment and operated by another factory in the industrial park ADK. They are both managed by the same Canadian nationals. The factories manufacture clothing for international sportswear brands and employ nearly 7,000 people. A worker told media that she had worked at the factory since 2020 and was paid 4,800 kyat ($US2.50) per day, and 1,200 kyat ($0.65) per hour for overtime shifts. She is required to work 12-hour shifts, six days a week. Another striking worker said she had only been paid a monthly salary of 270,000 kyat ($145) and had been required to work more than 100 overtime hours. Workers complained that they are being pressured to increase the number of garments completed per hour from 45 to 60. They claimed the target was impossible and they cut short meal breaks to try and reach the target. They also said they are denied rights. South Korea: Hyundai Motor workers union accepts inferior wage offer The union representing 40,950 Hyundai Motor auto-factory workers at Ulsan, South Korea, reached a tentative wage deal with management on Tuesday which falls short of workers demands. If workers accept the deal, it will avert a strike for the fourth consecutive year. Just over 71 percent of union members on July 2 voted to strike during negotiations for the new wage deal. The union had demanded a 165,200-won ($US127) increase in monthly basic wages, a payout of 30 percent of the companys net income as incentives, extension of the retirement age to 64, reinstatement of fired workers among other demands. The union has accepted a much lower pay increase offer of only 98,000 won ($74.80) in basic monthly pay, a bonus of 200 percent of a workers monthly salary plus 4 million won and 20 Hyundai Motor shares per worker. A media release did not mention if other demands, such as the extension of the retirement age to 64, or reinstatement of fired workers, were met. For the past three years the union has capitulated to Hyundais demands for wage restraint. In 2020, the union accepted Hyundais demand for a wage freeze for the first time in 11 years, supposedly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers main concern is job security. To push through the low-pay, Hyundai announced it intended to construct a new electric vehicle (EV) factory in Ulsan and upgrade existing production lines in stages to mass produce EVs. Acknowledging its cosy relationship with the union, management issued a media statement saying, Labor and management have decided to coexist with a focus on the future competitiveness of the domestic factory and job stability. India: Thousands of outsourced workers strike at various Andhra Pradesh municipal corporations Outsourced workers from the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) in Andhra Pradesh began an indefinite strike on Monday July 11 to demand the government improve pay and conditions. The workers are employed in public health, engineering and water supply departments. Their demands include a health allowance of 6,000-rupees ($US75.2), a salary of 21,000-rupees, education support for their children, filling of vacant jobs, and retirement benefits. While nearly 7,000 workers are employed in the public health and engineering departments of GVMC, only 1,000 are permanent employees. Over 3,600 outsourced workers from the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation have also been on strike since Monday for health allowances and payment of wage arrears. The strike was coordinated by the All India Trade Union Congress. Around 650 scab workers were employed by the corporation in an attempt to break the strike. About 1,200 contract workers from the Tirupati Municipal Corporation also went on strike on Monday. The Municipal Workers Union, also affiliated to the AITUC, demanded an 18,000-rupee ($US226.07) monthly wage, retirement benefits, including gratuity, permanent jobs for contract and outsourced workers and timescale promotions. Telangana contract hospital workers demand unpaid salaries Contract health workers from the District Government Hospital in Suryapet, Telangana state, staged a dharna (sit-down protest) at the main entrance of the hospital on Tuesday to demand immediate payment of outstanding salaries. The distressed workers said they had not been paid for the last three months. They said that irregularity in paying salaries is driving them to borrow from money lenders with huge interest repayments in order to meet family daily needs. Karnataka childcare workers protest in Mysuru Anganwadi (Childcare) workers held two rallies in Mysuru on Tuesday calling for resolution of long pending demands. The Karnataka State Anganwadi Workers Association, affiliated with the Centre for Indian Trade Unions, demanded implementation of the Gratuity Act, 1972, payment of necessary funds for the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme and bringing anganwadi workers under the cover of social security schemes and statutory benefits. Himachal Pradesh government workers protest again for old pension scheme Thousands of government workers demonstrated in Mandi and held a protest march on July 9 demanding restoration of the old pension scheme (OPS). The protest was organised by the Himachal Pradesh New Pension Scheme Government Employees Federation-Mandi unit. Government workers have been holding demonstrations for over a year demanding reinstatement of the OPS. Thousands of workers demonstrated in Dharamsala on June 6 over the issue. Workers said members of parliament were enjoying the benefits of the OPS while over 200,000 government employees have been forced onto the new scheme with vastly reduced benefits. Workers have complained that despite being in service for two or three decades, they were only entitled to a pension of a few thousand rupees which was not enough for them in retirement. Pakistan garment workers protest in Karachi over jobs and safety Workers from the Denim Clothing Company, one of the largest garment factories in the country and producer for global brands such as H&M, Zara and Levis, demonstrated outside the Karachi Press Club on July 3. The manufacturer has dismissed its entire workforce of over 4,000 at its plants in the Korangi Industrial Area. Workers accused the company of terminating their services in order to avoid paying the recently marginally increased minimum wage of 25,000 rupees a month (US$118.56), which itself is an appalling poverty level wage amidst skyrocketing prices. They alleged that management is planning to utilise third-party contract labour to circumvent its minimum wage obligation. The company is also notorious for flouting regulations of documenting workers and thereby avoiding providing any benefits. Most of the workers have served between 5 and 10 years. Workers also accused management of subjecting around 2,000 female workers to sexual harassment and violence, while also denying the right of workers to unionise and collective bargaining. National Trade Union Federation bureaucrats addressing the demonstration denounced company management but did not propose any plan of action to fight back by mobilising other workers. Instead, they made useless appeals to the international brands, whose massive profit margins depend on the extreme exploitation of Pakistani garment workers, to compel their local suppliers to respect workers and implement labour standards in agreements. Australia Shell shuts down offshore LNG platform during industrial dispute In response to ongoing industrial action by 160 maintenance workers on Shells floating LNG platform Prelude, 470 kilometres off Western Australias Kimberley coast, Shell has suspended production and is transferring most of its workforce to shore. The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) and the Offshore Alliance (OA), which consists of the Maritime Union of Australia and the Australian Workers Union, claimed Shells action was unnecessary and the oil giant is using the shut-down as a bargaining tactic in an attempt to force workers to accept an inferior work agreement. The Prelude workers have been holding rolling stoppages and work bans since June 10 for a new enterprise agreement. They are currently employed on individual contracts. Shell ended negotiations with the unions three weeks ago and presented a proposed enterprise agreement. It was rejected by 95 percent of the workers balloted. According to the unions, Shell wants 25 percent of all employees base salaries to be discretionary, meaning that salaries in the enterprise agreement are only guaranteed at 75 percent, with the rest at the companys discretion. The unions claim that Shell is refusing to agree to any wage increments over the term of the agreement and wants to retain the ability to outsource jobs of direct employees to contractors on lower rates of pay. The unions said they want Tier 1 rates and conditions to bring their members into line with industry standards and a ban on the outsourcing of jobs. Workers also want to be paid for delays in Broome or Perth during de-mobilisation from the offshore facility, a shorter waiting period for income protection, and a full pass-through of two 0.5 percent superannuation increases in the employer contribution, taking it to 13 percent. Shell has declared that production will remain suspended until bans restricting the off-loading of cargo are lifted. Health workers at Adelaides Lyell McEwin Hospital protested loss of free parking On July 8, frontline health workers, including orderlies, security guards, catering attendants and sterilising technicians, walked off the job at South Australias Lyell McEwin Hospital in Adelaide to demand the return of free parking for essential health workers. The scheme provided free parking and free public transport. It was put in place by the state Liberal government at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic but was cancelled in May by the newly elected Labor government along with the COVID 19 Emergency Management Declaration, even though the pandemic had not eased. COVID 19 cases are predicted to soon reach 5,000 a day in South Australia, further overwhelming the hospital system and its exhausted nurses and doctors, some of whom have been working 18 hours a day. A United Workers Union representative said essential health workers are forced to work double shifts and overtime due to understaffing. The union claimed that terminating the free-parking scheme will mean an added $1,200 in costs to the already ruthlessly exploited front line hospital workers, some earning just $27 an hour. A team for Will Lehmans campaign for United Auto Workers president generated great interest during a shift change at Stellantis Warren Truck Assembly Plant on Thursday. Lehman, a 34 year-old worker at Mack Trucks from Macungie, Pennsylvania, is running on a platform to abolish the UAW bureaucracy and establish rank-and-file control. Campaigners used a bullhorn to facilitate a discussion of rank-and-file demands. When the team raised the demand to end forced overtime, workers shouted with approval and responded by raising demands of their own. Others posed for photographs with placards to support Wills campaign. Warren Truck workers responded particularly enthusiastically to calls for the abolition of the tier system, a demand that received support from both old and new workers. This system, in which workers are spread across multiple levels with different pay for the same work, was first implemented during the 2009 bailout of the auto industry. In exchange for the UAWs support for this deal, which effectively cut wages for new hires in half, the Obama administration handed the union billions in corporate stock. This was a massive expansion of the corrupt corporatist relations which the UAW had cultivated for decades. As a result, the auto workforce is lower-paid, younger and angrier than in years past. Many, particularly at the bottom tiers, want to fight because they feel they have nothing to lose. At Warren Truck, management has flooded the plant with low-paid temporary part-time (TPT) workers over the course of the pandemic in a desperate bid to maintain production in spite of the ongoing labor shortage. These workers are being immediately thrown into brutal work schedules which often span 16 hours a day and 7 days a week. Turnover is extremely high, and it is not uncommon for TPTs to quit almost immediately after getting the job. Those who stick it out are strung out on promises by management that they will eventually be rolled over to full-time status. One worker, who asked not to be named, told the campaign team, Im a TPT. Ive been here more than a year. I received an email to get rolled over, but then they pushed it back. I havent heard from them since. And they can change your schedule whenever they want. Theres no structure to it. Its a roller coaster. They have to shut down a lot because of a lack of parts. I didnt expect it to be like this. Its worse than I thought. And then, literally we just got forced to work overtime yesterday. I didnt think they could do that on such short notice. But were on 12 hours for the next couple of days. So they change the schedule, just like that. A campaigner asked how many hours a temporary part-time worker typically works in a given week at Warren Truck. 50 hours, minimum, he replied. When I first started out it was like 60, 70 hours a week. The TPTs are getting stiffed pretty hard, I would say. And they pretty much say we have to roll with the punches or find somewhere else to work. You speak to management about the system and how its being conducted, you get no results. The union stewards, they say they dont know much, or they say, well get back to you. They tell us the new contract will be better, but you still have to wait for that. In the meantime, we get sent around in circles and dont get any answers. It sounds like things are pretty much at the breaking point, the campaigner responded. Yeah. I was just thinking about it the other day. Im having to train people on the job as a TPT. Im not supposed to. But then people come in, they show you what the job is and just walk away. And then youre left there, struggling to figure out this job by yourself. I think thats why so many new people are quitting. Its bad right now. The trial of former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr for shooting and killing 26-year-old Congolese refugee Patrick Lyoya execution-style on April 4 is moving very slowly through the Michigan courts. A TV display shows video evidence of Schurr struggling with and shooting Patrick Lyoya (Grand Rapids Police Department) Although Schurr was charged with second-degree murder by the Kent Count prosecutor on June 9, his preliminary examination date has been moved twice and is now scheduled for August 30. Schurrs defense team has said the delay is necessary due to a large amount of discovery in the case. Although no details about this discovery have been revealed, it appears that Schurrs lawyers are gathering evidence to support their defense argument that the former officer was justified in killing Lyoya because he followed department procedure and feared for his life. According to Michigan law, a preliminary hearing is held to verify that a crime has taken place and that the accused is more likely than not the person who has committed the crime. Although Michigan has a 14-day rule that says a preliminary hearing must take place within this time frame after the arrest, it is almost always delayed in murder cases. The prosecution did not object to the delay. The brutal murder of Lyoya, whom Schurr shot in the back of the head after a physical altercation during a traffic stop, was captured on dashcam, bodycam and smartphone video. Following a short chase and struggle over the officers Taser, Schurr wrestled Lyoya to ground and fired one shot to the back of his head, killing him instantly. Initially, it took Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker more than two months to announce that Schurr was being charged with murder. Schurr was then arraigned on June 10 at which he pleaded not guilty and was released on $100,000 bond. Then on June 15, Grand Rapids City Manager Mark Washington announced that he was firing Schurr, effective June 10. Schurrs case is being tried in the Grand Rapids 61st District Court by Judge Nicholas Ayoub. On June 21, Ayoub presided over a probable cause hearing at which Schurr was not present. Chris Becker explained that, because of the pandemic, the defendants attendance at this hearing was not required. At the hearing, Ayoub issued an order in which he prohibited outbursts and emotional displays in the courtroom. This ban was imposed after verbal clashes between Schurrs supporters and protesters at the arraignment hearing on June 10 where over 60 people, including uniformed police officers, came to support Schurr. However, there were no protesters or demonstrators present at the June 21 hearing. Matt Borgula, one of Schurrs attorneys, told the Detroit News that the purpose of Ayoubs order is so the process in this country, this system of justice, can play out and not turn into some sort of sideshow outside the court. You cant have people standing everywhere and you cant have any sort of public display or any verbal display as well. When Becker announced the charges, he explained the elements required to prove second-degree murder. A death had to have taken place caused by the defendant who was intending to kill or inflict serious bodily harm that would lead to death. Finally, according to Becker, guilt requires the death was not justified or excused. It is on this final point that Schurrs attorneys will contest the charges. They argue that Schurr followed departmental rules and was justified in his use of force. They have said that Lyoyas death was not murder, but an unfortunate tragedy. They went on to declare, Mr. Lyoya gained full control of a police officers weapon while resisting arrest, placing Officer Schurr in fear of great bodily harm or death. In point of fact, the unnamed weapon which Schurrs attorneys mention was the officers Taser. Borgula has predicted that Schurr will be acquitted: Youve all seen the video. Youve seen all the steps that Officer Schurr took along the way. And when we have a trial in front of the jury with all the evidence, after we have a chance to review it, we feel very confident that a jury will find him not guilty. However, when he was pressed about the difficulty in convincing a jury that the execution-style killing of Lyoya, an unarmed man, was justified, Borgula was far more reserved. You want me to give you a closing statement right now? Were not going to do that because we havent seen all the evidence yet. But obviously its difficult to convince 12 people off the street of anything. Borgula continued by talking about the burden of proof in this case saying it is the governments obligation to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that this was a murder. Its not our burden to prove that he was innocent. We do think hes innocent and we do think this was a justified action in the scope of his duties. The local police union is of course supporting Schurr. On April 26, the Grand Rapids Police Officer Association (GRPOA) released a rambling statement which discussed everything Lyoya might have been or may have done had officer Schurr not shot him in the back of the head. The statement, which does not mention Lyoya by name, presents him as a criminal with a history of violence. The homepage of the GRPOA has a large section dedicated to Schurr, in which they suggest prayer and financial assistance as ways to help the former officer. President Joe Biden acknowledged Friday that an independent state for Palestinians ``can seem so far away'' as he confronted hopelessness about the stagnant peace process during a visit to the West Bank. ``The Palestinian people are hurting now,'' he said. ``You can just feel it. Your grief and frustration. In the United States, we can feel it.'' Biden commented during a joint appearance in Bethlehem with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Although he's announced $316 million in financial assistance for the Palestinians during his visit, there's no clear path to getting peace talks back on track. ``Even if the ground is not ripe at this moment to restart negotiations, the United States and my administration will not give up on bringing the Palestinians and the Israelis, both sides, closer together,'' he said. Biden said the ``Palestinian people deserve a state of their own that's independent, sovereign, viable and contiguous. Two states for two peoples, both of whom have deep and ancient roots in this land, living side by side in peace and security.'' Abbas, in his own remarks, said it was time to ``turn the page on the Israeli occupation on our land.`` He also said Israel ``cannot continue to act as a state above law.'' Biden was welcomed to Bethlehem by a pair of Palestinian children, who gave him a bouquet of flowers, and a band that played the U.S. national anthem. Earlier in the day, he appeared at the East Jerusalem Hospital Network, which serves Palestinians, to discuss financial assistance for local healthcare. He's proposed $100 million, which requires U.S. congressional approval, in addition to $201 million for the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, plus smaller amounts for other assorted programs. Israel has also committed to upgrading wireless networks in the West Bank and Gaza, part of a broader effort to improve economic conditions. ``Palestinians and Israelis deserve equal measures of freedom, security, prosperity and dignity,'' he said. ``And access to healthcare, when you need it, is essential to living a life of dignity for all of us.'' When Biden finished speaking at the hospital, a woman who identified herself as a pediatric nurse at another healthcare facility thanked him for the financial assistance but said ``we need more justice, more dignity.'' Biden's trip to the West Bank is being met with skepticism and bitterness among Palestinians who believe Biden has taken too few steps toward rejuvenating peace talks, especially after President Donald Trump sidelined them while heavily favoring Israel. The last serious round of negotiations aimed at creating an independent Palestinian state broke down more than a decade ago, leaving millions of Palestinians living under Israeli military rule. Israel's outgoing government has taken steps to improve economic conditions in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. But Yair Lapid, the caretaker prime minister, does not have a mandate to hold peace negotiations, and Nov. 1 elections could bring to power a right-wing government that is opposed to Palestinian statehood. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority, led by the 86-year-old Abbas, administers parts of the occupied West Bank and cooperates with Israel on security. Biden acknowledged this week that while he supports a two-state solution, it won't happen ``in the near-term.'' The U.S. also appears to have accepted defeat in its more modest push to reopen a Jerusalem consulate serving the Palestinians that was closed when Trump recognized the contested city as Israel's capital. Palestinian leaders also fear being further undermined by the Abraham Accords, a diplomatic vehicle for Arab nations to normalize relations with Israel despite the continuing occupation. Biden, who heads next to Saudi Arabia to attend a summit of Arab leaders, hopes to broaden that process, which began under Trump. Hours before Biden was set to become the first U.S. leader to fly directly from Israel to the kingdom, Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation announced early Friday ``the decision to open the Kingdom's airspace for all air carriers that meet the requirements of the Authority for overflying.'' Biden hailed the decision in a statement Friday as an important step to ``help build momentum toward Israel's further integration into the region.`` There's been hardly any mention of the Palestinians over the past two days, as Biden has showered Israel with praise, holding it up as a democracy that shares American values. At a news conference with Biden, Lapid evoked the U.S. civil rights movement to portray Israel as a bastion of freedom. It all reeked of hypocrisy to Palestinians, who have endured 55 years of military occupation with no end in sight. ``The idea of shared values actually makes me sick to my stomach,'' said Diana Buttu, a Palestinian lawyer and political analyst. ``I don't think Israeli values are anything that people should be striving towards.'' Both Biden and Lapid said they supported an eventual two-state solution in order to ensure that Israel remains a Jewish-majority state. But their approach, often referred to as ``economic peace,'' has limitations. ``Mr. Biden is trying to marginalize the Palestinian issue,'' said Mustafa Barghouti, a veteran Palestinian activist. ``If he does not allow Palestinians to have their rights, then he is helping Israel kill and end the very last possibility of peace.'' At this point, the Palestinian goal of an independent state in east Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza - territories Israel seized in the 1967 Mideast war - appears more distant than ever. Israel is expanding settlements in annexed east Jerusalem and the West Bank, which are now home to some 700,000 Jewish settlers. The Palestinian view the settlements - many of which resemble sprawling suburbs - as the main obstacle to peace, because they carve up the land on which a Palestinian state would be established. Most of the world considers them illegal. Well-known human rights groups have concluded that Israel's seemingly permanent control over millions of Palestinians amounts to apartheid. One of those groups, Israel's own B'Tselem, hung banners in the West Bank that were visible from the presidential motorcade. Israel rejects that label as an attack on its very existence, even though two former Israeli prime ministers warned years ago that their country would be seen that way if it did not reach a two-state agreement with the Palestinians. The U.S. also rejects the apartheid allegations. Other banners along the motorcade route called for justice for Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed during an Israeli military raid in the West Bank in May. Israel says she might have been struck by Palestinian gunfire, while investigations by The Associated Press and other media outlets support Palestinian witnesses who say she was shot by Israeli forces. The U.S. says she was likely killed unintentionally by Israeli troops, without saying how it reached those conclusions. That angered many Palestinians, including Abu Akleh's family, who accused the U.S. of trying to help Israel evade responsibility for her death. In Bethlehem, Palestinian journalists covering Biden's visit wore black T-shirts with Abu Akleh's image on the front in solidarity with their slain colleague. * This story was edited by Ahram Online Search Keywords: Short link: US President Joe Biden emerged from Air Force One on Friday, minutes after landing in Saudi Arabia and walked along a lavender carpet past a sword-bearing honor cordon. The subdued arrival ceremony in the Red Sea city of Jeddah featured no formal program. The president was greeted upon arrival by Mecca's governor, Prince Khalid bin Faisal, and Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the US, Princess Reema bint Bandar. Biden is the first US president to fly directly from Israel to Saudi Arabia, on the last leg of his tour of the Middle East. US President Joe Biden waves before his departure to Saudi Arabia from Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv, Israel Friday, July 15, 2022. AP Biden is set to participate in a summit to be held in Jeddah and bring together the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, in addition to Egypt, Iraq and Jordan. The Arab-US summit is expected to tackle regional issues of concern and mechanisms of enhancing joint work to achieve stability in the region. Saudi Arabia announced earlier Friday it was lifting restrictions on "all carriers" using its airspace, an apparent gesture of openness towards Israel hours before Biden's arrival. The Saudi civil aviation authority "announces the decision to open the Kingdom's airspace for all air carriers that meet the requirements of the authority for overflying", it said in a statement. The decision was made "to complement the Kingdom's efforts aimed at consolidating the Kingdom's position as a global hub connecting three continents". Biden said in a statement later Friday that Riyadh's move came "thanks to months of steady diplomacy between my administration and Saudi Arabia." "As we mark this important moment, Saudi Arabia's decision can help build momentum toward Israel's further integration into the region, including with Saudi Arabia," Biden said. Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid thanked Biden on Friday for "long, intense and secret diplomatic negotiations between Saudi Arabia and the United States" to reach a deal on overflights. Search Keywords: Short link: US President Joe Biden participated in a working session with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and top Saudi officials on Friday evening at Salam Palace in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah. Earlier in the evening, the crown prince welcomed the US president as he arrived at the royal palace to start a visit to the Gulf kingdom that is intended to reset their countries' longstanding partnership. This was the first meeting between the crown prince and the US president since Biden took office in early 2021. President Biden held a meeting with Saudi King Salman bin Abdel-Aziz at the palace before the start of the working session with the crown prince. Earlier on Friday, Biden emerged from Air Force One on Friday, minutes after landing in Saudi Arabia and walked along a lavender carpet past a sword-bearing honor cordon. The subdued arrival ceremony in Jeddah featured no formal program. The president was greeted upon arrival by Mecca's governor, Prince Khalid bin Faisal, and Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the US, Princess Reema bint Bandar. Biden is the first US president to fly directly from Israel to Saudi Arabia, on the last leg of his tour of the Middle East. The US president is set to participate in a summit to be held in Jeddah and bring together the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, in addition to Egypt, Iraq and Jordan. The Arab-US summit is expected to tackle regional issues of concern and mechanisms of enhancing joint work to achieve stability in the region. Saudi Arabia announced earlier Friday it was lifting restrictions on "all carriers" using its airspace, an apparent gesture of openness towards Israel hours before Biden's arrival. The Saudi civil aviation authority "announces the decision to open the Kingdom's airspace for all air carriers that meet the requirements of the authority for overflying", it said in a statement. The decision was made "to complement the Kingdom's efforts aimed at consolidating the Kingdom's position as a global hub connecting three continents". Biden said in a statement later Friday that Riyadh's move came "thanks to months of steady diplomacy between my administration and Saudi Arabia." "As we mark this important moment, Saudi Arabia's decision can help build momentum toward Israel's further integration into the region, including with Saudi Arabia," Biden said. Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid thanked Biden on Friday for "long, intense and secret diplomatic negotiations between Saudi Arabia and the United States" to reach a deal on overflights. Search Keywords: Short link: Arab leaders and visiting US President Joe Biden are set to discuss the future of Arab-US relations this weekend in Saudi Arabia. President Biden is set to deliver a speech on Saturday at the summit in Jeddah which is bringing together the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, in addition to Egypt, Iraq and Jordan where he will define the new US approaches to the region following recent regional and global developments. Biden's meeting with the leaders of all six GCC countries comes after the end of the diplomatic and economic boycott that three of the GCC members Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE and Egypt had placed on Qatar during former president Trumps time in office. Shortly after landing in Jeddah on Friday evening, Biden participated in a working session with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and top Saudi officials in the first meeting between the crown prince and the US president since Biden took office in early 2021. Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi is also set to meet with President Biden in an Egypt-US summit on Saturday in Jeddah. This will be the first meeting of the two leaders since Biden was inaugurated into the White House in January 2021. The meeting comes on the sidelines of a US-Arab summit level meeting that Saudi Arabia is hosting upon Bidens first visit to the region. Previously, in the spring of 2021, the two leaders held telephone consultations to work on ending an Israeli war on Gaza. Egyptian and Cairo-based foreign diplomats agree that two years down the road from Biden's presidential campaign against then-president Trump, now-president Biden is in the mood to make things work with the quintessential Arab allies. Bidens trip to the Middle East, they say, is specifically designed to relaunch the parameters of the US engagement in the region, following years of relative withdrawal that started during the last years of Barack Obamas second term in office, the four years of Trump in office, and the first two years of the Biden administration. In statements he made in Israel, where he started his Middle East visit, Biden said that the US made a mistake when it allowed for a vacuum in the region that other forces have tried to fill. According to diplomats who spoke to Ahram Online, it is clear to all concerned that Bidens visit to the region is not strictly an attempt to encourage the oil-rich Arab Gulf countries to further increase their oil production, beyond a rise they allowed a month ago, to make up for the drop in oil supplies in the international market with the sanctions the West imposed on Russias oil production. The visit is also an attempt to reassure Israel, the UAE and Saudi Arabia that any possible deal between the West and Iran on Tehrans nuclear programme would take into consideration their security concerns despite the Jerusalem Declaration that Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid signed on Thursday that clearly stipulated that Iran would be denied all chances to acquire nuclear weapons. Today, diplomatic sources say, realism prevails on the future of relations with the US. Washington, they explained, is aware that there have been significant changes in the region. Meanwhile, they added, Arab allies are aware that at the end of the day they cannot just turn their back on the US due to reasons of military, economic and even education cooperation. The issue now, they argued, is about reworking the parameters of relations, where neither side is expecting to turn back the clock. In other words, they explained, the US will remain a strategic ally and possibly the top strategic ally, but not the exclusive strategic ally of the past. Meanwhile, Arab capitals, influential as they may be, will need to work to secure the consequential military cooperation with the US. According to an Egyptian official, it is hard to ignore the many visits that US military and other officials have been making to the region, Egypt included, since Biden was inaugurated. Things are taking a lot more transactional shape now than before, and this, he said, applies not only to Egypt, but also to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. He added that it has to be taken into consideration that the region that Biden arrived to on 13 July is not exactly the region that his predecessor visited in May 2017, when he too visited Saudi Arabia. Suffice to say that Biden boarded Air Force 1 for a first-ever direct flight from Israel to Saudi Arabia, who decided upon the visit of the US president to end an embargo on flights from Israel to the Arab country. Saudi Arabia is also contemplating ending a ban it has always imposed on allowing Arab-Israeli Muslims to perform pilgrimage with an Israeli passport. Things are different for sure Biden is certainly not Trump, but neither is he Barack Obama or George W. Bush, who were, each in his way, dead set on prioritising matters of governance, according to an Abu Dhabi-based political source. Bidens visit started on 13 July in Israel, where the US president met with Israeli Prime Minister Lapid and other top Israeli political figures prior to moving to Bethlehem where he met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. While in Israel, Biden took part in a virtual four-way summit that brought him together with Lapid, and UAEs ruler Mohamed Bin Zayed and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the context of the recently established I2U2 alliance for cooperation and investment, especially in water, energy, transportation, health, food security, space and technology. According to the Abu Dhabi-based source, nothing speaks more for the changing priorities of the region than this virtual summit of four like-minded states. Another sign of change that the Biden visit is revealing is the position of the US president on the Palestinian-Israeli struggle. Biden neither shrugged the Palestinian Authority as Trump did nor did he act firmly to re-engage Washington in launching negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis as successive US presidents, both Democrats and Republicans, have been doing since Democrat Jimmy Carter helped Egypt and Israel reach the first ever Arab-Israeli peace agreement that was signed in Washington in March 1979. Biden confined himself to promising economic support to the Palestinians. Instead of seeking a move on the Palestinian-Israeli front, the US president was more focused on giving a push to the voluntary Arab normalisation with Israel that has been gaining ground since the signing of the Abraham Accords in August 2020, allowing for normal diplomatic relations, and now flourishing cooperation between Israel, on the one hand, and the UAE and Bahrain on the other. Search Keywords: Short link: Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty For nearly 60 years, scientists have been pointing radio receivers and telescopes into the sky, searching for a sign that were not alone in the universe. So far, no luck. But the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, or SETI, cuts both ways. While were looking for evidence of alien civilizations, alien civilizations could be looking for evidence of us. To get a handle on just how visible we might be to aliens, a team of astronomers put themselves in the aliens shoesand imagined how they might look for us, and how good their odds are of actually finding us. Bad news if youre in favor of first contact though. Earth, it turns out, is actually pretty well hidden from potential alien astronomers. Of course, thats good news if you think E.T. might be hostile. The team of astronomers from Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom and France took a common Earth-based space-survey method called microlensing, and flipped it. Their study has been peer-reviewed and accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Why Theres a Chance We Heard From Aliens Back in 1977 In theory, a long-range detection-method like microlensing could be employed by technological civilizations to detect the Earth across galactic distance scales, the studys authors wrote. Microlensing is a way of detecting extremely distant planetsas in, tens of thousands of light-years away. Astronomers peering through powerful telescopes look for stars that suddenly get a lot brighter. One reason a star might get abruptly brighter is that a planet, itself too small to be visible at that distance, is passing between the star and Earth. The planets atmosphere acts as a lens, intensifying the stars light from the observers point of view. NASAs $10-billion James Webb Space Telescope takes advantage of a similar principle to observe faraway galaxiesexcept in the case of JWST, its gravity that does the lensing, not a planets atmosphere. The first incredible images of lensing galaxies from the new space telescope dropped this week. Story continues The Carina Nebula, as imaged by the James Webb Space Telescope. Space Telescope Science Institute Office of Public Outreach So far, scientists have discovered 130 planets by way of microlensing, adding them to the list of planets SETI practitioners can scan for signs of alien life such as radio broadcasts, laser signals, or industrial pollutants. Assuming aliens existand to be clear, many astronomers assume they do, somewherewhat are their chances of discovering Earth using the same microlensing technique? Not good. The authors assumed that an alien astronomer would be on a planet orbiting a star somewhere in our corner of the Milky Way galaxy, gazing toward another starour own or one farther awayat the moment Earth passes between that star and the astronomer. They also assumed the aliens would have roughly the same technology we have. The same kinds of telescopes. The same kinds of computers for analyzing astronomical data. But thats not a safe assumption, Supachai Awiphan, a researcher at the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand and co-author of the study, told The Daily Beast. Other civilizations might have more advanced technology and techniques to detect the Earth, he said. However, since we cant make calculations for technology we dont possess, were stuck projecting our own technological constraints onto potential alien civilizations. The prerequisite geography for the observations, as well as the tech constraints the authors bake into their analysis, limits the number of possible vantage points from where some alien might glimpse Earth. They calculated a total Earth discovery rate of around 15 per year. In other words, there are just 15 opportunities every year for an alien astronomer to notice Earth using the microlensing technique. Supachai Awiphan IAU But that doesnt mean E.T. is actually looking every time Earth lensesassuming, of course, E.T. even exists and wants to find us. The study is a splash of cold water on the idea that aliens might find us before we find them. Our planet, it turns out, is well hidden, the studys authors wrote. Douglas Vakoch, who heads the METI International research organizationdedicated to communicating with aliensin San Francisco, told The Daily Beast he isnt surprised. The success of any microlensing-based survey depends on a fluke, he said. When the stars align just rightliterallyEarth suddenly pops into view for any alien astronomers looking our direction at exactly the right time. Of course, its possible aliens could hear us without seeing us. After all, our own SETI efforts are mostly auditory. Scientists point huge radio receivers into space and listen for signals that sound like they might have come from intelligent beings. But radio SETI can be frustrating. We could hear an alien broadcast and not even realize it. A few SETI practitioners suspect that exact thing may have happened way back in 1977. Its possible we made first contact and didnt even notice. Visually detecting a habitable planet via microlensing, then following up with a closer survey looking for clear evidence of intelligent life, could be a less ambiguous way of confirming were not alone. That should also apply to any aliens out there searching for us. But dont hold your breath. As the microlensing study explains, it could be a long, long time before alien astronomers, peering through their telescopes, get lucky and notice Earth. Its possible thats actually good news. Theres an assumption in SETI that meeting aliens is a good thing. That our civilization, and theirs, can only benefit from an introductionbut what if that assumption is wrong? What if E.T. turns out to be hostile? It is not necessarily a good thing to encounter aliens, Annie Robin, an astrophysics researcher at the Institut Utinam in France and co-author of the study, told The Daily Beast. In that case, we should count ourselves lucky that our planet is so hard to find. David Specht, an astronomy researcher at the University of Manchester and co-author of the study, told The Daily Beast hes optimistic. Id like to hope that aliens, for all their own problems, would see us as something intriguing thats worth preserving and studying instead of paving over us with an interstellar highway, he said. If We Can Find Hidden Planets, We Might Find Alien Life Vakoch for one said hes unconcerned, either way. Microlensing is a way of detecting planets from tens of thousands of light-years. That distance protects us. If an extraterrestrial civilization needs microlensing to detect Earth, theyre so far away that its hard to imagine what would be so valuable that would make them travel across the galaxy to get here, Vakoch said. Then again, maybe Vakoch is wrong. Lets say some hostile alien civilization discovers Earth. Lets say that civilization immediately launches an invasion force. But dont sweat it. Weve got hundreds of thousands of years before they get here. Plenty of time for us to wipe ourselves outand render the alien invasion moot. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Amazon, the second-largest employer in the United States, has made plain its desire to keep its workforce from unionizing. In one of its warehouses, ALB1 in upstate New York, that message has become crystal clear: "Don't sign a card." Photos of the new digital signage were sent to Engadget by an employee at the facility. Their presence was confirmed by a second employee, David, who claims to have been at the fulfillment center approximately since its opening in 2020. According to David (whose full name is being withheld for fear of retribution by his employer), the carousel of anti-union posters went up today and cycles between approximately seven different slides, each actively discouraging workers from signing a union card. "It's on a constant loop while people punch in and punch out of their shifts," he said, "[when] they go on their breaks, or they go on their lunch. Any time that we're going to be up towards the front." Anti-union signage at ALB1 sent by a source in upstate new york Amazon has been known to post signage meant to discourage unionization at other facilities. As Vice reported in March, workers at JFK8 in Staten Island, New York were treated to an array of posters with circumspect slogans like "Is union life for me?" and "Will the [Amazon Labor Union]'s voice replace mine?" The signage at ALB1 appears to represent the most forceful tack the company has taken in expressing its disdain for an organized workforce. The company also has a track record of breaking labor laws and frustrating organizing efforts: firing or otherwise retaliating against workers, preventing workers from handing out pamphlets, and interfering with a union election. Behind closed doors, the company also planned a smear campaign against a prominent organizer. We've asked both Amazon and the National Labor Relations Board for comment on the legality of this signage and will update our story if receive a response. Workers at ALB1 have been pushing to form a union since at least May. It's not yet clear if the organizing efforts are pointed toward joining Amazon Labor Union, the grassroots group that successfully voted to unionize one of the Staten Island facilities in April. That said, based on the new signage, management at this fulfillment center appears to consider the group its primary threat. Nearly all of the signs specifically reference ALU, which the company calls "untested and unproven." Another even suggests joining ALU would involve giving up some measure of personal privacy, though it's not clear in what way. We've asked ALU for comment as well and will update this story if we hear back from the group. Mayor Muriel Bowser Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser is not a lesbian but is proud to be a straight ally of the LGBTQ community, she said this week in response to an activists query. Bowser was at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday for D.C.s first homeless shelter dedicated to LGBTQ+ adults. While she was speaking, the Washington Blade reports, activist Ahmar Mustikhan said to her, Mayor, Im extremely grateful to you for the all the works that you have done so far for the LGBTQ community, including this shelter here. Mayor, Im a little concerned because there is this word that you are lesbian and you are in this closet. Why is this the case? Bowser replied, Well, Im not in the closet, and there was laughter from the crowd before things moved on. Mustikhan describes himself on his Twitter account as the first openly gay man on earth from Balochistan, a province in Pakistan that borders Iran and Afghanistan with a pro-independence movement, the Blade notes. A reporter with TV station WRC, Washingtons NBC affiliate, spoke to Bowser about the exchange Friday at a Democratic Party event. Im very proud to be a straight ally of the LGBTQ community, the mayor clarified. She said many people have commented that Mustikhans question was very inappropriate, adding, I gave a very nuanced response to shut it down. We should not be, as elected officials, going into situations like that where were talking about very real issues where people want to make them personal, she continued. Bowser is running for her third term as mayor, having won her primary last month. She has a gay brother, Marvin Bowser. The Blade has sought further comment from her but has received no response so far. Major cities that have or have had lesbian mayors include Chicago, where Lori Lightfoot is currently in office; Tampa, Fla., where Jane Castor is mayor; Madison, Wis., where Satya Rhodes-Conway is in the post; Seattle, where Jenny Durkan held the office from 2017 to 2021; and Houston, where Annise Parker was mayor from 2010 to 2016. Follow More Advocate News on Pride Today Below A woman holds a placard saying "abortion is healthcare" during an abortion rights rally. About 100 people attended the rally, which was organized in response to the United States Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and eliminate the right to abortion access. Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images An attorney for Dr. Caitlin Bernard has accused Indiana's attorney general of "defamation." Bernard performed an abortion on a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio. Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita falsely suggested she had not reported the incident. An attorney for the doctor who performed an abortion on a 10-year-old rape victim is demanding that Indiana's Republican attorney general quit making "false and misleading" comments about her client after he wrongly suggested the medical procedure had not been properly reported to legal authorities. In a cease-and-desist letter sent Friday, first reported by NPR, an attorney for Dr. Caitlin Bernard accused Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita of making false comments that "constitute defamation." Bernard is considering legal action against Rokita, the lawyer, Kathleen DeLaney, said earlier on Friday. A spokesperson for Rokita told Insider that his office would review the letter when it's received. "Regardless, no false or misleading statements have been made," they asserted. While defamation is a legal claim that a court would need to assess, Rokita did tell a national television audience that he suspected Bernard may have committed a crime. Prosecutors typically avoid such suggestions before charging a suspect or completing their investigation. In a Wednesday appearance on Fox News, Rokita announced that he was planning to investigate Bernard, suggesting that the OB-GYN had not reported the abortion on the child. A resident of Ohio, the child who was forced to go to Indiana for the medical procedure due to her own state's restrictive abortion law triggered by the US Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade which generally prohibits the termination of a pregnancy after six weeks. "We're gathering the evidence as we speak and we're going to fight this to the end, including looking at her licensure, if she failed to report," Rokita said. "In Indiana, it's a crime to intentionally not report." Story continues In fact, Bernard had reported the abortion within three days of the procedure, The Washington Post reported. Nevertheless, in a statement issued earlier on Friday, a spokesperson said the attorney general was still "gathering evidence" related to the case. The decision to investigate Bernard Rokita this week labeled her an "abortion activist acting as a doctor" comes after prominent Republicans, including Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, accused her of making up the story, which was reported by the Indianapolis Star and later cited by President Joe Biden as a consequence of eliminating federal protections for abortion. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost had likewise said there was "not a damn scintilla of evidence," claiming the story was a likely "fabrication." He later celebrated the arrest of a 27-year-old man accused of sexual assault in the case. "We rejoice anytime a child rapist is taken off the streets," he told The Columbus Dispatch. Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com Read the original article on Business Insider Riding out way out to the Agafay desert one hour outside Marrakech, a van full of English and American editors were gobsmacked by the sight of two camels, as still as statues, silhouetted perfectly on the crest of a rocky dune. An hour later, seated around a circular pool for Saint Laurents spring 2023 show, they were mesmerized again, drinking in Anthony Vaccarellos sensual, tuxedo-inspired silhouettes rippled by a brisk evening wind. More from WWD Here was a destination show laden with history, given how much Morocco revved and shaped the aesthetic of fashion icon Yves Saint Laurent, who fell in love with Marrakech from his very first visit in 1966 with his partner Pierre Berge. Earlier in the day, editors filed through Dar el Hanch, the riad they bought on a whim, and snapped photos of the snake the legendary designer painted in the dining room. If only the walls could talk, a tour guide snickered. Yet Vaccarello said he sidestepped cliches around the mythology of Marrakech and YSL, preferring to elaborate on his terrific fall 2022 womens collection, plopping similar smokings and strong-shouldered coats on men, to elegant effect. That much of the collection was black was a no-brainer. Black, for me, its the best way to see a silhouette, especially in the desert you see it clearly, almost like a sketch, he said before the show. As show venues go, Saint Laurents was dream-like, silvery boxes erected on a Mars-like stretch of barren hills tinted orange by the sunset. It was Dominic Fikes first time in Morocco. Check it out, its a lake, he said, pointing to the water glinting in the last licks of daylight. Its beautiful. With all the camels and things, its exactly how I imagined. We are in Africa, right? Luka Sabbat disregarded the memo advising comfortable footwear for desert conditions, arriving at his seat atop towering platform boots that he quickly tossed for cork-soled sandals. Story continues I didnt give up. Im just taking a break from them. Im doing a photo diary right now for Interview mag so I need to run around, he said as the likes of Anja Rubik and Milena Smit struck poses before the show. Fog machines fired up, sending haze drifting across the set as the models whisked around the man-made well. One noticed the strong shoulder line of Vaccarellos fine tailoring, and the trousers tight on the hips and then widening out and flapping in the wind. Everything looked luxurious and compellingly soigne, executed in fine satins, velvets, grain de poudre as YSL a fabric as there ever was and buttery leather. Just before the finale, a circle of light appeared in the pond, and a hulking lighting rig slowly emerged and propped itself up vertically, like some portal into another dimension. The sense of wonder reached another crescendo. Backstage Vaccarello didnt read too much into his design effort other than a wish to show a more fluid, rounder take on Saint Laurent menswear, with small doses of fashion folly. A fur coat in the desert? he said about the hulking fluff of a coat that appeared about midway through the show. Why not? Its chic. Launch Gallery: Saint Laurent Mens Spring 2023 Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Passengers waiting for their flights inside international Philip S W Goldson Airport. Getty Images The Central American country of Belize rolled back pandemic-related entry restrictions on Friday, July 15, becoming the latest destination to do so. Going forward, visitors to Belize will no longer need to show proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test to enter land and sea borders, the Belize Tourism Board shared with Travel + Leisure. "With the emergence of weaker variants of COVID-19 and with the global trend of restrictions being relaxed, the time has come to take the pressure off of our health systems," Kevin Bernard, the minister of health and wellness for Belize, said in a statement provided to T+L. "We've reached a level where it's now everyone's personal responsibility to decide whether they want to be vaccinated or not." Travelers will also no longer be required to purchase the Belize Travel Health Insurance plan, but the country will continue to offer it as an optional and "encouraged" add-on. The policy costs $18 for three weeks of coverage. While the country has significantly relaxed entry rules, international visitors are still required to book a stay at a BTB Gold Standard-approved hotel, according to the tourism board. Travelers can search for a "gold standard" hotel on the tourism board's website. The move comes months after Belize dropped pre-arrival testing requirements for fully vaccinated travelers as well as eliminated mask rules and capacity restrictions at restaurants. Previously, unvaccinated travelers were required to show proof of a negative test taken before their arrival and undergo mandatory testing at the border. With its new rules, Belize joins several other destinations around the world that have eliminated all COVID-19-related entry rules, like the Bahamas, Grenada, Aruba, Bonaire, Australia, Italy, Sweden, Iceland, Ireland, Croatia, and the United Kingdom. Belize is home to the second largest barrier reef in the world (behind only Australia's Great Barrier Reef), along with the Great Blue Hole, ancient Mayan ruins, remote islands, waterfalls, and more. Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. When she's not in New York City, she likes to spend her time at the beach or exploring new destinations and hopes to visit every country in the world. Follow her adventures on Instagram. US President Joe Biden is set to discuss volatile oil prices during a summit with Arab leaders on Saturday in Saudi Arabia, the final stop of his Middle East tour. On his first trip to the region as president, Biden is also looking to outline his vision for Washington's role in the region in order to not cede influence to Russia and China. He plans to announce Saturday that the US is committing $1 billion in food aid to the Middle East and North Africa amid rising food insecurity induced by the war in Ukraine, a senior official told reporters. Saturday's meeting in Jeddah will bring together leaders of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council as well as Egypt, Jordan and Iraq. Biden landed Friday in Saudi Arabia, a longtime US ally he once vowed to make a "pariah state" over its human rights record, and met with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Tensions had been high between Biden and Prince Mohammed, especially after Biden's administration released US intelligence findings that Prince Mohammed "approved" an operation targeting journalist Jamal Khashoggi, whose killing and dismemberment in Saudi Arabia's Istanbul consulate in 2018 spurred global outrage. After a fist-bump greeting with Prince Mohammed, Biden said he raised Khashoggi's case "at the top" of their discussions and "made it clear if anything occurs like that again they will get that response and much more". The Al-Arabiya channel quoted a Saudi official saying the pair "addressed the issue of Jamal Khashoggi quickly" and that Prince Mohammed "confirmed that what happened is regrettable and we have taken all legal measures to prevent" a recurrence. Prince Mohammed also pointed out that "such an incident occurs anywhere in the world", highlighting "a number of mistakes" made by Washington such as torturing detainees at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. New agreements Biden appears keen to re-engage with US ally Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter and an avid buyer of weapons. Washington wants Saudi Arabia to open the floodgates to bring down soaring gasoline prices, which threaten Democratic chances in November mid-term elections. But Biden on Friday tried to tamp down expectations that his trip would yield immediate gains. "I'm doing all I can to increase the supply for the United States of America," he said, adding concrete results would not be seen "for another couple weeks". Riyadh and Washington on Friday signed 18 agreements on areas including energy, space, health and investment, including developing 5G and 6G technology, said a Saudi statement. Another statement said the two sides noted "the importance of their strategic economic and investment cooperation, especially in light of the current crisis in Ukraine and its repercussions, reiterating their commitment to the stability of global energy markets." Saudi Arabia agreed to link the electricity networks of the Gulf Cooperation Council to Iraq, which relies heavily on energy from Iran, "in order to provide Iraq and its people with new and diversified electricity sources," the White House said. A senior administration said the Gulf bloc would commit $3 billion to a global infrastructure programme intended to counter China's Belt and Road Initiative. "Russia is effectively making a bet on Iran. We are making a bet on a more integrated, more stable, more peaceful and prosperous Middle East region," the official said, in an apparent dig at Russian President Vladimir Putin's plan to visit Iran next week. Beyond oil Biden said his focus on the trip was "positioning America in this region for the future". "We are not going to leave a vacuum in the Middle East for Russia or China to fill, and we're getting results," he said. Israeli ties White House officials have used the trip as a bid to promote integration between Israel and Arab nations. The issue of the strategic Red Sea islands of Tiran and neighbouring Sanafir is also expected to be on Saturday's agenda. Egypt ceded the islands in 2016 to Saudi Arabia, but the deal requires Israel's green light -- a move that could spur contacts between the Jewish state and Riyadh. Biden said Friday that a decades-old multinational peacekeeping force, including US troops, would leave Tiran, with the White House adding they would depart by the end of the year. Saudi Arabia has refused to join the US-brokered Abraham Accords which in 2020 created ties between Israel and two of the kingdom's neighbours, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. But it is showing signs of greater openness towards Israel, and on Friday announced it was lifting overflight restrictions on aircraft travelling to and from Israel, a move Biden hailed as "historic". Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid went further, saying: "This is the first official step in normalisation with Saudi Arabia." *This story was edited by Ahram Online Search Keywords: Short link: Note from Opinion Editor Amelia Robinson: A 27-year-old Columbus man has been charged with raping a 10-year-old girl who traveled to Indiana to get an abortion. Ohio's so-called heartbeat ban kicked in after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. We asked readers for their thought. Below are a selection of submitted letters to the editor. MORE LETTERS HERE: Forcing a 10-year-old to have a baby could end her life in more than one way More: How to submit guest opinion columns to the Columbus Dispatch The beast beat Yost Attorney General Dave Yost made statements on Fox News questioning the validity of a 10-year-old child being raped and pregnant and having to seek help outside of Ohio for pregnancy termination. He also stated that we have regular contact with prosecutors and local police and sheriffs not a whisper anywhere. And then, more likely this is a fabrication. Yost used his position status to reassure us that there is nothing to see here. Why? I dont know. Jack DAurora Jack DAurora answered my question when he stated, in his column "The inner beast' has taken control of Ohio, America" that our ego and self-interest are defeating us. Ego leads to what Franciscan priest Richard Rohr calls mouthy certitude, conduct marked by over-statement, quick dogmatic conclusions, and a rush to judgment. DAurora continues, There is much anxiety about being right and concerted effort to convince others how right we are. Examples abound. Indeed. I wish Dave Yost hadnt picked an innocent child on which to practice his mouthy certitude and rush to judgment. More: Jack D'Aurora: 'We have met the enemy, and he is us.' America's ego is out of control Diane Donato, Columbus U.S. Representative Jim Jordan addresses the participants at the Road to Majority conference at Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center Friday, June 17, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Get used to it or vote Well, is anyone surprised? This is what we get when Republicans control things. We have a lot of thick-headed people in this state who believe crazy stuff, and most of those people vote for Republican losers like Donald Trump, Dave Yost, Mike DeWine, Jim Jordan, etc. Story continues On and on... and possibly JD Vance to join the list soon. More: 'I keep thinking of that child.' Jordan, others preach 'save babies,' but attack girl| Schultz Get used to it, because if Republicans continue to control Ohio, and (God forbid) take back both the U.S. Congress and White House, then we've only seen the tip of the iceberg. Make sure you vote in November. Vote for people who know the difference between reality and fantasy, and between right and wrong. It is a choice we all make - to believe nonsense or use the brains we were born with. God gave people brains for a reason. If a person never bothers to learn how to think, an explanation for that choice will be required at some point. Tony Panneton, Fresno Attorney General Dave Yost questioned the validity of a story about a 10-year-old Ohio girl who was raped and had to travel to Indiana for an abortion. What a cruel spectacle Shame on Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost for trading on the suffering of a small child to get some "face time" on Fox News. All he had to do was abstain from public announcements until doing a bit of investigating on his own. What a cruel spectacle. More: Shameful Dave Yost jumped in mud to doubt case of 10-year-old who got abortion | Robinson Lynda McClanahan, Columbus Doctors are not villains Dave Yost's actions calling into question the validity of the 10-year-old rape victim's claims, as well as the integrity and intention of the physicians who were trying to help this victim (which, by the way, is his job as attorney general) are not only irresponsible and inexcusable, but are also an intentional denial of the horrors women are facing living in a landscape that Yost, himself, helped to create. More: Do 10-year-olds meet 'life of mother' abortion exemptions? Ohio lawmakers, doctors divided Furthermore, to claim that the physician in this case had an "axe to grind" when clearly it was Yost who used his platform and authority as a grindstone only highlights the recklessness our state leadership is showing towards this very serious issue. More: It's Necessary: Yost puts his foot in mouth by doubting case of 10-year-old rape victim Physicians are not villains, nor are they criminals; and the State of Ohio has now placed them in the impossible position of being held civilly liable for not following the standard of care or being held criminally liable for following it. When physicians hesitate, women suffer. When politicians speak with intent to mislead, legislate without the input of experts, and ignore reality, we all suffer. Dr. Jason Melillo, Powell MORE TO THE CONVERSATION: Sign up for our opinion newsletter We are talking about a 10-year-old girl I am beyond disgusted at Dave Yost and his cohorts. Facts: a 10-year-old little girl was allegedly raped by a 27-year-old man. She was impregnated. More: Police accounts kept changing on Uvalde. A girl's rape story was called a lie. We reported truth. She was forced to travel to Indiana where a compassionate doctor performed an abortion and complied with the rule to report such within three days to the authorities thanks to the archaic rulings of the Supreme Court of this country and the mealy-mouthed so-called concerned politicians in Ohio. A 10-year-old little girl. Kathleen Rosati, Westerville Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost appeared on Fox's 'Jesse Watters Primetime' July. 11, 2022. He doubted that a 10-year-old Ohio girl sought an abortion in Indiana after being raped. The suspect in that case was later arrested in Columbus. Buffoons, idiots, 'stupids' and know-nothings destroying Ohio I was born and raised in Ohio, a a nice place to in which to grow up then. I do not intend ever to return because of the way it is now, run by buffoons and idiots, 'stupids' and know-nothings. More: Capitol Insider: Jim Jordan deletes tweet calling rape story of 10-year-old 'Another lie' That someone like this Dave Yost could ever be elected to any office shows the depravity and idiocy the state has fallen into. I shall never return. Ohio women, come to Maryland. Women are treated like equal citizens here. Virginia Nuta, Montgomery Village, Maryland Letters to the Editor This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Letters: What are Ohioans saying about 10-year-old rape victim, Jim Jordan? Ivana Trump smiles at her belated birthday party at the Pangaea Soleil club during the 59th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, on May 24, 2006. Reuters/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo The New York City medical examiner ruled Ivana Trump's death an accident. Ivana Trump, the first wife of former President Donald Trump, died Thursday. She was 73. She died of blunt impact injuries to her torso, officials said. The death of Ivana Trump, Donald Trump's ex-wife, was an accident, the New York City medical examiner ruled on Friday. Ivana Trump died on July 14 in her New York City townhouse on Thursday, the former president announced on social media. She was 73. The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner announced that Ivana Trump died from blunt impact injuries to her torso, WNBC reported Friday. "Having released this determination, OCME will not comment further on the investigation," the office said in a statement. Ivana Trump was the first wife of Donald Trump, and the pair shared three children: Ivanka, Eric, and Donald Jr. Ivana moved to the US from Canada in the 1970s after fleeing Czechoslovakia during the Czech Communist Party's control. She and Donald Trump were married for nearly 15 years before their public divorce in 1992, which was finalized shortly before he proposed to his second wife Marla Maples, with whom he shares a daughter Tiffany Trump. "I am very saddened to inform all of those that loved her, of which there were many, that Ivana Trump has passed away at her home in New York City," Donald Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. "She was a wonderful, beautiful, and amazing woman, who led a great and inspirational life." Read the original article on Business Insider Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) trails her main challenger in her bid to win reelection to her House seat by more than 20 points, according to a poll released Friday. A poll from the Casper Star-Tribune shows attorney and Trump-backed candidate Harriet Hageman leading Cheney, 52 percent to 30 percent. Other candidates did not surpass 5 percent support, while 11 percent of respondents to the poll were undecided. The poll was the first independent, public in-state poll to be conducted on the race, according to the Star-Tribune. The big story is Liz Cheney is going to get beat, said Brad Coker, the managing director of the polling firm Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy, which conducted the poll for the Star-Tribune. Thats a foregone conclusion. Cheney has been on the outs with most of her party over her condemnation of former President Trumps attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. Cheney was removed from her position as House GOP conference chair in the aftermath of her criticism, and Trump endorsed her challenger, Hageman, in the primary scheduled for next month. Cheney has served as the vice chair of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack, standing further in opposition to most of the party. Only 27 percent of respondents said they approved of the job Cheney was doing, while two-thirds said they disapproved. Those critical of her said she is too focused on her membership on the House Jan. 6 committee and fighting with Trump, with 54 percent saying they are less likely to support her because of her membership on the committee. More than 6 in 10 said Cheneys opposition to Trump has affected her ability to deal with the issues facing the state, and only one-third said it has not affected her ability. Coker said the race is more about Cheney than Trump. Anybody whos credible, who ran to the right of Liz Cheney would probably win this race with or without Donald Trump, he said. Story continues Cheney has been seeking to rally Democrats in the state to switch parties to vote for her in the primary, sending out mail to Democratic voters with information on voting in the Republican primary. The poll states that Cheney has a 53 percent approval rating among Democrats who plan to vote in the Republican primary but only a 29 percent approval among independents who plan to do so. Although the poll showed 69 percent of registered Democrats who plan to vote in the GOP primary are supporting Cheney, the relatively small number of Democrats in the state limit their ability to influence the result. The poll was conducted among 1,100 registered voters from July 7 to 11. The margin of error was plus or minus 3 points. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty Russian proxies in occupied Ukraine made a British captive belt out the Russian national anthem just hours after one of his fellow prisoner was confirmed dead Friday. The Russian propaganda machine was quick to jolt into action after the death of Paul Urey, a British aid worker the Russian-backed authorities had accused of being a professional military man tasked with recruiting and training mercenaries, claims for which they have presented no evidence. The agency tasked with upholding human rights in the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic claimed Urey, who they say died on July 10, succumbed to chronic illnesses and stressand that he passed away in distress due to the indifference of his homeland to his fate. The claim, part of an effort by Russian-backed leadership in the banana republic to vilify Western nations for refusing to recognize them, comes as concerns for other foreign captives snatched up by Russian forces grow. According to family members of Alexander Drueke and Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh, two U.S. vets who were serving as volunteers in the Ukrainian military when they were taken prisoner in the Kharkiv region in early June, no one appears to have been allowed to visit them in captivity for a wellness check. The family of Huynh said that while Drueke has been allowed to contact his loved ones several times by phone, Huynh has not been heard from since he was taken captive more than a month ago. Thats a concern to us, Darla Black, the mother of Huynhs fiance, Joy, told The Daily Beast. Theyre really not telling us exactly where the guys are, she said, adding that the Red Cross has not yet been allowed in to see Andy and Alex. A third U.S. captive, Suedi Murekezi, is reportedly being held in the same penal colony as Drueke and Huynh. Murekezi had no involvement in any fighting and was grabbed up in the Kherson region while in search of gas for his car, friends and family told The Guardian. While Drueke and Huynhs whereabouts are secret, a select few have been granted access: Kremlin propagandists, Russian-appointed lawyersand a former American cop who fled to Russia and soon began cozying up to Putins propaganda machine. Story continues While John Mark Dougan, a.k.a. BadVolf, has billed himself as a whistleblower fighting corruption in the U.S. justice system. He has more recently made a name for himself as a conspiracy theorist and Kremlin shill, echoing some of Moscows most far-fetched claims about the war, including that a U.S.-Ukraine bioweapons conspiracy is at the heart of it all. But Dougans latest claim to fame is as the so-called POW Whisperer, as he puts it on his YouTube channel. In this new role, he is an independent American journalist asking the foreign prisoners in Donetsk to open up about their time in Ukraine. In the interviewsall of which come across as polite and cordial, in contrast to some of the disturbing interviews conducted by Dougans fellow Western propagandistsDougan subtly invites the prisoners to incriminate themselves with the Russian proxy leadership who claim they are mercenaries, despite the fact that they all fought as formal members of Ukraines military. For instance, in a recent telephone interview with Aiden Aslin that Dougan described as voluntary, Dougan asked, Im just curious, did your mortar unit hit any targets in Donbas before the invasion started? before correcting himself to say he meant the Russian special operation. In another recent phone interview with Alexander Drueke, Dougan asked directly, Did you engage in any fighting? He went on to suggest the 39-year-old captive should publicly petition American authorities to have him released in exchange for Julian Assange, who could then begin his new life in Donetsk or Moscow (way to let the cat out of the bag!). Dougan has stressed that all of the interviews are voluntary. When asked at the onset of the interview to confirm that he had reached out to Dougan of his own accord, Drueke said yes, before adding: My defender here in the DPR allowed me to use this phone and provided me your number so that we can do an interview. In comments to The Daily Beast via Vkontakte, Dougan said the interview with Drueke was not his idea and that Drueke had asked to do the interview even though Dougan didnt know who he was. He said he was currently in Donetsk and will be meeting with him in-person. But when asked for the name of Druekes lawyer referenced in the interview, or the penal colony where he was being held, Dougan responded: As far as the lawyers name or where he's being held, I can't give you that information without permission. Asked whether he had heard anything about Andy Huynh, who has been noticeably absent from recent interviews, Dougan avoided answering directly, saying only that he doesnt know much about their cases. According to family members of Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh and Alexander Drueke, two U.S. vets taken captive in the Kharkiv region in early June, no one has been allowed to visit them in captivity. Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty/Courtesy of Darla Black and Dianna Shaw Drueke and Huynhs faces and apparently scripted comments have routinely been broadcast in interviews on Russian state television and circulated on pro-Russian social media channels, where their capture is touted as proof of Russian military prowess, Western evil, and Ukrainian incompetenceall the key points of the Kremlins deranged propaganda campaign. Alex and Andy both have slipped some things into these interviews, Dianna Shaw, Druekes aunt and a spokesperson for the family, told The Daily Beast. And one of the things that Andy slipped into one of them was that theyve been moved. That they were captured and taken somewhere and then moved to this detention center. Drueke and Huynh were not captured within the territory of the DPR. They were snatched north of Kharkiv in an area swarming with Russian troops at the time. Despite that, the Kremlin has repeatedly feigned helplessness in the mens captivity and claimed to have no control over proceedings in the DPR, while in the same breath encouraging the use of the death penalty against them. That was interesting to us, is that in one of the interviews Andy actually said we were taken across the border to Russia to the first prison camp, and I was really surprised that they let that out, Black said. I dont think the Russians have ever actually given confirmation of that, but we have always suspected that they had been taken prisoner, gone to Russia, and then how did they end up in the hands of the separatists? The implications of such a transfer are not a good sign, said Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, who noted that Russian authorities handing the prisoners over wouldve known there are fewer legal protectionsand the death penaltyin the unrecognized republic. My belief and my hope is that execution isnt the purpose of this and they really are hostages or bargaining chips, he said. But he cautioned against interpreting the mens detention as a simple ploy. Are the people who hold them capable of unlawfully killing others? Definitely yes. The Russian proxy leaders have responded to Western leaders refusal to negotiate with them by raising the stakes dramatically in the last week. Denis Pushilin, the leader of the self-proclaimed DPR, made a show of hyping up the death penalty for captives from Morocco and the United Kingdom, the first foreign volunteers to be tried and sentenced to death since the start of Vladimir Putins Feb. 24 invasion. Aslin, Pinner and Saadoun were captured while serving in the Ukrainian military. Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty U.K. captives Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner, and Moroccan national Brahim Saadoun, were sentenced to death by firing squad after a rushed show trial in June. Although they were told they had the right to an appeal, which all three subsequently filed, Pushilin signaled this week that no one in charge of the DPR was taking those appeals very seriously. In comments to Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov, Pushilin said authorities had already prepared a site for the execution to be carried out. (The Justice Ministry of the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic did not respond to questions from The Daily Beast about Pushilins announcement.) A spokesperson for the U.K. Foreign Office told The Daily Beast we are doing everything we can to support the men and are in close contact with and helping their families. On the American side, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said authorities had been in contact with the Ukrainian and Russian authorities regarding U.S. citizens who may have been captured by Russias forces or proxies while fighting in Ukraine. We call on Russia to live up to its international obligations to treat all individuals captured fighting with Ukraines armed forces as prisoners of war. Both the U.S. and U.K. have stressed that they do not recognize the Donetsk Peoples Republic or the Luhansk Peoples Republic, and would not negotiate with them to secure the captives release. The Kremlin has used that to push the narrative that the prisoners own governments have abandoned them for refusing to negotiate with the leaders of the republic, which can boast of international recognition only by Russia, Syria, and North Korea, while the rest of the world considers it part of Ukraine. Ultimately, according to Krivosheev, such convoluted Russian logic and claims of plausible deniability will not protect them from war crimes charges. Russia is responsible. They are prisoners of war, full stop, he said, adding that any execution would actually be considered state-sanctioned killing and a declaration by Russia of its intent to kill prisoners of war. From left to right: U.K. captives Shaun Pinner and Aiden Aslin, and Moroccan national Brahim Saadoun, were sentenced to death by firing squad after a rushed show trial in June. Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty/Associated Press It is important to report the truth, including that Russia is responsible for the actions of the anti-Ukrainian forces in the Donbas. The test in international law is effective control. Russia is plainly exercising such control. There is no plausible deniability here, said Mary Ellen OConnell of Notre Dames Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies. The families of the prisoners have been contending not only with the uncertainty of knowing whether their loved ones are truly safe, but in some cases, harassment by supposed journalists. Shaw, Druekes aunt, recalled that his mother had been contacted by a man posing as an independent journalist. And he was texting, Ive seen your son. Dont you want to know how he looks? Ive talked to your son, dont you want to know what he said? she said. The families of both Drueke and Huynh say they are blocking out such noise and are solely focused on securing the release of their loved ones. And for Black, it goes even beyond Alex and Andy. I think people need to understand that the atrocities that are being committed in Ukraine right now And the threatened atrocities against Andy and Alex it threatens the world, she said, adding that while Huynh has been portrayed as a money-hungry mercenary, in reality, he used his life savings to travel to Ukraine with humanitarian supplies, offering to help however he could. Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh with fiance Joy Black Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty/Courtesy of Darla Black He couldnt stand to see the suffering, she said. Eventually, in one way or another, its going to affect the world. And Andy and Alex are two of the guys who saw that and said, OK, it needs to stop here. According to the families of Drueke and Huynh, the Russian proxies in Donetsk appear to be closely monitoring the reaction in the West to the tightly-controlled videos that serve as a public proof of life for the captives. I think it was [Alexs] third call, where he started the call saying, I have information for you but first they want to know whats taking so long with any negotiations and then he said, Second, they want you to tell CNN to issue a retraction that we are not speaking under duress in those videos or this phone call, Shaw said. Alexander Drueke with his mother Lois "Bunny" Drueke Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty/Courtesy of Dianna Shaw That they are paying such close attention to how they are portrayed may be seen as a sign they are still hopeful for international recognition, a move that would be a double win for Russia as it would humiliate the West while also pitting it against Ukraine. Sergei Kostiaev, Research Analyst at Georgetown University in Qatar, told The Daily Beast he believes that in the end, there will be a prisoner exchange for the U.S. captives, since there are Russians in American prisons like arms dealer Viktor Bout. Putin World Lets Slip Sinister Master Plan for American Prisoners It could be politically difficult for Biden, though, he said. Russias endgame with the other captives remains a mystery. But it was clear Friday they still wanted the condemned prisoners front and center on the global stage as Aslin, one of the captives condemned to death, was apparently trotted out for an in-person interview with Dougan. A video of the encounter was quickly circulated by a reporter for Russian state-run RT and spread like wildfire on pro-Kremlin Telegram channels. The nearly two-and-a-half-minute clip showed Aslin singing the anthem in its entirety, the camera at times zooming in on his face for special effect. Standing right next to him was Dougan, who, once the performance was over, applauded and said, I got goosebumps man. 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. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Korean prosecutors raided the countrys main spy agency Wednesday in an investigation into two past North Korea-related incidents that drew criticism that the previous liberal government ignored basic human rights to improve ties with the North. New conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, who took office in May, has accused his liberal predecessor, Moon Jae-in, of being submissive to North Korea and has moved to resolve persistent suspicions about the handling of the two cases. His push has triggered a backlash from liberals who accuse him of political revenge against his rivals. Wednesdays raid came days after the National Intelligence Service, now under Yoons government, filed charges against two of its former directors who served under Moon. It accused them of abusing power, damaging public records and falsifying documents. Prosecutors and other investigators searched the NIS headquarters near Seoul for documents, computer files and other materials related to the two cases, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office said, without elaborating. The cases include North Koreas fatal shooting of a South Korean fisheries official near the Koreas western sea boundary in 2020, and South Koreas deportation of two North Korean fishermen despite their wish to resettle in South Korea in 2019. The Moon government said the slain official was saddled with gambling debts and had family troubles when he swam to North Korea. But others disputed those claims. Conservative critics say that assessment was meant to lessen possible public sympathy for the dead official and prevent an increase in anti-North Korea sentiment in South Korea. Last month, Yoons government said there was no evidence that the official attempted to flee to North Korea, overturning the Moon governments assessment. The other case involved the Moon governments expulsion of two North Korean fishermen days after they were captured on their vessel off South Koreas east coast. Story continues Citing classified intelligence, the Moon administration called them heinous criminals who killed 16 fellow crew members and didnt deserve to be recognized as refugees. But conservatives and human rights advocates suspected the Moon government had hurriedly expelled the fishermen after learning North Korean authorities were chasing them. They said the former government should have sent the fishermen through the South Korean judicial system, rather than repatriating them to a country where they were likely to face torture or execution. By law, South Korea views North Korea as part of its territory and has a policy of accepting North Koreans wishing to resettle in the South. The 2019 deportation was the first of its kind since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War. Earlier this week, Yoons government released photos of the repatriation that showed the fishermen, both blindfolded, apparently resisting being dragged and handed over to North Korea at a land border crossing. Presidential spokesperson Kang In-sun said Wednesday that the Yoon government would get to the bottom of the repatriation. She said a forced repatriation would be a crime against humanity that violates both international and domestic laws. Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for the New York-based group Human Rights Watch, also criticized the previous government. Whats clear is the Moon Jae-in government was so desperate to please North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un that they shamefully disregarded basic principles of human rights and humanity, Robertson said. The two mens desperate resistance to being forced back that is so apparent in those photos show that they understood they were fighting for their lives. During his five-year term, Moons appeasement policy invited both praise and criticism. His supporters credited him with achieving now-stalled cooperation with North Korea and avoiding major armed clashes, but opponents say he was a naive North Korea sympathizer who ended up helping the North buy time to advance its nuclear program in the face of international sanctions and pressure. His liberal Democratic Party accused the Yoon government of using the two cases to launch a political offensive against Moon and his allies at a time when Yoon should focus on the economy. The president is leading the political warfare, though public livelihoods are bad, Democratic Party lawmaker Yun Kun-young posted on Facebook on Thursday. Id like to ask President Yoon Suk Yeol about this. Do you only see the human rights of the deported men? Cant you see the human rights of the 16 others killed by them? Underscoring the political divide in South Korea, recent surveys showed about 48% of respondents viewed the Yoon governments investigations of former administration officials as political retaliation while 44%-45% called them fair and legitimate. On 14 July, Senate Republicans blocked a bill that would ensure a legal shield for abortion patients traveling from states that have outlawed abortion care to states where providers can legally treat them. The following day, only three Republicans in the US House of Representatives supported a similar bill. With more than half of US states prepared to outlaw abortion care or severely restrict access, abortion providers in states with legal protections for abortions are bracing for patients traveling from states where their healthcare is criminalised in the wake of Roe v Wades collapse. But anti-abortion lawmakers and model legislation written by anti-abortion lobbyists and right-wing legal groups would allow private citizens to sue anyone who helps a patient leave the state to get abortion care elsewhere building on recently enacted laws in Oklahoma and Texas that allow residents to sue providers or anyone who allegedly helped patients acess that care. In Missouri, state lawmakers have considered a measure that would extend those lawsuits to anyone who helps a Missouri patient obtain an abortion out of the state. A group of Republican state lawmakers in Texas under their Texas Freedom Caucus have pledged to introduce legislation that would prohibit employers in the state from helping them pay for their employees abortion-related expenses regardless of where the abortion occurs, and regardless of the law in the jurisdiction where the abortion occurs. That provision would impose felony criminal sanctions on anyone who pays for these abortions to ensure that it remains enforceable against self-insured plans as a generally applicable criminal law, according to a letter from the group. Their proposal also would extend the ability of any resident in the state to sue people who helped pay for abortion care regardless of where the abortion occurs, and the laws of the state in which the abortion was performed. Two prominent Christian conservative groups the Thomas More Society and the National Association of Christian Lawmakers also are crafting similar model legislation for anti-abortion state lawmakers across the US. Story continues Just because you jump across a state line doesnt mean your home state doesnt have jurisdiction, the Thomas More Societys senior counsel Peter Breen told The Washington Post. Its not a free abortion card when you drive across the state line. Legal analysts have drawn comparisons to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which required states to aid slavers and their bounty hunters capture enslaved people who had escaped to states where slavery was outlawed. Meanwhile, several states passed laws to cooperation and enforcement. Sara Rosenbaum, a professor of health law and policy at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, told NBC News that the modern-day parallel is literally pursuing people across state borders for seeking medical care that is legal. Its a completely mind-blowing concept, she said. Dozens of prosecutors have stated that they will not enforce their states restrictive anti-abortion laws, and several states have also passed measures to shield out-of-state patients, providers and the people who help them from legal action in anti-abortion states. Mississippis sole remaining abortion clinic run by Jackson Womens Health Organization, the group at the centre of the Supreme Court case, was forced to close under new state law. (AFP via Getty Images) As noted by The New York Times Jamelle Bouie, the US Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed a right to travel between states in cases dating back as far as the 1860s. In his concurrence with the decision in Dobbs v Jackson Womens Health Organization, which struck down the constitutional right to abortion care, conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh noted that a state cannot bar a resident of that state from traveling to another state to obtain an abortion. The US Constitutions 14th Amendment prohibits states from [depriving] any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law granting so-called unenumerated rights, including freedom from government intervention in profoundly intimate medical decisions, that are otherwise not explicitly identified in the Constitution. Notably, Justice Clarence Thomas, in his own concurrence in the Dobbs case, suggested the court reconsider landmark rulings decided on the 14th Amendment including ones that determined marriage equality and access to contraception. Earlier this week, Democratic members of Congress warned that, should the GOP take control of the House and Senate in upcoming elections, Republicans are likely to introduce and pass a federal abortion ban. Republicans have repeatedly insisted that the Supreme Courts ruling merely and correctly returned the question of whether to legally allow abortions to individual states. But this week, less than three weeks after the Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs, House Republicans reintroduced the Heartbeat Protection Act, which would impose a federal abortion ban, outlawing abortions at roughly six weeks of pregnancy before many people know they are pregnant, typically two weeks after a missed period. President Joe Biden issued an executive order directing federal agencies to bolster abortion care, including calling on the US Department of Health and Human Services to assemble a corps of volunteer lawyers, private pro bono attorneys and other groups to encourage robust legal representation of patients, providers, and third parties lawfully seeking or offering reproductive health care services throughout the country including patients who are traveling out of state to seek abortion care. The US Department of Justice has also assembled a Reproductive Rights Task Force, chaired by Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, to monitor and evaluate anti-abortion laws and whether they infringe on their legal access to care. The court abandoned 50 years of precedent and took away the constitutional right to abortion, preventing women all over the country from being able to make critical decisions about our bodies, our health, and our futures, Ms Gupta said in a statement. The Justice Department is committed to protecting access to reproductive services. Ken Calvert and Will Rollins A Republican congressman from Southern California is shifting from his anti-LGBTQ+ views at least publicly as redrawing of boundaries has put him in a more liberal district where hes facing a gay challenger. Rep. Ken Calvert has a history of opposition to LGBTQ+ equality over his 30-year tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives, having racked up low scores on the Human Rights Campaigns Congressional Scorecard and once used a gay opponents sexuality against him. Under the previous district map, his district, the 41nd, was heavily Republican. Now, with redistricting having taken place after the latest U.S. Census, his district is the 41st, with an even split between Democrats and Republicans, and includes the heavily LGBTQ+ city of Palm Springs. Hell face gay Democrat Will Rollins in the November election. Calvert recently told the Los Angeles Times he now supports marriage equality, which he had previously opposed, and doesnt think the 2015 Supreme Court decision that established equal marriage rights nationwide should be overturned. It wasnt always my position, he said. Its a different country than it was 30 years ago. In Californias primary system, candidates from all parties run against each other, and the top two finishers advance to the general election, regardless of party. In this years primary, held in June, Calvert and Rollins led the field of five candidates with 44 percent and 36 percent respectively. Rollins is a former federal prosecutor who has worked on cases involving the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and white-collar crime cases. His partner, Paolo Benvenuto, often joins him on the campaign trail. Its poetic justice that Calvert is facing a gay challenger, Equality California spokesman Samuel Garrett-Pate told the Times. I dont think theres any other way to put it than what goes around comes around. Equality California has endorsed Rollins, as have the LGBTQ Victory Fund and a variety of other LGBTQ+, womens rights, environmental, and labor organizations. Story continues Calverts anti-LGBTQ+ baggage includes the fact that one of his backers outed Mark Takano, now a congressman, as gay when he was running against Calvert in 1994. Calverts campaign responded by sending voters hot pink and lavender mailers that claimed the Democrat had a secret agenda and asked whether Takano, who had not yet publicly disclosed he was gay, would be a Congressman for Riverside [County] or San Francisco? the Times reports. Takano was elected to Congress from a different district in 2012. Calvert batted away the notion that his record might hurt him, according to the paper. That record also includes voting for the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996 (something many Democrats did at the time as well) and more recently, opposing repeal of dont ask, dont tell. Ive never had any animosity to the gay community, he told the Times. I come out of the restaurant business, for goodness sake. A lot of people who worked with me were gay. Calvert also voted against certifying the Electoral College vote for Joe Biden as president, a vote that insurrectionists tried to stop. However, he now says he believes Biden is legitimately the president, although, post-insurrection, he sought and received Donald Trumps endorsement. Rollins, for his part, told the Times he became a federal prosecutor in order to fight terrorist threats to the nation after the 2001 attacks. He would have liked to join the military, but DADT was in effect then. Now hes decided to run for office to fight a different threat. The threats that the country is facing have changed, and some of those threats now come from within, he said. I didnt want to look back on my life and regret not stepping up when one of these House Republicans is right in my backyard and voted to undermine our democracy after January 6. Follow More Advocate News on Pride Today Below Big Tech companies are facing increased scrutiny in South Africa for dominance abuse and anti-competitive behavior, just months after the countrys competition regulator, the Competition Commission (CompCom), started an inquiry into the conduct of online intermediation (B2C) platforms. In its initial findings, the regulator has established that Apple, Google, Uber Eats, Airbnb, Booking.com and South Africas Mr Delivery (a food ordering and delivery platform), Takealot (an e-commerce site), Private Property and Property24 (both real estate classifieds) and car classifieds Autotrader and Cars.co.za have an unfair advantage as market leaders, and are operating in ways that impede competition. The inquiry team is seeking further evidence, if any, from parties affected by the competitionconduct or market feature of these platforms. It is also seeking comments regarding findings in the report, as it moves into the final phase of the inquiry, which will include remedial action. Google and Apple Noting Google's monopoly, the regulator stated the default positioning of its search engine on android and iOS mobile devices was problematic. The study also took issue with the prominence of paid search results (those that appear at the top of the page), indicating a lack of clear distinction from organic search findings. The report recommended that the top search results be organically generated, adverts distinctly shaded or labeled and paid results positioned at the bottom of the results page. n the spotlight as South Africa investigates dominance abuse Illustration of the proposed Google search remedy on mobile device. Image Credits: South Africa Competition Commission It further called for an end to Googles preference for its own specialist (shopping, travel and local) search tools, saying that they bar competition from aggregators, comparator sites and online travel agencies. Google must afford competing metasearch or specialist search (including travel, local and other), comparator sites (shopping or other) and online travel agents the same opportunity to provide content and visual rich impressions or units that it affords its own specialist shopping, travel and local search units. Google may no longer impose minimum bid thresholds for paid results, CompCom said in its provisional remedies. Story continues It also recommended an end to default arrangements for Google Search on iOS and Android devices sold in South Africa. In-app stores, it noted, complete exclusion of competing software app stores and side-loading by Apple which impedes effective competition for commission fees. The default arrangements of Google Play on android devices, the Commission said, has affected competition from other android software app stores. The regulator also fingered the Google Play Points loyalty scheme, which it says is funded by extracting discounts from app developers, a strategy it found to hinder competition from smaller players. A lack of competition has resulted in excessive commission fees to the detriment of South African app developers, publishers and consumers of apps acquired through the SA storefront requiring in-app payments. ...given that Apple will not allow competition and refuses to compromise on security, and Google Play has become entrenched, there needs to be a remedy that either regulates these platforms or successfully takes transactions off the stores altogether so they cannot be monitored and taxed. For this reason, the Inquiry is of the view that either there is price regulation or a complete end to anti-steering provisions which were recommended by the court in the Epic-Apple case, said CompCom in the report. In its provisional recommendations, the Commission called for an end to anti-steering provisions for all apps and fronted the end of exclusionary loyalty schemes, as well as the default arrangement of the Google Play store on android devices. In terms of an end to anti-steering provisions, the inquiry expects that this would involve the ability for apps to communicate an alternative external payment mechanism and provide a clickable link to make a payment. Food delivery platforms CompCom also recommended an end to the restrictions imposed on franchisees by international restaurant chains, especially in the selection of food delivery partners. Other suggestions included the removal of price parity clauses (which require suppliers not to offer better or lower prices in other or their own platforms) from contracts, end of predatory pricing and for transparency with consumers -- especially on the surcharges for each restaurant. Additionally, it proposed the removal and prohibition of price parity clauses used by travel and accommodation platforms Booking.com and Airbnb, which were found to impede competition through lower commissions and prices that in turn increase consumer dependency. These platforms were also found to leverage important visibility on their platform to get discounts from accommodation and travel providers to fund their own loyalty schemes. CompCom found the practice unfair to small players that cannot leverage the same. It went on to recommend the removal of exclusionary loyalty schemes, saying such programs should be fully-funded by the companies. E-commerce and classifieds E-commerce platforms were found to stifle competition as they disincentivized sellers from price differentiation across platforms and distorted pricing in the market through subsidization. CompCom suggested that Takealot, a market leader, removes price parity clauses and end predatory conduct, or alternatively the Commission to consider investigation and prosecution of predatory conduct as a suitable deterrent. For listing platforms, the inquiry faulted the lack of interoperability of the listing engine software used by South Africas top classifieds platforms (Property24, Private Property, Autotrader and Cars.co.za) impeded competition. Interoperability and the scrapping of fees, to include third-party listing platforms were recommended. Updated Friday, July 15, 2022 at 2:21 p.m. ET. Four relatives in Michigan are dead in an apparent murder-suicide just days after a judge allegedly refused one of them a protection order. Deputies with the Roscommon County Sheriffs Office responded to a Roscommon Township home after two individuals reported finding four bodies on Sunday, according to their press release. At around 3:30 a.m., authorities found Tirany Savage, 35; her son Dayton Cowdret, 13; Tiranys mother, Kim Lynnette Ebright, 58; and Tiranys husband, Bo Eugene Savage, 35. All were dead on the scene, having been shot to death. All subjects had known relationships, and the incident is being investigated as a murder/suicide, said the sheriffs office. At this time, investigators have found no indication of any other suspects involved in this incident. Officials did not initially name which of the relatives was believed to be the shooter, but on Friday indicated that Bo Savage was the suspect. His was the only death deemed to be a suicide by authorities. The other three were classified as homicides. Additionally, the Roscommon County Sheriff's Office stated that the firearm used in the shootings was registered to Bo Savage, and had been obtained legally. There may have been trouble in the marriage, as indicated in court documents obtained by People. On June 24, Tirany allegedly submitted a petition with the 34th Circuit Court in Michigan for a personal protection order (PPO), claiming Bo Savage was struggling with his mental health. I asked him to be civil for a divorce and asked him to leave [the] house, and he refuses, Tirany wrote in the filing. I left and have been getting texts accusing me of being with other people, and he has not been texting my friends, threatening them because he thinks they told me to leave him. Tirany stated that Bo slammed things around the house, called her names, and declared he would not leave. He has mental health issues (he stopped taking his meds) and recently purchased a firearm, and that is concerning to me, Tirany continued. He keeps saying he is going to blow his brains out, and I do not want my safety or my sons safety in jeopardy. Story continues But on June 27 three days after Tirany filed for the PPO Judge Troy B. Daniel denied her request, according to People. Daniel wrote there was insufficient evidence of a showing of immediate and irreparable injury, loss or damage. Petitioner can request a restraining order in divorce case. It was not immediately clear if Tirany appealed the denial, which was decided less than two weeks before her death. The tragedy continues to rattle those in Roscommon Township. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the many friends and family who have been devastated by this loss, wrote the sheriffs office. Roscommon County contained wonderful, close-knit communities who rally around those who are struggling and in need. We encourage the people of this community to show their love and support to the many people who have been devastated by this horrific and senseless tragedy. Luigi Di Maio The Russians are right now celebrating having made another western government fall, said Di Maio. Read also: Not in Ukraine but in Italy Putin won, a Radio Liberty journalist says Now I doubt we can send arms (to Ukraine). It is one of the many serious problems. Di Maio noted that even if the current Italian government led by PM Mario Draghi resigns, the cabinet will continue on in a caretaker capacity. Read also: Italy proposes four-stage plan to end war in Ukraine This would curtail the governments power, precluding Rome from providing further security assistance to Ukraine, tackling the impeding cost-of-living crisis in Italy, or signing much-needed natural gas deals, as Russia blackmails Europe with threats to cut off gas supply. The minister said that Draghi was one of the key Western leaders, who staunchly opposed Russian aggression against Ukraine. Draghi tended in his resignation on July 14, only for Italian President Sergio Mattarella to refuse it. Mattarella suggested Draghi should attempt to form a new coalition in the parliament. Read also: President Zelensky asks Italy to support blanket embargo on Russia Italian populist political party Five Star Movement (M5S) precipitated the crisis by leaving the governing coalition, due to dissatisfaction with Draghis proposal on providing Italians with economic relief measures. Many EU countries are faced with rapidly rising living costs, as Russia instigates energy shortages on the continent. Di Maio left M5S on June 22, over some wings of the party refusing to support Ukraine amid the Russian invasion. Saudi Arabia and the US have signed 18 agreements to unlock new avenues for joint cooperation in investment, energy, ICT, space and health. The agreements were signed by Saudi Ministers of Energy, Investment, Communications and Health and their US counterparts during US President Joe Bidens visit to the Kingdom, said a Saudi Press Agency report. The agreements align with Saudi Vision 2030, led by HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as it seeks wider investment opportunities in promising sectors that can benefit the peoples of both nations. They comprise 13 agreements made with the Ministry of Investment, the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, and numerous private sector companies. They include a group of leading American companies, such as Boeing Aerospace, Raytheon Defense Industries, Medtronic and Digital Diagnostics, IKVIA in the healthcare sector, and many other US companies across the energy, tourism, education, manufacturing and textiles sectors. The Saudi Space Authority also signed the Artemis Accords with US Space Agency (NASA), which would allow it to undertake the joint exploration of the Moon and Mars in cooperation with the American space agency, while granting the Kingdom a seat in the international coalition preparing for the civil exploration and use of the Moon, Mars, comets and asteroids for peaceful purposes. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) signed a memorandum of cooperation with IBM, a leading digital tech company, to upskill 100,000 young women and men over 5 years within 8 innovative initiatives that can position the Kingdom as a hub for technology and innovation in the Middle East and North Africa region. MCIT also signed a memorandum of cooperation with the US National Communications and Information Administration (NTIA), which includes cooperation between the two countries on 5G and 6G technologies. The agreement targets accelerating the growth of the digital economy and enhancing the pace of research, development and innovation in the Kingdom's digital ecosystem. The Ministries of Energy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America signed a partnership agreement on clean energy, which includes defining areas and projects of cooperation in this sector, alongside cooperation in on civil nuclear energy and Uranium, while reinforcing the efforts of the two countries in promoting clean energy and climate action. The Saudi and US ministries of health also signed a memorandum of cooperation on public health, medical sciences and research. The memorandum aims to support and bolster existing relations in public health among individuals, organizations and institutions. It also seeks to consolidate joint efforts in addressing public health issues and medical, scientific and research challenges, as well as the exchange of information, expertise and academics. The memorandum also seeks to organize joint training for workers in the health and medical fields, while addressing the proper application of health information systems, research and development and health innovation, said SPA. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi arrived on Saturday in Saudi Arabia to attend the Jeddah Security and Development Summit, which brings together the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and the United States. Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received El-Sisi upon his arrival at Jeddah International Airport. During his visit, El-Sisi will hold a number of bilateral meetings with the leaders participating in the Jeddah summit to discus relations and the latest regional and international developments. The Arab-US summit scheduled for today is expected to tackle regional issues of concern and mechanisms of enhancing joint work to achieve stability in the region, especially in the fields of the economy, food security, energy and water. El-Sisi will hold a summit Saturday with US President Joe Biden, who arrived in Jeddah on Friday in his first Middle East tour as president, a tour that started with Israel, a White House source told media earlier. Biden held a meeting on Friday with bin Salman, during which they reaffirmed their commitment to a stable global energy market amid the Russia-Ukraine crisis, according to a joint communique. The two leaders agreed on the need for stopping Irans interference in the region and support to terrorism and preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Biden also affirmed the USs continued commitment to supporting Saudi Arabias security and territorial defense. They also discussed regional and international issues, including Ukraine, Yemen, Libya, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Ukraine, Sudan, Afghanistan and Israeli-Palestinian issues. On the sidelines of their meeting, the Saudi and US sides signed 18 agreements and memorandums of understanding in the fields of energy, investment, communications, space and health. Bliden became the first US president to fly to Jeddah directly from Tel Aviv after Saudi Arabia had announced opening its airspace to all airlines, including commercial flights flying to and from Israel. Biden's trip is seen as a sign of warming Saudi-Israeli ties. During his two-day visit, Biden will seek to integrate Israel into a new axis largely driven by concerns regarding Iran, a senior US administration official was quoted by Reuters on Saturday as saying. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Biden also plans to ensure that there is not a vacuum in the Middle East for China and Russia to fill. Search Keywords: Short link: Ivana Trump, who was the first wife of former President Donald Trump, died from blunt force torso injuries sustained during a fall down the staircase at her New York City home, the New York City Medical Examiners Office revealed Friday afternoon. Her death has been ruled an accident. The 73-year-old was found unresponsive and alone on a staircase in her Upper East Side home on Thursday, NYPD officials said on Thursday. She was pronounced dead on the scene by first responders. Local restaurant owner Giuliano Zuliani told People that Ivana appeared to have trouble walking when he last saw her two weeks ago. She was in bad shape. She could barely walk. She didnt eat her food [here], she took it home with her, he said. Also Read: Fussing Over Camera Angles Is a Trump Family Tradition in New Trailer for Alex Holders Jan. 6 Documentary Ivana Trump had planned to leave for St. Tropez on Friday, her friend Nikki Haskell told Page Six. This was going to be her first trip away since the pandemic. She was afraid of getting the virus. The former president first announced her death in a post on his social media site Truth Social, calling her a wonderful, beautiful, and amazing woman, who led a great inspirational life. The Czech-born Ivana married Donald Trump in 1977, and the two had three children: Don Jr., Eric, and Ivanka. During their marriage she held key management positions in various Trump Organization businesses. They divorced in 1992, after which she became a fashion designer and TV personality on QVC and Home Shopping Network. Also Read: Hollywoods Notable Deaths of 2022 (Photos) Their split was a major tabloid and news story, as Donalds affair with future second wife Marla Maples came to light. Ivana won a reported $14 million settlement that included a mansion, an apartment in Trump Tower and regular use of Mar-a-Lago. She famously said post-divorce, Dont get mad, get everything. Ivana Trump was also a prolific writer, penning an advice column or the Globe for 15 years and publishing several books, both fiction and nonfiction. Also Read: Ivana Trump, First Wife of Donald and Mother to 3 Trump Children, Dies at 73 A consumer sued candy maker Mars, alleging Skittles contain a "known toxin" that makes the rainbow candies "unfit for human consumption." In a lawsuit seeking class-action status filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on Thursday, attorneys for San Leandro resident Jenile Thames said Skittles are unsafe for consumers because they contain "heightened levels" of titanium dioxide. Mars uses titanium dioxide to produce Skittles' well-known array of artificial colors. In 2016, the candy maker publicly shared its intention to remove titanium dioxide from its products in the coming years, the complaint noted Thursday, but titanium dioxide is still used in Skittles. In a statement sent by Mars to the "Today" show and several other news outlets, the company said, While we do not comment on pending litigation, our use of titanium dioxide complies with FDA regulations. In May: Skittles, Starbursts and Life Saver gummies recalled over possible metal strand in packaging USA TODAY was unable to reach Mars for additional comment Saturday. Mars uses titanium dioxide to produce Skittles' variety of colors. According to the Food and Drug Administration's Code of Federal Regulations, "The color additive titanium dioxide may be safely used for coloring foods generally," but there are several restrictions such as the quantity of titanium dioxide not exceeding 1% of the food's weight. Though the regulated use of titanium dioxide in food products is legal in the USA, it's banned in some other countries, including throughout Europe. In May 2021, the European Food Safety Authority announced that titanium dioxide "can no longer be considered safe as a food additive," noting genotoxicity concerns. Genotoxicity is the ability of chemicals to damage genetic information such as DNA. "After oral ingestion, the absorption of titanium dioxide particles is low, however they can accumulate in the body," Maged Younes, chair of the EFSAs expert Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings, said in a statement at the time. Story continues Bacon, coffee, Nutella: These favorite foods have cancer links In the complaint Thursday, Thames' attorneys argued that, in addition to the use of titanium dioxide in its products such as Skittles, Mars did not adequately warn consumers of these health risks. "Based on Defendants omissions, a reasonable consumer would expect that the Product can be safely purchased and consumed as marketed and sold," the complaint reads. "However, the Products are not safe and pose a significant health risk to unsuspecting consumers. Yet, neither before nor at the time of purchase does Defendant notify consumers like (Thames) that the Products are unsafe to consumers, contain heightened levels of titanium dioxide, and should otherwise be approached with caution." What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day The complaint pointed to several Mars competitors that, according to the suit, do not use titanium dioxide to color their products such as Sour Patch Kids and Nerds. Thames' attorneys noted that Mars has other confectionary products, such as M&Ms, "that do not rely" on titanium dioxide. Thames seeks damages, to be determined in sum at trial, for alleged fraud and multiple violations of California consumer protection laws. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Skittles maker sued; lawsuit alleges 'known toxin' in rainbow candy You are the owner of this article. If you are sending a Letter To the Editor, please be sure to follow these rules: Letters have a firm 200-word limit and will be edited for grammar, clarity and accuracy. The person who signs the letter must be the author. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must address the editor, not a third party. We will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poetry, open letters, letters espousing religious views without reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Yakima Herald-Republic cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters. Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month. Regional security and energy cooperation topped the list of issues that were agreed upon during US President Joe Bidens meeting with Saudi leaders Friday during the ongoing Jeddah Security and Development Summit, according to a briefing released by the White House. The text of the briefing is as follows. In a meeting with King Salman and then an extended working session with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and their respective delegations, the United States and Saudi Arabia finalised a number of international and bilateral agreements that serve the interests of the American people and a more integrated, stable, and prosperous Middle East region. These results of this meeting include the following: Removing Peacekeepers from Tiran Island: Since shortly after the 1978 Camp David Accords, US troops have served as peacekeepers on Tiran Island as part of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) under the Treaty of Peace signed between Israel and Egypt. Five Americans were killed on the island in 2020 in a helicopter crash. Tonight, arrangements were finalised to remove the MFO peacekeepers and develop this area which once sparked multi-state wars in the region for tourism, development and peaceful pursuits. Saudi Arabia has agreed to preserve and continue all existing commitments and procedures in the area. President Biden welcomed this arrangement, which was negotiated over many months and fully took into consideration the interests of all parties. The MFO peacekeepers, including US soldiers, will depart Tiran by the end of the year. The MFO will carry out alternative arrangements to ensure the present freedom of navigation to all parties, including Israel. Opening Saudi Airspace to Civilian Aircraft Flying to and from Israel: To date, civilian aircraft flying to and from Israel, with rare exceptions, could not fly over Saudi Arabia, leading to increased hours of flying time, and significant expenses, and unnecessary impact on our climate. Today, President Biden welcomed Saudi Arabias decision to expand overflight of Saudi Arabia for all civilian aircraft, including airlines flying to and from Israel, based on the principles of the Chicago Convention of 1944. This was an important step forward towards a more integrated Middle East region, interconnected with the world. Sustaining the UN-Mediated Truce in Yemen: The two delegations held a detailed discussion of the situation in Yemen, and both committed to taking steps to do everything possible to extend and strengthen the UN-mediated truce, which has led to fifteen weeks of peace, the quietest period in Yemen in years, and translate it into a durable ceasefire and political process. President Biden reaffirmed the US commitment to help Saudi Arabia protect and defend its territory and people from all external attacks, particularly those launched by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen. He also welcomed Saudi Arabias strong commitment to the truce, particularly leading, in tandem with the Yemen government, efforts to resume direct commercial flights from Sanaa to Amman and Cairo for the first time in seven years. The president also welcomed the Kingdoms financial support to Yemens Presidential Leadership Council, which will help improve basic services and economic stability to ease the suffering of Yemenis. This support includes a pledge to provide over $1 billion for development projects and fuel support, in addition to a joint Saudi and Emirati $2 billion deposit to the Central Bank of Yemen. Support for PGII: President Biden welcomed Saudi Arabias plan to strategically invest in projects aligning with US Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) goals, which the president and G7 leaders unveiled on 26 June 2022, G7 Summit. Together, the United States and Saudi Arabia will mobilise hundreds of billions of dollars to deliver quality, sustainable infrastructure that makes a difference in peoples lives around the world strengthens and diversifies our supply chains creating new opportunities for American workers and businesses and advances our national security. New Bilateral Framework for Cooperation on 5G/6G: President Biden welcomed the signing of a new memorandum of cooperation between the US National Telecommunication and Information Administration and the Saudi Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, which will connect US and Saudi technology companies in the advancement and deployment of 5G using open, virtualised, and cloud-based radio access networks and the development of 6G through similar technologies. The partnerships built under the MOU will also support 5G deployment in Saudi Arabia and in developing and middle-income states thereafter through the PGII. Saudi Arabia has committed to a significant investment for this project under the umbrella of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment. New Cooperation on Energy Security: Saudi Arabia has committed to supporting global oil market balancing for sustained economic growth. The United States has welcomed the increase in production levels 50 percent above what was planned for July and August. These steps and further steps that we anticipate over the coming weeks have and will help stabilise markets considerably. New Bilateral Framework on Clean Energy Cooperation: President Biden welcomed the signing of a bilateral Partnership Framework for Advancing Clean Energy, with new Saudi investments to accelerate the energy transition and combat the effects of climate change. This framework focuses particularly on solar, green hydrogen, nuclear and other clean energy initiatives. By building upon existing collaboration between energy experts in our countries, we seek to enhance our efforts to tackle climate change and advance the greater deployment of clean energy resources around the world. The partnership will leverage public and private sector collaboration to advance the deployment of clean energy solutions while accelerating research, development and demonstration of innovative technologies needed to decarbonise the global economy and achieve net-zero emissions. Underscoring Human Rights Concerns: The president underscored the United States conviction that respect for and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms promotes stability and strengthens national security. Over the course of the discussion, he raised specific cases of concern. He also raised the egregious murder of Jamal Khashoggi, described the accountability measures the United States has put in place in response and received commitments with respect to reforms and institutional safeguards in place to guard against any such conduct in the future. The United States will continue to engage in a regular and direct dialogue with Saudi Arabia and other partners on these important issues, and raise our concerns about human rights at every opportunity. Cybersecurity Cooperation: President Biden welcomed the signing of two bilateral agreements on cybersecurity with Saudi Arabias National Cybersecurity Authority one with the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the other with the Department of Homeland Securitys Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Through these memoranda of cooperation, the United States and Saudi Arabia will expand their existing bilateral relationship on this critical issue, share information about cybersecurity threats and activities of malicious actors to enhance the shared defence of our nations, and collaborate on best practices, technologies, tools, and on approaches to cybersecurity training and education. Cooperation in Space Exploration: The US and Saudi Arabia are expanding cooperation in all fields of space exploration, including human spaceflight, earth observation, commercial and regulatory development, and responsible behaviour in outer space. President Biden welcomed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signing the Artemis Accords and reaffirming its commitment to the responsible, peaceful and sustainable exploration and use of outer space. Public Health Cooperation: President Biden welcomed a new memorandum of understanding between the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Saudi Ministry of Health to continue strengthening their relationship and working together to solve common health issues. The forthcoming areas of collaboration include health information systems, capacity building in the delivery of health services, disease surveillance, emerging infectious diseases, addressing the health-related concerns of women and special needs populations, and public policies oriented to disease prevention and health promotion. Enhanced Maritime Security Cooperation: The US and Saudi Arabia reaffirmed their commitment to preserving the free flow of commerce through strategic international waterways like the Bab Al-Mandab and the Strait of Hormuz, through which 40 percent of the worlds energy passes every day, through multiple joint naval task forces, including: Red Sea: Newly establish Combined Task Force 153, focused on international maritime security and capacity-building efforts. The Gulf of Oman and North Arabian Sea: Saudi Arabia will soon assume command of Combined Task Force 150, which reinforces shared maritime security objectives. Unmanned and AI Integration: Saudi Arabia will soon participate as part of the Fifth Fleets Task Force 59, which for the first time integrates advanced technologies like unmanned vessels and artificial intelligence to enhance maritime domain awareness. Integrated Air Defence Cooperation: The two sides reviewed developments in improving air defence integration and protection of Saudi Arabias territory and people from external threats, including missiles, drones and UAVs. This cooperation includes US military support and far-reaching foreign military sales cases with an emphasis on defensive systems and advanced technology. The United States affirmed it would accelerate its cooperation with Saudi Arabia and other partners in the region to counter unmanned aerial systems and missiles that threaten the peace and security of the region. President Biden affirmed the United States commitment to working with Saudi Arabia and other allies and partners in the Middle East to integrate and enhance security cooperation. In particular, the United States is committed to advancing a more integrated and regionally-networked air and missile defense architecture and countering the proliferation of unmanned aerial systems and missiles to non-state actors that threaten the peace and security of the region. Search Keywords: Short link: Today Sunny to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 106F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 85F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Tomorrow Generally sunny despite a few afternoon clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 106F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has today (July 16) inaugurated Uttar Pradesh's sixth expressway connecting Chitrakoot and Etawah. The foundation for the project was laid by Prime Minister back in 2020, and the project has been completed now in record 28 months. The 296-km long Bundelkhand expressway will facilitate transportation services in the state with a four-lane built with an investment of Rs 14,850 crore. Furthermore, the expressway down the line can be expanded to have six lanes. It is to be noted that the said expressway has been developed by Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA). Along with Chitrakoot and Etawah, the expressway will go through seven districts, namely Banda, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Jalaun, and Auraiya. IN PICS: PM Modi inaugurates Bundelkhand Expressway, a 300 km-long engineering marvel - Image Gallery Facts you need to know about the Bundelkhand Expressway: Places it covers The expressway starts near Bharatkoop in Chitrakoot district and merges with the Agra-Lucknow expressway near Kudrail village in Etawah district. It covers the seven districts of Chitrakoot, Banda, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Aurraiya, and Etawah. The road has crossings over several rivers: Bagen, Ken, Shyama, Chandawal, Birma, Yamuna, Betwa, and Sengar. Bundelkhand Expressway project cost The project's overall cost is estimated by officials to be over Rs 15,000 crore. However, by choosing e-tendering, the Yogi Adityanath administration has saved roughly Rs 1,132 crore. Also read: Riding two-wheeler in Chappals, keep Rs 1,000 in pocket? Lesser-known traffic rules in India and their fines Bundelkhand Expressway's connectivity The Bundelkhand expressway is one of the major links increasing the connectivity in the state. Because of the four-lane expressway, the journey between Delhi and Chitrakoot, which took 9-10 hours, can now be completed in around 6 hours, as per the estimations. The Bundelkhand expressway is also crucial to the success of the upcoming Uttar Pradesh defence corridor project. In the Banda and Jalaun districts, construction on an industrial corridor has also started. The western, central, and Bundelkhand parts of the state include more than 5,071 hectares of the Rs 20,000 crore defence corridor project. Six of the state's 13 expressways, totaling 3,200 km, are in use, and seven more are under construction. Highway and expressway corridors are becoming industrial areas. The air force is developing airstrips for use in emergencies. Landing at the destined airport and not being able to find your luggage can be no less than a nightmare. Over a bunch of 50 passengers travelling from Dubai to Pune in SpiceJet SG52 on July 14 experienced something similar when they did not receive their luggage on Pune airport. The passengers were left stranded as they found out their luggage hadn't reached the destined airport. Even after waiting for hours for their baggage, passengers did not receive any communication from the airlines. Until Friday (July 15) evening, there was no communication from the airlines about the whereabouts of their luggage. Multiple passengers took to Twitter to complain about their lost luggage and to seek a response from SpiceJet. @flyspicejet its 51hrs now,have lost our luggage , no clothes and medicine and needed things , how much patience do you expect from us. No one answering on phone. And Spicejet Social Media team is just sending one msg copy paste to keep patience.@AAI_Official @timesofindia shanti iyer (@shantiiyer10) July 16, 2022 "Its 51hrs now,have lost our luggage , no clothes and medicine and needed things , how much patience do you expect from us. No one answering on phone. And Spicejet Social Media team is just sending one msg copy paste to keep patience," tweeted a user. Spicejet my problems are not solving, I just came to know after sitting inside metro that someone has opened my bag after giving it into luggage, my bag used to have one tightening strap which is missing.. will reach Rohtak at around 10 then check and confirm if anything missing, read a tweet. Also read: San Francisco international airport evacuated due to bomb threat; authorities discovers suspicious package Dear SpiceJet kindly let me know how much more time does your team need now...its been 20 days since we received fully damaged luggage, let us be honest here and let me know whether SpiceJet is replacing total damaged luggage or not...awaiting your response and please read another tweet. SpiceJet has been replying to tweets asking the passengers to stay patient as they solve the issue. SpiceJet spokesperson recently said that the remaining bags are said to arrive by the weekend and as per global industry practices, baggage are being delivered within 48 hours. Live TV UPDATE: San Francisco airport resumes normal operations as police clears the International Terminal. Check-in counters are now open and security screenings have resumed. The San Francisco International Airport terminal reported a bomb threat on Friday (July 15) night. Airport authorities immediately ordered evacuation, where hundreds of passengers were forced to leave the terminal. Authorities found a potentially incendiary device taking one person in custody. The bomb threat was reported around 8:15 pm, where authorities discovered a suspicious package, according to the San Francisco Police Department. Investigators at the airport deemed the item possibly incendiary. A man was taken into custody but other details were not immediately available. The terminal was evacuated out of an abundance of caution, police said. Update: Int'l Terminal and Garages A&G are still closed. Police continue to investigate. AirTrain and BART service still suspended. Bus shuttle service offered between Domestic Terminals. Check with your airline for specific flight information. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) (@flySFO) July 16, 2022 Hundreds of travelers were forced to leave the terminal. The airport announced the evacuation on Twitter at 9:28 pm without providing details about the police activity. The airport's AirTrain and the Bay Area Rapid Transit trains were suspended. Also read: Air India issues new guidelines for international passengers, to recheck baggage for THIS reason The airport's BART station was closed by 8:42 pm, according to a tweet from the transit agency. Passenger drop-offs and pick-ups were limited to the airport's domestic terminals. Additional information was not immediately available. A spokesperson for the airport did not immediately return a request for comment. (With inputs from AP) Live TV LONDON: Bollywood actor Arjun Rampal says he is toying with the idea of directing a feature film. The 49-year-old actor, known for his performances in movies such as 'Om Shanti Om', 'Rock On!!', 'Don' and 'Rajneeti', said he is confident about making a good movie as a filmmaker. "I keep toying with the idea (of direction) and then shy away. Hopefully I will one day. I know I will make a good film," Rampal told PTI. The actor's new film 'The Rapist', written and directed by filmmaker Aparna Sen, received rave reviews after the movie had its European premiere at the recently concluded London Indian Film Festival. Rampal said he is elated with the positive response to his character of devoted husband Aftab Malik. "It was just so fulfilling working with Aparna Sen. I guess that's the best adjective to describe it. Just pure and all heart, challenging and demanding and hence very fulfilling,? he added. The actor recently played baddie Rudraveer in 'Dhaakad' and admitted that he is conscious about choosing his roles, though he does not believe in distinguishing between hero or villain. "Whichever is the better written part is what I would go for. To play either dimensions, negative or positive, can only be achieved with good writing," Rampal said. The actor is now shooting in Hyderabad for his debut in South cinema with Telugu period drama 'Hari Hara Veera Mallu', directed by Krish Jagarlamudi. "Krish is a great guy and a very good director. I was petrified about the language, but I think it's coming along well," he said. "I think with any film, language should never be a barrier; if the film is engaging and entertaining it finds its audience everywhere. Movies shouldn't have boundaries or differentiation, especially the ones made in one's own country. I am so glad that finally those barriers have been broken," the actor added. Some of his other projects slated for release in the coming months, include 'Penthouse' by filmmaker duo Abbas Mustan and 'The Battle of Bhima Koregaon', opposite Sunny Leone. Live TV New Delhi: Former Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Ashok Kantha, on Saturday (July 16), said that the island nations ongoing economic and political crisis is not made in China, explaining that the corporate loans provided by Beijing, however, added to the situation. Speaking at Zee Media organised the Interact with Experts event, Kantha also pointed out that China is now not coming forward to bail out Sri Lanka from possibly the worst economic crisis since its independence in 1948. While Kantha didnt blame China entirely for the economic crisis, he noted that the corporate loans issued by Beijing for economically unviable projects put additional stress on the country. (ALSO READ: PM Kisan 12th installment could be released on September 1 to beneficiary accounts, check latest update here) For instance, Sri Lanka agreed to lease the port for 99 years to a venture led by China Merchants Port Holdings Co. to ease off the debts. It is indeed a prime example of Chinas debt-trap policy. (ALSO READ: HDFC Bank Q1 net profit jumps 21% to Rs 9,579 crore) Early this week, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives on a Sri Lankan Air Force plane. He, later on, flew to Singapore amid widespread protests against his government for mishandling the country's economy. As thousands of demonstrators stormed Rajapaksa's official mansion last Saturday, accusing him of causing the extraordinary economic catastrophe that has brought the nation to its knees, Rajapaksa announced earlier that day that he would resign on Wednesday. According to Kantha, it was the combination of structural and developmental issues, coupled with mismanagement, corruption, and political nepotism. External factors such as the Covid-19 pandemic and Russias intervention in Ukraine aggravated the already worsening situation in the neighboring nation. New Delhi: As Maharanis powerful yet complex Bheema Bharti, Sohum Shah proved to be a talent to reckon with. After the success of the series, comes the second installment 'Maharani 2' whose teaser has everyone talking! With the show, Sohum Shah, proved how one doesnt need to fall into a stereotype and make an impact with originality - In the second season of the show, the actor is back out of prison with new energy and in an all-new avatar and his heavy beard and moustache look has us immensely curious as Bheema Bharti is all set to spring a new surprise on the audience. Taking to his social media he shared- "Jail ke taale tootenge, Bheema Bharti chootenge! @iamhumaq hum apni satta phirse lene aa rahe hain, tyaar ho jaaye #MaharaniS2 @subkapoor" Undoubtedly a method actor, who gets under the skin of his characters, Sohum also enjoys transforming into these characters with the aim of not just playing them on screen, but actually becoming them. After versatile roles in Ship of Theseus,for which he won a National award, Simran, Tumbbad, Bard of Blood, The Big Bull and now Maharani Sohum Shah truly stands out as a distinct artist who isn't afraid to experiment. The actor now has an exciting line-up in the capacity of an actor and a producer, as he looks forward to one of the busiest years in his professional career with Maharani 2, the feature film Sanaa and several other developments in the pipeline. Live TV New Delhi: One of the most loved Indian series on Netflix - `Masaba Masaba` is now back! This time they`ve turned up the heat and how! The time for hot messes and puked-on dresses is over - the women are ready to don their bright prints, in the hopes of brighter futures! Fashionista Masaba recently shared the trailer video on her social media account. Taking to her Instagram handle, Masaba dropped the `Masaba Masaba` season 2 trailer. She captioned the post, "She`s been a princess, she`s been a queen, now it`s time for her to be KING! #MasabaMasaba is back with a banging new season on 29th July on @netflix_in." The iconic mother-daughter duo - Neena and Masaba Gupta are back and decide that it`s time to turn their careers around. While Neena gears up to revive a popular show from her past, Masaba decides to leave the past behind and focus on the future- of her brand and herself. `House of Masaba` is ready for a total rebrand. While she prepares for fashion world domination - life, as always, has other plans. At the beginning of the trailer, the fashion designer is seen saying that she wants `to be the king` and even tells her mom, Neena that she has decided that it is now going to be `no men, only work` for her. In the trailer, two good-looking men can be seen, Neil Bhoopalam returns as Dhairya Rana, Masaba`s investor-turned-love interest, In the trailer, Armaan Khera`s Fateh joins him in trying to win over Masaba`s love, playing her client, who flirts with her. Masaba is designing his wedding clothes. Meanwhile, Neena is in lead this time and is looking for an actor, who can be cast opposite her. The show also stars Ram Kapoor. From the video clip, it seems that Neena and Ram have something more going on between them than just work. During a scene, Masaba tells her mom to get her hormones checked as she was being `too thirsty`. Masaba realises her life is one challenge after the other. Will she emerge victorious in the journey of striking a balance between work, love and life? Or will confusion, grief, anxiety and competition come in the way? Ecstatic about season 2, Masaba Gupta said "It was so surreal to be filming Season 2, given the pandemic and all the things that have happened since season 1. It was special because this season has so many different tracks. It`s not just about my mom and I reclaiming our lives, it`s also about all these people around us coming into their own. Season 2 touched my heart in so many ways - it made me laugh, it made me cry and it made me feel warm on the inside and I hope it does exactly that to all the people who get to see this on Netflix on the 29th of July!" `Masaba Masaba` is a semi-fictionalised show, which showcases the life of fashion designer and actor Neena Gupta`s daughter Masaba on screen, following her unique background, diverse worlds she straddles across fashion and family, and her foray back into the dating world. 'Masaba Masaba Season 2' takes us through love, loss and lots of badassery as Masaba Gupta decides to listen to her "dil ki baat". Directed by Sonam Nair and produced by Viniyard Films, Season 2 will also feature Neil Bhoopalam, Rytasha Rathore, Kusha Kapila, Kareema Barry, Barkha Singh, Ram Kapoor, and Armaan Khera. The series marks influencer Kusha Kapila`s second stint at acting, the first being Karan Johar`s `Ghost stories`.The first season of `Masaba Masaba` was released in August 2020. Live TV New Delhi: The Lok Sabha secretariat has issued an advisory to MPs asking them to refrain from distributing pamphlets, press notes, leaflets without the Speakers`s permission in the House during the Monsoon session of Parliament. "As per established convention, no literature, questionnaire, pamphlets, press notes, leaflets or any matter printed or otherwise should be distributed without the prior permission of Hon'ble Speaker within the precincts of the House. Placards are also strictly prohibited inside the Parliament House Complex. Kind cooperation of Hon`ble Members is solicited," the bulletin read. This comes after the opposition`s uproar on the ban on protests on the Parliament premises, sources in the Lok Sabha Secretariat said that these `are routine advisories` ahead of every session. However, they said similar advisories had been issued in the past also. This has been happening during the previous tenures in Parliament. The Congress has taken strong objection to it as this comes on the heels of controversy over the use of unparliamentary words during the House proceedings. The advisory was issued on Thursday by the Parliament Security Office. Following it, the Speaker clarified that there was no ban on the use of words as it was alleged by the opposition. The booklet said: "Words and expressions in English which have been declared unparliamentary in Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislatures in India and some Commonwealth Parliaments.` Reacting to it, Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said: "The way the BJP government has destroyed the functioning of the house since 2014 is way more unparliamentary than those words that describe the characteristics of this govt. Congress-led UPA believed in democracy but BJP led NDA stifles any scope for dissent or difference of opinion." Live TV Egypt is keen to cooperate with the United States to revive the Israeli-Palestinian talks, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi told US President Joe Biden as they met in Saudi Arabia on Saturday and discussed a wide range of issues. El-Sisi stressed Egypts unwavering stance toward the Palestinian cause, Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement. The Egyptian president highlighted the importance of reaching a fair and comprehensive solution that guarantees the rights of the Palestinian people and the establishment of their independent state in accordance with international resolutions. Biden expressed the US administrations appreciation for the longstanding Egyptian efforts to establish peace in the region. He also hailed Egypts role in achieving calm between the Palestinian and Israeli sides and the Egyptian initiative for the reconstruction of Gaza. El-Sisi and Biden held their first bilateral meeting as presidents in the Saudi city of Jeddah on the sidelines of their planned participation in the Jeddah Security and Development Summit scheduled for today. The summit brings together the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and the US to discuss enhancing joint work to achieve stability in the region amid the current global challenges. The summit has tackled cooperation in the fields of the economy, food security, and energy and also on regional and international challenges. Food crisis, energy supply disruption During their meeting, El-Sisi and Biden discussed boosting bilateral cooperation in many fields, especially amid disruptions to the global food and energy supply, the spokesman said. As leaders also discussed regional issues, El-Sisi underscored Egypts unchangeable stance regarding the necessity of supporting crisis-hit states and strengthening their national institutions to end the suffering of their peoples and protect their resources. Egypt and the US have been coordinating their stance on the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war, since it started in February. In May, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted the necessity of joint work to limit the impacts of the ongoing global crises on economic and living conditions worldwide. They also agreed on the need for continuing coordination on the various files between Egypt and the US and working on enhancing these relations in light of the strategic ties binding the two countries. Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Discussions between El-Sisi and Biden also included the issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, according to the spokesman. El-Sisi underscored to Biden Egypts unwavering stance regarding the necessity of reaching a legally-binding agreement on the filling and operation of the dam in a way that protects the Egyptian water security and achieves the joint interests of the three countries. Egypt and Sudan have repeatedly warned against the impact of Ethiopias unilateral acts 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 occasions that they are not against development in Ethiopia but insisted that this development should not endanger their water rights. 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. Enhancing relations, intensifying consultations For his part, Biden welcomed his first meeting with El-Sisi, affirming his administrations willingness to activate the frameworks of bilateral cooperation between Egypt and the US during the coming period, the spokesman said. The administration is also keen on developing the ongoing strategic coordination and consultation with Egypt. This comes especially in light of the pivotal Egyptian role in the Middle East region under the wise leadership of El-Sisi, which represents a main pillar for safeguarding peace and security and spreading peace in the entire region, the spokesman said. El-Sisi stressed Egypts keenness to endorse the distinguished relations with the US, underscoring the important role of this partnership in enhancing peace and stability in the Middle East region. The president also affirmed Egypts aspiration for further coordination and consultations with the US on various regional issues. The meeting between Biden and El-Sisi comes while Cairo and Washington are celebrating the centennial of their diplomatic ties this year. Egypt and the US held last year in November their first bilateral strategic dialogue since 2015, where they agreed on deepening their partnership in various fields, including human rights, defence and security. Last year, El-Sisi and Biden communicated two times via phone in May, where they discussed developments in Palestine, Libya and the GERD. Egypt and the US also worked on boosting their economic relations and trade exchange over the past year. Trade volume between Egypt and the US amounted to $9.1 billion in 2021, making the US Egypt's second-largest trading partner after China, according to the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt. This represents a leap in trade volume from $6.9 billion in 2020, according to AmCham. Egypt also accounted for five percent of the Middle East and North Africa exports to the US last year and nine percent of the regions imports from the US. Search Keywords: Short link: Jalaun (Uttar Pradesh): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the Bundelkhand Expressway in Jalaun, Uttar Pradesh. Earlier, UP CM Yogi Adityanath had said that this is a historic day when the 296 km long Bundelkhand Expressway is being inaugurated. "This will add a new dimension to the economy of Bundelkhand & of state. The expressway will go through 7 districts and then connect with Agra- Lucknow expressway," said Adityanath. After inaugurating the e-way, PM Modi said, "The expressway will ensure seamless connectivity and further economic progress in the region. With this expressway, there will be an industrial boom in the region. The Modi-Yogi government will take development not just to cities but to villages." He added, "If two things - law and order situation and connectivity were to be corrected, I knew this (UP) would become a state that can fight against all odds. We improved both. Law and order situation is improving, so is the connectivity." Bundelkhand expressway: The places it will cover The expressway starts near Bharatkoop in Chitrakoot district and merges with the Agra-Lucknow expressway near Kudrail village in Etawah district. It covers the seven districts of Chitrakoot, Banda, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Aurraiya, and Etawah. The road has crossings over several rivers: Bagen, Ken, Shyama, Chandawal, Birma, Yamuna, Betwa, and Sengar. Bundelkhand Expressway: The cost of the project The 296 km four-lane Expressway has been constructed at a cost of around Rs 14,850 crore, under the aegis of Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), and can later be expanded up to six lanes as well. How will Bundelkhand expressway boost regional connectivity? The Bundelkhand expressway is one of the major links improving the connectivity in the state. Because of the four-lane expressway, the journey between Delhi and Chitrakoot, which takes 9-10 hours, can now be completed in around 6 hours, as per estimations. The Bundelkhand expressway is also crucial to the success of the upcoming Uttar Pradesh defence corridor project. In the Banda and Jalaun districts, construction on an industrial corridor has also started. The western, central, and Bundelkhand parts of the state include more than 5,071 hectares of the Rs 20,000 crore defence corridor project. Six of the state's 13 expressways, totalling 3,200 km, are in use, and seven more are under construction. Highway and expressway corridors are becoming industrial areas. The air force is developing airstrips for use in emergencies. Modi government's boost to connectivity The Modi government has focused greatly on connectivity and infrastructure, officials said. The budgetary allocation of Rs 1.99 lakh crore for the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in Budget 2022-23 is the highest ever. This is a jump of over 550 per cent when compared to the allocation of about Rs 30,300 crore in 2013-14. In the last seven years, the length of National Highways in the country has gone up by more than 50 per cent from 91,287 km (as of April 2014) to around 1,41,000 km (as of December 31, 2021).The foundation stone for the construction of the Bundelkhand Expressway was laid by the Prime Minister on February 29, 2020. The work on the Expressway has been completed within 28 months. (With ANI inputs) New Delhi: India recorded 20,044 new Covid-19 cases, 56 deaths in the last 24 hours, pushing the total death toll to 5,25,660, according to the data released by the Ministry of Health on Saturday (July 16, 2022). The active cases stand at 1,40,760. The country also reported 18,301 recoveries in a day. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has increased to 4,30,63,651, while the case fatality rate has been recorded at 1.20 per cent. #COVID19 | India reports 20,044 fresh cases, 18,301 recoveries, and 56 deaths in the last 24 hours. Active cases 1,40,760 Daily positivity rate 4.80% pic.twitter.com/lvMcyWZ0ti ANI (@ANI) July 16, 2022 An increase of 1,687 cases has been recorded in the active Covid-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The ministry also informed that the active cases comprise 0.32 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 98.48 per cent. The cumulative doses administered under the nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive has exceeded 199.71 crore on Saturday at 8 am. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 4.80 per cent and the weekly positivity rate was 4.40 per cent, according to the ministry. Of the more fatalities, 27 are from Kerala, 10 from Maharashtra, five from West Bengal, two each from Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and one each from Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, Punjab, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand. (With agency inputs) Mumbai: Maharashtra has reported 2382 fresh Covid-19 cases, 2853 recoveries, and 8 deaths in the last 24 hours. 4 patients of BA.4 variant and 31 patients of BA.5 detected, along with 8 patients of BA.2.75 variant in the state, all from Pune. The active cases now stand at 15,521. The new subvariants of Omicron has caused worry among health expert as cases of Covid-19 continue to grow globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) weekly epidemiological update on Covid-19, released July 6, said that globally, the number of new weekly cases increased for the fourth consecutive week after a declining trend since the last peak in March 2022. Is BA.2.75 Omicron subvariant dangerous: What WHO says According to WHOs Swaminathan, there are still limited sequences available of the sub-variant to analyse, but this sub-variant seems to have a few mutations on the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein. So obviously, that's a key part of the virus that attaches itself to the human receptor. So we have to watch that. It's still too early to know if this sub-variant has properties of additional immune evasion or indeed of being more clinically severe. We don't know that, she added. WHO is tracking it and the WHO Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) is constantly looking at the data from around the world, Swaminathan further added. BA.5 Omicron subvariant is 'hypercontagious': Report The BA.5 Omicron subvariant, now the dominant coronavirus strain in the US, is four times more resistant to Covid-19 vaccines, according to a new study published in Nature. The study found the variant is four times more resistant to messenger RNA vaccines than earlier strains of Omicron, which include Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines, Xinhua news agency reported. The strain is "hypercontagious" and is contributing to increases in hospitalisations and ICU admissions, said the Mayo Clinic in a report on Thursday. The BA.5 strain represented 65 per cent of Covid-19 cases in the US in the week ending July 9, according to the latest data from the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. Unvaccinated people have about a five times higher chance of contracting the virus than those who are vaccinated and boosted, while chances of hospitalisation are 7.5 times higher, and chances of death are 14 to 15 times higher, said Gregory Poland, Head of the Mayo Clinic`s Vaccine Research Group. India's Covid-19 tally India's Covid-19 case tally rose by 20,044 in a day to reach 4,37,30,071 while active cases increased to 1,40,760, according to Health Ministry data updated on Saturday. The death toll has climbed to 5,25,660 with 56 more fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated. Active cases increased by 1,687 in a day and now comprise 0.32 per cent of the total infections while the national recovery rate is 98.48 per cent, the ministry said. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 4.80 per cent while the weekly positivity rate was 4.40 per cent. Corona booster dose has been launched in the entire state including Kolkata from Friday. Since this morning, there were long queues at municipal health centers in Kolkata. According to municipal sources, about 9,500 people took a booster dose of Covishield and Covaxin on that day. A few days ago, the health department expressed concern over the reluctance of the state's citizens to take the booster dose of corona. Even with no takers, millions of vaccine doses were diverted from the state. A total of 133 centers in Kolkata including municipal health centers and mega centers gave booster doses on Friday. Booster dose of Covishield was given to 8 thousand 722 people on this day. 752 received boosters of covaxin. Citizens between 18 and 59 years of age can take this booster dose free of charge at all state or central health centers. Center will send this booster dose to states. Log on to the KMC portal to know more about Booster Dose under the initiative of Municipal Corporation in Kolkata at https://www.kmcgov.in. To get the free dose, you have to book a slot in a government hospital, health center or vaccination center through the Co-Win portal. In the case of private hospitals or clinics, the vaccine must be taken at a fixed price. Covid Booster Dose: How to register for free booster dose? Dose registration can be done both online and offline. For those who cannot book slots through this, there is walk-in facility. Those eligible for the third dose can try to register themselves through the CoWIN portal for the booster dose. When West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar was announced as the surprise choice of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the office of the Vice President, political observers in Kolkata, where he has spent the last three years engaged in an almost daily sparring match with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, started reading the signals being sent out by the BJP top brass. By naming Dhankhar, who was little known outside Jaipur and the city`s legal fraternity till July 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has in a way sounded the poll bugle for Rajasthan, where Assembly elections will be held next year, and Jats form a substantial vote bank. Analysts in Kolkata also see in the move a message being sent out to Banerjee -- that despite her evident displeasure at the governor`s outbursts against her government, and the many representations made by Trinamool Congress MPs to Home Minister Amit Shah to have him removed from Raj Bhawan, Dhankar was being rewarded with a higher office. On previous occasions, there had been tiffs between the governor and the West Bengal government, like when Gopalkrishna Gandhi and the then Left Front chief minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, differed over the police firing at Nandigram in East Midnapore district of West Bengal on March 14, 2007, which resulted in the death of 14 persons. But never has the government-governor spat in West Bengal been a daily affair, as it happened during the tenure of Dhankhar. He was the first governor of the state in whose tenure the Raj Bhawan press conference became an almost daily affair, giving Dhankhar a platform to target the Trinamool dispensation. The chief minister, in an unprecedented move, responded by blocking Dhankhar from her Twitter handle. Dhankar is also the first governor to have expressed his displeasure with the state government via regular Twitter posts. What really irked the Trinamool Congress leadership was that Dhankhar had started firing similar salvos at official functions held in the West Bengal Assembly premises. The Assembly Speaker, Biman Banerjee, once even said that if this continued, he would have to contemplate restricting the governor`s presence on the premises of the House, something that has never been heard of in a parliamentary democracy. A seasoned lawyer, Dhankhar has maintained that he has just been using his power and rights as a governor given by the Constitution, which no other governor had cared to do before him. In March this year, Dhankhar marked his presence in Jaipur as chief guest at a seminar on the `Role of Governors and MLAs in Furtherance of Democracy`, organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association`s Rajasthan chapter in the Assembly building. There, he poured his heart out, saying a governor is like a punching bag, who is invariably called an agent of the ruling party. He clarified that was not a "proactive governor" but a "copybook governor", who firmly believed in the rule of law. Dhankhar then surprised his audience by declaring: "People might not know it, but I do share a brother-and-sister kind of relationship with the chief minister," he said. "How can the governor and the chief minister fight in public?" he asked and added: "I have always tried and will continue to cooperate with the government, but this cooperation isn`t possible with one hand. If there is no communication between the chief minister and the governor, then we will deviate from democracy." Before July 30, 2019, when he was appointed West Bengal Governor, Dhankhar wouldn`t have even found an audience, having transitioned from being a follower of the late Jat leader Devi Lal, to becoming the minister of state for parliamentary affairs in the short-lived Chandra Shekhar government (1990-91), to finding himself drifting to the Congress, where he was ignored by Ashok Gehlot, and finally landing in the BJP in 2003, to be kept at a distance by the then state party supremo and chief minister, Vasundhara Raje. Born in a Jat family in Rajasthan`s Jhunjhunu district on May 18, 1951, Dhankhar went to Sainik School, Chittorgarh, graduated from the University of Rajasthan, and became an acolyte of Devi Lal, who was served two terms as Chief Minister of Haryana and was the Deputy Prime Minister between 1989 and 1991, in the governments of V.P. Singh and Chandra Shekhar. In 1989, when the Janata Dal challenged Rajiv Gandhi under V.P. Singh`s leadership, Dhankhar got the party`s Lok Sabha ticket from Jhunjhunu, where he defeated the sitting MP (and decorated war hero) Mohammad Ayub Khan by an impressive margin of four lakh votes. Dhankhar was a member of the Ninth Lok Sabha (1989-91), and when Chandra Shekhar became Prime Minister for seven months (from November 1990 to June 1991), he was picked up for the lame-duck ministry. In the June 1991 general elections, Dhankhar could not retain his seat (Khan got re-elected and was made a minister in the P.V. Narasimha Rao government). With the political fortunes of his mentor, Devi Lal, on the decline, Dhankhar decided to join the Congress, which gave him an Assembly ticket and he got elected as the MLA from Kishangarh in Ajmer district in 1993. He served his full term in Rajasthan`s 10th Legislative Assembly till 1998. That was the last public office he held till he was made West Bengal Governor. Of course, he did become the President of the Rajasthan High Court Bar Association in the days when his political career wasn`t heading anywhere, but it did not come with the perks, privileges and visibility associated with the occupant of Kolkata`s Raj Bhawan, which was modelled after the family home of Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy of the British Raj. The one-time acolyte of Devi Lal has found a political saviour in Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- not once, but twice. New Delhi: A case has been filed against a priest in Ghaziabad for allegedly insulting Mahatma Gandhi in a video. The Ghaziabad police took cognizance of the video themselves in which the Dasna Devi temple head priest Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati was seen and heard abusing Gandhi. The video has also gone viral on social media for its controversial content. The FIR was lodged under Indian Penal Code Section 505(2) (offence in any place of worship or assembly) on July 14 as per reports. "The FIR names the priest for his derogatory remarks on Gandhi. The video seems to be about five to six months old and the location is yet to be ascertained, but we believe it to be Haridwar, said Iraj Raja, superintendent of police (rural) as quoted by Hindustan Times. The video of the priest's speech attracted criticism as he had allegedly made offensive statements against Mahatma Gandhi, a treasured figure in India's freedom struggle. He held him responsible for the Hindus who lost their lives during Partition and said Gandhi rather sided with the 'Muslims and British'. Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati is notorious for his hate speeches especially targeting the Muslim community. He has also made derogatory remarks against women in the past. Live TV New Delhi: The Congress and late party leader Ahmed Patels daughter Mumtaz on Saturday (July 16) hit out at the Centre over the charges levelled by Gujarat police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with the 2002 Gujarat riots case against her father. On Friday, the SIT had submitted an affidavit in a sessions court in Ahmedabad claiming that arrested activist Teesta Setalvad was part of a "larger conspiracy" executed at Ahmed Patels behest with the political objective of "dismissal or destabilisation of the elected government in Gujarat by hook or by crook", PTI reported. Reacting sharply to the allegations, the late Congress leaders daughter Mumtaz Patel said her father's name still holds weight to be used for "political conspiracies" to malign the Opposition ahead of the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections this year. "So their campaign for Gujarat election has begun by dragging Ahmed Patel's name in conspiracy theories. They did it before election when he was alive & are still doing it when he is no more," she wrote in a tweet. "Why during UPA years @TeestaSetalvad was not rewarded & made Rajya Sabha member and why the Centre uptil 2020 did not prosecute my father for hatching such a big conspiracy?" she asked in another tweet, which was retweeted by her brother Faisal Patel from his verified Twitter handle. Congress also launched a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi-led government saying the allegations were the PMs "systematic strategy to absolve himself of any responsibility for the communal carnage" of 2002. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said the party "categorically refutes the mischievous charges manufactured" against Ahmed Patel. "This is part of the prime minister's systematic strategy to absolve himself of any responsibility for the communal carnage unleashed when he was chief minister of Gujarat in 2002," Ramesh said in a statement. BJP targets Congress chief Sonia Gandhi over Gujarat SITs affidavit The BJP on Saturday accused Congress president Sonia Gandhi of being the "driving force" behind the "conspiracy" to implicate then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi in the 2002 riots case. Addressing a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra claimed that the late Ahmed Patel, who was Sonia Gandhi's political adviser, was only a medium through which she acted to destabilise the Modi-led Gujarat government. He also demanded Gandhi to address a press conference on the charges. he demanded. "The affidavit has brought the truth out that who were the ones who were driving these conspiracies - Ahmed Patel. Ahmed Patel is just a name, the driving force was his boss Sonia Gandhi. Through her Chief Political Advisor Ahmed Patel, Sonia Gandhi attempted to malign Gujarat`s image. Through him, she attempted to insult Narendra Modi and she was the architect of this entire conspiracy," Patra was quoted as saying by ANI. (With agency inputs) New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla chaired a meeting of leaders of political parties on Saturday to discuss the smooth functioning of the House in the monsoon session of Parliament. The Speaker briefed the leaders on the preparations related to the session which begins on July 18. Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, DMK MP TR Balu, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, BJP MP Arjun Ram Meghwal, YSRCP MP PV Mithunreddy, RLJP MP Pashupati Kumar Paras and other party MPs were among those present at the meeting called by Speaker Om Birla. The central government will seek to push several legislations during the monsoon session and its legislative agenda includes 24 bills for passage, sources said.The first day of the monsoon session will see voting for the presidential election. Some of the bills that are in the pending list include The Indian Antarctica Bill, 2022. The bill is pending in the Lok Sabha. The Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019, was passed by Lok Sabha and in the upcoming session, it is likely to be taken up in the Rajya Sabha.The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022 was passed by Lok Sabha and is yet to be passed by Rajya Sabha.The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021 is pending in Lok Sabha, The Anti-Maritime Piracy Bill, 2019 and The National Anti-Doping Bill, 2021 are also pending in Lok Sabha. The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Second Amendment) Bill, 2022 (in respect of State of UP - amendment regarding change of district name to be approved by Cabinet) was introduced in Lok Sabha in March 2022. The new bills to be newly introduced in the Parliament during the Monsoon session include The Central Universities Amendment Bill, 2022.The Family Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2022 is also a new bill and was sent for printing on Thursday. The other bills on the government agenda include Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2019, (in respect of State of Assam), The Mediation Bill, 2021 (with Standing Committee chaired by Shri Sushil Kumar Modi); The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (report of Standing Committee under examination) and the Registration of Marriage of Non-Resident Indian Bill, 2019 (report of Standing Committee under examination).The monsoon session of parliament will conclude on August 12. ALSO READ: Unparliamentary words row: India is a democracy, everything is parliamentary, says Sanjay Raut New Delhi: Throwing the gauntlet at the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi government which he toppled, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday declared that he would quit politics if a single MLA who joined him loses the next Assembly polls. "I am confident that all these 50 MLAs will win the elections... If any of them lose, I will resign from politics," Shinde said, speaking at a rally by one of his supporting legislators, Abdul Sattar. He reiterated that in the next state elections, his Shiv Sena and ally Bharatiya Janata Party would jointly bag 200 seats - or he would leave politics. Referring to the recent dramatic rebellion that led to the collapse of the MVA headed by then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Shinde admitted how he was "worried" over its possible consequences. "When all that was happening, initially there were some 30 MLAs, then 50 legislators... All of them would encourage and support me. But I was worried, at the back of my mind, I wondered what would happen to them as they had staked their entire political careers with me," he said. While he spent sleepless nights, his supporters - 40 MLAs from Shiv Sena and 10 others - were `bindaas` (carefree) and goaded him to go ahead with his plans with their full backing, he added. Since the rebellion that started quietly on June 20, the MLAs travelled to Gujarat, then Assam and later to Goa before returning to Maharashtra after he took oath as CM on June 30, along with BJP`s Devendra Fadnavis as Deputy CM. Recalling how his group was labelled as dogs, pigs and zombies by various Shiv Sena leaders, Shinde refuted allegations that any of the MLAs were taken away "forcibly" and said they came together for the uprising in the cause of Hindutva and the state`s development. He said that the legislators were inspired by Balasaheb Thackeray and Anand Dighe who always considered the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party as political enemies and felt "suffocated" under the MVA tenure for two-and-half years. New Delhi: Kerala on Thursday (July 14) confirmed the first-ever monkeypox virus case of India. The first Monkeypox case was reported after the sample of the person was tested positive at National Institute of Virology, Pune. Earlier in the day, Kerala Health Minister had said that the person showed symptoms of the virus and was in close contact with a monkeypox patient abroad. Post the first confirmed case in the country, five districts in Kerala were put on high alert as many of the infected person's co-passengers were from these areas. Kerala health minister informed that none of the people who travelled with him have developed symptoms yet. What are the symptoms of Monkeypox? One may experience flu-like symptoms and swelling of the lymph nodes at the beginning. This can progress into a rash, like blisters or pimples, on the face and body. Monkeypox in India: Health Ministry issues new guidelines The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday released new guidelines for the management of the Monkeypox disease. The ministry listed out points for the general masses to avoid the contradiction of the disease which included avoiding contact with sick people and avoiding contact with dead or wild animals(rodents, monkeys). The general public has also been advised to visit the nearest health facility if one comes in close contact with a monkeypox-affected person or an area with the affected persons or animals. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Friday informed about 15 Virus Research & Diagnostic Laboratories across the country on a micro-blogging website. Live TV Dozens of families were Saturday fleeing violence in Sudan's Blue Nile State, where ongoing clashes between two tribes have killed at least 31 people, local officials said. At least 39 others have been wounded and 16 shops torched since the violence broke out on Monday over a land dispute between the Berti and Hawsa tribes. "We need more troops to control the situation," local official Adel Agar from the city of Al-Roseires told AFP on Saturday. He also called for mediators to de-escalate tensions that have resulted in many "dead and wounded". He did not give a detailed toll. Blue Nile governor Ahmed al-Omda issued an order Friday prohibiting any gatherings or marches for one month. Soldiers were also deployed and a night curfew was imposed on Saturday. Clashes resumed Saturday after a brief lull, close to the state capital Al-Damazin on Saturday, witnesses said. "We heard gun shots," resident Fatima Hamad told AFP from the city of Al-Roseires across the river from Al-Damazin, "and saw smoke rising" from the south. Al-Damazin resident Ahmed Youssef said that "dozens of families" crossed the bridge into the city to flee the unrest. An urgent appeal for blood donations was launched by hospitals for the treatment of casualties from the unrest, according to medical sources. A medical source from Al-Roseires Hospital told AFP the facility had "run out of first aid equipment". "Additional personnel" are needed, the source said, adding that the number of injured people is "rising". The violence broke out after the Berti tribe rejected a Hawsa request to create a "civil authority to supervise access to land", a prominent Hawsa member told AFP on condition of anonymity. But a senior member of the Bertis said the tribe was responding to a "violation" of its lands by the Hawsas. The Qissan region and Blue Nile state more generally have long seen unrest, with southern guerrillas a thorn in the side of Sudan's former strongman president Omar al-Bashir, who was ousted by the army in 2019 following street pressure. Experts say last year's coup, led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, created a security vacuum that has fostered a resurgence in tribal violence, in a country where deadly clashes regularly erupt over land, livestock, access to water and grazing. Search Keywords: Short link: New Delhi: After the first case of Monkeypox was detected in India in the state of Kerala on July 14, Tamil Nadu Health Minister informed that authorities have ramped up monitoring of state border's with Kerala. On Saturday, he told news agency ANI that monitoring is ongoing at 13 checkpoints along the Tamil Nadu border with Kerala. The health authorities are also conducting mass fever screening camps and monkeypox screening. International passengers at Chennai airport will also be screened for Monkeypox, informed State Health Minister Ma Subramanian and Health Secretary Senthil Kumar who insepected the process at the airport. Also Read: Monkeypox in India: Co-passengers of infected Kerala man being monitored; Know what are symptoms to watch out for Subramanian told ANI, "2% of passengers are checked randomly at Chennai airport. 30-40 Int'l flights with 5,000-9,000 paX come daily. In last 14 days, we received 531 flights with 1,00,153 passengers. 39 passengers had COVID & they're home quarantined. No monkeypox cases found in state." Tamil Nadu | Screening of international passengers being done at Chennai Airport in wake of one #monkeypox case reported in Kerala. State Health Minister Ma Subramanian and Health Secretary Senthil Kumar inspected the screening process at the airport. pic.twitter.com/iKdo46YliB ANI (@ANI) July 16, 2022 First monkeypox case in India Kerala on Thursday (July 14) confirmed the first-ever monkeypox virus case of India. The first Monkeypox case was reported after the sample of the person was tested positive at National Institute of Virology, Pune. Earlier in the day, Kerala Health Minister had said that the person showed symptoms of the virus and was in close contact with a monkeypox patient abroad. Post the first confirmed case in the country, five districts in Kerala were put on high alert as many of the infected person's co-passengers were from these areas. Kerala health minister informed that none of the people who travelled with him have developed symptoms yet. One may experience flu-like symptoms and swelling of the lymph nodes at the beginning of contracting monkeypox virus. This can progress into a rash, like blisters or pimples, on the face and body. (With agency inputs) Live TV Presidential Polls 2022: NDA's candidate for the post of Vice President of India will be Jagdeep Dhankhar, BJP chief JP Nadda said. Making the announcement, BJP president J P Nadda lauded Dhankhar as a "kisan putra" (farmer's son) who established himself as a "people's governor". Since assuming charge as the governor of West Bengal in July 2019, Jagdeep Dhankhar has often been in news over his disagreements and tiffs with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Recently, the West Bengal Governor had launched a scathing attack on the appeasement politics of the Mamata Banerjee government in the state, which, he alleged, was destroying the essence of the democracy. The governor also alleged that there is "no space available in the state for political activity of opposition parties". Dhankhar also claimed that it will create a "serious imbalance" in society. Dhankhar claimed that development and empowerment have been "communalised" in the state in terms of finance and government jobs. "Communalised patronage is antithetical to democratic values. We are witnessing extreme appeasement ..... This appeasement will destroy our democracy," he said at the Bagdogra airport. BJP leaders noted that Dhankhar has been in public life for more than three decades, and his life story reflects the spirit of new India: "overcoming innumerable social and economic hurdles and achieving one's goals". Earlier, there have been speculations on whether Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, a prominent Muslim face of the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party, will be NDA's choice for Vice President. Naqvi had resigned on Wednesday from the post of Union Minority Affairs Minister, triggering strong speculations that he may be fielded as the saffron partys vice-presidential candidate soon. Naqvi resigned a day before his Rajya Sabha tenure expired. On the advice of the Prime Minister, President Ram Nath Kovind accepted his resignation with immediate effect and directed that Union Minister Smriti Irani be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, in addition to her existing portfolio. NIRF Ranking 2022: Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan released the 'India Rankings 2022', ranking of higher educational institutes under the National Institute Ranking Framework. While 7 of the top 10 spots in the NIRF rankings 2022 for overall institutes were secured by IITs and IIT Madras emerged as the top University in India securing the first position in the list. Apart from 7 IITs, IISc Bengaluru, AIIMS Delhi, and JNU got a place in the list of top 10 universities of India securing 2nd, 9th, and 10th place respectively while DU could not manage to secure a position in the top 10 universities of India rather slipped to 13th position. DU in NIRF Rankings 2022 The top 10 institutions under OVERALL category in the newly-released #IndiaRankings2022, National Institute Ranking Framework. For detailed info, visit #NIRF portal: https://t.co/v0Oh5Zm0gG pic.twitter.com/sIjHanTArc Ministry of Education (@EduMinOfIndia) July 15, 2022 Talking about the downfall in the NIRF ranking of Delhi University to PTI, Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh said a low student-teacher ratio could be one of the reasons for the varsity slipping in the Ministry of Education's National Institutional Ranking Framework 2022, even as he said the work done today will only be reflected in the next two years. The varsity slipped by a spot to the 13th position this year. In the overall rankings as well, its position declined to 23 from 19 last year. Last year, DU was ranked 12th, while it was ranked 11th in 2020. It was at the 13th spot in 2019 and ranked seventh in the university category in 2018. NEET UG 2022 LIVE Updates The seventh edition of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings was announced on Friday by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The Delhi University (DU) is ranked behind city-based Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), which bagged the second and third positions, respectively in the NIRF under the 'university' category. However, Five DU colleges were among the top 10 colleges in the NIRF rankings with Miranda House bagging the top spot for the sixth consecutive year. The top 10 institutions under COLLEGES category in the newly-released #IndiaRankings2022, National Institute Ranking Framework. For detailed info, visit #NIRF portal: https://t.co/v0Oh5Zm0gG pic.twitter.com/ujTluHDpor Ministry of Education (@EduMinOfIndia) July 15, 2022 JNU's rank in NIRF Ranking 2022 Meanwhile JNU maintained its 2nd position in India's top Universities for sixth consecutive here following the IISc Bengaluru in the list, however, JNU VC Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit expressed her disagreement on clubbing IISc, a research institute with other versaties in which courses of several subjects are offered. Jawaharlal Nehru University Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit credited the varsity's second rank in the National Institutional Ranking Framework to teamwork, while noting that single subject institutes do not have the kind of problems faced by the varsity. ALSO READ- CBSE Results 2022: Students demand clarification on weightage, result date "We are very happy. IISc is not a university like JNU. It is a research institute, and putting JNU and IISc together is like clubbing apples and oranges. I thank all my faculty, students and non-teaching staff. It is a collective effort," Pandit told PTI. The top 10 institutions under UNIVERSITIES category in the newly-released #IndiaRankings2022, National Institute Ranking Framework. For detailed info, visit #NIRF portal: https://t.co/v0Oh5Zm0gG pic.twitter.com/DSvQAnjPzk Ministry of Education (@EduMinOfIndia) July 15, 2022 In the 'universities' category, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru bagged the top spot followed by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Jamia Millia Islamia at second and third ranks, respectively. Live TV New Delhi: As the Presidential Polls draw closer, political parties have been announcing their support - while the NDA candidate is Draupadi Murmu, the Opposition's pick is Yashwant Sinha. Now Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party has announced its support for Sinha. "AAP will support Opposition's Presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha. We respect Draupadi Murmu but we will vote for Yashwant Sinha," says AAP MP Sanjay Singh. A tribal leader-turned Governor, Murmu had earlier expressed that she was both surprised and delighted on learning on television that she had been nominated for the top job by the NDA. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had hailed former Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu after she was announced as the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA nominee for the July 18 presidential election. PM Modi said that millions of people who have faced hardships in life derive strength from the life of Murmu and added that she will make a "great President". "Millions of people, especially those who have experienced poverty and faced hardships, derive great strength from the life of Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji. Her understanding of policy matters and compassionate nature will greatly benefit our country," PM Narendra Modi said in a tweet. On the other hand, senior TMC leader Yashwant Sinha was announced as the Opposition candidate for the Presidential elections 2022. Sinha's name came up after Sharad Pawar, Gopalkrishna Gandhi and Farooq Abdullah opted out of the race. Meanwhile, Sinha cancelled his visit to Maharashtra on Saturday in the wake of the Shiv Sena announcing support for the NDA nominee Draupadi Murmu. "Sinha's visit to Mumbai, where he was scheduled to meet and address the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) legislators, has been cancelled," an NCP leader said. After getting the support of some regional parties like BJD, YSR-CP, BSP, AIADMK, TDP, JDS, Shiromani Akali Dal and Shiv Sena, the vote share of Murmu has already crossed 60 per cent. It was around 50 per cent at the time of her nomination. Murmu had visited Mumbai on Thursday as part of her poll campaign and met the BJP MLAs and MPs from Maharashtra as well as the legislators of its allies including the Shiv Sena faction led by Shinde. (With Agency inputs) While there is discussion about Sushmita Sen-Lalit Modi's relationship across the country, writer Taslima Nasrin has opened up about this issue. In a long post on the social networking site, she shared the story of his brief encounter with Sushmita Sen from her memories. She writes, 'I met Sushmita Sen only once. Met at Kolkata airport. She hugged me and said I love you. There is no one taller than me in the area, so standing next to me I felt suddenly bent. I could not easily remove my eyes of fascination from her beauty." Expressing her love for the actress, she wrote, "I liked Sushmita Sen's personality the most. Adopted two daughters at a young age. Liked her honesty, bravery, awareness, self-reliance, liked her firmness, uprightness." After that, Taslima asked Sushmita Sen, "But Sushmita is now spending time with a very unattractive person involved in various crimes. Because the man is very rich? So she was sold to money?' At the same time, the writer comments, 'Maybe she is in love with the man. But does not want to believe that she is in love. From those who fall in love with money, I lose respect very quickly." Meanwhile, amidst her love affair with Lalit Modi, Sushmita took to social media on Friday and posted a selfie with two girls. Without taking any context, she wrote a little hesitantly, "I am happy where I am. I'm not married, there's no ring issue here. Just surrounded by unconditional love." Although she did not took the name of Lalit directly, it is clear that she is talking about him only. Because, Sushmita wrote, "I think this explanation is enough at the moment. Now I want to get back to my life and work." The actress further wrote, "Thank you to all those who share my happiness... And those who don't, I haven't left them out." Jaipur: Chief Justice of India N V Ramana on Saturday said political opposition is translating into hostility which is not a sign of a healthy democracy and asserted that strong parliamentary democracy demands "strengthening the Opposition as well". There used to be mutual respect between the government and the Opposition, but the space for opposition is diminishing and laws are being passed without detailed deliberation and scrutiny, he lamented at an event here. The CJI said the people expect the court to stand as a counterweight to legislative and executive excess and this gains gravity, particularly whenever the Opposition is missing in action. Instead of engaging in meaningful debates for furthering democracy, politics has become acrimonious, he said. "The diversity of opinion enriches polity and society. Political opposition should not translate into hostility, which we are sadly witnessing these days. These are not signs of a healthy democracy," CJI Ramana said. He was speaking at an event organised at the Rajasthan Assembly by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) on '75 years of Parliamentary Democracy'. Ramana, at an earlier event, said non-filling up of judicial vacancies was the main reason for the huge pendency of cases after Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju flagged the backlog of five crore such cases. The CJI also called for steps to address the "grave" issue of the high number of undertrial prisoners that is affecting the criminal justice system, saying there is a need to question procedures that lead to prolonged incarceration without any trial. Out of 6.10 lakh prisoners in the country, nearly 80 per cent are undertrial prisoners, he said at an event here and lamented that in the criminal justice system, the process "is a punishment". At the event of the Rajasthan assembly, the CJI raised concerns over the quality of legislative performance. "There used to be mutual respect between the government and opposition. Unfortunately, space for opposition is diminishing," he said "Sadly, the country is witnessing a decline in the quality of legislative performance," he said, adding laws are being passed without detailed deliberations and scrutiny. He said that if every wing of the state functions with efficiency and responsibility, the burden on others would reduce considerably. If the general administration is carried out efficiently by the officers, a lawmaker need not toil for ensuring basic facilities for his electorate. He said that the Constitution does not specify the minimum number of days for which the state assembly must meet every year. However, there is no doubt that the citizens will definitely benefit from longer engagements. Highlighting the significance of parliamentary debates and parliamentary committees, the CJI said that strengthening parliamentary democracy demands strengthening the opposition as well. "The leaders in the Opposition used to play a stellar role. There used to be a lot of mutual respect between the government and the opposition. Unfortunately, the space for opposition is diminishing. We are witnessing laws being passed without detailed deliberation and scrutiny," he said. He said that the increasing state intervention in the lives of the population, dissatisfaction among the public about the other two wings and the rising awareness of rights have increased the public expectations from the judiciary. In a modern democracy, the people expect the court to stand as a counterweight to legislative and executive excess. This gains gravity, particularly whenever the opposition is missing in action, he said. Ramana said that as a judge at times he wonders as to how does one trace the legislative intent behind the enactments. Instead of engaging in meaningful debates for furthering democracy, politics has become acrimonious, he added. The CJI said that a strong, vibrant and active Opposition helps to improve the governance and corrects the functioning of the government. In an ideal world, it is the cooperative functioning of the government and the Opposition which will lead to a progressive democracy. Referring to his views on a decline in the quality of debate on last year's Independence Day, he said that his observations were perceived in some quarters as criticism of lawmakers. "When I expressed those sentiments, my only concern was the burden imposed on the judiciary because of imperfections in lawmaking. "'If the bills are thoroughly and dispassionately debated and all the well-meaning suggestions accommodated, we will have better laws. Laws without deficiency save the judiciary from the avoidable burden of litigation," he said. He also suggested lawmakers have quality assistance from legal professionals so that they are able to contribute to the debates meaningfully. He said that lawmaking is a complicated process and one cannot expect every lawmaker to have a legal background. The CJI urged the youth to be in touch with the past and present issues. He said that in today's world, true empowerment lies in true awareness. "Be aware, be informed and it is only you who can decide your destiny. The future of this nation depends on your active participation in public life," he said. New Delhi: A National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Saturday (July 16) remanded three accused in the Udaipur tailors murder case to judicial custody till August 1, PTI cited a government lawyer as saying. The court directed to send Riaz Akhtari, also known as Riyaz Attari, Ghouse Mohammad and Farhad Mohammad Sheikh to judicial custody till August 1. The three accused who were under NIA custody were produced in court by a team of the anti-terror probe agency amid heavy security arrangements. "The court ordered to send them to judicial custody till August 1," special public prosecutor T P Sharma told PTI, adding the accused will be shifted to a high-security jail in Ajmer. Earlier on Tuesday, the NIA court had sent four other accused Mohammad Mohsin, Wasim Ali, Asif and Mohsin in the murder case of tailor Kanhaiya Lal to judicial custody till August 1. The gruesome killing of Kanhaiya Lal, the 48-year-old tailor, on June 28 had sent shockwaves across the nation. Lal was hacked to death with a cleaver inside his tailoring shop. Riaz Akhtari was seen attacking the tailor while the video of the incident was recorded on a phone by Ghouse Mohammad. The duo posted the video online and said they committed the murder to avenge an alleged insult to Islam. They were arrested within hours of Lal's killing. Two other accused were apprehended last week for being involved in the conspiracy and carrying out a recce of the victim's tailoring shop, while a fifth accused, identified as Mohammad Mohsin and the sixth person Wasim Ali were arrested subsequently. The seventh arrest-- Farhad Mohammad Sheikh alias Babla-- was made by the NIA on Saturday (July 9) evening. As per an NIA spokesperson, Farhad Mohammad Sheikh was a"close criminal associate" of Riaz Akhtari and took an active part in the conspiracy to kill Kanhaiya Lal. (With agency inputs) New Delhi: Days after the Rajya Sabha issued a new circular stating that demonstrations, dharnas, fast or religious ceremonies can no longer be held in the precincts of Parliament House, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra on Friday (July 16, 2022) slammed the above order and said, "Why not just remove Gandhijis statue from the premises? And erase Article 19(1a) of the Constitution. It may be noted that Article 19(1a) of the Indian Constitution states that all citizens have the right to freedom of speech and expression. Why not just remove Gandhijis statue from the premises? And erase Article 19 (1) a of the constitution. pic.twitter.com/PriwGof3rE Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) July 15, 2022 The Parliament in a bulletin published on Thursday, ahead of the Monsoon session, said members cannot use the precincts of the House for any demonstration, dharna, strike, fast, or for the purpose of performing any religious ceremony. Members cannot use the precincts of Parliament House for any demonstration, dharna, strike, fast, or for the purpose of performing any religious ceremony, read the order issued by Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha, PC Mody. Earlier, AICC General Secretary Jairam Ramesh also reacted to the order. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh was the first one to react to the order. Jairam Ramesh took it to Twitter and shared a copy of the circular and captioned it, Vishguru's latest salvo D(h)arna Mana Hai!. This comes days after a massive controversy erupted after Parliament put out a list of "unparliamentary" words. Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also took a swipe at the Centre over the list of "unparliamentary" words and termed the compilation the "New Dictionary for New India". On the other hand, Trinamool's Derek O'Brien declared he will use those words and dared the government to act against him. New Delhi: Actor Arjun Kapoor and Malaika Arora are one of the hottest couples in B-Town and they flaunt it pretty well too. The duo walked at the red carpet of the recently held HT Style Awards on Friday in stylish blue outfits, hand-in-hand and fans are going all gaga over it. HT hosted 'India's Most Stylish' awards on Friday and it was a star-studded night. Arjun Kapoor, Malaika Arora, Ranbir Kapoor, Kartik Aaryan, Shehnaaz Gill, Shilpa Shetty, Anil Kapoor and many other celebs attended the gala. The most adorable moment on the red carpet was Arjun-Malaika walking in holding hands. Videos of the couple are making rounds on social media and have taken over the internet. Fans are loving the chemistry between the two and have flooded the comment sections with heart-eye and evil-eye emojis. Malaika and Arjun were given the 'Most Stylish Couple' trophy at Hindustan Times 'India's Most Stylish Awards 2022.' The two praised each other onstage following the win, Arjun even said, "I am just happy being here with her because I think she makes me look stylish; she makes me look better. So, thank you I do not believe I am very stylish." Other popular faces who attended the event included Aditya Roy Kapoor, Disha Patani, Kriti Sanon, Raveena Tandon, Vaani Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi and wife Mridula, Richa Chadha and Rasika Dugal, among others. Arjun and Malaika have been together for years now and the two are the most savage couple you'll know for sure. Trolls, memes never bother them as long as they are together. The two recently returned from Paris after a romantic vacation on Arjun's birthday and blessed their fans' feed with mushy pictures. On the work front, Arjun will soon be seen in 'Ek Villain Returns' co-starring Disha Patani, Tara Sutaria and John Abraham in lead roles. The film is set for a theatrical release on July 29th this year. Live TV New Delhi: Actress Mouni Roy has set the internet on fire with her stunning photos from the Maldives. In the gorgeous set of pictures, Mouni can be seen posing in a backless avatar with a white blanket wrapped around her. In the caption, Mouni wrote: My corner of the sky. Well, the stunning visuals with a picturesque backdrop make her post-frame-worthy. Mouni Roy is an avid social media user who keeps her Insta fam updated with regular posts. She also shared another cosy picture with hubby dearest Suraj Nambiar. Mouni and Suraj Nambiar got married on January 27, 2022, in Goa's Hilton resort. They had two kinds of wedding - first as per Malayali rituals, later Mouni Roy turned into an ethereal Bengali bride, looking simply breathtaking. On the work front, Mouni will be seen playing the antagonist in this sci-fi thriller part 1 of the trilogy announced by Karan Johar some years back. Last month, director Ayan Mukerji took to his Instagram handle and shared a motion poster starring Mouni, introducing her character as 'Junoon'. Filmmaker Ayan Mukerji's film brings together newlyweds Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt for the first time on-screen. Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, South legend Nagarjuna and Mouni Roy play pivotal parts in this movie by Dharma Productions. The film's production began about five years ago. 'Brahmastra Part One: Shiva' is the first instalment of a proposed three-part series. Brahmastra Part 1, after much delay, will release in multiple languages on September 9, 2022. The foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan on Saturday held their first bilateral talks since the 2020 war between the arch-foes for control of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, officials said. Held in the Georgian capital Tbilisi, the talks were expected to build on an agreement the Caucasus countries' leaders reached under EU mediation in May to "advance discussions" on a future peace treaty. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov "discussed a wide range of issues related to normalising relations between the two countries," the Armenian foreign ministry said in a statement. Mirzoyan "stressed the importance of the Karabakh conflict's political resolution for building a lasting peace in the (Caucasus) region" and called on Baku to release Armenian POWs, the ministry said. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Friday expressed hope that "the first meeting between the ministers ... will bring in a result." The atmosphere was tense ahead of the meeting as both countries' defence ministries traded accusations of initiating an overnight shootout at their shared border. Armenia and Azerbaijan fought two wars -- in 2020 and in the 1990s -- over Azerbaijan's Armenian-populated region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Six weeks of fighting in autumn 2020 claimed more than 6,500 lives and ended with a Russian-brokered ceasefire agreement. Under the deal, Armenia ceded swathes of territory it had controlled for decades, and Russia deployed some 2,000 peacekeepers to oversee the fragile truce. Following its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, increasingly isolated Moscow lost its status as a primary mediator in the conflict. The European Union has since led the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalisation process, which involves peace talks, border delimitation and the reopening of transport links. Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met in Brussels in April and May and European Council President Charles Michel has said their next meeting is scheduled for July or August. Ethnic Armenian separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh broke away from Azerbaijan when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. The ensuing conflict claimed around 30,000 lives. Search Keywords: Short link: New Delhi: Expect Rakhi Sawant to have a bizarre reaction to any development around the world and how can we miss her priceless statements when the buzz is all about desi celebs. Well, motor mouth Rakhi was recently quizzed over former IPL chairman Lalit Modi announcing his love for Sushmita Sen. And any guesses what Rakhi Sawant said? She did react and that too in her staple Rakhi style. Paps spotted the ex Bigg Boss contestant and asked her to comment on the current hot topic. While talking with the photographers, she said, "Waah Lalit ji kya Haanth maara hua hai, direct Sushmita Sen. Actually, Lalit ji aur Sushmita ko maine dekha toh mujhe baap beti lage. She's a former Miss Universe but who's he?" Some paps on duty told her that Modi is former IPL Chairman, to which she quipped, "Ab bhaiya paise leke bhagenge toh badi badi heroine toh milegi na bhai. Aaj kal paisa nahi hai toh kaun poochta hai. Aaj kal shakal akal kaun dekhta hai. Rakhi Sawant aisi nahi hai Rakhi Sawant only goes behind love and truth and not money." There are multiple videos of Rakhi giving separate reactions on the matter. Meanwhile, Rakhi is currently dating businessman Adil Khan Durrani, with whom she has been often spotted. For the unversed, on Thursday night, Lalit Modi broke the internet after he declared his love for Sushmita Sen on social media. A day back, putting all the speculation to rest, the former Miss Universe also reacted and confirmed that they are in a relationship without naming anybody. New Delhi: The PM Kisan scheme is the central government's flagship programme, and it provides income support of Rs. 6,000 per year in three equal installments of Rs 2,000 to all land-holding farmer families. This sum is credited immediately to the beneficiary's bank account. As the 11th installment of the PM-Kisan Scheme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributed about Rs 21,000 crore to 10 crore farmers on May 31, 2022. Read More: Are you filing ITR? 5 mistakes you should avoid while filing income tax returns PM Kisan's 12th installment is expected to be released after September 1, 2022. The first period typically lasts from April to July, the second from August to November, and the third from December to March. Read More: Gold price today, July 16: Gold prices down by Rs 160, Check rates of yellow metal in Delhi, Patna, Lucknow, Kolkata, Kanpur, Kerala and other cities The eKYC deadline has previously been pushed back from May 31 to July 31 by the national government. As per the PM Kisan website, eKYC is MANDATORY for PMKISAN Registered Farmers. OTP Based eKYC is available on PM KISAN Portal. Or nearest CSC centres may be contacted for Biometric based eKYC. Deadline of eKYC for all the PMKISAN beneficiaries has been extended till 31st July 2022. How to check beneficiary status without an Aadhaar Card: Step 1: First, go to PM Kisan's official website. Step 2: The Farmers Corner option can be found on the right side of the homepage. Step 3: Select the Beneficiary Status link. Step 4: To open a new page, select either the Registration Number or the Mobile Number option. Step 5: Enter the captcha code. Step 6: Select Generate OTP. If your eKYC is incomplete, the system may prompt you to correct it before checking the status. How to update eKYC online: Step 1: Visit PM-official Kisan's website. Step 2: On the right side of the page, select the eKYC option. Step 3: Enter your Aadhaar Card number and captcha code, then click the search button. Step 4: Enter the cellphone number associated with your Aadhaar card. Step 5: Click 'Get OTP' and enter the OTP in the appropriate field. New Delhi: Amazon is going to release its Prime Day offer on July 23, which will last only two days. The e-commerce giant has unveiled some of the smartphone deals and other details ahead of the sale event. ICICI bank cards and SBI bank credit cards will be discounted by 10% during the sale period. Prime members will receive up to Rs 20,000 in goods discounts and 6 months of free screen replacement. Here are some phone offers that will be available before the end of next week. Amazon is providing a discount of up to Rs 15,000 on the OnePlus 9 Series 5G. It will be available for purchase at a starting price of Rs 37,999, with extra quick bank discounts available. The device is currently available on Amazon for the same price, but this is a limited-time offer. The OnePlus 10 Pro 5G, which was released in India earlier this year, would be available with up to Rs 4,000 in vouchers and up to Rs 7,000 in exchange. The OnePlus 10R will be available for Rs 34,999 as an effective pricing. Read More: Garena Free Fire redeem codes for today, 16 July: Check website, steps to redeem Fans of the iPhone will also be able to purchase their beloved handset at a reduced price. Amazon will give discounts on the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max by up to Rs 20,000. Read More: Elon Musk-Twitter deal: Tesla CEO seeks to block Twitter request for expedited trial The Redmi Note 10 series will be priced at a starting price of Rs 10,999. Other devices, including the Redmi Note 10T 5G, Redmi Note 10 Pro, Redmi Note 10 Pro Max, and Redmi Note 10S, will also be discounted, according to the firm. The Xiaomi 11 Lite will be priced at Rs 23,999, while the Xiaomi 11T Pro will be priced at Rs 35,999. The Xiaomi 12 Pro will also be discounted, and it will be available for Rs 56,999. In addition, the 12 Pro will be discounted by Rs 6,000. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE will be discounted by up to 30%, while the Galaxy M52 5G will be discounted by Rs 15,000 as well. Amazon will discount the Samsung Galaxy M53 5G and the Samsung Galaxy M33 5G by up to Rs 8,000. Customers will also save Rs 5,000 on the Samsung M32. The iQOO Neo 6 5G will be sold at its original price (Rs 29,999), but with a Rs 3,000 instant bank discount. Similarly, the iQOO Z6 Pro and iQOO Z6 5G will be reduced in price. Realme phones will also be discounted by up to Rs 6,000. New Delhi: Elon Musk filed a motion on Friday opposing Twitter Inc's request to fast-track a trial over his plan to terminate his $44 billion deal for the social media firm. Musk's lawyers, in papers filed with the Delaware Chancery Court, said Twitter's "unjustifiable request" to rush the merger case to trial in two months should be rejected. Read More: After outage, Instagram faces another glitch, users unable to open single post: Details inside It is the latest move in what promises to be a major legal showdown between Twitter and Musk. The San Francisco-based company is seeking to resolve months of uncertainty for its business as Musk tries to walk away from the deal for what he says is Twitters "spam bot" problem. Read More: LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman defends Elon Musk against Donald Trump Twitter sued Musk on Tuesday for violating the deal to buy the social media platform, asking a Delaware court to order the world's richest person to complete the merger at the agreed price of $54.20 per share. The company requested the trial begin in September because the merger agreement with Musk terminates on Oct. 25. "Twitter's sudden request for warp speed after two months of foot-dragging and obfuscation is its latest tactic to shroud the truth about spam accounts long enough to railroad defendants into closing," Musk's filing said. Musk's lawyers argued the dispute over false and spam accounts is fundamental to Twitter's value and extremely fact- and expert-intensive. They said it would require substantial time for discovery and requested a trial date on or after Feb. 13 next year. The debt financing package committed by banks for Musks acquisition expires in April 2023. That means if the trial began in February and did not finish by April, the deal could collapse. Twitter declined to comment on Musk's latest motion. Shares of Twitter were down about 1% in extended trading. Mumbai: Cancer survivor Chhavi Mittal hit back at netizens who criticised her for making her breasts visible in pictures, especially after the surgery. Taking to Instagram, Chhavi penned a lengthy note saying how judgements are made on the pictures she posts. "Here are 2 pictures which I shared on social media. The first one is my breast cancer announcement post, while the second is documenting my post-cancer recovery and progress. In both pictures, I'm wearing the exact same clothes. In both pictures, my breasts are a tad bit visible. In fact, in the first one, I've taken my T-shirt off," she wrote."While the cancer announcement post may have more of my breasts on display, emotional as I was (am) about cancer, trying to fight the fear of what lay ahead.. whether I`ll ever be the same again, or will I lead a life of compromise... it incited a lot of love and applaud from netizens, with no mention (and rightly so) of the cleavage," she continued to explain. Chhavi also said that she will continue to share her victory without being bothered. She said that while her pictures made her look courageous to others, the next picture attracted negativity. "The second picture invited hate comments saying "Sab kuch share nahi karna chahiye (You should not share everything)", "This is not dignified", "Don`t know what she`s trying to be" etc...Let me tell you, dear women,... Firstly, this is double standards.""Secondly, the association that I have with my breasts is beyond explanation. I have fought a very hard battle to save them.. to keep them strong.. to make sure they function the way they should and to ensure that they`re cancer free forever. While the forever struggle will last forever, I will continue to document my victories like I always have unabashedly. If anything, I`m so damn proud of my body, not because of the way it looks, but because of the strength it has shown me. Because of what it allows me to do. And even more proud of my breasts, because only I know what they`ve endured and it`s no mean feat to not just be survivors, but fighters all the way. But for the ones who can only hear sob stories and underdog stories, let me remind you... this page is not for the faint-hearted," she concluded. Chhavi was diagnosed with early stages of breast cancer earlier this year. Colombo: "I served my motherland to the best of my ability and I will continue to do so in the future," former Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said, as he defended himself in his resignation letter which was read out during a special session of Parliament on Saturday. Sri Lanka's Parliament met briefly to announce the vacancy in the presidency following the resignation of Rajapaksa, who fled to the country on Wednesday after a popular uprising against him for mishandling the country's economic crisis. The resignation letter sent by Rajapaksa from Singapore was read during the 13-minute special session. In his resignation letter, Rajapksa, 73, blamed the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown for Sri Lanka's economic woes. Rajapaksa said he took the best steps like trying to form an all-party government to counter the economic meltdown. "I served my motherland to the best of my ability and I will continue to do so in the future," he said in the letter. He pointed out that within 3 months of his presidency, the whole world came to be hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. "I took action to protect people from the pandemic despite being constrained by the already poor economic environment that prevailed at the time," he said. "During 2020 and 2021 I was compelled to order lockdowns and the foreign exchange situation deteriorated. In my view, I took the best course of action by suggesting an all-party or a national government to tackle the situation," Rajapaksa said. "I decided to resign as you indicated to me on July 9 the wish of the party leaders," he said in the letter. "I resign with effect from July 14," the letter read. Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives on Wednesday and then landed in Singapore on Thursday after it allowed him to enter the country on a "private visit." Singapore's Foreign Ministry said that Rajapaksa has not asked for asylum and neither has he been granted any asylum. Live TV President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi met with Prime Minister of Iraq Mostafa Al-Kadhimi and Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al-Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah in Jeddah earlier on Saturday on the side-lines of the Jeddah Security and Development Summit. The meetings generally covered bilateral relations as well as the latest regional and international developments. In his meeting with Al-Kadhimi, El-Sisi reiterated Egypts constant support for Iraq to expand its role in the Arab World, in addition to its full support for the Iraqi people on all levels, whether through the tripartite cooperation mechanism between Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan, or through the strategic partnership between the two countries. For his part, Kadhimi expressed his appreciation for Egypts efforts to support Iraq on all levels, adding that his country was looking forward to boosting its cooperation with Egypt whether through bilateral or tripartite relations to benefit from Egypts inspiring experience in building state institutions and achieving sustainable development in Iraq. Later on, in his meeting with Kuwaiti Crown Prince Al-Sabah, El-Sisi affirmed the special strong relations between the countries and how Egypt was keen to bolster cooperation on all levels between the two countries. He added that Egypt was keen to coordinate closely with Kuwait regarding the regional developments witnessed by the Middle East as these ties are essential to achieving regional stability, which is a main pillar of Egypts policies. Meanwhile, Al-Sabah reiterated Kuwaits keenness to boost cooperation with Egypt on all levels and to coordinate with it periodically regarding different issues, appreciating at the same time the countrys vital role in the region. El-Sisi arrived on Saturday in Saudi Arabia to attend the Jeddah Security and Development Summit, which brought together the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, along with Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, and the US. In his speech in front of the summit earlier, the Egyptian President spoke about a five-axis approach on priority issues to achieve further regional stability in the near future, including reaching a fair, comprehensive, and ultimate solution to the Palestinian issue on the basis of the two-state solution based on the relevant international resolutions. El-Sisi also held a meeting earlier today with US President Joe Biden for the first time since the latter took office in January 2021 in which they discussed cementing bilateral relations and intensifying coordination on regional issues. Biden arrived in Jeddah on Friday in his first Middle East tour as president a tour that started with Israel. Search Keywords: Short link: Egyptian authorities ordered the release of several pretrial detainees pending investigations, member of Presidential pardon committee and prominent lawyer Tarek El-Awady announced on his social media accounts on Saturday. According to El-Awady, among the released pretrial detainees will be ex-ambassador Yahia Negm, former Al-Ahram Daily editor-in-chief Abdel-Nasser Salama, human rights lawyer Amr Emam, and political activists Mohamed El-Ibrashi , Bassam El-Sayed, and Momtaz Kassam. The detainees were all arrested on charges related to spreading false news and joining an illegal group. Earlier this month, the Egyptian authorities released 60 pretrial detainees in what is described as the biggest release of pretrial detainees by the members of the Presidential Pardon Committee since its reactivation in April. Reactivated in April, the Presidential Pardon Committee is mandated to review the cases of those imprisoned for political crimes and others who meet certain conditions, such as families who have more than one relative in jail. In May, El-Awady said the committee is working on a list of pardon requests for 2,418 detainees and prisoners drafted by human rights groups. The restructured committee has said it will receive pardon requests through many avenues, including through the National Youth Conferences website. The committee will also receive requests through the Complaints Committee of the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) and via email to the human rights committees in both the House of the Representatives and Senate. Pardon requests can also be submitted directly to the members of the Pardon Committee. Search Keywords: Short link: Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi detailed on Saturday a five-axis approach on priority issues to achieve further regional stability in the near future in a speech at the Jeddah Security and Development Summit. I have wanted to share with you today the five axes on which Egypts vision to face current challenges is based to put our region on the road of sustainable and comprehensive stability, the president said. Arabs top issue The first axis affirms the importance of reaching a fair, comprehensive and ultimate solution to the Palestinian issue on the basis of the two-state solution based on the relevant international resolutions, El-Sisi said. Our joint efforts to resolve the region's crises, whether those that occurred during the past decade or those extending since before that, can only be a success by reaching a just, comprehensive and ultimate settlement of the top Arab issue, the president said. El-Sisi called for ensuring the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 4 June 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital in a way that guarantees the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to live in peace side by side with the Israeli state. This should ensure security for both Palestinian and Israeli peoples and provide a new reality for the peoples of the region, which could be accepted, El-Sisi said. The president added that this new reality would put an end to exclusionary policies and enhance the values of coexistence and peace. Democracy, human rights Second, El-Sisi affirmed the importance of building societies on the foundations of democracy, citizenship, equality, respect for human rights, renouncement of extremist ideologies and upholding the concept of national interests. This is the only guarantor of sustaining stability in its comprehensive sense, protecting the peoples resources, and preventing them from being seized or misused, El-Sisi said. This requires enhancing the constitutional institutions of the states and developing their capabilities in order to lay the foundations for wise governance, achieve security, enforce law, counter outlawed forces, and provide the supportive climate for basic rights and freedoms, El-Sisi said. This is in addition to enhancing the countries capabilities to empower women and youth, support the role of the civil society, and the role of religious institutions and leaders in spreading the culture of moderation and tolerance to ensure the right to freedom of belief, he added. The president also highlighted the need for enhancing the path of political, economic and social reform, boosting investments, and securing job opportunities to achieve sustainable development. Arab national security The third axis affirms that the Arab national security is indivisible and that the capabilities of the Arab countries in cooperation with their partners are sufficient to provide the appropriate framework to face any threats to the Arab world, El-Sisi said. In this regard, El-Sisi stressed that the principles of respect for the sovereignty of states, non-interference in their internal affairs, besides fraternity and equality are the governor of the inter-Arab relations. He added that these values are included in the objectives of the Charter of the UN and that they must also be governing the relations internationally and between Arab states and their regional neighbors. Counterterrorism, removing mercenaries The fourth axis is concerned with terrorism, which remains a main challenge from which the Arab countries have suffered from over the past decades and which is supported by some foreign powers, El-Sisi said. We underscore our commitment to counter all forms and manifestations of terrorism and extremist thought with the aim of eliminating its organisations and armed militias spreading across many areas of our Arab World, El-Sisi said. He warned that terrorism on the Arab lands is sponsored by some foreign powers to serve their destructive agenda achieve political and financial gains, obstruct the implementation of national settlements and reconciliations, and prevent the enforcement of peoples will in some countries. El-Sisi warned that some of these terrorist groups have received support allowing them to execute cross-border operations. In this regard, El-Sisi called for those providing this support to rethink their false estimations and to unequivocally know that there would be no compromise in protecting our national security and the associated red lines. The president affirmed the Arab countries will protect their security, rights and interests by all means. Facing global crises The fifth axis affirms the need for enhancing international cooperation and solidarity to boost the capabilities of the countries of the region in facing mega and emerging global crises, the president said. This includes shortage in food supply, disruption in energy markets, water security and climate change, the president said. International cooperation in this regard aims at containing the repercussions of those crises and ensuring the recovery from their impacts, El-Sisi said. The president also called for boosting investments to develop infrastructure in various fields in a way that contributes to localising various industries, transferring technology and providing goods. The presidents remarks came as the world is currently suffering from growing challenges regarding food and energy supplies in light of the Russia-Ukraine war, which started in February, casting shadow over commodity markets. Tackling food, energy crises In this regard, Egypt supports all efforts that would develop cooperation and diversify partnerships in the face of the current food and energy crises, El-Sisi said. Tackling the food crisis requires taking into account its multiple short and long-term dimensions to put in place urgent support that meets the needs of the countries affected by the crisis, El-Sisi noted. He also called for developing mechanisms for sustainable agricultural production, grain storage and waste reduction in cooperation with international partners and financial institutions. Also, the energy crisis requires effective cooperation to ensure stability in the global energy market, El-Sisi affirmed. Water security, transboundary rivers The president stressed the importance of enhancing commitment to international law on transboundary rivers in a way that allows peoples to benefit from this national resource in a fair manner. He also called for safeguarding the requirements of water security of the states of the region and preventing upstream countries from abusing the rights of the downstream countries. Egypt and Sudan have been negotiating with Ethiopia for almost a decade now to reach a legally binding and comprehensive agreement on filling and operating the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which Addis Ababa started building on the Blue Nile in 2010. Egypt, which relies mainly on the Nile for water, fears that a unilateral operation of GERD and filling its 74 billion cubic metre reservoir will negatively impact its water supply, while Sudan is concerned that GERD will harm the flow regulation to its own dams and their safety. Ethiopia, which has unilaterally completed the first and second filling of the dam, announced that the first turbine of GERD began generating power in February. Ethiopia has announced plans to implement the third phase of filling starting in August despite the absence of accord on regulations of filling and operation with Egypt and Sudan. Negotiations among the three countries collapsed in April 2021 and since then, all attempts to revive them had failed. Climate change, COP27 El-Sisi affirmed the need for concerted international multilateral efforts, on top of which is the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, to face climate change. The president reiterated that the Arab and African regions are among areas that will suffer the most from the impacts of climate change, including on food, water and energy security, communal peace and political stability. In this regard, he called for formulating a comprehensive vision to back Arab and African countries, enable them to fulfill their international commitments on climate, and raise their capacities of adaptation to the effects of climate change. He added that this vision should contribute to intensifying climate financing directed to these countries, as well as supporting and promoting investments in renewable energy. In this regard, I look forward to receiving you in Sharm El-Sheikh city in the international climate conference COP27 in November 2022, El-Sisi said. This is in order to continue reaffirming our firm commitment toward efforts facing climate change, transform this challenge into a real opportunity for development, and move to more sustainable green economic patterns for the benefit of all the peoples of the earth, he added. Jeddah summit El-Sisi arrived on Saturday in Saudi Arabia to attend the Jeddah Security and Development Summit, which brings together the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and the US. During his visit, El-Sisi will hold a number of bilateral meetings with the leaders participating in the Jeddah summit to discuss relations and the latest regional and international developments. The Arab-US summit scheduled for today is expected to tackle regional issues of concern and mechanisms of enhancing joint work to achieve stability in the region, especially in the fields of the economy, food security, energy and water. El-Sisi held a meeting earlier today with US President Joe Biden for the first time since the latter took office in January 2021, where they discussed cementing bilateral relations and intensifying coordination on regional issues. Biden arrived in Jeddah on Friday in his first Middle East tour as president, a tour that started with Israel. Bliden became the first US president to fly to Jeddah directly from Tel Aviv after Saudi Arabia had announced opening its airspace to all airlines, including commercial flights flying to and from Israel. Biden's trip is seen as a sign of warming Saudi-Israeli ties. During his two-day visit, Biden will seek to integrate Israel into a new axis largely driven by concerns regarding Iran, a senior US administration official was quoted by Reuters on Saturday as saying. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Biden also plans to ensure that there is not a vacuum in the Middle East for China and Russia to fill." Search Keywords: Short link: As India will celebrate the 75th year of independence this year, well-known Dalit rights activist Martin Macwan will lead a rally at the Indian parliament carrying a special brass coin with the inscription Will the 1947 dream of untouchability-free India be a reality in 2047? Muhammed Nihad PV | TwoCircles.net Support TwoCircles NEW DELHI India will complete 75 years of independence this year but for prominent Dalit rights activist Martin Macwan, the seven decades of freedom from foreign rule hasnt ensured equal citizenship to over 200 million Dalits living in the country. Macwan, with the help of hundreds of his supporters, is preparing for a rally carrying a special brass coin with the inscription Will the 1947 dream of untouchability-free India be a reality in 2047? to Parliament in the first week of August. Macwan explains the reasons behind this initiative in this interview with TwoCircles.net. Below are the edited excerpts: What inspired you to come up with the idea of Brass Coin Yatra against untouchability and caste inequalities? Our inspiration to make this coin came from the legendary sacrifice of Megh Mahya in Patan of Gujarat who had sacrificed his life for the freedom of his community from caste slavery and untouchability. The coin has an image of Baba Saheb Ambedkar who strongly advocated the idea of annihilating the caste and incorporated the vision of eradicating the practice of untouchability in the constitution. On the other side of the coin, the Bhoomisparsh image of Buddha reminds us of his greatest message that the entire land of the universe is for the entire peoples to walk and live upon. What do you wish to convey by adopting this symbolic way of protest? This rally will be an effective way to raise the question Why as a nation have we failed to abolish untouchability de facto? in front of the public. In independent India, there was no data available on the atrocities against Dalits and Adivasis till 1974. From 1974 to 2020, 25947 Dalits got murdered, 54903 Dalit women got raped and the number of other cases of atrocities is above one million. The condition of Adivasis is not different. During the same period, 5356 persons belonging to the ST category were murdered, 22004 ST women were raped and the total number of atrocities crossed two lakhs. While we celebrate 75 years of independence as the largest democracy in the world, we are forgetting the ground reality that different forms of slavery including caste still exist in the country. We wish to place this coin in the newly constructed Parliament house to remind us of our failure in building India as a nation free of untouchability. The glory and pomp of the new house will shine only when the untouchability is abolished in reality. We have written to the President of India, the speaker of the Lok Sabha and the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha to collectively accept the brass coin. A copper replica of the coin, weighing 72 grams and a diameter of 60 mm will be sent to all the members of Parliament, along with a letter asking them to support the cause. Who is supporting you in this venture and who will be the participants in the rally? Some people and organisations have extended solidarity, but its largely the community from villages our Navsarjan trust has been in touch with. They are spearheading this initiative. We have received donations mainly from Dalits from various states of India, consisting of brass and copper utensils. The brass coin has been made out of them. People have also contributed Re 1 per member per family as a donation to the Indian Parliament. The house belongs to every citizen of India. This donation is to strengthen its resolve to abolish untouchability. Thus far, about 25 lakh such coins have been collected, and more keep on pouring in from different parts of India. The coming generations of these families belonging to the oppressed communities will remember this historical gesture. The seven-day long march will begin on August 1, 2022, at 8 am from the Dalit Shakti Kendra in Ahmedabad and will reach Delhi on the evening of August 7, 2022. There will be 312 people joining the march in six buses. We are having six-night halts on the route holding several meetings in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi. How do you see the targeting of intellectuals and activists who are vocal advocates of the rights of Dalits, Muslims, Adivasis and other minorities? As defenders of human rights, we have extended our solidarity to all those who were falsely incarcerated for raising their voices against injustice. Whether it was the anti-CAA movement or the Bhima Koregaon case. It is quite disheartening that there is no proper trial taking place and as we know delayed justice is equal to the denial of justice. It feels like the government invests more in security agencies to hunt down vocal citizens rather than taking care of the welfare of the people. If this continues, the frustration of people will turn into anger and the consequences will be severe. Muhammad Nihad PV is a sociology student at the University of Hyderabad. He tweets at @nihadbinnisar Minister of Foreign Affairs and President-Designate of the COP27 Sameh Shoukry reviewed Egypts vision and goals on the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC) in a telephone call with Prince Charles, the ministry announced on Saturday. The call was part of current consultations with all countries and parties concerned on preparations for the COP27 that will be hosted by Egypt in Sharm El-Sheikh this November, said Ahmed Hafez, the spokesperson for the foreign ministry. The minister lauded the vital role played by the UK during the COP26, especially the efforts exerted by Prince Charles to promote global climate action, added Hafez. Shoukry also said Egypt is looking forward to working with Prince Charles in the coming period to increase the participation of the private sector in global efforts to face climate changes through climate change-linked initiatives, said the spokesperson. Search Keywords: Short link: President Joe Biden Biden announced from Jeddah that Peacekeepers including US troops would leave the Red Sea island of Tiran by the end of the year. Biden, who is on a two day visit to Saudi Arabia, met on Friday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and King Salma. Following the meeting Biden said that he had a series of good meetings in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia hopes to develop tourist attractions there, part of the kingdom's effort to expand its economy beyond oil. Because of a complex diplomatic arrangement governing control of the strategically located island, America's departure required Israel's assent, and the deal was the latest reflection of warmer relations between the Israelis and Saudis. The agreement followed an earlier announcement that the Saudis were ending strict limits on Israeli commercial flights over their territory. The White House said in a statement after Biden's announcment that peacekeeprs would be removed from the island by the end of year. The Peacekeepers has been on the island since shortly after the 1978 Camp David Accords. US troops have served as peacekeepers on Tiran Island as part of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) under the Treaty of Peace signed between Israel and Egypt. The WH statment said that an "arrangements have been reached to remove the MFO peacekeepers and develop this area which once sparked two multi-state wars in the region for tourism, development, and peaceful pursuits." It added that Saudi Arabia has agreed to preserve and continue all existing commitments and procedures in the area. President Biden welcomed this arrangement, which was 'negotiated over many months and fully took into consideration the interests of all parties, including Israel,' according to the statment. The MFO peacekeepers, including U.S. soldiers, will depart Tiran by the end of the year. Jamal Khashoggi's Murder Biden said he he brought up the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in his meeting Friday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, rejecting the idea that he was ignoring the kingdom's human rights abuses as he tries to reset a critical diplomatic relationship. "I said, very straightforwardly, for an American president to be silent on an issue of human rights is inconsistent with who we are and who I am," Biden said. "I'll always stand up for our values." U.S. intelligence believes that the crown prince likely approved the killing of Khashoggi, a U.S.-based writer, four years ago. Biden said Prince Mohammed claimed that he was "not personally responsible'' for the death. "I indicated I thought he was,'' the president said he replied. It was the first encounter between the two leaders, beginning with a fist bump outside the royal palace in Jeddah, in a relationship that could reshape security partnerships in the Middle East and the flow of oil worldwide. For now, it appeared that they were taking incremental steps forward together. Biden announced that U.S. peacekeepers would leave the Red Sea island of Tiran by the end of the year. Biden also said progress was being made on extending the ceasefire in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia had been battling Iran-backed militants, leading to a humanitarian crisis. The president's three hours at the royal palace in Jeddah were seen as a diplomatic win for the crown prince, who has tried to rehabilitate his image, draw investments to the kingdom for his reform plans and bolster the kingdom's security relationship with the U.S. Biden seemed to approach it as a necessary if somewhat distasteful step to improve relations with the world's top oil exporter at a time of rising gas prices and concern about Iran's nuclear ambitions. The meeting drew outrage from critics who believed Biden was abandoning his pledges on human rights, particularly when it came to the murder of Khashoggi, a U.S.-based journalist who wrote for The Washington Post. Oil Production The United States played down expectations for any immediate increases in Saudi oil production, which could help alleviate high gas prices that are politically damaging to Biden back home. But the White House said it anticipated "further steps'' over coming weeks that "will help stabilize markets considerably.'' The current OPEC+ agreement expires in September, opening the door to potentially higher production after that. Rising gas prices, which were compounded by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, are one of the factors that prompted Biden to reassess his approach to Saudi Arabia. The U.S. president had long refused to speak to Prince Mohammed, the presumed heir to the throne currently held by his father, King Salman. But those concerns have been eclipsed by other challenges, including Iranian aggression in the Middle East and the faltering effort to use diplomacy to prevent Iran from building a nuclear weapon. At the same time, Saudi Arabia wants to strengthen its security relationship with the United States and secure investments to transform its economy into one less reliant on pumping oil. The Saudis held a subdued welcome for Biden at the airport in Jeddah, with none of the ceremonies that accompanied his earlier stop this week in Israel. The president later sat down with King Salman, the 86-year-old monarch who has suffered from poor health, including two hospitalizations this year. Journalists were not allowed into the room, but the Saudis released a video of Biden shaking hands with the king while the crown prince looked on. Afterwards, Biden and Prince Mohammed held a broader meeting with several advisers. The two men sat across from each other, an arrangement that burnished the perception that they are counterparts. It's an image that the crown prince, known by his initials MBS, has been eager to foster as he solidifies his path to the throne after sidelining, detaining and seizing the assets of royal rivals and critics. There had been considerable speculation about both the choreography and the substance of how Biden, who had vowed as a presidential candidate to treat Saudi Arabia as a "pariah'' for its human rights record, would go about interacting with Prince Mohammed. Limited Access Access for journalists was limited. The White House travelling press corps was not present when Biden's fist bumped the crown prince, and reporters were only briefly allowed into their meeting. Almost none of their remarks could be heard. Biden did not answer when reporters asked if he still considered Saudi Arabia a pariah, nor did Prince Mohammed respond to a shouted question about whether he would apologize to Khashoggi's family. "My views on Khashoggi have been absolutely, positively clear. And I have never been quiet about talking about human rights,'' Biden said earlier this week. "The reason I'm going to Saudi Arabia, though, is much broader. It's to promote U.S. interests in a way that I think we have an opportunity to reassert what I think we made a mistake of walking away from our influence in the Middle East.'' On Saturday, he'll participate in a gathering of leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, before returning to Washington. The leaders of Mideast neighbours Egypt, Iraq and Jordan are also to attend, and Biden's national security adviser said Biden would make a "major statement'' on his vision for the Middle East. The Saudi visit is one of the most delicate that Biden has faced on the international stage. Any success in soothing relations could pay diplomatic dividends as the president seeks to ensure stability in the region. But it could also open Biden, already floundering in the polls at home, to deeper criticism that he is backtracking on his pledges to put human rights at the center of foreign policy. Search Keywords: Short link: Israeli warplanes struck a weapons manufacturing facility in the Gaza Strip early Saturday after rocket fire against Israeli territory, the Israeli occupation army said. The exchange of fire came hours after US President Joe Biden visited Israel and the occupied West Bank. "A short while ago, IDF fighter jets struck a military site in the central Gaza Strip belonging to the Hamas terrorist organisation," a statement from the Israel Defense Forces said. "The military site consists of an underground complex containing raw materials used for the manufacturing of rockets," it said, describing the facility as "one of the most significant" of its kind in the territory. "The strike on this site will significantly impede and undermine Hamas' force-building capabilities," it said, adding that Israel was responding to "attacks from the Gaza Strip on Israeli territory". During the night there had been two separate launches, each of two rockets, towards Israeli territory, the military said. Warning sirens alerting residents to the rocket fire had sounded during the night in the city of Ashkelon and elsewhere in Israel's south. Israel's military said one of the rockets had been intercepted while the other three fell on empty land. Impoverished Gaza, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, has been under Israeli blockade since 2007 when the Islamist movement Hamas seized power. Biden visit Before flying to Saudi Arabia on Friday, Biden visited the Israeli-occupied West Bank where he reiterated his administration's commitment to a two-state solution to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. There "must be a political horizon that the Palestinian people can actually see", Biden said. "I know that the goal of the two states seems so far away," he said in Bethlehem, alongside Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas. Abbas said "recognising the state of Palestine" is the key to peace. With Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations moribund since 2014, the US delegation has been focusing on economic measures. Biden announced an additional $200 million for the United Nations agency serving Palestinian refugees, which saw funding cut by the previous US president Donald Trump. During a visit earlier Friday to a hospital in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, Biden pledged a $100 million aid package for medical institutions in the area. He also announced plans to roll out infrastructure for 4G internet across the Gaza Strip and the West Bank by the end of next year, fulfilling a longstanding aspiration among Palestinians. Biden earlier held talks in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, during which a focal point was Iran's nuclear programme and that country's support for Hamas and other Islamist groups. Search Keywords: Short link: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud said on Saturday that there no such thing as an Arabic NATO. This came during a press conference at the conclusion of the Jeddah Security and Development Summit, which was held in the presence of US President Joe Biden. Bin Farhan said that the Kingdoms hand is extended to Iran to reach normal relations, pointing out that the talks that took place with Iran were positive, but did not reach any results. He also noted that there were no messages from Iran to the Jeddah Summit, stressing that dialogue and diplomacy are the only solution to Irans nuclear programme. Furthermore, the Saudi FM said that no type of military or technical cooperation with Israel was raised or discussed and that there is no such thing as an Arab NATO, reiterating that there was no discussion of a defensive alliance with Israel. Additionally, he said that the joint Arab action system has reached a stage of maturity, adding: We know what we want, and we know how to achieve it... We do not wait for anyone to fulfil our needs. We did not discuss the issue of oil production at the Jeddah Summit, and OPEC+ continues its work to assess the markets and what they need, he added. Bin Farhan also said that the US remains our main strategic partner, stressing that the kingdoms partnership with America is old and continuous... and the agreements we signed with America did not come to fruition overnight. Furthermore, he touched on the decision to open Saudi airspace for civil aviation, stressing that this decision does not mean any prelude to a subsequent decision. We are working seriously to reach a comprehensive ceasefire in Yemen, and the Houthis must understand that Yemens interest is in peace and stability, he said adding that Iranian weapons are part of the reasons for the continuing conflict in Yemen. Moving on, He said that Saudi Arabias maximum production capacity is 13 million barrels, and also called for a balanced approach to reach zero neutrality, adding that many countries cannot convert to renewable energy quickly. If oil investments are not expanded, prices will rise in the future. Regarding the global food crisis as a result of the war in Ukraine, bin Farhan said: At the Jeddah Security and Development Summit, we discussed the issue of food and grains, and we are working to increase the level of coordination between Arab countries to ensure food security. He concluded by saying that there is coordination with America and the Arabs regarding dealing with Iran, stressing that it has become clear that whoever wants to have a global agenda should talk with Saudi Arabia. At the opening of the summit on Saturday afternoon, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced that the Jeddah Summit is being held at a time when the world is witnessing great challenges, saying: We hope that the Jeddah Summit will face global challenges, stressing that the global economy is linked to the stability of energy prices. The crown prince also expressed his hope that this summit will establish a new era of partnership between the countries of the region and the US, calling on Iran to cooperate and not interfere in the affairs of countries in the region. For his part, President Biden said that the US is committed to ensuring that Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon. He also pledged to strengthen air defences and early warning systems to counter air threats in the region. The visit to Jeddah was the last stop on Bidens first Middle East tour as president of the US. The tour also included Israel and the Palestinian territories, where he sought to present a new vision for the American role in the strategic region, stressing that the US will not abandon it. Search Keywords: Short link: Another woman has pressed sexual harassment charges in a case against French insurance tycoon Jacques Bouthier and a seventh suspect has been detained, lawyers in Morocco said Saturday. Several young Moroccan women had lodged complaints last month against the 75-year-old, one of France's richest men, for alleged "people trafficking, sexual harassment and verbal and moral violence". Since then, Moroccan authorities have detained several employees of Bouthier, who is under arrest in Paris over accusations of people trafficking and rape of a minor. "In total, seven cases are now pending against Bouthier and his accomplices," lawyer Abdelfattah Zahrach told a press conference in the northern Moroccan city of Tangiers on Saturday, adding: "The victims have decided to break the silence, and others will follow." Aicha Guellaa, of the Moroccan Association for the Rights of Victims (AMDV), said a seventh suspect, of French nationality, had been detained and would appear before prosecutors on Saturday. Five employees of Bouthier's insurance group Assu2000, later renamed Vilavi, were taken into custody in Tangiers on July 6, while a sixth was charged but released. The women said they had faced repeated sexual harassment and intimidation between 2018 and this year, as well as threats to their jobs, in a country where many struggle to find work. Guellaa said Bouthier and his co-accused had formed "an organised criminal gang" and that more victims would likely come forward. Sexual abuse victims often face social stigma, and young women at Saturday's press conference, wearing dark glasses to hide their identities, said they had faced intimidation in the media and online. "The nightmare continues. They have threatened us, insulted us and even tried to bribe us, but without success," one of them said. Search Keywords: Short link: Dozens of Iranian hard-liners rallied on Saturday at a square in downtown Tehran, burning U.S. and Israeli flags and denouncing President Joe Biden's visit to the Middle East. The small crowd also erupted in chants of 'Death to America' and 'Death to Israel', typical at anti-American rallies in Iran. The demonstrators also protested against the normalization of ties between Israel and several Arab nations that started under the previous U.S. administration. Biden said at a wider regional summit in Saudi Arabia on Saturday that the United States would not walk away from Middle East's security and leave a vacuum that Russia, China or Iran could try and fill. Separately, Iran announced on Saturday that it was imposing sanctions on 61 Americans, including Mike Pompeo, the former secretary of state, and John Bolton, the former national security advisor, over their support for foreign-based dissident Iranian groups. Iran has in recent years imposed several times such symbolic measures on Americans who Tehran says are acting against Iran. In June, an Iranian court also ordered the U.S. government to pay over $4 billion to the families of Iranian nuclear scientists who have been killed in targeted attacks in recent years. Search Keywords: Short link: The White House says Russian officials have visited an airfield in central Iran at least twice in recent weeks to view weapons-capable drones it is looking to acquire for use in its ongoing war in Ukraine. The administration released the intelligence as President Joe Biden was to meet Saturday with the leaders of six Arab Gulf countries, plus Egypt, Jordan and Iraq for a regional summit. Biden is expected to lay out a ``major statement'' explaining his vision for the Middle East as he closes the final leg of a four-day trip meant to bolster U.S. positioning and knit the region together against Iran. Iran showcased the drones to Russian officials at Kashan Airfield on June 8 and July 15, according to the White House. The administration also released satellite imagery of Shahed-191 and Shahed-129 drones being displayed and in flight on the airfield, while a Russian delegation transport plane was on the ground. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan in a statement said the administration has ``information that the Iranian government is preparing to provide Russia with several hundred UAVs.'' UAVs are unmanned aerial vehicles or drones. ``We assess an official Russian delegation recently received a showcase of Iranian attack-capable UAVs. We are releasing these images captured in June showing Iranian UAVs that the Russian government delegation saw that day,'' Sullivan said. ``This suggests ongoing Russian interest in acquiring Iranian attack-capable UAVs.'' Sullivan said U.S. officials believe the June visit ``was the first time a Russian delegation has visited this airfield for such a showcase.'' Iran's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment early Saturday regarding the White House's assertion. On Friday, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, in a phone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba, rejected reports on exporting Iranian drones to Russia, calling them ``baseless.'' ``This sort of claims parallel with Biden's visit to occupied Palestine, or Israel, is in direction of political intentions and purposes,'' the website of Iran's Foreign Ministry quoted Amirabdollahian as saying. ``We oppose any move that could lead to the continuation and intensifying conflicts.'' Biden is looking to strengthen coordination among Middle East allies' response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and what the ongoing conflict means to the region. Many of the Gulf nations and Saudi Arabia, in particular, have grave concerns about Iran's malign activity in the region. None of the countries represented at the summit has moved in lockstep with the U.S. to sanction Russia, a key foreign policy priority for the Biden administration. If anything, the United Arab Emirates has emerged as a sort of financial haven for Russian billionaires and their multimillion-dollar yachts. Egypt remains open to Russian tourists. Kashan Air Base, located some 190 kilometres (120 miles) south of Tehran, is one of Iran's oldest airfields. Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz 2021 linked Kashan to Iran's drone program, alleging that Iran trained militants from Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen to fly drones at the facility. The U.S. intelligence assessment was first reported by CNN. Search Keywords: Short link: Southwest Europe endured a sixth day of a summer heatwave on Saturday that has triggered devastating forest fires as parts of the continent braced for new temperature records early next week. Firefighters in France, Portugal, Spain and Greece battled forest blazes that have ravaged thousands of hectares of land and killed several personnel since the start of the week. It is the second heatwave engulfing parts of southwest Europe in weeks as scientists blame climate change and predict more frequent and intense episodes of extreme weather. Firefighters in the coastal town of Arcachon in France's southwestern Gironde region were fighting to control two forest blazes that have devoured more than 10,000 hectares (24,700 acres) since Tuesday. "It's a Herculean job," said Lieutenant-Colonel Olivier Chavatte from the fire and rescue service, which has 1,200 firefighters and five planes in action. Further evacuation orders were given on Saturday for a few hundred residents, firefighter spokesman Arnaud Mendousse told AFP. Since Tuesday, more than 12,000 people in total -- residents and tourists combined -- have been forced to decamp with five emergency shelters set up in order to receive evacuees. Meteo France forecast temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in the south of France on Saturday, with new heat records expected on Monday. 'Extreme vigilance' Authorities in the French Alps urged climbers bound for Mont Blanc, Europe's highest mountain, to postpone their trip due to repeated rock falls caused by "exceptional climatic conditions" and "drought". The call comes after a section of Italy's biggest Alpine glacier gave way at the start of the month, killing 11 people, in a disaster officials blamed on climate change. In Portugal, the meteorological institute forecast temperatures of up to 42C with no respite before next week. The civil defence, however, took advantage of a slight drop in temperatures after a July record of 47C on Thursday to try to stamp out one remaining major fire in Portugal's north. "The risk of fires remains very high," civil defence chief Andre Fernandes warned. "This is a weekend of extreme vigilance," he added after a week which saw two people killed and more than 60 injured, and up to 15,000 hectares of forest and brushwood incinerated. In Spain, the national meteorological agency maintained various levels of alert across the nation, warning of up to 44C in some regions. Dozens of forest fires were raging Saturday in different parts of the country from the sweltering south to Galicia in the far northwest, which saw blazes lay waste to some 3,500 hectares, the regional government said. 'So sad' "So sad to see part of our natural heritage ablaze," tweeted Spain's Economy Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Nadia Calvino. One blaze in the south caused the authorities to cordon off for more than 12 hours a section of a key highway connecting Madrid to the Portuguese capital Lisbon, before the road reopened. The fires have scorched thousands of hectares in the Spanish region of Extremadura, while one near the southern city of Malaga forced the preventive evacuation of more than 3,000 people, rescue services said. In Greece, the civil defence rushed to douse flames raging on the Mediterranean island of Crete, while Morocco was battling a deadly forest fire in its northern mountains. In the United Kingdom, government ministers were to hold crisis talks after the state meteorological agency issued a first-ever "red" warning for extreme heat, cautioning there is a "risk to life". The Met Office said in southern England temperatures could exceed 40C on Monday or Tuesday for the first time, leading some schools to say they will stay closed next week. Mayor Sadiq Khan advised Londoners to use public transport only if "absolutely necessary". National train operators also warned passengers to avoid travel. Search Keywords: Short link: Palestinian young singer, producer, and songwriter Nai Barghouti will be holding a concert in Cairo on Thursday 4 August at the Cairo Opera House. Accompanied by conductor Ahmed Ashrafs orchestra, Barghouti is expected to sing some of the successful songs from her first original album, Nai 1 which was released earlier this year like Mum... Sing to The Wind, Granada Calling, Granada Medly, Haramt Aghani, Min Guwaya, and Yimken Habbeit. Known for her activism and support for the Palestinian cause, Barghouti released a music video in May titled Nasheed El-Ard (Anthem of the Land), dedicating it to the memory of Shireen Abu Akleh, marking the 74th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba Born in Ramallah in 1996, the Conservatory of Music in Amsterdam graduate is known for merging Arab traditional scales with Western classical and jazz harmony and arrangements, proving her excellent talents since she launched her career in 2011. Performing in a few important venues across the globe, Barghouti won the Royal Concertgebouws Young Talent Award in Amsterdam in 2020. Accompanied by conductor Ahmed Ashraf's orchestra, Nai Barghouti is expected to sing some of her successful songs from her first original album early this year titled Nai 1. like Mum, Sing to The Wind, Granada Calling, Granada Medly, Haramt Aghani, Min Guwaya, Yimken Habbeit and other songs in addition to some covers. Known for his activism regarding the Palestinians causes, Nai Barghouti has in May released a music video titled Nasheed El-Ard (Anthem of the Land), dedicating it to the memory of Shireen Abu Akleh, marking the 74th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba Born in Ramallah in 1996, the Conservatory of Music in Amsterdam graduate is known for merging Arab traditional scales with Western classical and jazz harmony and arrangements, proving her excellent talents since she launched her career in 2011. Performing in a few important venues across the globe, Barghouti won the Royal Concertgebouws Young Talent Award in Amsterdam in 2020. Programme: Fountain Theatre, Cairo Opera House, Zamalek Thursday 4 August at 8pm Search Keywords: Short link: Russia stepped up its onslaught against Ukraine on Saturday, with civilian casualties reported in several areas of the country. At least three civilians were killed and three more were injured in a Russian rocket strike on the northern Ukrainian city of Chuhuiv in the early hours, a regional police chief said. Serhiy Bolvinov, the deputy head of Kharkiv's regional police force, said that the rockets were likely fired from Russian territory. Chuhuiv lies some 120 kilometers from the border. ``Four Russian rockets, presumably fired from around (the Russian city of) Belgorod at night, at about 3:30, hit a residential building, a school and administrative buildings,'' Bolvinov wrote on Facebook, adding that a two-story apartment block was partly destroyed. ``The bodies of three people were found under the rubble. Three more were injured. The victims are civilians,'' Bolvinov added. In the neighbouring Sumy region, one civilian was killed and at least seven more were injured after Russians opened mortar and artillery fire on three towns and villages not far from the Russian border, regional governor Dmytro Zhyvytsky said on Telegram on Saturday morning. Seven civilians were killed and 14 more received injuries over in the most recent 24 hours in cities in Ukraine's embattled eastern Donetsk region, its governor said Saturday morning. Nearby, however, Ukrainian troops repelled a Russian overnight assault on a strategic eastern highway, said Serhiy Haidai, the governor of the Luhansk region. Haidai said that Russia had been attempting to capture the main road link between the cities of Lysychansk and Bakhmut ``for more than two months.'' ``They still cannot control several kilometres of this road,'' Haidai wrote in a Telegram post. Russia's defence chief told troops to step up operations across Ukrainian territory, according to social media updates from the defense ministry on Saturday. A Facebook post said Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu gave ``instructions to further intensify the actions of units in all operational areas, in order to exclude the possibility of the Kyiv regime to launch massive rocket and artillery strikes on civilian infrastructure and residents of settlements in Donbas and other regions.'' According to the post, Shoigu on Saturday inspected some of the Russian units that have served in Ukraine, handing out awards for bravery. Russia's military campaign has been focusing on the Donbas, covering Donetsk and Luhansk, but Russian forces also have been pounding other parts of the country in a relentless push to wrest territory from Ukraine and soften the morale of its leaders, civilians and troops as the war nears the five-month mark. In Ukraine's south, two people were wounded by Russian shelling in the town of Bashtanka, northeast of the Black Sea city of Mykolaiv, according to a Telegram post by regional governor Vitaliy Kim. Kim said that Mykolaiv itself also came under renewed Russian fire in the early hours. On Friday morning, he had posted videos of what he said was a Russian missile attack on the city's two largest universities, and denounced Russia as ``a terrorist state.'' A woman was hospitalized and two more people were trapped under the rubble after a Russian rocket strike on the eastern riverside city of Nikopol in the Dnipropetrovsk region, its governor said on social media. Valentyn Reznichenko said on Telegram that a five-story apartment block, a school and a vocational school building were damaged. On Friday, cruise missiles fired by Russian strategic bombers struck the southeastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro, killing at least three people and wounding 16. A day earlier, a Russian missile strike killed at least 23 people, including three children, and wounded more than 200 in Vinnytsia, a city southwest of Kyiv, the capital, far from the front line. Russia said the Kalibr cruise missiles hit a ``military facility'' that was hosting a meeting between Ukrainian air foce command and foreign weapons suppliers. Ukrainian authorities have insisted the site had nothing to do with the military. Ukraine's Interior Ministry said Friday that Russian forces have conducted more than 17,000 strikes on civilian targets during the war, killing thousands of fighters and civilians and driving millions from their homes. The invasion has also rippled through the world economy by hiking prices and crimping exports of key Ukrainian and Russian products such as grain, fuel and fertilizer. Search Keywords: Short link: Russian officials visited an airfield in central Iran at least twice in recent weeks to view weapons-capable drones it is looking to acquire to use in its war against Ukraine, the White House said. The Biden administration released the intelligence as President Joe Biden met Saturday with leaders of six Arab Gulf countries, plus Egypt, Jordan and Iraq for a regional summit. Biden told fellow heads of state at the summit that the United States was committed to the Middle East and ``will not walk away and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia or Iran.'' Biden sought to use his appearance at the summit, closing out a four-day trip to the region, to bolster U.S. positioning in the Middle East and knit the region closer together against Iran. Hours before the Gulf Cooperation Council summit, the White House released satellite imagery that indicates Russian officials have twice visited Iran in recent weeks for a showcase of weapons-capable drones it is looking to acquire to use in its war in Ukraine. None of the countries represented at the summit have moved in lockstep with the U.S. to sanction Russia, a key foreign policy priority for the Biden administration. Release of the satellite imagery showing that Russian officials visited Kashan Airfield on June 8 and July 5 to examine the drones could help the administration better tie the relevance of the war to many Arab nations' own concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions and other malign activity in the region. A senior Biden administration official, who briefed reporters before the summit, said Moscow's efforts to acquire drones from Tehran show that Russia is ``effectively making a bet on Iran.'' The administration also released satellite imagery of Shahed-191 and Shahed-129 drones being displayed and in flight on the airfield, while a Russian delegation transport plane was on the ground. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement that the administration has ``information that the Iranian government is preparing to provide Russia with several hundred UAVs.'' UAVs are unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones. ``We assess an official Russian delegation recently received a showcase of Iranian attack-capable UAVs. We are releasing these images captured in June showing Iranian UAVs that the Russian government delegation saw that day,'' Sullivan added. ``This suggests ongoing Russian interest in acquiring Iranian attack-capable UAVs.'' Sullivan said U.S. officials believe the June visit ``was the first time a Russian delegation has visited this airfield for such a showcase.'' Iran's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment early Saturday regarding the White House's assertion. On Friday, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, in a phone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba, rejected reports on exporting Iranian drones to Russia, calling them ``baseless.'' ``This sort of claims parallel with Biden's visit to occupied Palestine, or Israel, are in direction of political intentions and purposes,'' the website of Iran's Foreign Ministry quoted Amirabdollahian as saying. ``We oppose any move that could lead to continuation and intensifying conflicts.'' Biden is looking to strengthen coordination among Middle East allies' response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and what the ongoing conflict means to the region. Many of the Gulf nations _ Saudi Arabia, in particular _ have grave concerns about Iran's malign activity in the region. Sullivan told reporters earlier this week, before Biden arrived in the region. that the U.S. had determined that Iran was preparing to train Russian forces to use the drones as soon as this month. He argued that Russia's ``deepening an alliance with Iran to kill Ukrainians is something that the whole world should look at.'' The UAVs that the administration believes Iran is preparing to transfer to Russia are the same weapons that Iran has provided to Houthis in Yemen. Kashan Air Base, located some 190 kilometers (120 miles) south of Tehran, is one of Iran's oldest airfields. Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz in 2021 linked Kashan to Iran's drone program, alleging that Iran trained militants from Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen to fly drones at the facility. The U.S. intelligence assessment was first reported by CNN. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and US President Joe Biden reaffirmed shared commitment to the US-Egypt strategic partnership and consultation on a board range of global and regional security challenges, according to a joint statement issued following their meeting on the side-lines of the Jeddah Summit. The two leaders renewed their commitment to the US-Egypt Strategic Dialogue that isco-chaired by Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry and welcomed the continued implementation of its outcomes, the joint statement read. Both Biden and El-Sisi expressed their intention to meet again in the near future to further enhance the two countries multi-faceted partnership, according to the statement. The meeting between El-Sisi and Biden in Jeddah is the first meeting between the two presidents since Biden took the office in January 2021. According to the joint statement, President Biden reiterated in the meeting that the US aims to continue to support Egypt in providing for its own defence, including through the continued provision of security assistance in consultation with the US Congress. Concerning economic cooperation, both presidents agreed to explore new ways to expand bilateral trade, increase private sector investments, and collaborate on clean energy and climate technology. Furthermore, they welcomed the recent US GreenTech Mission to Egypt and committed to launch the high-level Joint Economic Commission. Regarding the impact of war in Ukraine, the two presidents emphasised the need to refrain from the use of force, solve conflicts by peaceful means, and end violations of human rights in conflict areas. The US and Egypt share particular concerns over the severe global consequences that stem from the war in Ukraine, including on global supply chains and energy and commodity prices, the joint statement said. Egypt, the world's biggest wheat importer, was greatly impacted in wheat supply when Russia invaded Ukraine in late February. Last year, Egypt received 80 percent of its wheat imports from Russia and Ukraine due to its high quality, competitive pricing, and geographical proximity. Egypt imports 12 to 13 million tons of wheat per year, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity in 2020 an online data visualisation platform that focuses on the geography and dynamics of economic activities across the globe. President Biden underscored the US support for the Egyptian people in responding to these challenges, the statement read, adding that the US commends Egypts consultations with the International Monetary Fund and supports the provision of additional funding to Egypt through the IMFs Resilience and Sustainability Trust. The US also lends its full support to Egypts engagement with the World Bank to seek financing options to stabilise its economy and strengthen the well-being of Egyptian households through the Crisis Response Finance Package recently announced by the bank, The statement added. According to the statement, Biden announced that the US is providing $1 billion in new assistance to address the food security situation in the Middle East, with $50 million specifically set aside for Egypt. These funds aim to bolster food security and offset the effects of the disruption in agricultural supply chains and higher food prices due to the blocking of ports. The statement said, adding that the US president assured his Egyptian counterpart that the states will advocate for Egypt and its food security needs. Concerning regional issues, both leaders stressed that a two-state solution remains the only viable path to achieve a lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and to realize a secure, prosperous, and dignified future for Israelis and Palestinians alike. President Biden expressed support for Egypts vital leadership and historic role in promoting peace and an end to the conflict, thereby expanding the circle of peace between Israel and its Arab neighbours and globally, as well as preserving sustainable calm between Israelis and Palestinians, said the statement, referring to the ceasefire agreement Egypt reached between Israel and Palestinian factions in Gaza in May 2021. Regarding the Libyan issue, both Sisi and Biden underscored the need to implement the related-United National Security Council resolutions issued in 2021, reaffirming the necessity of holding presidential and parliamentary elections in tandem as soon as possible in Libya. They emphasised the importance of the full withdrawal of all foreign forces, mercenaries, foreign fighters, and the pivotal role of the 5+5 Joint Military Committee in this regard, including the prompt development of timelines. The statement said. Furthermore, during the meeting in Jeddah, President Biden thanked President El-Sisi for Egypts role in helping to consolidate a truce in Yemen, particularly through facilitating commercial flights from Sanaa to Cairo in May, which is an important component of the UN-mediated truce arrangement. Regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), President Biden reiterated the US support for Egypts water security and to forging a diplomatic resolution that would achieve the interests of all parties and contribute to a more peaceful and prosperous region. The two leaders reiterated the imperative of concluding an agreement on the filling and operation of the GERD without further delay as stipulated in the Statement of the President of the UNSC dated September 15, 2021, and in accordance with international law. Issued in September 2021, the Presidential Statement of the UNSC called for signing a mutually accepted and legally binding agreement on the filing and operation of GERD within a reasonable timeframe. Egypt and Sudan welcomed the statement at the time, while Ethiopia slammed it. Additionally, the two presidents committed also to regular consultations between Egypt and the US to resolve regional conflicts and humanitarian crises in Syria, Lebanon, and Sudan. When it comes to human rights, Biden and El-Sisi emphasised their mutual commitment to a constructive dialogue on human rights, which is an integral component of the strong US-Egypt partnership. They will continue to consult closely on ensuring the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in political, civil, economic, social, and cultural fields, the statement said, adding that the two leaders reaffirmed the important role that civil society can play in these areas. Additionally, Biden and El-Sisi discussed the upcoming 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), which Egypt will chair in Sharm El-Sheikh this November. The US welcomes Egypts leadership in accelerating global ambition and action to tackle the climate crisis, The joint statement said, adding that the US President welcomed Egypts submission of its updated nationally determined contributions (NDC). Both leaders also emphasised their countries support for the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) and the new GMP Energy Pathway, which Egypt has joined with respect to the oil and gas sector. Moreover, they reaffirmed the US and Egypts new partnership on adaptation in Africa, which they will co-lead and is focused on delivering concrete initiatives that will improve peoples lives and help build resilience to a changing climate. Finally, the two leaders committed to convene the Joint US-Egypt Climate Working Group as soon as possible. Search Keywords: Short link: The British government said Friday that everyone 50 or older will be offered a fourth dose of coronavirus vaccine in the fall, lowering the age threshold from the previously announced 65. The Department of Health said it had accepted advice from the U.K.'s independent vaccines adviser about the autumn booster program. Fourth doses will also be given to health care workers, nursing home staff and residents, and all those aged 5 and up with health conditions that make them more vulnerable to severe illness from COVID-19. Most of the same groups will also get a free flu shot. KYODO NEWS - Jul 16, 2022 - 22:53 | World, All Finance chiefs from the Group of 20 major economies fell short of issuing a joint statement as they wrapped up a two-day meeting Saturday due to their rift over Russia's war in Ukraine. Indonesia, this year's chair and host of the G-20 meetings, explained that the member economies agreed on the necessity to address urgent problems the world economy faces today, such as global food insecurity and debt conditions among low-income countries. Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki told reporters after the meeting in Bali, "We achieved certain results after deepening discussions (on those issues) amid the very difficult situation and affirming what we will do from now on." As for addressing the issue of food insecurity, the G-20 will tackle the lack of food and nutrition in close coordination with international organizations, Suzuki said, adding it also confirmed the importance of strengthening the capacity of agricultural output. The G-20 finance ministers and central bank governors also found common ground in response to rising food and energy prices, as they will prioritize measures to support the most vulnerable people, he said. They reaffirmed the past G-20 agreement that excess volatility in the currency market is undesirable for the economy, Suzuki said. Japan has seen the yen weaken against the U.S. dollar to levels not seen in the past 24 years, lifting import prices and negatively affecting households and businesses. During the talks, most of which were closed to the media, the Group of Seven developed nations condemned Russia for causing rising commodity prices and food insecurity through disruptions of logistics networks and markets, according to G-20 sources. The G-7 -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, plus the European Union -- has imposed sanctions on Russia in response to its aggression in Ukraine. Russia responded that sanctions imposed by the Western countries have been negatively affecting the world economy, the sources said. On the sidelines of the meeting, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen met several finance ministers from outside of the G-7, including Australia's Jim Chalmers and Mohammed Al-Jadaan of Saudi Arabia. They discussed cooperation in capping Russian oil prices to restrict revenue to President Vladimir Putin's military and limit the impact of the war on energy prices, the U.S. Treasury Department said. The G-20 groups the G-7 members as well as Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea and Turkey. When the G-20 finance chiefs last met in April in Washington, several delegates walked out of the room in protest when Russia spoke, and the group failed to issue a joint statement. No one walked out of the meeting Friday when Russian officials spoke, according to Suzuki. Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov joined the session virtually, and his deputy Timur Maksimov delivered a speech during the meeting. Ukraine's Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko took part online on Friday. Related coverage: G-20 finance chiefs discuss high inflation after Ukraine invasion KYODO NEWS - Jul 16, 2022 - 13:42 | All, World, Japan Japan has decided to maintain its interests in the Sakhalin 2 oil and liquefied natural gas project in the Russian Far East, with the government coordinating with two Japanese stakeholders to that end, government sources said Saturday. With the plan, Mitsui & Co. and Mitsubishi Corp. would keep 12.5 percent and 10 percent stakes, respectively, despite Russian President Vladimir Putin's signing of an order that sets up a new operating company to tighten its grip on the project. Putin's action is seen as retaliation against Japan and other countries for sanctions they slapped on Russia over its military aggression in Ukraine. It is unknown whether Tokyo can maintain its stakes as Moscow will have the final say about the continuation of investments by the two Japanese trading houses. Japan, reeling from the effects of higher energy prices following Russia's war in Ukraine, might be forced to source LNG from the market at higher prices. Around 9 percent of Japan's LNG imports come from Russia, almost all of them supplied by Sakhalin 2. In a meeting Friday, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Koichi Hagiuda, the minister of economy, trade and industry, affirmed a plan to maintain Japan's interests in Sakhalin 2. The Kishida government has stressed the need to retain interests in oil and gas projects off Sakhalin as they are vital to securing stable energy supplies amid surging energy prices. Besides Sakhalin 2, Japan also invests in the Sakhalin 1 project, with Sakhalin Oil and Gas Development Co. -- a Japanese consortium involving the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, trading houses Itochu Corp. and Marubeni Corp., and others -- holding a 30 percent stake. On June 30, Putin signed a decree to set up a new operating company for Sakhalin 2 affiliated with Russian energy company Gazprom, effectively putting it under Russian government control, with all staff and businesses transferred from the current operator Sakhalin Energy Investment Co. According to the decree, foreign investors must apply within a month to retain their existing shares in the new entity after it is established. Gazprom owns a roughly 50 percent stake in Sakhalin 2, while British oil giant Shell PLC has approximately 27.5 percent, followed by Mitsui and Mitsubishi. Shortly after Russia's invasion, Shell said on Feb. 28 that it would exit the project. Sakhalin 2, which began LNG exports in 2009, has an annual output capacity of about 10 million tons of LNG, with Japan, China and South Korea among the major importers. Of the total, Japan imports around 6 million tons. U.S. oil major Exxon Mobil Corp. has also announced its withdrawal from Sakhalin 1, which has been supplying Japan with crude oil since 2006, in the wake of the Ukraine crisis. Related coverage: Russia to install new operator for Sakhalin 2 energy project KYODO NEWS - Jul 16, 2022 - 08:28 | All, Japan A total of 83.3 percent of university seniors in Japan who are scheduled to graduate next March have secured job offers as of July 1, with the figure almost recovering to pre-pandemic levels, a recent survey found. The online poll by Recruit Co., the operator of the Rikunabi job information website, found the rate climbed 2.8 percentage points from a year earlier, marking the second-highest after 85.1 percent was logged in 2019. The increase comes as companies are likely to be more willing to hire employees than in the period when the coronavirus started to spread, as an increasing number of firms have laid out management policies on the premise of the pandemic. The information and communications sector was the most common industry in which students received job offers at 24.9 percent. A total of 81.2 percent of liberal arts students and 88.3 percent in the science and engineering departments obtained offers, according to the survey. The percentage of students who have secured two or more job offers rose from a year earlier to 62.7 percent, while those who have declined offers stood at 57.8 percent, also higher than the year before. "There is a polarization between students who have received multiple job offers versus those who have received none," a spokesperson from Recruit said. "There are numerous companies that continue to actively look for applicants to fill the shortfall caused by the pandemic." The online survey collected responses from 1,303 university students between July 1 and 4. Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a teleconference on developing the country's rural industries in Beijing, capital of China, July 15, 2022. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) BEIJING, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua on Friday called for efforts to develop the country's rural industries into a solid foundation for rural vitalization and agricultural modernization. Hu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a teleconference in Beijing. In doing so, the country should help the planting and breeding sectors to thrive and improve agricultural production capacity in a consistent manner to ensure food security and the adequate supply of major farm produce, Hu said. Efforts should also be made to bolster farm produce processing and circulation as well as sectors regarding contemporary rural services, the vice premier said. While boosting the development of industries that create jobs effectively, the country needs to encourage those who have left rural areas to return home and start businesses, Hu said. The country should also increase support for areas that have shaken off poverty to develop rural industries and facilitate the shift of industries from the relatively well-off eastern regions to areas having been lifted out of poverty, Hu added. COLOMBO, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's parliament was informed of on Saturday Gotabaya Rajapaksa's resignation from presidency as his resignation letter was read to the legislators. Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena convened the parliament to announce that the seat of the president has become vacant. The parliament is expected to elect a new president on July 20, and nominations for the presidency will be accepted on July 19. Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake informed the legislators that nominations for the presidency must be submitted to him in writing. Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was on Friday sworn in as an interim president following the resignation of Rajapaksa and said he himself will contest for the presidency on July 20. Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and legislators Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Dullas Alahapperuma have also announced their intention to enter the race for the presidency. UNITED NATIONS, July 15 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Friday called for a strategic assessment and fundamental adjustment of the mandate of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). Haiti has been one of the most complicated and protracted challenges on the Security Council's agenda. UN's engagement in Haiti dates back to the early 1990s. However, 30 years later Haiti is hardly in any better shape. On the contrary, it is caught in a more severe crisis, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations. Last October, thanks to an initiative of China and some other council members, the Security Council requested the UN secretary-general to conduct an assessment of the mandate of BINUH in light of the actual conditions in Haiti, which shall serve as reference for the council to strengthen the mandate in a targeted manner, he said. Over the past nine months, Haiti's state institutions have been paralyzed across the board. Most of the country has fallen into a security vacuum. Gang violence has become more rampant. And the economic and humanitarian situations have been in free fall. This fully demonstrates that the strategic assessment and fundamental adjustment of the mandate of BINUH are imperative, he added. Just as the council members were in consultations over the draft resolution, gang clashes broke out near the capital city of Port-au-Prince and the situation has worsened to an appalling state, Zhang said in an explanation of vote after the Security Council adopted a resolution to renew BINUH's mandate. China, while fully taking into account the recommendations in the secretary-general's assessment report, the strong aspirations of the Haitian people, and the concerns of Haiti's neighbors and countries in the region, has put forward specific reasonable and feasible proposals on advancing the political process, stepping up police capacity-building, combating illicit flows of weapons and finance, and strengthening port and border management, among others, he said. "We welcome the fact that the draft resolution has taken up many of China's proposals...While the resolution just adopted certainly still has room for improvement, it is nevertheless on the whole a right step in the right direction," said Zhang. This resolution sets clear expectations on the Haitian authorities and leaders of political parties. It sends clear warnings to the gangs that the Security Council is closely following their actions. It also confers on BINUH a stronger mandate, he noted. Haiti itself is not a producer of weapons. Yet the weapons possessed by the gangs far out-compete those of the national police in quantity and quality. This indicates that the illicit trafficking and proliferation of weapons are a source of ever-escalating gang violence, Zhang said. Countries, while supporting Haiti in beefing up its own security capabilities, should also act in coordination and unity by banning the participation of their citizens in the trafficking of weapons to Haiti, and preventing their territories from being used for such purposes. This is a necessary step in effectively containing the violent activities of gangs and the minimum requirement in showing solidarity with the Haitian people, he said. Regrettably, the resolution has failed to provide for this in the strongest terms. China hopes that this would not send a wrong message to the gangs, urging all countries to effectively strengthen arms export control. China will also work with relevant countries in continuing to push for greater Security Council efforts in this direction, he said. Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits a construction site of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway in Nyingchi, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 14, 2022. Han visited the city of Nyingchi in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region and Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Qinghai Province on Thursday and Friday. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng has underscored the importance of sticking to a green growth path prioritizing ecological protection and called for new achievements in promoting high-quality development. Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during visits to the city of Nyingchi in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region and Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Qinghai Province on Thursday and Friday. In Nyingchi, after visiting a construction site of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway and a sand-and-gravel processing plant, he stressed project quality and safety, and called for enhanced R&D and applications for domestically produced equipment, as well as greater production and use of energy-saving and green construction materials. Han also learned about local hydropower project development plans, and said that the reasonable development and protection of water resources should be coordinated and scientific research should be made before starting the construction of major projects. In Yushu, Han underscored the importance of protecting the natural ecology and resources of Sanjiangyuan -- or the three-river-source -- which is home to the headwaters of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers. More efforts should be made to promote wetland development, enhance biodiversity protection and reduce man-made disturbances to nature, Han stressed. Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits a nature reserve in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, July 15, 2022. Han visited the city of Nyingchi in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region and Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Qinghai Province on Thursday and Friday. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) A medical worker injects a booster shot of COVID-19 vaccine for an 86-year-old citizen at Aoyuncun Subdistrict in Chaoyang District, Beijing, capital of China, July 13, 2022.(Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland Friday reported 75 locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 31 in Gansu, 16 in Anhui and 15 in Guangdong, the National Health Commission said Saturday. Altogether 375 local asymptomatic carriers were newly identified in 14 provincial-level regions on Friday, of which 139 were in Anhui. A total of 99 COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovery on the Chinese mainland on Friday, said the commission. The total number of COVID-19 patients discharged from hospitals after recovery reached 220,877 on the Chinese mainland as of Friday. Friday saw no new deaths from COVID-19, with the total death toll at 5,226. BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), one of the country's top academic institutions, has issued certificates to its 65 academicians who were elected in 2021. The new CAS academicians comprise 12 members in mathematics and physics, 11 in chemistry, 10 in life sciences and medical sciences, nine in earth sciences, 10 in information technical sciences and 13 in technological sciences, the academy said. Hou Jianguo, the CAS's president, said the new academicians should focus on sci-tech innovation and tackling key problems, and further enhance the sense of responsibility for achieving high-level self-reliance in science and technology. As China's top academic title in science and technology, being a CAS academician is a lifetime honor. Members of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) attend the CPP's extraordinary congress in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on July 16, 2022. The ruling CPP held an extraordinary conference of its Central Committee on Saturday to set out an action plan for 2023, the year in which the country's next general elections will be held. (Photo by Ly Lay/Xinhua) PHNOM PENH, July 16 (Xinhua) -- The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) on Saturday held an extraordinary conference of its Central Committee on Saturday to set out an action plan for 2023, the year in which the country's next general elections will be held. The party's honorary president Samdech Heng Samrin said, in his opening speech, that the CPP's landslide victory in the commune election last month clearly reflected people's confidence in the party's leadership and political programs. "We will strive to make our party even more victorious in the seventh National Assembly election in 2023," he said. Samrin, who is also president of the National Assembly, noted that the country's successful fight against the COVID-19 pandemic was a great achievement made by the CPP-led government in protecting people's lives and stabilizing the economy. The CPP extraordinary conference will last two days. It is presided over by CPP's president Samdech Techo Hun Sen, who is the prime minister of Cambodia, and was on the first day attended by more than 3,400 party members from across the country. The party's current central committee consists of 865 members. The CPP has ruled the country since 1979. General elections are held every five years in the Southeast Asian country. President of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and Prime Minister of Cambodia Samdech Techo Hun Sen chairs the CPP's extraordinary congress in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on July 16, 2022. The ruling CPP held an extraordinary conference of its Central Committee on Saturday to set out an action plan for 2023, the year in which the country's next general elections will be held. (Photo by Ly Lay/Xinhua) RAMALLAH, July 16 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden voiced support for the two-state solution to the entrenched Israeli-Palestinian conflict and vowed to provide 300-million-U.S. dollar aid to the Palestinians during a short stay in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Friday as part of his first diplomatic tour in the Middle East. "As President of the United States, my commitment to the goal of a two-state solution has not changed," Biden told the joint news conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem. "The goal of the two states seems so far away while indignities like restrictions on movement and travel or the daily worry of your children's safety are real and they are immediate," he noted. Before leaving for Saudi Arabia in the afternoon, Biden was received by Abbas at his presidential palace in Bethlehem. As to the situation in Jerusalem, Biden said the city is central to "the national visions" of both Palestinians and Israelis, with Jordan continuing to serve as the custodian of its holy sites. Biden told the press conference that America will provide 200 million dollars in funds to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) for its critical role in the region. During a trip to a local hospital, he also pledged to provide 100 million dollars to the East Jerusalem Hospital Network, which includes six health institutions and works to serve the Palestinians in Jerusalem. For his part, Abbas called on Biden to create a political atmosphere to achieve a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in the region. Reiterating the international resolutions and the two-state solution along the 1967 borders as the foundations of the peace process, Abbas urged Biden to help restore such foundations. "After 74 years of the Nakba displacement and occupation, isn't it the time for this (Israeli) occupation to end and for our steadfast people, again, to gain their freedom and independence?" he asked Biden during the press conference. "In this regard, we say that the key to peace and security in our region begins with recognizing the State of Palestine, enabling the Palestinian people to obtain their legitimate rights in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions," Abbas said. "We look forward to steps from the U.S. government to strengthen bilateral relations by reopening the U.S. consulate in East Jerusalem, removing the PLO (the Palestine Liberation Organization) from the U.S. terrorist list," the Palestinian president added. Before arriving in Bethlehem, Biden visited Israel on Wednesday as the first stop of his Middle East tour, during which thousands of Palestinians staged demonstrations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip against his visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, slamming his biased stance on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Meanwhile, Hamas, ruling faction of the Gaza Strip, slammed Biden's visit as "not carrying anything new on the Palestinian issue other than consolidating his bias toward the Israeli vision." "Biden keeps selling illusions to public opinion through some loose terminology," said Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem. Photo taken on July 11, 2022 shows Tibetan antelopes at the Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Every summer, pregnant Tibetan antelopes escorted by male ones migrate to the nature reserve to give birth, then return to their habitats with their offspring. The population of Tibetan antelopes in the region has surged from 50,000 to more than 300,000 over the past decades. Last year, China downgraded the status of Tibetan antelopes from "endangered" to "near threatened," owing to proactive anti-poaching and biodiversity protection efforts. (Xinhua/Sun Fei) Photo taken on July 11, 2022 shows Tibetan antelopes at the Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Every summer, pregnant Tibetan antelopes escorted by male ones migrate to the nature reserve to give birth, then return to their habitats with their offspring. The population of Tibetan antelopes in the region has surged from 50,000 to more than 300,000 over the past decades. Last year, China downgraded the status of Tibetan antelopes from "endangered" to "near threatened," owing to proactive anti-poaching and biodiversity protection efforts. (Xinhua/Zhou Dixiao) Photo taken on July 11, 2022 shows Tibetan antelopes at the Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Every summer, pregnant Tibetan antelopes escorted by male ones migrate to the nature reserve to give birth, then return to their habitats with their offspring. The population of Tibetan antelopes in the region has surged from 50,000 to more than 300,000 over the past decades. Last year, China downgraded the status of Tibetan antelopes from "endangered" to "near threatened," owing to proactive anti-poaching and biodiversity protection efforts. (Xinhua/Zhou Dixiao) Photo taken on July 11, 2022 shows a newborn baby Tibetan antelope at the Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Every summer, pregnant Tibetan antelopes escorted by male ones migrate to the nature reserve to give birth, then return to their habitats with their offspring. The population of Tibetan antelopes in the region has surged from 50,000 to more than 300,000 over the past decades. Last year, China downgraded the status of Tibetan antelopes from "endangered" to "near threatened," owing to proactive anti-poaching and biodiversity protection efforts. (Xinhua/Zhou Dixiao) Photo taken on July 11, 2022 shows Tibetan antelopes at the Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Every summer, pregnant Tibetan antelopes escorted by male ones migrate to the nature reserve to give birth, then return to their habitats with their offspring. The population of Tibetan antelopes in the region has surged from 50,000 to more than 300,000 over the past decades. Last year, China downgraded the status of Tibetan antelopes from "endangered" to "near threatened," owing to proactive anti-poaching and biodiversity protection efforts. (Xinhua/Zhou Dixiao) Photo taken on July 11, 2022 shows Tibetan antelopes at the Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Every summer, pregnant Tibetan antelopes escorted by male ones migrate to the nature reserve to give birth, then return to their habitats with their offspring. The population of Tibetan antelopes in the region has surged from 50,000 to more than 300,000 over the past decades. Last year, China downgraded the status of Tibetan antelopes from "endangered" to "near threatened," owing to proactive anti-poaching and biodiversity protection efforts. (Xinhua/Zhou Dixiao) Photo taken on July 11, 2022 shows Tibetan antelopes at the Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Every summer, pregnant Tibetan antelopes escorted by male ones migrate to the nature reserve to give birth, then return to their habitats with their offspring. The population of Tibetan antelopes in the region has surged from 50,000 to more than 300,000 over the past decades. Last year, China downgraded the status of Tibetan antelopes from "endangered" to "near threatened," owing to proactive anti-poaching and biodiversity protection efforts. (Xinhua/Sun Fei) Photo taken on July 11, 2022 shows a newborn baby Tibetan antelope at the Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Every summer, pregnant Tibetan antelopes escorted by male ones migrate to the nature reserve to give birth, then return to their habitats with their offspring. The population of Tibetan antelopes in the region has surged from 50,000 to more than 300,000 over the past decades. Last year, China downgraded the status of Tibetan antelopes from "endangered" to "near threatened," owing to proactive anti-poaching and biodiversity protection efforts. (Xinhua/Sun Fei) Photo taken on July 11, 2022 shows male Tibetan antelopes on alert at the Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Every summer, pregnant Tibetan antelopes escorted by male ones migrate to the nature reserve to give birth, then return to their habitats with their offspring. The population of Tibetan antelopes in the region has surged from 50,000 to more than 300,000 over the past decades. Last year, China downgraded the status of Tibetan antelopes from "endangered" to "near threatened," owing to proactive anti-poaching and biodiversity protection efforts. (Xinhua/Jin Meiduoji) Photo taken on July 11, 2022 shows a female Tibetan antelope taking care of its baby at the Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Every summer, pregnant Tibetan antelopes escorted by male ones migrate to the nature reserve to give birth, then return to their habitats with their offspring. The population of Tibetan antelopes in the region has surged from 50,000 to more than 300,000 over the past decades. Last year, China downgraded the status of Tibetan antelopes from "endangered" to "near threatened," owing to proactive anti-poaching and biodiversity protection efforts. (Xinhua/Sun Fei) Photo taken on July 11, 2022 shows Tibetan antelopes at the Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Every summer, pregnant Tibetan antelopes escorted by male ones migrate to the nature reserve to give birth, then return to their habitats with their offspring. The population of Tibetan antelopes in the region has surged from 50,000 to more than 300,000 over the past decades. Last year, China downgraded the status of Tibetan antelopes from "endangered" to "near threatened," owing to proactive anti-poaching and biodiversity protection efforts. (Xinhua/Jin Meiduoji) Photo taken on July 11, 2022 shows Tibetan antelopes at the Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Every summer, pregnant Tibetan antelopes escorted by male ones migrate to the nature reserve to give birth, then return to their habitats with their offspring. The population of Tibetan antelopes in the region has surged from 50,000 to more than 300,000 over the past decades. Last year, China downgraded the status of Tibetan antelopes from "endangered" to "near threatened," owing to proactive anti-poaching and biodiversity protection efforts. (Xinhua/Sun Fei) Photo taken on July 11, 2022 shows male Tibetan antelopes on alert at the Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Every summer, pregnant Tibetan antelopes escorted by male ones migrate to the nature reserve to give birth, then return to their habitats with their offspring. The population of Tibetan antelopes in the region has surged from 50,000 to more than 300,000 over the past decades. Last year, China downgraded the status of Tibetan antelopes from "endangered" to "near threatened," owing to proactive anti-poaching and biodiversity protection efforts. (Xinhua/Jin Meiduoji) Photo taken on July 11, 2022 shows male Tibetan antelopes on alert at the Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Every summer, pregnant Tibetan antelopes escorted by male ones migrate to the nature reserve to give birth, then return to their habitats with their offspring. The population of Tibetan antelopes in the region has surged from 50,000 to more than 300,000 over the past decades. Last year, China downgraded the status of Tibetan antelopes from "endangered" to "near threatened," owing to proactive anti-poaching and biodiversity protection efforts. (Xinhua/Sun Fei) Photo taken on July 11, 2022 shows a female Tibetan antelope taking care of its baby at the Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Every summer, pregnant Tibetan antelopes escorted by male ones migrate to the nature reserve to give birth, then return to their habitats with their offspring. The population of Tibetan antelopes in the region has surged from 50,000 to more than 300,000 over the past decades. Last year, China downgraded the status of Tibetan antelopes from "endangered" to "near threatened," owing to proactive anti-poaching and biodiversity protection efforts. (Xinhua/Zhou Dixiao) Photo taken on July 11, 2022 shows female Tibetan antelopes grazing while a male Tibetan antelope is on alert at the Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Every summer, pregnant Tibetan antelopes escorted by male ones migrate to the nature reserve to give birth, then return to their habitats with their offspring. The population of Tibetan antelopes in the region has surged from 50,000 to more than 300,000 over the past decades. Last year, China downgraded the status of Tibetan antelopes from "endangered" to "near threatened," owing to proactive anti-poaching and biodiversity protection efforts. (Xinhua/Sun Fei) Photo taken on July 11, 2022 shows Tibetan antelopes at the Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Every summer, pregnant Tibetan antelopes escorted by male ones migrate to the nature reserve to give birth, then return to their habitats with their offspring. The population of Tibetan antelopes in the region has surged from 50,000 to more than 300,000 over the past decades. Last year, China downgraded the status of Tibetan antelopes from "endangered" to "near threatened," owing to proactive anti-poaching and biodiversity protection efforts. (Xinhua/Zhou Dixiao) Photo taken on July 11, 2022 shows male Tibetan antelopes on alert at the Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Every summer, pregnant Tibetan antelopes escorted by male ones migrate to the nature reserve to give birth, then return to their habitats with their offspring. The population of Tibetan antelopes in the region has surged from 50,000 to more than 300,000 over the past decades. Last year, China downgraded the status of Tibetan antelopes from "endangered" to "near threatened," owing to proactive anti-poaching and biodiversity protection efforts. (Xinhua/Jin Meiduoji) JERUSALEM, July 15, (Xinhua) -- Israeli officials lauded on Friday Saudi Arabia's decision to open its airspace to "all carriers," including those from Israel, as a sign of the budding normalization process between the two countries. Just ahead of U.S. President Joe Biden's visit on Friday, the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation tweeted that the kingdom has decided to open its airspace "to all carriers that meet the authority's requirements for overflying," with no specific reference to Israel. Israeli airlines had been banned by Saudi Arabia from flying over the kingdom's airspace, making flights between Israel and Asia longer and costlier. "This is only the first step. We will continue working with necessary caution, for the sake of Israel's economy, security and the good of our citizens," Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid said in a statement released by his office, voicing his appreciation for the Saudi decision to open airspace. Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov thanked Saudi Arabia "for advancing a new vision of the Middle East," tweeting that the decision will lower the price of flights to East Asia. For Transport Minister Merav Michaeli, the decision also means "a step toward (Israeli) better and stronger relations with the countries of the Middle East ... critical to Israel's security and economy." Regional Cooperation Minister Issawi Frej described the move as an "exciting dream," noting Israel's Muslim citizens will now enjoy "cheaper, direct chartered flights to the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca." Israel and Saudi Arabia have had no diplomatic relations yet, despite growing informal relations between the two erstwhile foes in recent years. Aerial photo taken on May 20, 2022 shows a view of the Huanghai Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., in Rongcheng, east China's Shandong Province. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng) BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- China remained the world's leading shipbuilder in the first half of this year, as its market share ranked first globally in output, new, and holding orders, official data showed. The country's shipbuilding output hit 18.5 million deadweight tonnes (dwt) in the January-June period, accounting for 45.2 percent of the world's total, data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology showed. New shipbuilding orders, another major indicator of the shipbuilding industry, came in at 22.46 million dwt in the first six months, taking up 50.8 percent of the global market share. By the end of June, China's shipbuilding holding orders rose 18.6 percent year on year to 102.74 million dwt, with a global market share reaching 47.8 percent, the ministry said. Aerial photo taken on May 16, 2022 shows a very large ethane carrier (VLEC) with a capacity of 99,000 cubic meters manufactured by the Jiangnan Shipyard under the China State Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Ding Ting) Workers assemble a ship engine at a workshop of CSSC-MES Diesel Co., Ltd. in east China's Shanghai, June 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) A worker is on duty at a workshop of CSSC-MES Diesel Co., Ltd. in east China's Shanghai, June 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Workers perform welding tasks at a workshop of a shipbuilding enterprise in Wenling, east China's Zhejiang Province, June 24, 2022. (Photo by Xu Weijie/Xinhua) Aerial photo taken on May 20, 2022 shows a view of the Huanghai Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., in Rongcheng, east China's Shandong Province. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng) Members of the UN Security Council vote to adopt a resolution at the UN headquarters in New York, on July 15, 2022. The Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution to extend the mandate of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) for a year, till July 15, 2023. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, July 15 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution to extend the mandate of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) for a year, till July 15, 2023. Resolution 2645, which won the unanimous support of the 15-member council, calls on all Haitian stakeholders to reach an urgent agreement on a framework for a political process to permit the organization of legislative and presidential elections as soon as security conditions and logistical preparations permit, and in this regard requests the Haitian government to provide an update to the Security Council by Oct. 17, 2022. It calls on UN member states to prohibit the transfer of small arms, light weapons, and ammunition to non-state actors engaged in or supporting gang violence, criminal activities, or human rights abuses in Haiti, as well as to prevent their illicit trafficking and diversion. The resolution demands an immediate cessation of gang violence and criminal activities, and in this regard expresses the Security Council's readiness to impose sanctions, within 90 days from the adoption of this resolution, against those engaged in or supporting gang violence, criminal activities, or human rights abuses or who otherwise take action that undermines the peace, stability, and security of Haiti and the region. It encourages continued close collaboration and enhanced coordination between BINUH, the UN Country Team in Haiti, regional organizations and international financial institutions with a view to helping the Haitian government to take responsibility to realize the long-term stability, sustainable development, and economic self-sufficiency of the country. It encourages member states, international financial institutions, and other entities to contribute to the Basket Fund for security assistance to Haiti, and further encourages member states and relevant international organizations to further provide Haiti with capacity-building, technical support, and the training of national customs, border control, and other such relevant authorities. It requests BINUH to work with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and other relevant UN agencies to support Haitian authorities in combating illicit financial flows as well as trafficking and diversion of arms and related materiel and in enhancing management and control of borders and ports. BINUH, a special political mission established by the Security Council in 2019, is tasked to advise the Haitian government in promoting and strengthening political stability and good governance, preserving and advancing a peaceful and stable environment, and protecting and promoting human rights. RIYADH, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia and the United States agreed on Friday to strengthen cooperation in the fields of 5G networks, cybersecurity, space exploration and public health, Al Arabiya News reported. The agreements were made on the sidelines of U.S. President Joe Biden's first state visit to the kingdom, where he met with top Saudi officials to review the kingdom's defensive needs and the importance of global energy security. In a statement after the meetings, Biden welcomed Saudi Arabia's fresh signing of the NASA-led Artemis Accords, an outer space exploration treaty, saying the United States "reaffirms its commitment to the responsible, peaceful, and sustainable exploration and use of outer space." The U.S. president praised the role the kingdom played in supporting the UN cease-fire efforts in Yemen. The visit in Saudi Arabia is the last destination of Biden's first Middle East tour as the U.S. president. The diplomatic tour, which started on Wednesday and is expected to end on Saturday, also covers Israel and the West Bank. Biden will also attend a joint summit on Saturday with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as the king of Jordan, the president of Egypt, and the prime minister of Iraq. RIYADH, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia and Iraq signed on Friday an electric power grids deal to boost economic cooperation. The deal was signed between Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud and Iraqi Oil Minister Ihsan Abdul Jabbar, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Abdulaziz said that apart from enhancing bilateral economic ties, the signing of the deal will help establish Saudi Arabia as a regional hub for electric power grids and attract investment in the country's electricity generation projects. The agreement was signed ahead of Saturday's Jeddah summit that will be participated by leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states, and leaders from Jordan, Egypt and Iraq. MEXICO CITY, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Friday stressed the need for the U.S. government to regularize the status of Mexican migrants who have been working in the United States for many years. In the wake of his meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington on Tuesday, Lopez Obrador reiterated at his daily press conference that the U.S. government said at the meeting it was committed to issuing more temporary work visas for Mexican and Central American migrants, but did not specify a number. "Progress was made regarding an increase in temporary work visas and I raised the need to regularize Mexicans who have been working in the United States for years," Lopez Obrador told journalists at the National Palace in Mexico City. Lopez Obrador said he told Biden, "we must not continue the same policy" on immigration matters. An immigration reform bill put forward by the Biden administration but stalled in U.S. Congress aims to regularize the status of approximately 11 million undocumented migrants in the United States. YAOUNDE, July 16 (Xinhua) -- At least two civilians were killed in an attack by the Boko Haram militants in Cameroon's Far North region, according to security and local sources. Boko Haram militants raided Gouzoudou locality of the region Friday night, killing two civilians. The military repelled the attack and killed one of the militants as they were struggling to escape, an official of the Cameroon army familiar with the attack told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. "Our troops continued to pursue the terrorists this morning (Saturday). We are stepping up security to protect civilians who have been regularly targeted in the region," the official said. Agrieneth Masule (L, Front), who runs a feminine hygiene project that raises funds for sanitary pads given to needy girls through Motlaletsi Charity Club, distributes sanitary pads to students at Kgamanyane Community Junior Secondary School in Mochudi, a village in Kgatleng district, Botswana, on June 20, 2022. "Period poverty," defined as a lack of access to menstrual products, education, and hygiene, causes one in every 10 African girls to miss school each year, according to the United Nations Children's Fund. Without proper education and resources, girls are frequently forced to stay at home, particularly in rural areas. As a result, they miss 10-20 percent of their school days and, in some cases, completely drop out. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua) by Tshekiso Tebalo, Teng Junwei GABORONE, July 15 (Xinhua) -- "Period poverty," defined as a lack of access to menstrual products, education, and hygiene, causes one in every 10 African girls to miss school each year, according to the United Nations Children's Fund. Without proper education and resources, girls are frequently forced to stay at home, particularly in rural areas. As a result, they miss 10-20 percent of their school days and, in some cases, completely drop out. Agrieneth Masule is determined to change this in Mochudi, a village in Kgatleng district, about 37 kilometers northeast of Botswana's capital, Gaborone. Masule, 34, runs a feminine hygiene project that raises funds for sanitary pads, which are then given to needy girls through Motlaletsi Charity Club. Motlaletsi means assistance to people in need in the local Setswana language. For the past six years, Motlaletsi Charity Club has worked with six schools in Kgatleng district, donating over 10,000 sanitary pads in total. Sanitary pads are expensive, with one month's supply for a girl costing an average 150 pula (about 12 U.S. dollars), almost a quarter of a rural resident's monthly income, said Masule, who founded Motlaletsi Charity Club. Masule, a single mother with two children, used to teach at several primary schools, but her last teaching contract was not renewed by the government. She now gives private lessons to primary and secondary students to support herself and her children. While waiting to get a full-time teaching position at one of the institutions where she filed applications, Masule decided to focus on projects that help school-aged children, particularly girls. In April, she completed a 252-kilometer walk to raise awareness about "period poverty," especially its impact on a girl's access to education. "Many of the girls miss school because they do not have a simple sanitary pad. People laugh at them. People bully them. They feel uncomfortable and they go back home," Masule told Xinhua. Her team seeks to get sanitary pads for needy girls to help them finish their basic education, she said. "You can't run away from having your periods," Masule said. "A menstrual cycle should never prevent these girls from achieving their dreams." Gaonyatsege Ntwayagae Phefo, senior teacher of guidance and counseling at Kgamanyane Community Junior Secondary School, said her school population consists primarily of needy students whose parents do not work, and they are usually forced to share their sanitary pads with other family members, and that sometimes they don't have anything when they have their periods. "Since the donation of pads, girls have gained confidence and are more open to discussing menstruation issues," Phefo said. Masule told Xinhua that the project has been a success and that she is pleased with the results -- guidance teachers are reporting that absenteeism is down thanks to the donations. She said the charity still faces challenges because menstruation occurs on a monthly basis, so more sponsors and donations are needed. They are also considering introducing reusable pads that are less expensive, more durable and environmentally friendly, Masule said. Agrieneth Masule, who runs a feminine hygiene project that raises funds for sanitary pads given to needy girls through Motlaletsi Charity Club, shows a reusable sanitary pad in Mochudi, a village in Kgatleng district, Botswana, on June 20, 2022. "Period poverty," defined as a lack of access to menstrual products, education, and hygiene, causes one in every 10 African girls to miss school each year, according to the United Nations Children's Fund. Without proper education and resources, girls are frequently forced to stay at home, particularly in rural areas. As a result, they miss 10-20 percent of their school days and, in some cases, completely drop out. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua) LAGOS, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian police said on Friday they have rescued 28 fishermen kidnapped by sea pirates in the southern state of Akwa Ibom on Thursday. The fishermen were rescued from a hideout of pirates following an intelligence report reaching the police, said Olatoye Durosinmi, the police chief in Akwa Ibom. The victims were attacked at sea on Thursday evening by a five-man gang pirates. "They seized the boat of the victims and put them where they could not come out," Durosinmi said. He said that the pirates always posed as fishermen to carry out their nefarious activities on unsuspecting fishermen and that the police will continue to ensure that the state's land and water remain safe for the people. Gunmen attacks have been frequently reported across the most populous country in Africa for years, resulting in deaths and kidnappings of civilians as well as security operatives. JAKARTA, July 16 (Xinhua) -- A separatist group on Saturday attacked civilians in Nduga district of Indonesia's eastern Papua, killing 10 people and seriously injuring two others, a police spokesperson said. The group, which the Indonesian government called "a criminal armed group (KKB)," launched separate attacks on four sites in the district, provincial police spokesperson Ahmad Mustafa Kamal said. One of the attacks was an ambush of a truck carrying civilians, by 20 members of the armed group with three long rifles and one pistol, he said. The truck was shot several times from a distance of 50 meters, he told Xinhua over phone, adding that bodies were recovered and injured persons were found at all the sites of attacks. "Totally, 10 people were killed, and two others suffered from injuries, they are all civilians," he said. Ahmad noted that the brutality was classified as terror acts. "The violence is a form of terror act conducted by the KKB (criminal armed group). The motive of the attacks is being investigated," he told Xinhua. The spokesman said that the Saturday's attacks were led by Egianus Kagoya, whose group is one of seven separatist groups actively operating in Papua province. Policemen and soldiers have been chasing members of the armed group. Kagoya has made attacks in Papua province, including shooting of a plane, kidnapping of teachers and paramedics, and killing of workers, according to him. TASHKENT, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan has tightened sanitary-medical controls at its border crossings amid a reported cholera outbreak in neighboring Afghanistan, Uzbek public health authorities said Saturday. All customs posts at land and air border crossings have been provided with thermal imagers and non-contact thermometers for examining those arriving in Uzbekistan, the Uzbek Sanitary-Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health Service said in a statement. It said reserve beds and medicines in infectious diseases hospitals have been prepared for sick or suspected patients with cholera. Uzbekistan shares a 144-km border with Afghanistan, with road and railway connections on a bridge over the Amudarya river. North Macedonia's Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski attends a session of the parliament, in Skopje, North Macedonia, July 16, 2022. North Macedonia's parliament on Saturday voted to approve the conclusions on French proposal presented by the ruling majority on the negotiating framework for opening the European Union (EU) accession talks. (Photo by Tomislav Georgiev/Xinhua) SKOPJE, July 16 (Xinhua) -- North Macedonia's parliament on Saturday voted to approve the conclusions on French proposal presented by the ruling majority on the negotiating framework for opening the European Union (EU) accession talks. Sixty-eight out of 120 Members of the Parliament (MPs) voted in favor of the draft conclusions submitted to the parliament by the ruling Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) and Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) parties, while opposition MPs did not participate in the vote. The parliament session resumed on Saturday for the third day in a row during which MPs held heated debates on the negotiating framework for North Macedonia proposed by the French EU presidency on June 30 to resolve conflicts with Bulgaria. The conclusions give clear directions to the government on what to negotiate during the process of accession to the EU, demanding unconditional respect to the identity, language, cultural and historical characteristics of the people of North Macedonia. Addressing the parliament of North Macedonia on Thursday, visiting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that should the lawmakers endorse the French proposal, the EU would be able to launch accession negotiations for North Macedonia "as soon as next week." Bulgaria has been blocking North Macedonia's efforts to join the EU and vetoed the country's EU integration bid, demanding its acceptance that the language of North Macedonia is derived from Bulgarian and urging the country to recognize the Bulgarian minority there. However, on June 24 Bulgaria decided to lift its two-year veto on North Macedonia's EU membership bid, making it possible for the country to start EU accession talks. The approval of the conclusions on the French proposal, which was presented by France's President Emmanuel Macron, enables the launch of the EU membership accession negotiations, not only for Skopje but also for Tirana. North Macedonia and neighboring Albania have been waiting since March 2020 to hold their first intergovernmental meetings with the EU. North Macedonia's Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski holds a press conference after voting on French proposal at the parliament in Skopje, North Macedonia, July 16, 2022. North Macedonia's parliament on Saturday voted to approve the conclusions on French proposal presented by the ruling majority on the negotiating framework for opening the European Union (EU) accession talks. (Photo by Tomislav Georgiev/Xinhua) North Macedonia's lawmakers display flags of North Macedonia and EU after voting on French proposal in the Parliament in Skopje, North Macedonia, July 16, 2022. North Macedonia's parliament on Saturday voted to approve the conclusions on French proposal presented by the ruling majority on the negotiating framework for opening the European Union (EU) accession talks. (Photo by Tomislav Georgiev/Xinhua) A plane of Hainan Airlines arrives at Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade July 16, 2022. China's Hainan Airlines on Saturday opened a direct flight to link Beijing, capital of China, and Belgrade, capital of Serbia. (Photo by Predrag Milosavljevic/Xinhua) BELGRADE, July 16 (Xinhua) -- China's Hainan Airlines launched direct flights from China to Serbia on Saturday, as a welcome ceremony was held at the Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. "We will be able to attract even more tourists and businessmen from China, which will bring China even closer to Serbia," said Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who attended the ceremony with several officials. The first flight arrived on Saturday morning from Beijing and was welcomed by Vucic and the officials. Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Chen Bo, who was among the passengers, also attended the ceremony. "Not only that the direct flight will boost people-to-people exchange, but it will open new opportunities for cooperation between the two sides in all areas," said Chen. "This flight will play a positive role in the cooperation between China and countries in the entire region, and thus the position of Serbia as a regional transport hub will be strengthened," she said. Hainan Airlines launched its first flight to Belgrade via Prague in September 2017, which was suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (R) receives a gift from a Chinese pilot during a welcoming ceremony at Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade July 16, 2022. China's Hainan Airlines on Saturday opened a direct flight to link Beijing, capital of China, and Belgrade, capital of Serbia. (Photo by Predrag Milosavljevic/Xinhua) Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (C) and Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Chen Bo (2nd L) attend a welcoming ceremony at Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade July 16, 2022. China's Hainan Airlines on Saturday opened a direct flight to link Beijing, capital of China, and Belgrade, capital of Serbia. (Photo by Predrag Milosavljevic/Xinhua) Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic speaks during a welcoming ceremony at Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade July 16, 2022. China's Hainan Airlines on Saturday opened a direct flight to link Beijing, capital of China, and Belgrade, capital of Serbia. (Photo by Predrag Milosavljevic/Xinhua) A plane of Hainan Airlines is greeted by water salute at Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade July 16, 2022. China's Hainan Airlines on Saturday opened a direct flight to link Beijing, capital of China, and Belgrade, capital of Serbia. (Photo by Predrag Milosavljevic/Xinhua) BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest developments in the Ukraine crisis: Fighter aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed three Ukrainian aircraft in an air battle, including two MiG-29s in the settlements of Novopavlovka in the Nikolaev region and Vladimirovka in the Dnepropetrovsk region, the Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday. The other Su-25 was destroyed in the area of Seversk, it added. In addition, two Ukrainian helicopters were shot down in the air, including a Mi-8 and a Mi-24. A total of 256 Ukrainian airplanes and 139 helicopters, 1,557 drones, 355 anti-aircraft missile systems, 4,073 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 746 multiple launch rocket systems, 3,149 field artillery and mortars, and 4,253 special military vehicles were destroyed in the course of the special military operation. - - - - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has instructed the country's armed forces to "intensify actions in all directions" to prevent the Ukrainian troops from massively shelling Donbass and other regions, the Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday. Shoigu has paid an inspection visit to Russia's South and Center military groupings, which are involved in the special military operation in Ukraine, the ministry said in a statement. He heard reports from the commanders of the two military groupings on the Ukrainian forces' actions and the progress of the Russian forces' combat missions. Shoigu presented medals to two generals for their work in the special military operation. - - - - Russian armed forces launched missile strikes at a building of the garrison house of officers in the Western city of Vinnytsia in Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry said Friday. The ministry said that high-precision sea-based Kalibr missiles were launched at the building. It added that a conference was being held at the facility at the time of the strike between the command of the Ukrainian armed forces and foreign arms suppliers. Ohio: An autopsy has revealed that eight Akron, Ohio, police officers shot and killed an unarmed black man, Jeland Walker, 46 times three weeks ago. Walker, 25, was shot dead by police on June 27. According to an autopsy by Summit County Medical Examiner Lisa Koehler, Walker had consumed neither alcohol nor drugs at the time. According to critics, the shooting was the most recent in a string of black men killed by law enforcement in the United States. One of those killings, the 2020 killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, sparked anti-police brutality and anti-racism injustice demonstrations around the world. Since the Akron shooting, protesters have called for police accountability and justice for Walker because when police open fire on walker there are nearly 200,000 people in the city's streets and bullet can injured or killed anybody. When officers tried to pull Walker over for a minor traffic violation, but he was evaded by them, Kohler claimed that Walker was also shot in the torso, pelvis, legs and face. Walker jumped out of the car and ran away from officers after a lengthy search, as seen in a police video that was made by public. According to the police, he was seen turning towards the officers who at the time thought he was armed. Later, he claimed, they discovered a gun in his car. according to Kohler, who claimed that such a test is not always accurate. Walker reportedly had more than 60 injuries on his body, but Kohler claimed on Friday that some of those wounds were not caused by bullets. According to Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett, eight officers directly involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave. Saudi Arabian leaders meet with Biden over bilateral ties UN, Ethiopia sign pact for rehabilitation of war-torn northern region US Liable for $2 Trillion in Global Economic Damage from Climate Change-Driven Pollution China: Uzbekistan's shocked government reversed plans earlier this month to deny its Karakalpakstan Autonomous Republic its constitutional right to secede, following violent civil unrest that killed at least 18 and injured thousands , and detained 500. The peaceful protest was the latest example of civil conflict a traditionally stable region in Central Asia, In May, deadly protests broke out in Tajikistan, and in January, the latter were dealt with by Russian troops at the request of the Kazakh authorities through the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Still, China's response to recent events in its western neighbor has been restrained. Despite strong investment interests in the region, particularly through the Belt and Road Initiative, Beijing has done little to promote stability. China's infrastructure projects have been able to withstand geopolitical uncertainty. "It's not that China doesn't like political instability: it's bad for them, it's bad for their investments, and they want stability because stability." is better." , But, at the same time, they're not going to go in and then bring or force that stability." Egypt, where Chinese projects continued despite frequent regime changes from the government of the late President Hosni Mubarak to the current military-backed government of the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi and Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. A stable Uzbekistan is important to China, not least because of the economic importance of the Central Asian country. According to official Uzbek data, China and Russia have been Uzbekistan's top two importers since 2016. The upcoming China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway will provide a cheaper trading route and greater market access for the region. Since 2016, China and Uzbekistan have been each other's "comprehensive strategic partners", recognizing common security interests such as not allowing any group to harm national security within their borders. In response to the July unrest, however, Beijing only said it "heeded the situation in Uzbekistan" and relied on President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to keep his country stable. And, after more than a week of unrest, the Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the eight-member regional bloc that includes Uzbekistan, issued only a brief statement expressing support for government efforts to stabilize the situation. Chinese Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jiang Yan has not issued a statement. According to Sana Hashmi, a visiting fellow at the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation in Taipei, who studied the SCO, the low-key response was in line with China's long-standing principle of non-intervention. "Especially under the SCO and with bilateral relations, they always say that there is no interference in the internal affairs of countries, and in particular, these protests are considered part of the country's internal affairs," she explained. According to him, protests in Karakalpakstan were considered domestic politics. According to Pantucci, a lack of experience in Central Asia and negative public perception of China also stymied Chinese intervention in Kazakhstan, similar to Russia's earlier this year. Never before in the 30-year history of the CSTO did troops intervene to resolve conflicts in any other member state. "Given the level of public hostility towards China in many parts of the region, the presence of Chinese troops is likely to worsen the situation," he said. "And I believe that both the [Uzbek] government and the Chinese government recognize this." While Beijing is the leader of the SCO, a Eurasian economic and security organization whose security mandate is to combat the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, practical concerns will prevent it from sending troops under the mechanism. The need to establish a quadrilateral counter-terrorism cooperation and coordination mechanism among Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and Tajikistan in 2016 expressed distrust in the SCO as a security organization when most of its members were already members of the bloc. Turkmenistan,Uzbekistan intensifying their energy cooperation Uzbek journalist charged in connection with unrest in Karakalpakstan Why Karakalpakstan's unrest deserves global attention Europe: As boiling heat continued for the fifth day in a row in southwest Europe on Friday, wildfire evacuation ruined the holidays of thousands of people. As Britain prepared for "extreme heat" in the coming days and even Irish forecasters predicted a taste of Mediterranean-style summer temperatures. armies of firefighters in France, Portugal and Spain are battling to the fire. French President Emmanuel Macron pledged that officials would do everything raise resources to fight the fallout. Scientists have attributed a second week in a row to climate change fires engulfing large parts of southwest Europe and predicting more frequent and severe episodes of extreme weather. Five regions in the north and center of Portugal, where Thursday's temperature hit a July record of 47 C (116.6 F), were once again on red alert as more than 2,000 firefighters battled four critical fires. The pilot of a plane fighting a forest fire in the Braganca region of northern Portugal died in a crash on Friday. Till late Thursday evening, one person had died and around 60 were injured due to the fire. Officials said some 900 people had been evacuated and several dozen homes were damaged or destroyed. This year, wildfires have destroyed 30,000 hectares (75,000 acres) of land, the largest area in Portugal since the scorching summer 2017 that claimed nearly 100 lives. A fire that broke out on Thursday near Monfrag National Park, a protected area for wildlife in the Extremadura region, continued to burn in neighboring Spain, with temperatures reaching 37 degrees as of 7 a.m. According to Spanish officials, about 20 wildfires were still raging, including one in the south near Mijas, inland from the region's capital Malaga, forcing some 2,300 people to leave their homes. In a tweet, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he was "closely following the development of active fires" that posed "extreme risk". The temperature in Spain rose to 45.4 degrees on Thursday, from a record-breaking 47.4 degrees in August last year. Flames in southwest France have forced the evacuation of 11,000 people since Tuesday, including many tourists who opted to end their vacation rather than stay in improvised shelters set up by local authorities. The flames have destroyed nearly 7,700 hectares of land since Tuesday. With 16 departments already painted orange, a dire alert, southern France, already dealing with temperatures of around 40 degrees on Friday, is preparing for even more heat next week. One person was found dead in a wildfire in the Mediterranean in northern Morocco, officials said. Additionally, hundreds of people were evacuated by authorities from more than a dozen villages in northwestern Morocco.A fire broke out near Dune du Pilat in France, the highest sand dune in Europe and a popular tourist destination. European Union goes after Hungary in salvo of proceedings EU proposes import ban on Russian gold, tweaks on food trade Taiwan wants closer ties with the EU with chip investment Saudi Arabia: More flights from Israel will be possible due to Saudi Arabia's announcement that it will open its airspace to all air carriers this is a sign that relations between the two countries are improving. In line with international conventions that there should be no discrimination between civilian aircraft, the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announced on Thursday that the country's airspace is now open to all carriers that meet its requirements for overflights. According to a GACA statement, the election "will complement efforts aimed at strengthening the state's position as a global hub connecting the three continents and increasing international air connectivity." Shorter flights from Asia to Israel will result from Riyadh's announcement of an open skies policy because airlines serving those routes will not have to circle around Saudi Arabia. United States President Joe Biden, who visits the kingdom on Friday as part of a regional tour, hailed Saudi Arabia's action. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement that the decision "paves the way for a more integrated, stable, and secure Middle East region, which is critical to the security and prosperity of the United States and the American people, as well." Only for Israel's security and prosperity." Earlier on Thursday, a US official told Reuters that Saudi Arabia would soon allow direct charter flights from Israel for Muslims attending the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, as well as allow unrestricted overflight access for Israeli airlines. Developing Relationships: One possible explanation for why Israel was not specifically mentioned in the Saudi statement is that Israel and Saudi Arabia do not have diplomatic relations and the kingdom does not recognize Israel as a state. But behind the scenes, the two sides have been cooperating on security issues for some time as they both worry about the growing regional influence of their rival Iran. In fact, since its two Gulf neighbors established diplomatic relations with Israel through US mediation in 2020, Saudi Arabia has allowed flights between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to use its airspace. . A report claimed that in 2020 Saudi air traffic control allowed an Israeli aircraft headed to India to take off from its airspace to avoid bad weather. Biden expressed his excitement about being the first president to travel directly from Israel to the Saudi city of Jeddah on Friday in a guest article for The Washington Post. He described the visit as "a small symbol of the flourishing relations between Israel and the Arab world and steps towards normalization" Biden's trip to the Mideast Saudi announces successful, safe Hajj season Saudi announces health security for Haj season Canada imposes new sanctions against Russia 15 July, 03:05 PM Canada expanded sanctions against Russia for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine (Photo:Praveen Kumar Nandagiri/Unsplash) Canada has recently expanded a range of sanctions against Russia as its actions "constitute a grave breach of international peace and security that has resulted in a serious international crisis," the Government of Canada reported on its official website. In particular, the amendments to the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations banned the provision of services to the Russian oil and gas, chemical and processing industries. It is noted that "it is prohibited for any person in Canada and any Canadian outside Canada to provide to Russia or to any person in Russia a service" related to manufacturing of basic metals, fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment, computer, electronic and optical products, electrical equipment, machinery and equipment not elsewhere classified, motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers, other transport equipment, land transport and transport via pipelines. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February, Canada imposed sanctions on more than 1,070 individuals and entities from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Advertising and public-relations agencies have been banned for working for Russian oil and gas firms as part of a new wave of sanctions released on June 8 designed to increase pressure on the Putin regime. The sanctions were extended a month later. Canada's updated blacklist includes both individuals and legal entities, in particular, the propaganda Regnum news agency and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church Vladimir Gundyayev, also known as Patriarch Kirill of Moscow. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News It was only in 2003 that the Chinese government gave its first official view on the armed conflict that started in Nepal in 1996. A group in Nepal are defaming our respected leader Mao Zedong, their statement read. Pushpa Kamal Dahal, taking in Mao Zedongs ideology, formed the Maoist party and declared war against the state. As the war affected a lot of people in Nepal, it was talked about everywhere in the world. Even though China condemned the Maoist party, Dahal was merely following what Mao did in China in the early 1900s using the people of the country to start a revolution. As this was happening, many forces around the world were even speculating if Dahal was being deployed by China to take a stand against the US and India. But, China said it had nothing to do with this. The person who wrote the statement was Liu Jianchao, a Chinese politician known for silent diplomacy. Liu Jianchao is now the head of the International Liaison Department of the Chinese Communist Party. Earlier this week, he was in Nepal on a four-day visit. His visit comes at an interesting time. Nepal is now preparing for the provincial and federal elections. It is likely that the Maoist Centre will continue its coalition with the Nepali Congress for the elections. But, many are suspecting that the Chinese politician was here to try and convince the communist parties to merge again and contest the elections as they did during the 2017 elections. Even though the Nepal Communist Party did not last for long, China did its very best to make sure Nepals two major communist parties, the CPN-UML and Maoist Centre, did not split. But, it was not successful. So, what was the message that Liu Jianchao brought to Nepal? A visit amid the geopolitical mess Chinese leader Liu Jianchao with KP Sharma Oli (l) and Pushpa Kamal Dahal Nepal has been at a crossroads between China and the United States. After a lot of controversy, Nepals parliament ratified the US-led Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC). But, after much criticism, Nepal decided not to take part in the State Partnership Program (SPP). Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has also been accused of trying to be distant from China. This is why everyone was looking at how the government would take the visit of a Chinese official coming to Nepal. Liu Jianchao met almost all the prominent leaders in Nepal. He met Prime Minister Deuba, President Bidya Devi Bhandari, opposition leader KP Sharma Oli, and ruling coalition partners Madhav Nepal and Pushpa Kamal Dahal among others. In these meetings, he is believed to have told Nepali leaders that China will not interfere in Nepali politics and will accept what Nepali leaders choose. Sources said that Liu was the freest when he was speaking to President Bhandari. He spent nearly an hour with Bhandari telling her his intentions to visit Nepal. China wants to have good relations with all countries. We want to be good neighbours and help Nepal in development works, Liu told Bhandari according to a source at the Presidents Office. Liu Jianchao also told her he came to Nepal to understand what the leaders wanted for the country and told Bhandari he found Nepali leaders were positive towards Nepal. In reply, Bhandari thanked China for the help it provided to Nepal in recent years, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. Wooing Nepali Congress Liu Jianchao with Sher Bahadur Deuba There is a feeling among people that China also wants to improve its relationships with the Nepali Congress. Late NC leader BP Koirala had some good ties with China. He played an integral role in admitting China into the United Nations. Liu Jianchao has used Koiralas name to get close to Congress leaders, sources say. He first met leaders of the party and kept on bringing up BP Koiralas name during the discussion and stated how China and Nepali Congress have had a good relationship in the past. He even mentioned how Koiralas surname was famous in China. He even went to the BP Koirala Museum in Sundarijal where he showed a lot of interest in learning about the late leader. Liu repeatedly told the leaders how BP Koirala stood up to the world when China was excluded from the United Nations. It looks like China wants to improve its relationship with Congress because I think China finally feels Nepali Congress is an important party here, says a source who attended the meeting. Around 2018, Chinas relations with Nepali Congress had been limited to mere formality as its main focus was to strengthen the erstwhile Nepal Communist Party. When Congress lawmaker Jeevan Bahadur Shahi talked about how China was encroaching Nepali land in the north, China was not pleased. When Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Nepal, there was doubt if he would meet Congress President Deuba. Xi did meet Deuba, but it was a mere formality. After Xis visit, one Chinese media even dubbed Nepali Congress a pro-India party while the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu wrote to Nepali Congress asking it to control its members from giving out irresponsible opinions. Nepali Congress then dubbed the embassys letter baseless stating its members had done nothing wrong. But, things are different now. The NCP does not exist and the Nepali Congress has partnered with two communist parties to form the government. And, since this coalition looks likely to stay put for a while, China has seen the need to convince Nepali Congress that it is its friend. Visits like Liu Jianchaos have meaning especially if it comes before an election. Seems like China is doing its best to send a message to Nepal that it is with the country no matter who is in power, says a CPN-UML leader. Nepali Congress leaders also feel the same. They understand how important China is. Wishing for a communist coalition Chinese leader Liu Jianchao with Nepali communist leaders But, China still wants the communist coalition. During this visit, Liu Jianchao could not hide it as he tried to see if there was a future possibility that the communist parties would come together. It wants communists in power for its own benefit. It wants to remain safe from all sides. They feel that if there are leftists in power, it will be better for them, says a CPN-UML leader. That is why it wants parties with the same ideology in power and has been trying to see if there is a possibility. Liu Jianchao told us that it would have been better if parties with the same ideology should be together; thats all. He didnt ask us to merge, says CPN-Unified Socialist Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal. This story was translated from the original Nepali version and edited for clarity and length. " " American actors Nicolas Cage and James Gandolfini with Swedish actor Peter Stormare in a scene from the movie "8MM" directed by Joel Schumacher, 1999. Hulton Archive/Getty Images Plenty of movies are good, light-hearted fun. Maybe its a family-friendly animated flick, the newest superhero action extravaganza, or a romantic comedy worthy of a date night with your significant other. But not these movies. Not even close. These movies all deal with the extremely dark and disturbing subject matter. But that doesnt mean they should be ignored completely. Indeed, some of these movies are celebrated pieces of cinematic art, while others are relegated to the status of cult classic in their particular genre. They dont all make this list for the same reason, though. Some are graphically violent. Some display the absolute worst of humanity. Some are just twisted horror films that make you wonder if the writers and/or directors might secretly be serial killers in their free time. Here are 20 movies that any cinephile should make time to watch but probably only once. Advertisement 20. "Schindlers List" (1993) Well kick things off with "Schindlers List," which is arguably the best film on this entire list. It did win Best Picture (plus six other Oscars) at the 66th Academy Awards, after all. Steven Spielbergs amazing film featured the real-life Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved the lives of over 1,000 Polish Jews during the Holocaust by giving them jobs in his factories. Originally only motivated by greed, Schindler is deeply affected after witnessing several Nazi atrocities. Despite being a wealthy and influential member of the Nazi Party, Schindler secretly makes plans to save as many lives as he can, blowing his entire fortune in the process. The movie is powerful and emotional, but also a stark reminder of the unspeakable evils that existed not even a century ago. In the end, Schindler is still left feeling incredibly ashamed of his actions, wishing he could have done more. Advertisement 19. "The Woman" (2011) "The Woman" is a deeply disturbing horror flick from 2011, that is a sequel to the little-known 2009 movie "Offspring." It stars Pollyanna McIntosh as a feral woman who is the last of her tribe, a group of cannibalistic human who has secretly roamed the North-East coast area of the United States for decades. When she is found and captured by Chris, a local lawyer, whose intentions to civilize her are initially seen as noble, all hell breaks loose. It turns out that the lawyer and his family have deep, dark secrets of their own, including a sadistic son (Brian) and a daughter (Peggy) who is deathly afraid of her father. Oh, and they keep an eyeless girl caged up in their barn. So, theres that too. When Chris attempts to civilize the woman become more and more violent, including sexually assaulting her, she begins to fight back after Peggy takes a chance and releases her. The following scenes include a bunch of gory cannibalistic murders. The film has been praised for examining the misogynistic habits of society, as well as what we all consider to be normal. Still, were not anxious to watch this one again. Advertisement 18. "The Human Centipede" (2009) OK, this movie isnt really good at all. But somehow, with its ridiculous plot of a crazy doctor performing gross experiments on kidnapped tourists, it became a bit of a pop culture phenomenon. It was even parodied on "South Park" and became popular enough to spawn two separate (and equally bad) sequels. If youre not aware of the plot, buckle up for this weirdness. Dr. Heiter surgically attaches three people, mouth-to-anus, to form one single digestive track aka the human centipede. He then tries to train it as his pet, even though all three humans are in terrible agony and on the verge of dying. Its truly vile, and we only suggest you watch it if you truly want to be a master of all things pop culture, no matter how quirky or strange. If you do plan to watch it, just try not to vomit. Maybe have a garbage pail on hand, just in case. Advertisement 17. "The Passion of the Christ" (2004) Mel Gibsons religious project became the highest-grossing R rated movie of all-time when it was released in 2004, before finally being overtaken by 2016s "Deadpool." While you might not think a movie about Jesus Christ, the central figure in Christianity, could earn itself such a harsh rating from the MPAA, anyone watching the movie quickly saw why it was adults only. The movie consists of watching Jesus (Jim Caviezel) get tortured to death for two hours, including a cringe-worthy whipping scene, a bloody crown of thorns, and well, bloody everything else. Some critics went as far as calling it a borderline snuff film. Whether youre religious or not, this film is hard to watch. Advertisement 16. "The Last House on the Left" (1972) The late Wes Craven became known as a master of horror, creating both "The Nightmare on Elm Street" and "Scream" horror series. Long before that, though, he made his directorial debut in 1972 with "The Last House on the Left" (which was also given a modern reboot in 2009, but well ignore that version for now). It was classified as an exploitation horror film and left many viewers feeling sick to their stomach. The story involves four escaped convicts brutally torturing, raping, and finally killing a pair of teenage girls. The attackers then coincidentally end up the house of one of the girls parents, who find out what they did. At this point, the movie turns into a twisted revenge tale, as the mild-mannered parents use sadistic and violent tactics to murder the convicts. The film was heavily censored by theaters and even banned in the U.K. for many years. Since digital technology wasnt available at the time, many different versions of the film ended up existing as different cinemas literally cut out (as in, cut the film reel with scissors and taped it back together) the scenes they refused to show. Some of the most degrading and disturbing scenes have been almost lost forever as a result. Advertisement 15. "Maniac" (2012) Elijah Wood will probably forever be best known for playing hobbit Frodo Baggins in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, but he has chosen some dark and disturbing roles ever since successfully destroying the one ring to rule them all. In 2005, he had a small part in Frank Millers "Sin City" as a cannibalistic serial killer named Kevin. In 2012, he took it to a whole other level starring in the slasher film "Maniac." Wood plays Frank, a mentally ill man who is traumatized by years of watching his mother work as a prostitute. After his mother dies, his already-broken perception of women, relationships, and sexual desire take a violent turn for the worse. He begins murdering women by scalping them and attaching their hair to mannequins. If that werent hard enough to watch, the entire movie is shot in first-person-view through the eyes of Woods character. You only see his face in mirrors and other reflective surfaces, making the viewer feel like they are part of the violence in a unique (and unsettling) way. Advertisement 14. "Hostel" (2005) Director Eli Roth rose to fame after releasing "Hostel" in 2005. Its a gritty horror film that helped to truly popularize the term torture porn among movie fans. The plot follows a pair of tourists in Europe who are convinced (seduced) by a pair of women to come to stay in a Slovakian hostel. Once there, they realize that its actually a front for kidnapping tourists and then selling them off to be tortured and killed by rich businessmen, who use the violence as an outlet for their stress. While the entire concept is already disturbing enough, Roth goes to great lengths to ensure viewers watch gory torture scenes, including one victim having her face disfigured by a blowtorch. It seems the entire purpose of the film is just to see how far Roth could push the brutality of these scenes. It spawned a couple of sequels, despite being heavily criticized by the Slovakian government for the way it portrayed their country. Advertisement 13. "I Spit On Your Grave" (2010) This movie had a big impact on the industry as a whole. The storyline is very basic, as Jennifer, a New York City writer, rents a rural cabin to work on her debut novel, only to be brutally gang-raped by four local men, who thought they left her for dead. Jennifer survives, though, and embarks on a violent journey of revenge, sometimes using sex as bait before she kills her attackers in a variety of horrible ways. Its an exploitation film in the worst of ways, but it started a broader conversation about censorship when it was banned in some areas. Others have likened Jennifers story to the rise of feminism (it was released in 1978) since she ended up being the powerful hero of the story after spending the first part of the film being torn down and destroyed. "I Spit on Your Grave" was remade in 2010, and that reboot spawned several sequels, but none of them are as disturbing at the original. Advertisement 12. "Audition" (1999) "Audition" is a Japanese horror film about a middle-aged widower who is finally convinced to begin dating again. His friend, a movie producer, devises a cute gimmick where women can audition for the part of his new girlfriend/wife. The first half of the movie is almost a reality show-like comedy until a character by the name of Asami wins the role. Asami turns out to be an obsessed and sadistic serial killer. The movie quickly shifts from light-hearted romantic comedy to a brutal torture flick, involving needles and piano wire. Despite the hard-to-watch scenes, the movie is generally well-rated by fans and critics, who praise its beautiful cinematography and well-acted roles. Critics, however, merely label the 1999 movie as torture porn, which is fitting since Eli Roth cites "Audition" as one of his influences in making the grisly horror movie "Hostel." Advertisement 11. "The Orphanage" (2007) "The Orphanage" is a Spanish horror film that might more accurately be described as depressing, rather than disturbing. Regardless, it features plenty of jumps scares and an ending so emotionally draining that youll never want to go through it again. The plot involves a couple named Laura and Carlos opening a facility for disabled children in an abandoned orphanage, along with their adopted son Simon. When a nosy social worker named Benigna starts poking around, things get weird. Simon goes missing, and the tragic history of the building and those inside it slowly gets revealed. And then, ghost children. Yes, ghost children. Without giving it all away, the ending doesnt go well for anyone, and viewers are left swallowing hard trying to make sense of it all. Advertisement 10. "Hard Candy" (2005) Ellen Page burst into pop culture relevance when "Juno" was released in 2007. However, the movie she starred in two years earlier was not a quirky coming of age story. In "Hard Candy," Page plays a 14-year-old girl (she was just 18 at the time) who lures a sexual predator (played by Patrick Wilson) back to his house to torment him, both physically and psychologically. After restraining him, she threatens to amateurishly castrate him. She stays one step ahead of the furious deviant, eventually forcing him to make a Saw-like decision: commit suicide or she will reveal all the dirty little secrets to his family, friends and girlfriend. In the films climax, the audience learns that shes already done this at least once before. Advertisement 9. "Cannibal Holocaust" (1980) "Cannibal Holocaust" is a particularly notorious film since its director Ruggero Deodato was arrested and charged with obscenity when it was first released in 1980. The movie, a horror film about a group of cannibalistic natives in the Amazon rainforest, was so realistic that it was rumored to be a legit snuff film and Deodato had murder charges added to his name. He was forced to produce the actors who had died in the film in a courtroom to prove they were still alive. This was one of the first found footage films, shot to look like an American film crew had stumbled across something awful while making a documentary. The movie contains graphic rape scenes and brutal violence, which looked shockingly real considering the special effects technology available at the time. Deodato also filmed the (real-life) killing of several animals for scenes in the film, sparking further outrage. The marketing for the film suggested that the footage was legit (much like "The Blair Witch Project" would do decades later), adding to the controversy. Advertisement 8. "Teeth" (2007) This sounds like every mans worst nightmare. "Teeth" is a 2007 black comedy/horror film starring Jess Weixler. It features a sheltered and virginal character named Dawn, who discovers that her body has a strange defensive mechanism when she is date-raped. If you hadnt guessed from the name of the movie, she realizes that she has an extra set of teeth in a very unusual spot. Its a mostly silly film and is very funny in parts. Its also very cringe-inducing to watch a bunch of guys have their packages sliced off by a killer vajayjay (even if they deserve it). The film premiered at Sundance in 2007, and Weixler even won an award for her role. Advertisement 7. "Requiem For a Dream" (2000) "Requiem For a Dream" is like a 90-minute PSA against the dangers of drugs and addictions, except that its way more intense than anything you ever saw in high school health class. This Darren Aronofsky film, based on the Hubert Selby Jr. novel by the same name, involves four main characters who become more and more desperate as they travel a downward spiral into addiction and chaos. We wont give away their fates, but suffice to say that all four characters end up in dark, desolate places both mentally and physically. Aronofsky uniquely shot the film, using extremely short close-ups which help the viewer buy into the panic that the characters start to experience. Particularly hard-to-watch scenes include Harry (Jared Leto) attempting to inject heroin into his infected arm and Marion (Jennifer Connelly) resorting to prostitution to feed her growing addiction. Advertisement 6. "The Machinist" (2004) Christian Bale has had many great roles over the years and might be best known as playing musclebound Bruce Wayne/Batman in Christopher Nolans "The Dark Knight" trilogy. Right before he donned the cape and the cowl of DC Comics most famous hero, he starred in a much smaller and much more disturbing film. Made for just $5 million, "The Machinist" stars Bale as Trevor Reznik, a man who suffers from severe insomnia and other psychological problems. Bale starved himself to look the part, and the result is gruesome. He looks like a skeleton wearing a Christian Bale skin suit. The plot of the movie adds to the eeriness, as Rezniks paranoia and hallucinations continue to build in weird scenes that eventually conclude with the revelation of a major tragedy. Its a compelling flick, but also depressing. One watch is more than enough. Advertisement 5. "8mm" (1999) Unlike a lot of the movies on this list, "8mm" is not a horror movie or a psychological thriller. Its a pretty basic crime drama, starring Nicolas Cage as Tom Welles, a private investigator given an especially gnarly assignment. A wealthy widow finds a disturbing porn video in her deceased husbands safe, that appears to depict a real-life murder. Cages character is charged with figuring out whether its an elaborate fake or the real thing. Welles dives headfirst into the world of unconventional adult videos and eventually realizes the horrible truth. The video is real, and the young girl was murdered on camera for the meager price tag of $1 million, just for the amusement of some ultrarich sicko. As Welles tracks down those responsible (which include a great performance from the late James Gandolfini as a sleazy porn producer), he begins to learn the true depth of evil that even the most average of humans can succumb to. Even with the perpetrators all ending up dead by the end of the movie, it doesnt feel like justice was served. Theres no happy ending here, just that empty feeling in the pit of your stomach. Advertisement 4. "Funny Games" (2007) This quirky psychological thriller is just violence for the sake of violence. Writer and director Michael Haneke have admitted as much, saying he set out to make an incredibly violent but otherwise pointless film. Mission accomplished! The plots centers on a pair of men who take a family hostage and torture them with a series of sadistic games. It uniquely features one of the men (Paul) routinely breaking the fourth wall and speaking directly to the audience about his actions. He winks at the camera before committing atrocious acts, and even explains their brief disappearance from the movie as nothing more than a plot device to build drama. Unlike most horror movies, "Funny Games" doesnt feature a sole survivor or a lone hero. The two men eventually kill the family of three (and their dog), then its revealed that they had previously done the same at a neighboring house, and the movie ends with them knocking on the door of yet another family, continuing their murder spree. The audience is left with that skin-crawling feeling of hopelessness as the credits roll. Advertisement 3. "Irreversible" (2002) No less a movie expert than Roger Ebert had this to say about "Irreversible": [Its] a movie so violent and cruel that most people will find it unwatchable. And yet, it won the Best Film award at the 2002 Stockholm International Film Festival. On the other hand, it also outraged viewers at the Cannes Film Festival, causing many of them to leave the theater in disgust. The movie itself consists of 13 scenes, shown in reverse chronological order. That means that nothing you see makes sense until you watch the next scene, and so on until the movie ends with the beginning of the story. The movie features a prolonged, intense rape scene of actress Monica Belluci and some brutal violence toward the end of the story (which is shown at the beginning of the movie, remember). As if that wasnt controversial enough, the film was criticized for its offensive portrayal of gay men. Its an interesting film, especially the way its presented in reverse order, but still, one that you wont likely want to watch a second time. Or possibly a first. Advertisement 2. "Straw Dogs" (1971) "Straw Dogs" is a classic 1971 psychological thriller by director Sam Peckinpah, starring Dustin Hoffman as David Summer, an American mathematician who moves to a remote town in the U.K. to live with his new wife, Amy. Unfortunately, the town locals arent very impressed that this outsider has married one of their own. A group of men, including Amys ex-boyfriend, harass and intimidate the couple until things escalate into a graphic rape scene. The trauma suffered by Amy creates obvious tension in the marriage. It continues to break down up until the climax of the film, where an angry mob storms the Summer household in an attempt to get to Henry Niles, a mentally handicapped man who is believed to have committed a brutal crime. At this point, the formally nerdy and non-confrontational David goes full Rambo, defending his house with a bunch of makeshift weapons, resulting in multiple brutal deaths. Then he abandons his wife and drives off with a smile, apparently content with his violent outburst. Advertisement 1. "A Serbian Film" If you couldnt make it through the previously mentioned "8mm" without wanting to throw up a little, dont even bother with "A Serbian Film." Its another film about the dark world of underground and violent porn, but on steroids and dialed up to 11. Heres the short version: A retired male porn star is convinced to come back for a big-money final film, only to discover that the director is making a snuff film filled with incestuous, pedophilic and necrophilic scenes. This thing is very hard to watch, and it includes gory and graphic shots of rape, murder, and child abuse. The film was banned in eight different countries, and the director was investigated by the Serbian government for a crime against sexual morals and crime related to the protection of minors. Despite the controversy, the film has received praise for its acting and writing. American film critic Scott Weinberg possibly said it best in his review: I think the film is tragic, sickening, disturbing, twisted, absurd, infuriated, and actually quite intelligent. There are those who will be unable (or unwilling) to decipher even the most basic of messages buried within A Serbian Film, but I believe its one of the most legitimately fascinating films Ive ever seen. I admire and detest it at the same time. And I will never watch it again. Ever. The upgrading of China's military projection and logistics capabilities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Himalayas, designed to prepare for contingencies, is being viewed by the Indian side as offensive and provocative. Citing Indian intelligence sources, The Hindu said the People's Liberation Army had expanded its troop accommodation capacity within 100km of the LAC from 20,000 to 120,000 in the past two years. The Indian newspaper's report, published late last month, said the PLA had deployed four divisions, or 48,000 troops, from its Xinjiang military district, with the soldiers being rotated on the disputed border facing eastern Ladakh, where the worst fighting in over four decades saw at least 20 Indian soldiers and four from the PLA killed in the Galwan Valley on June 15, 2020. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. Zhou Chenming, a researcher from the Yuan Wang military science and technology think tank in Beijing, confirmed the PLA had renovated and expanded barracks along the LAC since that clash, including permanent buildings and demountable ones. "Many of the permanent buildings are warehouses for fuel storage, while other accommodation and portable facilities will be used for housing troops," Zhou said, adding that the PLA was capable of deploying up to 120,000 troops to the LAC in a week if necessary. "China doesn't need to station so many troops in border areas because of its powerful military projection capacity and infrastructure and logistics supply network." A photograph released by the Indian Army in February last year shows People's Liberation Army soldiers and tanks near the Line of Actual Control. Photo: AFP alt=A photograph released by the Indian Army in February last year shows People's Liberation Army soldiers and tanks near the Line of Actual Control. Photo: AFP> Story continues The Hindu said other major upgrades had included expanding infrastructure such as runways and hardened blast pens to house fighter jets, additional long-range artillery and rocket systems, and better air defence systems. Compared with India's roughly 200,000 troops stationed along the LAC, Zhou said the PLA's total deployment numbered just several thousand. "The upgrades and renovation of frontline posts and troop deployment in the Western Theatre Command facing the Indian side aim at preparing for any surprise attacks by the Indian army," he said. Yogesh Gupta, a former Indian ambassador to Denmark and a specialist in China-India relations, said New Delhi viewed the increase in PLA troop accommodation capacity and upgraded infrastructure as offensive moves aimed at intruding on Indian territory. "India is constantly improving its defences," he said. "China may have more weapons ... but the world is not sure of the quality of the Chinese weapons or the morale, training and fighting abilities of the Chinese troops. "India's deployments are defensive, those of China are offensive. But this is not surprising given the differences in the thinking of the two countries, particularly China under Xi Jinping." Beijing and New Delhi have competed in the deployment of advanced and sophisticated weapons near the LAC over the past two years. State broadcaster China Central Television said the PLA had deployed ZTQ 15 light tanks and drones to the Himalayas in the past year, while Indian media reported that New Delhi had boosted its firepower along the LAC in October with additional Bofors guns and ultralight M-777 howitzers. Wang Dehua, an expert on South and Central Asian affairs at the Shanghai Centre for International Studies, said a lack of mutual trust between the two Asian giants had caused the ongoing tensions. An Indian soldier keeps watch at Bumla Pass on the India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh in October 2012. Photo: AFP alt=An Indian soldier keeps watch at Bumla Pass on the India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh in October 2012. Photo: AFP> "Some of the Indian elite have still not stepped out of the shadow of the 1962 Sino-Indian border conflict," Wang said, referring to a bloody skirmish that left thousands dead on both sides. "My personal view is, the main purpose of China's move to upgrade infrastructure and deployment along the LAC is to prevent a recurrence of the bloody 1962 clash, paving the way for both sides to come up with a solution for the border issue through peaceful negotiations." Wang said China had been "quite wary" of India's working with the United States in its Indo-Pacific Strategy, which Beijing believed was aimed at establishing a mini-Nato in the region. Rajeev Ranjan Chaturvedy, an international studies professor at India's Nalanda University, said India would continue to seek a peaceful solution, even though New Delhi was also preparing for any "aggressive intrusions into Indian territory". "We are witnessing a change in language and behaviour. Two-way trade has crossed US$100 billion, reaching US$125.6 billion," said Chaturvedy, adding the 16th round of military talks between the two sides, scheduled for Sunday, could be seen as a good sign. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2022 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2022. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Governor Kristi Noem speaks at a bill signing related to the creation of a new Dakota State University cybersecurity building on Thursday, March 24, 2022, at First Premier Bank in Sioux Falls. Gov. Kristi Noem announced Friday afternoon that she will not call a special session to address abortion litigation, backtracking on earlier calls to do so. In a statement released Friday, Noem said South Dakota is already the most pro-life state in the country. "Our laws are saving lives, and resources like Life.SD.gov are helping mothers. For these reasons, we are of one mind that South Dakota can prepare to advance on our progress in the regular legislative session, and a special session will not be necessary. The statement was signed by Sens. Lee Schoenbeck, Jessica Castleberry and Erin Tobin and Reps. Jon Hansen, Taylor Rehfeldt and Rebecca Reimer, all Republicans. They were joined by Dale Bartscher, the executive director of South Dakota Right to Life and Lisa Gennaro, the legislative liaison for Concerned Women for America of South Dakota. More: Analysis: Is Gov. Kristi Noem stepping back from vow to hold special session on abortion? Abortion became illegal in South Dakota the moment the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that had legalized the procedure across the country. In 2005, the South Dakota Legislature had passed a so-called "trigger law" that stipulated abortion would become illegal if Roe was ever overturned, and the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization did that on June 24. Still, some lawmakers wanted to revisit the 17-year-old trigger law. For example, some wanted harsher penalties for doctors who provided illegal abortions. The trigger law included a penalty of up to two years in jail. Earlier Friday, a group of conservative lawmakers known as the Freedom Caucus issued a release calling for a special session. It said that women could still receive "covert abortions" via a procedure that removes abnormal cells from the uterine lining. The recent Dobbs opinion was great, because in South Dakota, it enacted an excellent pro-life trigger law, but now we need to close the loopholes," Freedom Caucus Chairman Rep. Aaron Aylward said in a statement. Story continues More: Noem requests disaster declaration for June tornado, storm damage Still, other lawmakers were concerned that calling a special session prior to the November election would inject too much raw emotion into some legislative races. In the governor's statement, Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, credited Noem for South Dakota becoming an "abortion free state." Noem served in the state Legislature from 2007-2011. Gov. Noem is a fierce advocate for the unborn and their mothers," the statement said. "Under her leadership South Dakota is now an abortion-free state except to save the life of the mother. The decision not to call a special session portends a regular legislative session that will be heavy on abortion-related bills. The regular session starts in January. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota Gov. Noem won't call abortion special session Health Alert Raised As Hot Weather Continues Across The UK People enjoy the hot weather at Margate beach in Margate, United Kingdom, on on July 16, 2022. Credit - Hollie AdamsGetty Images The U.K. has declared a national emergency as it braces for a heatwave after the United Kingdoms National Severe Weather Warning Service issued its first ever red warning for extreme heat. Much of England is expected to experience record high heat of 104 degrees early next week. British authorities are spreading the word on heat safety practices before the wave is expected to hit on Monday and Tuesday, such as maintaining hydration, keeping cool inside, staying out of the sun and following weather advisories closely. Environmental groups are gearing up to strengthen water conservation campaigns in response to increased water consumption and droughts in the U.K. Exceptional, perhaps record-breaking temperatures are likely early next week, quite widely across the red warning area on Monday, and focussed a little more east and north on Tuesday, Chief Meteorologist, Paul Gundersen, said in a statement. Nights are also likely to be exceptionally warm, especially in urban areas. This is likely to lead to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure. Therefore, it is important people plan for the heat and consider changing their routines. This level of heat can have adverse health effects. The Met Office defines a red heatwave as, so severe and/or prolonged that its effects extend outside the health and social care system. At this level, illness and death may occur among the fit and healthy, and not just in high-risk groups. The colored warning system begins with the color green, which signals a minimum state of vigilance during the summer, yellow, the alert and readiness stage for potential heatwaves, amber, once heatwave temperatures have been reached and are predicted to continue, and then red, a national emergency. An amber warning had already been in place for July 17 through July 19 before being upgraded to red. Story continues Heat is expected to return closer to normal levels in the U.K. by July 20, when a cold front passes through the country, however, scientists and environmentalists have concerns that the heat wont be gone for long. The British heatwave comes as blazing heat sweeps across Europe and wildfires burn large swaths of Portugal, Spain, Croatia and France. Officials reported that more than 1000 people have had to evacuate these regions, thousands of acres have burned down and drought risk is high. Climate change has already influenced the likelihood of temperature extremes in the U.K. The chances of seeing 40C days in the U.K. could be as much as 10 times more likely in the current climate than under a natural climate unaffected by human influence, Dr. Nikos Christidis, a climate attribution scientist at the Met Office, said in a report. The European Union released a statement that climate change is behind the rising temperatures and dangerous heat, after nine hikers were killed in Marmolada, Italy from a glacier collapse. The Union predicts concern about further natural disasters and dire heat all summer. Statistics show that since 2017, we have the most intense, intense forest fires ever seen in Europe. And that we unfortunately expect the 2022 forest fire season could follow this trend, EU Commissioner Maros Sefcovic told legislators. The tragic event in Marmolada is just the latest example of disasters linked to warmer temperatures and thus to climate change. JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, July 15 (Reuters) - The United States and Saudi Arabia on Friday made a package of announcements ranging from removing peacekeepers from a strategic island off the Saudi and Egyptian coasts to cooperation in mobile technology, during a visit by U.S. President Joe Biden. In the statement released after Biden held talks with senior Saudi officials including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the United States also welcomed previously announced accelerated oil production increases by OPEC+, a group which includes Saudi Arabia and Russia. The statement said U.S. and other peacekeepers would leave Tiran island where they have been stationed as part of accords reached in 1978 and which led to a peace deal between Israel and Egypt. Tiran lies between Saudi Arabia and Egypt, in a strategic area that leads to the Israeli port of Eilat. Washington also welcomed a Saudi move to open its air space to civilian aircraft flying to and from Israel, which had previously been barred with rare exceptions, the statement said. Other announcements also covered an agreement on cooperation on 5G and 6G mobile technology and on cybersecurity. (Reporting by Steve Holland, Aziz el Yaakoubi, Maha El Dahan and Jarrett Renshaw; Writing by Edmund Blair; Editing by Daniel Wallis) The community has a deep interest in seeing expanded career and technical educationor CTEofferings for Fredericksburg school children, and school officials are committed to making that happen. How to achieve that goal was the subject of the second in a series of roundtable meetings sponsored by Fredericksburg City Public Schools. Representatives from the school division; University of Mary Washington and Germanna Community College; city and state government; local businesses; area nonprofits attended the event Wednesday. Lori Mueller, a partner with the Donovan Group, which is working with the school division on its communications strategy, said school officials heard the communitys desire for more CTE offerings and business partnerships at the first meeting in April. She began Wednesdays session by reviewing the results of the April session, which identified the school divisions strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Strengths included a diverse student population, local leadership and competent and caring staff. Weaknesses included overcrowding, a lack of parent involvement and minority student achievement. Opportunities for the school division included creating more partnerships with local businesses and organizationsthe subject of Wednesdays sessionas well as improving and expanding communication. Threats included politics surrounding public education, competition with charter, lab and private schools, educator burnout and misinformation. Mueller talked about the value of the community and business education partnerships that she worked to create as a public school superintendent in Wisconsin. She said the partnerships caused the community to invest in students, and vice versa. We tried to put business partnerships in every classroom, Mueller said. We wanted to change the lives of the kids as well as those coming in to engage with the kidsso when the student has to go into the community with a struggle, he or she already has a great relationship with the community to provide support. Kristi Allison, coordinator of career and technical education for city schools, then provided an overview of the divisions CTE course offerings. There are 11 career clustersincluding business management, education, health science, hospitality and information technologyand 34 course offerings, Allison said. Some of the new courses that will be offered during the 202223 school year, based on student requests, are veterinary science, game design and development, business law and digital and social media marketing. Allison said the state emphasizes work-based learning in its Profile of a Virginia Graduate and that James Monroe High School offers work-based learning opportunities through internships, externships and clinical experience. The school division received a $500,000 CTE grant from the General Assembly, sponsored by former delegate Josh Cole, and has used the money to expand the cosmetology room and the certified nursing assistant program and purchase a bus to transport students to work-based learning opportunities. Allison said continued expansion of those opportunities requires community partnerships. Session attendees then broke into small groups to talk about how CTE and work-based learning could improve in the city, what resources are needed and what opportunities local businesses and organizations could provide students. A handful of themes emerged from the discussion, such as the need to introduce students to career pathways as early as possible; for the school division to be very clear about what it needs from the community and to communicate that need in multiple ways, down to personally knocking on businesses doors; and for the school division to also evaluate what the community needs from its students to encourage a homegrown workforce. We are willing and eager to put our differences aside for the benefit of our most precious citizensour children, Superintendent Marci Catlett said. We all of us really, reallyIll say it againreally do care about our students. Fredericksburg school officials will host a third community roundtable discussion on Oct. 12. Authorities are recommending people stay out of the northern side of Lake Anna because of harmful algae blooms. One type of algae found in the water, cyanobacteria, can cause skin rashes, stomach illness, vomiting and diarrhea. Tests conducted July 7 and reported Thursday detected unsafe levels. Visitors are advised to avoid the northern-most Pamunkey Branch from Stubbs Bridge Road to the end of the lake. On the North Anna Branch, which is south of the Pamunkey Branch, most of the branch should be avoided. Authorities suggest people stay out of the water from Lumsden Flats at Rose Valley Drive to the end of the branch. The middle and southern portions of the lake are safe to visit. A healthy level of cyanobacteria was detected near Lake Anna State Park. In general, experts advise people to stay out of water that smells bad, looks discolored or has foam, scum or algal mats on the surface. Water with red, green or white streaks should be avoided. Boating in algae-infested waters is safe, but experts advise against any activity that risks ingesting water, such as swimming. Over the past four summers, harmful algae blooms have spread in Lake Anna and resulted in no-swim advisories for parts of the popular recreation destination. In June, the Virginia Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services approved a pilot treatment program aimed at killing the harmful algae with a hydrogen peroxide-based treatment. The Lake Anna Civic Association plans to launch the Cyanobacteria Mitigation Program, which will use BlueGreen Water Technologies treatment. The companys website describes the process as cutting-edge technologies to selectively target and eliminate harmful cyanobacteria/algae without harming other life forms or leaving any chemical trace in the water. Last month, Greg Baker, LACA board of directors president, said the group was working to raise $100,000 to help pay for the first treatment on the lake. LACA donated $37,000. Other donations have amounted to $69,100 so far. The association has launched a campaignKick the HABaimed at raising more money. A former sales associate for Virginia ABC and another man have been indicted in what authorities described as a conspiracy to obtain internal ABC inventory data on high-demand and limited-availability bourbons, and provide that insider information to interested parties for a price. Former ABC employee Edgar Smith Garcia, 28, of Manassas, and Robert William Adams, 45, of Chesapeake, were indicted last month by a Richmond Metropolitan Multi-Jurisdiction Grand Jury on charges of using a computer to illegally obtain an unauthorized copy of ABC data and embezzling the agency's inventory product sales list. They also are charged with two counts of conspiring to commit those offenses. The cases are being tried in Hanover County because that's where Virginia ABC recently moved its new administration headquarters and distribution center from Hermitage Road in Richmond. The charges are based on allegations that Garcia, as an ABC employee, had access to an internal list of the agency's allocated liquor products that was not available to the public. Garcia then provided the information to Adams, who had a private Facebook page, and Adams would release the information to his subscribers who would pay him $300 each for access, said Henrico Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney David Stock, who is prosecuting the case and is special counsel to the multijurisdictional grand jury. "They would know where bottles of bourbons highly sought by collectors would be placed in stores for sale before the general public was aware," Stock said of the two defendants. Stock said the investigation focused on various labels of high-demand, limited-availability bourbons allocated by the government-run liquor monopoly. The agency has compiled a list of more than 100 products that are not readily available to meet public demand, but occasionally offered for sale at randomly selected ABC stores at one bottle per customer per day. Some of the sought-after bourbons include Buffalo Trace, Booker's Bourbon and Blanton's Single Barrel. The goal was to make the products as accessible as possible and correct a system where bourbon hunters or whiskey enthusiasts were camping outside Virginia ABC stores when they thought or caught wind that a shipment of allocated whiskey was coming in. Now, Virginia ABC will announce on its Spirited Virginia Facebook or Instagram page that certain stores will have the allocated bourbon for purchase. Because both cases are pending adjudication, Stock declined to say how Garcia and Adams were connected or what brought them together. Garcia was employed as a lead sales associate from Feb. 14, 2020, to March 25 and earned $16.53 hour, ABC officials said. Reached Friday, attorney Vaughan Jones, who is representing Adams, said he couldn't comment on his client's on-going legal matter. But Vaughan said based on his initial review of the evidence, he found that the acquisition of hard-to-find alcoholic beverages became a hobby among enthusiasts that gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic. "There are many people and I can't comment on whether my client is one of them who were pursuing all avenues possible to acquire, through legal means, hard-to-find alcohol," Jones said. Attorney Tony Paracha in Centreville, who is representing Smith, could not be reached for comment. Virginia ABC and other law enforcement agencies conducted an investigation based on complaints the agency received, along with "our own observations," said ABC spokeswoman Dawn Eischen in a statement Friday. "Since this is an ongoing criminal investigation, we cannot comment on how ABC investigated this case or provide details about products associated with the charges. We can confirm, however, that they were limited availability products." Added Eischen: "As the sole provider of spirits in Virginia, we want to ensure that every customer has a fair chance at acquiring highly sought-after products. We are committed to this standard and are confident that our current random process to distribute limited availability products addresses the issues identified in our investigation that led to the arrest of these two individuals." Both Garcia and Adams were released on bond after their arrests. Garcia is scheduled to enter a plea to the charges on Sept. 19, court records show. On Friday, a judge set a jury trial date of Dec. 12-13 for Adams in Hanover Circuit Court. Leonard Management Group, a family-owned company that owns local McDonalds restaurants, is donating more than 75 school supply kits to local teachers. This donation is a way to show appreciation for teachers and all they provide for their students. The kits include pencils, pens, crayons, tissues, post-it notes and more. Quantities are limited; to receive a kit, teachers must sign up for a time slot. The event at McDonalds in Fremont, 435 E. 23rd St., will take place from 9-11 a.m. Thursday, July 21. Teachers can register for a time slot at In addition to the school supply kits, teachers will have a chance to win prize giveaways at the event. In all, Leonard Management Group is donating more than $30,000 in school supplies to teachers across Nebraska and South Dakota. Two police officers were shot and killed by unidentified gunman in northwestern Pakistan, authorities said. Officials said the attack took place in the Khyber tribal district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province on July 16. Both slain police officers were on duty at a checkpoint in the Bara area of Khyber when gunmen riding motorbikes opened fire on them and fled, Zaheer Khan, the spokesman of Khyber district police, told Radio Mashaal. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. The incident occurred two days after two religious scholars and local political leaders were killed in Pakistan's troubled North Waziristan tribal district in the latest in a wave of seemingly targeted attacks. Earlier, on July 11, a roadside bomb killed one soldier and injured four others in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. There were no claims of responsibility for those attacks. Attacks on security forces and civilians have recently increased in various parts of Pakistans northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. The incidents come amid a declared cease-fire by the banned Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group as part of ongoing peace talks with the government. The prolonged consequences of drought and warming threaten the future of drinking water from the Colorado River. And it's a double-edged sword. Not only is the river basin environment robbed of moisture, it primes the land for fires that burn bigger and faster and affect the broader riverscape in more insidious, devastating ways. RTHK: Biden: US committed to Middle East allies US President Joe Biden told an Arab Summit on Saturday that the United States would remain firmly committed to its allies in the Middle East and was "not going anywhere" as he lobbied for a regional security alliance that would integrate Israel. Biden, who began his first trip to the Middle East as president with a visit to Israel, presented his vision and strategy for America's engagement in the Middle East. He also sought to use the gathering in Jeddah to integrate Israel as part of a new axis largely driven by shared concerns over Iran. "We believe there's great value in including as many of the capabilities in this region as possible and certainly Israel has significant air and missile defence capabilities, as they need to. But we're having these discussions bilaterally with these nations," a senior administration official told reporters. Biden has focused on the planned summit with six Gulf states and Egypt, Jordan and Iraq, while downplaying a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. That encounter drew criticism in the United States over human rights abuses. "No country gets it right all the time, even most of the time, including the United States. But our people are our strength. Our countries with the confidence to learn from the mistakes grow stronger," Biden said. "So let me conclude by summing all this up in one sentence. The United States is invested in building a positive future in the region, in partnership with all of you, and the United States is not going anywhere." Biden had said he would make Saudi Arabia a "pariah" on the global stage over the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents, but ultimately decided US interests dictated a recalibration, not a rupture, in relations with the world's top oil exporter. The US leader said he had raised the Khashoggi killing with the Saudi crown prince on Friday and that to be silent on the issue of human rights is "inconsistent with who we are and who I am". The crown prince told Biden that Saudi Arabia has acted to prevent a repeat of mistakes such as the killing of Khashoggi but that the United States had made similar mistakes, including in Iraq, a Saudi official said. (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2022-07-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. El Paso County this week agreed to pay $188,500 to settle a federal lawsuit claiming Sheriff Bill Elder retaliated against two former sheriff's employees after they reported a supervisor for sexual harassment. County commissioners voted 4-1 to approve the agreement, with Commissioner Longinos Gonzalez opposed. Commissioners did not discuss the settlement. A November 2018 claim filed in U.S. District Court in Denver by former sheriff's Sgt. Keith Duda and his daughter, Caitlyn Duda, who worked as a jail guard at the time, alleged Elder targeted them with retaliation after they lodged a complaint in November 2016 after hearing allegations that former Lt. Bill Huffor sexually harassed a female deputy. Both Dudas and Elder in court documents agreed Huffor "engaged in conduct unbecoming" of a sheriff's employee. Months later, the lawsuit claimed, Huffor retaliated against Caitlyn Duda by initiating "unwarranted" disciplinary action against her for using profanity toward an inmate. The office placed her on a 120-day probation for the incident, though she believed the sheriff had never disciplined other employees for similar conduct, the lawsuit said. When Caitlyn Duda then filed a complaint alleging retaliation, the Sheriff's Office denied her father a promotion, the lawsuit said. Keith Duda and another sergeant had applied in mid-2017 for an open vice and narcotics unit position. The lawsuit alleges that within hours of Caitlyn Duda contacting Human Resources about filing her retaliation complaint, a commander told Keith Duda interviews for the position were cancelled and another applicant would receive the job. Keith Duda also alleged when Elder ran for reelection in 2018, Huffor harassed him for supporting Mike Angley, Elder's opponent for the Republican nomination in the GOP primary election. Elder claimed in court documents Duda campaigned for Angley while on duty. Duda denied the allegation, saying he used personal time to support Angley's candidacy and claiming "informants" in the Sheriff's Office, including Huffor, reported his and others' political activity to Elder. The El Paso County Attorney's Office hired workplace investigation firm Employment Matters, LLC to determine whether Keith Duda engaged in political activity while on duty, Colorado Politics previously reported. The investigation found insufficient evidence to prove some allegations but deemed it probable Duda offered to arrange a meeting between Angley and another sergeant while on duty. Keith Duda claimed in the lawsuit he was ultimately fired for supporting Angley and for an interview with a local newspaper about discrimination and political retribution within the Sheriff's Office. In November 2020, a lower court allowed the Dudas' claims to proceed to trial. Elder then appealed the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. A three-judge appellate panel last July deemed the allegations against Elder demonstrated a constitutional violation. In the panel's July 27, 2021, opinion, Judge Scott M. Matheson Jr. wrote Elder "allowed his supporters to engage in political speech on his behalf while on duty, but he punished Mr. Duda for supporting a political rival. Rather than apply a speech-restriction policy neutrally, Sheriff Elder engaged in viewpoint discrimination, which violates the core of the First Amendment." Elder claimed Keith Duda talked to a sergeant on duty about the election and spoke negatively about the Sheriff's Office administration, Colorado Politics previously reported. In the summer of 2018, Elder sent an "expectations memo" to the law enforcement agency's command staff. In it, Elder wrote, "You are not free to start rumors, engage in sidebar or closed door discussions, or become outwardly critical of me or ANY member of the staff." (The emphasis is in the original memo.) "You are a member of my staff? You owe institutional loyalty," the memo continued. "If you can't handle that expectation, if your heart is not in the requirements of this job, if your head is not behind me, it is time for you to step down or maybe even step out. Leave with your integrity intact." The panel determined Elder's termination of Keith Duda was not reasonably related to fears of workplace disruption. His firing was related to his views, not his conduct, the panel ruled, because other employees who spoke about the sheriff's race on the job were not terminated. Attorneys for both Dudas and Elder did not immediately respond to The Gazette's request for comment Friday. The settlement agreement states Elder continues to deny the allegations against him and the county's payment of settlement funds "is not to be construed in any way as an admission of liability" by Elder. orange The remarkable similarity of Thule artifacts throughout a vast region can, in part, be explained as The remarkable similarity of Thule artifacts can, in part, be explained as Thule artifacts being remarkably similar one explanation is That Thule artifacts are remarkably similar is, in part, explainable as One explanation for the remarkable similarity of Thule artifacts is that there was Thule artifacts are remarkably similar with one explanation for this being Right away, if we just read the orange parts in each option, we start to see some problems: (A) The remarkable similarity of Thule artifacts throughout a vast region can, in part, be explained as INCORRECT (B) Thule artifacts being remarkably similar throughout a vast region , one explanation is INCORRECT (C) That Thule artifacts are remarkably similar throughout a vast region is, in part, explainable as INCORRECT (D) One explanation for the remarkable similarity of Thule artifacts throughout a vast region is that there was CORRECT perfectly (E) Throughout a vast region Thule artifacts are remarkably similar , with one explanation for this being INCORRECT There you have it - option D is the correct answer! Hello Everyone!Let's take a closer look at this question, since it appears that the original posting had to be updated at some point to fix typos. We'll look at each option and narrow it down to the right answer. To get started, here is the question with any major differences between each option highlighted ina very rapid movement of people from one end of North America to the other.(A)throughout a vast region(B)throughout a vast region,(C)throughout a vast region(D)throughout a vast region(E) Throughout a vast regionThis answer isbecause it's saying that the similarity of Thule artifacts IS a rapid movement of people from one end of North American to another, which doesn't really make logical sense. It should say that the similarity is CAUSED BY a rapid movement of people. It's also not clear that this is only ONE explanation of many - it just says that this partly explains the similarity of artifacts.This isbecause it's unclear what the subject of the sentence is. The phrase "Thule artifacts being remarkably similar throughout a vast region" needs a verb directly after it to work because it is acting like a subject here. "One explanation" is also acting as the subject. We can't have two subjects that are just stacked on top of each other like this, with nothing connecting them.This isfor the same reason as option A. If you read carefully, it says that the phenomenon of similar artifacts IS the movement of people, not that it was CAUSED BY a sudden movement of people. This doesn't make logical sense, so let's toss this option aside.This isbecause it conveys the proper meaning (the movement of people is one explanation for finding similar artifacts in several places), and this is absolutely clear to readers. This isn't to say this option isgrammatically correct - many of you took issue with the phrase "is that there was" being overly wordy. However, this is the best answer because it conveys its meaning the clearest - even if you could argue that you could cut a few words out.This isbecause the first clause "Throughout a vast region Thule artifacts are remarkably similar" is missing a comma after the word region.This was a difficult question, for sure!Don't study for the GMAT. Train for it._________________ GREENSBORO Look down the roster of this summer's 250-plus Eastern Music Festival students, and see their states and countries of origin. Iran. Taiwan. China. South Korea. Spain. Among the states, Texas, Florida and North Carolina top the numbers of pre-professional students ages 15 to 25 studying and performing at the classical festival this summer. "We're thrilled to welcome students from 41 states and nine countries this year," said Chris Williams, executive director of the organization that presents the summer music festival and school on the Guilford College campus. "That global reach is reflective of our own strength and tenacity," Williams said. North Carolina ranks third on EMF's enrollment list this year; 23 students come from the Tar Heel state. That's behind Texas and Florida, much bigger states with numerous large and well-regarded undergraduate music schools and strong feeder programs, Williams said. Five students hail from the Triad: violist Kate MacKenzie, 19, pianist Michael Drusdow, 21, and guitarist Luke Trainor, 17, all from Greensboro; harpist Beth Henson, 20, from Jamestown; and guitarist An Ngo, 25, from Winston-Salem. "We invest a lot of time and energy recruiting N.C. students, and our results are strong," Williams said. Enrollment standards are high, based entirely on musical ability as demonstrated through auditions, Williams said. So how many applicants does it take to get to about 255? The rule of thumb: It takes about 1,000 applications to produce 800 actual auditions. That results in about 255 students enrolling. Williams describes the process: Student enrollment begins with outreach to teachers, students, schools and EMF alumni all over the world. "We have a great relationship with a school in Taiwan and with teachers elsewhere," Williams said. Melissa Edwards, EMF admissions and education director, manages and drives the process forward. EMF faculty musicians, who come from colleges and universities around the country, play a huge role in recruiting students at their institutions. Several students from other countries attend schools in the states during the academic year, and apply to EMF for summer. EMF databases of teachers and schools include more than 6,000 educators and institutions; the alumni database includes more than 7,000. "North Carolina is well represented on both lists and both lists are growing every year," Williams said. Throughout the year, Edwards, Williams, faculty and alumni reach out to students and teachers through conference presentations, school visits and other face-to-face interactions. Prospective students from Greensboro might want to go away for the summer to another location and music camp, much like EMF students who want to come to Greensboro. "Some teachers encourage students to attend summer festivals where they'll study with teaching peers from other institutions," Williams said. "Other teachers prefer to keep their students very close and they encourage their students to follow them to their summer institution." For example, students in Scott Rawls UNCG viola program often but not always follow him to the Brevard Music Center, where he teaches in the summer institute and festival, Williams said. "Some towns are hotbeds for great musical training, others aren't," Williams said. "Some have tremendous orchestral programs in their public schools, others don't." Last summer, Kate MacKenzie had planned to study viola at Brevard Music Center's summer festival, before heading to Oberlin Conservatory of Music for the academic year. But Brevard canceled its high school program because of the COVID-19 pandemic. So she successfully applied and auditioned for EMF. This summer, she saw the new String Leadership program on the EMF website and decided to apply again. "I had a really positive experience last year," MacKenzie said. "The repertoire here is really incredible. We're playing major, major works, including some that are rarely programmed even for professional symphonies, because they are such massive undertakings." At the high school level, the relationship between the hometown teacher and EMF often is the deciding factor. "A really tenacious teacher will sometimes be the pipeline for many students over many years," Williams said. "Their kids are strong players and they do well in our audition processes, year after year. "When there's a change in school administration, or teachers, or youth orchestra leadership, some pipelines dry up. Others form," Williams said. "It's never static." This year, tuition, room, board and fees total $5,786 for five weeks. Most students receive some scholarship aid. To build appropriately-balanced ensembles and programs, EMF set target goals, among them nine percussionists, 12 horn players, 55 violinists and 24 violists. EMF officials reassess and rebalance the target numbers annually as programs evolve. The audition process is online. Each eligible student is encouraged to apply and compete. Auditions are not blind, Williams said. EMF administrators know the names, schools, teachers, and other details about each applicant. "But we recruit, audition, invite and enroll based almost entirely on merit and aptitude," Williams said. "Only after merit and ability are evaluated," he added, "do we look at other factors like financial need, geographic, gender, age and demographic diversity." Almost four years after it first hit bookshelves, the film adaptation of Delia Owens 2018 novel Where the Crawdads Sing debuts on the big screen. Since its release, the Crawdads book has captivated readers around the world, spending more than 160 weeks on the New York Times best sellers list to-date. Now, moviegoers will flock to theaters to see the people and places of the novel come to life in the film, which stars Daisy Edgar-Jones as protagonist Kya, also known as the Marsh Girl. The movie soundtrack features a song by Taylor Swift called Carolina. If you havent read the book, or if you just need a refresher, you should know that the book and movie are set in North Carolina though the movie was filmed in Louisiana. The states coastal marshes, which author Owens placed around the fictional town of Barkley Cove, account for most of the setting. Real-life locations of Chapel Hill, Asheville and Greenville get smaller mentions at various points throughout the plot. Where is the NC marsh in Where the Crawdads Sing? As the site of Kyas lifelong home which is basically a fishing shack the marsh accounts for most of the setting in Crawdads. In the marsh, Kya lives among the wild and natural plants, animals and other creatures of her surroundings, leading her to be called the Marsh Girl by the people of nearby coastal town Barkley Cove. Here are the clues. Marshes + swamps. Owens doesnt name the specific marsh where Kya lives and keeps any major hints about the marshs possible real-life location to a minimum in the book, but we do know that its meant to be somewhere on the North Carolina coast. Its also worth mentioning that while the book notes the difference between marshes and swamps, we do know that the area where Kya lives has both a key fact in determining where the real-life inspiration for the fictional setting could be. Easy trip to Greenville. One helpful hint about the marshs location is that at one point in the book, Kya takes a bus from Barkley Cove to the real-life town of Greenville. Its not specifically mentioned whether its Greenville, North Carolina or South Carolina, but were going to assume North Carolina, since thats where the rest of the story is based plus, theres a possible implication that the bus ride to Greenville from Barkley Cove only takes a couple hours or less, with one character saying its an easy trip. County seat. Another helpful hint is that Barkley Cove is described as the first village settled in this torn and marshy stretch of the North Carolina coast. Barkley Cove is also described as the county seat of Barkley County. While these pieces of information dont narrow down the possible location of the marsh and Barkley Cove that much, it does give us some help. Best guess? Knowing that the area where Kya lives should be near a coastal town, be about two hours or less from Greenville and have both marsh and swamp wetlands, we propose two probable locations for Barkley Cove and the surrounding marsh: New Bern or Bath. New Bern sits about an hour from Greenville and is surrounded by several marshy areas, as well as some swamp, that open up to the Pamlico Sound. Its also the second-oldest colonial town in North Carolina so not the first, as Barkley Cove is described, but close and is the county seat of Craven County. Bath sits about 45 minutes from Greenville and is also located near marshy and swampy land on the Pamlico River. Notably, Bath was North Carolinas first town and served as the states first capital. However, Bath is not the county seat of Beaufort County. Bath has a smaller population than New Bern, though, which seems to be more in-line with Barkley Cove. Other towns that Barkley Cove could possibly represent would be Ahoskie (about an hour from Greenville), Edenton (about an hour and 15 minutes from Greenville), Jacksonville (about an hour and a half from Greenville) or Elizabeth City (about an hour and 45 minutes from Greenville) though those areas tend to lack either marsh, swamp or both, according to a map from North Carolina Public Wetlands. The Wilmington area, sitting about two hours and 15 minutes away from Greenville, is likely too far away and too large a city to be the real-life version of Barkley Cove. Think you have a better idea of where the marsh or Barkley Cove may be, or want to explore other possibilities? You can explore North Carolinas marshes, swamps and other wetlands at ncwetlands.org/interactive-map. A map of the Crawdads coastal setting, including the marsh, is available at the front of every Crawdads book and at the bottom of this page on author Owens website: deliaowens.com/home-2021-03-29. Other NC places in Crawdads: Chapel Hill, Asheville, Greenville While we may not know the exact location of Kyas marsh or Barkley Cove, there are some real-life North Carolina places that are mentioned, and that characters visit, throughout the book. Chapel Hill is mentioned in passing a few times throughout the book, mostly as a source of conflict and distance between Kya and Tate, one of her love interests. Tate leaves the marsh and Barkley Cove to attend college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he works in biology and protozoology labs under the guidance of professors. Not much else is said about Chapel Hill or the university in the book, other than it being mentioned a couple times that Tate might be tempted to see other girls besides Kya while hes there. Tates time in Chapel Hill creates conflict between him and Kya. At one point, Chase, another one of Kyas love interests, is mentioned as having a Tar Heels flask, a reference to UNC-Chapel Hills mascot. The mountainous western North Carolina city of Asheville is mentioned several times throughout the book. Kyas dad, Pa, is from Asheville. His family owned a plantation there but lost it during the Great Depression, the book says. At one point in the book, Kya travels to Asheville, marking the first time in her life that she leaves the marsh. She stays overnight there. Tate also has a connection to Asheville its a site of tragedy for his family, which he says feels like my fault. Some readers have expressed qualms with the books mentions of Asheville, saying that it seems the plot doesnt take into account that going to Asheville from the coast of North Carolina would take several hours, which may be too long a trip for the errand trips some characters are described as taking. Author Delia Owens has previously addressed the criticism of at least one of the mentions of Asheville, saying she needed a plot point that allowed for an overnight trip for two characters, as opposed to just a day trip. As weve mentioned before, Kya at one point in the book takes the bus from Barkley Cove to Greenville, the real-life home of East Carolina University. Not much is said about Kyas trip, other than that she makes the trip to meet another person and that she stays in a hotel near the bus stop while shes in town. For All U of U Health Patients & Visitors During a sometimes-fiery interview last week, House Speaker Chris Welch pledged to tie House Republican candidates to the far-right top of their ticket and called House Republican Leader Jim Durkin a failed leader. A Durkin spokesperson, in turn, called Welch unhinged. It started when I asked Welch if he thought gun law reform would play a major role in the fall campaign, which is basically just around the corner. I think Democrats, particularly Democrats in Illinois, vastly differ from Republicans in Illinois on some major issue, Welch said. Guns is one of them. We have a guy that's running for governor right now, who's leading the Republican ticket [state Sen. Darren Bailey], that is probably the most pro-Second Amendment legislator the state has ever had -- certainly the most pro-Second Amendment candidate for governor we've ever had. And looking at who's won races on the Republican side, we have a lot of folks who want to keep dangerous weapons on the streets and make it more difficult to live in a lot of our communities. "We have a candidate for governor who does not believe in a woman's right to choose. He believes that even in the case of rape, and said that a woman wouldn't have a right to an abortion. These are issues that are ripe to be discussed in the fall campaign. Bailey bragged often during the Republican gubernatorial primary campaign that he was the most pro-gun state legislator and candidate for governor. He also said on the campaign trail that he was against all abortion except to save the life of the mother. Hes tried to walk that back since then by saying hes not for bans, but the damage has been done and his public (and recorded) comments are fair game. Told that he sounded eager to pair Republican candidates with the top of their ticket, Welch said, The top of their ticket is very much a reflection of the bottom of their ticket. A lot of right-wing extremists are their candidates for office. And these are some very important issues that voters are going to have to choose between. We can continue to move Illinois forward. We can be a safe haven for women when it comes to reproductive health. We can be a state that leads when it comes to common sense gun laws, or we can go back. I believe that people in the state don't want to go back. We're going to tell them in November, We won't go back. Later in the interview, which ranged over a variety of topics, I returned to the topic about campaigns. House Republican Leader Jim Durkin has often demanded that Welch take specific actions, and the two have frequently sparred. So, I asked Speaker Welch, did he believe Leader Durkin should speak out about Republican gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey? I think the House Republican leader is very hypocritical, Welch said. He's been a hypocrite, especially since I've become Speaker. He says one thing but does another very often. He's yet to speak out against Donald Trump. He's yet to speak out against this extreme Supreme Court. He's yet to speak out against Darren Bailey. "He's a failed leader. And I think Jim Durkin is nothing like the Jim Durkin I met 20-plus years ago. He's a failed leader. And he should speak out against extreme, bad politicians like Donald Trump and Darren Bailey. I asked Durkins office for a response. Speaker Welch sounds unhinged, said Durkin spokesperson Rachel Bold. He would do the institution a favor by reflecting on his own behavior and telling us how he has grown in the last 20 years. His comments are rich coming from a guy who defended Public Official A's corruption for over a decade. Speaker Welch can't and won't comment about the real issue, Democratic corruption, all because he is indebted to the 13th Ward. In case youve been living under a rock, Public Official A is a reference to former House Speaker and current 13th Ward Democratic Committeeperson Michael Madigan, who was given that moniker by federal prosecutors in the indictment of four of his cohorts. Durkin has reportedly been firming up his support within his own caucus since several unfavorable primary results caused at least one member to start calling around about a possible challenge. But if Durkin manages to knock the House Democrats off their super majority pedestal this November, the two leaders will have to somehow find a way to work together. FILE PHOTO: An empty bed in the intensive care unit at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa on Monday, July 13, 2020. MIKALA COMPTON | Herald-Zeitung FILE PHOTO: Texas flags wave in the wind outside the Comal County Courthouse for Texas Independence Day on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. MIKALA COMPTON | Herald-Zeitung CATAWBA Emma Vanhoy, daughter of Scott and Robin Vanhoy of Catawba, was awarded a $5,000 scholarship from the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms. She received one of 15 scholarships given this year to children of Perdue employees and independent contract farmers. Winners were selected based on academic achievement, extracurricular activities, and community involvement. The $75,000 scholarship program is part of the companys Delivering Hope To Our Neighbors initiative focused on improving quality of life and building strong communities. Vanhoy will attend North Carolina State University in Raleigh to pursue a degree in agribusiness. She graduated from Bandys High School in Catawba with a weighted GPA of 4.37. Vanhoy was a member of Future Farmers of America (FFA), North Carolina Junior Angus Association, and the National Junior Angus Association. The Bandys High School FFA chapter has provided me with many opportunities to work with the people in my community, said Vanhoy. I have served at different positions within the organization, and it has allowed me to grow my knowledge of agriculture. Growing up on a farm and raising cattle has allowed me to share experiences with others. With plans to pursue a career in agribusiness, Vanhoys goal is to work for an agriculture company. I would like a job where I can utilize my farming knowledge and background, Vanhoy said. I also plan on continuing my registered Angus and SimAngus cattle herd with my younger sister. My grandpa keeps a very impressive herd of cattle with the help of my uncle and dad. Theyve shown me that with hard work anything is possible. The Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation was established in 1957 by company founder Arthur W. Perdue and is funded through the estates of Arthur W. Perdue and Frank Perdue. A group of more than 100 Vietnam veterans from Catawba County gathered at the entrance of the Catawba County Justice Center in Newton on Saturday morning for a group photo. Its at least the second time veterans of the war have come together to be photographed. A photo of Vietnam veterans was taken 16 years ago outside the 1924 Courthouse in downtown Newton. Robert Paysour, a Vietnam veteran himself, was among the organizers of Saturdays effort to capture an image with as many area veterans of the Vietnam War as they could. Were all getting older, Paysour said. I remember seeing an old picture of the Civil War veterans and the World War II veterans, and I think we need to do one more picture of the Vietnam veterans of Catawba County, and thats how it started. Saturdays gathering differed from the one 16 years ago in one significant way. This time, the veterans were asked to sign their names before taking the photo to preserve a record. Several veterans who came out Saturday said they were honored and grateful to be a part of it. Im grateful to God because he let me live to see another 16 years to take another one, said Clifton Coulter, a Marine Corps veteran from Newton who brought a framed copy of the 2006 veterans photo with him on Saturday. Coulter, 73, said the experience of Vietnam was something that could not be adequately understood except by other people who had also been there, a sentiment expressed by other veterans. In terms of the impact in his own life, Coulter said: I was over there at 18 years old, and by the time I left Vietnam, I think I had the mind of a 40 year old man because you grow up fast. Wayne Jarrett, a 73-year-old Army veteran from Mountain View, said being in Vietnam shaped his personality and has given him an appreciation of the quality and way of life in the United States. Even though the war has been over for nearly 50 years, Jarrett said his recollections of that period of his life remain fresh, and he doubts that will ever change. Its been a while ago, but the memories are still vivid, Jarrett said. Its something that never leaves you. If youre a war veteran, you carry it with you to the grave. Jimmy Smith, a 77-year-old Marine Corps veteran from Vale, agreed. The war ends the day we die, he said. CONCORD The Concord Rotary Club celebrated its centennial this year, and for that milestone, the club shared some of its service, political and even celebrity-graced history. The club met downtown last month at St. James Lutheran Church after the scorching heat made Rotary Square a less-than-advisable location. The church opened its doors for a meeting that recounted 100 years worth of history. The meeting was also the last full session for outgoing club president Brian Floyd. Venetia Skahen, the quiet star of the project, spent the last year looking over past newspapers at the library, researching and compiling every service project and club meeting tradition since the clubs start in 1922. In fact, her research showed that while the club was officially chartered April 18, 1922, it was first sponsored by the Salisbury Rotary Club in 1921. It was founded with 23 members and, at the time, the citys population reached around 9,900 people. One hundred years later and with about 97,000 more people, the club boasts 70 members. But the club hasnt always stayed in double digits. The club has fluctuated in its membership, ranging from about eight members in the 1930s up to 156 in the late 1990s. And some hope to see those higher numbers once more. We are going to strive to get back to that, I hope, in the next hundred years, said Jessica Tucker, the new club president. But the club hasnt just added members over the years. During election years, the club used to hold public meetings where candidates could speak. Through the 1920s and 30s, the club acted as a chamber of commerce of sorts, ultimately helping to establish the official Chamber in the late 1930s. Its reach has also helped fund service projects like building the hospital, starting the library in Concord and putting up lights along N.C. 29. In 1944, the club sold $101,000 worth of war bonds. Today that amounts to roughly $1.6 million. It has provided scholarships to local high schools, given aid to Salvation Army projects and volunteered with the local Meals on Wheels America for years. The club also funded local and international park and recreational space projects. In 2010, it raised $120,000 for the Everybody Plays playground at J.W. (Mickey) McGee Park. And in 2014, it raised $410,000 for Rotary Square downtown. On an international level, the club helped build 42 playgrounds in Peru between 2002-08. Over the decades, the club has been innovative in its fundraising, including a fish fry that ran from 1997 to 2008. Now a Boston butt sale is a popular fundraiser. A portion of funds from a recent sale was given to the Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The celebratory meeting also held some fun facts, like how between the 1920s and 1940s and for a short stint in the 1990s club members used to sing at meetings. Also, the club was visited by Andy Griffith at an annual Ladies Night held around Valentines Day. As for women joining the club, the first female member was a finance director for the city and joined in the late 1980s. Susan Smith became the clubs first woman president in 1998. In total, six Concord mayors have been Rotarians, including current Mayor Bill Dusch and former Mayor Scott Padgett. The club also boasts a generational bond with its members. The club knows of at least six families in the community that have two or more generations to have been members. The Coltrane family has had five generations of Rotarians. The club has also helped to sponsor other Rotary clubs, including the Kannapolis, Southwest and, more recently, the Afton clubs. As the next 100 years is wide open for the club, Tucker said the future is a blank slate, and she hopes to see new ideas and projects come forward. We are now moving forward and want to sustain through the next years, Tucker said. I believe we have the unique honor and real opportunity to enter these next 100 years with a bang. MATTOON Organizers of the upcoming 2022 Bagelfest have picked a theme that celebrates community members going outdoors for summer fun. City Tourism & Arts Director Angelia Burgett said the "Camp Bagelfest" theme was inspired by camping increasing in popularity during COVID-19 pandemic public space shutdowns and by summer camps returning to full operation since then. The theme is reflected in this year's Bagelfest logo including marshmallows on sticks ready for the campfire. Bagelfest logo T-shirts are sold at Peterson Park during the festivities there. Burgett said "Camp Bagelfest" will be a fun outfit theme for families who registered their children for the Baby Bagel Contest 6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at the Cross County Mall, and a fun decorating theme for entrants in the parade at 10:30 a.m. July 23 from downtown to Peterson Park. Other returning favorites at the festival will include the Miss Bagelfest pageants at 1 p.m. Saturday at The Fields Church and the Bagel Bow Wow dog contest at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Peterson Park. Burgett said moving the dog contest last year from a typically sweltering afternoon to the evening was well received. She said longtime contest organizer Bernie de Buhr anticipates having even more dog owners and spectators involved this year, as a result. New events this year will include the Battle for the Bagel powerlifting meet that Relentless Fitness of Mattoon plans to hold at 4:30-8 p.m. Saturday at Peterson Park. Burgess said the meet will be a fun throwback to the variety of community oriented activities that were part of Bagelfest when it was held downtown in the past. "I would like to sprinkle more of those activities into the Bagelfest schedule in the future," Burgett said. The schedule will once again include three nights of mainstage concerts on Grimes Field at Peterson. The lineup features contemporary Christian artist Jason Gray on Thursday, country act LOCASH on Friday, and the "Rocket Man: Tribute to Sir Elton John" on Saturday. Each concert will be at 8 p.m. Admission to Gray's concert will be free. Tickets for the other two can be purchased in advance by going to mattoonbagelfest2022.eventbrite.com or calling 800-500-6286. Bagelfest's carnival is set to be open 6-10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 1-11 p.m. Friday and noon-11 p.m. July 23. Burgett noted that carnival discount armbands will be available both Wednesday and Thursday nights and on Friday and July 23 afternoons. The final day of Bagelfest on July 23 will also include the free World's Biggest Bagel Breakfast at 8-10 a.m. at the Demars Center in Peterson. Community leaders started Bagelfest and its breakfast in 1986 to celebrate the opening of the Lender's Bagels factory in Mattoon and have continuously held them since then, other than the COVID-19 cancellation in 2020. MATTOON A group of summer school students made short work of their grilled cheese sandwich meals at lunchtime last week at Riddle Elementary School. Various Mattoon school cafeterias, including at Riddle, have been staying open during the summer break once again to serve students in the June Fifth Quarter and July Jump Start academic enrichments programs, as well as other youths ages 0-18 in the community. "We invite them to come out and dine with us. It doesn't have to be students that are enrolled in the school district or its summer program, it can be any child in that age range," said Molly Smith, Aramark's director of student nutrition for Mattoon. Smith said the free meal program has been utilized by Mattoon families in financial need, grandparents hosting grandchildren from out of town, daycare providers seeking summer meal options for their children, and others in the community. The Mattoon school district's is able to provide free meals for all its students throughout the year by taking part in the Community Eligibility Provision fee breakfast and lunch program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Illinois State Board of Education. Smith said Mattoon is going into its third year with this free program and is eligible because of the high percentage of low-income students in the district. She said Mattoon purchases the meals and is then reimbursed by the program. Riddle and Williams Elementary School are scheduled to continue serving free breakfasts at 8-8:30 a.m. and lunch at 11:15-11:30 a.m. Monday-Friday through July 29. Mattoon Middle School is scheduled on Monday, July 18, to resume serving breakfasts at 8:30-9 a.m. and 11:30-11:45 a.m. Monday-Friday through July 29. Mattoon Area Family YMCA and its Neal Center YMCA branch in Toledo offer free breakfast at 8-8:30 a.m. and free snacks at 2-2:30 p.m. Monday-Friday for youths ages 18 and younger during the summer day camp season. The Salvation Army Mobile Lunch Truck is scheduled to continue delivering free lunches to youths Monday-Friday through Aug. 12 in Mattoon: 11:30-11:50 a.m., West Park Plaza; noon-12:20 p.m., Lakeland Mobile Estates; 12:30-12:50 p.m., Old State Village; and 1-1:20 p.m., Sunrise Apartments. Salvation Army Lt. Nate North said they also have partnered with students from Eastern Illinois University Civic Engagement and Volunteerism to offer free lunches to youths in Charleston: 11 a.m.-11:20 a.m., Ne-Co Fields ,and 11:30-11:50 a.m., Longacre Estates. "We will be happy to serve them," North said. The fighting in court over abortion is far from over. For the half century that Roe v. Wade guaranteed reproduction rights nationwide, abortion advocates had to go to court to fight the hundreds of unnecessary or unconstitutional state restrictions designed to chip away at that right. Now that Roe is overturned and states in half the country have banned abortion or are about to ban it, advocates are back this time in state courts, attempting to block abortion bans. As well they should be. State bans on abortion may be more legally vulnerable than they seem with Roe overturned and the Supreme Court handing states the power to prohibit abortion. For example, some bans may be susceptible to being overturned because they conflict with state constitutions that have been interpreted by courts to guarantee a right to abortion. These are uphill battles, but theyre worth fighting especially in the short term. Clinics are closing and patients desperate for abortion care sometimes have to travel hundreds of miles to another state. Total bans or bans at six weeks gestation when women generally dont even know theyre pregnant are in effect in 10 states currently, according to officials at the Guttmacher Institute, which researches abortion policy and supports abortion rights. Florida currently bans abortions at 15 weeks of gestation. In three other states Arizona, West Virginia and Wisconsin clinics have stopped providing abortions because the laws are unclear on whether its outlawed. Each of those states has a pre-Roe ban. But it is legally unclear if and when those bans can go into effect. In some states with multiple abortion bans on the books, advocates are arguing there is confusion about which laws to follow and that all must be blocked until clarified. In Louisiana, for example, officials issued conflicting statements about which of three bans were in effect, and lawyers argued that the laws were unconstitutionally vague because they failed to explain when one or all would go into effect and what exceptions were permitted and what penalties there would be. Lawyers successfully got courts to temporarily block abortion trigger bans in Utah and in Kentucky. These are all good if perhaps short-lived measures. Keeping clinics open for a few weeks or months longer means more patients get care. The more promising cases are the ones in which advocates contend that the bans conflict with state constitutions where privacy rights have been interpreted to include the right to an abortion. Thats the argument in lawsuits filed in Kentucky and Idaho, for example. Of course, even if the abortion rights advocates win in court, an antiabortion state legislature could amend its constitution to explicitly ban abortion. But a state legislature cant do that overnight and almost all states require voter approval to amend the constitution. Kentucky already qualified a November ballot to amend its constitution to say it confers no right to abortion. Kansas has a similar constitutional amendment on an August ballot. Advocates are already working in that state to get that amendment voted down. Meanwhile, there are efforts in other states such as Michigan to get measures on state ballots that will enshrine a right to abortion. The California Legislature has placed a constitutional amendment to protect abortion on the November ballot. These ballot measures will provide an opportunity for voters who support abortion rights as the majority of the country does to speak up and be heard through their votes. All these legal efforts are worth pursuing though they are no substitute for a national right to abortion and contraception as the legal advocates have all stressed. Congress could do that by passing the Womens Health Protection Act codifying Roe into law. But so far, even without the filibuster, the Senate is a few votes shy of the majority needed to pass the law. The Biden administration must find a way to step up and aggressively protect abortion rights, at the very least ensuring access to medication abortion pills through the mail everywhere. As Alexis McGill Johnson, the president of Planned Parenthood, noted grimly, clinics in half the country where abortion is legal cannot handle the needs of an entire country. Los Angeles Times On an ungodly broiling weekday in June, an unusual scene vaguely reminiscent of the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes unfolded in a meeting room on the ground floor of Centenary United Methodist Church. The occasion, a midday meeting of the Twin City Kiwanis Club, is pretty standard fare in most self-respecting American cities. Civic clubs think Rotary, Kiwanis and the like typically meet over a meal, perhaps hear a guest speaker and mingle. Business, groaner Dad jokes and the state of local affairs are all fair conversational game. But at this particular gathering, the days guest speaker, State Treasurer Dale Folwell, wrapped up his talk a la Ed McMahon by presenting Twin City Kiwanis with an oversized cardboard check for $2,874.49. Nothing nefarious was afoot, however. The check came via nccash.com, a program operated by the treasurers office to return forgotten money that just happens to offer an opening for a politician to raise his statewide profile. Receptive audiences Folwells talk followed a familiar script and was presented to a receptive hometown audience. Voters in Forsyth County know him well. A longtime member of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education, Folwell won a seat in the state House of Representatives and quickly rose to a leadership post. He parlayed that into a successful bid for state treasurer in 2016. He touched on a variety of topics, mostly fiscal matters, including managing the states pension fund, the State Employee Health Plan and a running uphill fight over transparency in pricing with North Carolinas biggest hospitals/health-care systems. The Kiwanis, as youd expect, paid rapt attention and asked informed questions including one about Folwells political plans. A rumored run this year for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by fellow Winston-Salem native Richard Burr didnt materialize. Still, that served to fuel curiosity about whether Folwell might run for governor in 2024. It may seem early but with the hundreds of thousands of dollars required to run a successful statewide campaign, serious candidates need to get moving. Now. Folwell deflected, as any good politician would, but did let it be known that other than longtime Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler, hed gotten more votes than any other Republican on the ballot in 2020. That includes former President Trump, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and Sen. Thom Tillis. Besides, Folwell said, he would much prefer to talk about unclaimed property being distributed through nccash.com the ostensible purpose for his visit. The state is holding more than 17.6 million in unclaimed properties valued at more than $1.02 million. Some 619,00 properties totaling $50.2 million was owed last year to Forsyth County residents. Unclaimed property includes forgotten bank accounts, back wages, insurance policy proceeds, various kinds of refunds, estate and legal settlements and contents of safe deposit boxes. When banks, government agencies and businesses lose track of customers and former employees, money left behind is turned over to the state for safekeeping. As part of that, the treasurers office has amped up efforts to refund that money to rightful owners and accomplishes a lot of that through nccash.com. Individuals, nonprofits, governments, businesses, churches and civic groups can find out in a matter of seconds whether theyre owed anything and ask for it back. Its simple, free and fast. Nice consolation prize It works, too. I got a check in October for $987.65 about a week after looking. And I wasnt the only one. The unclaimed property division paid 178,857 claims for more than $105 million in fiscal 2022. In use since 2020, NC Cash Match is one part of that outreach, an proactive program that researches and identifies claims up to $5,000. Your chances with nccash.com are a lot better than winning the lottery, Folwell told Kiwanis when describing how the website works. At the conclusion of the presentation, Folwell did his best Ed McMahon imitation posing next to club officers behind a giant cardboard check. While cell phones recorded the moment, one club member astutely noted the residual political benefit for a guy whod have to be taken seriously as a candidate for governor. Id vote for him, the man said. No question. Up front near a portable lectern, Folwell smiled and fistbumped well-wishers. Even though you didnt get to have a Pancake Day, you still made $2,800, Folwell said, referencing the Kiwanis signature local fundraiser canceled by COVID. And a well-known political figure got an added boost for a potential campaign for governor. For the third time in less than a week, Lincoln police are looking into a car fire in the area of South 70th and A streets. Police Sgt. Jason Wesch said someone set fire to a Hyundai Tucson in the 7300 block of Candletree Lane at about 2:40 a.m. Saturday. Firefighters were called shortly after and discovered the Tucson fully engulfed. The car was a total loss, said Lincoln Fire and Rescue Investigator Thomas Schmidt. A Chevrolet Equinox parked next to the Tucson also sustained exterior damage. In total, the fire caused about $30,000 in damage to the cars. It's unclear how the fire was started, but police are investigating it as an arson. No suspects have been identified. Wesch said it's unknown if the fire is connected to a pair of early morning car fires and a vandalism at an elementary school last Tuesday in the same part of town. A 2014 Buick LaCrosse was destroyed in a fire just before 2:20 a.m. Tuesday near South 70th and A streets. An electrical issue is believed to have started the blaze. Then about 40 minutes later, firefighters were called to the 800 block of Roanoke Court about another car fire. This time, a textbook on the floor of a 1999 Honda Accord had been lit on fire, causing about $800 in damage. Opponents of a housing development near First Street and Pioneers Boulevard across the street from Wilderness Park and a Native sweat lodge on private land plan to take their arguments to court. The owner of land known as the Fish Farm surrounded by Wilderness Park and across the street from the proposed development has filed an intent to appeal the actions by the City Council that paved the way for the development. Kathleen Danker filed the intent to appeal zoning changes and annexations including the roughly 2 acres of land she owns approved by the council that allow the Manzitto Construction to build Wilderness Crossing. Sam Manzitto Jr. plans to build 162 single-family homes, 134 town homes and 205 apartments on about 75 acres south of Pioneers Boulevard between First Street and U.S. 77 purchased from the Catholic Diocese. The land has been designated in the Lincoln-Lancaster County Comprehensive Plan for future urban residential development since 2002, but environmental advocates opposed the plan early on, raising concerns about flooding as well as the effect on wildlife and native habitat, including destruction of a sandstone ecosystem in the area. Native advocates also raised concerns about the developments effects on the citys oldest and most-used sweat lodge located across the street on Dankers land, known for years as the Fish Farm. For several days, Native advocates expressed their opposition by setting up the Niskithe Prayer Camp on the site of the proposed development, marching to the Catholic Diocese and City Hall, and by delivering copies of an online petition to the developer, mayors office and diocese. The notice of appeal filed in Lancaster County District Court is just that no other appeal documents have been filed. Ken Winston, the attorney representing Danker, said while Danker is the one listed as the person appealing the City Council actions, she supports other opponents. (The sweat lodge) has operated there with her full support the whole time shes been there, said Winston, a longtime environmental advocate who is now policy director of Interfaith Power and Light, an advocacy group on climate change. Shes in full support of the indigenous clients. The court could void the City Councils action, Winston said, but there are other remedies that could occur, likely through negotiations between those involved. Creating an extended park area to provide a buffer to the sweat lodge and park is one possibility. Wed like to see something that would protect the interests of both Ms. Danker and the Native sweat lodge, he said. I guess theres lots of possibilities. Erin Poor, who was among opponents who organized the prayer camp, said the appeal is on behalf of all opponents. We are pursuing all legal avenues to overturn the actions taken by the City Council on April 25, she said. And this is part of one of those avenues. Several longtime environmental and advocacy groups the Wachiska Audubon Society, the Nebraska Sierra Club, Nebraskans for Peace and Nebraska Interfaith Power and Light recently sent a letter to the mayor outlining their concerns about the approval process, including that city officials cherry-picked the Comprehensive Plan goals that supported the development, omitting those that might not. The letter noted particular concerns with the short time frame and noted that one City Council member asked for suggestions on how to deal with similar situations in the future. It is a good question, if for no other reason than to avoid litigation over the disregard of explicit guidance in the Comprehensive Plan, the letter says. The letter suggests creating a transparent process to inform the public of the developers plans to make topographical changes to the site and the impact of those changes, and suggest the city identify other potential buffer areas as a way to maintain environmental protections. WAVERLY On Saturday, wheat threshers, sawmills and farm equipment of old chugged, smoked and pulled. Outside the farming community, its not uncommon for someone to have never seen an antique tractor moving and working. Many urban dwellers have never smelled the richness of freshly turned soil or hay curing. Nor have they seen a cultivator till and row. Thats why Don Kneifl, president of Camp Creek Threshers, is passionate about his nonprofits work. Camp Creek Threshers is an organization that seeks to keep the farming ways of old and new alive through annual shows. The group's July show, which took place Saturday and continues Sunday, is its largest event. Theres not nearly as many of us involved in agriculture as there were 50 years ago, Kneifl said. Theres a good chance you had a grandparent or an aunt or uncle that probably had an operation like what (were) doing here. Kneifl called the annual event the farming communitys Christmas. We prepare literally all year round, Kneifl said. It's like a small village here that we have to maintain. Though the organization puts on several other events, the July show is by far its biggest attraction. The weekends agenda ranges from tractor pulls to flea markets. The showgrounds east of Waverly have a variety of food options and music. Kneifl typically sees 15,000 to 20,000 attendees on the grounds over the weekend, he said. Though theres a substantial group in the crowd who understand farming life firsthand, the largest group is simply curious about rural life. Christy Hughes of St. Louis is among the inquisitive spectators. She and her children come from the hustle and bustle of the city, far away from harrowers and sickle-wielders. Theyve come several years now just to experience rural peacefulness. She heard about the event because her sister lives in Lincoln. Its a very different experience for us, Hughes said. When we tell people back home that we're going to come up here for a tractor show, they think it's kind of strange but I think it's a really cool activity for any family. Though the family has other activities planned, shes made the long trip 6 hours without stops just for the event. Beckie Yates and her husband, Kurt, have also traveled long distances to attend. They hail from Denton, North Carolina, but they have a house in Arapahoe. Kurt Yates grew up on a farm and works at a sawmill. Beckie Yates enjoys mingling with the salt of the earth community. We love the people, Beckie Yates said. Their lives are a lot like our lives even though we're 1,400 miles away. The Yateses appreciate swapping stories and shared experiences with people who they consider to be just like them. Shows like these foster a unique type of community, Beckie Yates said. With festivities continuing into Sunday, Kneifl encourages everyone to attend and to look out for future Camp Creek Threshers shows, including an upcoming one in September. Its an industry Kneifl believes everyone should understand and appreciate, especially if their roots are planted in Nebraska soil. They likely have connections with earth-cultivating ancestors that reach back for generations. Farming didn't just start off with computerized technology and global positioning systems," Kneifl said. "It started off with men and women working hard to feed everybody." Many Americans are suffering from security fatigue after 20-plus years of the war on terror and a recent surge in violent crime and mass shootings. But this is no time to let down our guard, said retired Air Force Col. Jennifer Hesterman, an international security consultant who spoke on Emergent Threats and Soft Target Vulnerabilities Thursday at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The event was sponsored by UNOs National Counterterrorism, Innovation, Technology and Education Center. When you leave home every day, youre a soft target, said Hesterman, whose military jobs included a tour ensuring security for Air Force One and Marine One presidential flights at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. As vice president of education services for Watermark Risk Management, she advises private firms on how to protect themselves against terror attacks. She said people can become resigned to threats and feel helpless, or they become distracted with other problems. Or they feel a sense of helplessness. Security managers rely on the odds that their facility wont be attacked. Security is always seen as too much until the day you need it, Hesterman said. Twenty-one years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and more than a decade after the killing of Osama bin Laden al Qaeda still remains a threat, she said. So does ISIS. Both still command followers through regional affiliates as well as allied extremist groups. Both have become highly adept at recruiting through online videos and articles, produced in multiple languages. Hesterman said it has become extremely easy for radical groups to recruit members using internet tools like these. She pointed to the case of Abdul Razak Ali Artan, who drove his car onto a sidewalk at Ohio State University, then jumped out and attacked people with a butcher knife in 2016. Thirteen people were injured before Artan was killed by a campus police officer. Friends and family described him as pious and polite, a good student who loved America. Hesterman said he had been turned into an extremist very quickly by watching online videos. This radicalization happened within a few days, Hesterman said. Domestic terrorism groups also have increased their activity. Their recruiting ramped up during the pandemic, which drove many people to spend far more time on their computers. Quarantine and political polarization have also boosted levels of frustration and rage. Everybodys angry. Its like theyre seething. When you pour gasoline on it, you get violent outbursts, Hesterman said. It was a perfect environment for bad actors. Some of those outbursts, including recent mass shootings, are often directed at soft targets a school in Uvalde, Texas, a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, an Independence Day parade in Highland Park, Illinois. Hesterman said she advises clients to incorporate security measures that will discourage a terrorist from attacking in the first place liked locked doors or metal detectors rather than pricey post-attack measures like bullet-resistant walls or active-shooter alarms. Hesterman noted that the shooter who attacked the Pulse nightclub in Orlando in 2016, killing 49 people, had bypassed two other sites a shopping center and another dance club because they looked like harder targets to attack. The goal is to keep the bad actor from even trying, she said. In the Middle East, where Hesterman lived for several years, terror attacks have been part of life for decades. Schools, shopping centers and mosques have been redesigned as walled compounds, where visitors are funneled and searched at entrances far from the meeting spaces. There are no apologies for security. Its the price of admission, she said. Hesterman said she studied video from a 2017 mass shooting in which a gunman fired from a hotel-room window at people attending an outdoor country-music festival on the Las Vegas Strip. Sixty people died, and more than 400 were wounded. The fastest to react, she said, were young people ages 18 to 22 a generation that had grown up with active-shooter drills in their schools. They quickly applied tourniquets and rendered first aid, saving lives. She said her daughter, who is now 24, told her, We expect to be part of a mass shooting in our lifetimes. Its necessary, Hesterman said, to come to grips with the idea that school buses and college classrooms are targets in the modern world. That isnt likely to change, so we must adapt. The proposal would require an impact statement for any bill or resolution that would significantly affect criminal or juvenile law, as a handful of states including Iowa have added in recent years. What do you think? CIEE, a nonprofit study abroad and intercultural exchange organization, has named Noah Lyon, an upcoming senior at Lincoln East High School, one of 250 American high school students from across the United States to be awarded the prestigious Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) Scholarship for the 2022-2023 academic year. CBYX is a bi-lateral exchange program co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and German Bundestag (Parliament). As a CBYX scholar, Lyon will spend the academic year in Germany living with a host family, attending a German high school, and participating in a language and cultural training program to gain a better understanding of German culture, language and everyday life. In addition, he will visit the German Bundestag, meet with American and German government officials, participate in intercultural seminars, and explore the country through excursions to nearby cities and historical sites. German students also come to live and study in the U.S. to promote the same level of understanding on both sides of the Atlantic. Since its inception in 1983, the program has allowed more than 27,000 students to expand their intercultural understanding, strengthen their leadership skills and become global citizens. For more information about CBYX, visit exchanges.state.gov/cbyx or contact CIEE at 800-448-9944. German language skills are not required to apply for the scholarship. To learn more about hosting an international high school exchange student coming to the Lincoln for the 2022-2023 academic year, visit www.ciee.org/host-families. When you read about Generation Z, you learn that theyre diverse in who they are and what they stand for, they are digital natives, and they are decisive. Those words hit the mark in describing Samantha Thomas, definitely a member of Generation Z, someone who has made a decision to return to Lincoln and step up to the challenge of being one of tomorrows leaders. While Samantha was born in Austin, Texas, she claims Lincoln as her hometown. Her parents Sarah and Jay are both from Lincoln, and before Samantha was old enough to start school, they returned to Lincoln themselves. She is a product of Beatty Elementary, Irving Middle and Lincoln Southeast High School. It was that gap year after high school that took her away to serve in the AmeriCorps in Milwaukee. In that capacity, she worked with Mexican and Puerto Rican immigrant children. AmeriCorps in Milwaukee gave her a passion for education, helped her hone life skills, took her to a place where she got a college education and even introduced her to Edgar. Youll read more about him a little later. Her parents, Sarah and Jay, met in high school. Their relationship blossomed through letters, even when Jay was in the service. Moms been working in education, serving in a number of capacities, and dad runs Champion System, providing custom apparel for athletes. As Samantha recalls, they were supportive but concerned for her as she left Lincoln and headed to Wisconsin for that gap year experience. Her family was a factor that drew her back to Lincoln, but she was also drawn by several other things. I love the pace of life in Lincoln, she said. And the people, theyre so friendly and willing to help. Its just a great place to live. I want to stay and raise my family here. That takes us back to Edgar. Hes from Wisconsin, and it took a bit of convincing to get him to move to Lincoln. He moved here to be with me, Samantha said. And since we moved to Lincoln in 2020, I think in some ways, he loves the city more than I do. Lincoln has given them a strong sense of community. There are a lot of similarities to Madison (Wisconsin) that I pointed out before we moved, she said. Lincoln is the capital, we have a large university here, and it has all the advantages of being a big city with a small-town feel. Even though she grew up in Lincoln, Samantha points out that her experience with Leadership Lincoln Advocates expanded her knowledge. One of the original ideas behind the Advocates was to connect a wide variety of people with an interest in minority and under-represented voices. Samanthas experience with the LL Advocates broadened her diversity. Growing up here, you think you know everything about the city, she noted. But Leadership Lincoln helped me see a bigger picture and to reconnect with people since Id been away for a number of years. Not only was Samantha a Leadership Lincoln participant, shes joined the staff to be the coordinator of YLL, Youth Leadership Lincoln. Her diversity also shows in her thoughts about the future of Lincoln. Dr. Joel (former superintendent of Lincoln Public Schools) always talked about All means all, and I subscribe to that thought, she said. I admire his work to improve graduation rates and the thoughtfulness of his plan to do that. Samantha talked about the need for more affordable housing, which she grew to understand during her time with Leadership Lincoln Advocates. And she wants to see the city grow but for people to continue to be well connected. She noted that she comes from a family that believes in community service. My grandma has helped establish the little free pantries in Lincoln, and I think that speaks to the value of small acts of leadership and kindness to make an impact. Samantha Thomas is following in the path her grandmother and her parents laid out for her. Shes diverse in her acceptance of people, shes digitally savvy in the work shes doing to foster a relationship with YLL participants, and she was definitely decisive in her return to Lincoln and desire to raise her family here. Woods Charitable Fund has awarded a two-year, $40,000 grant to the History Nebraska Foundation. The foundation was created in 2020 and raises funds exclusively to support History Nebraska, formerly called the Nebraska State Historical Society. The grant will support the work of the History Nebraska Foundation in raising funds that allow History Nebraska to expand offerings and provide greater access to programs and services in local historical sites. History Nebraska preserves Nebraskas rich history, and our foundation is key to raising additional funds to meet our growing needs, said Executive Director Tyler Vacha. Woods Charitable Funds generosity helps to ensure a firmer base for our foundation and our services in Lincoln. History Nebraska manages and provides interpretations of the states history in Lincoln at the Nebraska History Museum, Thomas P. Kennard House, Nebraska Statehood Memorial and at History Nebraska headquarters. "Woods Charitable Fund financially supports the History Nebraska Foundation as it raises operating funds and flexible funding for History Nebraska, Thomas C. Woods IV, president of Woods Charitable Fund, said of the support. Its a crucial time to tell Nebraskas untold stories as state and national efforts seek to deny aspects of our history, including introducing laws to restrict how history can be taught. Vacha added that the people of Nebraska are understandably proud of its history. With the support of Woods Charitable Fund, we can preserve our legacy for future generations, so they know the personalities, forces and events that shaped our past and affect us still today. Vacha invites all who share an interest in preserving Nebraskas history to visit historynebraskafoundation.org, or contact him by email at tyler@historynebraskafoundation.org. RACINE Gov. Tony Evers brought his re-election campaign Friday to Racine and pledged to fight like hell to keep Republicans from retaking the states highest office. Seeking a second term from voters this November, the Democratic governor met with supporters at the Racine County Democratic Party headquarters at 507 6th St. Evers told the crowd that if Republicans take control of the governors office in November, they will roll back his efforts on abortion rights, voting rights and other key issues. We will be a different state, he said. Were not going to let that happen. Were going to fight like hell. With four months left until the election, the governors two leading would-be Republican challengers are increasingly focused on each other rather than on him. Former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and businessman Tim Michels have exchanged words over immigration and labor in recent weeks as they compete for the Republican nomination for governor. Evers supporter Rey Villar said Friday the suddenly hostile race on the GOP side allows the Democratic incumbent to connect with voters on his own terms. If your opponents are going after each other, get out of the way, Villar said. It gives him an opportunity to really establish what he stands for and what hes done. Republican voters in the Aug. 9 primary will pick a nominee to face Evers in November. State Rep. Timothy Ramthun, R-Campbellsport, also is on the ballot in the GOP primary, although polls show him trailing far behind Kleefisch and Michels. Racine County Democratic Party Chairwoman Meg Andrietsch, who welcomed Evers to the party headquarters Friday, said she senses strong enthusiasm among voters for the governors re-election effort. Hes the right guy for the right time, Andrietsch said. Evers, a former state school superintendent, is seeking his second term after defeating Republican incumbent Scott Walker four years ago. Walker is backing Kleefisch, while Michels is former President Donald Trumps choice in the race. Supporters greeted the governor Friday with applause and smiles. Racine Mayor Cory Mason told the crowd that it has been a rough month with many setbacks, including the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade case on abortion rights. Noting that he himself faces a re-election campaign next spring, Mason instead urged those in attendance to focus on the governors race for the time being. If we dont get November right, the mayor said, theres a lot at stake here. Evers told supporters that he is committed to protecting reproductive healthcare choices in the aftermath of the Roe v. Wade ruling. He also cited his administrations work fixing roads, expanding broadband internet service, restoring funding for schools and leading the state back from the COVID-19 pandemic. Evers asked voters for their support in his re-election, but he also urged them to stay engaged next spring, when voters will decide not only a Racine mayoral race but also a Wisconsin Supreme Court race. All of these things, he said, fit together. One of two Wisconsin women who were sent to a state mental health facility after a 2014 stabbing attack on a sixth-grade classmate that they claimed was to appease the horror character Slender Man has withdrawn her petition for release. 1. Yes. The new high school has made it a must. Thousands of people are impacted.. 2. Yes. Even if it means revising some budgets, these entities must move on the project. 3. No. Its been known for years that the road was a problem.. Why the urgency now? 4. No. If prioritizing the road means more taxes, forget it. The project will just have to wait. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say until school has been in session for a few months. Vote View Results MINDEN A rat ran over Alan Farlins face one night when he slept in grass-thatched hut. His wife Delores, an R.N., vaccinated Filipino children who did not know how old they were because their culture did not know what a calendar was. Alan and Delores have lived without a telephone and hot water. Theyve rigged up a five-gallon bucket with a rope and pulleys to take a shower. It all happened because Farlin took a leap of faith 40 years ago and headed to Indonesia and the Philippines to teach children of missionary parents there. I dont preach. Im not a pastor. I dont marry or baptize or do other pastoral things. I never went to seminary. Im just a teacher, for Christs sake, Farlin, 70, said. The story begins in 1982, when Farlin was a math teacher at Axtell High School. His brother-in-law was a missionary pilot who worked with Wycliffe Bible Translators to get Scripture into the mother tongue of the people. One day, the brother-in-law visited and suggested that Farlin go overseas to teach children of the pilots, the linguists and others who support the people who do missionary work. Farlin begged off, saying he was just a teacher. All you need is a teaching certificate, and you have that, his brother-in-law said. Farlin went home and talked to Delores. I had lived overseas as a child, and I loved it. I loved teaching in Axtell, too, but I loved cross-cultural things. I was young and adventurous. It would be fun, he said. He then filled out a Wycliffe inquiry card and sent it in. Within a week, Farlin got a call from Wycliffe. It wanted him to head to the Philippines right away. Farlin hesitated. We were the typical American family. Two cars, two kids, two dogs, two jobs, he said. He had a teaching contract at Axtell. The idea was appealing. Delores grew up on a farm near Minden and had traveled to Central America. They had talked about living overseas when they were dating. So when the district found a replacement teacher within 48 hours, that sealed it. In August 1982, Farlin, Delores and their two daughters were on a plane to the Philippines. First assignment: Manila Their first assignment was at Faith Academy in Manila, a school of 500 children of missionaries from numerous missionary agencies. Farlin taught a few math classes and launched the schools computer program. We were living in a different culture with 20 million people stacked on top of each other, and I loved it, he said. As military brat who moved often, I understood being the new kid in school and rearranging your life to a new way. As a child Id led a highly mobile life, but my parents were positive about every move. I knew how to deal with that. I felt right at home with these kids, he said. Two years later, when the assignment ended, Farlin and Delores had one request: We like this. Can we do this long-term? Their only stipulation: they wanted to live in a rural location. First, they returned to the U.S. for three years for more training. Farlin taught at Christian High School in Lincoln. Then, in 1987, the Parlins and their now-three children left for Irian Jaya (now Papua), on the island of New Guinea in Indonesia. No phone, no TV Travel was nothing new to Farlin. Born to military parents in Valdosta, Georgia, he had attended 14 schools while living in Missouri, Germany, Colorado, Cape Cod, and beyond. When he was 16, his parents separated, and his mother brought him to Nebraska. He graduated from Central City High School in 1970 and enrolled at Kearney State College. School was only place I felt really comfortable, he said. He excelled in math. It was a gift from God that I could do math easily, he said, so he became a math teacher. He taught for two years in Greeley, then went to Axtell. Now, he was headed to New Guinea. Arriving in New Guinea, they found that many people were still living like in the Stone Age, with no connections to the modern world, Farlin said. Their town was more modern, like the 1950s, but it was 1987, he said. They had no telephone and no TV. They had electricity, but no hot water. Farlin put in western toilet, and created a five-gallon shower using pulleys and a rope to hoist a bucket of warm water above the bathers head. On off days, he and his family headed to interior villages. Natives in that region speak over 700 languages, but the Farlins learned the trade language common to everyone. The people there are more intelligent than I am, and they know how to live in that rural place. I couldnt, he said. Farlin taught computers and math to missionaries children from the U.S., England, France and Germany. Tuition was just $2,000 per year, which was far less than the $20,000 paid by missionary kids to attend other international schools. When a new high school opened, Farlin was named its principal. He got his principals credentials through correspondence classes at Azusa Pacific University near Los Angeles and eventually got his masters degree in educational administration from UNK. Delores: nursing Along with raising their four children, Delores served as a nurse to the mission community in Irian Jaya. The medical infrastructure there was not up to snuff, Farlin said. It was a government clinic, and they had a single lancet to check for malaria, for example. I never saw them use sterile techniques. Delores said people came to their front gate all the time. Some were hungry, but it was mostly medical issues. I sutured, I ordered lab work, just like a doctor. God worked in spite of me, she said. She went up into the mountains to give shots to children for measles, mumps and rubella. She assisted the midwife with delivering babies, communicating with a translator. These are people who didnt know what a calendar was. We often had to guess a childs age. On market days, people would bring in fish lines, candles, stone axes and salt. They would also would bring their kids in, and wed immunize them. I saw a lot of skin fungus, too, she said. Our dining room was constantly full of very needy people, she said. Skin conditions were common because people lived in hot, humid climate in the mountains. They perspired often, but they dont take baths regularly. It can be cold at 6,000 feet, so they kept warm by spreading pig grease all over themselves, she said. Davao City In 1996, after six years in Indonesia, they came back to Minden. By then, their oldest daughter Shannon had enrolled at UNK. From 1996-99, Farlin was the principal at Minden East Elementary. In 1999, the Farlins left for Davao City, on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, where a new high school eventually opened in a small rented house. Later, for just $50,000, a 10-classroom high school was built. With 160-180 kids, we were always a little short-staffed, so I taught an English class, a Bible class, whatever, but we even offered AP calculus. We had to raise our own money. Kids returned to their passport country and succeeded in post-high school education, Farlin, the new schools principal, said. The Farlins were in Davao City for 17 years. In 2016, they returned to Minden. Farlin now works for SIL International, the Wycliffe Bible Translators linguistic side. He works remotely 20 hours a week. Delores has retired. The Farlin children, partly educated overseas, are thriving. T oday (Saturday) Shannon Farlin will marry Daniel Ginn of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at Minden eFree Church. They are missionaries in Indonesia. Daughter Rachel is a nurse at Platte Valley Medical Center. Daniel works for Xpanxion in Kearney. Angela lives in Hawaii with her military husband. Making a difference Farlin and Delores believe they made a difference. One former student makes films to help the Christian cause around the world. Hed have never have gotten to the university had it not been for our opening a high school where he lived, Farlin said. God can use anybody. Availability is all thats necessary. I became an administrator not because I wanted to, but I was available, and thats what was needed, he said. He added, It was fun to watch how God worked. Sometimes He worked with us, and sometimes he worked in spite of us. We had to join him wherever he was. He believes he and teachers spoke to those kids not just educationally, but spiritually. God has no grandchildren. People think missionary kids are Christians because their parents are, but no. They have to decide where theyre going to walk. Farlin is an elder at his church and its overseer of missions and outreach. Late last fall, he became the volunteer coordinator at Pioneer Village. Ive had experiences money couldnt buy, and I loved every moment of it, he said. Some people do things for a living. I was living. I dont have a great retirement program, but weve had the opportunity to really live. God can use anybody. All thats needed is availability. I became an administrator not because I wanted to, but because I was available, and thats what was needed. Alan Farlin COVID case rates, hospitalizations and deaths are on the rise as the BA.5 variant becomes dominant. BA.5, a variant of the highly contagious omicron strain, accounted for 65% of U.S. infections as of July 9, per CDC data, and appears able to both spread rapidly and evade vaccination a study released July 5 states BA.4/5 is substantially (4.2-fold) more resistant and thus more likely to lead to vaccine breakthrough infections. This BA.5 variant is hyper-contagious and right behind it new variants are coming, says Dr. Gregory Poland, infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic Rochesters Vaccine Research Group. We will continue to generate these variants until people are masked and immunized. According to the New York Times coronavirus tracker, updated July 15, over the past 14 days cases nationwide are up 17%, hospitalizations have increased by 19% with around 37,000 patients daily there is a 24% increase for ICU stays, and deaths have risen 10%. Fatalities, however, are still a fraction of those during peak omicron, when around 2,600 were reported daily compared with the current 400. North Carolina is currently seeing the highest increase in infections 112% and Wisconsin is 34th on the list of states, with the daily average for new cases at 1,755, an increase of 16% from two weeks prior. La Crosse County, at low COVID level the past two weeks, is now rated high by the CDC, with masking strongly encouraged for all individuals regardless of vaccination or booster status. Poland says unvaccinated persons who contract BA.5 are 7.5 times more likely to be hospitalized than those with both their initial and booster doses, and around 15 times more likely to die from the infection. However, he notes, What this BA.5 sub variant represents essentially is the evolution of this virus to be ever more contagious and to evade the immune protection that we had, either from infection, from vaccination or from both. So let me make a clear, clear point here thats a little tough to hear whether youve been vaccinated, whether youve been previously infected, whether youve been previously infected and vaccinated, you have very little protection against BA.5 in terms of getting infected or having mild to moderate infection, Poland continues. You have good protection against dying, being hospitalized, or ending up on a ventilator. Its not perfect. But these viruses will continue to evolve to be able to be transmitted and infect the next person, and the next person. Poland understands some people are skeptical about the dangers of the virus, but stresses COVID is a serious virus. Compared to influenza, the odds of being hospitalized or dying from COVID are four to five times higher, Poland says, and it carries the risk life altering complications. Fortunately, it doesnt do it in everybody. But you dont get to pick whether thats going to happen, and the more times youre infected the greater the risk that happens, Poland says. Long COVID affects around 1 in 13 adults who had the virus, according to a late June report from the CDCs National Center for Health Statistics. A preprint study, released in June, reviewed over 5.6 million healthcare records from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and found those with two or more confirmed COVID infections, compared to those with one, had twice the risk of dying and three times the risk of hospitalization within six months of their most recent infection. In addition, they were more likely to suffer heart, lung, digestive, neurologic or kidney problems, diabetes and fatigue. As you accumulate these infections, this becomes a worse and worse problem or reaction, Poland said. Youth can also suffer long COVID, with a newly released study from Nature putting the rate at 25.24%. Extended mood symptoms, fatigue and sleep disorders are the most common effects. Multi-inflammatory system disease is another possible consequence of COVID infection in children. COVID is a real issue, Poland says. Theres a tendency to think its not an issue in kids. New sub variants of omicron will continue to develop, Poland says, without more people taking precautions. We are the cause of this, Poland says. Every time people are getting infected, the virus has the propensity and the likelihood of changing, and some people get infected with two variants at the same time. And those two variants can recombine their genetic material to produce new variants, and that just keeps happening. With no decrease in the generation of new strains, Poland has concerns currently available treatment options, like monoclonal antibodies, may prove ineffective to some variants. Some variant-focused vaccines are in the works, but unless more people opt to inoculate the cycle will continue. Because we cant get everybody vaccinated half of America rejects it and because we cant get people to wear masks, what will happen is those who take the vaccine will be well protected until a new variant develops, and then they will become, to various degrees, susceptible and we will just keep doing this, Poland says. At this rate our great-great-great-grandchildren will be getting coronavirus vaccines. Poland urges those who remain reticent to vaccinate or mask to ask themselves what they think they know that doctors dont, and then evaluate what your level of expertise is. Physicians have the goal of keeping people healthy, Poland stresses, and when it comes to the coronavirus the singularly best way to do that is to be up to date on COVID vaccines, and to wear a proper mask properly. Its not vitamins, its not supplements, its not home remedies, its not ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine its not any of those things, Poland says. Those studies have shown that they dont work. I know people strongly believe otherwise. But the science does not support that. It does support wearing a mask and getting vaccines and being careful. The Most Extensive and Reliable Source of Information Related to the Mexican Drugs Cartels. You will not find this level of coverage anywhere else, join us! WARNING: Posts may contain strong violent material, discretion is advised. COMMENTS: We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. The United States' ongoing labor shortage is bad for employers. But it also presents a chance for workers who often had a hard time finding jobs in better economic times: former prisoners. Special training programs in Mississippi and other states are now trying to fill some of the 11.3 million open jobs in the U.S. by hiring former inmates. Antonio McGowan was a prisoner at the Mississippi State Penitentiary. After serving 17 years, he was free for the first time since he was 15. But as an adult finally out of prison, he could only find low-paying jobs. McGowan needed stable work, but all he could find were temporary jobs. He cut grass one week and painted a house the next. He could not find full-time employment and he found it hard to get a stable paycheck. Many of his bills started going unpaid. Things werent in place, McGowan said. They werent where I wanted them to be as far as being an individual back in society. After several years, McGowan entered the Hinds County Reentry Program, a job-training program in Mississippi for former inmates created in October. The practice of employing people with a criminal record is known as second-chance hiring. In better economic times, many former prisoners faced serious difficulties in finding work. But the labor shortage created by the COVID-19 pandemic now presents them with opportunities, said Eric Beamon. He works for MagCor, a company that provides job training to people in Mississippi prisons. Some studies have shown that stable jobs are a major factor in reducing recidivism. Recidivism is when someone returns to prison after being released. Still, not everyone is willing to hire a former prisoner. Stephanie Ferguson is an employment policy expert at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. She wrote in a May report that a lack of job opportunities for those with criminal records is hurting workforce participation in the economy. The National Conference of State Legislatures found that barriers to work that felons face were connected to a loss of at least 1.7 million employees from the economy. It also cost the economy at least $78 billion in 2014. That is the year McGowan left prison. But the work shortage could create a change. And programs like Hinds County Reentry and MagCor can help by training former prisoners to reenter society. The programs also connect them with jobs that match their skills and interests. McGowan said he would like to work in air conditioning and heating repair. The programs workers recommended him to Upchurch Services, a Mississippi-based company that permits workers to take classes in repair services while getting experience in the job. McGowan was hired the second week of May. He makes $15 an hour and works 40 hours each week. He has full health care coverage. And, he said, he loves the work. In addition to skills training, the workforce reentry programs can provide former inmates with mentors who can help them with life after prison. A mentor is someone who teaches or gives help to a less experienced person. Savannah Hayden was released from prison in November. Her mentor is Cynetra Freeman. Freeman is the founder of the Mississippi Center for Reentry. The organization offers work-training programs to inmates preparing to leave prison. Freeman remembers going to an employment agency the day after she was released from prison. She said the agency told her she would never get a job because of her criminal record. Hayden thought she might work temporary jobs and try to make enough money. But Freeman told her to use her experience as a former inmate to help others reentering society. Hayden now works for Freeman as the mental health and drug addiction coordinator at the Center for Reentry. After so many doors are slammed in your face, you get tired of asking, Hayden said. But there will be a person who says yes, and that will change your life. Im Dan Novak. Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press. ___________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story inmate n. a person who is kept in a prison or mental hospital stable adj. in a good state or condition that is not easily changed or likely to change hire v. to give work or a job to in exchange for wages or a salary opportunity n. an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done participation n. to be involved with others in doing something felony n. a serious crime coordinator n. a person who organizes people or groups so that they work together properly and well slam v. to close in a forceful way that makes a loud noise _____________________________________________________________________ We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: Write your comment in the box. Under the box, you can see four images for social media accounts. They are for Disqus, Facebook, Twitter and Google. Click on one image and a box appears. Enter the login for your social media account. Or you may create one on the Disqus system. It is the blue circle with D on it. It is free. Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here. A familys cat has finally been recovered after three weeks of being on the run in Bostons Logan International Airport. The cat named Rowdy had been successfully avoiding airport workers, airline employees, and animal experts since escaping from a pet container. Rowdy was finally caught Wednesday. Whether out of fatigue or hunger well never know, but this morning she finally let herself be caught, an airport spokesperson said. Rowdy is to be given a health examination and then returned to her family. Im kind of in disbelief, said her owner, Patty Sahli. I thought, What are the odds were actually going to get her back? But I got a call this morning and I am just so shocked. Rowdys time on the lam began June 24. Sahli and her husband, Rich, returned to the United States from 15 years in Germany with the Army. When their Lufthansa airlines flight landed, the 4-year-old black cat with green eyes escaped her cage. She was chasing some birds in the area. Soon Rowdy herself was on the object of a chase. Her escape set off a big search involving airport and Lufthansa workers. Construction workers, and animal welfare experts got involved as well. They used wildlife cameras and safe-release traps in an attempt to catch Rowdy. Many people saw Rowdy during her extended airport visit. But, the cat always escaped those who chased her. Now, with Rowdy safely contained, a little calm has been returned to the airport. It was such a community effort, said Sahli, adding, were just so grateful to everyone who helped look for her." Im Caty Weaver. Mark Pratt reported this story for the Associated Press. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. _____________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story pet n. an animal, such as a dog, cat, fish or bird, that is kept for enjoyment fatigue n. a state of being very tired odds n. (plural) the chance that one thing will happen instead of a different thing on the lam expression trying to avoid being caught by police by moving around all the time construction n. the process, art, or manner of building something welfare n. the health, happiness, and fortunes of a person or group _____________________________________________________________________ Have you ever lost a pet? We want to hear your story. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: Write your comment in the box. Under the box, you can see four images for social media accounts. They are for Disqus, Facebook, Twitter and Google. Click on one image and a box appears. Enter the login for your social media account. Or you may create one on the Disqus system. It is the blue circle with D on it. It is free. Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here. Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Albany Democrat-Herald. LEXINGTON A new outfit can make anyone feel more confident or successful, this can be especially true for school students. If they are ashamed of what they have to wear can be detrimental to their own self-respect. There is a non-profit in Lexington that is dedicated to getting new clothes for children who may have never worn anything brand new in their life. L2 for Kids is holding a fundraiser this month to raise money to clothe these children for success when they begin the school year in August. Started in 2012 by Henry and Pat Potter, L2 has helped over 3,400 children in communities such as Alma, Cambridge, Cozad, Culbertson, Grant, Gothenburg, Holdrege, Lexington, North Platte and McCook. Over the years, the numbers of children helped have only increased. In 2014 there were 437 helped, in 2015, it grew to 680, 2016 saw it grow to 778, in 2017, 953 and in 2018, around 11,000. L2 stands for Lazarus in the Bible who was given a second chance. Like Lazarus, children have a second chance with new school clothes for the first day of school, according to the L2 website, With the help of local churches, counselors, and school personnel, applications will be given to the parents of children needing school clothes. Their mission statement reads in part, L2 for Kids is striving to give all children the opportunity to hold their head up high and gain self-confidence. Children who feel good about themselves and their appearance exude confidence, which promotes success and accomplishment. Children selected to receive clothing in the L2 for Kids program shop with a parent and our volunteers to choose clothing they want and need. The only guidelines are the clothes must be school appropriate and sticking within a budget, according to the L2 web site. Buying full brand new outfits for children costs money, between $75 and $125 is allowed to each child as they pick out their clothing. This years fundraiser features pulled pork, brisket, baby back barbeque ribs and bulk meat packages. The pickup times are Friday, July 22 from 11 a.m. 7 p.m. and Saturday, July 23, 11 a.m. 6 p.m. at Plum Creek Market Place, 1411 Plum Creek Parkway. Order forms are available at the L2 website, www.l2forkids or call Henry or Pat Potter at 308-530-0441 or 308-520-1104. Volunteers are still needed and can visit the website or call to offer their time. COZAD The Well Haus, which offers alternative and holistic health services, held an open house for their new location in Cozad, 135 W. 8th St. The Well Haus was previously located on Meriden St., but owner Becca Paulsen said she moved locations to downsize to a space that best fit the business needs, while still providing the same services her customers know. Paulsen said she officially moved into the new space in March 2022. The Well Haus continues to provide a variety of services including massages, yoga sessions, an infrared sauna, ion foot detox, etc. In addition to the new location, Paulsen is welcoming three new practitioners who offer different services. Kaitlyn Lemmer operates her own business, Grounded in Wellness, and is an integrative health practitioner. Lemmer said she is originally from Elwood but now lives in Cozad. Integrated health seeks to find the root causes of imbalances within peoples bodies, Lemmer said, they meet a patient where they are at and come up with a plan based on their individual needs. They can use supportive items, such as essential oils and supplements to help with issues people are experiencing. Lemmer is at The Well Haus from Wednesday Friday from 9 a.m. 4 p.m., she also offers Zoom appointments. She can be found on Facebook at Grounded in Wellness. Tara Niles offers sound healing therapy and runs her own business named The Alternative. Niles said sound therapy uses sounds and vibrations to help remedy physical, emotional and spiritual issues someone may be facing. She said the techniques are based on traditional Chinese medicine techniques that have been used for thousands of years. Both tuning forks and quartz sound bowls are used during sessions, Niles said she starts sessions by having a person lay down and talking about the issues they are dealing with. The sound therapy will then be used in different ways, according to the needs of the person. Niles said it usually takes around three sessions before people begin to feel changes, she noted during their first session, people can be hesitant but by later sessions, they begin to open up more. She also works with emotional freedom techniques and thought feel therapy that can give a person a coping mechanism when the tough times in life appear. Niles said her techniques dont replace a doctors diagnosis, but they offer a different option to people who have had difficulty in being able to address issues they are facing. She said it can give people hope if they havent had success in treating issues in the past. Niles is at The Well Haus on Fridays from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. The third practitioner is Cyndi Smith who practices Reiki, a form of Japanese energy healing. Reiki practitioners use a technique called palm healing or hands-on healing through which a "universal energy" is said to be transferred through the palms of the practitioner to the patient in order to encourage emotional or physical healing. Reiki's teachings and adherents claim that qi is physiological and can be manipulated to treat a disease or condition. Smiths times at The Well Haus are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. 5 p.m. Paulsen said Tasia Aden, who recently moved to Omaha from Cozad, will return to offer her services at The Well Haus on occasion. The Well Haus got its start in Cozad in 2018. Paulsen might have entered her true calling when she attended massage therapy school, and started Good Life Massage in 2014. She was working out of Balance Body Chiropractics and teaching yoga. I love to educate people about how to lead a more holistic way of life, said Paulsen in a past interview, If we could all eat healthy and take care of ourselves that would be the best life for all of us. Educating people on how to make healthy choices and holistic services is one of the most important components of her business, said Paulsen. Once people take care of themselves and see that it helps them, then they will want to continue to do it. When asked about what the Well Haus offers to Cozad, Paulsen said she adds something just a little different. While many of the stores are based around retail, the Well Haus provides services for people. She said it helps people keep coming back to the downtown area. The Well Haus is opened on Tuesdays from 2-7 p.m. and on Wednesdays-Fridays from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Appointments can also be made by calling, 308-784-4244. Paulsen said The Well Haus Facebook page is the best place to keep up to date with what is going on at the business. This is an important service; its my passion for people to feel well, said Paulsen, There are not many services like this in Cozad. Local featured County hires two men to run unit-road system MCMULLEN CATON James McMullen was named county road administrator at the Angelina County Commissioners Court Friday, while Clint Caton, who served as the interim road administrator, was tapped as his assistant. McMullen was a foreman for Triple B Construction and worked with the company since 2005, acting County Judge Keith Wright said. In his time with the company, he supervised crews, operated equipment and managed roads, bridges, signs and dirt work. He handled the bidding process and negotiations and has significant experience in construction, Wright said. Commissioners agreed to pay McMullen $80,000 a year. Im excited about it, he said. Ive been living in Angelina County for a long time and Im just looking forward to working with the guys and doing the best we can to help move the county forward and give all the taxpayers in Angelina County the best roads and services that we can. The position of assistant road administrator was created because the job is a big one, Wright said. In doing this, the county can make sure there is always leadership available and both men bring something necessary to the table. There is a wide range of duties this is a big county, Wright said. And you have a construction side, a maintenance side; then you have an administration side and a planning side. We felt like a team working together, one with a lot of experience with the county and a new road administrator, would work together effectively to do a better job for the citizens of this county. Caton will be paid $65,000 and will work directly with crews and keep up with what is going on day-to-day. McMullen would develop plans and determine what needs to be done, as well as work with the court and the public. Catons position will be funded by moving money from a supervisor position in road and bridge, so the decision to hire both men will not impact the budget, according to Commissioner Rodney Paulette. Both men will begin their new positions Aug. 1. The decision to hire a road administrator, instead of an engineer, follows a concerted effort by the county to find engineer applicants, Wright said. It advertised in multiple locations including the Texas Society of Professional Engineers, he said. But there were no engineer applicants. Four administrators applied for the job and one withdrew their application, Wright said. The county is permitted to hire an administrator in the event they cannot hire an engineer, according to the Texas Transportation Code. Other counties, including Nacogdoches, have operated with the unit-road system being operated by an administrator instead of an engineer for years. Commissioners also discussed procedures relating to the use of the 2020 Tax Note Series. They decided the remaining funds would need to be used on projects approved by the court ahead of time. Wright said he wanted the road administrator to develop projects, starting with one in each of the countys four precincts, and to submit it for court approval. The goal would be to target roads furnishing traffic to main thoroughfares that see more traffic. In other business, commissioners also: agreed to increase the salaries of three assistant district attorneys by decreasing the salary of one position; agreed to a road use agreement between the county and Azalea Springs Solar Park LLC that will be used subject to county attorney approval; approved the final plat of No. 5 Cypress Point in Precinct 3; agreed to request unclaimed property capital credits for counties from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts; and adopted the IRS travel reimbursement rate, which would raise the rate from .585 to .624. Commissioners also agreed to recommendations from the Insurance Committee to: change the stop-loss carrier for the county benefit plan from AccuRisk to Berkshire-Hathaway; approve a business services agreement with Imagine 360/GPS as a third-party administrator for the benefit plan; amend the county benefit plan to include UCM Digital Health; approve the 2022-23 Wellness Program; approve an addendum to the county benefit plan to include telephonic lifestyle coaching as an alternative to the wellness program; and appoint Sheriff Greg Sanches to the insurance committee. Commissioners also approved a budget transfer of: $8,500 from trial transcripts for court at law 2 to CPS trial transcripts. $857.97 from the repair and maintenance of office equipment in the emergency management office to capital outlay. $500 from the call-out expense for the Angelina County Airport to training. $1,000 from the call-out expense for the Angelina County Airport to parts and shop supplies. Anyone who is a frequent visitor to the Madison subreddit might be following with bated breath the recent posts of a user with a mission: Review every Italian beef sandwich in Madison. The user, known as Bombznin, has so far reviewed 19 different Italian beef sandwiches. The popular posts are often coupled with pun-loving captions, most recently: "My country tis of meat, sweet land of drippy beef." But like most Redditors, Bombznin has been anonymous in his culinary quest until now. Madisonian Nils Irland has been surprised by not just the online enjoyment of his reviews, but the sheer extent of Italian beef options in the city. He estimates that there are around 30 sandwiches in need of assessment. An IT manager for UW-Madison's Laboratory of Genetics, the 39-year-old has tried to channel his online hobby toward a good cause, too. He and local attorney Zeshan Usman have donated about $600 to causes around Madison since the Italian beef reviews kicked off. The State Journal met with Irland at Falbo Bros Pizzeria on Park Street to ask the hard-hitting questions: Is meat or bread more likely to make or break a sandwich? What are his favorite spots so far? And just how important is au jus? How did you start doing these Italian beef reviews? It started as many things on the internet do, where I posted my opinion, and many people told me I was wrong. There was a new place called Stadium Takeout that's over by the stadium, and I walked over there and got Italian beef from them. I figured I'll take a picture of this, put it on Reddit, kind of doing, "Hey, go here instead of going to Portillo's. Here's a local place. Buy their food." Then a bunch of people said, "If you want a good sandwich, go here and here." I thought, why not? Italian beefs aren't my favorite sandwiches. They're good. I like them. I honestly had no idea who sold them in town. So you were surprised by how many spots there were? I'm up to 19, and then there's at least eight or 10 more to go. One guy, the last time I posted, had 10 other places that also sell Italian beef, like Pancake House. Who would know that unless you've been there looking for Italian beefs? I think the grand total is going to be around 30. So you order an Italian beef how do you approach reviewing it? I've had to standardize it as Italian beef, hot peppers, wet or dipped, depending on the place. But no other special instructions. That way they're all like what you would get if you just ordered an Italian beef normally. I have a couple big bites, see what it tastes like, and then eat smaller bits of it to see what stands out. What have been your favorite spots so far? Stadium Takeout is probably actually my favorite. Although, I think I want to rerate them at some point. When I originally did it, I wasn't rating any of them. Theirs is a good balance of everything. Their meat is good. Their au jus is good. That's the big thing I find. A lot of people have jus, and it's totally fine. It's probably the cheapest ingredient. It's just salty beef water. You can make it yourself. But most people's jus is just barely salty water, so it doesn't really like add much. But it can make a difference. Johnny's Italian Steakhouse is really good. Their meat was incredible the rest of the sandwich was totally fine but that alone made it worth eating. Alimentari is second best. Alimentari's sandwich is like that thick of meat, it's like a jaw buster. The places that all have been really horrible are the places that have bad beef. Something was like fundamentally wrong with the beef. Do you plan to move on to reviewing other food? People seem to really like this. I had no idea this was going to be something people would be like glued to. I met up with two people from Reddit to go get Italian beefs. People routinely say, "Thank you for doing these posts." They genuinely like it. This lawyer Zeshan Usman, he reached out to me around the fifth or sixth review and asked if I wanted to do a sponsorship with him. His idea was to pay me to do sandwiches then make a donation. I thought about it for a while and I just thought: Why don't we just stick to the part where we donate something? We're not rich, but I don't need to be paid to eat sandwiches. I'd rather put more money towards a good cause. We've donated something like $600 to various causes all local to Madison. We want to try and keep that going. I've donated a couple times. He's donated four times at this point. It's a fun way to raise a little awareness. The beef posts actually served a purpose, too. Stadium is so close to my apartment I go there a few times a month. I told them the last time I was there that I was the guy reviewing Italian beefs online, and they were like, "You're that guy!" They said a bunch of people come in that said they saw the reviews and wanted to try the sandwich. Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels has spent more than $7.9 million of his own money on his campaign since entering the race in late April, campaign finance reports filed Friday show. The millionaire co-owner of Brownsville-based construction company Michels Corp. who has secured key GOP endorsements from former President Donald Trump and former Gov. Tommy Thompson, also raised about $60,000 in individual donations to what has so far been a largely self-funded campaign. All told, Michels spent close to $6.2 million on television ads and more than $712,000 on online advertising. He reported having about $320,000 cash on hand at the end of June. He also reported paying almost $77,000 to his company for administrative expenses, campaign IT maintenance, office rent and other costs. Tim Michels has proven he has the relevant experience, conservative agenda, dependable resources and broad campaign organization necessary to beat Tony Evers this fall, Michels campaign manager Patrick McNulty said in a statement. The campaign has had a fantastic first few months and were getting stronger every day. Michels is in a sharply contested primary with fellow Republican and former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, who raised more than $3.6 million in the first half of the year and about $7 million total since entering the race back in September. Kleefisch has been endorsed by former Gov. Scott Walker, who she served under for eight years, and more than 50 Republican state lawmakers, including Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg. Other Republicans in the race include state Rep. Timothy Ramthun, R-Campbellsport, who reported raising about $172,000 in the first six months of 2022, and Adam Fischer, who raised about $8,700 so far this year. The winner of the Aug. 9 primary will go on to face Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who is seeking a second term this fall, in the Nov. 8 election. Evers has raised $10.1 million in the first half of 2022 and more than $20 million since the start of 2021. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin has donated roughly $4.3 million to Evers campaign so far this year. Both Evers and Kleefisch received donations of $20,000, the maximum individual amount allowed for statewide candidates in Wisconsin, from more than 20 different individuals. Business consultant Kevin Nicholson, who dropped out of the race about a month before the GOP primary, raised more than $445,000 in the first six months of the year. He spent roughly $315,000 on his campaign efforts, according to campaign finance reports. Show of strength Fundraising figures are just one component of a successful campaign, but they can offer a glimpse into the campaign or partys organization, donor base and overall support. The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, which tracks campaign spending, reported earlier this month that close to $25 million had already been spent by outside groups on Wisconsins gubernatorial election. Spending, particularly from outside groups, national donors and super PACs, will likely begin to ramp up after the August primary. Last months Marquette Law School Poll found that 27% of Republican primary voters support Michels, while 26% support Kleefisch. Ramthun was supported by 3% of respondents. Polling also found Evers holding a slight edge in head-to-head matchups with the major Republicans in the race. The Democratic governor was the pick of 47% of respondents in a head-to-head scenario with Kleefisch, who received 43% support. Against Michels, who had not previously been featured in a Marquette poll, Evers held a 48-41 advantage. Evers also fared better against Ramthun, (51-34). No contest As was the case leading up to the 2020 presidential election, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin dramatically outraised the Republican Party of Wisconsin, according to reports covering late March through the end of June. In that span, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin raised more than $6.4 million, with nearly $6 million of that coming from individual donations. In the same span, the Republican Party of Wisconsin reported raising about $274,000. All told, the state Democratic Party raised more than $10.4 million in the first half of the year, compared with almost $966,000 raised by the state Republican Party. The state Republican Party, which chose not to endorse candidates in several statewide elections this year, including for governor, spent a little over $1 million in the first six months of 2022. The state Democratic Party, which does not endorse candidates before the primary, spent nearly $9 million in the same span. Secretary of state State Rep. Amy Loudenbeck, who is running for Wisconsin secretary of state, reported raising just over $98,000 in the first six months of the year, more than five times the roughly $19,000 raised by incumbent Democrat Doug La Follette. Loudenbeck is seeking to put the office in charge of more electoral responsibilities, which are currently managed by the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission. La Follette, who has held the seat since 1983 and is seeking his 11th overall term in office, has said he is running to maintain the offices limited duties. La Follette, 82, will first face Democratic challenger Alexia Sabor, who raised about $14,600, in the Aug. 9 primary. Republicans Justin Schmidtka and Jay Schroeder, who raised about $2,200 and $7,800, respectively, will meet Loudenbeck in the GOP primary. Schmidtka and Schroeder have also said the office should take on more election duties. The winners will go on to the Nov. 8 election. In the race for state attorney general, Democratic incumbent Josh Kaul reported raising $1,195,694 in the first half of 2022. Among Republicans vying to unseat Kaul, Eric Toney reported raising $102,186; Adam Jarchow, $447,622; and Karen Mueller, $42,271. Other statewide races Fundraising reported for the the first half of 2022: Lieutenant governor Roger Roth, R: $253,293 Sara Rodriguez, D: $231,208 Patrick Testin, R: $133,370 Will Martin, R: $63,579 Peng Her, D: $28,205 David Varnam, R: $22,480 Kyle Yudes, R: $20,874 Jonathan Wichman, R: $11,423 Cindy Werner, R: $4,942 David King, R: N/A State treasurer Gillian Battino, D: $259,930 Angelito Terorio, D: $36,716 John Leiber, R: $8,257 Orlando Owens, R: N/A Aaron Richardson, D: $9,383 This story has been updated to correct the amount that Michels spent on his campaign. He spent $7.9 million of his own funds, not $7.7 million. Starting Saturday, when people call, text or chat 988, they will be connected with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Counselors on the line, formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, have responded to people in crisis through a 10-digit phone number since 2005. Though the lifelines 10-digit number will remain in effect, the new three-digit number will be available across the country. It aims to eliminate barriers for those seeking mental health care. Talking about mental and behavioral health is an important part of reducing stigma, Gov. Tony Evers said in a statement Friday. The nationwide transition to 988, an easy-to-remember 3-digit number, will provide greater access to counseling services across our state and country and will undoubtedly save lives. Callers to the crisis line will be connected with a trained counselor. Calls from as many Wisconsin residents as possible will be answered by counselors in the state familiar with local communities, cultures and resources, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services said. Though the lifeline is a national program, local care is a priority, said Caroline Crehan Neumann, DHS crisis services coordinator. It is useful for counselors to have a relationship with nearby mental health agencies and emergency medical services, she said. Several lifeline call centers in the state have decided not to make the 988 transition. Crisis responders will be able to transfer calls to those local centers, Neumann said. Sixty-five out of 72 counties have crisis lines, said Neumann. Some of their corresponding lines will not be dissolving. We see them as the bedrock of crisis response in Wisconsin 988 is a potential gateway. The lifeline is also rebranding from a suicide lifeline to a suicide and crisis lifeline. That change helps ensure counselors are able to help more people suffering from mental health symptoms nationwide. Not everyone is suicidal who needs to talk to someone, Neumann said. Opening up (the lifelines) function as a mental health crisis hotline will provide care to many more people. In fact, only 30% of current calls to the lifeline are currently related to suicidal thoughts, said Shelly Missall with Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin. Often, people call to talk about financial issues, relationship issues and school bullying, among other topics, she added. Over the next year, Neumann said, DHS is projecting a 93% increase in calls to the lifeline. She said local and national call centers are staffing accordingly and looking into hiring remote workers, as well. Wisconsin has received a grant of $1.7 million over two years from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Those dollars are going straight to hiring and capacity concerns, Neumann said. Long term, we hope 988 will integrate itself into society, Neumann said. Someday, people will chuckle at the idea of never having 988. Our kids and our kids kids will have 988 ... hopefully, it will change history forever. Mental health lifelines are proven to work, said Mary Kay Battaglia, executive director at the National Alliance of Mental Illness Wisconsin. Some 80% of calls to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline are resolved through connection and conversation, she said. Co-responder models Though 988 will undoubtedly expand mental health care access, Battaglia said, it is just the first step in a larger effort to decriminalize mental health care in Wisconsin. I always use the example that its as if your dad was having a heart attack, she said. I doubt they would send two police cars to your house. Thats what happens with a mental health crisis. Several communities around Madison have already begun to implement alternatives to police response through co-responder models. These methods utilize health care when addressing mental health-related calls to police. Co-responder models operate differently from community to community. Sometimes police officers have a mental health professional with them when they are responding, while other times they have a mental health professional on call. Weve seen real benefits to this system, Battaglia said. The person has real care instead of feeling like a criminal. Mental health calls dont need to be handled as a criminal issue by law enforcement. Bigger picture DHS said 988 is part of a larger transformation in the states system for behavioral health care. The department is developing a statewide number to offer care and peer support from people who have experienced a mental health crisis, DHS announced Friday. The service will be accessible throughout the state. The state is also considering building a mobile behavioral health crisis response, DHS said. The service is intended to provide mental health care whenever and wherever a person needs it. Additionally, the state has begun developing regional crisis stabilization facilities across Wisconsin to provide an alternative to hospitalization in mental health crises. The change is necessary because many people experiencing a mental health crisis have been driven more than four hours in a police car to the nearest mental health center, Battaglia said. If you had to drive four hours to get help for a heart attack, there would be much more outrage and uproar, she said. 988 is just scratching the surface. We need to do a solid evaluation of our current system and find ways to support this response. Right now, we have a failed system. When Idahos dominant political party gathers in Twin Falls this weekend, do not expect a robust give and take about abortion, the big lie or even voter suppression. This discussion is one-sided. The only question is whether the Idaho Republican Party goes even further down the road of extremism. For example: Abortion Proposed platform planks would declare abortion is murder from the moment of fertilization. All children should be protected regardless of the circumstances of conception, including persons conceived in rape and incest. ... So a state that is about to prosecute any abortion provider with a felony and a jail term might be poised to charge the woman with murder. And if abortion is murder from the moment of fertilization, wouldnt that imply that oral contraceptives must be outlawed? The big lie Idahos GOP wont go as far as its counterparts in Texas, where secession got a nod. But it will follow Texas lead in considering this resolution: ... We reject the certified results of the 2020 presidential election; and we hold that acting President Joseph Robinette Biden was not legitimately elected by the people of the United States. By the way, state Rep. Dorothy Moon, R-Stanley, who as a candidate for secretary of state, embraced the big lie that based on polling, President (Donald) Trump should have been reelected, is challenging former state schools Superintendent Tom Luna for state GOP chairman. Voter suppression It wasnt enough 12 years ago for the Idaho GOP to close its all-important primary election to anyone unwilling to register as a Republican. But at least independents could sign up to vote as Republicans at the polls. Now up for consideration are plans that would stop anyone from having a voice in the Republican primary unless he affiliated with the party at least a year before the election. Also banned from voting in the GOP primary would be anyone who formally ended his Republican affiliation within the preceding 39 months. The same goes for anyone with a record of contributing to a non-GOP candidate or party or participated in another partys primary or caucus within the preceding 25 months. There is talk of nominating GOP candidates at caucuses. One plan aims to give the GOP domination over the process of redrawing legislative and congressional districts. And finally, theres a proposal to require candidates for mayor and city councils to declare a partisan label. Education Start with supporting the ability of parents to use vouchers to select their school of choice, a move that would make Idaho Freedom Foundation President Wayne Hoffman happy, but undermine the education of kids living in rural communities. From there, the GOP will debate whether the State Board of Education which consists of gubernatorial appointees and the elected state superintendent of public instruction should be elected. And finally, theres another run at encouraging the Idaho Legislature to divest the state of Idaho from Idaho Public Television. ... Settling scores Luna sued the Bonneville County Republican Central Committee for violating the rules by endorsing and contributing money to its own preferred slate of candidates in the May 17 primary. Up for a vote is a measure directing Luna or his successor to dismiss the lawsuit with prejudice. Theres also a resolution to condemn District 19 Chairwoman Lynn Bradescu. And what was her transgression? She pointed out Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin was breaking the law when she closed her office after spending her budget into oblivion. State law says offices must remain open during the business week except for weekends and holidays. Potpourri Among the more predictable material is a measure putting GOP on record against red flag laws that allow relatives and police to remove firearms from the possession of someone feared to be a danger to himself or others. In deference to former Congressman Ron Pauls supporters, theres a proposal critical of American involvement in the war for Ukrainian independence. Another idea suggests repealing the federal income tax. Time was when the Idaho GOP convention was an exercise in political voyeurism but not much more. No longer. The same radical fringe that has taken hold of the GOP has an outsized influence. The Idaho Legislature is starting to look more like the Republican Party and not the other way around. RUPERT A jury trial for a Heyburn man accused of first-degree murder in the Jan. 2 death of Julio Lopez is set for Oct. 12. The jury trial in Minidoka County District Court is set to begin at 9 a.m., according to court records. Kalob Morrison is also charged with felony counts of destroying evidence, criminal conspiracy, failure to notify authorities of a death and three counts possession of weapon by a convicted felon. Morrisons brother, Klee Morrison, of Littleton, Arizona, will also be charged in connection with the death. Minidoka County Prosecutor Lance Stevenson previously said Klee Morrison is currently being held on other federal charges. During the magistrate preliminary hearing, a witness testified that Klee Morrison hit Lopez in the head with a metal ball and Kalob Morrison held Lopez down as he pleaded for his life. According to testimony Morrison had been arguing with Lopez at Morrisons home and the Morrison brothers loaded Lopezs body into Lopezs vehicle and drove it into the desert before setting it on fire. Lopezs smoldering vehicle and burned body was later found that morning. Lopez had also been shot in the head. Morrison pleaded not guilty to the charges. TWIN FALLS Dozens of protesters showed up Friday to voice their opposition to the reversal of Roe v. Wade with bold signs and loud chants. The protestors want abortion rights to be reinstated after SCOTUS overturned the landmark case last month. Idahoans deserve to live without fearing for their lifewhether at the supermarket, school or home. Incidents of gun violence around the country have rightly focused efforts to protect communities, especially our children. Effective and implementable solutions require addressing the driving factors behind heinous acts of gun violence, such as: Strengthening shortcomings in our mental health system Hardening the protection of our schools Enforcing existing laws against known violent criminals and those adjudicated to be an imminent threat of violence Far and away, most Americans are law-abiding citizens, including those who own, possess, carry and use firearms, in a lawful and peaceful fashion. Their right to do so is specifically protected by the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. That right must not be abridged while we seek to prevent violence perpetrated by those individuals who are mentally ill, criminals or terrorists. Congress recently passed and the President signed into law S. 2938, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which I voted against because it will abridge the rights of law-abiding citizens through gun ban/confiscation programs, also known as red flag laws. That is why I was asked to share my thoughts on what must be done to curtail mass shootings. First, we need to address the driving factors behind heinous acts of gun violence, which often are shortcomings in our mental health system. As Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, I have spent the last two years in partnership with Chairman Ron Wyden and our entire Committee membership on a strong initiative to address mental health needs in the United States. Although we have not finalized our initiative, several parts of our work were incorporated into S. 2938. The Health and Human Services Secretary would be required to issue Medicaid guidance to states to improve access to telehealth services, and to expand access to school-based mental health services. It would also improve enforcement and oversight of Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment services, the countrys gold standard in childrens health coverage. The law would allow all states to participate in the Medicaid Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) program, which has dramatically increased access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment. I look forward to working with Idahoans to integrate these facilities into our mental health care system. These policies, which expand access to essential care by supporting telehealth options and creating more sites of service, are the types of sensible solutions that address root causes of gun violence without abridging Second Amendment rights. Second, we need to harden the protection of our schools and more effectively enforce existing law. I co-sponsored an amendment, sponsored by fellow Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), to the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that included provisions to: Improve school safety through putting more mental health professionals, local police and security officers in schools and making information on best practices more accessible, offsetting the cost with unspent appropriations. Increase enforcement of existing laws against perpetrators of violence and those who illegally evade background checks. Although Senate Majority Leader Schumer blocked the vote on these effective, implementable solutions with proven track records, we will continue our work to address mental illness, threat identification and school safety. The engagement of so many Idahoans with varying views on this debate is important. I will continue to fight for improvements to mental health services and school safety and for Americans Second Amendment and due process rights. In subsequent columns, I will more thoroughly address red flag laws, due process and our continuing efforts to improve mental health care. On Saturday, June 18, the Martinsville-Henry County Heritage Center & Museum was closed, but my wife and I were preparing for our daughters graduation party at the Historic Henry County Courthouse. As president of the Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society, I welcomed four visitors to the host desk who arrived by motorcycle. They introduced themselves as Gary and Candi Bagwell of Nashville, Tennessee, and Kevin and Peggy Kozicki of Franklin, Tennessee. Candi Bagwell shared that she recently discovered through DNA testing that she is the fifth-great-granddaughter of Brig. Gen. Joseph Martin, namesake of the City of Martinsville, and his second wife, Savannah. Their journey started at Martins Station, located 250 miles from Martinsville, earlier in the day. Martin attempted to establish a settlement there in 1769 and 1775 but abandoned both attempts after conflicting with Native Americans. I answered their questions and invited them to return the next day for a full tour of the Heritage Center & Museum and our Sunday Afternoon Lecture. I gave them a copy of the book "Martinsville & Henry County Historic Driving Tour" and highlighted local attractions. They expressed that they really wanted to visit Gen. Martins grave, but I replied that I was very doubtful because it is located on private property. I offered consolation by describing it to them based upon memory which probably only piqued their interest. A family association consisting of Martin descendants from as far away as Oregon recently visited the cemetery and installed a new gate and signage. The four tourists departed for more sightseeing and to find lodging and supper. The Bagwells and Kozickis returned the next afternoon quite excited. Candi Bagwell enthusiastically announced that they visited Gen. Martins grave. Gary Bagwell added that their trip to Martinsville was successful and included four friendly men, starting with me, at the right place, at the right time. They started at the Martinsville Speedway and met employee Derrick Quesinberry. After telling him their story, he referred them to Leatherwood Grocery. They went there next, but the store was closed. However, the owner, Larry McNeely, was getting into his truck to leave. He escorted them to the entrance of the Billy Lawrence Farm. They noticed a sign posted with John Herndons name and number. They called him, and he drove them to the graveyard of Gen. Martin. After leaving Martinsville, the group headed to Hopewell, Virginia, to visit family of Peggy Kozicki. Of Dutch descent, Peggy Kozicki tailored costumes for country music celebrities, such as Faith Hill and Shania Twain. The group also planned to visit other historic sites, including Richmond, Virginia, and Antietam, Maryland, where their descendants fought in the American Civil War. Gary Bagwell concluded that all you need is the desire and the resources. Clearly, historical attractions play an important role in tourism and the economy. According to a study commissioned by Preservation Virginia and conducted by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University, Heritage tourism is an important driver of Virginias economy. The $7.7 billion spent by heritage tourists per year, plus more than $430 million spent by heritage tourism sites for operational expenditures, ripple throughout the economy, giving an additional boost of $6.5 billion to the economy and generating $1.3 billion in taxes. Our community benefits financially from the tourism industry, but I am more excited about the three individuals who became immediate ambassadors for our area without even realizing it. If only for a few brief moments, there was no reversion, no loss of industry, no politics. For the benefit of a few strangers, these Southern gentlemen chose positivity on behalf of their neighbors. Derrick, Larry, and John were simply living life on a Sunday morning and not upset to stop long enough to hold their heads a little higher, as I did, and share a part of our community. Thank you and kudos for extending your hospitality! I challenge you to be prepared of doing the same. Visit a cemetery. Visit an elderly person or a veteran. Visit the Martinsville-Henry County Heritage Center & Museum, the Fayette Area Historical Initiative and the Bassett Historical Center. As Theodore Roosevelt said, The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future." On her first Sunday at Martinsvilles First United Methodist Church, the Rev. Faith Weedling preached on the famous Old Testament story about Moses and the burning bush. Little did she know that her sermon would hit home quickly. The next day her house, the churchs parsonage on Kenmar Drive, caught on fire during a service installation. I smelled something burning and called 911, and soon there was a wild welcoming party, she said. The response was wonderful with EMS, fire and police taking care of the situation." The fire was in the master bedroom and affected the interior wall, ceiling and attic, but the house remains habitable. Members of the congregation brought food every day, she added. Some went grocery shopping, and others washed clothes. She and husband, Steve, had barely caught their breath when on the following day the house flooded after a torrential rain. I didnt know what to do, she said, but again the congregation stepped up, vacuuming the flooded areas and using towels to mop up rooms. Then, two days later, the house flooded again. The church and community showed unconditional love, she said. First UMC is the eighth church Weedlng has pastored over 26 years. She came from Bethel UMC in Warrenton. Her husband also is a pastor, leading Pleasant Grove UMC in Snow Creek full-time and Chatham Heights UMC part-time. Organized in 1839, First UMC is one of the oldest churches in Martinsville. Today, the church has approximately 150 active participants. The church is recognized for its mission outreach, music and pre-school programs. A native of Connecticut, Weedling met her husband in the Navy in Indiana, where both were involved in recruitment. Two years later, her husband, a Chief Nuclear Machinist Mate, was transferred to Norfolk, where he worked on submarines. The couple and their daughter, Aubrie, attended a small Methodist church in Virginia Beach. Faith Weedling said she was a volunteer and thought God was calling her to be the church secretary, but the pastor said No, God is calling you for something else. She heard a female bishop speak at a womens conference and felt Gods call to preach. She graduated from Virginia Wesleyan College in Norfolk with degrees in religion and human services. While in school, she become the program firector at a Methodist church in Norfolk and later a chaplain intern at a childrens hospital there. After graduating, she, Aubrie, and their second child, David, moved back to Indiana to be close to Steve Weedlings family while he was out to sea. There she worked on her first two years of seminary at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. After two years, Steve Weedling was transferred to Hawaii, and the family moved with him. In their eight years in Hawaii, Faith Weedling completed her seminary education, earning the master's degree in divinity, serving as associate Ppastor at two churches, as a chaplain resident at a trauma center and, later, chaplain for a retirement community. In 2004 Faith and the family returned to Virginia where she pastored a church in Roanoke. Her husband, having retired from the Navy after 28 years, attended Eastern Mennonite Biblical Seminary. He has pastored churches for 13 years. Faith Weedling describes herself as outgoing, empathetic and focused on accomplishing goals. She said her goals at First UMC are to be a hands-on pastor, become involved in the community and to prepare meaningful sermons and Spirit-filled services. Being a pastor is a 24-hour-a-day job, so its important for me to take Sabbath time to rest and to connect more fully with God, my family, and my friends, she said. Now that their children are adults, the couple spoil three dogs and enjoy watching television in the evenings. She admits to being a fan of NCIS, the long-running program about the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. They also like camping and hiking. Her hobbies include scrapbooking and card-making. Asked if her mother named her Faith because she had a premonition about her becoming involved in a religious vocation, Weedling replied: No. I grew up in the church but was such a misbehaving teenager, Mom just hoped Id stay out of jail. My call was all in Gods hands. Faiths sermons are from the heart, said Dr. Mark Crabtree, chair of the staff Parish Relations Committee, and they are popular with the congregation. Her messages connect with each listener in a way that makes a spiritual difference in their lives. Were delighted shes our pastor and hope the parsonage will be immune from future damage. A criminal case against former McDowell Register of Deeds Tonia Hampton was dismissed in Yancey County court. In addition, Hampton said she will again seek the Register of Deeds office in 2024. In April, Hampton was charged with second-degree trespass, communicating threats and assault with a deadly weapon following a September 2021 incident in Yancey County. Hampton surrendered herself to the Yancey County Sheriffs Office, where she was processed, taken before the magistrate, and served with a warrant for arrest. According to the warrant, Hampton remained unlawfully and willfully on the premises of Kristen Amelia Cummings, located at 706 U.S. 19E in Burnsville, after she was notified by Cummings not to be there. Hampton unlawfully and willfully did threaten to physically injure Cummings by stating YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF MY FACE. ILL SHOOT YOU, according to the warrant. The warrant stated that Hampton assaulted Cummings with a deadly weapon: a Hyundai Santa Fe by bumping the victim with her vehicle and not stopping after hitting her. On Wednesday, Hampton notified The McDowell News that the case against her was dismissed. On the advice of my attorney Donny Laws, I can tell you only that on July 5th, 2022 this alleged case was dismissed with prejudice, she said in an email. Hampton added dismissal with prejudice means that the plaintiff cannot refile the same claim again in that court. Isaac Galton, a deputy clerk with the Yancey County Superior Court, said it was a voluntary dismissal by the prosecutor. Hampton also stated in her email the McDowell County Sheriffs Office received notification of this in early October 2021 and did not notify her until April 2022. It sure is funny how this did not come to light or even was mentioned until the day of early voting started, Hampton said in her email. Another ploy to discredit my name. Hampton also stated she will run again for the Register of Deeds office in the 2024 election. McDowell County citizens are not stupid, they have seen how I have been unjustly treated and lied about many times over an elected position, said Hampton in her email. My education and accomplishments in this office will stand for themselves. It is still unknown why the September 2021 incident occurred, what it was about and why it took so long for the warrant to be served. Also, it is still unknown how badly Cummings was allegedly assaulted. McDowell County has added 439 positive cases of COVID-19 in the period of one month, according to the latest statistics. But the actual number of cases is higher due to changes in the way the virus is detected and tracked. Health Director Karen Powell said in a news release like most communities in the United States, McDowell County is seeing a slight rise in the number of positive COVID-19 cases. Although the state no longer requires positive COVID-19 tests be reported to local health departments, anyone can keep track of the statistics with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 Dashboard at: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/dashboard. The most recent reports from the COVID-19 Dashboard shows that McDowell County is currently at medium risk. As North Carolina and the country see an uptick in COVID-19 cases due to the BA.5 subvariant, 41 of 100 counties currently carry higher risk of cases and hospitalizations, according to a Saturday report from the News & Observer of Raleigh. Between June 5 and July 9 there were 439 positive tests reported in McDowell. As of Tuesday, July 12, there is one congregate living facility with an outbreak. Autumn Care of Marion has two staff members and two residents who have tested positive. McDowell County has had no new deaths in recent weeks. The 14-day percent positivity rate for McDowell County is 17%. Surrounding counties are either low or medium risk, while no counties in western North Carolina are currently listed as high risk, according to the news release. With the availability of home testing and the requirements for reporting being lifted, tracking COVID-19 cases is not as accurate as it has been previously. However, we know we are still very much living with COVID-19, said Powell. We cannot drop our guard completely or we will certainly experience significant increases. Vaccines are still effective in preventing hospitalizations and deaths as well as reducing the severity of symptoms. Vaccines are now available to everyone 6 months of age and older. Contact the McDowell County Health Department at 828-652-6811 to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment. The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved a $175 million Trade Finance Funded Risk Participation Agreement facility between the African Development Bank and Trade & Development Bank (TDB). The agreement is expected to boost intra-Africa trade, promote regional integration, and contribute to the reduction of the trade finance gap in Africa. The Bank will provide liquidity of up to 50% (the other 50% to be matched by TDB), to Issuing Banks on a risk share basis, to support trade activities of local corporates and SMEs in member countries of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). Together, the two institutions will provide a ticket size of $350 million to support trade transactions. This is a strategic effort by the AfDB to support the frica Continental Free Trade Areas agenda of reshaping markets and economies across the region by helping to boost output in the services, trade, manufacturing, and natural resources sectors. Speaking soon after the Board approval, the Banks Director for Financial Sector Development, Stefan Nalletamby, stated: We are excited about finalizing this facility with TDB which will aid TDB in scaling-up its trade finance offerings across the COMESA region and help meet the ever-increasing trade finance gap. Specifically, it will allow TDB to play a significant role in providing funding necessary for the post COVID-19 economic recovery of its member countries. This partnership is expected to catalyze more than $2.1 billion in value of trade finance transactions across multi-sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and energy over the next 3 years. The African Development Bank estimates the annual trade finance gap for Africa to be around $81 billion. Compared to multinational corporates and large local corporates, SMEs and other domestic firms have greater difficulty in accessing trade finance. The Director General of the Banks Eastern Africa region, Nwabufo Nnenna said, The advent of COVID-19 coupled with stringent regulatory/capital requirements and KYC compliance enforcement, has seen many global banks reduce their correspondent banking relationships in Africa, while some are exiting the market altogether. There is, therefore, an urgent need for focused financing to reenergize Africas trade, particularly in low-income countries and transition states, which require more participation of institutions like the African Development Bank. A model heart ventricle, made with real living heart cells and designed at U of T, can be used to study heart disease and test out potential therapies without the need for invasive surgery. Credit: Sargol Okhovatian, University of Toronto University of Toronto researchers in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering have grown a small-scale model of a human left heart ventricle in the lab. The bioartificial tissue construct is made with living heart cells and beats strongly enough to pump fluid inside a bioreactor. In the human heart, the left ventricle is the one that pumps freshly oxygenated blood into the aorta, and from there into the rest of the body. The new lab-grown model could offer researchers a new way to study a wide range of heart diseases and conditions, as well as test potential therapies. "With our model, we can measure ejection volumehow much fluid gets pushed out each time the ventricle contractsas well as the pressure of that fluid," says Sargol Okhovatian, a Ph.D. candidate in the Institute of Biomedical Engineering. "Both of these were nearly impossible to get with previous models." Okhovatian and Mohammad Hossein Mohammadi, who graduated from U of T with a master's in chemical and biomedical engineering, are co-lead authors on a new paper in Advanced Biology that describes the model they designed. Their multidisciplinary team was led by Milica Radisic, a professor in the department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry and senior author of the paper. All three researchers are members of the Centre for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies (CRAFT). A unique partnership between Canada's National Research Council and U of T, CRAFT is home to world-leading experts who design, build and test miniaturized devices to control fluid flow at the micron scale, a field known as microfluidics. "The unique facilities we have at CRAFT enable us to create sophisticated organ-on-a-chip models like this one," Radisic says. "With these models, we can study not only cell function, but tissue function and organ function, all without the need for invasive surgery or animal experimentation. We can also use them to screen large libraries of drug candidate molecules for positive or negative effects." Many of the challenges facing tissue engineers relate to geometry: while it's easy to grow human cells in two dimensionsfor example, in a flat petri dishthe results don't look much like real tissue or organs as they would appear in the human body. To move into three dimensions, Radisic and her team use tiny scaffolds made from biocompatible polymers. The scaffolds, which are often patterned with grooves or mesh-like structures, are seeded with heart muscle cells and left to grow in a liquid medium. Over time, the living cells grow together, forming a tissue. The underlying shape or pattern of the scaffold encourages the growing cells to align or stretch in a particular direction. Electrical pulses can even be used to control how fast they beata kind of training gym for the heart tissue. For the bioartificial left ventricle, Okhovatian and Mohammadi created a scaffold shaped like a flat sheet of three mesh-like panels. After seeding the scaffold with cells and allowing them to grow for about a week, the researchers rolled the sheet around a hollow polymer shaft, which they call a mandrel. The result: a tube composed of three overlapping layers of heart cells that beat in unison, pumping fluid out of the hole at the end. The inner diameter of the tube is 0.5 millimetres and its height is about 1 millimetre, making it the size of the ventricle in a human fetus at about the 19th week of gestation. "Until now, there have only been a handful of attempts to create a truly 3D model of a ventricle, as opposed to flat sheets of heart tissue," says Radisic. "Virtually all of those have been made with a single layer of cells. But a real heart has many layers, and the cells in each layer are oriented at different angles. When the heart beats, these layers not only contract, they also twist, a bit like how you twist a towel to wring water out of it. This enables the heart to pump more blood than it otherwise would." The team was able to replicate this twisting arrangement by patterning each of their three panels with grooves at different angles to each other. In collaboration with the lab led by Ren-Ke Li, a professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and senior scientist at the Toronto General Research Institute in the University Health Network, they measured the ejection volume and pressure using a conductance catheter, the same tool used to assess these parameters in living patients. At the moment, the model can only produce a small fractionless than five percentof the ejection pressure that a real heart could, but Okhovatian says that this is to be expected given the scale of the model. "Our model has three layers, but a real heart would have eleven," she says. "We can add more layers, but that makes it hard for oxygen to diffuse through, so the cells in the middle layers start to die. Real hearts have vasculature, or blood vessels, to solve this problem, so we need to find a way to replicate that." Okhovatian says that in addition to the vasculature issue, future work will focus on increasing the density of cells in order to increase the ejection volume and pressure. She also wants to find a way to shrink or eventually remove the scaffold, which a real heart wouldn't have. Though the proof-of-concept model represents significant progress, there is still a long way to go before fully functional artificial organs are possible. "We have to remember that it took us millions of years to evolve a structure as complex as the human heart," Radisic says. "We're not going to be able reverse engineer the whole thing in just a few years, but with each incremental improvement, these models become more useful to researchers and clinicians around the world." "The dream of every tissue engineer is to grow organs that are fully ready to be transplanted into the human body," Okhovatian says. "We are still many years away from that, but I feel like this bioartificial ventricle is an important stepping-stone." Explore further Implants of cardiac muscle tissue could repair and reverse heart damage More information: Mohammad Hossein Mohammadi et al, Toward Hierarchical Assembly of Aligned Cell Sheets into a Conical Cardiac Ventricle Using Microfabricated Elastomers, Advanced Biology (2022). Mohammad Hossein Mohammadi et al, Toward Hierarchical Assembly of Aligned Cell Sheets into a Conical Cardiac Ventricle Using Microfabricated Elastomers,(2022). DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202101165 FRIDAY, July 15, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Roughly 25 million children around the world missed critical vaccinations during 2021, as the pandemic continued to disrupt routine medical care, a new report from the World Health Organization and UNICEF shows. "This is a red alert for child health. We are witnessing the largest sustained drop in childhood immunization in a generation. The consequences will be measured in lives," UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a news release issued Friday. "While a pandemic hangover was expected last year as a result of COVID-19 disruptions and lockdowns, what we are seeing now is a continued decline." Between 2019 and 2021, vaccine coverage dropped to 81 percent, with a 5-point drop recorded in the percentage of children who received three doses of the vaccine that protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. The vaccine, DTP3, is used by the two international agencies as a marker for broader vaccine coverage. "As a result, 25 million children missed out on one or more doses of DTP through routine immunization services in 2021 alone. This is 2 million more than those who missed out in 2020 and 6 million more than in 2019, highlighting the growing number of children at risk from devastating but preventable diseases," a UNICEF press release states. Nearly two-thirds, or 18 million, of the children, most of whom live in low- and middle-income countries, did not receive even one dose of the childhood vaccine. Decreases were also seen in human papillomavirus vaccinations, with over a quarter of the coverage achieved in 2019 lost, and measles, with first-dose coverage dropping to 81 percent in 2021. WHO officials noted this is the lowest level since 2008 and means 24.7 million children missed their first dose in 2021. No region of the world was spared, with the most dramatic declines seen in East Asia and the Pacific region. The biggest factors behind the shift include conflict or other fragile settings, a growing vaccination misinformation campaign, and COVID-19-related issues. McCann Purcell had never seen 10 bassoons in one room until he attended a University of Montana band camp this summer. I mean, we dont even have one bassoon in my band at home, said Purcell, who is from Fairfield, which he describes as somewhere between Great Falls and Choteau. Purcell will be a junior in high school next year in a class of about 30 students. He loves music and plays trombone and piano, but given the size of his town some 700 people access to diverse music instruction is limited. Thats why he was excited to be in Missoula, at UM and with a group of about 85 other music campers that he called his people. The Universitys School of Music has offered its popular music camps for 73 years, with the first one being held in 1949. The camps draw students from all over Montana and across the country for instruction from UM music faculty and interaction with other middle and high school musicians. For many students like Purcell, the camps serve as a musical melting pot for expertise, community and instruction for young music talent. Ive met so many people, Purcell said. Missoula is like no other town Ive been to in Montana. Its like New York City! This years music camps will bring 150 to 200 students to UM. Many chose to live in dorms during the camps, trying out University dining and getting a feel for what it might be like to be a UM student. Jim Smart, UMs director of bands, said the camps are a beloved tradition at UM that allow talented students to improve their skills while exploring whether they want to continue their musical journeys at UM. Many UM students pair a music minor or major with another major outside the School of the Music. Each spring, Smart and his colleagues Margaret Baldridge (String Camp), Rob Tapper (Jazz Camp) and Chris Hahn (Piano Camp) send letters, emails and advertise on social media throughout the Northwest to promote the music camps. Locally, they attend concerts and visit classrooms to encourage students in seventh through 12th grades to attend because they know the power of those experiences. Such exposure, particularly for students in rural communities, is critical in Montana, which Smart said suffers from a shortage of music teachers. In a small band program, if you really turn one kid on to music, it can be infectious, Smart said. I can remember when I was a kid, it wasnt the daily band class that got me thinking of going into music. It was the summer experiences the honor ensembles that made me want to pursue music. The experience of playing with new musicians creates a camaraderie necessary to excel not just in music, but in life, Smart added. At camp they get an immediate peer group, and its an opportunity to get together with kids from other schools that hopefully will energize them to seek higher levels on their instruments and new experiences, Smart said. Music attracts kids from lots of different backgrounds and is a collaborative activity. As humans we are social beings, and I think putting kids into an environment where they dont know everybody helps them grow. They also get individualized instruction from UM School of Music faculty who maintain high standards of performance excellence. Its a camp experience, so we want to keep it fun, but we push the kids, and there is a performance expectation, Smart said They work hard and they focus, but theres the social stuff, too, like attending Out to Lunch downtown and a barbecue at Bonner Park. We want them to take this experience and excite them about music. Its not uncommon, Smart added, for someone to attend camp six years in a row from middle to high school. Stella Gardner, who plays oboe; Eleni Spaliatsos, who plays clarinet; Sarah Ratz, who plays bassoon; and Julien Alviar, who plays alto saxophone; try to come every year. They all live in Missoula and attend Hellgate High School. Its a lot of fun and its relaxed, Ratz said. I always learn a lot about my instrument. She and fellow campers will take what they learn back to the many bands they participate in, including marching band, pep band, concert band and symphonic band. For Purcell, the social element of camp meant he tried Boba Tea for the first time and walked to get pizza with a few hometown kids. Meeting new friends, elevated expectations and watching someone play the instruments he loves will keep him coming back to music camp at UM. I always really loved music, Purcell said. I listened to musicals when I was little and want to pursue music professionally. Listening to my trombone instructor play hes so good he moves the slide so fast and seeing him improv and hearing him on the piano and the trombone is inspiring. Ill be back next year for sure. Missoulas beloved carousel came under some fire on Thursday after a guest noticed what appears to be a white power symbol in a graphic on the rides mural. A community member posted an image to Facebook of a portion of the southwest side of the carousels mural. It shows a man carrying an open purse, with what appears to be a miniature caricature of Donald Trump situated in the bag alongside other political figures. Trump is making a hand-gesture that looks similar to an ok sign. White nationalists, neo-Nazis and Klansmen sometimes use the symbol to identify their presence to one another, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) website. To them, the configuration means WP, for white power, the website states. Eden Atwood posted to Facebook on Thursday evening about the painting. The post drew several comments from concerned Missoulians. Some expressed disbelief a white power symbol would be on Missoulas treasured carousel while others speculated about the meaning. Is Trumps picture appropriate for a childrens carousel? Absolutely not, Atwood said. She had learned about it from her friend, Regan Lopez-Devictoria, whose son spotted the design while on the ride. 10-year-old Keoki Cline said he was scanning every detail of the mural and was curious about why Trump was making an ok symbol. His mom identified it as a white power symbol. Atwood exchanged messages with the murals artist, John Thompson, who explained that his design is satirical. The bag carrying the figures originally included just late Sen. Jesse Helms and Iran-Contra figure Oliver North. About five years ago, Thompson went in and added the Trump figure. Thompson told Atwood he wasnt aware of the symbols meaning. "When we're talking about racist symbols the intent is not important," Lopez-Devictoria said, adding the community needs to mitigate harm wherever possible. Shortly after carousel staff were notified about the painting, they put stickers over it. I like how things were handled, Atwood said, pointing to the swift action by carousel staff to get the design covered up and Thompsons willingness to paint over it. Thompson didnt return a request for comment about his artwork by press time Friday. A Carousel for Missoula and the Dragon Hollow Executive Director Tracy Ursery said Thompson will swing by the ride sometime over the weekend to give the few inches of the mural a small makeover. If theres something on the carousel thats offensive to anyone we want to get rid of it, Ursery said. Whatever it means or meant or didnt mean its still going to go away. Missoula first responders scrambled around a neighborhood, Milk-Bones in hand, as they searched for a small, brown King Charles Spaniel during an emergency call last week. El Diablo, the runaway canine, had barely settled back into his owners arms before the strident beeping of the Missoula Fire Departments emergency alert sent the engine racing to another incident. While situations like El Diablos are relatively rare, Missoula first responders are increasingly finding themselves jumping from call to call. The Missoula Fire Department alone saw a 52% increase in call volume over the course of the past five years. Call volumes have just continued to increase with the expansion of the city, said Assistant Chief Philip Keating. A growing population, particularly in the high-use category, which includes older Missoulians and unhoused people, is contributing to the increase in call volume. Missoula Fire Department The level of growth is quickly outpacing operations at agencies like the Missoula Fire Department, which hasnt seen a hiring increase since the late 2000s. The Missoula Fire Department currently includes 79 operations staff across five stations. Last year, they responded to 11,246 total calls. Those were divided among 7,170 emergency medical services calls, 977 service calls, 322 hazard calls and 211 fire calls. Call volume has increased substantially: 9,437 in 2020, 8,925 in 2019, 9,043 in 2018 and 8,651 in 2017. Some of that increase can be attributed to the addition of the mobile support unit, a special response team staffed by two firefighters that was added in fall 2020. The trend in call volume is putting a strain on the fire departments operations. The Missoula Fire Department aims for 90% station reliability, a metric that would see a given fire station respond to a call in its own district nine out of 10 times. Increasingly though, stations are being drawn to emergencies outside their districts as they cover for other stations in the department. Depending on the time frames, were falling below that 90%, Keating said. Station reliability is crucial, because an engine in position in its own district can respond more quickly to an emergency than an engine coming in from another district. Keating stressed the importance of a fast response when dealing with scenarios like strokes and cardiac arrest. It turns into a much bigger deal depending on the type of call, so having those stations staffed is important, Keating explained. When firefighters are drawn to additional calls outside their districts, it also cuts into their training time, Keating added. The fire department sought to mitigate the impacts of lowered station reliability by adding an additional response unit, an ambulance staffed with two firefighters that could handle low-acuity calls. We tried to align that with our higher call volume times so we would have additional staffing to cover some of those calls, said Keating. According to Keating, that program was effective, but funding fell short and it had to be scrapped. Now, the Missoula Fire Department is asking for an additional engine during peak times in its proposal for this fiscal years budget. That would give us some additional benefits: they could run any call. They could run low acuity, high acuity, they could run fire calls, rescue calls, vehicle accidents and it would be staffed with three people, said Keating. He added the additional engine would create more training opportunities for firefighters on staff. But Keating wasnt sure the financial climate in the city would make it possible to add another engine. With the current budget, were trying to figure out how to make that work still, he said. Thats going to be tough for us so were going to look at other ways to modify that. Missoula Rural Fire Outside the city limits, firefighters face similar dilemmas. The Missoula Rural Fire District saw calls go up 22.5% over the past two years. In 2020, the fire district received 2,783 calls for service. In 2021, that number went up to 3,210. Call volume for this year is up to 1,771 to date, on pace for 3,590 for the year as a whole. I know Montana is seeing, for a lot of reasons, a definite uptick, said Chief Chris Newman. In Newmans experience, the population influx is one of the major contributors to the increase in call volume. Were obviously seeing a big jump, noted Newman. Everyones seeing an increase of folks coming into this great state. With that jump, Missoula Rural Fire faces extra obstacles. The consistent increase in call volumes is concerning, Newman said. He added the fire district is receiving an increase of collision calls, which occur when two emergency calls come in at the same time. The chance of that happening increases as our call volume increases, Newman explained. Thats one of our concerns. Like his counterpart in the city, Newman said it would help to increase staffing at the Missoula Rural Fire Department. Some stations only have two firefighters on staff at any given time, according to Newman. We could easily have 20 more firefighters on staff right now and still probably be technically understaffed, he said. But volunteerism is down and a hiring increase could only happen with a mill levy increase approved by voters. With limited resources and surging call volume, Newman said, were trying to strike a balance. MESI Although less drastic, other emergency services providers have also seen their call volume rise in recent years. For the past 20 years, Missoula Emergency Services Inc. ambulances saw their call volume in the city go up 4 or 5% every year. Last year, MESI call volume jumped 9%. Manager Jeff Welch attributed the increase to the growing population. We probably did have a boost, he said. MESI recently saw a particular increase in interagency calls involving transfers between facilities. The COVID-19 pandemic spurred that uptick as facilities reached their capacities. Those transfers can take place as far away as Mineral and Granite counties and even in Spokane and Kalispell. We go to wherever, said Welch. Thats just tough on us. Life is challenging. Thats why its a four-letter word. Still, Welch said the private ambulance company generally has the resources it needs to respond to calls on a day-to-day basis. It happens where you get those influxes, Welch admitted, but he said upticks in call volumes are generally short-lived. Law enforcement One area that hasnt seen call volume increases is law enforcement. The Missoula Police Department and the Missoula County Sheriffs Office have both noticed decreasing call volume over the past several years, but that doesnt necessarily mean the demand for their services is waning. Missoula Police Department Public Information Officer Lydia Arnold said MPD has recently seen an increase in violent crimes and complex calls requiring multiple officers to respond, even though overall call volume is going down. Police responded to 60,427 incidents in 2019, 55,136 incidents in 2020 and 52,666 incidents in 2021. Situations where a person had to be removed increased over those three years, but DUIs, drug incidents, traffic crashes, theft and traffic stops all decreased over the same time frame. In the sheriffs office, 2017 call volume was 26,959, followed by 27,386 calls in 2018 and 25,444 in 2019. Calls dropped to 21,804 in 2020 before rebounding to 22,789 in 2021. Arnold stressed law enforcement is not exempt from the growth pressures other agencies are facing. As the city grows it does increase the demand on police, she said. Spring rains atop deep snowpack fueled mid-June floods that inundated hundreds of homes, forced more than ten thousand tourists to evacuate, and caused millions of dollars worth of damage in the Yellowstone region, especially in southern Montana. Weeks later, the effects on the ecosystem were just beginning to emerge. A week and a half after the historic floods, I walked down a gravel road in Montanas Paradise Valley with geomorphologist Karin Boyd, who runs a private consultancy in Bozeman focused on restoring river systems. We entered a normally bustling fishing-access site, closed due to the flooding. With no anglers or campers, it felt like a ghost town. The Yellowstone River was still high and muddy, around 30% above the average flow for this time of year. You dont want to come out here and celebrate when people are hurting, Boyd said. But, she said, there is a lot to celebrate. Big floods even if devastating to human communities can help ecosystems like this one thrive. As Boyd and I walked, we could see evidence of both destruction and regeneration. A waterlogged roof truss bobbed next to the bank. Caramel-color sediment, cracked like alligator skin, covered the top of a picnic table an indication of how high the floodwaters had risen. Nearby, otter and beaver footprints dotted the ground. A red-tailed hawk soared overhead, and mergansers drifted down the turbid water. A little giddy, Boyd pointed at depressions in the earth, still saturated with water, where riparian vegetation might be seeding. Willows and cottonwoods, man, those are just incredible in systems that get disturbed, she said. Cottonwoods release seeds during a narrow window each year, just after peak runoff. They need flood-scoured areas, where rushing water has deposited nutrient-rich soil and distributed seeds, to reproduce. Floods like this one can be crucial to creating and maintaining lush, diverse riverside habitat. But the floods impacts arent all visible yet, Boyd said, and not all of them are positive. The success of those cottonwood seeds depends on the water receding gradually in the weeks to come; a sudden drop could leave the water table too low for their roots to reach. Meanwhile, the same water that deposited those seeds could also have carried their competitors weeds and invasive plants into new areas. At the same time, the region is facing other, much greater challenges mainly climate change. An assessment of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem speculates that the region could warm another 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100, meaning more drought, more floods and more wildfire. And yet, Boyd says, despite everything, shes optimistic about the future here. THE YELLOWSTONE is the longest major undammed river in the Lower 48 and part of one of the largest river systems in the world. Its also a Blue Ribbon river, known for its world-class trout fishing. Anglers in the area generally target rainbows, brown trout and Yellowstone cutthroats. Floods are horrible and devastating to humans and infrastructure when (the water) comes out of those riverbanks, said Scott Opitz, a fisheries biologist with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Its almost the opposite for fish. Opitz explained that all trout have adapted to flooding to some extent. They generally hang out in slack water near the riverbanks and rise with the water. Surging water deposits woody debris that can provide new safe havens for fish throughout the river. Floods also move and clean gravel and cobblestone, creating ideal new spawning grounds. Back at the closed fishing-access site, Id seen these processes in action. The floodwaters had eaten away at the outside edge of a horseshoe-shaped bend in the river, gashing the earth within a couple feet of the road. Even over a week after the flood, cobblestones and gravel trickled sometimes cascaded from the incision into the river below. Elsewhere, bare cottonwood roots fanned out over deep pools near the riverbank prime trout habitat. Opitz said the flood could impact different species in different ways. Browns and rainbows, for example, were both introduced by anglers over a century ago and arent adapted to the regions cycle of runoff; brown trout spawn in the fall and rainbows generally reproduce in the spring, just before peak flows. Opitz speculated that the high, turbulent water could hurt both species reproduction. Native Yellowstone cutthroat, he said, are a different story. Their populations have been struggling in many areas, in large part due to warming waters from climate change and competition from nonnatives like browns and rainbows. But theyve evolved to tolerate large-scale floods like this one. Cutthroats spawn after peak flows, as the water begins to recede. By rejuvenating habitat and gravel beds in which to spawn, Opitz said, the flood might actually help Yellowstone cutthroats thrive. BIG FLOODS CREATE habitat for more than just fish. For more than 40 years, Ric Hauer, professor emeritus of systems ecology at the University of Montana, has studied gravel-bottomed rivers like the Yellowstone. These are the major sites of biological activity and biodiversity for birds, for ungulates, for wolves chasing them, Hauer said. Bears, eagles. Everything is focused on the floodplain. Hauers research shows that about 70% of the bird species in the Yellowstone area depend on streamside, or riparian, habitats in floodplains the habitats created by those cottonwoods. Smaller creatures, too, rely on the dynamics of flooding rivers. As floodwater rushes downstream, ripping up sediment in some places and depositing it elsewhere, water filters through the rivers gravel bottom and back up again. Microbes living beneath the surface attack organic matter in the river, releasing nitrogen and phosphorus, creating what Hauer calls hot spots for more productivity, where algae flourish. Aquatic insects feed on that algae, and fish in turn feed on those insects. Its an amazing, amazing system, Hauer said. A few days after meeting with geomorphologist Karin Boyd, I hiked the road that runs from Yellowstone National Parks North Entrance, along the Gardner River. It was still closed to vehicles, and with no cars or people in sight, the park felt eerily silent. Salmonflies the size of my pinky finger perched lazily on tall grasses. Elk tracks dotted the still-wet floodplain. White, fuzzy puffs of cottonwood seeds floated in the air. Eventually, I arrived at an area where the river had reclaimed the roadway: The pavement ended in a sharp plunge to flowing water about 30 feet below. Marveling at the floodplain, I almost stepped over the roads jagged edge. The juxtaposition of the human and natural landscape here reminded me of something Id discussed with Boyd. In the Yellowstone, were so blessed with this, shed said, gesturing to the flowing, muddy water and the distant cottonwoods. She told me that shes worked in areas where rivers and creeks have been confined, channelized and generally controlled in the name of protecting human infrastructure and development. Now, as plans to rebuild take shape, people in the Yellowstone area are figuring out what comes next. BANNACK Bannack State Parks signature event, Bannack Days is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 16, and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, July 17, with many traditional activities, displays and re-enactments celebrating Montanas first territorial capital. Admission is $5 for individuals ages 6 and older, or $20 per family. Admission is free for children ages 5 and younger. Food and drinks can be purchased from vendors during the event. Because parking is limited, visitors are encouraged to park in Dillon at the Beaverhead County Fairgrounds and ride the free shuttle service to and from Bannack State Park. The shuttles will run from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. About 20 miles west of Dillon, Bannack State Park is a National Historic Landmark and the site of Montanas first major gold discovery in 1862. More than 50 historic buildings still line Bannacks Main Street. During Bannack Days, the ghost town comes alive with displays, re-enactments, artisan demonstrations, music and other family-friendly festivities. For more information about scheduled events, activities and park rules for Bannack Days, please visit fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/bannack or call 406-834-3413. China urges U.S., West to stop interfering in Middle East Xinhua) 07:49, July 16, 2022 NANNING, July 15 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday urged the United States and the West to stop interfering in Middle East affairs and trying to transform the region according to their own standards. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks when holding talks with his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad via video link. Calling for more cooperation, multilateralism and lasting peace, Wang said China firmly supports the people of the Middle East in independently exploring the development path, and supports the countries in resolving regional security issues through unity and self-improvement. The Palestine issue is at the core of the Middle East issue and should not be forgotten by the international community, let alone marginalized, Wang said, adding that China is willing to push the Palestine issue back to the top of the international agenda. "We believe that our brothers and sisters in the Middle East have the ability and wisdom to maintain the overall situation of peace and stability and solve the problems left over from history," Wang said, urging the United States and the West to correct their old problems, truly respect the sovereignty of countries in the region, and do things that are conducive to the peaceful development of the region, based on the needs of the people in the region. Wang said the Chinese side is willing to work with the Syrian side to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, and promote the sustained, stable and healthy development of China-Syria ties, and will continue to speak up for Syria to safeguard its sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national dignity, support Syria in improving relations with its neighbors, and wish Syria an early restoration of peace and stability. Noting that it is up to the Syrian people to decide the future of the country, Wang called on the international community to provide Syria with humanitarian assistance to help it recover without political strings attached. Mekdad said China has always adhered to a rational and fair position, has helped small and medium-sized countries develop together, and has played an active role in promoting world multi-polarization and human development and progress. The Syrian side firmly supports China in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and firmly opposes the interference of external forces in China's internal affairs, Mekdad said, adding that the rumors about Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet spread by the United States and the West will be self-defeating. Mekdad also said that the Syrian side firmly supports and is willing to actively participate in the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, which will open up broad prospects for world peace and development cooperation. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji) Saturday, July 16 ART IN THE PARK The 43rd annual Art in the Park continues 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. in Anacondas Washoe Park. The event features more than 80 juried art and craft booths, ethnic foods and live music. Washoe Park offers plenty of shade from cottonwood trees, the cool breeze coming off of Warm Springs Creek and a playground for kids. CAR SHOW The Kenny Cook Memorial Car Show is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kennedy Common in Anaconda. Registration begins at 9 a.m. BANNACK DAYS Bannack State Parks signature event, Bannack Days is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 16, and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, July 17, with many traditional activities, displays and re-enactments celebrating Montanas first territorial capital. Admission is $5 for individuals ages 6 and older, or $20 per family. Admission is free for children ages 5 and younger. Food and drinks can be purchased from vendors during the event. Because parking is limited, visitors are encouraged to park in Dillon at the Beaverhead County Fairgrounds and ride the free shuttle service to and from Bannack State Park. The shuttles will run from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. FARMERS MARKETS The Butte Farmers Market continues 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on West Park street offering fresh produce, other foods, all kinds of plants and a variety of arts and crafts. The Whitehall Farmers Market is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Legion Street. On hand are vintage items, arts & crafts, fresh produce, baked goods and more. The Twin Bridges Farmers Market is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Main Street City Park or the Madison County Fairgrounds (in inclement weather). Follow on Facebook for updates and special events at https://www.facebook.com/TwinBridgesMTFarmersMarket. WATER TO WHISKEY RUN Willies Distillery will host the annual Madison River Run, also called the Water to Whiskey 5k run at 10 a.m. near the Madison River in Lions Club Park, Ennis, and registration is $20. Strollers, walkers and kids are welcome, too. For details, call 406-682-4117 or email info@williesdistillery.com. LINEMANS RODEO Montana Linemans Rodeo continues at 8 a.m. at the Butte Vigilante Rodeo Grounds, 6354 Albany Ave. A competition for linemen, equipment operators, and tree trimmers. Bucket truck rides, bounce house, ladies pole climb, electric safety demonstrations and more. THREE FORKS RODEO Three Forks Rodeo continues with the cowboys and cowgirls of the Northern Rodeo Association. For details, call Three Forks Rodeo at 406-272-3716 or visit https://www.threeforksrodeo.com/annual-nra-rodeo. COPPER K FIBER FEST The Copper K Fiber Fest will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Copper K Barn, 786 Points of Rock Road near Whitehall. GRANT AT CHATEAU Musician Clark Grant will be featured in the New Songs for Butte Mining Camp Project at 7 p.m. at the Clark Chateau, 321 W. Broadway in Uptown Butte. Tickets are $10. NIGHT SKIES AT CAVERNS Ranger Ramona Radonich will present Night Skies at Lewis & Clark Caverns 8 p.m. at the campground amphitheater. Radonich will guide you through the constellations and tell the stories behind the stars you see in the night sky. CLUBS AND MEETINGS The Butte Public Library will offer our bargain basement books free for the entire month of July. The room is overflowing with great, slightly worn books. They still have lots of life in them. Visit any day the library is open. For details, call 406-723-3361. Butte Public Library hosts its Cleaning Crew from 2 to 4 p.m. The Cleaning Crew focuses on areas of Butte that need attention. Follow the event on Facebook for details on where to be. Bring gloves and walking shoes. For details, call the library at 406-723-3361. The event, co-hosted by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will also celebrate Reclamations 120th Anniversary. Reclamations Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton, USACEs Northwestern Division Commander, Colonel Geoff Van Epps, and the USACE Omaha District Commander, Colonel Mark Himes, will attend the ceremony to commemorate Reclamations 120 years of history and the success of the three-year, $44 million construction project. The intergovernmental work will help improve passage for the endangered pallid sturgeon and continuing irrigation diversions to the Lower Yellowstone Project. Construction on the channel started in April 2019 and was recently completed with the removal of the cofferdams on April 9. The 2.1-mile-long channel was constructed as part of the Lower Yellowstone Intake Diversion Dam Fish Passage Project that was designed to address fish passage concerns associated with the Intake Diversion Dam. We are excited to celebrate the success of this interagency project and recognize Reclamations major contributions to reclaiming Americas 17 western states over the last 120 years, Brent Esplin, Missouri Basin and Arkansas-Rio Grande-Texas Regional Director said in a statement. In addition to bolstering conservation efforts of the prehistoric pallid sturgeon, Reclamation is committed to continuing the effective operation of the Lower Yellowstone Project for local irrigators who help feed the nation. In 1990, pallid sturgeons were listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act. USACE, the Wildlife Service and Reclamation have been working in partnership to determine the effects of the Lower Yellowstone Project on the species. Two primary issues were identified, entrainment into the Lower Yellowstone main canal and lack of fish passage success over Intake Diversion Dam. A new screened headworks structure was completed in 2012 and addressed the canal entrainment issue. The new weir in conjunction with the bypass channel will provide fish passage and open approximately 165 river miles of potential spawning and larval drift habitat in the Yellowstone River. This is a momentous occasion more than 10 years in the making, said Col. Geoff Van Epps, commander of the USACE Northwestern Division. The collaboration on this project presented unique challenges and opportunities to meet conservation and recovery responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act while continuing to serve the needs of stakeholders that use the river. The Lower Yellowstone Project is a 58,000-acre irrigation project located in Eastern Montana and western North Dakota. The project is operated and maintained by the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation District Board of Control under contract with Reclamation. The project includes the Intake Diversion Dam, a screened headworks structure, 71 miles of main canal, 225 miles of laterals and 118 miles of drains, three pumping plants on the main canal, four supplemental pumps on the Yellowstone River and one supplemental pump on the Missouri River. A climate and culture survey of employees at state-run health care facilities found management to be the top reason employees would exit from their jobs in the next 12 months. The 28-page report was published by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services while the survey was conducted by third-party contractor Alvarez & Marsal. Across seven facilities, 33% of the 1,100 employees responded to the survey, which asked about satisfaction with salaries, workload and opportunities for professional development. On a scale of 1-to-5, employees gave a 3.1 response to their overall satisfaction with their job. Still, nearly one-fifth of employees who responded said they are considering leaving their jobs in the next 12 months. A spokesperson for DPHHS said Friday the survey results provide specific objectives to address moving forward. "DPHHS is aware that there are challenges at the state-run health care facilities, and this is why we hired A&M to conduct an independent assessment and develop long-range strategic plans. As part of their work, A&M conducted a climate and culture survey," spokesperson Jon Ebelt said in an emailed statement. "The results of the survey give us specific insights to begin the process of working on these identified concerns. We want our employees to feel valued where they work and we are taking the feedback received seriously." Alvarez & Marsal were contracted earlier this year as a part of a reorganization process within the state health department. The company arrived as one facility in particular the Montana State Hospital had reached a full-blown crisis. For months, staff had called on the state health department to address management at the facility, which they said was driving a staff exodus. In April, after Alvarez & Marsal hit the ground in Warm Springs, state hospital administrator Kyle Fouts was moved to a different facility. But the climate and culture survey shows management is the top reason for employees at all facilities considering a departure from their jobs in the next 12 months, with 17% of respondents. Ebelt did not respond to a question Friday of whether the department intends to shake up management at other facilities as it did with Fouts as a result of the survey. Eighteen percent of all respondents said they "intend" to leave their job within the next 12 months. The group with the highest percentage of people intending to leave their jobs, at 71%, are advanced practice registered nurses. In the next highest category, as many people are planning to leave for retirement as there are employees planning to leave due low morale and a toxic environment (14%). Lack of accountability and ethics among staff is the third-most reported reason employees are thinking of looking for different jobs, according to the report. And while Montana State Hospital has seen the most public fallout from internal issues, the Montana Mental Health Nursing Care Center in Lewistown reported the highest percentage of employees "plan on leaving" the facility at 35% of the respondents. Conversely, training and increased wages were the top results when employees were asked for ideas to better recruit and retain employees. Across all facilities, "accomplishment" ranked the highest among employees' satisfaction at their respective facilities. The facilities included the Montana State Hospital, Montana Mental Health Nursing Care Center, Intensive Behavioral Center, Montana Chemical Dependency Center, Columbia Falls Montana Veterans' Home, Southwest Montana Veterans' Home and Eastern Montana Veterans' Home. The Rock Island County States Attorneys Office has dismissed some charges against Chhabria Harris related to a fatal May collision on the Interstate 74 bridge pedestrian walkway. Three men were struck by a vehicle at about 2 a.m. May 22 as they stood on the bridges pedestrian pathway. Ethan Gonzalez, 21, was killed at the scene. Anthony M. Castaneda, 18, of Moline, died of his injuries a few days later. Charles Bowen, 22, suffered serious injuries. Earlier in the case, Harris, 46, East Moline, faced 14 criminal charges and citations, including multiple counts of aggravated DUI, great bodily injury or death; failure to stop after a crash causing personal injury or death; aggravated reckless driving; and reckless homicide. Monday, Assistant States Attorney John McCooley, who is prosecuting the case, filed a motion dismissing half of those charges and citations, stating they were duplicative or could be merged with the remaining seven counts. There has not been any change in the factual allegations or the potential penalties for the charges Ms. Harris is facing, Dora A. Villarreal, the Rock Island County State's Attorney, said Friday afternoon. The remaining counts have been amended and refiled, according to court records. They are now two counts of reckless homicide, three counts of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol and one count each of failure to report after having an accident resulting in injury and aggravated reckless driving. They allege Harris was driving drunk, took her 2008 Cadillac Escalade across the bridge using the walkway, struck the three men and failed to report the incident after doing so. Harris is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on the updated charges on Aug. 2, court records state. A preliminary hearing is an initial test of the prosecutions case. A witness, usually a police officer, provides to the presiding judge an outline of what investigators believe happened. Both the prosecution and the defense can question the witness during the hearing. The judge then weighs the information presented and decides whether the case is strong enough for the prosecution to proceed.The burden for doing so is not considered high and many people facing charges choose to waive the hearing. Waiving the hearing is not an admission of guilt. There was a preliminary hearing scheduled in June for the initial version of the charges against Harris but she waived the hearing. Court records state that Harris was still in custody, held in the Rock Island County Jail on a $2 million bail. To be released, she would have to post a $200,000 bond. One of the first things Westyn Wilson asked when he learned his wish was about to come true was if his brother could join him. Westyn, 12, and his 8-year-old brother, Aceyn, are as thick as thieves, and if Westyn was going to head to John Deere on a Make-A-Wish trip, Aceyn was going to be right there with him. The two boys sat in the cab of a combine Thursday morning in the John Deere Visitor Center, fiddling with controls and waving to the Deere employees gathered below. Their parents watched fondly from the floor, speaking with people lined up to give their well-wishes and thanks for stopping by. "They're four years apart, but they are best friends," Shelbi Wilson, Westyn and Aceyn's mom, said. "It was very hard for both of them when he couldn't come into the hospital every time, but it just made them closer and closer." After two years of waiting, Westyn and his family were able to travel to East Moline from their home in Pine, Arizona, for his Make-A-Wish visit, a two-day excursion filled with everything John Deere. His first stop was to Deere Harvester Works, where he took a tour of the facilities and received Deere-themed gifts from employees. The family will also make stops at the gift shop, Deere Pavilion, world headquarters, Coal Valley equipment test site and Modern Woodmen Park for a River Bandits game. Westyn was diagnosed with Wilms' Tumor a rare kidney cancer four years ago. It had grown to touch his lung, and Westyn spent a year undergoing radiation and chemotherapy and has been in remission since. Doctors were able to preserve much of his kidney. While Westyn was a bit shy in the face of all the attention, Aceyn was the opposite stepping up to speak for his brother when prompted. "He was so excited," Aceyn said of Westyn's reaction to seeing the Harvester Works and Visitor Center for the first time. The kids' love for Deere goes back generations. Westyn's paternal great-grandfather bought his first brand-new piece of Deere equipment in the early 1960s, and passed that loyalty down. Both his grandfathers, one in construction and one in agriculture, use Deere machines, and Westyn has always been fascinated with them. Dustin Wilson, the boys' father, said one of Westyn's favorite things to do is run the skid steer and work in other Deere equipment on his grandpa's farm. When Westyn grows up, he wants to go into a field where he can operate equipment of his own. "That's all he wants to do, play in the tractors," Dustin said. Westyn is the 10th child to visit Deere through Make-A-Wish, said Dustin Lemmon, in public relations for Deere. Westyn was originally supposed to travel to Illinois in 2020, but all Make-A-Wish traveling was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than choose a wish closer to home, Westyn wanted to wait. Make-A-Wish Illinois Senior Community Engagement Manager Janet Glavin said she is thankful that the organization can go back to granting wishes like Westyn's again after having to pause the work. From what she heard Thursday, Deere employees were humbled that Westyn chose them for his wish. "That Westyn really waited for two years to be able to have this wish, because of the pandemic, makes it even more impactful that we were able to do it today, thanks to John Deere," Glavin said. The first batch of M270 multiple rocket launcher systems arrived in Ukraine. The Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Oleksiy Reznikov, did not specify the number of delivered MLRS. The first M270 MLRS have arrived, they will be good company for HIMARS on the battlefield. Thanks to our partners. There is no mercy for the enemy ," Oleksiy Reznikov wrote . At the beginning of June, it became known that the United Kingdom will transfer M270 missile systems and a significant amount of M31A1 ammunition to Ukraine. It was noted that Britain will send M270 launchers, which are capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 80 kilometers with high accuracy. The M270 MLRS, which was used to train the Ukrainian military in Great Britain. July 2022. Still from a video from Sky News The weapon should help Ukraine defend itself against full-scale Russian aggression. Ukrainian military personnel undergo appropriate training in Great Britain in order to effectively use the transferred weapons. Norway and Great Britain are also cooperating on providing Ukraine with long-range rocket artillery. The countries agreed that Great Britain will receive Norwegian systems of this weapon to compensate for the number of MLRS that will be sent by the British to Ukraine. In the message of the government of Norway, it was specified that we are talking about the transfer of three units of anti-aircraft missiles. It is known that 12 of these MLRS are currently in storage in Norway. Norway's M270 MLRS. Photo from open sources The M270 rocket salvo fire system is a battle-proven 227 mm artillery installation manufactured by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. The M270 anti-aircraft missile system is designed to carry out, at any time of the day and under different weather conditions, combat tasks of defeating and destroying from closed firing positions the areas of concentration of troops and combat equipment, the positions of the enemys barrel and rocket artillery, the areas of deployment of its forces and air defense means, cargo cars, lightly armored armored personnel carriers, as well as command posts, communication nodes and other plane targets. Read also: SSO fighters foiled an attempt to break through the Russians in the direction of Bakhmut In Kharkiv Oblast, fighters of the "Azov" SSO destroyed 2 BMPs and the occupiers' ammunition warehouse (VIDEO) Ukrainian air defense shot down an enemy Ka-52 in Donetsk region In a day, the enemy lost 200 occupiers, 12 tanks and a helicopter Russians burn forests on the protected Kinburn spit: the sea along the coast is covered with ash and burnt tree bark (video) Ukrainian "Wasp" shot down enemy drone "Orlan-10" The Stormer HVM air defense system launched air targets in the east of Ukraine Georgia PM: Our thoughts and prayers are with families of those killed in Yerevan Georgia President: I stand with the people of Armenia Bloomberg: Jump in gas prices sent European electricity prices to a new record Japan embassy expresses condolences over Yerevan market explosion No bombs found at 4 Yerevan subway stations, international airport Armenia, Russia defense ministers hold talks Shoigu says there is no need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine Bomb threat at Yerevan international airport Putin: Russia will ensure its national interests, protection of allies US lifts F-35 flight ban Armenian Red Cross Society: 140 people asked for psychological service, 110 othersfor first aid, in 3 days 14 of Yerevan market blast casualties are identified Trump says after leaving Afghanistan, US left Taliban weapons worth $ 85 billion India blocks Azerbaijan's participation in upcoming BRICS summit as a guest Baku is concerned about safety of its diplomatic mission in London Yerevan explosion: 13 of 16 dead are identified, emergency ministry spokesperson says Iran responds to EU nuclear deal proposals Yerevan market explosion: 17 people considered missing, Armenia official says Yerevan explosion: 7 injured continue to receive hospital treatment Day of mourning to be declared in Armenia Newspaper: Unpunished crime gives birth to new, more catastrophic crime in Yerevan Bomb threat made at Yerevan subway Newspaper: Who is No. 1 accountable for Yerevan market tragedy? Yerevan market explosion: Fire extinguishing no longer being carried out, emergency minister says Yerevan market explosion death toll reaches 16 Armenia emergency minister: Rescuers removed young child, pregnant womans bodies from under rubble Yerevan explosion death toll climbs to 15 Yerevan market explosion death toll reaches 10 Yerevan explosion: 5 of 6 assumed missing Iranians are in Georgia, Armenia emergency ministry spokesman says Musk plans to build at least 1,000 starships to send groups of pioneers to Mars Russian DM: Ukraine is preparing large-scale provocations near Zaporizhzhia NPP Rescuers find another body from rubble of Surmalu shopping center Deputy Minister: Tomorrow it will be known when we can finish rescue work near Surmalu shopping center FBI and DHS say threat grows after search of Donald Trump's residence Armenian Emergency Ministry updates list of citizens missing in Surmalu explosion: Six Iranian and one Russian citizen Modi says they must transform India into developed country in next 25 years Ministry of Emergency Situations denies information about pregnant woman and her son found Myanmar Military Court hands down second sentence to Aung San Suu Kyi Head of Emergency Ministry unable to confirm another survivor has been pulled out of rubble German Chancellor: Visa ban for Russians must be discussed Rescuers hear sounds under rubble of Surmalu shopping center Emergencies Ministry: 22 people missing in Surmalu shopping center Bloomberg: Recession risk in eurozone has reached highest level since November 2020 Investigation into explosion in Surmalu shopping center continues Georgia's tourism revenues have exceeded pre-pandemic levels French Embassy expresses condolences to families of Surmalu explosion victims CSTO Secretary General sends condolences to Armenian Prime Minister over Surmalu trade center explosion Hungary and Turkey plan to launch joint drone production Russian-Armenian Humanitarian Response Center joins work to eliminate consequences of explosion in Surmalu Tesla has produced more than 3 million cars since company was founded Rescuers find another body under rubble of Surmalu shopping center Ministry of Emergencies presents new list: 21 people are missing from Surmalu shopping center Electricity bills in Germany will rise by another 480 euros year because of gas surcharge 12 injured in Surmalu shopping mall explosion remain in hospitals Media: Russia signs contract with Iran to buy 1,000 drones Armenian DM attends opening of Army 2022 exhibition at Patriot center near Moscow (PHOTOS) Former Armenian Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan released from jail China sends 30 aircraft and five warships to Taiwan Russian and Iranian citizens among those missing in Surmalu shopping center Lawlessness continues: Shots fired again in Yerevan India's prime minister promises that in 25 years India will be developed country Artsakh Internal Affairs Minister expresses readiness to assist colleagues from Armenia Court in Netherlands to rule on MH-17 case on November 17 Putin invites allies and partners to participate in military exercises Karabakh President: Protection of new corridor will be carried out by Russian peacekeepers Dollar rises, euro falls in Armenia Specialists say those injured in Yerevan market explosion are in satisfactory condition, health minister says Yerevan explosion: We have report about 19 confirmed missing, emergency ministry spokesperson says Yerevan explosion: One of the missing is Iran citizen Yerevan market explosion: 56 injured, 18 others considered missing Armenia Armed Forces General Staff chief on new weapons: We choose what our army needs Yerevan explosion: Search-and-rescue dogs found certain track, emergency ministry spokesman says Iran MFA: International borders need to be preserved Armenian member of Turkey parliament expresses condolences to people of Armenia Putin condoles with Pashinyan regarding Yerevan market explosion Yerevan explosion: Turkish special representative extends condolences to Armenia Yerevan market explosion: Emergency minister dismisses terrorism claims US embassy charge d'affaires expresses condolences regarding Yerevan explosion Georgia MFA extends condolences to Yerevan explosion casualties families 1,713 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia past one week Yerevan explosion: There is real danger building collapsing, says emergency minister Yerevan explosion: Firefighting continues since Sunday (PHOTOS) Artsakh president on Yerevan market explosion: Armenian people must arm themselves with fortitude Yerevan explosion: All 6 casualties identified Yerevan explosion: We are dealing with highly flammable materials, Armenia official says Yerevan explosion: 21 injured continue to be treated at hospitals Yerevan explosion: 2 of 6 casualties not identified yet Yerevan explosion: 15 people found as result of search Yerevan explosion: Death toll climbs to 6 (PHOTOS) Yerevan explosion: PM Pashinyan arrives at scene Yerevan explosion: Ensuing fire not put out yet Yerevan explosion: 4 of 5 causalities identities are known Yerevan explosion: Emergency ministry reports about 5th casualty Yerevan explosion: Death toll reaches 4 Garden of Eden in Iraq now looks like a desert Yerevan explosion: Identity of 3rd casualty is announced Armenia emergency ministry: Information about explosive devices was false Yerevan explosion: Six considered missing are found Catholicos of All Armenians on Yerevan explosion. We pray for the peace, tranquility of the casualties souls Switzerland may join EU energy saving initiative Severe drought in Italy has discovered an archaeological treasure in Rome: a bridge built, according to legend, the Roman Emperor Nero, which is usually submerged under the Tiber River, Live Science recorded. Due to falling water levels in the Tiber, which, according to Reuters, is flowing at a multi-year low, the stone remains of Pons Neronianus (Latin for "Nero's Bridge") have been exposed. Several sources told Live Science that the bridge may have been built before Nero's reign. "The origins of the bridge are uncertain, given that it is likely a bridge existed here before Nero's reign and therefore the Pons Neronianus was probably a reconstruction of an earlier crossing," Nicholas Temple, professor of architectural history at London Metropolitan University, told Live Science. The name Pons Neronianus first appears only in catalogs of monuments in Rome in the 12th century, the scientists added. Emperor Nero, who ruled as the fifth emperor of the Roman Empire from 54 to 68 A.D., was a controversial sovereign who built public structures and won military victories abroad, but neglected politics and instead devoted much time and passion to art, music and chariot races. During his reign the coffers of Rome were devastated, in part by the construction of the "Golden Palace" (Domus Aurea), which Nero erected in the center of Rome after a great fire. During his reign he murdered his mother and at least one of his wives. Nero committed suicide in A.D. 68, at the age of 30, after the Roman Senate declared him an enemy of the people. The White House says Russian officials have visited an airfield in central Iran at least twice in recent weeks "to view weapons-capable drones it is looking to acquire for use in its ongoing war in Ukraine," the AP reports. The White House claims Iran showed drones to Russian officials at the Kashan airfield on June 8 and July 15. The U.S. administration also released satellite images of the Shahed-191 and Shahed-129 drones, which were demonstrated and were in flight at the airfield while the Russian delegation's transport plane was on the ground. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement that the administration has information that the Iranian government is preparing to provide Russia with several hundred UAVs. We assess an official Russian delegation recently received a showcase of Iranian attack-capable UAVs. We are releasing these images captured in June showing Iranian UAVs that the Russian government delegation saw that day, Sullivan added in a statement. This suggests ongoing Russian interest in acquiring Iranian attack-capable UAVs. Sullivan said U.S. officials believe the June visit was the first time a Russian delegation has visited this airfield for such a showcase. US President Joe Biden on Friday met in Jeddah with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the hosts for the upcoming Summit with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Council (GCC) countries plus Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan. The White House informed this in a fact sheet. In a meeting with King Salman and then an extended working session with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and their respective delegations, the United States and Saudi Arabia finalized a number of international and bilateral agreements that serve the interests of the American people and a more integrated, stable, and prosperous Middle East region, the White House added. And the results of this meeting include the following: Removing peacekeepers from Tiran Island; opening Saudi airspace to civilian aircraft flying to and from Israel; sustaining the UN-mediated truce in Yemen; support for the U.S. Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII); new bilateral framework for cooperation on 5G/6G; new cooperation on energy security; new bilateral framework on clean energy cooperation; underscoring human rights concerns; cybersecurity cooperation; cooperation in space exploration; public health cooperation; enhanced maritime security cooperation; and integrated air defense cooperation. US President Joe Biden met Saturday with Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi of Iraq in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in a bilateral meeting during the Summit of the United States and the Gulf Cooperation Council and Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan, the White House informed in a joint statement. During the meeting, the two leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to the strong bilateral partnership between Iraq and the United States under the Strategic Framework Agreement and their determination to continue security coordination to ensure that ISIS can never resurge, the statement added. President Biden and Prime Minister Al-Kadhimi also consulted on a range of regional issues. The leaders agreed that the relationship between the U.S. and Iraq is based on a shared interest in Iraqs sovereignty, territorial integrity, security, and stability and committed to bolstering the bilateral partnership for the benefit of their two nations, the statement noted. They also reaffirmed the importance of forming a new Iraqi government responsive to the will of the Iraqi people and their respect for Iraqs democracy and independence. President Biden underscored the importance the United States places on a stable, united, sovereign, and prosperous Iraq, to include Iraqs Kurdistan region, the statement said. President Biden also welcomed Prime Minister Al-Kadhimis initiative to bring Saudi Arabia and Iran together for talks in Baghdad. The President expressed his appreciation for the Prime Ministers forward-thinking diplomacy in the interest of a safer, more stable region. He also commended the Baghdad Summit, and the unique relationship between Iraq, Jordan, and Egypt, which the United States stands ready to support, the statement added. President Joe Biden, speaking at a summit of Arab leaders, said Saturday that the United States will not walk away from the Middle East as he tries to ensure stability in a volatile part of the world and boost the global flow of oil to reverse rising gas prices, AP reported. His remarks, delivered at the Gulf Cooperation Council on the final leg of a four-day Middle East tour, came amid concerns about Irans nuclear ambitions and support for militants in the region. We will not walk away and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia or Iran, Biden said. We will seek to build on this moment with active, principled, American leadership. Today, Im proud to be able to say that the era of land wars in the region, wars that involved huge numbers of American forces, is not under way, he said. He announced $1 billion in US aid to alleviate hunger in the region, and pressed his counterpartsmany of whom lead repressive governmentsto ensure human rights, including womens rights, and allow their citizens to speak openly. There have been frequent Azerbaijani shootings in recent times toward Khachik village of Armenias Vayots Dzor Province. The people of Khachik do not recall any period ever since the war in the 1990s when the Azerbaijanis had violated the ceasefire at such regularity. As a result of these shootings, the villagers are unable to go their plots of land, which are in the immediate vicinity of the border with Azerbaijan. Soon it will be time to harvest the wheat, but the people of Khachik are not sure whether or not they will be able to do the agricultural work. "It's time to reap the harvest; last year this time we had reaped. We advance two kilometers further from our positions, we are working, there is no one in front of us to protect us; it is not possible because they [i.e., the Azerbaijani soldiers] are sitting [at their combat positions]. Now the whole village is under their surveillance," a resident of Khachik village told Armenian News-NEWS.am. Iran sanctions 61 Americans, including Pompeo Mike Pompeo is among 61 Americans hit with sanctions by Iran. Photo: AP Iran has imposed sanctions on 61 more Americans, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, for backing an Iranian dissident group, Tehran said on Saturday as months of talks to revive a 2015 nuclear deal remained at an impasse. Others blacklisted by Iran's Foreign Ministry for voicing support for the exiled dissident group Mujahideen-e-Khalq (MEK) included Republican former President Donald Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani and former White House national security adviser John Bolton, Iranian state media reported. The sanctions, issued against dozens of Americans in the past on various grounds, let Iranian authorities seize any assets they hold in Iran. The steps, announced as Democratic US President Joe Biden wrapped up his trip to the Middle East, appear largely symbolic given the likely absence of such assets. Giuliani, Pompeo and Bolton, all Republicans, have been widely reported to have taken part in MEK events and voiced support for the group. Both Pompeo and Bolton served under Trump. Iran imposed sanctions on 51 Americans in January and another 24 in April. Iran's indirect talks with the United States on reviving the 2015 nuclear pact began in November in Vienna and continued in Qatar in June. But the negotiations have faced a months-long impasse. In 2018, Trump abandoned the deal, calling it too soft on Iran, and reimposed harsh US sanctions, spurring Tehran to breach nuclear limits in the pact. Biden's administration pledged to support all Americans despite any disagreements over politics or policy. (Reuters) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director General Qu Dongyu, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, World Bank Group (WBG) President David Malpass, World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director David Beasley, and World Trade Organization (WTO) Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala issued a joint statement calling for urgent action to address the global food security crisis. Citing World Food Programme data, the joint statement said the number of acute food insecure people increased to 345 million in 82 countries. "Making matters worse, around 25 countries have reacted to higher food prices by adopting export restrictions affecting over 8 percent of global food trade," it said. Many nations, including India, have put some sort of trade restrictions on some essential commodities keeping in mind their own domestic food security. In order to avoid further setbacks in achieving the sustainable development goals, the joint statement laid down short and long-term actions in four key areas such as providing immediate support to the vulnerable, facilitating trade and international supply of food, boosting production, and investing in climate-resilient agriculture. In the short term, releasing food stocks, as appropriate and consistent with WTO rules, and finding a diplomatic solution to evacuate the grains and fertilizers currently blocked in Ukraine, will help address the availability and affordability of food supplies, it said. Further, actions must be taken to encourage farmers and fishers to boost sustainable food production both in developing and developed countries and improve the supply chains to meet the global demand. (ANI) As per Variety, the series will be directed by David Leitch ("Deadpool 2"), with Universal International in discussions to produce. Written by Jon Croker of 'Paddington 2', the six-part series is based on the book "Dirty Tricks: British Airways' Secret War Against Virgin Atlantic" by investigative journalist Martyn Gregory. The story follows Branson through the unbelievable rise of his company, Virgin Airways, and the campaign by British Airways to bring it down. Branson's company launched in 1984 and began to take hold of the British airline industry by 1990, at which point BA became threatened by VA's growth. In response, BA launched a campaign against VA, impersonating employees and using passenger records to attempt to poach customers from Branson's company. After Branson complained to the European Commission about BA's "dirty tricks," BA launched a negative (and false) press campaign against Branson. He sued, and the case was settled, with BA paying Branson damages and legal fees. Branson, now 71, currently has a net worth of USD 4 billion and the Virgin Group controls more than 400 companies worldwide. (ANI) One of the most loved Indian series on Netflix - 'Masaba Masaba' is now back! This time they've turned up the heat and how! The time for hot messes and puked-on dresses is over - the women are ready to don their bright prints, in the hopes of brighter futures! Fashionista Masaba recently shared the trailer video on her social media account. Taking to her Instagram handle, Masaba dropped the 'Masaba Masaba' season 2 trailer video. https://www.instagram.com/p/CgD7rO-Jt7x/ She captioned the video, "She's been a princess, she's been a queen, now it's time for her to be KING! #MasabaMasaba is back with a banging new season on 29th July on @netflix_in." The iconic mother-daughter duo - Neena and Masaba Gupta are back and decide that it's time to turn their careers around. While Neena gears up to revive a popular show from her past, Masaba decides to leave the past behind and focus on the future- of her brand and herself. 'House of Masaba' is ready for a total rebrand. While she prepares for fashion world domination - life, as always, has other plans. At the beginning of the trailer, the fashion designer is seen saying that she wants 'to be the king' and even tells her mom, Neena that she has decided that it is now going to be 'no men, only work' for her. In the trailer, two good-looking men can be seen, Neil Bhoopalam returns as Dhairya Rana, Masaba's investor-turned-love interest, In the trailer, Armaan Khera's Fateh joins him in trying to win over Masaba's love, playing her client, who flirts with her. Masaba is designing his wedding clothes. Meanwhile, Neena is in lead this time and is looking for an actor, who can be cast opposite her. The show also stars Ram Kapoor. From the video clip, it seems that Neena and Ram have something more going on between them than just work. During a scene, Masaba tells her mom to get her hormones checked as she was being 'too thirsty'. Masaba realises her life is one challenge after the other. Will she emerge victorious in the journey of striking a balance between work, love and life? Or will confusion, grief, anxiety and competition come in the way? Ecstatic about season 2, Masaba Gupta said "It was so surreal to be filming Season 2, given the pandemic and all the things that have happened since season 1. It was special because this season has so many different tracks. It's not just about my mom and I reclaiming our lives, it's also about all these people around us coming into their own. Season 2 touched my heart in so many ways - it made me laugh, it made me cry and it made me feel warm on the inside and I hope it does exactly that to all the people who get to see this on Netflix on the 29th of July!" 'Masaba Masaba' is a semi-fictionalised show, which showcases the life of fashion designer and actor Neena Gupta's daughter Masaba on screen, following her unique background, diverse worlds she straddles across fashion and family, and her foray back into the dating world. Masaba Masaba Season 2 takes us through love, loss and lots of badassery as Masaba Gupta decides to listen to her "dil ki baat". Directed by Sonam Nair and produced by Viniyard Films, Season 2 will also feature Neil Bhoopalam, Rytasha Rathore, Kusha Kapila, Kareema Barry, Barkha Singh, Ram Kapoor, and Armaan Khera. The series marks influencer Kusha Kapila's second stint at acting, the first being Karan Johar's 'Ghost stories'. The first season of 'Masaba Masaba' was released in August 2020. (ANI) A Chicago police officer was listed in grave condition after a self-inflicted gunshot wound, officials said Saturday afternoon. Earlier, Chicago police spokesman Tom Ahern said the male officer had died during a possible suicide. Advertisement The officer was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, said Ahern. In a tweet, Chicagos largest police union, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7, said: Advertisement Were devastated. Two of our members recently died by suicide and we just got word that a third member died by suicide earlier today. So much more needs to be done to stem this horrible reality. So much more needs to be done to stem this horrible reality, said Lodge 7 President John Catanzara in the tweet. Check back for details on this developing story. Were devastated. Two of our members recently died by suicide and we just got word that a third member died by suicide earlier today. So much more needs to be done to stem this horrible reality. Click below to hear more from President Catanzara. : https://t.co/Hn4SzNE6ED pic.twitter.com/Sy9bYYhBfQ Fraternal Order of Police - Chicago Lodge #7 (@FOP7Chicago) July 16, 2022 On Friday, detectives were investigating the death of an active police officer who worked in the Calumet District, police said. He was found dead inside his home in the Central District. Please keep this officers family and friends in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time, the department said. Michael Carroll, a Chicago police detective, wrote in a tweet that it appeared the officer died by suicide.(Its) extremely difficult hearing news like this over and over again. The pressure of the job is more than regular people know and cops need to be better at letting others know that they need help, need a hand, they need to talk, he wrote in a Friday tweet. The unnamed officer was found dead early Friday inside his home, police said. No other information was given. The Friday death came after the loss of 29-year-old Officer Patricia Swank, who died by suicide on July 2, according to the Cook County medical examiners office. Advertisement Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. > On March 12, Sgt. Edward Dougherty, 52, died by suicide in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood, according to the medical examiners office. There have been more than a dozen Chicago police officers to take their own lives since 2018. The Chicago Police Departments problem with officer suicides was highlighted in a 2017 report by the U.S. Justice Department regarding the citys policing practices. At that time, one Chicago police official told the Justice Department that CPDs suicide rate was higher than the national average among police. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a certified listener, call 800-273-8255. The Veterans Crisis Line and Military Crisis Line connect veterans and service members in crisis and their families and friends with qualified U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat or text. The Veterans Crisis Line is at 800-273-8255. Crisis Text Line is a texting service for emotional crisis support. To speak with a trained listener, text HELLO to 741741. It is free, available 24/7 and confidential. Advertisement Tribune reporter Paige Fry contributed. The song has Dulquer Salmaan expressing his emotions to the touching lyrics penned by Sirivennela Sitarama Sastry. The lyrics are among the last ones to be penned by the late iconic Telugu lyricist. The song, composed by Vishal Chandrashekhar, is sung by Anurag Kulkarni, and Sinduri. The lyrical version of this song will be released on July 18. The title of the song in Malayalam is "Kannil Kannil" and is "Kannukkulle" in Tamil. The song is beautifully choreographed in the backdrop of snow-clad mountains. Braving the freezing temperatures, dancers and the lead actress Mrunal Thakur dance gracefully, clad in traditional attire for the classical music. Directed by Hanu Raghavapudi, this romantic film follows the love story between a soldier played by Dulquer Salmaan and his lady love, played by Mrunalini Thakur who is making her debut in the South Indian movie. Rashmika Mandanna and Sumanth Akkineni will also be seen in a very significant role. The earlier songs released by the filmmakers "Oh Sita" and "Inthadhanam" too have been garnering admiration from music lovers. 'Sita Ramam' is presented by the 50-year-old Vyjayanthi Movies and produced by Ashwini Dutt for Swapna Cinema. Tharun Bhaskar, Gautam Menon, and Prakash Raj will be seen in an interesting supporting role in this beautiful love story set in the war backdrop of 1965. The film features camerawork by P.S. Vinod. In Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam, Sita Ramam is gearing to release in theatres worldwide on August 5 this year. --IANS pvn/pgh ( 283 Words) 2022-07-16-19:42:02 (IANS) Former Vice President Hamid Ansari has again asserted that he "never knew or invited Pakistani journalist Nusrat Mirza to any conference" amid fresh claims that they had attended an event against terrorism organised by Jama Masjid United Forum in 2009. A statement issued by the office of the former Vice President of India said that he stands by his earlier statement. "Former Vice President of India stands by his earlier statement that he never knew or invited Pakistani journalist Nusrat Mirza to any conference including 2010 conference mentioned by Nusrat Mirza or the 2009 conference on terrorism or on any other occasion," the statement said. Adish C Aggarwala, Chairman, All India Bar Association, alleged on Thursday that Hamid Ansari and his friends "were fraternizing with Mirza at the Jama Masjid United Forum's Conference". The BJP had on Wednesday asked Ansari and the Congress to come clean on media reports about claims Nusrat Mirza that Ansari had invited him to India. Mirza claimed that he had shared the information collected during the visits with Pakistan's ISI. Ansari had said that a litany of falsehood had been unleashed on him personally in sections of media and by the official spokesperson of Bharatiya Janata Party. Aggarwala said in his statement on Thursday that Ansari wanted to invite the Pakistan journalist to a conference on international terrorism and human rights in 2010 and conveyed his "displeasure" when it was not done so. Aggarwala, who was an organiser of the conference, said the then Director of Vice President Secretariat had informed him that the Vice-President has desired that Pakistani journalist Nusrat Mirza "be invited to the conference". Aggarwala said they could not accede to the request and the official called him up a day before the conference and "expressed displeasure of the Vice-President". "He (the official) also informed me that Mr Hamid Ansari has felt offended and will now attend the inaugural ceremony for only twenty minutes although he had initially agreed to participate in the event for an hour. On the next day, Mr Ansari left the ceremony after twenty minutes," Aggarwala said in his statement. Amit Malviya, in-charge of BJP's national Information and Technology Department also referred to Aggarwala's statement and said Ansari has to explain. Malviya said in a tweet that the statement talks of former Vice President "putting up spurious defence to conceal ties with Pak Spy Nusrat and to malign the PM". "Hamid Ansari and Nusrat Mirza attended an event against terrorism organised by Jama Masjid United Forum in Oberoi Hotel Delhi in Oct 2009... Ansari has to explain," Malviya said. Aggarwala said on Friday that some incorrect remarks have been made about him. "Former VP Hamid Ansari and Congress leaders said that we invited Pakistani journalist (Nusrat Mirza), it's factually incorrect. We neither invited him nor he attended conference. It was other conference organised by another organistaion," he said. "It was another international conference on terrorism organised by Jama Masjid United Forum on 27 Oct. He (Nusrat Mirza) was on the dais and the VP Hamid Ansari was also there on the dais," he added. (ANI) Kerala gold smuggling case prime accused Swapna Suresh, who has taken on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to expose his and his family's "wrongdoings" , on Friday accused him of hounding all those who are supporting her. "A poor driver of mine is the latest victim of Vijayan's anger towards me as he has been made an accused in a fresh case. The only crime he did was he was my driver. They were trying to coerce him to testify against me and when he refused, he has been made an accused in a case," she alleged. Swapna Suresh, in February was given a job by NGO HRDS India, which works among the tribals. However, after she testified before a magistrate in June that Vijayan, his wife and daughter were engaged in smuggling gold and currency, she lost her job, allegedly due to the government's pressure. Later one of the trustees was picked up by the police in a one year old case and after cooling his heels in the jail for two days, he got bail on Thursday. Swapna Suresh alleged that ever since she made the revelation last month, a conspiracy case against her has been registered and the police is giving sleepless nights to a few of those who have been helping her. Police also registered a case against her counsel based on his Facebook post. Swapna Suresh has vowed that she will not budge and she will continue to "expose" Vijayan and his family, claiming she has all the evidence to prove her statements. --IANS sg/vd ( 270 Words) 2022-07-15-21:40:04 (IANS) A joint team of Bihar Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday conducted a raid in the city's Sabji Bagh locality and recovered many incriminating documents from the offices of the Popular Front of India (PFI) and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), officials said. The raid was conducted just a day after several persons were arrested on Thursday for allegedly indulging in anti-national activities following raids here in the Phulwari Sharif area which also led to seizure of several documents including the PFI's 'Mission 2047' for making India an Islamic state. During the raids on Friday, the joint team seized posters, banners and a large number of "joining forms" -- which the officials suspect -- hint towards the possibility that a large number of youth were in contact with the PFI and the SDPI. The joint team of Bihar ATS and NIA have also obtained some crucial leads about the alleged members of these two organisations. The sleuths are hopeful of making more arrests in the coming days. A total of seven persons have been arrested so far of which one is a retired sub-inspector from Jharkhand. One of the arrested individuals, Arman Malik, is facing the murder charge and was also convicted to 20 years jail. He was on bail and was actively participating in the meetings of PFI and SDPI. The other accused are identified as Tahir Ahmed, Shabbir Malik, Shamim Akhtar and Ilias Tahir a.k.a. Magrub. The accused have been lodged in a special cell of Patna Beur jail amid tight security. During the questioning, it was revealed that Tahir a.k.a. Magrub has formed WhatsApp and messenger groups, and were adding youth from Pakistan and Bangladesh. Magrub is a native of Phulwari Sharif. The Patna Police have registered FIR against 26 people and 10 of them are said to be residents of Patna. Police sources said that they are influential persons operating in the group by changing their identities and names. Some of them are "big businessmen". Shamim Akhtar, one of the alleged accused was arrested from Sohsarai locality in Nalanda district. He was involved in CAA and NRC protests. The alleged accused including Athar Parvez, Mohammad Jalaluddin, Arman Malik, Ilias Tahir, Shamim Akhtar, and others conducted a "secret" meeting on July 7. The joint team on Friday seized 25 pamphlets in Hindi, and 3,050 in Urdu and 49 cotton flags having colours of sky blue, red and green with stars. As the PFI is not banned in Bihar, its members were expanding the organisation in many districts of the state such as Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Katihar, Madhubani, Purnea, Araria, Kishanganj, and other districts. The joint team has reportedly obtained vital proof after scanning the cell phone of Athar Parvez. The CDR of his mobile phone is being scanned to collect more information that could act as a "proof". Patna SSP Manavjeet Singh Dhillon said: "The investigation is currently underway and more arrests look possible..." He further said the accused were providing physical training to the youth and trying to radicalize them for anti national activities. He also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not their direct target. Sources said many BJP and RSS members are in the target list of the alleged PFI and SDPI operatives. --IANS ajk/pgh ( 557 Words) 2022-07-15-22:42:03 (IANS) Opposition's Presidential poll candidate Yashwant Sinha on Friday said that he had repeatedly tried to contact Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during his campaign but the latter refused to talk to him. Sinha was in Patna during his presidential election campaign and all the opposition parties including the RJD, Congress, the CPI, the CPI-M, and the CPI-ML unanimously expressed their support. "When the leaders of opposition parties unanimously announced my name as a joint candidate for the presidential post, I called every leader to get their support and help. Accordingly, I repeatedly contacted Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and also sent text messages to him and said that I want to talk to him but he refused. I believe his political status is bigger than people like me. Hence, he did not talk to me," Sinha said. "When the NDA announced the name of Draupadi Murmu as a candidate for the presidential poll, Odhisha CM Naveen Patnaik announced his party's support to her as she is a native of his state. Earlier, when Pratibha Patil became a candidate for the presidential election, the Shiv Sena had given support to her as she belongs to Maharashtra. Similarly, I belong to Bihar and hence, I was thinking that Nitish Kumar may support me in the presidential poll," Sinha said. "I personally believe that he should think about Bihar. If a candidate comes from Bihar, why Nitish Kumar is not coming in his favour is hard to understand. If Nitish Kumar is not thinking about Bihar and thinking of the universe, then I don't know but if he is thinking about Bihar, he should help a candidate who belongs to Bihar," Sinha said. Trinamool Congress MP Shatrughan Sinha, who was also present, said: "Yashwant Sinha is the most appropriate leader for the presidential poll. He will certainly win the contest. The opposition parties are united in the presidential poll." --IANS ajk/vd ( 332 Words) 2022-07-15-22:52:04 (IANS) The governments of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam on Friday signed an agreement here to resolve the existing border-related disputes between the two neighbouring states. The pact -- 'Namsai Declaration', was signed at the Chief Ministerial level meeting that was attended by Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu and his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma. Under the pact, the state governments have agreed to reduce the number of disputed villages. "We have decided to restrict the disputed villages to 86 instead of earlier 123. This is historic," Assam CM Sarma said. He further said both the state governments have aimed to solve the complete border disputes within a very short time. "Namsai Declaration is hugely significant and a landmark progress towards enduring brotherhood, peace and prosperity in the North East," Khandu wrote on Twitter. The 28 villages that are within the constitutional boundary of Arunachal Pradesh will remain with the state. Three villages from where the Arunachal Pradesh government has withdrawn their claim will remain with Assam. Further, another six villages could not be located on the Assam side. If the villages exist on the Arunachal side, these will continue with this hilly state. Around 12 regional committees which were formed earlier, have been assessing the ground situation by holding extensive talks with the villagers. The committees may submit the first tranche of reports within September 15. As the committees conclude their deliberations and an agreement arrives between two state governments, the draft MoU will be referred to the Central government for its approval. Some of the cabinet ministers from both states were also present at the meeting on Friday. Notably, the border dispute between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh had reached Supreme Court long ago, and in a crucial meeting held in April this year in Guwahati, the two Chief Ministers agreed on an out-of-the-court settlement for the pending boundary issues between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. --IANS tanuj/pgh ( 329 Words) 2022-07-15-23:02:03 (IANS) As a part of the export agreement between Assam and the UK, the state's much famous lemons of the Baksa district were sent. The district administration processed all the necessary initiatives for this export. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters the first consignment of lemons was despatched on Friday. He said: "About 600 kg of lemons were sent in the first consignment. Nearly 80 tonnes would be supplied over the next two months." The consignments first reached Guwahati from Baksa district on Friday. It was despatched to Delhi from where lemons would be sent to London. --IANS tanuj/pgh ( 130 Words) 2022-07-15-23:10:02 (IANS) Organ donation by a young brain-dead woman saved the life of five people including two serving Army soldiers in Command Hospital Southern Command (CHSC) in Pune. "A young lady was brought to Command Hospital (Southern Command), (CHSC) in her last stages of her life after an unfortunate event. On admission, the vital brain signs of life were not present in her. The family was aware of the concept of organ donation after death. After discussion with the transplant coordinator of the hospital, the family desired that the organs of the lady should be donated to patients who are in dire need of them," said Defence PRO. "After the necessary clearances, the transplant team at Command Hospital (Southern Command), was immediately activated and the alerts were also sent to the Zonal transplant coordination centre (ZTCC) and Army Organ Retrieval and Transplant Authority (AORTA)," the Defence added. Through the night of July, 14 and the early morning hours of July 15, viable organs such as kidneys were transplanted into two serving soldiers of the Indian Army, eyes were preserved at eye bank of CH(SC)-Armed forces medical college complex and liver was given to a patient at Ruby Hall clinic in Pune. A benevolent gesture of organ donation after death and a well-coordinated effort at CH(SC), gave life and eyesight to five severely ill patients. It bolsters the belief that "don't take your organs to heaven, God knows we need them here!" It also spreads awareness about the invaluable role of organ donation for needy patients under such circumstances, said Defence. (ANI) Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday cautioned against forces and vested interests that are threatening the nation's peace and integrity through a divisive agenda. Stressing that it is 'not Indian culture to denigrate any culture, religion or language', he called upon every citizen to take responsibility to thwart such attempts to weaken India, unite and guard the nation's interests. The Vice President underscored that India's civilisational values teach respect and tolerance towards all cultures and sporadic incidents cannot undermine India's secular ethos. Decrying attempts made to diminish India's image on the international stage, Naidu reiterated that India's parliamentary democracy and pluralistic values are a model to emulate for the world. Releasing a book on the life journey of freedom fighter and journalist Damaraju Pundarikakshudu in Vijayawada today, Naidu said that 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' gives us an opportunity to recall the many sacrifices made by our leaders and freedom fighters during the freedom struggle. Naidu complimented Yallapragada Mallikarjuna Rao, the author, for his efforts in the research and compilation of the book. Noting the great efforts of Damaraju in popularising Gandhiji's contributions through songs and drama, Naidu called upon media houses to highlight the efforts of Indian freedom fighters through special programmes and a series of articles to make the younger generations aware of our leaders' life lessons. The Vice President also called upon the youth to strive towards building an India free of poverty, illiteracy, social discrimination and atrocities against women as a 'true tribute to our freedom fighters' sacrifices'. He reminded us that a 'divide' in society - between urban and rural areas, between social classes and between the genders - ultimately weakens the country. Naidu, recalling the various efforts of leaders from the region during the struggle for independence, appreciated the gesture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recently unveiling the statue of the great freedom fighter, Alluri Sitarama Raju in Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh. On this occasion, the Vice President also distributed certificates to the trainees of various skill development programmes in Swarna Bharat Trust, Vijayawada. He encouraged them to work hard in their chosen discipline and achieve success. Former Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Kamineni Srinivas, author of the book, Yellapragada Mallikarjuna Rao, management of Swarna Bharat Trust, other dignitaries and students participated in the event. (ANI) Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Friday attended the launch of the promo of the series 'Swaraj: Samagra Gatha of India's Freedom Struggle' in New Delhi. Speaking at the occasion, the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister said, "Swaraj's promo is a glimpse of Swaraj's imagination at the time of freedom struggle. This story is going to present the heroic saga through facts." Doordarshan is slated to air a mega historical show titled "Swaraj- Bharat Ke Swatantrata Sangram Ki Samagra Gatha". The historical docu-drama series, 'Swaraj- Bharat Ke Swatantrata Sangram Ki Samagra Gatha', is a 75 episodes mega show illustrating the glorious history of India's freedom struggle from the 15th century onwards. This serial will bring to life several aspects of Indian history while featuring the lives and sacrifices of lesser-known heroes. The popular film actor, Manoj Joshi, plays a stellar role as the narrator (sutradhar) of the serial. The serial has grand production quality and promises to be a visual treat. Swaraj is to be launched on August 14, in Hindi on DD National and subsequently in several regional languages for telecast on the regional network of Doordarshan. Its audio version will be broadcast on the All India Radio network as well, said the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. "The promo is not only a glimpse of what was envisioned during the freedom struggle but it is also a glimpse of what will be the New Doordarshan of New India," Anurag Thakur added. He said, "From Chitrahar to Samachar, the programs of DD used to have quality. We will ensure that it is further enhanced in the coming years. He appreciated the efforts of the research and advisory team of Swaraj for continuing their work despite the COVID-19 pandemic." He also emphasized that the telecast of Swaraj in 10 languages will amplify its accessibility for all. The Minister congratulated the whole team of Doordarshan and All India Radio on the successful launch. In the 75th year of India's Independence when the nation is celebrating 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava' under the visionary leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, Doordarshan is also undergoing a major revamp based on the theme of "Naye Bharat Ka Naya Doordarshan" with the launch of a number of new high-quality serials fulfilling its mandate as the Public Service Broadcaster of India. (ANI) A CTA employee was found dead on the tracks early Saturday morning in the Loop neighborhood. Shortly before 1:50 a.m., the still-unidentified mans body was discovered on the tracks in the 100 block of West Van Buren Street. He was unresponsive and was pronounced dead on the scene, police said. Advertisement The man may have come in contact with the electrified third rail, according to police. Citing the ongoing investigation, the CTA referred all questions to police, who had no further information. Advertisement A CTA media spokesperson in an email said: The entire CTA family is saddened by this tragic loss, and we extend our condolences to the employees family and loved ones. CTA will be offering support services for employees affected by this tragedy. The Cook County Medical Examiners Office was notified of the death but did not release the mans name pending family notification, said Brittany Hill, a spokesperson at the medical examiners office. An autopsy was scheduled for Sunday, Hill said. The bail plea hearing of Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair is scheduled to be held in the sessions court of Uttar Pradesh's Mohammadi today, a day after Delhi's Patiala House Court granted him bail in a case related to an allegedly objectionable tweet. Zubair's lawyer Harjeet Singh informed that the plaintiff had raised an objection regarding the bail plea filed in English, due to which the hearing (for the bail) was postponed. He was summoned by a Lakhimpur Kheri court in a case registered against him in September 2021, after a complaint was filed by a journalist of a news channel for a fact-check tweet. The Court sent him to judicial custody for 14-days on Monday. He was presented before the court through video conferencing from Sitapur Jail. A warrant was issued against him in Lakhimpur Kheri's Mohammadi, in a September 2021 case filed by a Sudarshan News employee for a fact-check tweet. The session court expected to hear his bail plea on July 13, which was postponed till today after the plaintiff raised an objection against the application from Zubair's end was filed in English. Meanwhile, on Friday, a Delhi court granted him bail in a case related to an allegedly objectionable tweet, whose FIR was lodged on June 20 on the grounds of a complaint filed by the Duty Officer of the IFSO unit of the Delhi Police Special Cell, which tackles cyber crimes. Zubair was arrested and sent to one day of police custody after the First Information Report (FIR) was registered against him based on a Twitter posting, which another Twitter handle alleged that it "hurt Hindu sentiments." Zubair was booked by the Delhi Police 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. Earlier on Monday (July 11), Zubair had moved a bail petition in Sessions Court seeking bail in the Delhi FIR registered against him in a case pertaining to an alleged objectionable tweet. On July 2, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) refused to grant bail while sending him to 14-days of judicial custody. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Snigdha Sarvaria dismissed the bail petition after hearing the submission of the defense counsel and special public prosecutor (SPP) Atul Srivastava for Delhi. In the order, the court had observed, "since the investigation is at the initial stage and in view of the circumstances and gravity of the offense, no ground is made out for bail. Application dismissed and the accused is remanded to judicial custody till July 16, 2022." (ANI) India reported 20,044 new COVID cases in the last 24 hours, crossing the 20,000 mark for the third consecutive day, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday. The country had logged 20,038 infections yesterday. With this, the active cases in the country rose to 1,40,760 which was 1,39,073 yesterday. According to the Ministry, 18,301 COVID patients recovered in the last 24 hours. The number of recoveries since the onset of the pandemic stands at 4,30,63,651. The rate of recovery currently is 98.48 per cent. As many as 56 patients lost their lives in the last 24 hours taking the death toll to 5,25,660. 4,17,895 COVID tests were conducted during this period and the daily positivity rate in the country was 4.80 per cent (a little more than yesterday, 4.44 per cent), and the weekly positivity rate was 4.40 per cent (4.30 per cent yesterday). Under the nationwide vaccination drive in the country, 22,93,627 COVID vaccines were administered in the last 24 hours while 1,99,71,61,438 COVID doses have been jabbed in the country so far. Meanwhile, with an aim to increase the uptake of the precautionary dose of COVID vaccine among the eligible adult population, 75 days - 'COVID Vaccination Amrit Mahotsava' will commence on Friday, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This special vaccination drive is a part of the celebration for Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and aims to provide free precaution dose for all adults (18 years and above) eligible population at Government COVID Vaccination Centres (CVCs). In a virtual meeting with State/UT Health Secretaries and NHM MDs chaired by Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Thursday, States and UTs have been urged to give an intensive and ambitious push toward full COVID-19 vaccination coverage by vaccinating all eligible beneficiaries and covering them with precaution dose. (ANI) The woman was caught by the security forces from the area of operation of the Sarla Battalion in the general area of Chakan-da-Bagh. As per sources, the woman has been identified as Rozina who is a resident of Islamabad, Pakistan and crossed the LOC at about 10 PM. Reportedly, the officials rushed to the spot to take the woman under custody. Further investigations are underway. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kanpur on Saturday for his one-day visit to Uttar Pradesh to inaugurate the Bundelkhand Expressway. The Prime Minister was received by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other dignitaries at the airport. The PM is on the way to Jalaun to inaugurate the Bundelkhand Expressway, according to the Prime Minister's Office. The 296 km four-lane Expressway has been constructed at a cost of around Rs 14,850 crore. The expressway would give a major boost to connectivity and industrial development in the region. The Modi government has focused greatly on connectivity and infrastructure, officials said. The budgetary allocation of Rs 1.99 lakh crore for the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in Budget 2022-23 is the highest ever. This is a jump of over 550 per cent when compared to the allocation of about Rs. 30,300 crore in 2013-14. In the last seven years, the length of National Highways in the country has gone up by more than 50 per cent from 91,287 km (as on April 2014) to around 1,41,000 km (as on December 31, 2021). The foundation stone for the construction of the Bundelkhand Expressway was laid by the Prime Minister on February 29, 2020. The work on the Expressway has been completed within 28 months. The 296 km, four-lane expressway has been constructed at a cost of around Rs 14,850 crore, under the aegis of Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), and can later be expanded up to six lanes as well. Along with improving connectivity in the region, the Bundelkhand Expressway will also give a major boost to economic development. Work on the creation of industrial corridor in Banda and Jalaun districts, next to the Expressway, has already started. (ANI) The Congress on Saturday refuted the "mischievous charges" against late Ahmed Patel alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "political vendetta machine" does not even "spare the departed" who were his "political adversaries". An affidavit filed by Gujarat Police's Special Investigating Team before the sessions court claimed that Teesta Setalvad was part of a larger conspiracy, hatched at the behest of late Congress leader Ahmed Patel, to destabilise the BJP-led Gujarat government after the 2002 Gujarat riots. "The Indian National Congress categorically refutes the mischievous charges manufactured against the late Shri Ahmed Patel. This is part of the Prime Minister's systematic strategy to absolve himself of any responsibility for the communal carnage unleashed when he was chief minister of Gujarat in 2002," said a statement issued by General Secretary In-Charge, Communications, AICC, Jairam Ramesh. "The Prime Minister's political vendetta machine clearly does not even spare the departed who were his political adversaries. This SIT is dancing to the tune of its political master and will sit wherever it is told to. We know how an earlier SIT chief was rewarded with a diplomatic assignment after he had given a 'clean chit' to the chief minister," the statement stated. The SIT affidavit alleged that social activist Setalvad, former state Director General of Police (DGP) RB Sreekumar and former IPS officer Sanjeev Bhatt had accepted Rs 30 lakh from Ahmed Patel, the political advisor of the then Congress president Sonia Gandhi to allegedly frame then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and destabilise his government following 2002 Gujarat riots. The SIT was formed to probe Setalvad along with R B Sreekumar for criminal conspiracy and forgery. SIT's ACP BC Solanki's Special public prosecutors Mitesh Amin and Amit Patel filed an affidavit in the sessions court on July 15 against the bail plea filed by Teesta, Sreekumar stating that the accused had entered into a larger conspiracy with the intention of obtaining illegal money and other benefits from Congress. After the riots that broke out after the Godhra incident, the SIT filed serious charges against Setalvad, Sreekumar and Bhatt in the case of defaming several people including the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Gujarat in the case of petitions to various commissions and the Supreme Court. The SIT affidavit stated that the accused had numerous meetings with Patel where they received Rs 5 lakh for the first time and Rs 25 lakh after two days. Ahmed Patel passed away in 2020. Last month, the Supreme Court dismissed the plea filed by Zakia Jafri, widow of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, challenging the clean chit given by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to then Chief Minister Narendra Modi and several others in the 2002 Gujarat riots. After 58 pilgrims were burnt alive on the Sabarmati Express train at Gujarat's Godhra Railway Station on February 27, 2002, riots broke out across the state in which more than 1,000 people were killed. (ANI) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was also present on the occasion. Earlier, the Prime Minister arrived at the Kanpur airport where he was received by the Chief Minister and other dignitaries. The 296 km four-lane Expressway has been constructed at a cost of around Rs 14,850 crore. The expressway would give a major boost to connectivity and industrial development in the region. The Modi government has focused greatly on connectivity and infrastructure, officials said. The budgetary allocation of Rs 1.99 lakh crore for the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in Budget 2022-23 is the highest ever. This is a jump of over 550 per cent when compared to the allocation of about Rs. 30,300 crore in 2013-14. In the last seven years, the length of National Highways in the country has gone up by more than 50 per cent from 91,287 km (as on April 2014) to around 1,41,000 km (as on December 31, 2021). The foundation stone for the construction of the Bundelkhand Expressway was laid by the Prime Minister on February 29, 2020. The work on the Expressway has been completed within 28 months. The 296 km, four-lane expressway has been constructed at a cost of around Rs 14,850 crore, under the aegis of Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), and can later be expanded up to six lanes as well. (ANI) Assam Police on Friday busted a gang of fake gold and fake currency notes in the Biswanath district of the state and arrested five people of the gang, it informed on Saturday. The arrested persons have been identified as Amir Ali, Atikul Islam, Mafizuddin Ahmed, Saiful Islam, and Habibur Rahman and also recovered fake Indian currency notes, live ammunition, and a fake currency notes-making machine, one four-wheeler vehicle, and two motorbikes. Based on intelligence input, a team of Biswanath district police led by Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Kulendra Nath Deka and Deputy SP (DSP) Jayanta Baruah launched an operation at Ambari Seujpur area of Biswanath town on Friday night. "We received information that some people from Lakhimpur district were involved in fake gold and fake currency notes selling and the gang has taken shelter at Seujpur area of the Biswanath town," ASP Deka said. "We observed the presence of some suspicious people at Amir Ali's house and conducted the search operation at his house, immediately," he added. The police officer further said that the police team have seized one machine used for printing fake currency notes, fake currency notes worth Rs 5.49 lakh, one Swift Dzire, two motorbikes, 18 rounds of live ammunition of 7.62 mm, 51 rounds of live ammunition of point 22 calibre and other items from the house. Apart from the aforesaid, police also recovered fake gold biscuits, 10 mobile phones, Aadhar cards, voter id cards, ATM cards, PAN cards, and other incriminating documents from the possession of the five arrested. Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI) Launching a scathing attack on Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi over the Special Investigating Team (SIT) affidavit in the 2002 Gujarat riots case, BJP on Saturday alleged that she was the "architect of the entire conspiracy" and had attempted to "malign" the name of the state through her political advisor late Ahmed Patel. The SIT, in its affidavit in the sessions court in Gujarat, has claimed that at Ahmed Patel's behest, Teesta Setalvad and others had plotted to destabilize the Gujarat government. Addressing a press conference, party spokesperson Sambit Patra said, "The affidavit has brought the truth out that who were the ones who were driving these conspiracies - Ahmed Patel. Ahmed Patel is just a name, the driving force was his boss Sonia Gandhi. Through her Chief Political Advisor Ahmed Patel, Sonia Gandhi attempted to malign Gujarat's image. Through him, she attempted to insult Narendra Modi and she was the architect of this entire conspiracy." Slamming social activist Teesta Setalvad whose name was mentioned in the SIT affidavit that she had numerous meetings with Patel where they received Rs 5 lakhs for the first time and Rs 25 lakhs after two days, Patra said that she was doing all this with political objectives. "The first political objective of Teesta Setalvad was to destabilize the publicly elected Narendra Modi government in Gujarat. The second objective was to frame innocent people including the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi. The affidavit says that this conspiracy was to malign the image of Gujarat," he said. "What Teesta Setalvad was doing, Sonia Gandhi was impressed with it and awarded her with Padma Shree in 2007. Teesta was a member of the national advisory council of Sonia Gandhi," the BJP leader said. Patra said that they do not want answers from Jairam Ramesh, who had issued a statement refuting the allegations of the SIT and slamming the Centre for the "mischievous" charges against late Ahmed Patel. "How should the BJP government be dismissed in Gujarat, how to destabilize it, how to play politics with Gujarat riots, there is only one person behind all this, Sonia Gandhi. Today we are wanting answers from none other than Sonia Gandhi, not Jairam Ramesh. With a clear conscience, we beseech Sonia Gandhi to hold a press conference and address the nation as to why she was conspiring against Narendra Modi," Patra said. The SIT has filed serious charges against Teesta Setalvad, RB Sreekumar and Sanjeev Bhatt in the case of defaming several people including the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Gujarat in the case of petitions to various commissions and the Supreme Court. SIT's ACP BC Solanki's Special public prosecutors Mitesh Amin and Amit Patel filed an affidavit in the sessions court on Friday against the bail plea filed by Teesta, Sreekumar in the Sessions Court stating that the accused had entered into a larger conspiracy with the intention of obtaining illegal money and other benefits from Congress. Last month, the Supreme Court dismissed the plea filed by Zakia Jafri, widow of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, challenging the clean chit given by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to then Chief Minister Narendra Modi and several others in the 2002 Gujarat riots. Ehsan Jafri was among 69 people killed during violence at the Gulbarg Society in Ahmedabad on February 28, 2002. His widow Zakia Jafri challenged the SIT's clean chit to 64 people including Narendra Modi who was Chief Minister of Gujarat at the time. After 58 pilgrims were burnt alive on the Sabarmati Express train at Gujarat's Godhra Railway Station on February 27, 2002, riots broke out across the state in which more than 1,000 people were killed. (ANI) The Delhi High court on Friday refused to grant permission to an unmarried woman to abort the 23 weeks pregnancy out of a consensual sexual relationship. The Division Bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad refused to grant interim relief to 25 years old-woman in view of Rule 3B of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Rules 2003 which does not allow the unmarried woman to abort her pregnancy of more than 20 weeks out of a consensual sexual relationship. The bench observed, "The petitioner, who is an unmarried woman and whose pregnancy arises out of a consensual relationship, is clearly not covered by any of the clauses under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Rules, 2003. Therefore, section 3(2)(b) of the Act is not applicable to the facts of this case." "Rule 3B of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Rules, 2003, stands, and this court, while exercising its power under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, 1950, cannot go beyond the statute. Granting interim relief now would amount to allowing the writ petition," it noted. Advocate Amit Mishra had submitted that Rule 3B of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Rules, 2003 is violative of Article 14 of the constitution of India, in as much as it excludes an unmarried woman. The bench said, "whether such rule is valid or not, it can be decided only after the said rule is held Ultra Virus, for which purpose, notice has to be issued in the writ petition and has been done so by this court." The bench issued notice to the Health and Family Welfare Department of the Delhi government and directed to file a response to the petition by August 26. *The court said the notice is limited to the prayer which seeks to include an unmarried woman in Rule 3B of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Rules, 2003.* These rules include the victim of rape, minor women whose marital status changes during pregnancy, mentally ill women, and women with fetal malformation and these are allowed to terminate pregnancy up to 24 weeks. During the hearing on the petition on Friday, the court had said that granting permission for abortion at this stage would amount to killing the child, the court will not allow this. The bench had suggested that the child can be given for adoption. There is a long queue for adoption. Why are you killing the child? it said. It also said that it is not forcing to raise the child. Everything will be taken care of by the government. The bench had also asked the senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, who was present in the Courtroom, what he has to say on the court's view. Sibal had said that the child should not be aborted at this stage. The petitioner has challenged rule 3B. She had also sought permission to terminate the 23 weeks pregnancy. The counsel for the petitioner had submitted that the pregnancy will impact the petitioner physically and mentally. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday planted a sapling at the site of the inauguration of the Bundelkhand Expressway in Jalaun, Uttar Pradesh. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also accompanied him to the site. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the Bundelkhand Expressway in Uttar Pradesh's Jalaun. Earlier, the Prime Minister arrived at the Kanpur airport where he was received by the Chief Minister and other dignitaries. The 296 km four-lane Expressway has been constructed at a cost of around Rs 14,850 crore. The expressway would give a major boost to connectivity and industrial development in the region.The Modi government has focused greatly on connectivity and infrastructure, officials said. The budgetary allocation of Rs 1.99 lakh crore for the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in Budget 2022-23 is the highest ever. This is a jump of over 550 per cent when compared to the allocation of about Rs. 30,300 crore in 2013-14. In the last seven years, the length of National Highways in the country has gone up by more than 50 per cent from 91,287 km (as on April 2014) to around 1,41,000 km (as on December 31, 2021). The foundation stone for the construction of the Bundelkhand Expressway was laid by the Prime Minister on February 29, 2020. The work on the Expressway has been completed within 28 months. The 296 km, four-lane expressway has been constructed at a cost of around Rs 14,850 crore, under the aegis of Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), and can later be expanded up to six lanes as well. (ANI) The former home of Emmett Till and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, on May 15, 2022, on the South Side of Chicago. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) JACKSON, Miss. Mississippis top legal official has no plan to prosecute the white woman whose accusation set off the lynching of Black teenager Emmett Till nearly 70 years ago, an aide said Friday following revelations about an unserved arrest warrant and a newly revealed memoir by the woman. Theres no new evidence to open the case back up, Michelle Williams, chief of staff for Attorney General Lynn Fitch, told The Associated Press. Advertisement Williams also said Fitchs office has not been in contact with Leflore County District Attorney Dewayne Richardson, the local prosecutor who would be responsible for pursuing any case against Carolyn Bryant Donham. The Justice Department previously investigated without filing charges and closed the case, Williams said, referring to the governments decision in December to end its most recent review of the infamous slaying. Advertisement Neither Richardson nor Leflore Sheriff Ricky Banks immediately returned messages seeking comment Friday. A group searching the basement of the Leflore County Courthouse in June discovered the unserved arrest warrant charging Donham, her then-husband, Roy Bryant, and her brother-in-law, J.W. Milam, in Tills abduction in 1955. While the men were arrested and acquitted on murder charges in Tills subsequent slaying, Donham, who was 21 at the time and is now 87, was never taken into custody. Carolyn Bryant rests her head on the shoulder of her husband, Roy Bryant, after she testified on Sept. 22. 1955, in the Emmett Till murder court case in Sumner, Mississippi. (AP) In an unpublished memoir obtained Thursday by The Associated Press, Donham said she was unaware of what would happen to the 14-year-old Till, who lived in Chicago and was visiting relatives in Mississippi when he was abducted, killed and tossed in a river. She accused him of making lewd comments and grabbing her while she worked alone at a family store in Money, Mississippi. Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. > Donham said in the manuscript that the men brought Till to her in the middle of the night for identification but that she tried to help the youth by denying it was him. Despite being abducted at gunpoint from a family home by Roy Bryant and Milam, the 14-year-old identified himself to the men, she claimed. Tills battered, disfigured body was found days later in a river, where it was weighted down with a heavy metal fan. The decision by his mother, Mamie Till Mobley, to open Tills casket for his funeral in Chicago demonstrated the horror of what had happened and added fuel to the civil rights movement. Deborah Watts, a cousin of Till who leads the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation, said the unserved arrest warrant and memoir are new evidence that show Donhams involvement in the case. I truly believe these developments cannot be ignored by the authorities in Mississippi, she said. Dale Killinger, a retired FBI agent who handled a review that ended without charges 15 years ago, said grand jurors should get a chance to review recent developments in the case. Advertisement Its still a prosecutorial decision. As an investigator, my position has always been and remains that a grand jury should be given all the facts, he said. Neither Donham nor any of her relatives have responded to messages and phone calls from the AP seeking comment. It is unclear where Donham currently lives or if she has an attorney. Her last known address was in Raleigh, North Carolina. Delhi Police arrested four juveniles for shooting a man in the face, informed the officials on Saturday. The incident was reported on a PCR call at the Jahangir Puri police station. "On enquiry, it was revealed that injured Javed aged 36 years son of Ansar Ahmad sustained bullet injury at his right eye. Three minor boys known to him came there and out of them one boy fired a bullet on his face and all of them ran away. His condition is presently stable. 4 Children in Conflict with Law CCLs have been apprehended by a team of special staff, North West District," said Police. A case under section 307 IPC has been registered in this regard and the weapon of offence- a countrymade pistol has been recovered. After enquiry, the accused confirmed that the victim had beaten the father of one of the apprehended minor boy around 7 months back and the bullet shot was an act of revenge. Further investigations are underway. (ANI) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla chaired a meeting of leaders of political parties on Saturday to discuss the smooth functioning of the House in the monsoon session of Parliament. The Speaker briefed the leaders on the preparations related to the session which begins on July 18. Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, DMK MP TR Balu, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, BJP MP Arjun Ram Meghwal, YSRCP MP PV Mithunreddy, RLJP MP Pashupati Kumar Paras and other party MPs were among those present at the meeting called Speaker Om Birla. The central government will seek to push several legislations during the monsoon session and its legislative agenda includes 24 bills for passage, sources said.The first day of the monsoon session will see voting for the presidential election. Some of the bills that are in the pending list include The Indian Antarctica Bill, 2022. The bill is pending in the Lok Sabha. The Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019, was passed by Lok Sabha and in the upcoming session, it is likely to be taken up in the Rajya Sabha. The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022 was passed by Lok Sabha and is yet to be passed by Rajya Sabha. The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021 is pending in Lok Sabha, The Anti-Maritime Piracy Bill, 2019 and The National Anti-Doping Bill, 2021 are also pending in Lok Sabha. The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Second Amendment) Bill, 2022 (in respect of State of UP - amendment regarding change of district name to be approved by Cabinet) was introduced in Lok Sabha in March 2022. The new bills to be newly introduced in the Parliament during the Monsoon session include The Central Universities Amendment Bill, 2022. The Family Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2022 is also a new bill and was sent for printing on Thursday. The other bills on the government agenda include Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2019, (in respect of State of Assam), The Mediation Bill, 2021 (with Standing Committee chaired by Shri Sushil Kumar Modi); The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (report of Standing Committee under examination) and the Registration of Marriage of Non-Resident Indian Bill, 2019 (report of Standing Committee under examination). The monsoon session of parliament will conclude on August 12. (ANI) Darbhanga Police in Bihar is conducting raids and searches to trace two accused who are among 26 named in the FIR registered in Patna in the potential terror module case with some links to extremist outfit PFI. Darbhanga SSP Awakash Kumar three accused in the Patna PFI case are residents of Darbhanga. One of them Nuruddin Jungi was arrested from Lucknow earlier in the day. The arrest was made by Bihar Police. Kumar said they are in constant touch with Patna Police. The three have been identified as Mustkeem and Snahullah alias Akib of Shankarpur besides Nuruddin Jungi of Urdu Bazar in Darbhagna district and are linked to PFI. Bihar Police on Wednesday busted a potential terror module with some links to extremist outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) and arrested two accused from the Phulwari Sharif area of Patna for indulging in anti-India activities. Three more arrests have been made later and taking the total to five. One of the accused has been arrested by Bihar Police from Lucknow. Among those arrested is a retired police officer of Jharkhand, Mohammad Jallauddin and a former member of Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) "who is also a current member" of PFI and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), Athar Parvez. ASP Phulwarisharif, Manish Kumar had said that an FIR has been lodged against a total of 26 people of which three people have been arrested. The case has drawn wide attention in Bihar and the state ATS is involved in the investigations. Kumar had said an excerpt from an eight-page-long document the accused shared titled 'India vision 2047' talks about "subjugating coward majority community and bringing back the glory". He had said that two including a retired police officer of Jharkhand, Mohammad Jallauddin and a former member of Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) who is also a current member of PFI and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), Athar Parvez have been arrested."Two indulging in anti-India activities were arrested. For the past two months, the accused had people from other states coming in. Those coming were changing their names while booking tickets and while staying in hotels," he said. Kumar said that Parvez's younger brother went to jail in 2001-02 bomb blasts in the state after SIMI was banned. He said their internal document is very objectionable and talks of "rule of Islam in India". Kumar said an excerpt from an eight-page long document they shared amongst themselves titled 'India vision 2047' says, "PFI confident that even if 10 per cent of total Muslim population rally behind it, PFI would subjugate coward majority community and bring back the glory," he added. He said the document mentions that in case of a full-fledged showdown with the state, "apart from relying on cadres we would need help from friendly Islamic countries." "In the last few years PFI has developed friendly relations with Turkey, a flag-bearer of Islam," the police official quoted from the document. PFI later there is "no basis" in allegations of Bihar Police. "The police have tried to fabricate a fictional story of a terror conspiracy by including forged documents," it said. Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manavjit Singh said on Thursday that any organization may have frontal and underground organizations. "They were meeting under the cover of SDPI (Social Democratic Party of India) and PFI (Popular Front of India) but may be running their own agenda. Their activities were only limited to Bihar. We cannot call them sleeper cells as they are members of PFI and SDPI which are still not banned," he said. (ANI) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday announced the name of West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate for the Vice Presidential election. "NDA's candidate for the post of Vice President of India will be Jagdeep Dhankhar. Kisan Putra Jagdeep Dhankhar has been in public life for more than three decades. Jagdeep Dhankhar's life story reflects the spirit of new India - overcoming innumerable social and economic hurdles and achieving one's goals," said BJP chief JP Nadda. The decision comes after the BJP parliamentary board meeting held in the party headquarters which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top BJP leaders. Following the announcement, Modi said he believes Dhankhar will be an outstanding Chair in the Rajya Sabha and guide the proceedings of the House with the aim of furthering national progress. "Kisan Putra Jagdeep Dhankhar Ji is known for his humility. He brings with him an illustrious legal, legislative and gubernatorial career. He has always worked for the well-being of farmers, youth, women and the marginalised. Glad that he will be our VP candidate," said Modi in a Twitter post. "Jagdeep Dhankhar Ji has excellent knowledge of our Constitution. He is also well-versed with legislative affairs. I am sure that he will be an outstanding Chair in the Rajya Sabha and guide the proceedings of the House with the aim of furthering national progress," Prime Minister added. Born in an agrarian household in a remote village in Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu district, Dhankhar completed his school education from Sainik School, Chittorgarh. After finishing his graduation in Physics, he pursued LLB from the University of Rajasthan. Despite being a first-generation professional, he became one of the leading lawyers in Rajasthan. Dhankhar has practiced in both the Rajasthan High Court and the Supreme Court of India. He entered public life after getting elected as a Member of Parliament from Jhunjhunu in the 1989 Lok Sabha elections. Subsequently, he also served as a Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs in 1990. In 1993, he was elected to the Rajasthan Assembly from the Kishangarh constituency in Ajmer district. In July 2019, he was appointed as the Governor of West Bengal. Meanwhile, the leaders of Opposition parties will meet on Sunday to discuss the candidate for the upcoming Vice Presidential election. "The meeting on July 17 and all Opposition leaders will attend it. Parliamentary Affairs Minister has also called an all-party meet. So, we will hold a discussion with everyone on the 17th that what kind of a candidate we should have," said Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on the candidate for the Vice Presidential polls. Kharge said Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi has given a go-ahead for a joint Opposition candidate. "There is no candidate from Congress. Our party president has clearly said that whoever is chosen as the candidate by all parties (of Opposition), we will stand with it," he added. Yashwant Sinha is the candidate of the Opposition parties for the presidential election. Congress has given the task to Malikarjun Kharge who is the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha to reach out to opposition parties to select a candidate for the election for the Vice President post. Nominations for the vice-presidential polls slated to be held on August 6, began on Tuesday. The Election Commission made an announcement of the elections for the 16th vice president of India to take place on August 6, 2022. The ECI has also issued directions for Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh to be the Returning Officer for the polls. The nomination papers for the above election can be submitted starting Saturday up to July 19, 2022. The scrutiny for the nominations will take place on July 20 and the final list will be published on July 22. As in the case of the election to the President of India, the eligible candidates will need to submit a few documents including a certified copy of the electoral roll with the name mentioned on it and an amount of Rs 15,000 at the time of submitting the nomination papers which shall be returned after the election process is over in case the candidate does not make it to the final list. In case of the election of the Vice President of India, voting will happen in the Parliament and members of the Rajya Sabha will participate in this election as the vice president is also the de facto chairman of the upper house. The poll for the upcoming vice president's election is slated to take place between 10 AM and 5 PM on August 6, 2022, and the results are expected to be out on the same day. In 2017, the NDA had nominated Venkaiah Naidu as its candidate for the vice-presidential election and he went on to become India's 15th vice president. His term ends on August 10, 2022. (ANI) Nadda announced that Dhankar will be the NDA's vice presidential candidate after a meeting of the BJP Parliamentary Board at the party headquarters. He congratulated the vice presidential nominee. "Jagdeep Dhankhar belongs to an ordinary farmer family who has overcome social and economic obstacles to reach high goals. I am confident that the country will benefit from his long administrative experience," he said. The parliamentary board meeting was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other members of the board including Union Ministers Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari and Rajnath Singh, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, BJP national general Secretary BL Santosh besides Nadda. Born in an agrarian household in a remote village in Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu district, Dhankhar completed his school education from Sainik School, Chittorgarh. After finishing his graduation in Physics, he pursued LLB from the University of Rajasthan. Despite being a first-generation professional, he became a leading lawyer in Rajasthan. Dhankhar has practised in both the Rajasthan High Court and the Supreme Court of India. He entered public life after getting elected as a Member of Parliament from Jhunjhunu in the 1989 Lok Sabha elections. Subsequently, he also served as a Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs in 1990. In 1993, he was elected to the Rajasthan Assembly from the Kishangarh constituency in Ajmer district. In July 2019, he was appointed as the Governor of West Bengal. (ANI) The Economic Offences Wing of Delhi Police has arrested a woman who was allegedly involved in cheating Laxmi Vilas Bank of over Rs 3 crore. The woman was arrested from Greater Noida. The police said that Laxmi Vilas Bank had filed a complaint in January 2019 alleging that Jiya Agro Pvt Ltd through its directors - Jyoti and Harbind Singh - had availed cash credit facility to the tune of Rs 2.50 crore in 2015. A woman named Neeta Rani Gupta was shown as guarantor, who mortgaged her property to the bank. The police said that on the request of accused persons, the credit facility was enhanced to Rs 3.25 crore in 2016. The company defaulted in the payments to the bank and during legal audit in 2018, it was discovered that the sale deed in the possession of the bank was forged. The Economic Offences Wing of Delhi Police initiated a probe on the complaint and during the inquiry, none of the accused directors joined the probe. The complainant bank and others informed that it was Rakesh Singh and Jyoti, who were handling the affairs of Jiya Agro Pvt Ltd. It was further revealed that Rakesh Kumar Singh and Jyoti were involved in several cheating cases across several states, the police said. It was found that seven cases were registered in different states against the company in which Jyoti is the promoter/director. "Investigation conducted so far indicates that Jiya Agro Pvt. Ltd was formed only to dupe the complainant bank," the police said. Accused Rakesh Singh was arrested earlier in 2020. However, the co-accused and directors of the alleged company Jyoti and her brother Harbind Singh were absconding and were declared absconders. "All the accused persons opened the alleged company Jiya Agro Pvt Ltd with the intention to dupe suppliers and banks. First they induced the suppliers to supply the goods and after gaining their trust, they used to flee without paying the dues of suppliers. They also duped the complainant bank by obtaining credit facility on the basis of forged collateral property papers," the police said. It said that both the directors of the alleged company were on the run and raids were conducted at their possible hideouts. However, they kept on shifting their base from one place to another. Technical surveillance was also mounted. "The accused woman was eventually arrested on the basis of a technical input from here earlier unknown hideout in Greater Noida," the police said. (ANI) The posters also show National Democratic Alliance (NDA) presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Murmu belongs to the tribal community. The posters put up by BJP show Mamata Banerjee holding hands during a dance by members of the tribal community who are wearing gloves. BJP leaders had accused the Chief Minister of insisting that 'Janajatiya' women wear gloves in an event in Alipurduar district "so that she could hold their hand and pose for a picture". Trinamool Congress and several other opposition parties have fielded former union minister Yashwant Sinha as their presidential candidate. West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar has urged the TMC MPs and MLAs to vote in favour of Murmu. Various parties have extended their support to the NDA candidate including Congress ally Shiv Sena, Samajwadi Party ally Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), and RJD ally Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Akhilesh Yadav's uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav has also extended his support to Murmu. Murmu is a former Governor of Jharkhand and a former Odisha minister. If elected, she will be the first tribal President of India and the country's second female President. Born in a poor tribal family in the village of Mayurbhanj, a backward district in Odisha, Murmu completed her studies despite challenging circumstances.Murmu is the first presidential candidate from Odisha of a major political party or alliance. The counting of votes for the presidential election will take place on July 21. (ANI) Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Saturday wrote a letter to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman requesting to grant exemption in Goods and Services Tax (GST) for healthcare services. Citing in a letter, IMA mentioned that the 47th GST Council meeting has recommended that "Like CTEPs, common bio-medical waste treatment facilities for treatment or disposal of biomedical waste shall be taxed at 12 per cent so as to allow them ITC." IMA said these facilities were earlier in the GST exempted category and will be taxed post-July 18. 47th GST Council meeting has also recommended that "Room rent, excluding ICU, exceeding Rs 5,000 per day per patient charged by the hospital will also be taxed at 5 per cent, without ITC." The IMA said, in its letter, that this facility was also GST exempted category and was to be effective from July 18. "We, as the collective voice of all establishments and doctors of the country, express our serious concerns and objections to these new taxes in the healthcare sector. This step will add big additional cost to the healthcare of people," IMA said. The letter mentioned that the decision is unfortunate and unfair to the people of the country and decision without input tax credits is going to raise the healthcare cost. "The medical body requests to immediately withdraw any GST on healthcare services," it said. IMA in its argument said the healthcare system of the country is already not on track owing to meagre government spending on health, adding people largely are dependent upon the private sector with high out-of-pocket expenditures. The decision of adding GST will simply raise the basic bed rates. Keeping rates below 5,000 will compel augmentation of other charges for feasibility. "Increasing the government revenue through burden on public healthcare is not fair. The wrongly structured healthcare insurance sector is unable to address its aims and objectives," the letter read. People still suffer due to co-pay and out-of-pocket expenditures. If people are pushed below the poverty line due to healthcare expenses, how justified is this decision to slap GST on bed charges? the letter asked further. IMA said to keep the decision without input, credit is unfair for the healthcare and the learned professionals. Raising bed charges by applying GST will undeservingly paint doctors with a blot while the onus of rising healthcare expenditures will stand with the government only, it said. Letter undersigned by IMA President Dr Sahajanand Prasad Singh suggested that it will be correct to keep healthcare away from GST. If not possible, the input tax credit is a must to curtail the rise in healthcare costs. The application of GST is pushing healthcare towards a business model away from a service-centric one. As per the letter, IMA requested Sitharaman to withdraw GST on room rent and biomedical waste in the larger interest of public healthcare. "Similarly, a steep rise of 12 per cent in biomedical waste is unjustified and it will raise the cost of running hospitals and clinics. It will further translate into raised charges for the patients. It is not reasonable to burden patients with more charges in these difficult times," IMA cited. IMA also request an urgent meeting on these serious issues and a hold of GST imposition on room rent and biomedical waste in the meantime. (ANI) More than a dozen shops were burnt to ashes. Soon after getting the information, several fire tenders reached the spot. Further details are awaited. Earlier in March, a massive fire had broken out in the forest area of Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan's Alwar district where Indian Air Force (IAF) choppers had been deployed to douse the blaze. (ANI) Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said that the state government would introduce a new employment policy and self-assessment property tax system for industries in the state. The Chief Minister in his address at the conference of State and district level commerce and industrial associations said the state government is coming out with a new employment policy to increase employment opportunities for the youth and women. "A silent revolution is happening in the state," Bommai said. "The government is encouraging the setting up of high-tech industries in tier-2 cities. The Industrial associations should work with the government to improve the ease of doing business. The Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) should take up corporate social responsibility," he said. The Chief Minister said the property tax issue has come to his notice and that immediate action would be taken to resolve it. The grievances related to Goods and Service Tax (GST) will also be discussed in Bengaluru, he assured. The Chief Minister called upon the industrialists to tap the huge opportunities for technology-based industries in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. He said there is an abundance of talent in these places, and FKCCI should take the leak in this regard. "Mega textile parks are coming up in Kalaburagi and Vijayapura, a Pharmaceutical Hub is being set up in Yadagiri, and the Mumbai-Bengaluru industrial corridor would see huge industrialisation of Tumakuru, Chitradurga, Haveri, Dharwad and Belagavi," Bommai said. He further spoke about the ease of doing business and the state has improved in this field as New Industrial Policy has been implemented. A most modern Semiconductor fabrication unit is being set up in the state. The state is also leading in renewable energy as it produces 43 per cent of the total production in the country, he said. (ANI) Four Cook County employees committed financial fraud directed at the federal government by wrongly collecting roughly $120,000 in payroll protection plan loans intended to help businesses survive the pandemic, according to a new report from the countys inspector general. The allegations stem from the first of several pending investigations involving dual employment and PPP Loan applications taken by employees in all offices of Cook County government, Patrick Blanchard, head of the Office of the Independent Inspector General, said in an email to the Tribune. Advertisement Blanchards office recommended the four employees be placed on the countys do not rehire list, and has been in contact with both federal and state officials regarding this line of OIIG investigations, Blanchard said. The employees were not named in the report. But it noted that three work in offices under Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle that handle sensitive financial matters, while a fourth works at the countys Board of Review. Advertisement The federal paycheck protection program was rife with fraud, with some experts estimating $80 billion in loans was stolen nationally as the government rushed to get financial relief to struggling businesses during the height of the pandemic. As of March, a Justice Department crackdown has led to just 120 defendants being charged with PPP fraud. The county IGs investigation looked into whether county employees who filed for PPP loans complied with the countys rules on outside employment or any other personnel rules. They found that a Department of Revenue employee received two PPP loans that totaled nearly $39,000 by saying she was self-employed, according to the report. That employee later admitted that she falsely claimed to own a business that did not exist in order to obtain funds through a federal PPP loan, and improperly spending those funds on personal expenses, the report stated. The worker violated countys personnel rules around conduct unbecoming of employees, the report said. She also violated the countys use of technology policy, admitting she used the county printer and computers to perpetuate her PPP loan fraud activities, according to the report. Sign up for The Spin to get the top stories in politics delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons. Two employees of the county comptrollers office, which handles payroll and other financial matters, were cited in the report. One of the employees obtained a $20,832 PPP loan by claiming to be the sole proprietor of an unnamed business. That employee admitted that she misrepresented information about her business and its operations in her PPP application, including inflating its gross receipts so she would qualify for a larger PPP loan, the report said. Advertisement All the figures she conveyed about her business . were arbitrary figures which did not represent any actual business that she conducted in 2020, according to the report. The employee admitted using the money for personal family vacations on several occasions, the report says. She also had failed to report to the county that she had a second job, the report said. The second employee at the comptrollers office, a payroll supervisor, signed two loan applications falsely stating that she owned a business that paid her a salary of $107,000 in order to obtain $41,510 in PPP loans. The supervisor is experienced in tax and financial matters and knew it would be wrong for her to spend the loan money, the report said. The Board of Review employee admitted to making false statements on an application to get $18,750 in PPP loan funds, and falsified information in a second application when the first was denied. After it was accepted, she spent the money on travel, according to the report. In an email, Preckwinkle spokesman Nick Shields said, We typically do not discuss personnel matters. We just received the report and are reviewing it accordingly. We will subsequently assess how to move forward. William OShields, a spokesman for the Board of Review, said the employee in question voluntarily resigned in June without mentioning the investigation. The office will follow up with county human resources officials about placing that employee on the do not hire list, he said. Advertisement Blanchard said the county has 45 days to act on the recommendations, and that he has been informed that the disciplinary proceedings are underway. aquig@chicagotribune.com Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said the state government is working to minimise the problems faced by people during the ongoing floods in the state. He said that he spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah who assured him of help from the Central government. "Recently I met Amit Shah and he told me that there is no need for packages. Whatever expenses you incur, we (Centre) will give that. You keep on spending, don't wait. Just let us know what you need, and we will release," Sarma said. Addressing a press conference held at Janata Bhawan in Guwahati, the Chief Minister said that, the state has witnessed two waves of flood this year so far and 34 districts have been affected. "As many as 9,918 villages under 152 revenue circles have been affected in this flood and the affected population is around 90 lakh. A total of 195 people have lost their lives in floods and landslides this year so far and 37 others are still missing," Sarma said. "During the flood, 54,837 cattle died and 2,40,096 hectares of crop area were affected. A total of 7,42,250 inmates were lodged in relief camps or camp-like places. We had distributed 2,19,298 quintals of rice, 44,000 quintals of dal, and 7 lakh litres of mustard oil among the flood-affected people, he said. He further said that nearly 1 lakh people were evacuated by the Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), and administration. "Few people are still lodged in relief camps and I think they will go back to their homes in the next 3-4 days. We have provided Rs 3,800 to each of the 1,81,859 affected families and the fund has been transferred," the Chief Minister said. "This is a massive operation. Today, we have transferred Rs 1,000 to 1,01,539 students' bank accounts who were affected in the flood and we have disbursed almost Rs 10 crore," Sarma said. The Chief Minister on Saturday ceremonially launched Chief Minister's Special Book Grant by providing Rs 1,000 to 1,01,539 students. "The Education department will provide additional textbooks to the affected students. We have also paid Rs 4 lakh each to the next kin of deceased people," Sarma said. He also said that "25,670 houses were fully or severely damaged and 2,78,260 houses were partially damaged in the flood. Damages assessment will be continued till July 20. We will have to need Rs 400 crore for house damages relief grant." The state government teams led by Ministers will visit each flood-affected district to access the damage report from the ground from July 20, the Chief Minister said. "We will have to need t least Rs 1,000 crore for rebuilding the infrastructure damage," Sarma said. (ANI) To gain a better understanding of the effects of domestication and cohabitation with humans on sleep phenotypes and physiology, comparing the dog to its wild counterpart, the wolf, offers a unique opportunity. A new study by the Department of Ethology at Eotvos Lorand University, Hungary, has for the very first time conducted a study on sleep patterns of wolves. The findings of the study were published in the Scientific Reports. The study, fully non-invasive EEG measurements were applied; a harmless procedure, attaching electrodes on the surface of the skin, similarly to human sleep EEG methods. The increasing interest in canine sleep research stems from its advantages to study the sleep of a domesticated species adapted to the human environment. Evolutionary adaptations to environmental circumstances - such as sleeping in a protected environment - could have shaped humans' sleep. Thus, similar changes might be expected in the sleep of other species adapted to the human environment. For example, dogs, similarly to humans, sleep more superficially in an unfamiliar environment. To gain a better understanding of the effects of domestication and cohabitation with humans on sleep phenotypes and physiology, comparing the dog to its wild counterpart, the wolf, offers a unique opportunity. "Although dog-wolf comparative studies have already been conducted in several areas of research, including behavioural and genetic studies, the neural processes of wolves remain a largely unexplored field" said Anna Balint, researcher at the MTA-ELTE Comparative Ethology Research Group. "We measured the sleep EEG of seven hand raised, extensively socialised wolves, using the same methodology as has been applied in family dogs. We successfully measured all sleep stages (drowsiness, deep sleep, and REM) that were previously observed in dogs as well." It may seem surprising that wolves can be measured by EEG the same way as our good old family pets, the dogs. However, by hand-raising and intensely socializing wolves from a very early age, they can be handled and comforted in much the same way as dogs. Wolves were surrounded by familiar people during the experiments, petting, caressing them until they calmed down, dozed off and eventually fell asleep. Whenever the wolves became aroused, the caretaker and experimenter calmed the wolves by praising and cuddling them until they settled again. "While young dogs and wolves showed a pretty similar distribution of sleep stages, the time spent in REM seemed to be less in dogs than in wolves, and this difference is even more apparent in the senior animals", describes the results the first author of the publication, Vivien Reicher, PhD student at the Ethology Department of ELTE. "This finding is especially intriguing since the amount of REM sleep has been linked to various different effects including neurodevelopment, stress, domestication, but also memory consolidation", explains Reicher further. "Although the sample size in the current study is low and the age distribution of the subjects is too skewed to draw comparative conclusions, it can be considered an important first step in collecting adequate amount of data to properly describe the wolf's sleep" said Marta Gacsi, leader of this project, senior researcher at the MTA-ELTE Comparative Ethology Research Group. "Thus, we suggest that using our reliable, easily applicable methodology in different labs may form the basis of an international, multi-site collection of similar samples, allowing for generalizable scientific conclusions." (ANI) The 14th Dalai Lama who arrived in Ladakh on Friday interacted with people at his residence in Leh. He was warmly welcomed by the people of Ladakh. A large number of civilians and monks gathered to accord a warm welcome to the Tibetan spiritual leader. The Dalai Lama arrived at Leh airport in the afternoon as he commenced his Ladakh trip. "The people of Ladakh today welcomed the Dalai Lama. He (Dalai Lama) said that if everything goes well he could also extend his stay in Ladakh," President of the Ladakh Buddhist Association in Leh said. The Dalai Lama left for Ladakh after a stopover in Jammu where he had arrived on Thursday from his base in Dharamshala. "India and China are both competitive nations and neighbours, sooner or later you have to solve this problem through talks and peaceful means. The use of military force is outdated," the Dalai Lama told ANI. The Tibetan spiritual leader is on a two-day official visit to Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh. This is the first official tour of the Dalai Lama outside his base in Dharamshala since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The visit also marks his first visit to the region since the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. This visit is also taking place just three days before the 16th round of Corps Commander-level meetings between India and China, which according to sources is expected to start on July 17. Earlier talking to reporters in Jammu on Thursday, the 87-year-old spiritual leader said that the majority of people in China realise that he is not seeking independence within China but meaningful autonomy and preservation of Tibetan Buddhist culture. Beijing has always had an issue with the Dalai Lama since he took shelter in India. In the 1950s, when China illegally occupied Tibet, the Tibetan spiritual leader had to take shelter in India. The Dalai Lama has tried to advocate for a mid-way negotiation with China to peacefully resolve the issue of Tibet. India and China have been engaged in a standoff since April-May 2020 over the transgressions by the Chinese PLA in multiple areas including the Finger area, Galwan Valley, Hot Springs, and Kongrung Nala. The situation worsened after violent clashes with Chinese troops in Galwan Valley in June 2020. (ANI) The United States House of Representatives has approved an amendment for the defense budget bill for 2023 to train Ukrainian pilots on F-15 and F-16 fighter jets amid the reeling crisis in Ukraine, said the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak on Friday. The training program for the Ukrainian pilots will cost 100 million US dollars, Yermak said, adding that the draft law must be passed by the US Senate and later signed by US President Joe Biden to come into effect.As per the reports by Xinhua, Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova said that the US defense budget bill for 2023 envisages allocating Ukraine 1 billion dollars in security aid in the 2023 fiscal year which runs between Oct 1, 2022, and Sept 30, 2023. US security assistance to Ukraine has turned out to be more than USD 6.1 billion since Russia launched its "brutal, unprovoked, full-scale invasion" of Ukraine on February 24. Earlier, condemning Russia's "premeditated, unprovoked, unjustified, and brutal war" on Ukraine, Blinken had said that the US will continue to provide Ukraine with the arms to defend itself and the steady flow of US security assistance from the coalition of more than 40 Allies and partners will continue to bolster Ukraine's defenses as well as improve its ability to defend its sovereign territory and secure hard-fought victories on the battlefield. "We have imposed swift and severe sanctions on Russia's economy and the elite of President Putin's regime. We have enhanced NATO's ability to deter and defend against any aggression by Russia on its Eastern Flank. And we will continue to deliver crucial military capabilities to Ukraine's brave defenders," he stated in the official statement. Moreover, Washington through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in coordination with the US Department of the Treasury also contributed USD 1.7 billion as part of budgetary aid to Ukraine under President Joe Biden's commitment to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This contribution was made possible with generous bipartisan support from Congress. These resources have helped the Ukrainian government continue carrying out core functions - for example, keeping gas and electricity flowing to hospitals, schools, and other critical infrastructure, supporting the provision of humanitarian supplies to citizens, and continuing to pay the salaries of civil servants and teachers. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, USAID has been working closely with humanitarian partners in the country and region to reach Ukrainians with life-saving humanitarian assistance. The aid is also scaling up critical development assistance to respond to cyber-attacks and threats to the energy sector, countering disinformation, supporting small businesses and the agriculture sector, documenting human rights violations, meeting essential health needs, and ensuring the continued functioning of local and national government entities in the war-ravaged nation. Notably, Russia launched a "special military operation" in Ukraine on February 24, which the West has termed an unprovoked war. As a result of this, the Western countries have also imposed several crippling sanctions on Moscow. (ANI) Former US President Donald Trump celebrated his acquittal by the Senate by calling the entire 'theatre of politics' part of a "witch hunt" by one political party. The Senate voted 57-43 to impeach Trump on the January 6, 2021 Capitol Hills insurrection, but failed to get the 2/3rd majority required to convict Trump as the procedure required 17 more Republicans' vote, but only seven GOP members voted. In a statement released shortly after the vote, the former President described the now-concluded proceedings as part of a "witch-hunt" perpetuated against him by "one political party". But his statement ignored the fact that the vote against him was bipartisan, with 10 Republicans joining the Democrats in the House to impeach and seven Republicans joining with Democrats in the Senate. The 57-43 vote in the Senate, however, fell short of the two-third majority needed to convict Trump. Trump thanked his legal team as well as the representatives and Senators who he said "stood proudly for the Constitution we all revere and for the sacred legal principles at the heart of our country". Absent from the statement was any direct mention of the events of January 6 at the US Capitol building or any condemnation of the violence that occurred that day, media reports from Washington said. Trump did thank his supporters, saying: "We have so much work ahead of us, and soon we will emerge with a vision for a bright, radiant and limitless American future." "Our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun," the statement read. "In the months ahead, I have much to share with you, and I look forward to continuing our incredible journey together to achieve American greatness for all of our people," Trump said. --IANS arm/ ( 308 Words) 2022-07-15-22:42:04 (IANS) Just ahead of U.S. President Joe Biden's visit on Friday, the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation tweeted that the kingdom has decided to open its airspace "to all carriers that meet the authority's requirements for overflying," with no specific reference to Israel. Israeli airlines had been banned by Saudi Arabia from flying over the kingdom's airspace, making flights between Israel and Asia longer and costlier. "This is only the first step. We will continue working with the necessary caution, for the sake of Israel's economy, security and the good of our citizens," Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid said in a statement released by his office, voicing his appreciation for the Saudi decision to open airspace. Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov thanked Saudi Arabia "for advancing a new vision of the Middle East," tweeting that the decision will lower the price of flights to East Asia. For Transport Minister Merav Michaeli, the decision also means "a step toward (Israeli) better and stronger relations with the countries of the Middle East ... critical to Israel's security and economy." Regional Cooperation Minister Issawi Frej described the move as an "exciting dream," noting Israel's Muslim citizens will now enjoy "cheaper, direct chartered flights to the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca." Israel and Saudi Arabia have had no diplomatic relations yet, despite growing informal relations between the two erstwhile foes in recent years. (ANI/Xinhua) Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), July 16 (ANI/Xinhua): Saudi Arabia and the United States agreed on Friday to strengthen cooperation in the fields of 5G networks, cybersecurity, space exploration, and public health, Al Arabiya News reported.The agreements were made on the sidelines of US President Joe Biden's first state visit to the kingdom, where he met with top Saudi officials to review the kingdom's defensive needs and the importance of global energy security. In a statement after the meetings, Biden welcomed Saudi Arabia's fresh signing of the NASA-led Artemis Accords, an outer space exploration treaty, saying the United States "reaffirms its commitment to the responsible, peaceful, and sustainable exploration and use of outer space."The US president praised the role the kingdom played in supporting the UN cease-fire efforts in Yemen. The visit in Saudi Arabia is the last destination of Biden's first Middle East tour as the US president. The diplomatic tour, which started on Wednesday and is expected to end on Saturday, also covers Israel and the West Bank. Biden will also attend a joint summit on Saturday with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as the king of Jordan, the president of Egypt, and the prime minister of Iraq. (ANI/Xinhua) Underlining India's concerns over the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, India's permanent mission to the UN, Pratik Mathur said that India supports all the diplomatic efforts to end the conflict through talks between Ukraine and Russian federation as it has resulted in the loss of numerous lives. "We support all diplomatic efforts to end the conflict including through talks between Ukraine and the Russian federation. It is in our collective interest to work constructively both inside the United Nations and outside towards seeking an early resolution to this conflict," said Pratik Mathur, at the UNSC Arria-formula meeting in Ukraine on Friday. Speaking on the conflict further, he said that India has been consistently calling for a complete cessation of all hostilities since the beginning of the war in Ukraine while he advocated the part of dialogue and diplomacy. With millions becoming homeless and forced to take shelter in neighboring countries, we believe that no solution can arrive at the cost of innocent lives, he said. On the Cultural front, he mentioned how cultural heritage represents the historical record and understanding of the entire spirit of the people and the civilization in terms of values, actions, works, institutions, monuments, and sites. To protect our cultural heritage is to also protect our common values, he added while addressing the delegations at UNSC on Friday. This statement also refers to the recent update of Kyiv as it suspended its envoy to New Delhi, along with several other countries. More than four and half months since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, civilians have suffered from explosions and missile strikes, particularly in eastern cities including Donetsk, Sloviansk, Makiivka, Oleksandrivka, and Yasynuvata, but also in southern parts of oblasts, in Odessa and Mykolaiv. According to OCHA's latest humanitarian update, while east Ukraine accounts for most of the active warfare, more missile attacks and casualties were reported in the last week in several other regions. These include eastern Kharkiv and western Khmelnytskyi oblasts, where civilians and civilian infrastructure have been impacted heavily. Last week, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that India has taken the "right course" on the Ukraine conflict and the most urgent issue is to prevent hostilities from escalating to a level where they only do harm. (ANI) Ahead of the Sri Lankan Parliament meeting for electing the new President of Sri Lanka, the Indian High commissioner Gopal Baglay called on the parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Saturday and said that India will continue to be "supportive of democracy, stability and economic recovery in Sri Lanka". Taking to Twitter, the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka said, "High Commissioner called on Hon'ble Speaker today morning. Appreciated Parliament's role in upholding democracy and Constitutional framework, especially at this crucial juncture. Conveyed that India will continue to be supportive of democracy, stability and economic recovery in Sri Lanka." Earlier, on Friday, Sri Lanka's main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa announced that he will contest the Presidential elections. Taking to Twitter, Sajith Premadasa wrote, "I am contesting to be the President. The electorate is confined to 225 MPs with the GR (Gotabaya Rajapaksa) coalition dominating the numbers. Even though it is an uphill struggle, I am convinced that truth will prevail." As the Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has resigned from office, in accordance with the Constitution, the Parliament will meet next week and take steps to elect a new President, read a special statement by acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe. This comes as Sri Lanka faces its worst economic crisis since independence with food and fuel shortages. Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Supreme Court has issued an interim order that prevented former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa from leaving the country without the court's permission until July 28. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday was sworn in as the interim President after Parliament Speaker Abeywardena accepted the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Gotabaya Rajapaksa submitted his resignation letter Thursday after arriving in Singapore, officially vacating the post of President. Parliament Speaker Abeywardena told ANI, "Yes, the resignation (of President) has been accepted, the legal process will follow... Members will be invited tomorrow (to elect a President)." Rajapaksa who flew from the Maldives arrived in Singapore on board a Saudia Airlines flight on Thursday evening, media reports said. (ANI) Dibia, a respected artist and scholar of performing arts from Bali, has created more than 150 new works on dance and dance dramas, mostly exploring Ramayana and Mahabharata. "Smt.@nsitharaman interacts with Mr I Wayan Dibia, respected artist and scholar of performing arts from Bali, during her visit to Indonesia. He has created more than 150 new works on dance and dance dramas, mostly exploring Ramayana and Mahabharata," the Office of Nirmala Sitharaman said in a tweet on July 14. Wayan Dibia, who is Bali's most influential Kecak Dancer and Scholar - a traditional Indonesian art form depicting chapters of the Ramayana was recognized with Padma Shri 2021 for his contribution to arts. "Mr Dibia was conferred with Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2021 for his contribution in the field of arts," it added. Dibia, who hails from a family of artists, began learning Balinese dance and music when he was eight years old, and has studied various forms of classical Balinese dance and drama from different masters on the island. From 1970 onwards, Dibia started to experiment with elements of traditional Balinese performing arts to create new works for contemporary audiences. The Indonesian artist has choreographed numerous new dances and dramas. Moreover, his innovative oeuvre have gained high recognition and has been featured in many important events and art festivals in Indonesia and overseas. (ANI) Seven months before she must face voters for reelection as Chicagos mayor, Lori Lightfoot has nearly $2.6 million in her campaign funds more than any of her opponents except one but still not enough to secure an overwhelming advantage or scare off new candidates from joining the field, campaign finance records show. Businessman Willie Wilson has more than $4.5 million in the bank, but nearly all of it comes from the largest loan Wilson has ever given himself as he makes his third bid for mayor. Advertisement Third in fundraising is former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas, who raised $886,000 and spent only about $36,000 of it last quarter, leaving him with $850,000 on hand. The haul most of which came from a single contributor was a boost for Vallas, who has had trouble raising money during his previous bids for public office and finished a distant ninth in the 2019 mayoral race. [ [Dont miss] Chicago mayors race 2023 lineup: Who is in, who is out, who is undecided ] Setting aside Wilsons loan, Lightfoot raised more money overall than any of her declared opponents, according to the latest campaign finance records released late Friday. Her main campaign committee, Lightfoot for Chicago, took in more than $1.2 million between April and June and she spent one-third of that, $426,000, much of it on strategists and consultants. She started the quarter with $1.7 million in the bank. Advertisement Lightfoot also spent another $167,000 out of her second campaign fund, Light PAC, leaving that campaign fund with only about $42,000 in the bank, records show. Chicago mayors race 2023: Search campaign contributions >>> At this same point in the election cycle, former Mayor Rahm Emanuel a voracious fundraiser had $8.3 million on hand on his way to winning a second term in 2015 in a runoff against Cook County Board member Jesus Chuy Garcia, who is now a congressman. Four years ago, Emanuel had more than $7.5 million in the bank before he decided not to seek a third term. Before Emanuel, former Mayor Richard M. Daley was also able to build a massive campaign war chest to discourage challengers from entering the race. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 25 Mayoral candidate Willie Wilson greets people before giving a policy speech focused on crime, taxes, and transparency on July 13, 2022, at Maggianos. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) So far, though, only Vallas and Wilson have amassed as much as Lightfoot did at this point in the 2019 mayoral cycle, when she reported raking in more than $500,000. Wilsons campaign fund is the largest at this point among those who have announced their intention to run against Lightfoot, though campaign records show he only raised $33,000 from others in the second quarter of 2022. In April, Wilson contributed $5 million of his own money to the Willie Wilson for Mayor campaign fund. His previously largest loan to the fund was $200,000 in 2018. A wealthy businessman, Wilson has doled out millions of dollars in recent months paying for gasoline in an attention-grabbing effort as prices at the pump have surged. Wilson reported spending $480,000, including on television and radio advertisements on broadcast channels as well as Polish radio stations. The money Vallas raised came largely from a trio of big contributions. More than half of the money Vallas reported receiving came from a single $500,000 contribution from Michael Keiser, a prominent Republican contributor, and it remains to be seen whether Vallas is able to continue raking in big donations. Vallas also took in money from private equity executives John Canning who was a supporter of Emanuel when he was mayor but who backed Lightfoot in the 2019 runoff election against Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and James Perry Jr., who works at the private equity firm Madison Dearborn Partners. Advertisement Paul Vallas announced he's running for Chicago mayor. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune) Southwest Side Ald. Raymond Lopez, 15th, reported taking in $192,000 and spending less than $10,000, leaving him with $201,000 on hand. Much of the money he raised came from Chicago Wolves owner Donald Levin, who gave Lopez $100,000, and a $40,000 loan from the 15th Ward Regular Democratic Organization that Lopez controls. State Rep. Kam Buckner reported taking in $73,000 and spending nearly $25,000, leaving him with about $48,000 in the bank. Ald. Roderick Sawyers mayoral committee did not file its report by the deadline but a previous record showed he had raised $5,000 from the 6th ward organizations political committee, that Sawyer controls. Activist JaMal Greens campaign committee took in nearly $31,000 but spent more than $23,000 and he ended the period with $7,521. In addition to spending significantly from her main campaign fund, records show, Lightfoot also returned more than $6,000 to Mark Aistrope, the CEO of Chicago-based Meeting Tomorrow, who contributed nearly $30,000 to Lightfoots mayoral bid four years ago. The Better Government Association and Chalkbeat Chicago disclosed in 2020 that Meeting Tomorrow won a $1.6 million no-bid deal to sell used computers to Chicago Public Schools after Lightfoot vouched for him. The CPS inspector general later said it was reviewing that deal. The candidates who have so far announced their intent to challenge Lightfoot in the February 2023 election come as the first-term incumbent finds herself on the defensive. During her three-plus years in office, Lightfoot has faced spikes in crime, hasnt run as transparent an administration as promised, and shes engaged in constant fights with unions representing Chicago teachers and police all while struggling to forge good relationships with politicians or leaders in the citys business community. Still, she cant be easily dismissed. Advertisement Shes earmarked roughly $3 billion in federal funds for city projects and shes launched a series of programs aimed at reversing one of the biggest criticisms of Emanuels tenure disinvestment in Chicagos neighborhoods, especially on its South and West sides. Lightfoot also can argue she deserves more time to finish the job after having faced the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic and some of the citys most significant civil unrest since the 1960s. Lightfoot critics and allies generally agree she is polling better with Black voters than others, but that is potentially threatened by Wilsons entry into the race. He won most of the Black wards in 2019 and helped boost her campaign on the South and West sides with his endorsement. Reflecting her new position, Lightfoot has largely campaigned alongside Black aldermen and other elected officials. Only one white alderman, Scott Waguespack, 32nd, and one Latino alderman, George Cardenas, 12th, have endorsed her so far. gpratt@chicagotribune.com Tribune reporters Alice Yin and A.D. Quig contributed. The United Nations Development Progamme (UNDP) has signed a USD 20 million partnership agreement with the World Bank to support humanitarian, economic, and social development initiatives across all eight regions and 34 provinces of Afghanistan. In a statement, UNDP said the new partnership will provide tailored capacity building to NGO/CSOs within their work environment and support their Quick Impact Projects (QIPs). "Given UNDP's decades of experience and expertise in supporting economic revival and fragile communities, the agency will select 400 NGOs and CSOs based on their capacity for swift outreach, engagement, and project design," the UNDP said. The QIPs will aim to enhance access to health, education, agriculture and food security and livelihood activities for vulnerable and marginalized communities, including persons with disabilities. Due to the prolonged conflict in the country, NGOs and CSOs have played a critical role in the service delivery of humanitarian and development activities in hard-to-reach areas of Afghanistan. However, since the sudden political changes in August 2021 and the subsequent departure of major donors, the financial and operational management capacities of the NGO/CSOs have worsened. "We thank the World Bank for showing solidarity and support to the NGOs and CSOs in Afghanistan and helping them grow when they need it most," said UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Surayo Buzurukova. "This project also emphasizes UNDP's priority in strengthening partnerships on the ground that is indispensable in supporting us to respond swiftly and flexibly to the community." This is the latest project approved through World Bank's Approach 2.0, an expanded approach to support the people of Afghanistan based on the request of Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) donors and the international community. According to UNDP, the Approach will guide the provision of over USD 1 billion in funds from the ARTF in the form of recipient-executed grants to selected United Nations agencies and international NGOs. The initiative is also part of the UNDP-led, Area-based Approach for Development Emergency Initiative (ABADEI), a commitment to support community resilience through area-based integrated programming. The strategy aims to sustain essential services and address basic human needs for the people of Afghanistan in times of crisis by bringing UN agencies and non-governmental organizations together to provide community-level solutions that complement the urgent humanitarian interventions. Against this backdrop, the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan has consistently urged that aid be distributed in coordination with government offices, TOLOnews reported. "It is a need that employment opportunities should be provided through this assistance until they (people) can gain their own livelihoods," said Shaker Yaqoobi, an economist. (ANI) As the political and economic upheaval in Sri Lanka continues, the average Sri Lankan believes that the current situation is largely due to self-serving politicians who have led them into this mess. Sri Lanka's multiple crises have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic which saw the collapse of the crucial tourism industry, which provides foreign currency for imported fuel and medical supplies, and rocked by the supply chain crisis precipitated by the Ukraine war. Some 22 per cent of the population are food insecure and in need of assistance said the World Food Programme last month, and the UN has launched a joint Humanitarian Needs and Priorities Plan, requesting more than USD 47 million to aid around 1.7 million of the worst impacted. This humanitarian crisis, said to have emanated from Sri Lanka's current political instability, was a result of an economic collapse brought about by poor governance and bad policies, and getting Sri Lanka's economy back on track requires urgent fiscal and economic policy reforms, which only a stable government can provide. According to an Amsterdam-based think tank, people are of the view that the political class is responsible for the existing situation. "At present, public distrust, indeed aversion, of the political class that the average Sri Lankan believes has been largely self-serving and has led them into this mess, combined with the absence of a trust-inspiring leader or political dispensation on the horizon, makes such a stable government appear like a distant wish to most Sri Lankans," said think tank European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS). Apart from the blame being attributed to the political class of the country, China's role in providing unsustainable loans is also being scrutinized. Equally noteworthy is China's absence from the stage at a time when Sri Lanka could do with its empathy and assistance the most has been as noteworthy as it is remarkable. Neil DeVotta, professor of politics and international affairs at Wake Forest University, underlined China's contribution to Sri Lanka's current political and economic crisis. He described the island nation as a poster child of China's debt-trap diplomacy. "In the postwar period, Mahinda Rajapaksa (Gotabaya's elder brother who was President from 2005 to 2015 and Prime Minister under Gotabaya), especially, embraced Chinese-funded white elephant projects. In doing so, his governments resorted to a debt rollover strategy, using foreign currency acquired via tourism and remittances to pay off interest on loans. When it needed more money, it borrowed more... At this juncture the issue is less about the amount owed to China and more about the 'well-concealed' nature of the loans and the extent to which they assisted kleptocracy," DeVotta was quoted as saying by EFSAS. He added, "India has led the way in trying to help Sri Lanka, contributing as much as $4 billion so far. China, too, has chipped in with currency swaps but is averse to restructuring Sri Lanka's debts lest that encourage other states loaded with Chinese loans to demand similar treatment". According to the think tank, the public perception of Sri Lanka and elsewhere in the region has been in sharp contrast to that towards China. Professor Harsh V. Pant, Vice-President of Studies and Foreign Policy at the New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation (ORF) noted, "India has tried to fill the vacuum left behind by China and has provided essential relief to the country. There have been very high-profile acknowledgements in Sri Lanka of India's assistance. This could bode well for India in the country in the future". (ANI) Sri Lanka's National People's Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake will contest for the President post after the parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena accepted Gotabaya Rajapaksa's resignation. Addressing the press, NPP MP Vijitha Herath said that Dissanayake will contest the presidency as the candidate from his party, Daily Mirror reported. Meanwhile, the Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dassanayake officially informed the House that the office of the President has fallen vacant. "I tried my best," the former President said in a resignation letter which was read by Dassanayake in the Parliament. Secretary General further said that there was a vacancy for the presidency, according to Daily Mirror. The Secretary-General informed the House that nominations for Presidency should be submitted to him on July 19 when the House convened at 10 am. He also said if more than one candidate has submitted nominations, a vote would be taken in Parliament on July 20 to elect the President. Earlier, on Friday, Sri Lanka's main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa announced that he will contest the Presidential elections. Taking to Twitter, Sajith Premadasa wrote, "I am contesting to be the President. The electorate is confined to 225 MPs with the GR (Gotabaya Rajapaksa) coalition dominating the numbers. Even though it is an uphill struggle, I am convinced that truth will prevail." As the Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has resigned from office, in accordance with the Constitution, the Parliament will meet next week and take steps to elect a new President, read a special statement by acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe. This comes as Sri Lanka faces its worst economic crisis since independence with food and fuel shortages. Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Supreme Court has issued an interim order that prevented former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa from leaving the country without the court's permission until July 28. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday was sworn in as the interim President after Parliament Speaker Abeywardena accepted the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Gotabaya Rajapaksa submitted his resignation letter Thursday after arriving in Singapore, officially vacating the post of President. (ANI) As the Sri Lankan political crisis continues to rage, China has not made any comments and this has made it evident that the ouster of the Rajapaksa family from power is set to have long-term implications for the Chinese, media reports said. In more than half a century for which the Rajapaksas held public offices in Sri Lanka, China has been keeping mum on various issues. At the time when the Sri Lanka military was using heavy weapons against the Tamil Tigers, China did not even pass a statement of warning against attacks on civilians, reported Foreign Policy. In the midst of the worst financial crisis in the country's living memory, foreign debt accumulated by corrupt leaders offers an easy target for political actors seeking new followers. By engaging almost solely at the elite level of the Rajapaksas, Chinese assets in Sri Lanka are now at risk. The issue of Chinese assets is well known by Sri Lankans and has prompted serious protests before. Even when Mexico tried to have Sri Lanka placed on the formal discussion agenda of the United Nations, China kept it off. It is also worth noting that when the Sri Lankan civil war ended with the Tamil Tigers, then President Mahinda Rajapaksa publicly thanked China for its assistance in the war. This is not an isolated area where China worked in connivance with Sri Lanka. China also trapped Sri Lanka in its debt-diplomacy. Keeping in mind its fragility as a smaller country, the Chinese government cultivated relations with the Rajapaksa family by offering expensive vanity projects. Some of the projects are Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in southern Sri Lanka, which was principally funded by a high interest loan from a Chinese bank and has operated at a loss since it opened, as per the media portal. Under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Chinese investment skyrocketed in the island nation. Another point to notice is China's funding to the Rajapaksas' campaign expenditures. During Mahinda Rajapaksa's 2015 campaign, at least USD 7.6 million went directly from a majority state-owned Chinese corporation to Rajapaksa's campaign expenditures. In 2018, a Chinese-Sri Lankan joint venture that specialized in container shipping was forced to admit it had donated more than USD 55,000 to a charity controlled by the sister-in-law of Mahinda Rajapaksa. As Chinese ties with other Sri Lankan figures apart from the Rajapaksas are not nearly as deep, China's position looks potentially frail. In the immediate term, Beijing is unlikely to make any sudden moves. Sri Lanka's first priority will necessarily be the economic crisis--and it may turn to China for help there regardless of its ties to the Rajapaksas. The Sri Lankan political upheaval presents a challenge to Beijing's effort to change the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific in its favour. (ANI) Sri Lanka's Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe has decided to implement an urgent relief programme to provide fuel, gas and essential food items to the public who are struggling due to the economic turmoil. He has taken this decision following discussions held with Ministers and Members of Parliament on July 16. In addition, it has been decided to use the additional money for this from the relief budget that will be presented in August. The Acting President advised to speed up the implementation of the food security programme. Special attention was paid to provide fuel and fertilisers regularly and promptly. Also, during this discussion, plans have been made to prepare the necessary environment for businessmen to run their businesses without any hindrances. Wickremesinghe said during the discussion that the plan handed over by the peaceful protesters has been recognized as a good plan. The Acting President further said that he will inform the activists about the measures being taken to fight corruption. Earlier, on Friday, Sri Lanka's main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa announced that he will contest the Presidential elections. As the Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has resigned from office, in accordance with the Constitution, the Parliament will meet next week and take steps to elect a new President, read a special statement by acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe. This comes as Sri Lanka faces its worst economic crisis since independence with food and fuel shortages. Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Supreme Court has issued an interim order that prevented former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa from leaving the country without the court's permission until July 28. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday was sworn in as the interim President after Parliament Speaker Abeywardena accepted the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Gotabaya Rajapaksa submitted his resignation letter Thursday after arriving in Singapore, officially vacating the post of President. (ANI) While discussing the situation in Afghanistan and future trajectories for the South Asia region and the West, the EU Ambassador to Afghanistan, Andreas von Brandt noted that there has not been enough talk about Pakistan. His remarks came as the European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS) organized a well-attended conference, 'Situation in Afghanistan and future trajectories for the region and the West' at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. Many renowned personalities called out the EU to take serious actions against Pakistan for hosting, sponsoring and exporting terrorism to the South Asia region and the wider world. The conference was held in recognition of the importance of a comprehensive and coherent European response to the situation in Afghanistan and the ramifications for the wider region of South Asia. Von Brandt argued that the EU indeed did not grasp the gravity and depth of the problem immediately after the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban in August 2020. Yet, while Von Brandt acknowledged that many mistakes have been made by the West in the past 20 years, he said that it is important to look at the present and acknowledge the many successes, especially in the fields of health, sanitation, media, budgeting and finance. He further pinpointed the lack of a unified Afghan "voice" that has solid ideas and propositions, and which provides alternatives to the West to act. Regarding the case of Pakistan, Ambassador von Brandt said that, "What was said about Pakistan is also very important and I think we are not speaking enough about Pakistan. That is probably all I can say, but I agree with that". Von Brandt explicitly emphasized that the EU and the UN are not sending any money to the Taliban, and they are exploring alternative channels to provide humanitarian aid to the people. While fraud may still exist, as of now the EU is delivering food and other assistance to 19 million Afghans, and this has helped avoid the worst hunger, von Brandt stated. Ambassador von Brandt further argued that the criticism directed at the international community is very contradictory - on one hand there are allegations that not enough financial assistance is being provided, while on the other there are comments regarding neo-colonialism and foreign intervention. While there might be truth in both contentions, he said, this mix of opinions makes it very difficult to come up with an appropriate response. However, as of now, the consensus of the international community is that the Taliban will not be granted political recognition. Ambassador von Brandt closed his statement by saying that although some have called for more time, there is no scope for patience when faced with famine and a humanitarian disaster, and the international community must act swiftly. The first speech was given by Horia Mosadiq, an Afghan journalist, Human Rights activist and winner of various awards including the prestigious 'Women's Rights Defender Award' of Amnesty International. Mosadiq pointed out various human rights violations committed by the Taliban, including the systematic persecution of journalists and critics, the forced displacement of entire communities, as well as the widespread extra-judicial killings and forced disappearances. Her main concern, however, lay with the inhumane treatment of women in the Taliban's Islamic Emirate, which she stressed was unprecedented in the Islamic world. The journalist made concrete appeals to the EU regarding engagement with the Taliban. In particular, she underlined the need to ensure that no aid delivered for the people of Afghanistan ended up with the Taliban. In this context, she proposed the implementation of an oversight mechanism for aid distribution. She also called upon the European Union to take serious action against Pakistan for hosting, sponsoring and exporting terrorism to the region and the wider world. She concluded by saying that Afghans, unfortunately, had not heard about serious action being initiated against Pakistan even as the country continued to support and harbor over a dozen terrorist groups. The second speaker was Bashir Ahmad Gwakh, a renowned journalist who currently works for Radio Free Europe. Gwakh zoomed in on the future of the South Asian region in terms of terrorism following the Taliban takeover. He emphasized the Taliban's terror connections throughout the region including with the Uzbek terrorist organization Ansarullah, the infamous Al-Qaeda and the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), but also with the Islamic State - Khorasan Province (ISKP), a group that is often presented as the Taliban's most prolific enemy but which, in reality, at times collaborates with the Taliban. Gwakh pointed out that these terror groups function as blackmailing chips for the Taliban. According to him, the fear of spillovers of terrorism across national borders is likely to lead to an increasing international engagement with the Taliban over time, and the eventual full diplomatic recognition of the Islamic Emirate. Furthermore, Gwakh pointed his finger at the State of Pakistan, which he said had never ceased to support the Taliban. He elaborated that the State of Pakistan has always distinguished between 'Good' Taliban (those who attacked NATO forces in Afghanistan) and 'Bad' Taliban (those who attacked Pakistan), but the new situation with China having stakes in Pakistan and Afghanistan is going to be even more interesting as China will seek to protect and manage its investments in Pakistan while the security situation in the region is only deteriorating. He queried what the international community could do with Pakistan, and observed that the situation was tricky. Mr. Gwakh said that the Pakistani Army is very powerful and does not suffer from economic crises as its budget keeps increasing every year. He added that every time a European delegation goes to Pakistan and meets the Pakistan Army Chief and other Generals, Europe sends a signal to the democratic forces in Pakistan that they are not important. On the other hand, if a European delegation chooses not to meet the Army Chief while on an official visit, it will give a clear message to the Army that Europe does not want to deal with the Army and would like to engage with democratic forces in Pakistan. Peymana Assad, representative of Roxeth, South Harrow on the London Borough of Harrow Council and the first person of Afghan origin elected to public office in the UK described the emotional toll on Afghans of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, and added that sharing life stories of those affected was as relevant as discussing politics. The Taliban takeover, she continued, created a change in perspective by comparing the previous ideals of Europeans versus how they actually act now in the given circumstances. Talking about the role of NATO, the EU, UN and generally the Western powers, Assad explained that Afghanistan is still being seen through the prism of 18th century regional and colonial aspirations, being experimented on by former colonial powers. She highlighted that while foreign interventions are complex, one needs to listen to the people, yet, Afghans have not been listened to and their opinions have not been included in policy decisions that have come out. Assad cited the example of the views of the Afghan people not being taken into consideration by the US when it put people in power in Kabul after 2001. On many such occasions, Afghans saw themselves sidelined and observed power being put in the hands of those they considered perpetrators of violence. Forcing a country to do something that will harm it simply because one is out of patience is not a strategic remedy, Assad emphasized. When it comes to Afghanistan's dependence on foreign aid, Assad highlighted that more than 50% of the aid money went back into the coffers of Western donors, who despite their attempts to put blame solely on Afghans, have themselves been deeply involved in Afghanistan's corrosively corrupt system. Assad voiced grave concerns about the West's engagement with Pakistan. Western officials have been rolling their eyes on the words of Afghans about Pakistan's duplicity and brutal intrusion into their country, Assad said. She felt that Western officials, particularly those of the UK, which is the biggest donor of aid to Pakistan, were purposefully avoiding any conversation on Pakistan's culpability in Afghanistan. Oftentimes the argument on behalf of Western States for not sanctioning Pakistan is that the country is a nuclear state, yet we are now all looking at the West sanctioning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, Assad said, while pointing out that this hypocrisy in policy needs to be corrected. Simultaneously, Assad added, the Pakistani civilian population suffers as a result of the West's decision to back the military regime in Pakistan. Assad concluded her speech by calling upon MEP Petras Austrevicius and Ambassador von Brandt to support the creation of a truth commission that will take evidence from all sections of society and provide justice to the survivors and victims of the Afghan conflict. Malaiz Daud, Political Analyst, formerly Chief of Staff of Afghanistan's former President Ashraf Ghani, Research Fellow at Barcelona Centre for International Affairs and Research Fellow at EFSAS also took the floor. In an academic format, Daud explained the hybrid nature of the Afghan conflict that was characterized by State and non-State inbreeding, the development of intricate networks, the transcension of national boundaries, and the flexibility and resilience of terror groups. He gave the example of Pakistan, which has been very cunning and successful in engaging with a wide network of non-State actors. Such fluidity of belonging and interaction further explains the longevity of the conflict, Daud argued. These are precisely the reasons why the Americans did not succeed in their war in Afghanistan. Their interaction with the wrong parties led to mere suppression rather than transformation of the conflict. Daud discussed the path forward and emphasized the necessity of aligning and finetuning with the Afghan realities in order to get a clear picture. This could take place, he averred, by engaging with non-violent movements such as the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) and other non-State outfits that pursue their peaceful and humanitarian objectives without resorting to any form of violence. (ANI) The Sri Lankan Parliament announced that the nominations for the Presidential elections will be held on Tuesday and the new President of Sri Lanka will be elected on July 20. It is interesting to note that main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa is going to contest the presidential elections. Terming the scenario of him winning the Sri Lanka's presidential elections an "uphill task", Premadasa on Friday said that he will contest the elections as he is convinced that the truth will prevail. Taking to Twitter, Premadasa wrote, "Dates decided for the election of the President as announced in parliament today. Nominations on Tuesday. Elections on Wednesday. 225 voters in parliament will decide the destiny of approx 22 million Sri Lankans. GAME ON!" Moreover, Premadasa earlier wrote, "I am contesting to be the President. The electorate is confined to 225 MPs with the GR (Gotabaya Rajapaksa) coalition dominating the numbers. Even though it is an uphill struggle, I am convinced that truth will prevail." Sri Lanka's National People's Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake also said that he will contest for the President's post after parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena accepted Gotabaya Rajapaksa's resignation. As the Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has resigned from office, in accordance with the Constitution, the Parliament will meet next week and take steps to elect a new President, read a special statement by acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe. This comes as Sri Lanka faces its worst economic crisis since independence with food and fuel shortages. (ANI) US President Joe Biden, who is on a visit to Saudi Arabia, said the United States "will not walk away" from the Middle East and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia or Iran, media reports said. While meeting Arab leaders at the Saudi summit, Biden laid out his strategy for the Middle East. Notably, this is the final leg of Biden's four-day trip which is meant to bolster ties in the region. The summit took place in Saudi Arabia's Red Sea city of Jeddah on Saturday where Biden spoke extensively of the importance Washington pays to the region. Leaders of six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) - Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and the United Arab Emirates - plus Jordan, Egypt, and Iraq are holding talks on regional security and bilateral relations with the United States at the summit, reported Al Jazeera. "We will not walk away and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia or Iran," Biden said adding "We will seek to build on this moment with active, principled, American leadership." "Today, I am proud to be able to say that the eras of land wars in the region, wars that involved huge numbers of American forces, is not underway," he said. Biden urged his counterparts to ensure human rights, including women's rights, and allow their citizens to speak openly. "The future will be won by the countries that unleash the full potential of their populations," he said, including allowing people to "question and criticise leaders without fear of reprisal." Earlier on Saturday morning, the US president held individual meetings with the leaders of Iraq, Egypt and the UAE, as per the media portal. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and the United States agreed on Friday to strengthen cooperation in the fields of 5G networks, cybersecurity, space exploration, and public health, Al Arabiya News reported. The agreements were made on the sidelines of US President Joe Biden's first state visit to the kingdom, where he met with top Saudi officials to review the kingdom's defensive needs and the importance of global energy security. In a statement after the meetings, Biden welcomed Saudi Arabia's fresh signing of the NASA-led Artemis Accords, an outer space exploration treaty, saying the United States "reaffirms its commitment to the responsible, peaceful, and sustainable exploration and use of outer space." The US president praised the role the kingdom played in supporting the UN ceasefire efforts in Yemen. The visit to Saudi Arabia is the last destination of Biden's first Middle East tour as US President. The diplomatic tour, which started on Wednesday also covered Israel and the West Bank. The improvement of the relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia is another key development. Israeli officials lauded on Friday Saudi Arabia's decision to open its airspace to "all carriers," including those from Israel, as a sign of the budding normalization process between the two countries. Just ahead of Biden's visit on Friday, the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation tweeted that the kingdom has decided to open its airspace "to all carriers that meet the authority's requirements for overflying," with no specific reference to Israel. Israeli airlines had been banned by Saudi Arabia from flying over the kingdom's airspace, making flights between Israel and Asia longer and costlier. (ANI) He was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries after battling for his life for hours. According to Dawn, the sources in the Counterterrorism Department (CTD) said that Pakistan's Kharan district officer Eid Mohammad was shot at Naurozabad bypass near his home. "The gunmen opened fire using automatic weapons, critically injuring the officer. The deceased officer received multiple bullet injuries and was shifted to Divisional Headquarters Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries," the sources added. CTD Kharan's Station House Officer (SHO) Abdullah said, "The assailants fled the scene soon after the incident." "It seems to be a targeted killing," another police official said. However, no individual or group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, the Dawn reported. The police further said that the department was investigating the case. Police told that the victim was a senior police officer who also served as SHO in Kharan and Dalbandin for several years, Dawn reported. The body of the deceased officer was handed over to the heirs after a medico-legal examination. (ANI) According to the Dawn newspaper, locals and officials said that the JUI-F leader Qari Samiuddin and his colleague, Hafiz Numan Dawar were on their way home in Eidek village when their car was ambushed on Bichi Road near Mirali town in North Waziristan on Thursday night. The gunmen shot at the two, leaving them dead on the spot. The relatives of the leader said that Qari Sami had no feud with anyone. The funeral prayers for the leader were held at a seminary attended by MNA Mohsin Dawar and a large number of people, the Dawn reported. This was the second targeted attack on JUI-F leadership in the restive district during the last one week. On Monday, a few unidentified gunmen killed a party's councillor-elect Malik Murtaza, who was also from Eidak village. He was elected councillor during the second phase of the local body elections. Qari Sami was head of the JUI-F's Mirali subdivision. He had contested the election on the party ticket from PK-111. He actively participated in local politics, often criticising the administration and law enforcement agencies for not handling law and order situations in the district, particularly targeted killings, the Dawn reported. Pakistan Army's General Officer Commanding Maj-Gen Naeem Akhthar condemned the killing. He vowed to serve justice and termed Qari Sami a strong voice for peace in the area. (ANI) President Xi Jinping has stressed efforts to fully and faithfully implement the policies of the Communist Party of China (CPC) for the governance of Xinjiang in the new era, highlighting social stability and lasting security as the overarching goal. Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during his inspection tour in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from Tuesday to Friday. Xi called for developing Xinjiang into a region that is united, harmonious, prosperous and culturally advanced, with healthy ecosystems and people living and working in contentment. During the inspection tour, Xi went to Urumqi, capital city of the region, and the cities of Shihezi and Turpan, visiting a university, an international land port area, a residential community, museums, a village, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), among other sites. While visiting Xinjiang University on Tuesday afternoon, Xi learned about its history and development, and its efforts in nurturing talent and promoting exchanges among different ethnic groups. Xi also listened to a briefing by students who had conducted a field study. Xi said that, as a unified multi-ethnic country, China boasts harmonious relationships between its diverse, interwoven ethnic groups. He said that all ethnic groups enjoy equality, unity and progress under the socialist system, stressing that the Party's theories and policies concerning ethnic groups are sound and have produced the desired effect. He called for promoting research on the basic issues of the community for the Chinese nation. Xi said that, in nurturing talent, it is essential to foster virtue. He asked the university to highlight its advantages and unique features, foster a high-caliber team of teachers, and improve its research and innovation capabilities. While visiting the Urumqi International Land Port Area, Xi noted that Xinjiang has morphed from a relatively enclosed hinterland into the forefront of opening up, as the country is promoting the expansion of opening up, the development of the western regions, and the joint building of the Belt and Road. Xi stressed advancing the building of the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt and incorporating Xinjiang's regional opening-up strategy into the country's overall plan of westward opening up. Xi highlighted the importance of innovating the system for an open economy, boosting the building of large opening-up corridors, better utilizing both domestic and international markets and resources, and actively serving and integrating into the new pattern of development. He also called for upholding the dynamic zero-COVID policy, asking for targeted COVID-19 response that is convenient to the people. On Wednesday morning, Xi visited the residential community of Guyuanxiang in the Tianshan District in Urumqi, in which people from ethnic-minority groups account for more than 95 percent of the total residents. The education of fine traditional Chinese culture for young people at an early age will help lay a solid foundation for carrying on the fine traditional Chinese culture, Xi said after watching a performance by children. Ethnic unity is the lifeline of all ethnic groups in the country, and all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are inseparable members of the big family of the Chinese nation, Xi said while visiting the home of a local resident, calling for cherishing the stability and unity that have already been achieved. Xi urged efforts to make full use of the primary role of community-level Party organizations to ensure that all ethnic groups are like brothers and sisters who help each other. Xi visited the Museum of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and watched a show of the Kirgiz ethnic minority epic Manas at the museum. Chinese civilization is extensive and profound, and has a long history stretching back to antiquity, Xi said, demanding efforts to better preserve and pass on the intangible cultural heritage, and to carry forward the fine traditional cultures of all ethnic groups. Visiting the city of Shihezi on Wednesday afternoon, Xi hailed the XPCC's indelible contributions to promoting Xinjiang's development, ethnic unity, social stability and border security. The XPCC enjoys a high degree of agricultural mechanization and good conditions for large-scale agricultural production and industrialized operation, said Xi, urging the XPCC to play a greater role in ensuring the country's food security and the supply of important agricultural products. Xi demanded strengthening agricultural science and technology and equipment support to develop competitive agricultural products and industries in light of local conditions, and promoting the green and efficient development of agriculture and animal husbandry. Calling the XPCC's strategic status "irreplaceable," Xi expressed his hope that the XPCC will give full play to its role as a stabilizer for securing border areas, a melting pot for bringing people of all ethnic groups together, and a demonstration area for advanced productive forces and culture. Touring the city of Turpan on Thursday, Xi visited Grape Valley, a local village, and the Jiaohe Ruins. He stressed efforts to strike a proper balance between economic and social development and eco-environmental protection, consolidate and build on the achievements in poverty elimination, make solid progress on rural revitalization, and strengthen the preservation and use of cultural heritage. On Friday morning, Xi heard work reports from the regional Party committee, the regional government, and the XPCC, and acknowledged the progress in Xinjiang. The people's support is the most important factor in maintaining long-term stability in Xinjiang, Xi said, urging measures to ensure that stability is maintained in accordance with the law and on a regular basis. Xi stressed fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, promoting exchanges, interactions and integration among different ethnic groups, and helping them remain closely united like the seeds of a pomegranate that stick together. Xi pointed out the need to improve governance capacity of religious affairs and realize the healthy development of religions. Enhanced efforts should be made to uphold the principle that Islam in China must be Chinese in orientation, and to adapt religions to socialist society, he said. The normal religious needs of religious believers should be ensured and they should be united closely around the Party and the government, Xi added. Stressing the importance of cultural identity, Xi called for educating and guiding people of all ethnic groups to strengthen their identification with the motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the CPC and socialism with Chinese characteristics. The achievements of development should better benefit people's well-being and rally people's support, Xi said, calling for efforts to speed up high-quality development of the region's economy, further create employment opportunities and improve the long-term mechanism for sustainable development in the rural areas. He urged Xinjiang to step up anti-pollution efforts and hold firm to the redlines for ecological conservation. He also called on Xinjiang to further open up and advance the development of the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt. Party authorities must exercise full and rigorous self-governance, Xi said, adding that the region should optimize the structures of leadership bodies and give full play to the roles of ethnic cadres. Xi urged the XPCC to play a bigger role in realizing the overarching goals of Xinjiang, and advance its integrated development with the civil sectors. He also called for more efforts in pairing-up aid to Xinjiang. Before the Friday meeting, Xi met with representatives of current and retired officials at different levels in the region, leading officials of the XPCC and officials of relevant departments, and representatives of different ethnic groups and sectors, cadres working on aiding programs, law-enforcement officers, and patriots of religious circles. On Friday morning, Xi also met with military officers and troops stationed in the region. Pakistani journalist Imran Riaz, who was arrested in connection with a treason case, was offloaded from a Dubai-bound flight, local media reported citing sources in the immigration department. The sources said that the journalist was offloaded from the flight as his name has been blacklisted, Geo TV reported. Following the incident, Riaz confirmed that he was denied boarding. He said that he was travelling to Dubai for medical tests. "My doctors told me that I was fed something while in jail that could have been fatal for me [...] thus, to prove this, I wanted to get my tests done," the journalist said in a tweet. Lahore High Court on July 9 granted bail to Riaz Khan. The court adjourned the hearing of the plea for the expulsion of cases till July 19 and also directed Khan to appear before the magistrate on the next working day. The LHC approved Imran Riaz Khan's bail on personal surety bonds. An official said that the police handed over the journalist to the CIA Kotwali police for interrogation. He was likely to be presented before the duty magistrate on Saturday, Dawn reported.The case was filed by a local resident of Lahore, Muhammad Asif, on charges of abetment of mutiny and criticism of state institutions. On Tuesday night, Imran Riaz Khan was heading towards Islamabad to acquire a pre-arrest bail from the High Court, when he was arrested by the Attock police, Dawn reported. Later, in the wee hours of Thursday, the anchorperson was granted relief by the local court but was immediately arrested by a team of Chakwal police outside the courtroom. Before shifting him to Lahore, a local court of Chakwal district had allowed his judicial remand. In the latest First Information Report (FIR) against Khan, the complainant alleged that Imran Riaz accused the army of violating human rights and damaging the state by indulging in politics, according to Dawn. Asif further said Khan had accused the army and said that they had put Pakistan's integrity at stake, adding that the journalist committed an offence by inciting officers and other personnel of the army. The complainant mentioned that recently Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had awarded army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa with the King Abdulaziz Medal for making "significant contributions to defence cooperation" between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Asif alleged in the FIR that the journalist also mocked the Saudi government's decision in his video. Khan's case is among several cases that have been lodged against journalists in Pakistan for allegedly spreading hate against the army and state institutions. This latest arrest comes in the backdrop of a growing crackdown on journalists in Pakistan.(ANI) Amid seething ethnic tensions between Pakhtuns and Sindhis, Pakistan Peoples Party has called on the Sindh government to treat the matter with utter seriousness and provide security to Pashtuns who are residing in different parts of the province, local media reported. Citing the big contribution of Pashtuns in the development of the province, Pakistan Peoples Party leader and former federal minister Khawaja Mohammad Khan Hoti urged the Sindh government to provide protection to them. He made this request in talks with mediapersons at the Mardan Press Club on Friday, Dawn reported. Moreover, condemning the alleged acts to stop Pashtuns from running businesses and their forced expulsion from the Sindh province, Hoti stressed the PPP leadership and the Sindh government should deal with the matter seriously. Hoti warned that if the fire of ethnic hatred is not stopped it will spread to other parts of the country as well. He further demanded Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government and the Sindh government take strict action against those behind fanning ethnic tensions, reported Dawn. Highlighting the grave financial situation that Pakistan is undergoing the leader said that at this juncture the country will not be able to deal with such instances of ethnic hatred. Notably, shops and hotels, owned by Pashtuns, were forcibly closed by Sindhis as ethnic tensions flared up in several districts in Sindh province following the killing of 35-year-old Bilal Kaka at a hotel in Hyderabad a couple of days ago, media reports said. Bilal Kaka, a Sindhi youth was shot dead by Pathans at a restaurant over a food bill during Eid-ul-Azah. According to the media reports, the hotel owners allegedly shot dead Bilal Kaka and injured his two friends after a dispute over a food bill at the Super Salateen Hotel near Wadhu Wah near Hyderabad bypass - one of the most popular areas in Hyderabad. In the aftermath of the killing, there were massive protests registered across the Sindh province. The leaders from across the political spectrum unanimously called for calm, urging people not to let rogue elements disturb the social harmony of the province, reported Dawn. Several violent incidents were reported in the province on Thursday. Several political parties, including JI, MQM-Pakistan, Awami National Party, and nationalist leaders Jalal Mehmood Shah and Ayaz Latif Palijo issued statements, urging both Sindhis and Pashtuns -- the two groups at the heart of these tensions -- to demonstrate restraint. The political parties also demanded the government to take prompt action to defuse the tensions. According to the local media, illegal Afghan residents are involved in narcotics and money lending at a heavy rate of interest. It further noted that they were also involved in killing the Sindhi youths. Local media further pointed out that police authorities and others in law-enforcement departments do not act against such elements. They said Balal Kaka's case is not just one isolated case but it is the result of an influx of outsiders into Sindh. They said peaceful political movements are the only way out to get rid of outsiders' influx into Sindh. Meanwhile, Sindh United Party Chairman and Convener of Sindh Action Committee, Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah said that the law-and-order problem in Sindh is increasing because of the Afghans living in Sindh and others coming to Sindh from elsewhere.Hundreds of protesters from the Kaka tribe took to the national highway in Sindh province to protest against the killing of Balal Kaka. Rallies were held at Qambar, Jacobabad, Nawabashah, Tando Mohammad Khan, Halan, and at Kariyo Ghunoor by different groups including nationalist Jiye Sindh Quami Mahaz and Awami Tehreek, Sindh Tarqui Pasand's Students' Federation and Sindh United Party. Jiye Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) has announced demonstrations across Sindh Friday on July 15 demanding the ouster of outsiders in Sindh, reported local media. JSQM chairman said that Afghans staying in Sindh are the major reason for ruining Sindh.Taking a dig at authorities, he said that the Afghans also seem to have got licences now to kill Sindhi youth in Karachi and Hyderabad. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President JP Nadda will hold a meeting with former Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal in the national capital on Sunday under the 'Know BJP' campaign. The meeting will take place at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Sunday in which many senior leaders of the party will also be present. Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda" is currently on his visit to India at the invitation of BJP President J.P. Nadda. During the meeting between two leaders on Sunday, various ways to enhance party-to-party interaction will be discussed. BJP President J.P. Nadda has launched a unique initiative "Know BJP" for the outreach to the external audience. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and In-Charge, Foreign Affairs Department of BJP, Vijay Chauthaiwale will also be present at the meeting. India will remain a steadfast partner of Nepal, said Jaishankar on Friday as he welcomed former Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. "Pleased to welcome @cmprachanda to India on his visit at the invitation of BJP President @JPNadda ji. A productive discussion on strengthening our neighbourly relationship with a focus on economic cooperation," Jaishankar had tweeted. "Reflecting our Neighbourhood First policy, India will remain a steadfast partner of Nepal in its quest for progress and prosperity," he had said in another tweet. Notably, the former Nepali PM is on a three-day visit to India. BJP's foreign affairs department in charge Vijay Chauthaiwale said it is an "important" meeting. "This meeting is important and will be under the 'Know BJP' campaign. This is for the first time that the BJP has given an invitation to Nepali Communist Party." According to the sources, Prachanda will also meet National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. The "Know BJP" campaign was started on the party's 42nd Foundation Day on April 6, 2022. Its second phase was held on 16 May 2022 while the third meeting was held on June 4 2022. "Know BJP" campaign is the BJP's initiative to introduce the party's vision, mission and work culture to different countries of the world. Under this program, Nadda has so far interacted with Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Minister for Foreign Relations of Singapore Vivian Balakrishnan and also envoys of 47 countries. Nadda has so far held talks with diplomats/heads of missions of 47 countries including the European Union. Earlier last month, Nadda had met the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Van Nen at the BJP Head Office in the national capital. Earlier, Nadda interacted with "Head of Missions" from 13 countries at the party's central office in the fourth phase of the "Know BJP" campaign. Addressing the visiting diplomats, Nadda said, "It is our belief that there should be better communication between the political system and political parties of different countries so that we can understand the vision of each other." The BJP firmly believes in a healthy democracy and shared cultural ties, he said. (ANI) US President Joe Biden on Saturday (local time) welcomed the United Arab Emirates' economic initiatives including its recent Free Trade Agreements signed with various countries including India. According to the White House statement, President Biden and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met on Saturday (local time) in Jeddah in a bilateral meeting during the Summit of the United States and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan. "He welcomed the UAE's economic initiatives throughout the Middle East and beyond, including its recent Free Trade Agreements signed with Israel, India, and Indonesia as well as new investments in Jordan and Egypt," a White House statement read. The UAE has signed three trade agreements this year -- one each with Indonesia, India and Israel. President Biden recognized the UAE's efforts to strengthen its policies and enforcement mechanisms in the fight against financial crimes and illicit money flows. Both leaders highlighted the extensive and enduring educational, cultural and health partnerships between the two countries. President Biden offered his personal condolences to President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and all Emiratis on the loss of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan. He congratulated the UAE President on his recent election as President and conveyed an invitation for him to visit the United States later this year. Both the leaders during the Summit of the United States and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan, discussed a range of regional and global opportunities and challenges which require close coordination between the United States and the United Arab Emirates as strategic partners, the statement read. In the realm of regional diplomacy, Biden expressed appreciation for UAE President's personal leadership in breaking down barriers and forging diplomatic relations with Israel, as well as deepening cooperation with other countries in the region. Both the leaders discussed the US role in helping to forge new economic, trade, and people-to-people relations among Israel, the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco, as well as in deepening the ties among these states and Egypt and Jordan through new frameworks of cooperation, the White House statement read. "In the defence realm, the two leaders affirmed their commitment to deepening the extensive security cooperation that has made both countries safer and been a major contributor to regional peace and stability," it added. The US President recommitted to supporting the defence of the UAE against terrorists and other hostile acts such as the attacks targeting civilian sites in the UAE in January 2022. "On economics, commerce, and trade relations, President Biden noted that the UAE is one of the fastest growing US economic partnerships globally, the largest US trading partner in the Middle East, and a significant investor in the US economy," the statement further read. Biden also welcomed the UAE's long-time commitment to global energy security as a reliable and responsible supplier and recognized its leading role in advancing climate action, the energy transition and in developing of clean energy technologies. President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed extended President Biden an invitation to attend the COP28 to be convened in the UAE in November 2023. (ANI) (Changes sourcing to Saudi minister of state, adds quotes, TV) By Aziz El Yaakoubi JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, July 16 (Reuters) - Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told President Joe Biden that Saudi Arabia had acted to prevent a repeat of mistakes like the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and that the United States had also made mistakes, including in Iraq, a Saudi minister said. Biden said on Friday he told Prince Mohammed he held him responsible for the 2018 murder of Washington Post journalist Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, shortly after exchanging a fist bump with the kingdom's de facto ruler. "The President raised the issue... And the crown prince responded that this was a painful episode for Saudi Arabia and that it was a terrible mistake," the kingdom's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir said. Those who were accused were brought to trial and being punished with prison terms, he said. U.S. intelligence agencies believe the crown prince ordered Khashoggi's killing, which he denies. Jubeir, talking to Reuters about Friday's conversation between the two leaders, said the crown prince had made the case that trying to impose values by force on other countries could backfire. "It has not worked when the U.S. tried to impose values on Afghanistan and Iraq. In fact, it backfired. It does not work when people try to impose values by force on other countries," Jubeir quoted the prince, known as MbS, as telling Biden. "Countries have different values and those values should be respected," MbS told Biden. The exchange highlighted the tensions that have weighed on the relationship between Washington and Riyadh, its closest Arab ally, over several issues, including Khashoggi, high oil prices and the Yemen war. Biden, who landed in Saudi Arabia on Friday in his first Middle East trip as president, held a summit on Saturday with six Gulf states and Egypt, Jordan and Iraq while downplaying his meeting with Prince Mohammed. That encounter has drawn criticism at home over human rights abuses. Story continues Biden had promised to make Saudi Arabia a "pariah" on the global stage over the 2018 murder of Khashoggi, but ultimately decided U.S. interests dictated improving relations with the world's top oil exporter and Arab powerhouse. After the summit, the leaders gathered for a group picture at which Biden kept his distance from Prince Mohammed. "His Royal Highness mentioned to the President that mistakes like this happen in other countries and we saw a mistake like this being committed by the United States in Abu Ghraib (prison in Iraq)," Jubeir said. Prince Mohammed also raised the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh during an Israeli raid in the West Bank. Abu Akleh, who worked for the Al Jazeera network, was shot in the head on May 11 while reporting on an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin. Palestinians believe she was killed deliberately by Israeli troops. Israel denies its soldiers shot her on purpose, and say she may have been killed either by errant army fire or a shot fired by a Palestinian gunman. Jubeir rejected the accusation that Saudi Arabia has hundreds of political prisoners. "That's absolutely not correct. We have prisoners in Saudi Arabia who have committed crimes and who were put to trial by our courts and were found guilty," he said. "The notion that they would be described as political prisoners is ridiculous," he added. Washington has softened its stance on Saudi Arabia since Russia invaded Ukraine earlier this year, triggering one of the world's worst energy supply crises. (Additional reporting by Jarrett Reshow Writing by Ghaida Ghantous Editing by Mark Potter, Jane Merriman and Nick Macfie) Cody Mattice spraying a chemical agent at the Capitol riot last year. DOJ Two men from New York received 44 months of prison time for their involvement in the Capitol riot. Cody Mattice, 29, and James Mault, 30, pleaded guilty to assaulting police officers at the riot. As the judge handed down their punishment on Friday, the two men wept. Two New York men wept as a judge handed down prison time for their participation in the Capitol riot last year. Cody Mattice, 29, and James Mault, 30, both received 44 months of prison time on Friday, according to records from the Justice Department. In April, the two pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement officers during the Capitol riot, a Justice Department release says. After breaching the Capitol, Mattice "reached out to another rioter and grabbed a small object appearing to be a canister," the release says. "He then sprayed chemical spray at police officers." "Mault also got a second canister from the crowd and provided it to another rioter," the release says. Related video: Biggest reveals from Jan. 6 Capitol riot hearing During the insurrection, Mattice captured himself and Mault on video. In one of the videos, according to the release, Mattice can be heard saying, "It's about to be nuts," as he headed toward the Capitol. Both Mattice and Mault were sentenced before a judge on Friday. The two wept and asked Chief U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell for leniency, the Washington Post reported. They continued to weep as Howell upheld their prison time. "They were not patriots on January 6, and no one who broke the police lines and stopped the democratic process was a patriot that day," Howell said. The Capitol riot left five people, including one police officer, dead. Members of the Proud Boys, which is classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, were also present. Organizers were emboldened by former President Donald Trump's urges to protest the results of the 2020 election with him, despite Joe Biden's election victory. While members of Congress were meeting inside the Capitol to certify the results and verify Biden's electoral win, Trump supporters organized an attempted coup and stormed the Capitol. Story continues After the riot, insurrectionists scrambled to delete photos and social-media posts proving their participation in the Capitol riot. Some broke their cellphones, scrubbed their social media accounts, and tried to wipe hard drives that might contain photos and other proof of their involvement. But others boasted of their involvement, making it easier for the FBI to identify and later bring charges against them. So far, more than 876 people have been charged in connection with the insurrection, according to Insider's database. Read the original article on Business Insider Meredith Monk Every summer, the present and future tenses of music emanate from the University of Missouri. Part of the school's sure and ever-evolving relationship with new music, the Mizzou International Composers Festival gathers emerging resident composers to workshop their music with revered guest composers, then have their pieces loosed into the world during a concert of premieres. The sounds and stories behind them are invigorating, and remind listeners that art music is not the province of the past. This year's edition is on approach, set to take place July 25-30. Here are six things to know before attending this year's festival: More: Meet the four conductors in line to lead the Missouri Symphony 1. Luminous guest composers guide the way Angelica Negron Following the likes of previous guest composers Donnacha Dennehy, Nico Muhly, Augusta Read Thomas and Steven Stucky, this year's pair twine knowledge and talent to offer considerable musical wisdom. The marvelous Meredith Monk owns honors such as the National Medal of Arts as well as Guggenheim and MacArthur fellowships for her work in a nearly 60-year career spent in concert halls, theaters and museums. Monk's work spans music, performance and installation art, film and more and she is known for her thoughtful, innovative use of the natural human instrument, the voice. "Monk has mapped a world that never quite existed in the history of the arts," Alex Ross wrote for the New Yorker. Ross added a statement that ultimately describes how Monk is a perfect fit for this festival: "If Monk is seeking a place in the classical firmament, classical music has much to learn from her. She may loom even larger as the new century unfolds, and later generations will envy those who got to see her live." Puerto Rican-born artist Angelica Negron has written for our age's greatest ensembles (Bang on a Can All-Stars, Kronos Quartet and orchestras across the U.S.) while combining the conventional and idiosyncratic; she "writes music for accordions, robotic instruments, toys, and electronics as well as for chamber ensembles, orchestras, choir, and film," her online bio notes. Story continues In a 2020 interview with I Care If You Listen, Negron described the great inspiration that she derives from everyday moments and small musical packages "tiny, miniscule sounds like music boxes, toy instruments." She also described coming to composition without holding composition in mind. "I started composing in a kind of unorthodox way. Even though I was in music school for most of my life and I was a violinist and playing orchestras, I really didnt explore sounds. I was just practicing my skills," she told writer Sun Yung Shin. "When I started exploring sounds ... I had no idea that composing was a possibility. I had never played anything by someone that was living." 2. This year's resident composers span the world of music Left to right, top row: Caterina Di Cecca, Oswald Huynh, Pascal Le Boeuf, Jia Yi Lee. Left to right, bottom row: Piyawat Louilarppresert, Niko Schroeder, Felipe Tovar-Henao, Cassie Wieland The festival always fields a remarkable group of resident composers. In keeping with its tradition of innovation, this year's class spans both the physical globe and world of new music. Composers hail from or currently work in locations including Italy; Singapore; Thailand; Princeton, New Jersey; Portland, Oregon; New York; Colombia and Columbia MU grad Niko Schroeder represents and reflects a homegrown approach. This year's roster has collaborated alongside or had compositions programmed by the St. Louis Symphony, R&B icon D'Angelo, Singapore National Youth Orchestra, International Contemporary Ensemble, So Percussion and other remarkable ensembles around the U.S. and the world. To hear their work is to know the sure, superlative future of music but also to hear how their creativity is already stretching to so many corners. 3. House band Alarm Will Sound has serious chops Alarm Will Sound A stirring band is required to bring all this new music to life, and the festival boasts one of the world's best. Ensemble-in-residence Alarm Will Sound ranks among the true leaders in performing, encouraging and reframing new music and chamber sounds. With a remarkable roster of players including MU professor and festival artistic director Stefan Freund the group has performed on great stages and collaborated with artists and composers ranging from Medeski, Martin & Wood to Steve Reich, John Adams to Tyshawn Sorey and more. 4. The festival isn't short on guest artists In collaboration with Dismal Niche, a Columbia-based music and arts collective, the fest will present an impressive lineup of guest artists in concert July 29. Headliner Laraaji is a prolific Philadelphia-born musician whose innovative style has shaped the current state of ambient music. Also on the bill are the Onishi-Beis Duo featuring MU post-doctoral fellow Yoshiaki Onishi and graduate student Santiago Beis as well as Katina Bitsicas, a video and performance artist who is a professor in the MU School of Visual Studies. More: Samantha Fierke, OK Samaritan among latest Columbia locals to release quality music 5. You can hear Mizzou students as well The festival's opening concert July 25 features MU students performing new works on percussion, electronics, flute, clarinet and more. 6. Each event is free This year's festival features five concerts as well as composer presentations, and each event is free. They can be attended in-person as well as streamed via Facebook and YouTube. Learn more about this year's festival at https://newmusic.missouri.edu/micf. Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com or by calling 573-815-1731. Find him on Twitter @aarikdanielsen. This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: 2022 Mizzou International Composers Festival starts July 25 Opponents of abortion rights are looking at the next phase in their campaign to stop people from ending their pregnancies and theyre targeting the advertising of abortion services. The National Right to Life Committee is lobbying states to enact legislation its drafted that would make it a crime to advertise information about abortion pills or other methods of ending a pregnancy. The model bill treats abortion like organized crime, by using a combination of civil and criminal penalties in the same way that the 1970 Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act does. The scope is broad and suggests penalizing anyone who even conveys information about the procedure. State lawmakers in Indiana and South Carolina have already shown interest. Proponents of abortion rights said the First Amendment and a Supreme Court precedent should protect advertisers, but the courts adherence to precedent is in flux. The lack of clarity could weigh on risk-averse online advertising platforms. I think what we're going to see in the next five years and next several years is how this plays out with interstate law, said Kevin Grillot, committee chair of March for Life Chicago, noting that advertising illegal activities could be territory for litigation. Legal experts agree that fights are likely: The Supreme Court case on abortion is now decided, but other battles over the procedure still loom including over advertising. Under the National Right to Life Committees proposed legislation, Googles web-hosting service could be in trouble, said Florida State University law professor Mary Ziegler. Likewise, Facebook could potentially be liable for any user-generated content promoting abortion thats aimed at people in states where those services are illegal. While these platforms continue to host abortion-related advertising, the abortion-rights advocacy group Plan C said that getting ads promoting abortion services approved on them is arduous and getting more so. Story continues The biggest concern for digital advertising platforms in the short term are laws, similar to those in the National Right to Life Committees proposal, in Oklahoma and Texas that permit civil suits against anyone who helps someone else get an abortion. Both states allow residents to sue parties that aid or abet an abortion with damages set at a minimum of $10,000. While the laws specify that paying for an abortion qualifies as aiding and abetting, legal experts say the laws could extend to advertising. Advertisers defense Abortion advocates say advertising for the procedure is protected by free speech rights. Advocating for a person's right to get an abortion, informing a person about how to legally get an abortion, encouraging a person to make their own reproductive health choices, those are all protected by the First Amendment, said Vera Eidelman, a staff attorney with the ACLU's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project. Theres also a Supreme Court precedent protecting advertisers. Prior to the Roe v. Wade decision, somes states explicitly banned advertising for abortion services. In 1971, Jeffrey Cole Bigelow, editor for an underground Charlottesville-based magazine called Virginia Weekly, ran an ad for an abortion clinic in New York, despite a Virginia law that made it a misdemeanor to encourage or prompt the procuring of abortion. Bigelow was arrested and convicted, but his case eventually made its way to the Supreme Court, which ruled in his favor. In the majority opinion, then-Justice Harry Blackmun wrote that the advertisement wasnt promoting a simple commercial transaction. It contained factual material of clear public import and was entitled to First Amendment protection, he wrote. However, the ruling came at a time when the court was sympathetic to abortion rights, having granted them constitutional protection two years earlier in the Roe decision. The current court may feel differently. Eidelman believes section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, which holds that websites cannot be held responsible for material posted on them by users, is also likely to protect internet companies. But she acknowledges some legal uncertainty. Implications for tech For groups like the National Right to Life Committee, the uncertainty helps the cause. Ziegler predicts laws that penalize sharing information on abortion will have a chilling effect on the digital ad industry, possibly causing platforms to suppress abortion advertising and abortion content voluntarily in states where its not legal. It may already be happening. Last month, Vice reported that Instagram and Facebook removed posts from users offering to share abortion pills. Meta, their corporate parent, said the posts violated its policies on regulated goods. Facebook and Google allow advertising for abortion services on their ad networks, however, abortion advocacy groups said the platforms ad-approval process is opaque. Dimitratou said shed had difficulty with ads using phrases like ending a pregnancy or simple words like pills. To advertise keywords related to the act of seeking an abortion advertisers must apply for certification with Google and demonstrate theyre not engaged in fraud. To block advertising for fraudulent products, Google screens ads before they run on its site, using software and staff to flag seemingly innocuous words. Plan C, as an advocacy group, does not always qualify for the kinds of certifications that abortion providers can get and has not applied for them. Several abortion clinics said they are not having the same difficulty getting ads approved by the internet firms. They also do not advertise in states where abortion is illegal. Dimitratou said Facebook often rejects Plan Cs ads for promoting the sale of unsafe substances, the determination of which is under corporate parent Metas discretion. Like Google, Meta has special approval processes for running ads about abortion as well as medications. However, only online pharmacies, telehealth providers, and pharmaceutical manufacturers can apply. Google acknowledges that its advertising policies could change. For example, Google recently allowed groups dispensing abortion pills by mail to qualify for ad certifications previously only given to in-person abortion providers after the FDA permitted mail distribution in December 2021. Google does bar abortion-related ads in 72 countries where its illegal. Michael Aciman, a spokesman for Google, said it is still evaluating the courts decision and laws around the country and will continue to monitor for new developments. JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Rolling power cuts in South Africa should come to an end by the end of next week as more power generation units come online, the chief executive of state power utility Eskom, Andre de Ruyter, said on Saturday. Last month Eskom started implementing so-called "Stage 6" power cuts - or load shedding - for only the second time in its history, meaning most South Africans were without power for at least six hours a day. The level of the outages has since been lowered, with Stage 2, 3 and 4 power cuts at different times this week. Eskom has blamed the outages on striking workers hampering efforts to bring faulty generation units back online. "Towards the end of the coming week we should emerge from load shedding. We've already lifted our indication for load shedding going forward, we've got a couple of big units returning so that's positive news," de Ruyter told journalists. He added that towards the end of July the risk would be significantly diminished once unit 2 of the Koeberg nuclear power station comes back onto the grid, which "is about 920 MW so that will bring large measure of relief." "But ultimately to put load shedding to bed, what we need is additional capacity because the system as it is at the moment is still unreliable and unpredictable," de Ruyter said. He was speaking at a brief news conference at Tutuka power station in Mpumalanga province after a site visit and meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa, some ministers and managers of the plant for a progress report. Ramaphosa said he'd meet other managers at another power station this afternoon to get a closer insight of some of the problems and challenges they are facing. "Having done so we'll be able to come up with a number of proposals that can effectively deal with the challenges that the country faces when it comes to load shedding," he also told reporters. Eskom relies on an ageing coal fleet that is highly prone to faults. South Africa has faced intermittent power cuts for more than a decade that have hindered economic growth. (Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by Jane Merriman and Mark Potter) "Youth is an indispensable force in promoting global development," said Yu Tao, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG), during the online WiseDemo Campaign 2022 Proposal Presentation on July 15. Themed "Wisdom and Power of Youth on Global Development," the WiseDemo Campaign, under the Global Young Leaders Dialogue (GYLD), solicits innovative proposals from young professionals from around the world to encourage young people to care about global development, enhance exchanges and mutual learning, and contribute their insights to the building of a community with a shared future around global development. Since its launch in late January of this year, the campaign has received more than 100 proposals from young people from 44 countries and regions, with topics covering five major areas, including poverty reduction and inclusive development, the COVID-19 fight and public health, climate change and green development, innovation drives and the digital economy, and open cooperation and interconnectivity. According to Yu, the highly professional proposals available for reference are presented in diverse forms, including research reports, micro-documentaries, and mobile applications. Top 10 proposals The top 10 proposals assessed by senior officials, researchers, and professionals were revealed and displayed during the presentation. Put forward by participants from Russia, Germany, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Nigeria, the 10 proposals involve popularizing China's poverty alleviation experience, health cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), urban waste treatment, smart city air monitoring, Chinas fashion and urban culture, next-generation change-makers, and China's stories in foreigners' eyes, among others. Regarding China's victory over poverty, David Blair, economist and former senior business columnist for China Daily, said he was impressed with China's huge success in lifting people out of extreme poverty throughout the country, not only in the big cities. Blair noted that most of global poverty reduction over the past few decades has occurred in China, which is as part of a more general and widespread economic growth. "China has given formerly poor people opportunities, and many have taken advantage of those opportunities to build businesses. Those businesses create good lives both for their owners and employees," he said. He also emphasized the importance of sustainable prosperity for people who have shaken off poverty, the key to which is "continuing investment in local education and healthcare around the country." Elsbeth van Paridon, a Dutch sinologist and English editor at the Beijing Review, and whose proposal was among the top 10 at the event, hoped to present China to the world from a different angle: through fashion. Paridon observed a shift from Western brands to local brands in China and the rise of "China chic" (Chinese fashion trends) over recent years. She believed this reflected national confidence and that fashion could demonstrate what's happening in society. For Paridon, there is a lot more to uncover about China, and one can tell a lot more about the country through fashion. "I'm a sinologist. I'm a journalist," said Paridon. "It's a very big soft power force that China has not yet really tapped into. So maybe I'm tapping into it for them." Youth power While addressing the presentation, Yu Tao quoted the "World Youth Report: Youth and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," which underlines that young people could play a critical role in dealing with a host of issues, including climate change, conflict, gender inequality, and forced migration. He also called on global youth to keep pace with the times, employ new technologies, explore new directions, and make good use of new media to put forward practical solutions to improve global governance and solve development problems. Wang Huiyao, founder and president of the Center for China and Globalization (CCG), also emphasized the crucial role younger generations might play in facilitating global dialogue. He believed that the innovative solutions and recommendations in the proposals would make a difference to the world and inspire more young people to join in. Dr. Mohammed Misbahul Ferdous, whose proposal was also counted among the top 10 at WiseDemo, is a Bangladeshi cardiologist at Fuwai Hospital affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and vice president of the Asian Society of Cardiology. He spoke about the importance of training young doctors in BRI countries. "Young people are the biggest asset for any country," said Dr. Ferdous, adding that training in medical skills and technologies should be provided to more young doctors so that they could not only attend to patients but also contribute to disease prevention. The GYLD is jointly initiated by CCG and the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies (ACCWS) affiliated with CICG. It is a communication, education, and professional development platform for young achievers with diverse regional, cultural, disciplinary, sectorial, and professional backgrounds across the globe. Stoddard Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area. Prosecutors have filed additional charges against an Apple Valley man suspected of hitting and killing two children with an off-road vehicle and leaving the scene earlier this month. Edgar Ivan Galindo Diaz, 35, now faces possible two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence in addition to hit-and-run charges, the San Bernardino County District Attorneys Office said. Vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence is whats known as a wobbler and can be charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor. If charged as a felony, each count carries a maximum sentence of six years in prison. Galindo Diaz turned himself in to authorities Tuesday after a search warrant was issued for his arrest. The CHP said he is the registered owner of a 2021 Polaris RZR, which investigators found at his home on July 7. Christina Bird and Jacob Martinez, two children who died after a hit-and-run driver struck the ATV they were riding on Saturday, July 2, 2022. Authorities believe the side-by-side vehicle was involved in the crash that killed 12-year-old Jacob Martinez and 11-year-old Christina Bird on July 2. The two children were riding an ATV on Stoddard Wells Road when they were struck by another off-road vehicle. Martinez died at the scene. Bird was left with severe injuries, including a severed spinal cord, and died later in a hospital. Witnesses reportedly saw the vehicle which hit the children turn its lights off and flee the area. Galindo Diaz was released from custody on bail shortly after midnight Thursday. He was being held in lieu of $200,000 bail on hit-and-run charges he was initially booked on. Jacquelyn Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the District Attorneys Office, said prosecutors had requested a warrant to get Galindo Diaz back into custody in light of the new charges. A warrant was not issued, however, since he posted bail. Rodriguez said the office, instead, requested a bail review at an arraignment which is scheduled for Wednesday at the Victorville Superior Courthouse. "I pray that the system will not fail our families and justice will be served," Christina's uncle, Ernie Nunez, said on Friday. "We are all hurting and grieving our losses. We just want the right thing to be done and someone held accountable to this tragic event." Daily Press reporter Martin Estacio may be reached at 760-955-5358 or MEstacio@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_mestacio. This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Apple Valley man suspected of killing 2 children faces additional charges Uncle Sam. Illustrated | Getty Images Coronavirus cases are rising fast as the extremely infectious Omicron subvariant BA.5 spreads across the United States, just when most Americans have started feeling comfortable getting back to a pre-pandemic style of living. The number of new cases has risen slowly to more than 130,000 per day. That's a 15 percent increase over last week, and it's likely a huge undercount given how many people are using at-home tests and not reporting their results to public-health authorities. Some experts think there could be up to 1 million new infections daily. Hospitalizations remain lower than previous waves, with 41,000 people across the U.S. currently hospitalized with the virus, but admissions are up 8.1 percent compared to a week ago. Deaths remain low but rising, with the seven-day average reaching 438, an increase of 33.9 percent over last week. Unlike previous strains, BA.5 is infecting the vaccinated and unvaccinated alike, although people who are vaccinated and boosted remain far more likely to avoid hospitalization and death. This Omicron subvariant also is reinfecting people, sometimes quickly after they kick a previous COVID-19 case, unlike previous variants that left patients with strong immunity after an infection. Public-health officials in areas with high infection rates, including an increasing number of counties in California, are considering imposing new mask mandates to bring down infection rates. Is it time for the whole nation to ramp up the COVID-19 precautions again? It's time to intensify the COVID fight again If you like the recent return to something resembling "pre-pandemic times," says The Virginian-Pilot in an editorial, you'd better get serious about COVID prevention again. "As much as we'd all like to put the pandemic squarely in the rearview mirror, the virus continues to circulate, continues to infect, and continues to kill." Infections are surging in more and more places, and the fall and winter surge could be bad. The good news is that we all know the drill. We have to ensure that "local health officials and health facilities have what they need to fight the virus vaccines, therapeutics, personal protective equipment, etc." And every one of us has to pitch in "by staying up to date on vaccinations and boosters, paying attention to case numbers, and mitigating their behavior when appropriate." The bad news is that "COVID isn't done with us and likely never will be." So let's get to work on protecting ourselves and our communities, together. Complacency is our biggest enemy We indeed know what we have to do, says Katherine J. Wu at The Atlantic, but so far "our countermoves are sluggish at best." Pathogens can't spread or mutate "without first inhabiting hosts," and we are the hosts. That means changing our behavior is the key to getting through the next wave. "But with masks, distancing, travel restrictions, and other protective measures almost entirely vanished, 'we've given the virus every opportunity to keep doing this,' says David Martinez, a viral immunologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill." It's true that BA.5 is causing relatively fewer severe COVID-19 cases and deaths than the original variant, or the Delta and Omicron waves. "But a high rate of infections is keeping us in the vicious viral-evolution cycle." We all want to get back to normal. "But without doing something about infection, we can't slow the COVID treadmill we've found ourselves on." Changing behavior is just part of the solution "The CDC has failed to warn Americans about the high risk of BA.5 spread," says Eric J. Topol in the Los Angeles Times. There is indeed a lot we can do to slow the spread, even of a subvariant as slippery as BA.5, "by use of high-quality masks, physical distancing, ventilation, air filtration, and booster vaccines." And we definitely need to apply more "money, pressure, and government strength to the creation of a variant-proof vaccine." But the "leakiness" of the vaccines and boosters we have now needs to be "patched," and we can do that with nasal spray vaccines. There are three of them in late-stage randomized clinical trials. "Such vaccines achieve mucosal immunity, protecting against the entry of the virus into our upper airway, which shots are incapable of achieving for any durable basis, especially as the virus has evolved. Nasal sprays, like a variant-proof vaccine, deserve an Operation Warp Speed-like program to accelerate their success." Booster campaigns are critical Don't discount the importance of wide-scale booster campaigns, says Melody Schreiber at The New Republic. Due to the "politicization" of the pandemic, white Americans are one of the least vaccinated groups, yet, "after adjusting for age disparities in the underlying population, people of color are still dying at higher rates across all age groups as compared to white people. Indigenous people are more than two times likelier than white counterparts to die from COVID-19. Black Americans are 1.7 times more likely, Hispanic Americans 1.8 times, and Asian Americans 0.8 times, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention." One reason for this is that elderly and nonwhite people are less likely to get boosters, either because they are not aware they are eligible or because mass-vaccination centers shut down as pandemic concerns eased. The new subvariants are causing so many breakthrough infections that boosters are necessary to make sure that vaccinated people have as much protection as possible. As national coverage for tests and treatment expires, getting boosted is more important than ever. Exaggerating the threat won't help "There's no need to panic over BA.5," says the Chicago Sun-Times in an editorial. Just stay informed and, even if it makes you "grumble," follow "the advice of public health officials to wear a mask indoors when around others" if you're in an area where the level of infections warrants it. "Do it for ourselves and for the people we come in contact with, especially those at greater risk of serious illness because of age or pre-existing conditions." Yes, there's the possibility of a fall wave, but by then "booster shots targeting the Omicron subvariants are expected to become available, which is good news." And young people are now eligible to get shots to give them a measure of protection against the coronavirus. So far vaccination rates for little ones are low, at just 4 percent for Chicago residents up to age 4, but everything we do helps. "BA.5 is spreading, but we can make smart choices to keep it at bay." We shouldn't let BA.5 change our lives "Lulls followed by surges are the new normal," says Leana S. Wen in The Washington Post. Our health officials should send the message that "as long as hospitals are not overwhelmed and vaccines still work to prevent severe illness, policies should focus on minimizing disruption to daily life." After more than two years, many people need a break from restrictions. "It's unreasonable to ask Americans to forgo traveling, going to restaurants or attending weddings to prevent what for most people will likely be mild illness." Mask mandates and other broad restrictions "should be reserved for dire emergencies, which we are not in now. Instead, officials should scale up interventions that have broad support, such as testing, treatment, and improved ventilation." The pandemic isn't over, and it "could have many more surprises in the years ahead." Some day we might face a new variant that is more lethal and bulletproof against existing vaccines and treatments. "Health officials need to preserve their credibility to call for an emergency response when it's truly needed. That time is not now with the BA.5 variant." You may also like Twitter: Musk tries to cancel the wedding BA.5: Is it time to step up the COVID fight again? The controversy over the leaked Uvalde video It may be hard to believe, but the start of the new school year is just around the corner. But sky-high inflation means back-to-school shopping may cost you more, than in previous years. Im going to have fun. Play a little, have fun. After a long summer, eight-year-old C.J. is excited to go back to school. I want to see my friends, my teachers, and my new teachers, he said. Before the big day, he and his siblings need to prepare. Thats why his family spent Saturday morning at a back-to-school block party hosted by the Wellness and Stress Clinic of Memphis. Because of gas prices and food prices, its really a big help for my kids, Ina Dewitt of Memphis said. Volunteers passed out free backpacks, and school supplies and families were even able to roll up their sleeves for a COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot. Kids of all ages are now able to get the vaccine. We will be healthier; our grandparents will be healthier. All of us will be healthier if we get it, Peter Hossler, the director of the clinic said. Hossler said the event was open to all school-aged children in the area. We live in a community where not every kid has all the things they need to be successful in school and until we get to a point where thats not the case, its very important, he said. As for C.J.s family, they said a little help goes a long way. Getting them prepared, food, clothes backpacks, I am just ready, Dewitt said. Download the FOX13 Memphis app to receive alerts from breaking news in your neighborhood. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Trending stories: The Hill The Trump Organizations chief financial officer is coming close to reaching a plea deal in a case investigating whether he funneled off-the-books income to himself and other executives at the company, but the potential deal reportedly does not bring prosecutors any closer to their main target: former President Trump. The New York Times reported Monday, JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia President Joe Biden looked to reassure Middle Eastern leaders on Saturday that the U.S. would continue to be heavily involved in the region as it looks to counter growing influence from China, Russia and Iran. "The United States is not going anywhere," the president said during a summit with Gulf state leaders Saturday in Saudi Arabia. We will not walk away to leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia or Iran. We will seek to build on this moment with active, principled American leadership," he said. Biden sought to set expectations during his series of meetings with Middle Eastern leaders about the role he envisions for the U.S. in the region, senior administration officials said. He noted that his visit to the Middle East was the first by an American president since 9/11 without the U.S. having troops engaged in a combat mission there. In remarks to the Gulf leaders, Biden also raised the issue of human rights, an area in which fellow Democrats have been pushing him to be more forceful. He told the group the "future will be won" by nations where citizens can "question and criticize leaders without fear of reprisal." "I've gotten plenty of criticism over the years, it's not fun but the ability to speak openly, exchange ideas freely is what unlocks innovation," Biden said. The president met one-on-one with the heads of Egypt, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates before attending a summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Following the meetings, Biden is scheduled to fly back to Washington. The summit caps Bidens first Middle East trip as president, during which he also met with Israeli, Palestinian and Saudi leaders. While Biden took some incremental steps toward improving relations in the region such as a decision by Saudi Arabia to open its airspace to flights to and from Israel he acknowledged that bigger changes will take time. Story continues President Joe Biden (Evan Vucci / AP) The president is expected to leave the region without any concrete commitments from the Gulf states on increasing oil production, something that could have helped him with his top domestic issue of inflation. The trip has become a source of controversy back home due in part to Biden's decision to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the man the U.S. intelligence community concluded was behind the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. During his meetings Saturday with Gulf leaders, Biden was expected to discuss tighter coordination and collaboration around Iran along with energy and digital infrastructure investments in the Middle East, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said ahead of the gatherings. During Biden's trip to Israel earlier this week, he said that he would also discuss with the Gulf leaders Israels desire to move toward normalizing relations with more countries in the region, similar to steps it has already taken with Morocco, the UAE and Bahrain. But he made no mention of Israel in his public remarks to the Gulf leaders. President Biden fist bumped Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a highly anticipated greeting due to the crown prince being heavily criticized. U.S. intelligence assessed that the crown prince ordered the brutal killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The president defended his meeting with Salman and said he did raise the murder with him. Meanwhile, Senator Joe Manchin is now saying he wont support increased spending on climate change due to inflation concerns. Biden said hell take executive action on climate if Congress doesnt act. JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia President Joe Biden wrapped up his first presidential trip to the Middle East on Saturday with few clear domestic benefits from a trip that brought widespread criticism back home. Biden received no concrete commitments from Saudi Arabia to increase oil production, the main deliverable that could have helped address his biggest domestic challenge of inflation, and made no significant progress toward a resolution between the Israelis and Palestinians. While the conversations and face-to-face meetings Biden held in the region may prove to pay dividends over time, he will return to Washington with little to show a domestic audience for whom the number one issue is the economy, with competing concerns over social issues like abortion rights and gun violence. Bidens approval rating has hit the lowest level of his presidency in several surveys less than four months before the midterm elections. Even before Biden set off for the trip to Israel and Saudi Arabia, Democrats had accused him of backing down on his campaign vow to make Saudi Arabia a pariah after the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Human rights groups that have pushed for reforms in Saudi Arabia said they felt betrayed by the trip. "There are a lot of downsides to President Bidens trip to Saudi Arabia and meeting Mohammed bin Salman," said former CIA director John Brennan in an interview on MSNBC Wednesday. He said Biden "has to extract from Saudi Arabia and from MBS some tangible means thats going to advance the interests of the United States in the region, as well as just regional stability." After days of speculation over how Biden would greet Saudi Arabia's de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, an engagement that became its own storyline, Biden opted for a chummy-looking fist bump over a more formal handshake. The White House had suggested ahead of the meeting that Biden would be minimizing contact as a Covid precaution when asked if he would shake the crown princes hand. But Biden participated in a number of other handshakes and warm embraces throughout his visit, including with the crown princes father, King Salman. Story continues Fred Ryan, publisher of The Washington Post where Khashoggi was working at the time of this death, called the fist bump shameful." The former fiancee of Khashoggi, Hatice Cengiz, tweeted a photo of the fist bump, saying of Biden the blood of MBS next victim is on your hands. Biden said he raised Khashoggi's death in his meeting with the crown prince in which he indicated that he believed the crown prince was responsible for the killing. But Saudi diplomat Adel al-Jubeir downplayed the exchange in an interview with CNN, saying the topic was brought up by Biden briefly and that he believed the president had accepted the explanation by the crown prince that those responsible had been held accountable. Following the meeting with the crown prince, Biden said Saudi Arabia made some broad commitments to addressing the high price of oil, but gave no details on what those would be and when they would occur. We had a good discussion on ensuring global energy security and adequate oil supplies to support global economic growth that will begin shortly, Biden said during a press conference following the meeting. And Im doing all I can to increase the supply for the United States of America which I expect to happen. The Saudis share that urgency, and based on our discussions today, I expect well see further steps in the coming weeks. President Joe Biden (Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images) White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the White House was hopeful there would be additional actions by the OPEC+ oil producers alliance in the coming weeks. In Israel, Biden took hits from both sides of the aisle, with Democrats disappointed he didnt go further in pressing leaders there over the countrys treatment of the Palestinians, and Republicans criticizing his visit to a Palestinian hospital in a disputed section of Jerusalem. Human rights and international media groups, meanwhile, had wanted to see Biden do more around the investigation into the death of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. As Biden spoke in the West Bank, he faced a large photo of Abu Akleh placed on a chair in the front row where journalists were seated. Biden said the U.S. would continue to assist on a full and transparent accounting of her death, but he didnt announce any additional steps that would be taken to ensure that would occur. The president also acknowledged in Israel that there wouldnt be any resolution to the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians in the "near term" and said the U.S. was being realistic about what it could achieve. The White House sought to emphasize a number of steps the U.S. helped facilitate during the trip, including the opening of Saudi airspace to commercial flights to and from Israel, infrastructure projects to improve digital connectivity in the region, assistance to the Palestinians and a deal over islands in the Red Sea. During a summit with Gulf leaders, Biden emphasized that the U.S. would continue to play a role in the region and counter efforts by China, Russia and Iran to take a greater foothold. It was among the efforts that could provide important value for the U.S. but would take years to play out. Brewers and event participants chat at last year's homebrew fest at Severance Brewing Co. For the second year, the Big Sioux Brewing Society will host a homebrewing festival, drawing brewers from across the area. At the event, which will be held at Woodgrain Brewing Co., there will be up to 40 brewers. The festival is also free to the community, ages 21 and over, and will be held on July 31 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Last year, the event was held at Severance Brewing Company, which was capped at 20 brewers half of this years participants. This year, the fest looks a little different. More: USD AD says school plans to move forward with expanded alcohol sales at athletics events There will be three categories including peoples choice, homebrewers choice and brewery choice. Employees of Woodgrain will pick their top choice, with the winner getting a chance to brew their recipe on a larger scale. The Big Sioux Brewing Society hosts a homebrew fest last year at Severance Brewing Company. Participants are to provide at least five gallons for sampling and their own pouring systems. Brewers are limited to entering the contest with one beer, but there are no guidelines for styles of beers. We wanted to give some more opportunities," TJ Tedrow, whos part of the Big Sioux Brewing Society, said. "Obviously, with a community like this...were kind of spread around. Theres people in Hartford that homebrew. Theres people in Watertown and other kinds of rural areas--they can join the community and come in." Organizers hope the event can keep growing and said theyve promoted the event within the state as well as in Iowa and Minnesota this year. It might take some time Were hoping to at least take that and hopefully build it into something. As long as people are willing to participate in it, were gonna still do it, Tedrow said. The law that made the event possible A few years ago, event organizer Bud Molyneux and a friend went to a homebrew fest in Omaha, and thats what sparked the idea, he said. Molyneux got his start after his mailman gave him information on homebrewing products. While he wanted to start the festival earlier, he was unable to due to South Dakota law. It wasnt until 2021 that the South Dakota Legislature passed Code 35-1-5.4. Story continues (We) went down there (to Omaha) Thought it was fun, so we thought wed try something up here now that the laws got changed, we could actually do it, Molyneux said. The law included cider and made it permissible to take homemade alcoholic beverages onto licensed premises, and it also stated the premises must be licensed to sell alcoholic beverages themselves. The Big Sioux Brewing Society hosts a meeting in Sioux Falls. An amendment added provisions on the sample size amount, which is three ounces, and South Dakota Code 35-4-66 also included a provision that exempted homebrews from needing a license to transport homemade alcoholic beverages. Finding community in the homebrewing society In addition to being a homebrewer since 2003, Molyneux was also the head brewer at Hydra Beer Co., which was acquired by Lupulin Brewing Co., in 2019. Hydra Beer Co. opened in 2015. Molyneux has been a part of the home brew movement in Sioux Falls dating back to the early 2000s. Initially, the group started as a Yahoo group. The group has grown since then and evolved into the Big Sioux Brewing Society, where members get together to try samples from each other and talk about the brewing process. More: The Dive pop-up kitchen brings new concept to Sioux Falls; owners hoping to grow venture Weve built up, I think, a pretty good community of homebrewers around the area. I think theres a lot of really good talent, and this homebrew fest is like the epitome of what a lot of these people want to do," Tedrow said. "Instead of family and friends," he added, "we can share with strangers and kind of play the role of like a pro brewer for a little bit." The Big Sioux Brewing Society is also preparing for another homebrew fest after this one, which will be held at Remedy Brewing Company on Sept. 24 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. during the brewerys Oktoberfest celebration. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Woodgrain Brewing Company holding second annual homebrew fest News Analysis: Italian gov't faces uncertainty over PM's rejected resignation Xinhua) 07:51, July 16, 2022 ROME, July 15 (Xinhua) -- The coming days look to be clouded with uncertainty for Italy's government, as the country's prime minister tendered his resignation only to have it rejected by the head of state. Prime Minister Mario Draghi, whose resignation was turned down by President Sergio Mattarella late Thursday, is now expected to address the Italian parliament and garner support next week in what will be a key moment for the government. Analysts say that the central issue is whether Draghi will continue to have the full support of the populist Five Star Movement, a senior member of the current ruling coalition. The party splintered into two factions in recent weeks, after Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio left with dozens of lawmakers to found a new movement "Together for the Future." On Thursday, Draghi decided to formally resign after the Five Star Movement boycotted a confidence vote on the government's relief bill to combat soaring prices in the Senate earlier in the day. Prior to the vote, former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, also leader of the Five Star Movement, had warned that the party would pull its support for Draghi if the government does not change policies on a handful of topics including economic and labor reforms and waste management policies. "These are complicated and challenging times," Salvatore Vassallo, a political scientist at the University of Bologna, told Xinhua. "To some extent, close observers have expected a government crisis for some time. But that does not mean it is easy to predict what will happen." Vassallo said he does not believe the government will call snap elections. A new vote could shake up the representation of different parties in parliament. Italy is already scheduled to hold a general election in the first half of 2023. "We have to stay on the lookout because what happens within the Five Star Movement will have reverberations on the overall government's stability," said Francesco Galietti, founder of Policy Sonar, a political risk consultancy. Draghi has said very clearly that he does not want to be the prime minister of a caretaker government that does not have support from all of its coalition partners, Galietti explained. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji) Flash A Chinese envoy on Friday called for a strategic assessment and fundamental adjustment of the mandate of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). Haiti has been one of the most complicated and protracted challenges on the Security Council's agenda. UN's engagement in Haiti dates back to the early 1990s. However, 30 years later Haiti is hardly in any better shape. On the contrary, it is caught in a more severe crisis, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations. Last October, thanks to an initiative of China and some other council members, the Security Council requested the UN secretary-general to conduct an assessment of the mandate of BINUH in light of the actual conditions in Haiti, which shall serve as reference for the council to strengthen the mandate in a targeted manner, he said. Over the past nine months, Haiti's state institutions have been paralyzed across the board. Most of the country has fallen into a security vacuum. Gang violence has become more rampant. And the economic and humanitarian situations have been in free fall. This fully demonstrates that the strategic assessment and fundamental adjustment of the mandate of BINUH are imperative, he added. Just as the council members were in consultations over the draft resolution, gang clashes broke out near the capital city of Port-au-Prince and the situation has worsened to an appalling state, Zhang said in an explanation of vote after the Security Council adopted a resolution to renew BINUH's mandate. China, while fully taking into account the recommendations in the secretary-general's assessment report, the strong aspirations of the Haitian people, and the concerns of Haiti's neighbors and countries in the region, has put forward specific reasonable and feasible proposals on advancing the political process, stepping up police capacity-building, combating illicit flows of weapons and finance, and strengthening port and border management, among others, he said. "We welcome the fact that the draft resolution has taken up many of China's proposals...While the resolution just adopted certainly still has room for improvement, it is nevertheless on the whole a right step in the right direction," said Zhang. This resolution sets clear expectations on the Haitian authorities and leaders of political parties. It sends clear warnings to the gangs that the Security Council is closely following their actions. It also confers on BINUH a stronger mandate, he noted. Haiti itself is not a producer of weapons. Yet the weapons possessed by the gangs far out-compete those of the national police in quantity and quality. This indicates that the illicit trafficking and proliferation of weapons are a source of ever-escalating gang violence, Zhang said. Countries, while supporting Haiti in beefing up its own security capabilities, should also act in coordination and unity by banning the participation of their citizens in the trafficking of weapons to Haiti, and preventing their territories from being used for such purposes. This is a necessary step in effectively containing the violent activities of gangs and the minimum requirement in showing solidarity with the Haitian people, he said. Regrettably, the resolution has failed to provide for this in the strongest terms. China hopes that this would not send a wrong message to the gangs, urging all countries to effectively strengthen arms export control. China will also work with relevant countries in continuing to push for greater Security Council efforts in this direction, he said. Photograph: Luciola Villela/AFP/Getty Images The failure by Brazilian authorities to arrest the criminal masterminds behind the murders of the British journalist Dom Phillips and Indigenous advocate Bruno Pereira poses a grave threat to communities in the remote Amazon region where the pair were killed in early June, according to a prominent rights lawyer. Eliesio Marubo, who helped coordinate a grassroots search-and-rescue mission in the Javari Valley, where Phillips and Pereira were attacked, is urging the international community to pressure the Brazilian government to find those who ordered the killings while safeguarding the Indigenous communities still under attack by economic interests and criminal gangs operating with impunity in the Amazon. In the Javari Valley, we are all Bruno and we are all Dom we need protection because every day the threats against us are increasing, Marubo, a lawyer for the Union of Indigenous Peoples of the Javari Valley (Univaja), said in an interview with the Guardian. The murder of our friends was not an isolated incident. We know there are many interests in the region who had something to gain from their deaths and the deaths of all environmental and Indigenous rights defenders, including ourselves. Related: Man linked to killing of Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira arrested over fake ID Marubo, who this week met with US lawmakers and rights organizations in Washington about the lawlessness in the region, added: The three men arrested were not acting alone. We need a thorough independent investigation without interference from the government. Pereira, 41, and Phillips, 57, were ambushed and shot dead on 5 June while traveling by boat on the River Itaquai in the Javari Valley an increasingly dangerous part of the Amazon rainforest that is home to one of the largest concentrations of uncontacted Indigenous communities in the world. Phillips, a regular contributor to the Guardian, was working on a book about sustainable development called How to Save the Amazon, helped by Pereira, a former senior official at Funai, Brazils Indigenous protection agency, who had close relationships with local communities. Story continues The threat to the Amazon and its Indigenous communities goes back decades, but violence, drug trafficking, illegal fishing, hunting, mining and logging have proliferated under Brazils far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, who has dismantled safeguarding agencies like Funai while encouraging the extraction of natural resources. The problems in our region are not new but the violence has escalated to unprecedented levels because under Bolsonaro, illegal operations have gone unpunished, Marubo said. After Phillips and Pereira went missing on 5 June, Marubo helped organise a search team of local Indigenous groups who knew the men and the remote terrain, while the Bolsonaro government dithered and made excuses. These men were not strangers. Bruno was a brother to all Indigenous people in the region and Dom played such an important role in telling our stories and sharing our struggle with the world, he added. The authorities did not do due diligence, but we were committed to returning the bodies to their families as a sign of respect. Amid intense international pressure and media attention, three men were arrested last month for their purported involvement in the killings, with one confessing to the crime and leading police to the buried bodies, according to authorities. Witnesses have said Pereira had previously been threatened by the suspects, who were allegedly involved in illegal fishing. Indigenous leaders and security experts say the murders were the latest in a long line of grisly crimes directly linked to organized crime and illicit extractive projects in the area. But Bolsonaro and local investigators have said the killings occurred due to a personal dispute involving Pereira. National police are reportedly investigating whether the detainees were hired hitmen, but officials have yet to reveal a motive or identify other suspects. Marubo said: The federal police have the technical and logistical capabilities and the constitutional responsibility to find out who ordered the killings, why and what interests were at stake. We have provided them with all the information we have about drug trafficking and other illicit trades in the region. Marubo has stressed the existential threat Indigenous people face under Bolsonaro during his talks with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the Organization of American States secretary general, Luis Almagro, and numerous Democratic US lawmakers, including Senators Ed Markey and Jeff Merkley. Our right to life is being violated, Marubo said. We want the international community to remind the Bolsonaro government of its obligations and responsibilities to respect the rule of law and our right to live. (via REUTERS) The Mexican drug lord whose role in ordering the kidnapping and murder of a US drugs enforcement agent in 1985 was featured in Netflix drama Narcos: Mexico has been captured by law enforcement. Rafael Caro Quintero, a notorious co-founder of the brutal Guadalajara Cartel, was behind the torture and murder of 37-year-old DEA agent Enrique Kiki Camarena. He spent 28 years in prison for the killing, which was carried out after Camarena and Mexican authorities raided a ranch in 1984 burning 10,000 tons of marijuana worth $160m, but was released by a judge in 2013 on a legal technicality. The sentence was upheld by the countrys Supreme Court but by then Caro Quintero had been freed and whisked away by his associates. The Mexican navy said that the drug trafficker was found on Friday hiding in shrub land in the northwestern state of Sinaloa by a military-trained female bloodhound named Max. In the Netflix show Caro Quintero was played by Tenoch Huerta Mejia, while the role of Kiki Camarena was taken on by Michael Pena. Camarena and his pilot Alfredo Zavala Avelar were grabbed by the cartel in February 1985 in Guadalajara and their bodies were found wrapped in plastic outside a rural ranch a month later. (via REUTERS) The attorney generals office said in a Friday statement that Caro Quintero was being held for extradition at the maximum security Altiplano prison, which is around 50 miles west of Mexico City. US officials say that Caro Quintero also ordered the torture and murder of two US civilians, John Clay Walker, 36 and dentistry student Albert Radelat, 33, in January 1985. The pair were out for dinner when they accidentally came across a party being held by Caro Quintero, who mistook them for DEA agents. He ordered his men to take them into a store room at the restaurant where they were reportedly tortured with ice picks. Mexico Drug Lord Capture Walker died during the attack, while Radelat may still have been alive when the pair were wrapped in tablecloths and buried. Their bodies were found six months later. The arrest comes just days after Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador met with Joe Biden at the White House. This is huge, White House senior Latin America adviser Juan Gonzalez wrote on Twitter. Spencer Platt/Getty Philadelphia police say theyve arrested the man suspected of stalking and killing three men in random, ambush-style shootings in recent weeks. Derrick Jones, 21, was taken into custody Thursday after police raided an apartment he shares with his grandma and sister, authorities said. He now faces three counts of murder and related charges, according to police. This is a total random act of violence, which we may never get to the bottom of and uncover why, said Philadelphia Police Capt. Jason Smith. Smith said the 21-year-old suspect has been silent since being taken into custody. There is no connection between Jones and the three victims, the police captain said. Detectives were able to determine that the slayings were connected, however, because Jones allegedly followed a near-exact script for both hits. Smith said detectives were able to connect the killingson June 28 and July 7to Jones using security footage, which tracked the shootings themselves and Jones fleeing to his apartment. The victim of the first shooting was identified as 20-year-old Zamir Syrus. Footage captured him getting on a public bus around 10 p.m. and deboarding 15 minutes later. Jones, meanwhile, boarded one stop before Syrus and got off one stop later, Smith said. Once both were off the bus, police say Jones and Syrus walked toward each other from seperate directions. Once they passed each other, Jones turned around, pulled out a gun and ran toward Syrus while firing several shots at the victims back, Smith said. Syrus was taken to a local hospital but died there. The next shooting, on July 7, was eerily similar to the first. But this time, police say, Jones killed two men in the attack. Justin Robert Smith, 20, and Tyheim Tucker, 21, hopped off a public bus in North Philadelphia around 10:40 p.m. Jones, also on the bus, stepped off a stop later, Smith said. From here, the second slaying is said to mirror the first, except neither Smith nor Tucker were taken to a hospital after being gunned down. They were pronounced dead at the scene. Story continues If it werent for his arrest Thursday, Smith suggested Jones may have struck again soon. The raid of his apartment uncovered a Glock handgun outfitted with an extended magazine and 31 live rounds insidethe same caliber bullets that were used in the shootings, police said. Smith said the handgun did not have a listed owner. He added that Jones was barred from legally owning weapons after he was busted stealing a vehicle and convicted of other firearm charges in 2019, crimes he was still on probation for at the time of the killings. The motive is unknown, but that is the burning question, Smith said. Why? Why did Mr. Jones murder, in cold blood, three males? 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. The Cheboygan County Board of Commissioners awarded the bid for a transportation needs study for the Straits Regional Ride bus program at Tuesday's board meeting. The needs study and its reports should be done within the next six to nine months On Tuesday, the Cheboygan County Board of Commissioners selected a company to complete an upcoming needs study for the Straits Regional Ride program. The study will determine if any changes or route expansions are needed. "This would be the award of the agreement to Mp2planning," said Cheboygan County Administrator Jeff Lawson. "We received four bids." Three county staff members, including Lawson, Cheboygan County Finance Director Sue Buitenhuis, and Rebecca Charboneau, transportation director of Straits Regional Ride, went over each bid received. The bids were then scored by how closely they filled the requirements the county was looking for to have included in the needs study. More: County looking into transit study for Straits Regional Ride Once the county staff had completed scoring the bids, the information was then submitted to the Michigan Department of Transportation, which reviewed all the documentation and combined the scores. It was determined Mp2planning, LLC was the highest scoring among the contractors who returned bids. It was recommended for Cheboygan County to award the bid to Mp2planning to complete the transportation needs and service plan study, in the amount of $64,745. This study is being funded through MDOT. Lawson said it was not up to MDOT to determine which contractor firm to award the bid to, it was based on the aggregate scoring of the three staff members after reviewing the bids. "Legal counsel will draft an agreement for presentation to the board at the August meeting," said Lawson. Lawson said Mp2planning is a relatively small firm out of Muncie, Indiana. From what he could tell, when they do regional projects in other states, the company uses different consulting firms from the region surrounding the project for contracted work. The individuals who will be performing the work on the study will either be from Indiana, or from the Northern Michigan region. One person working on the project, John Drury, worked for MDOT for almost 20 years and now owns his own consulting firm, JDrury Consulting out of Boyne City, and will be the lead planner. He also has performed the two most recent transit studies for Emmet County with the former EMGO program. Story continues More: County accepts grants for Straits Regional Ride studies The firm has done some work in the state before, including in Ottawa County. Buitenhuis said she was on a board in Ottawa County at the time this study was being completed and there were no issues with it and the study proved to be very helpful. The Cheboygan County Board of Commissioners (from left) Roberta Matelski, John Wallace, Ron Williams, Curtis Chambers, Rich Sangster, Mike Newman and Steve Warfield approved awarding the bid for the Straits Regional Ride needs study. The county board voted unanimously to award the bid for the project to Mp2planning, LLC. Subscribe: Get unlimited access to all our local coverage The needs study will look at the current demand for the busing system around Cheboygan County, as well as the proposed future demand for the service. The consulting firm will also determine if there are any expanded routes the service can do to increase ridership, if hours also need to be expanded, and how to increase revenue coming in to the program. Mp2planning will also be doing surveys of county residents and users of the busing program to gather thoughts on transit and how it could be improved. All of the work for the study is planned to be completed in six to nine months. Contact Reporter Kortny Hahn at khahn1@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @khahnCDT. This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Straits Regional Ride needs study to be handled by Indiana consulting firm Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, bashed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's record in California. Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said over 50 math books submitted for review were "doing woke math." DeSantis blocked a record number of textbooks in April over concerns about CRT. They "took the woke out and sent us back normal math books," DeSantis said Friday. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis doubled down on his decision to exclude a record number of math books from classrooms that he said included bits of "woke math." "These math books they were doing woke math," DeSantis said, referring to Florida's rejection of dozens of math textbooks in April. His remarks came Friday in Tampa at an event for Moms for Liberty, a conservative nonprofit. "I'm just thinking to myself, like, two plus two equals four, right? It's not 'two plus two equals, well, how do you feel about that? Is that an injustice?'" he quipped to an audience that responded with laughter. "No, we gotta teach the kids to get the right answer," he continued as the crowd applauded. According to an April press release from Florida's Department of Education, state reviewers found allusions to Critical Race Theory in 54 out of 132 math textbooks submitted by school districts. DeSantis and the FDOE referred to the content in the books as "attempts to indoctrinate students" and rejected the submissions. In May, the department released a 6,000-page report reviewing each of the books, according to Politico. The report noted instances where books were rejected for mentioning "racial profiling in policing" and "types of housing for different groups of people." On Friday, DeSantis said the publishers removed the pieces of the textbooks that the state said contained Critical Race Theory. They "took the woke out and sent us back normal math books," said DeSantis. "It doesn't matter how you feel about the math problem," the Republican governor said in April after rejecting the books. "It matters whether you can solve the math problem. Read the original article on Business Insider The Ukrainian military uses Grad anti-aircraft guns against enemies Read also: Russian soldiers anxious about new Ukrainian weapons "Without a doubt, they will," he said. "This regime has no other way of being, it cannot stop. This is already the case when the engine is started and the car is driving, but there are no brakes. And only a frontal impact can be a brake." Read also: Fourth Ramstein format meeting to take place on July 20 "I very much hope that this Ramstein (a meeting at the U.S. Ramstein Air Force base in Germany), which will take place in the near future, as well as other agreements at the bilateral level will create an opportunity to deliver this direct frontal impact." Ohryzko reiterated that the Lend-Lease Act would come fully into force only in late September early October, with the start of a new fiscal year in the United States. Read also: Panic in the Kremlin. Why does Putin need volunteer battalions? "My prediction is that this fist, which will be able to crush this entire horde, will finally form in Ukraine by the end of the year," the diplomat said. "This, of course, may be a pessimistic forecast for some, because there are still a few difficult months ahead, but this is an objective assessment." "Despite these next quite difficult months, the final for Russia will be unequivocal it will get the works." The fourth meeting of the Contact Group on the Defense of Ukraine in the Ramstein format will take place online on July 20. Ukraine will also receive military aid from the United States under the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act. U.S. President Joe Biden signed the relevant bill into law on May 9. Prior to that, on April 28, the bill was approved by the House of Representatives with 417 votes, and it was unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate on April 7. Read also: White House explains aid to Ukraine through lend-lease The U.S. House of Representatives passed a $840 billion defense policy bill on July 15. Part of this amount should go to training Ukrainian fighter pilots on the F-15 and F-16 fighter jets. Political scientist and publicist Andrei Piontkovsky believes that this is an indirect confirmation that Ukraine will get U.S. fighter jets as military aid to defend against Russia. Ukraine's Defense Ministry and the White House have already explained how the Lend-Lease program will work. AirTags have become increasingly useful in tracking lost luggage, but airlines are struggling to respond. Frederic Harper/Getty Images Airline passengers are using AirTags to track and locate lost luggage amid travel chaos. One passenger told Insider he had to repeatedly show Air Canada his bag's location on his AirTag. Other passengers have tweeted that airlines' claims contradict the data from their AirTags. Exasperated passengers are spending days trying to convince airlines to look at Apple AirTag data to be reunited with their lost luggage they say cannot be found. Social media posts show frustrated passengers' AirTag locations that contradict claims from airlines that their luggage can't be located, or is in a different location entirely. Frederic Harper flew with Air Canada from Montreal to Dublin this week. When he landed he saw that his bag had been left in Montreal, alongside those belonging to about 12 other passengers on the flight. "With the AirTag, I was able to tell them not to search in Dublin, that it was still in Toronto," Harper said. "But I had no hope they would have done, seeing how there were a lot of bags from Air Canada next to the carousel, some with a ticket date of 7 days ago ... as if no one cared." When he saw his AirTag eventually flashing up in Dublin, Harper told Air Canada that his luggage had arrived in Ireland. The Apple devices provide live updates on the location of any item they are attached to, and are being touted as one way to stop airlines losing luggage. A maid of honor was able to locate her missing dress thanks to the tag. Harper told Insider he always puts one in his hold luggage, but until now he had been lucky not to have a bag go missing. Still, it didn't seem to speed up the process of returning his luggage. Frederic Harper sent this screenshot to Air Canada to alert them his luggage had arrived in Dublin before staff knew. Frederic Harper Harper said: "The AirTag would have been useful to get my bag faster if they had listened to me, but it was super re-assuring for me to know where it was and when it moved as I had no information whatsoever on the status of my bag by Air Canada or their provider." Other passengers have complained that they have been told by airlines that their luggage is in a different location than that shown on the AirTag, or that it can't be located at all. Story continues In a tweet, British Airways passenger Nicola Campbell-Hare said her AirTag data showed her luggage, which contained her lupus medication, had been in Orlando since July 1, despite being told by staff that they had tried to deliver her luggage back to the UK. At the same time as he was being given alerts by Qantas that it was searching for his bag, passenger Robert Pereyra was live-tweeting the location of his AirTagged-bag in Sydney airport. Airlines continue to struggle with rising passenger demand for travel and staffing shortages that have increased the number of delays, cancelations, and lost items on trips. The airlines mentioned in this article didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider President Donald Trump departs after speaking in support of Republican incumbent senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue during a rally at the Dalton Municipal Airport on Monday, January 4, 2021, in Dalton, Georgia. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images The Fulton County investigation into Trump is ramping up. Legal experts point to three Georgia laws Trump may have broken. The Georgia investigation into Trump is the most urgent legal challenge against him, experts say. Soon after Fani Willis started in her job as Fulton County district attorney back in February 2021, she announced that she would take on an investigation of historic proportions scrutinizing Donald Trump. Now nearly a year and a half later, Willis appears to be ramping up her local criminal investigation into the former Republican president and his associates' possible interference in Georgia's results from the 2020 presidential election. On July 5, the Fulton County special grand jury issued subpoenas to members of Trump's inner circle, including his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, his legal adviser John Eastman, and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. The latest development signals that Willis is getting closer to gathering the evidence she needs to decide whether to charge Trump, according to several legal experts who spoke with Insider. When Willis first announced her investigation into the former president, she said it would focus on Trump and his associates' attempts to pressure Georgia state officials to overturn the state's 2020 election results. Since then, the investigation has expanded to examine an alleged scheme to have a fake slate of electors certify the election results so that Trump won in Georgia instead of the man who actually did, Joe Biden, according to a recent subpoena for Kenneth Chesebro, a legal advisor to Trump. Legal experts told Insider that the Georgia investigation into Trump could be the most pressing legal challenge against him. The House select committee investigating the January 6 insurrection has also put more focus on Trump's efforts to interfere with the state's results from the 2020 presidential election after Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger testified before the committee and recalled how Trump pressured him to find more votes to overturn the election results. Story continues "The January 6 hearings are accelerating the evidence that she needs to charge the former president," Norm Eisen, a former advisor to House Democrats during their 2019-2020 impeachment of Trump, said of Willis. "They're providing her with additional proof of the offenses." John Dean, the White House counsel for former President Richard Nixon whose public testimony played a critical role in unraveling the Watergate scandal, told Insider that the public has now seen evidence "that would indicate that (Trump) has a lot of reasons to be worried." But others like Alan Dershowitz, who was a part of Trump's defense team during his first impeachment trial, feel differently about Willis's investigation into Trump. Dershowitz told Insider that the process in which Willis is conducting her investigation is "deeply flawed." "Usually, what happens is a crime is committed, and then you try to find the person," he said. "Here, it is the opposite. People are looking to try to find a crime. Maybe they'll find one. It's possible, but I think the process is extremely dangerous." Trump's attorney Justin Clark did not respond to Insider's request to comment on the Georgia investigation. Four legal experts spoke to Insider on the possible Georgia laws Trump may have broken that could potentially bolster Willis' case against him. Racketeering Last March, Willis hired John Floyd, an expert in racketeering cases, to assist in her investigation into Trump. Floyd wrote a book on prosecuting state racketeering cases called "RICO State By State: A Guide to Litigation Under the State Racketeering Statutes." Typically, racketeering charges are associated with criminal mobs or gang organizations. But it also can be applied to a group of individuals who commit crimes through extortion or coercion. Under Georgia law, this offense carries a minimum prison sentence of at least five years. Willis also has experience prosecuting these kinds of cases. As a Fulton County assistant district attorney, she worked on a high-profile case involving several Atlanta public school teachers who were accused of conspiring to change their student's standardized test scores answers. In 2015, 11 of the 12 school educators were convicted on racketeering charges. As the local DA, Willis could use the evidence of Trump's calls with Georgia election officials to bolster her potential case against him, said Nick Akerman, a former federal prosecutor who also worked on the Watergate prosecution team. For instance, on December 23, 2020, Trump called Frances Watson, who served as a chief investigator of the investigations division for the Georgia Secretary of State, where he urged her to find election fraud. A few days later, on January 2, 2021, Trump called Raffensperger and pressured him to find more votes to overturn the election results. "It's the strongest case they have against Trump," Akerman said. "You have two great witnesses: Raffensperger and (Republican Georgia Governor Brian) Kemp. And you've got Trump calling the chief investigator in Georgia. I mean, the evidence there is just pretty overwhelming." Brad Raffensperger (left), the Georgia secretary of state, testified before the House committee investigating the January 6 insurrection. His deputy, Gabe Sterling, also appeared before the panel. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin Election fraud solicitation Willis could potentially charge Trump with election fraud solicitation by using the phone calls he made to Raffensperger and Watson as evidence to support her claims. She can also point to the evidence she has gathered on Trump's alleged scheme to send a fake slate of electors to overturn Georgia's election results, legal experts told Insider. "The evidence that we have about Donald Trump's demand for the phony votes and the phony electoral certificate, I mean, that fits Georgia's solicitation of election fraud, like a hand in glove," Eisen told Insider. But her biggest challenge would be proving that Trump knew he was committing election fraud when he made these calls to the Georgia officials, said Peter Odom, a former Fulton County prosecutor. "With fraud cases, you have to show that someone knew that what they were doing was fraudulent," Odom, who has previously worked on these kind of cases, told Insider. Odom added that Trump's possible legal defense could be that he didn't have an intent to commit a crime because he believed there was election fraud. "If he actually thought he won and he was trying to get people to promote his victory, one could argue that he didn't have the intent to have people commit a crime. He had the intent to have people get to the truth," he said. But prosecutors on Willis's team could point to the number of White House legal advisers and Justice Department officials who told Trump they found no evidence to support the notion that the election was rigged. Some DOJ officials, like former Attorney General William Barr, have already testified before the House select committee about his conversations with Trump and how he informed him that there was no election fraud. Barr's testimony to the House select committee was later displayed during several of the committee's public hearings. Interference with performance of election duties Willis could also potentially charge Trump with the crime of interfering with the performance of election duties. Prosecutors would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump intentionally interfered or attempted to delay the performance of an official government proceeding. Her team could point to the calls Trump made to Raffensperger and Watson and claim that he made these calls with the intent to delay them from carrying out their election duties," legal experts say. Odom told Insider that if Willis charged these crimes against Trump, she would have to prove that the former president knowingly tried to commit them. "The hardest thing to prove in a case like this is the intent of the individual that is committing that crime," he said. "You have to show that someone did something purposelyor that they did something with reckless disregard." Read the original article on Business Insider Guido Herrera wore a leather mask with spikes and carried a rifle when he was tackled by Kendrick Simpo, an off-duty police sergeant moonlighting as a security guard. (Photo: Houston Police Department) Guido Herrera wore a leather mask with spikes and carried a rifle when he was tackled by Kendrick Simpo, an off-duty police sergeant moonlighting as a security guard. (Photo: Houston Police Department) A Texas man who was tackled in a Houston mall in February while carrying a rifle and 120 rounds of ammunition near a childrens event was sentenced to six months in prison for the incident which was only charged as a misdemeanor because he never fired his weapon. Surveillance video from the Feb. 5 incident showed the suspect identified as Guido Herrera within just a few feet of hundreds of children participating in a dance competition at the Galleria mall. Herrera was wearing a leather mask with spikes and a shirt with the Punisher logo on it. He carried a rifle in one hand and a Bible in the other. That was when Kendrick Simpo an off-duty police sergeant who was working his second job as a security guard rushed Herrera and pinned him against a wall. I quickly bum rushed, tackled him, Simpo told local station ABC 13. And my first reaction was to make sure that I get a hold of the rifle. No matter what I grabbed, make sure I grabbed that rifle. I had in my mind [that] I was going to get shot. I just had to bear the pain, I knew it was going to hurt, and I was like, Whatever I do, I cannot let go of this rifle. Simpo was able to hold Herrera until backup arrived and an arrest was made. Police also found 120 rounds of ammunition and another handgun. But under Texas law, because Herrera never fired a shot, he was only slapped with a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge. Herrera was also charged for a separate incident a month later, on March 18, when authorities say he showed up at the FBI headquarters in Houston demanding to speak to the agencys director. Authorities say they found a gun in his car, but again, were only able to charge him with the misdemeanor of unlawfully carrying a weapon, according to the Houston Chronicle. Story continues His circumstance kind of fell in the gaps, prosecutor Barbara Mousset said at Herreras sentencing Thursday, according to the Chronicle. He took advantage of some technicalities in the law he had the right to have that firearm and ultimately this was the only charge that we could get him on. Defense attorney Armen Merjanian called Herrera a gun-loving Texan who had a right to possess the weapons. Herrera was sentenced to an additional year on the possession charge, bringing his total sentence to 18 months, with credit for time served. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... ALONA MAZURENKO SATURDAY, 16 JULY 2022, 15:39 In the latest intercepted phone call, a Russian invader tells his mother that more than 100 soldiers have escaped from his platoon so far, and they are "already somewhere in Kaliningrad". Source: Chief Intelligence Directorate Quote: "Do you know how many people want to stay in our platoon? As many as the number of children you have! More than 100 people have already escaped. In other words, 100 people are in Kaliningrad now. Some were discharged, some got out some other way. This is just one platoon. There are three platoons like that! Everyone in the third will leave, apparently, and there wont be many people left in the second. There should be 30 of us - there are 10 left. The others are either injured or dead." Details: The Russian soldier says that those who escaped were not imprisoned, simply discharged. However, his mother urges her son to stay in Ukraine and persuade others to stay too. The son promises to talk to his fellow soldiers, and his mother adds reassuringly, "If you called yourself a mushroom, get in the basket" ("You made your bed, now lie in it"). According to the Russian invader, his company is in a state of panic and no one wants to listen to anyone - particularly because of the behaviour of their general, who has the goal of "taking Kharkiv". Quote: "Our generals nicknames are the bloody general, Koleban, the animal. Thats all about our general. Hes not a nice man. He once said that he doesn't give a **** about people he wants to go to Kharkiv. All the people have already... Ive spoken to them. They dont give a **** about us. They don't even want to listen. Then this mad panic started, and that's it." Details: The invader's mother tells her son that this is karma. It seems that he is paying for his sins in a past life: "In a previous life, it says in your cards that you are now in a hot spot because you betrayed the motherland." DUBAI (Reuters) -Iran has imposed sanctions on 61 more Americans, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, for backing an Iranian dissident group, Tehran said on Saturday as months of talks to revive a 2015 nuclear deal remained at an impasse. Others blacklisted by Iran's Foreign Ministry for voicing support for the exiled dissident group Mujahideen-e-Khalq (MEK) included Republican former President Donald Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani and former White House national security adviser John Bolton, Iranian state media reported. The sanctions, issued against dozens of Americans in the past on various grounds, let Iranian authorities seize any assets they hold in Iran. The steps, announced as Democratic U.S. President Joe Biden wrapped up his trip to the Middle East, appear largely symbolic given the likely absence of such assets. Giuliani, Pompeo and Bolton, all Republicans, have been widely reported to have taken part in MEK events and voiced support for the group. Both Pompeo and Bolton served under Trump. Iran imposed sanctions on 51 Americans in January and another 24 in April. Iran's indirect talks with the United States on reviving the 2015 nuclear pact began in November in Vienna and continued in Qatar in June. But the negotiations have faced a months-long impasse. In 2018, Trump abandoned the deal, calling it too soft on Iran, and reimposed harsh U.S. sanctions, spurring Tehran to breach nuclear limits in the pact. Biden's administration pledged to support all Americans despite any disagreements over politics or policy. "The United States will protect and defend its citizens. This includes those serving the United States now and those who formerly served," a State Department spokesperson said on Saturday. "We are united in our resolve against threats and provocations, and we will work with our allies and partners to deter and respond to any attacks carried out by Iran." (Reporting by Dubai newsroom; additional reporting by Washington newsroom; editing by Clelia Oziel and Leslie Adler) Ivana Trump died Thursday at the age of 73 after suffering blunt impact injuries in her apartment, the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner said Friday. The Medical Examiner ruled the death of Trump, Donald Trumps ex-wife, an accident, according to NBC New York. Having released this determination, OCME will not comment further on the investigation, the office said in a statement. An official with direct knowledge of the matter told the outlet that her injuries match those typically suffered falling down the stairs. Trump was found in close proximity to the stairs in her apartment, a spokesperson for the NYPD told Fox News. Someone called the authorities to do a wellness check on Trump after she had not been seen for a long time period, according to the outlet. Ivana and Donald Trump were married 1977-1992 and share three children together Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. The Czech-born model held top roles in the Trump Organization during their marriage, and launched numerous clothing and beauty product lines after the divorce. The former president announced his ex-wifes death Thursday. I am very saddened to inform all of those that loved her, of which there are many, that Ivana Trump has passed away at her home in New York City. She was a wonderful, beautiful, and amazing woman, who led a great and inspirational life. Her pride and joy were her three children, Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. She was so proud of them, as we were all so proud of her. Rest In Peace, Ivana! Donald Trump said via a post on Truth Social. Their son Eric Trump also issued a statement on behalf of the Trump family. It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Ivana Trump. Our mother was an incredible woman a force in business, a world-class athlete, a radiant beauty, and caring mother and friend. Ivana Trump was a survivor. She fled from communism and embraced this country. She taught her children about grit and toughness, compassion and determination. She will be dearly missed by her mother, her three children and ten grandchildren, he said on Truth Social. More from National Review Jul. 16A jury on Friday found a 32-year-old Priest River, Idaho, man guilty of several felonies related to the December shooting of two men at a Post Falls coffee shop. Post Falls police received multiple 911 calls shortly after 1:30 p.m. Dec. 1 reporting a shooter, later identified as Tisen W. Sterkel, in the parking lot of a gas station at the intersection of State Highway 41 and Poleline Avenue, according to court documents. The parking lot includes Kokopelli Coffee. Sterkel shot Jacob Sheppard in the neck and Jason Griffin in the right leg. Both men were taken to Kootenai Health in Coeur d'Alene. Sheppard was in stable condition at the time, according to a Facebook post by the coffee shop. Griffin was treated and released, the hospital said. Witnesses told police Sterkel fled the scene in a gold Ford F-150. Surveillance cameras from the gas station showed Sterkel firing at least twice at Sheppard before returning to his truck and shooting two more rounds, one that hit a witness' tire and one that hit Griffin, documents said. Sterkel then eluded police in stolen vehicle before a SWAT team pinned the truck Sterkel was driving and arrested him. Sterkel said he hoped the people he shot were OK, according to deputies. After a five-day trial this week, Sterkel was found guilty of two counts of aggravated battery with the use of a deadly weapon enhancement, aggravated assault with the use of a deadly weapon enhancement, two counts of possession of a stolen vehicle and operating a vehicle without the owner's consent. He was found not guilty of burglary, according to a Kootenai County Prosecutor's Office news release. Prior to trial, Sterkel pleaded guilty to eluding, possession of methamphetamine, unlawful entry and attempted unlawful entry, the release said. He is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 16. Laura Robles, 14, takes a self-administered oral swab COVID-19 test at a Union Station site in 2020. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) In Sherman Oaks, Julia Irzyk tries to gauge how rampant the coronavirus is in her community, turning to a constellation of data points to guide her. "I have very little confidence that I would survive COVID," said Irzyk, who is more vulnerable to the coronavirus because she has lupus and other health conditions. So Irzyk keeps track of hospitalizations and deaths. She checks data from wastewater monitoring that predicts spikes in the coronavirus. Recently, troubled by what she was seeing in the numbers, she told employees at her talent agency to stop coming to work in the office. But she puts little stock in one of the simplest numbers regularly shared by health officials: How many COVID-19 cases are being reported. Those official figures are "relatively worthless at this point," said Irzyk, who authored a book on disability and the law. "Positive tests are being discovered through home testing and they're not reported to anyone." The boom in home testing for the coronavirus has meant that health officials never hear about many COVID cases, deflating official counts. Federal funding to test uninsured patients also dried up this spring, pinching the availability of free testing for some Americans. California has sought to continue providing testing for uninsured people through its own programs, and in Los Angeles County, the Department of Health Services said the number of its own sites which offer COVID testing without out-of-pocket charges to L.A. County residents has remained stable since the beginning of this year. But official testing has nonetheless fallen off even as California reckons with the rapid spread of the BA.5 subvariant. In L.A. County, an average of more than 222,000 tests were being recorded daily in January; in June, that figure had dropped to around 77,000 tests a day. Those figures do not include tests taken at home; the public health department said it currently has no system in place for people to report such results to L.A. County. Story continues At the University of Washington, researchers who test blood to assess the true level of infections have estimated that only 14% of cases are being reported across the United States. Testing has never captured the full spread of the coronavirus, but the figure is much lower than in some earlier points in the pandemic, when more than 40% of cases were once estimated to be detected. "Even the cases that are being detected are not being reported as frequently as they used to be," said Ali H. Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the university's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. "In many states, many counties, it's only once a week." Between the rise in home testing that goes unreported, budgetary reductions in testing services, and mild or asymptomatic infections going unnoticed, "we don't really know how many cases we have," said Dr. David Dowdy, an infectious-diseases epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Public health officials can still piece together what is happening with other data, but the challenge is that "you want your public health systems to develop responses that are based on these sorts of metrics," Dowdy said. "As these metrics become less reliable ... you're left with going back to what it was before, which is just kind of a general sense of where things are headed." As the pandemic has persisted, experts have turned to a range of metrics to assess how the virus is spreading and what toll it is taking. During the Omicron wave this past winter, some health officials argued that the sheer number of cases was less important than how many of them led to severe illness, as reflected in hospitalizations and deaths. But infections remain an important metric for anyone trying to avoid them. If government officials are trying to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed, it makes sense to focus on hospitalizations, Dowdy said. Gauging personal risk, however, can be very different. Even if hospitalizations are not especially high, "for those people who are at risk, those who are older, those who have compromised immune systems, the risk now is very high because of the high level of transmission that's out there," Dowdy said. L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer. She has said that if current trends of rising hospitalizations continue, the county could reinstate a mask mandate for indoor spaces by the end of July. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) When COVID cases go uncounted, "people think that it is safer to do activities that are not as safe to do, for people who are still trying to avoid infection," said Dr. Abraar Karan, a fellow in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine at Stanford University. As they try to calculate the costs and benefits of different activities, "when people don't realize how much spread there is, they don't know what the true potential cost is," Karan said. "People now may be doing things that they don't realize are going to put them at high risk of getting infected" and infecting others. Another concern is the risk of long COVID, in which symptoms can persist for months or years even after an initial illness that was relatively mild. Scientists have differing estimates of how common the condition is, but if massive numbers of people are infected, even estimates in the lower range would result in high numbers of patients with enduring symptoms. Despite concerns about many COVID cases not being reported, L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said that "because we triangulate data from wastewater, emergency departments and reported test results, we feel confident that we have a decent grasp on the level of spread across the county." Ferrer has said that if current trends of rising hospitalizations continue, the county could reinstate a mask mandate for indoor spaces by the end of July. "We don't have to count every case to understand what's happening in our communities," said Michael T. Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. "What's important is to understand the general trend of how cases are changing." "You have to assume right now that COVID particularly BA.5 is widespread in our communities everywhere. The bottom line is, extensive transmission is going on right now." Osterholm likened it to assessing the speed of a car as it passes. "I couldn't tell you the difference between 80 and 120 miles per hour I just know it's going really fast." The virus is spreading rapidly as U.S. residents have expressed decreasing concern about getting seriously ill or infecting others: As of May, the percentage of Americans who said they were concerned about being hospitalized for COVID had fallen to its lowest level since the Pew Research Center began asking the question early in the pandemic. So had the share of people worried about unknowingly infecting someone else. "The fact that we don't have mask mandates also makes people think, 'Well, it's not that serious, because otherwise we would have mask mandates the danger must be less,'" said Dr. Sherrill Brown, medical director of infection prevention at AltaMed Health Services. L.A. County public health officials have continued to strongly recommend wearing masks, especially well-fitting respirators such as N95s and KN95s, in indoor settings. But "when we made it a strong recommendation, virtually nobody did it," County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl said at a meeting this week. Irzyk said that right now, "it's not like I could be a lot more cautious than I'm being." The 44-year-old is not eating in restaurants or gathering in groups. Her husband gets their groceries by curbside pickup. She hasn't been on an airplane since before the pandemic and can't imagine doing so anytime soon. Because few other people are wearing masks in her office building, she gets anxious about taking the elevator up to her office, where she still goes twice a week to issue paychecks to her employees. Even a neighbor in the office building who was made aware of her medical condition has stopped bothering to wear a mask around her, she said. "Brilliant people, experts in their fields, are emailing me asking what my dad says they should do on COVID, because they don't trust anybody else," said Irzyk, whose father, Mark Rothstein, is a public health and bioethics expert. "We are just doing a terrible job at messaging." Rothstein, who in the past served as public health ethics editor for the American Journal of Public Health, argued that unless the rate of new infections is slowed, "we're always going to be on this treadmill of new variants." And as more cases have gone unreported, it's harder for public health officials to make decisions about masking and other protective measures that can be justified with such data, "where you can say, 'Look, we've gone from Point A to Point B and we've crossed a line that is very important,'" Rothstein said. Osterholm, in turn, contended that the number of unreported cases has little consequence for whether such government actions are embraced by the public, because "the public has come to the conclusion that they're done with the pandemic, even if the virus isn't done with them." Karan said that with a constantly evolving pandemic, it's hard even for experts to synthesize the many factors that have shifted in assessing the reach and risk of the coronavirus over time, including the emergence of new variants and subvariants. "I don't think that people in the general public are going to have any idea how to analyze a lot of this," he said. "Telling people to make these risk assessments is not going to work" for many reasons, Karan said, including that "there's too much data that's coming out all the time." Instead, Karan argued that health officials need to be pursuing "community mitigation measures" such as upgrading ventilation and air filtration in public spaces to reduce the spread of the virus. "Individual efforts will only get you so far," he said, "when you have something that's spreading this fast." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A wealthy dentist on trial for killing his wife during an African safari allegedly confessed to pulling the trigger to his long-time mistress, federal prosecutors said Wednesday in their opening statements. A witness at a Phoenix, Arizona steakhouse allegedly overheard Lawrence Rudolph tell his girlfriend Lori Milliron, I killed my f---ing wife for you! during a heated argument between the pair after Rudolph learned his wifes death was being investigated by the FBI, The Associated Press reports. He killed his wife for HER!, Assistant U.S. Attorney Bishop Grewell said in the Denver courthouse Wednesday while pointing to Milliron, who is facing charges of lying to a grand jury and being an accessory after the fact. Rudolph is facing charges of murder and mail fraud in the death of his wife of 34 years, Bianca Rudolph. Prosecutors believe Lawrence shot Bianca on the final day of their big game hunting trip in October 2016 at the Kafue National Park in Zambia. Rudolph told authorities he had been in the bathroom of the couples small cabin when he heard a firearm go off and rushed into the bedroom to find his wife with a gunshot wound straight to the heart, according to an affidavit previously obtained by Law & Crime. He told Zambian police he believed his wife had been packing a 12-gauge shotgun in its case when the gun accidentally went off, killing her. Zambian police later concluded that Bianca had failed to take proper safety precautions while packing the loaded gun, ultimately leading to her death. But prosecutors have said evidence suggests that Bianca was shot from about two to three-and-a-half feet away and contend that Rudolph had wanted to kill his wife to collect more than $4.8 million in insurance money. They also believe that Rudolph had been given an ultimatum from Milliron, a former hygienist and office manager at his thriving Pittsburgh dental practice, to divorce his wife. A U.S. consular official in Zambia has said Rudolph appeared to be in a rush to cremate his wifesomething her close friend would later tell authorities Bianca would have never wanted because of her devout Catholic faith. Story continues In court Wednesday, Rudolphs attorney David Markus disputed the prosecutions theory, telling the jury that the couple had been in a happy marriage. Although both had extramarital affairs, he said the couple often traveled together for big game hunts and were parents to two grown childrenwho stood up in court to show their support for their father, according to The Associated Press. Just moments after Bianca was shot, Markus said hunting guides had rushed into the room to find Rudolph in distress, adding that staff and been in and out of the cabin all morning before the shooting. According to Markus, when Rudolph decided to have his wife cremated, he had just been following her wishes, showing the jury a copy of what he said was her will that specified she had wanted to be cremated. He also disputed the prosecutions theory that there had been a financial incentive for killing his wife and said Rudolph had a net worth of more than $15 million at the time. The money from the insurance proceeds had gone into a trust for his children, Markus said. He has the truth on his side, Markus said. As for that damaging remark at the Phoenix steakhouse, Markus said his client had actually said Theyre saying I killed my f---ing wife for you and was not confessing to any murder. If that is what this case depends on, I cant believe were going to be here for three weeks, he said. Rudolph is expected to tell the jury in his own words what happened that fateful morning when he takes the stand later in the trial, Markus said. Millirons attorney, John Dill, also addressed the jury and denied his client had known anything about alleged murder plans. He argued that he had been asked leading questions at the grand jury and said his clients romantic involvement with Rudolph was not central to the allegations. This isnt a trial about adultery, he said. The trial, which is being held in Denver because that's the location of some of the insurance companies, is expected to include testimony from Zambian investigators, FBI analysts and others who knew the couple, The Associated Press reported previously. If convicted, Rudolph could face life in prison or death. The Dona Ana County District Court House is pictured in Las Cruces on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022. LAS CRUCES A judge denied bond to a Las Cruces man accused of severely beating his girlfriend and children. Moises Lucero is charged with 21 felonies and misdemeanors, including five counts of aggravated battery against a household member, one count of interference with communications, six counts of battery against a household member, one count of criminal damage to property of a household member, four counts of child abuse not resulting in great bodily harm, one count of false imprisonment, one count of aggravated battery and two counts of assault. According to the police affidavit, Las Cruces police were dispatched to the 5400 block of Porter Drive July 10 to reports of an aggravated battery involving strangulation. Police found Lucero and his partner at the home and could hear them arguing. The victim was vomiting, and police noted there was blood. She told police that she and Lucero had been arguing all week. When he grew angry with his daughter, he took a belt and started hitting her legs with the buckle. When the woman interfered, she said Lucero turned his anger toward her. She described to police numerous instances of Lucero hitting her, choking her to the point of losing consciousness or nearly passing out, punching recent surgical stitches, hitting her with a nightstick and pulling her by the hair and neck. She said she hit Lucero several times with a broom. One of the children was able to leave the house and inform a neighbor. Court documents state that the neighbor was able to get the rest of the children out of the house and to her home and called the police. When police arrived, they reported that Lucero claimed it was his partner who was the aggressor. He said she had started to punch him, hit him with a mop and scratch his eye. In relaying what happened to law enforcement, police said Luceros story was inconsistent and he could not repeat the order of events chronologically. The children, in interviews with investigators, reportedly corroborated the victims story. They also told police they did not feel safe with Lucero. Story continues Police noted that pictures were taken of the victims injuries which included swelling and bumps on her head and the sides of her face, bruises on her arms and legs, redness and swelling on her back and bruising on her abdomen. Lucero went before Third Judicial District Court Judge Douglas Driggers Friday morning to determine whether he would be released from custody. Roxanne Garcia-McElmell, spokesperson for the Third Judicial District Attorneys Office, said the victim testified in court that Lucero had called her from jail. She said he told her to say the assault did not happen. Driggers ultimately denied bond and pointed out that Luceros jail call might provide evidence of intimidating a witness. A preliminary hearing is scheduled in Luceros case for July 25 in Driggers courtroom. Others are reading: Leah Romero is the trending reporter at the Las Cruces Sun-News and can be reached at 575-418-3442, LRomero@lcsun-news.com or @rromero_leah on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Las Cruces man accused of beating girlfriend, children denied bond The Latest on U.S. President Joe Biden's trip to the Mideast: JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabias top diplomat on Saturday downplayed talk of normalization with Israel after the kingdom opened its airspace to Israeli commercial flights and hammered out a complex deal over islands in the Red Sea that required Israeli assent. Saudi Arabias Foreign Minister Prince Farhan bin Faisal spoke to reporters after a four-day visit by President Joe Biden to the region, including two days that the U.S. leader spent in Saudi Arabia, where he held talks with the Saudi king and the crown prince, the de facto ruler of the kingdom, and took part in a summit of regional leaders. Prince Farhan stressed there was no discussion at the summit of any military cooperation with Israel or talk of a so-called Arab NATO. There is no discussion about a defensive alliance with Israel, he repeated. Ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia have been inching closer amid shared concerns over Iran. The kingdoms public stance is that it has long welcomed normalization with Israel so long as Palestinian rights and demands for statehood are guaranteed. ___ HERE'S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING: Biden meets with Arab Gulf countries to counter Iran threat In West Bank, Biden embraces two states for two peoples As Biden visits, a look at those targeted in Saudi Arabia Israeli politics a backdrop to Biden's visit to the Mideast ___ TEHRAN, Iran Dozens of Iranian hard-liners rallied on Saturday at a square in downtown Tehran, burning U.S. and Israeli flags and denouncing President Joe Bidens visit to the Middle East. The small crowd also erupted in chants of Death to America and Death to Israel, typical at anti-American rallies in Iran. The demonstrators also protested against the normalization of ties between Israel and several Arab nations that started under the previous U.S. administration. Biden said at a wider regional summit in Saudi Arabia on Saturday that the United States would not walk away from Middle Easts security and leave a vacuum that Russia, China or Iran could try and fill. Story continues Separately, Iran announced on Saturday that it was imposing sanctions on 61 Americans, including Mike Pompeo, the former secretary of state, and John Bolton, the former national security advisor, over their support for foreign-based dissident Iranian groups. Iran has in recent years imposed several times such symbolic measures on Americans who Tehran says are acting against Iran. In June, an Iranian court also ordered the U.S. government to pay over $4 billion to the families of Iranian nuclear scientists who have been killed in targeted attacks in recent years. ___ JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia President Joe Biden and Jordans King Abullah met on Saturday in Saudi Arabia, with the White House announcing that the United States has committed to a new assistance package for Jordan of no less than $1.45 billion a year. The announcement was made after the two leaders met on the sidelines of a wider regional summit in which Biden vowed that the U.S. will not walk away from Middle Easts security and is not going to leave a vacuum for Russia, China or Iran to try and fill. Jordan, which hosts Palestinian and Syrian refugees, shares borders with Israel and the West Bank. Its stability is seen as crucial to the region, but its economy has struggled under the weight of inflation and from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The government has faced public protests, and the kings brother, Prince Hamza, is under house arrest following a public rebuke of the countrys leadership. In 2017, the U.S. committed to no less than $1.27 billion per year in bilateral foreign assistance to Jordan, beginning in 2018 and ending in 2022. The new annual package to Jordan is an adjustment of that annual U.S. support for the country. ___ JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia President Joe Biden says hes clear-eyed about challenges in the Middle East and the United States intends to stay engaged in the region. Speaking Saturday in Saudi Arabia at a summit of Gulf leaders, as well as leaders from Iraq, Egypt and Jordan, Biden said: We will not walk away and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia or Iran. He added that the United States is going to remain an active engaged partner in the Middle East. Biden is outlining the principles of his strategy for the region, focusing on regional cooperation to stand up to threats. ___ JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia President Joe Biden has invited the Abu Dhabi ruler who steers policy in the United Arab Emirates to visit the White House before the end of the year. The two met on Saturday ahead of a wider summit in Saudi Arabia. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed was unanimously appointed as the autocratic nations president in May following the death of his brother. Even as crown prince of Abu Dhabi, he had long been seen as the force behind the UAEs Little Sparta reputation for its outsized influence in policies that stretch from the Horn of Africa, through North Africa and beyond. Under his influence, the UAE became the first Arab state in more than two decades to normalize relations with Israel. Much like Saudi Arabia, though, relations between the Biden administration and Abu Dhabi have been strained. The UAE has called on Biden to reverse a decision he made early in his presidency to de-list Yemens Houthi rebels as a terror group. The UAE has been a party to the war in Yemen, which has killed thousands of civilians and spawned a humanitarian disaster. Abu Dhabi was targeted by rebel Yemeni missile and drone strikes earlier this year. The attacks, which killed three migrant workers and targeted an area near a base that hosts U.S. forces, rattled the small countrys image as a bastion of stability and economic prosperity in the region. Emirati officials were reportedly disappointed by the Biden administrations response to the attacks. They are also wary of U.S. efforts to revive Irans nuclear accord and frustrated by some conditions on U.S. weapons sales. While the UAE is the first foreign customer of the Lockheed Martin THAAD anti-missile system, it has long sought U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets. Meanwhile, the U.S.-based DAWN rights group said one of its board members, who was also a close friend and lawyer to slain Saudi critic Jamal Khahshoggi, was detained while in transit in Dubai and taken to Abu Dhabi. The group says Asim Ghafoor, a U.S. citizen, has been detained since Thursday on murky charges of money laundering. __ JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia Saudi citizens will soon be able to obtain 10-year visitor visas, double the current validity, in an agreement during U.S. President Joe Bidens visit to Saudi Arabia. The U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia announced Saturday the agreement extends the validity of visitor visas for Saudi citizens from five years to a decade as of August 1. The announcement said travel contributes significantly to both of countries economies and strengthens ties between citizens. Biden is on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia that began on Friday with a meeting with King Salman. That was followed by a highly-watched face-to-face meeting with the kingdoms Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The two fist-bumped one another as they met for the first time during Bidens presidency. Biden said he raised the issue of human rights in his meeting with the prince, but stressed that the visits aim is to reassert U.S influence in the region. The Saudis say 18 cooperation agreements and memorandums were signed by the two delegations late Friday, including an accord with NASA allowing Saudi Arabia to undertake the joint exploration of the moon and Mars in cooperation with the American space agency. - JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia U.S. President Joe Biden met with Egypts president in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since Biden took office in 2021. Biden was heard thanking President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi for Egypts role in a ceasefire to Israels war with Hamas last year in the Gaza Strip, an acknowledgement of Cairos role in the region. Egypts president, who came to power following mass protests and a military takeover that ousted the divisive Muslim Brotherhood government in 2013, is facing an economic crisis as inflation from rising fuel and food prices hits the Arab worlds most populous nation particularly hard. Around a third of Egypts 103 million people live in poverty. Although the former military strongman has been credited with stabilizing Egypts economy following several years of political turmoil, the country is among the worlds largest importers of wheat, with much of that from now-blocked Ukrainian ports. Meanwhile, el-Sissis government has not hesitated to deploy brute force while jailing thousands of people, mainly Islamists, but also secular activists in an effort to quash dissent. In recent months, his government released hundreds of detainees and embarked on a so-called national dialogue with various groups, but the government continues to hold many high profile detainees, including pro-democracy activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah. Egyptian security forces have been accused of torturing detainees, including concerns economist Ayman Hadhoud was among those beaten to death while in police detention this year. ___ JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia President Joe Biden began his final day in Saudi Arabia by meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, who survived an assassination attempt with explosive drones last year. Some in the country have blamed the attack Iranian-backed factions. It came amid soaring tensions and a stand-off between Iraqi security forces and pro-Iran Shiite militias over election results. Biden said he wanted to support Iraqs democracy. I want the press and you to know we want to be (as) helpful as we can in doing that, he said. Al-Kadhimi spoke about the strategic, friendly relationship between the U.S. and Iraq, and he thanked the U.S. for providing support to combat terrorist groups. An estimated 2,500 U.S. troops remain in Iraq to support the countrys fight against the Islamic State. Biden is in Jeddah attending a summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The leaders of Egypt, Iraq and Jordan are also attending. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A lawyer pushing the baseless claim of massive fraud in the 2020 election urged former President Donald Trump to overturn his loss through steps that would be viewed as martial law, according to a memo published online on Saturday by the New York Times. Measures that attorney William Olson proposed Trump take included replacing the acting attorney general if he refused to contest the vote in the U.S. Supreme Court and naming a new White House counsel to identify powers that Trump could use to ensure a fair election count, the memo showed https://int.nyt.com/data/documenttools/olson-memo-trump-election/e59dca011b5db8c5/full.pdf. Olson appeared to suggest those powers included ordering sampling from lists of registered voters, the memo showed. Our little band of lawyers is working on a memorandum that explains exactly what you can do, Olson wrote to Trump in the memo, which was dated Dec. 28, 2020. The media will call this martial law, but ... that is 'fake news' a concept with which you are well familiar. Related video: Trump reportedly wanted insurrection as pretext to martial law The memo obtained by the Times revealed for the first time Olsons role in efforts by right-wing actors outside the White House to convince Trump to overturn the victory of his Democratic foe, Joe Biden, that were opposed by Justice Department leaders and White House lawyers. Olson, whose office is in a Virginia suburb of Washington, joined the legal team of one of those outside actors, Mike Lindell, the CEO of MyPillow, after Trump left office. Olson did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. A spokesperson for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Times reported that a person familiar with the work of the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol said the panel was aware of Olson's memo and was exploring his role in efforts to overturn the 2020 vote. Story continues The panel did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Olson sent his memo 10 days after a six-hour heated White House meeting in which, according to Jan. 6 committee testimony, top aides vied to influence Trump against Lindell, former national security adviser Michael Flynn and lawyer Sidney Powell as they peddled conspiracy theories about the election. Even though Trump's aides persuaded him during the meeting to reject a recommendation to order the seizure of voting machines and other measures, Olsons memo indicated that Trump remained receptive to extreme proposals aimed at keeping him in office. "While time to act was short when we spoke on Christmas Day," Olson wrote to Trump, "time is about to run out." (Reporting by Jonathan Landay; Editing by Leslie Adler) Jul. 16A 54-year-old man has been found guilty of first-degree arson for setting a fire at the Hawaii Supreme Court last year. On Thursday an Oahu jury found Eric Stroeve guilty on one count of arson related to the incident. In the early morning hours on May 10, 2021, Stroeve set fire to double koa wood doors of Aliiolani Hale, home of the Supreme Court, causing $55, 000 worth of damage to the doors and more than $800, 000 in total damage done to the doors, carpeting, security access station and for fire and smoke remediation. "Arson is an extremely dangerous crime as fires can spread quickly and unpredictably, " said Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm in a statement. "This attack on one of the most historic buildings in our State, home to one of the branches of our State government, must be met with stiff punishment and we will be asking the Court to sentence Stroeve to the maximum prison term." Stroeve is in custody at the Oahu Community Correctional Center pending his sentencing, which is scheduled for Oct. 20. First-degree arson is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. A 53-year-old Colorado man didnt crack under pressure as he pushed a peanut to the top of a 14,115-foot summit this week. Colorado Springs resident Bob Salem marked the end of his seven-day peanut pushing adventure when he finished his trek up Pikes Peak on Friday, KRCC reported. The man did most of the push at night, he told the radio station, and went through roughly two dozen peanuts along the way. Salem, however, didnt use his hands to move the peanut along the 12.6-mile route to the top of the mountain. The man decided to let his nose do the pushing. His nose had the aid of a homemade contraption a CPAP sleep machine with a duct-taped spoon on it during his journey, according to KRCC. But this is not the first time someone has accomplished the feat. In a segment on the mountains peanut pushers, the Travel Channel highlighted Texas craftsman Bill Williams journey with a peanut to win a $50 bet in 1929. In 1963, Ulysses Baxter pushed a peanut up the mountain in eight days, a record at the time. Salem reportedly beat the previous record by one day. Salem, who did the peanut push to celebrate the city of Manitou Springs 150th birthday, is the first person in the 21st century to complete the push. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... A look at the shareholders of Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) can tell us which group is most powerful. Institutions often own shares in more established companies, while it's not unusual to see insiders own a fair bit of smaller companies. Companies that used to be publicly owned tend to have lower insider ownership. With a market capitalization of US$356b, Exxon Mobil is rather large. We'd expect to see institutional investors on the register. Companies of this size are usually well known to retail investors, too. In the chart below, we can see that institutions are noticeable on the share registry. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner, to discover more about Exxon Mobil. Check out our latest analysis for Exxon Mobil What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Exxon Mobil? Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index. We can see that Exxon Mobil does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. 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. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Exxon Mobil, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too. Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Exxon Mobil. The Vanguard Group, Inc. is currently the largest shareholder, with 8.6% of shares outstanding. BlackRock, Inc. is the second largest shareholder owning 6.5% of common stock, and State Street Global Advisors, Inc. holds about 6.0% of the company stock. Story continues 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. Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too. Insider Ownership Of Exxon Mobil While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves. Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances. Our data suggests that insiders own under 1% of Exxon Mobil Corporation in their own names. As it is a large company, we'd only expect insiders to own a small percentage of it. But it's worth noting that they own US$434m worth of shares. It is always good to see at least some insider ownership, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling. General Public Ownership The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 43% stake in Exxon Mobil. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders. Next Steps: While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Exxon Mobil (1 is concerning) that you should be aware of. Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company. 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. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Jul. 15MITCHELL The Mitchell Kernels strength and conditioning program and the Mitchell Powerlifting Club is set to host their first-ever lift-a-thon fundraiser on Saturday, July 30. The lift-a-thon will be run by the offensive coordinator for the Mitchell High School football team, Eric Witte, along with the coach of the Mitchell Powerlifting Club, Andrew Priebe. All participants will begin lifting at 8 a.m., and the event will end at noon. "We'll be playing music in the weight room and trying to make this experience as fun as we can," Witte said. "We want it to be efficient, effective and exciting in a span of four hours so we're not taking up an entire Saturday." Any high school student and/or athlete attending Mitchell High School can participate in the lift-a-thon, as all participants will have the opportunity to bench press and deadlift against their classmates. In hopes of raising a goal of $10,000, Witte said this lift-a-thon will eventually allow the strength and conditioning program, along with the Mitchell Powerlifting Club, the opportunity to revamp the weight room at MHS. "We're getting close to getting the new school done, so we can use these funds to replace some older equipment and revamp the weight room so it feels like home right away," Witte said. "Our goal is to raise funds and put all that back into the athletes. We want newer equipment, updated vinyl on seats, new dumbbells, new racks, a new clock and anything else we can provide to the athletes." All are welcome, as the event is also open to the public. Anyone wishing to make a donation should reach out to Eric Witte at eric.witte@k12.sd.us or the powerlifting club at mitchellplclub@gmail.com . Will unprecedented transparency about the cost of health care result in lower prices from health insurers? Consumers, employers, and just about everyone else interested in health care prices will soon get an unprecedented look at what insurers pay for care, perhaps helping answer a question that has long dogged those who buy insurance: Are we getting the best deal we can? AdobeStock As of July 1, health insurers and self-insured employers must post on websites just about every price theyve negotiated with providers for health care services, item by item. About the only thing excluded are the prices paid for prescription drugs, except those administered in hospitals or doctors offices. The federally required data release could affect future prices or even how employers contract for health care. Many will see for the first time how well their insurers are doing compared with others. The new rules are far broader than those that went into effect last year requiring hospitals to post their negotiated rates for the public to see. Now insurers must post the amounts paid for every physician in network, every hospital, every surgery center, every nursing facility, said Jeffrey Leibach, a partner at the consulting firm Guidehouse. When you start doing the math, youre talking trillions of records, he said. The fines the federal government could impose for noncompliance are also heftier than the penalties that hospitals face. Federal officials learned from the hospital experience and gave insurers more direction on what was expected, said Leibach. Insurers or self-insured employers could be fined as much as $100 a day for each violation, for each affected enrollee if they fail to provide the data. Get your calculator out: All of a sudden you are in the millions pretty fast, Leibach said. Determined consumers, especially those with high-deductible health plans, may try to dig in right away and use the data to try comparing what they will have to pay at different hospitals, clinics, or doctor offices for specific services. Story continues But each databases enormous size may mean that most people will find it very hard to use the data in a nuanced way, said Katherine Baicker, dean of the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. At least at first. Entrepreneurs are expected to quickly translate the information into more user-friendly formats so it can be incorporated into new or existing services that estimate costs for patients. And starting Jan. 1, the rules require insurers to provide online tools that will help people get upfront cost estimates for about 500 so-called shoppable services, meaning medical care they can schedule ahead of time. Once those things happen, youll at least have the options in front of you, said Chris Severn, CEO of Turquoise Health, an online company that has posted price information made available under the rules for hospitals, although many hospitals have yet to comply. With the addition of the insurers data, sites like his will be able to drill down further into cost variation from one place to another or among insurers. If youre going to get an X-ray, you will be able to see that you can do it for $250 at this hospital, $75 at the imaging center down the road, or your specialist can do it in office for $25, he said. Everyone will know everyone elses business: for example, how much insurers Aetna and Humana pay the same surgery center for a knee replacement. The requirements stem from the Affordable Care Act and a 2019 executive order by then-President Donald Trump. These plans are supposed to be acting on behalf of employers in negotiating good rates, and the little insight we have on that shows it has not happened, said Elizabeth Mitchell, president and CEO of the Purchaser Business Group on Health, an affiliation of employers who offer job-based health benefits to workers. I do believe the dynamics are going to change. Other observers are more circumspect. Maybe at best this will reduce the wide variance of prices out there, said Zack Cooper, director of health policy at the Yale University Institution for Social and Policy Studies. But it wont be unleashing a consumer revolution. Still, the biggest value of the July data release may well be to shed light on how successful insurers have been at negotiating prices. It comes on the heels of research that has shown tremendous variation in what is paid for health care. A recent study by the Rand Corp., for example, shows that employers that offer job-based insurance plans paid, on average, 224% more than Medicare for the same services. Tens of thousands of employers who buy insurance coverage for their workers will get this more-complete pricing picture and may not like what they see. What were learning from the hospital data is that insurers are really bad at negotiating, said Gerard Anderson, a professor in the department of health policy at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, citing research that found that negotiated rates for hospital care can be higher than what the facilities accept from patients who are not using insurance and are paying cash. That could add to the frustration that Mitchell and others say employers have with the current health insurance system. More might try to contract with providers directly, only using insurance companies for claims processing. Other employers may bring their insurers back to the bargaining table. For the first time, an employer will be able to go to an insurance company and say, You have not negotiated a good-enough deal, and we know that because we can see the same provider has negotiated a better deal with another company, said James Gelfand, president of the ERISA Industry Committee, a trade group of self-insured employers. If that happens, he added, patients will be able to save money. Thats not necessarily a given, however. Because this kind of public release of pricing data hasnt been tried widely in health care before, how it will affect future spending remains uncertain. If insurers are pushed back to the bargaining table or providers see where they stand relative to their peers, prices could drop. However, some providers could raise their prices if they see they are charging less than their peers. Downward pressure may not be a given, said Kelley Schultz, vice president of commercial policy for AHIP, the industrys trade lobby. Baicker, of the University of Chicago, said that even after the data is out, rates will continue to be heavily influenced by local conditions, such as the size of an insurer or employer providers often give bigger discounts, for example, to the insurers or self-insured employers that can send them the most patients. The number of hospitals in a region also matters if an area has only one, for instance, that usually means the facility can demand higher rates. Another unknown: Will insurers meet the deadline and provide usable data? Schultz, at AHIP, said the industry is well on the way, partly because the original deadline was extended by six months. She expects insurers to do better than the hospital industry. We saw a lot of hospitals that just decided not to post files or make them difficult to find, she said. So far, more than 300 noncompliant hospitals received warning letters from the government. But they could face $300-a-day fines for failing to comply, which is less than what insurers potentially face, although the federal government has recently upped the ante to up to $5,500 a day for the largest facilities. Even after the pricing data is public, I dont think things will change overnight, said Leibach. Patients are still going to make care decisions based on their doctors and referrals, a lot of reasons other than price. KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. TheGrios Black Podcast Network is free too. Download theGrio mobile apps today! Listen to Dear Culture with Panama Jackson. The post How much health insurers pay for almost everything is about to go public appeared first on TheGrio. (Photo: GeorgePeters via Getty Images) (Photo: GeorgePeters via Getty Images) For anyone struggling with their mental health, help will now just be a three-digit dial away. On July 16, a new, shorter number for the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline officially goes into effect nationwide: 988. The hotline will connect people to a network of crisis counselors, making it easier for Americans to get mental health support for themselves or a loved one. The 988 line will break down barriers both practical and in terms of stigma to asking for and receiving support, said Jennifer Christian-Herman, the vice president of Mind Body Medicine at Blue Shield of California. The goal for the hotline is to mirror 911 in its ability to link individuals to the right level of care sooner. When someone is distressed, the last thing you want is for them to have to search for the right number to call. Knowing that confidential support is just a three-digit call away will save lives. Heres what the hotline can and should be used for, and some other important information to know: The hotline is free and available to use any time. One of the most challenging things about getting mental health care in this country is that its often expensive and inaccessible. The Lifeline is free and available to anyone who needs it. Its open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Anyone who is having a mental health crisis can use the number. For those contemplating suicide or self-harm, you should dial 988 particularly if you feel you have no one else you can talk to about whats going on. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has trained counselors who can help you through a mental health crisis and resources available to keep you alive and safe. People who are concerned that a loved one may be in crisis can also call the number for help. The Suicide Prevention Lifeline is most well-known for providing confidential support during times when people are having thoughts of suicide, said Dr. Lauren Khazem, a research assistant professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral health at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Callers can expect to have someone provide compassionate, nonjudgmental support, assist in identifying ways to lower the intensity of strong emotions, and work to create a safer living environment for the caller during times of crisis. Story continues But you can also call 988 if youre not having a mental health emergency. If youre struggling with your mental health but arent actively considering suicide or self-harm, you can still call the hotline and talk with a counselor about what youre experiencing. The same applies to people who are looking for help for their loved ones. If an individual feels the need for support, there is no reason to wait for a problem to become a crisis, Christian-Herman said. Speaking to a trained crisis counselor can help the person or family member or friend find support and services for the current problem and learn what to do when or if the problem becomes worse. The hotline can help provide resources for mental health conditions (depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, you name it), severe emotional distress, substance misuse and much more. If youre going through a hard time, crisis counselors are there to listen to you. The 988 line will break down barriers both practical and in terms of stigma to asking for and receiving support.Jennifer Christian-Herman The hotline can help you find mental health assistance in your area or help during off-peak times. Since the Lifeline is a network of crisis centers, callers can also expect to be provided with local and national resources specific to their mental health needs, Khazem said. These resources are especially critical during times when a mental health care provider may not be available, including on weekends, during late hours, or on holidays. If you dont feel comfortable speaking to someone on the phone, theres also a texting option. It can be awkward to talk about something so deeply personal with a complete stranger. For those who dont feel comfortable speaking but still need or want assistance, the hotline also has a texting option. The 988 Lifelines texting feature will provide another key way to connect; this is especially important for younger people, who are often more comfortable communicating by text, Christian-Herman said. You can access this by visiting suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat. Youll still get the same level of care, just via a messaging system rather than over the phone. (The original hotline number, 1-800-825-TALK, will also still be active for those who know it and dial it instead of 988.) Using the hotline may improve mental health outcomes. Christian-Herman said research suggests callers who use the hotline are significantly more likely to feel less depressed, less suicidal, less overwhelmed and more hopeful after speaking to a Lifeline crisis counselor. The goal is to provide support for people in suicidal crisis or mental health-related distress in the moments they most need it and in a manner which is person-centered, Christian-Herman said. All that said, there are a few important points to also keep in mind. By and large, the hotline is a vital and necessary service to help at-risk people stay alive and get the help they need. However, there are a few important kinks experts are concerned about and are actively working to address. The first is the worry that there may not be enough counselors to meet demand. A report published earlier this week from The New York Times stated that the hotline may struggle to meet demand once more people are aware of the number especially given the increase in mental health struggles in the last few years. (The Lifeline received nearly 2.4 million calls in 2020.) Right now, many call centers are working with small budgets and very little funding for staffing and other needs. My ultimate hope is that expanding access to suicide prevention resources through the Lifeline will be met with increased local and federal funding and resources for these centers that serve callers in need, Khazem said. The success connecting callers with needed resources in times of crisis depends on it. Additionally, the goal of the hotline is to reduce police and emergency room involvement a crucial fix that advocates say will help save more lives overall. There have been numerous documented cases where police intervention during a mental health crisis has made the situation worse. However, Lifeline counselors may feel a caller needs an active rescue, which may mean staff could be required to take action they feel is necessary to ensure the safety of the caller if the caller is unable to do so themselves. This may mean involving emergency responders and/or escorts to the emergency room. Experts told BuzzFeed News this may have unintended consequences for the caller, such as hospital bills, psychiatric holds, medication or more depending on the callers situation. This is why its critical that staff tailor each callers needs to the right intervention. Mental health problems affect everyone differently. If someone is calling the Lifeline and theyre worried about a counselor deploying an emergency response, they should feel free to talk about that on the call as part of the discussion as well. Ultimately, there are people at the other end of the line who want to help you or anyone else experiencing issues with their mental health. Calling is always better than doing nothing in a life-threatening situation whether it be your own or someone elses. Dont hesitate to reach out. If you or someone you know needs help, dial 988 or call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention for a database of resources. Also on HuffPost This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... INDIANAPOLIS -- Following the intense international spotlight on an Indianapolis obstetrician-gynecologist who provided abortion care to a 10-year-old child, physicians and supporters across the country have raised nearly $100,000 and counting to help her with security-related expenses. Dr. Caitlin Bernard, an IU health physician, was thrust into a media circus after an IndyStar story sharing her experience treating the 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio went viral. The story appeared in outlets across the world and became a talking point for President Joe Biden and a point of criticism for Fox News hosts. As guests on the network, the attorneys general of Ohio and Indiana questioned the validity of Bernard's account. Records: Indiana Dr. Caitlin Bernard reported 10-year-old Ohio girl's abortion An Ohio man has since been charged in the rape of the 10-year-old. Despite IU Health concluding that Bernard did not violate HIPAA statutes, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has maintained his intention to investigate Bernard. An attorney for Bernard sent a cease-and-desist letter to Rokita Friday, citing the claims he made about her in a Fox News appearance. Dr. Caitlin Bernard, a reproductive healthcare provider, speaks during an abortion rights rally Saturday, June 25, 2022, at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis. The rally was led by the ACLU of Indiana following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to an abortion. Friday, several supporters launched fundraisers to help Bernard with legal and security fees in light of the intense scrutiny. A team of OB-GYN providers from across the country launched a GoFundMe that, as of Saturday morning, has received $87,000 from about 1,500 donors. Another one started by a Georgetown University professor has collected $8,500. "We are Ob/Gyn providers & abortion providers from across the country who want to thank our colleague, Dr. Caitlin Bernard, for doing a courageous thing and helping provide compassionate healthcare to a child in her time of need," reads the description of the fundraiser by the abortion providers. "Many of us have experienced this in our line of work, and the ability to rise to the call despite tragedy like this is truly commendable." Story continues Also Friday, Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky announced it will provide Bernard with security services and assistance with legal fees. "We stand in solidarity with Dr. Bernard and all providers who continue to deliver compassionate, essential care to patients, even in the face of attacks from anti-abortion extremists,"CEO Rebecca Gibron wrote in a statement. Planned Parenthood shared an abortion provider fund, which the organization says is where donors can contribute financial support for Bernard. Bernard tweeted her thanks Friday evening for the "outpouring of courageous support." Thank you for the outpouring of courageous support. It has been a difficult week, but my colleagues and I will continue to provide healthcare ethically, lovingly, and bravely each and every day. 1/2 Caitlin Bernard (@drcaitbernard) July 15, 2022 "It has been a difficult week, but my colleagues and I will continue to provide healthcare ethically, lovingly, and bravely each and every day," she wrote. "And thank you to the journalists who have worked tirelessly and diligently to inform the public about this important story and the truth," she added. "I hope to be able to share my story soon." Contact IndyStar transportation reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter @kayla_dwyer17. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Doctors raise nearly $100k for Indiana OB-GYN who treated 10-year-old Pagani is sticking to what it knowsfor now. At a time when the rest of the auto industry is embracing electrification, the boutique hypercar maker says it will continue to build vehicles powered by V-12s for the foreseeable future, according to Autocar. The marques founder doesnt think an EV could live up to the Pagani name yet. More from Robb Report Brands like Lamborghini and Bugatti may be developing battery-powered models, but the internal-combustion engine still reigns supreme as far as Pagani is concerned. Its not that the brand hasnt thought about making an EV, but after four years of research Horacio Pagani doesnt think the technology has advanced far enough. Specifically, he feels that EVs currently lack emotion and are too heavy because of their battery packs. The Pagani Huayra Roadster BC - Credit: Pagani Pagani The challenge is to make an EV that gives good emotion like a normal ICE. Pagani isnt going to do something just with good performance, as you can do this [now], but to give emotion to the driver, he told the British magazine. The idea should be to make a lightweight car, but this is the biggest challenge. The dream would be a [2,866-pound) EV, but this isnt possible. Although Autocar and other outlets initially reported that Pagani was pulling the plug on EV development, that doesnt appear to be the case. On Friday morning, one day after the publications story ran, the marque told Top Gear that while it does not believe it could currently produce an EV that would meet its high standards, it will continue to explore the possibilities of electrification going forward. We will launch when the technology is ready, a spokesperson for the brand told the website, and the Pagani EV will be unmistakably and quintessentially Pagani. Story continues Pagani did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Robb Report on Friday afternoon. Its a good thing the automaker isnt completely anti-EV. While enthusiasts may rejoice at the news of at least one hypercar sticking with the V-12, selling those cars might prove to be increasingly difficult going forward. At the end of June, Europe agreed to ban the sale of all gas- and diesel-powered vehicles starting in 2035. While the automakers sales dont all come from its home continent, one expects that countries and continents will soon follow in its footsteps. Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Paints BECKLEY, WV After losing three games in a row, including the first game of a doubleheader Friday night, the Chillicothe Paints snapped their losing streak in grand fashion in a 2-0 Prospect League win as Gunnar Boehm fired a no-hitter against West Virginia Miners. Boehm was one batter away from pitching a perfect game as he finished with eight strikeouts and no walks, but he hit the leadoff batter in the seventh inning. The Paints (26-14) scored a run in the top of the first inning when Santrel Farmer scored on a wild pitch and added a run in the fourth inning when Owen Wilson scored on Cameron Bowens groundout. The Paints finished with four hits. Farmer, Ben Gbur, Tim Orr and Wilson all had hits. In the first game, the Paints fell 8-4 with only two of the eight runs the Miners (15-23) scored being earned runs. The Paints scored a run in each of the second and third innings, but the Miners plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning to tie it. Chillicothe took a 4-2 lead in the top of the sixth inning, but the Minors scored six unearned runs in the bottom half of the inning to break it open. Chillicothe finished with seven hits, led by Farmer, who went 2-for-4 with a double and scored a run. Wilson was 2-for-3 with a run, Tim Orr was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run, and Anthony Steele hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning. The Paints were scheduled to face the Miners on Sunday at 6:35 p.m. before returning home Monday to take on the Johnstown Mill Rats at 7:05 p.m. VA Memorial Stadium. This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Paints Gunnar Boehm fires no-hitter in 2-0 win over Miners Lacey Murga used a fertility tracking app for years, and joined the community in app forums to get support for her journey trying to conceive. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) Five years ago, Lacey Murga and her husband decided they wanted to have a baby. But Murga's menstrual cycle had always been irregular she had a hard time figuring out the best time to try to conceive. So she looked online for ways to track her fertility and boost her chances of getting pregnant. A quick search led her to the world of period tracking apps and wearables that help users to monitor their cycles to determine when they are most fertile. The apps, which have grown in popularity over the last several years, predict a person's chances of conception on a particular day based on individual data the user plugs in daily, such as their temperature, ovulation test results and when they started their period. Some use the apps solely to track their cycles, or as a natural form of contraception. But particularly among people trying to conceive, many say that these apps open up a world of online friends whose cycles align, or who can provide a second set of eyes on a pregnancy test, offer encouragement and support, or commiserate when getting pregnant takes longer than expected. "It was really helpful for me to have this community I could go to, and we're all in it together," Murga, 35, said. "With my real-life friends, I always kind of felt badly about talking about it. I didn't want to bring it up as much as it was on my mind because they hadn't gone through it." Although many see these online communities as a way to cope with what can at times be a long journey to pregnancy, some experts worry that forums can also be a breeding ground for misinformation, whether it's vaccine disinformation or through articles with misleading, clickbait headlines. Murga used a fertility tracking app to track things like ovulation and when her fertility window would be. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) Privacy advocates have raised concerns that after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs vs. Jackson Womens Health Organization overturned Roe vs. Wade last month, information collected by period tracking apps could become a liability if obtained by law enforcement. The health data that people enter into most period tracking apps are not protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, experts say. Story continues "Apps track you all over the place," said Cynthia Sanchez, a clinical assistant professor of nursing at USC's Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. "I fear them sending ads claiming they can do stuff for infertility that they can't do." Sanchez said that she tries to discourage her patients from using the apps for pregnancy prevention largely because she believes they give "a false sense of security." "I don't think they're reliable enough," she said. "If your period is irregular you might have a hard time." But, she added, she does support the way that apps can foster a "community of women helping each other" online. Fertility Friend, the app that Murga uses, did not respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for another popular cycle tracking app, Glow, said in an emailed statement that "we will continue to uncompromisingly protect our users' privacy and personal health information. Period." "Our number one goal is to build the best products for our users and doing anything that violates their trust would go against our core values," the representative said. Dr. Yalda Afshar, a maternal fetal medicine physician at UCLA Health, said that although she doesn't endorse a specific period tracking app, she sees them as one tool in the broader kit of fertility awareness. "It's not a perfect science," she said of apps. "But it does empower you to make a decision that's right for you." Tala Rezai uses several fertility apps because she likes to compare their predictions to see whether the different algorithms come up with the same conclusion. Some, she said, are more accurate than others at predicting her ovulation cycle. The 39-year-old, who lives in Los Angeles, adds information to the apps consistently, plugging in the day on which she starts her period and the results of ovulation test strips. The apps are user-friendly, she said, and help take the guesswork out of tracking her fertile window. "It's an overall easy process," said Rezai, who has a 4-year-old daughter. But Rezai, a lawyer, is slightly skeptical of the community that exists in the forums. "Are they really real? Does anybody out there really use those acronyms, or is this something the apps have decided?" she said. The vernacular can be surprising for people coming across abbreviations such as "TTC" (trying to conceive) or "DH" (dear husband) for the first time. There are also terms like "line eyes," which people use when asking for a second opinion on a home pregnancy test, and "TWW" the two-week waiting period between ovulation and when someone can test for pregnancy. "If it makes [people] feel better on their journey, then go for it. But for me it's weird, Rezai said. For Murga, it was the sense of community that kept her coming back to the app and posting in the forums, asking things like whether any potential signs of pregnancy she was experiencing were normal. She would take a photo of her ovulation tests and ask others to confirm whether they looked positive, giving her the green light to "try" with her husband. Responses to her questions helped give her the assurance she was seeking. "When you're trying to conceive and want it so badly, you read into every sign or symptom," said Murga, who now has a 1-year-old son. "You're trying to get that support from people going through it." At first, she was confused by the lingo people use to describe their fertility journeys. "Someone would say 'BD' and I would have to Google, 'What does BD mean in fertility?'" said Murga. "To this day I'm like, why can't you spell it out? Why is it 'baby dance'? Just say you had sex." For Murga, who lives in Encino, the app also created an opportunity to make friends both online and in person. She stays in touch with women in Texas, Florida and Missouri who she met because they were taking their pregnancy tests around the same time. The conversations continued beyond comment threads, and the women felt a sense of camaraderie as they updated one another on their fertility journey and their lives outside of the app. When one Florida woman she befriended visited Los Angeles, Murga made sure to have dinner with her so they could catch up in person. Another woman, Billye Brenneisen, lived nearby and became a friend. "It's like a modern-day pen pal," said Brenneisen, a photographer who first met Murga online in 2018. "It's so wonderful to see her dream come true in terms of motherhood. It's a super intimate journey and can be really isolating for a lot of people." Brenneisen downloaded the app because she wanted to pinpoint when she was ovulating. The tracker, she said, helped her realize that she was ovulating later in her cycle than what was considered average and allowed her and her husband to "target our efforts." "The whole journey trying to conceive took a while, and there were losses," the 37-year-old said. "It was tumultuous and there were the [ovulation predictor kits] and tracking symptoms and how many times you had sex and when." Those who don't use apps track their cycles in other ways, such as writing down when they get their period each month (the analog version of recording data on a cellphone) or measuring changes in their cervical mucus. For some, the process can be isolating, especially if it takes longer than expected to conceive or if a couple is navigating infertility. Some say that they feel there is still is a stigma attached to fertility struggles or having a miscarriage, which can make the process harder to talk about. Fertility apps have broken down the walls that surround what can sometimes be a difficult and lonely journey to pregnancy, Brenneisen said. "While your partner can support you, they're not actually going through it, so it was nice to have this community going through what I was," she added. "I felt like I was losing my mind every two weeks." Brenneisen and Murga, who live about 15 minutes apart, met for the first time in person about two years ago. Murga was pregnant, and Brenneisen had her young daughter. They went for a walk in the neighborhood, stroller and dog in tow. "We talked and it felt totally normal because it's like we had already known each other," Murga said. "It was kind of surreal," Brenneisen added. Although they don't see each other regularly, the pair talk a couple of times a week. They have been part of important moments in each other's lives. Last month, Brenneisen took pictures of Murga's son for his first birthday. It was nice, the photographer said, "to see us coming around the corner with it all." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Federal prosecutors are seeking a 15-year prison sentence for a Texas man who was convicted of storming the U.S. Capitol with a holstered handgun, calling him a militia group member who took a central role in the pro-Trump mob's attack, according to a court filing Friday. If a judge accepts the Justice Department's recommendation, Guy Wesley Reffitt's prison sentence would be nearly three times the length of the longest sentence among more than 200 defendants who have been sentenced for crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot in the nation's capital. The longest sentence so far is five years and three months for Robert Palmer, a Florida man who pleaded guilty to attacking police officers at the Capitol. U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich is scheduled to sentence Reffitt on Aug. 1. The judge isn't bound by any of the recommendations or the sentencing guidelines calculated by the courts probation department, which call for a sentence ranging from nine years to 11 years and three months, Defense attorney Clinton Broden, who is asking for Reffitt to be sentenced to no more than two years in prison, said he was shocked by prosecutors' recommendation. He noted that Reffitt wasn't accused of entering the Capitol or assaulting any police officers that day. Its absolutely absurd, he said during a telephone interview Friday. I certainly dont condone what Mr. Reffitt did. And I think everybody realizes the seriousness of the offenses. But at the same point, there has to be some proportionality here." Prosecutors argue that an upward departure for terrorism is warranted in Reffitts case, which would lead to significantly longer sentence if the judge agrees to apply it. They say the trial evidence showed that Reffitt planned for weeks ahead of January to travel to Washington, D.C., with the specific intent of attacking the Capitol and taking over Congress. "Reffitt did not intend to simply obstruct Congresss certification of the Electoral College vote. Rather, Reffitt intended to physically remove the legislators from the building (using his firearm and flexicuffs, and the power of the crowd) and actually 'take over' Congress," Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nestler wrote. Story continues Reffitt, the first Capitol riot defendant to be tried, was convicted by a jury in March of all five counts in his indictment. Jurors found him guilty of obstructing Congress joint session to certify the Electoral College vote, of interfering with police officers who were guarding the Capitol and of threatening his two teenage children if they reported him to law enforcement. Prosecutors say Reffitt was a leader of a Texas militia group. He told other militia group members that he planned to drag House Speaker Nancy Pelosi out of the Capitol building by her ankles, "with her head hitting every step on the way down," Nestler wrote. Reffitt, a resident of Wylie, Texas, didnt testify at his trial. During the trials closing arguments, U.S. Attorney Risa Berkower told jurors that Reffitt proudly lit the fire that allowed others in a mob to overwhelm Capitol police officers near the Senate doors. Jurors saw videos that captured the confrontation between a few Capitol police officers and a mob of people, including Reffitt, who approached them on the west side of the Capitol. Reffitt was armed with a Smith & Wesson pistol in a holster on his waist, carrying zip-tie handcuffs and wearing body armor and a helmet equipped with a video camera when he advanced on police, according to prosecutors. He retreated after an officer pepper sprayed him in the face, but he waved on other rioters who ultimately breached the building, prosecutors said. Reffitt drove to Washington, D.C., with Rocky Hardie, who said he and Reffitt were members of the Texas Three Percenters militia group. The Three Percenters militia movement refers to the myth that only 3% of Americans fought in the Revolutionary War against the British. Hardie testified that both of them were armed with holstered handguns when they attended then-President Donald Trumps Stop the Steal rally before the riot. Hardie said Reffitt talked about dragging lawmakers out of the Capitol and replacing them with people who would follow the Constitution. Hardie also said Reffitt gave him two pairs of zip-tie cuffs in case they needed to detain anybody. Reffitts 19-year-old son, Jackson, testified that his father threatened him and his sister, then 16, after he drove home from Washington. Reffitt told his children they would be traitors if they reported him to authorities and said traitors get shot, Jackson Reffitt recalled. Reffitt is done with politics, his lawyer said in a court filing Friday. His only goal now is to put his family back together while recognizing that as much as he spent the past two decades providing for them, he is the one who has driven them apart, Broden wrote. More than 840 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the riot. Over 330 of them have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors, and over 200 of them have been sentenced. More than 100 others have trial dates. ___ Follow APs coverage of the Jan. 6 committee hearings at https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege. Making an entrance with a small marching band, Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels is welcomed by owner Ken Sikora on Tuesday, July 12, to the Irish Greens Golf Course. MADISON Republican candidate for governor Tim Michels has spent nearly $7.7 million since entering the race three months ago an aggressive strategy that has pushed him to the top of the Republican primary in recent state polling. Michels, a multimillionaire who co-owns the state's largest construction company, has donated $7.9 million of his own money to his campaign since April accounting for nearly all of the money the campaign raised as of July, according to Michels' first campaign finance report. When Michels joined the race in April, he pledged not to seek donations and would accept only up to $500 from individuals a promise he has fulfilled so far in 2022, according to the finance report. The campaign received about $60,000 from individual donors. The campaign's spending has largely been on television ads and digital advertising. In a statement, Michels' campaign manager Patrick McNulty said the spending shows Michels "has proven he has the relevant experience, conservative agenda, dependable resources and broad campaign organization necessary to beat Tony Evers this fall." "The campaign has had a fantastic first few months and were getting stronger every day," McNulty said. Michels, who is endorsed by former President Donald Trump, is in a tight primary contest with Rebecca Kleefisch, who has the backing of former Gov. Scott Walker with whom she served as lieutenant governor between 2011 and 2019. Kleefisch raised $3.7 million and spent $3.6 million in the same time period, the first six months of 2022, according to her most recent campaign finance report. Michels and Kleefisch were effectively tied in the most recent Marquette University Law School poll on the Republican primary for governor, with opponent state Rep. Tim Ramthun coming in a distant third in popularity. Whoever wins the Aug. 9 primary election will face Democratic incumbent Gov. Tony Evers, who raised $10.1 million in the first six months of the year and spent $12.9 million in the same time period. Story continues Tim Michels on 2020 election: Tim Michels, Wisconsin's GOP frontrunner for governor, isn't ruling out overturning results of 2020 election Bice column: Republican Tim Michels asks for money for his governor's bid after promising he wouldn't Subscribe to our On Wisconsin Politics newsletter for the week's political news explained. Contact Molly Beck at molly.beck@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MollyBeck. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tim Michels pours $7.9 million into run for Wisconsin governor Ukrainian troops fire with surface-to-surface rockets MLRS towards Russian positions at a front line in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas on June 7, 2022. Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images Russian officials visited Iran to check out drones, the Associated Press reported. The drones would be used in the war in Ukraine, the White House said, according to the AP. Last week, the national security adviser said he expected Iran to send weapons to Russia. Russian officials have visited Iran at least twice to see drones they want to use in Ukraine, according to the White House, the Associated Press reported. The AP reported that satellite images showed Russian officials visiting the Kashan Airfield in central Iran on June 8 and July 5. The intelligence information comes as President Joe Biden visits the middle east and promised not to walk away from the region and "leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia or Iran." A senior US official told reporters that the development shows that Russia is "effectively making a bet on Iran," the AP reported. Last week, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters that Iran was preparing to provide Russia "with up to several hundred (unmanned aerial vehicles), including weapons-capable UAVs on an expedited timeline," CNN reported. "Our information further indicates that Iran is preparing to train Russian forces to use these UAVs, with initial training session slated in as soon as early July. It's unclear whether Iran has delivered any of these UAVs to Russia already," Sullivan added. Read the original article on Business Insider A second person has been arrested for their connection with a shooting that took place at a Framingham McDonalds drive-thru, police announced Friday. Tiago Xavier, 18, of Framingham was arrested Friday afternoon, and will be arraigned Monday on several firearm related charges. This marks the second arrest in this case, as police arrested Moises Bautista, 19, of Ashland on Thursday. Police claim that early Thursday morning, Xavier and Bautista exchanged gunfire in the McDonalds drive-thru, striking each other. Both individuals were located at the MetroWest Medical Center suffering from non-life threatening gunshot wounds, according to Framingham Police. The two individuals arrested are known to each other and there is no further public safety threat, according to police. The shooting remains under investigation. Additional Reporting: [ Arrest made after two teens shot at Framingham McDonalds drive-thru ] [ 2 teenagers injured in double shooting outside McDonalds in Framingham ] 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 South Korean food delivery app Baemin announced on Friday that it will be launching a robot delivery service for Incheon International Airports Terminal 1. Starting June 18, flyers can have food and beverages from the airports many cafes, including Baskin Robbins, Paris Baguette and Dunkin Donuts, brought to them before boarding. Customers will no longer have to wait in long lines and instead can scan a QR code located on every seat at each gate. More from NextShark: Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Carlton Davis Releases Statement After Using Anti-Asian Slur To start off, there will be six LG Electronics service robots, all named Air-dilly, to speedily deliver the items. The plan is to gradually increase the number of stores and robots. Businesses will not be charged a fee for the delivery service. Air-dilly has two cabinets and can carry up to 17 kg (37.48 pounds) of goods to even the airports farthest gate 820 feet away from all of the cafes and bakeries. It is currently used in hospitals and offices throughout Korea. Joseph Kim, head of Robot Delivery Service Group for Woowa Brothers, which is the operator of Baemin, stated that the company intends to create an era where one can easily order through app and receive delivery at ones seat not only at Incheon Airport, but also various places and situations. More from NextShark: Philadelphia Chinatown Businesses Donate 25,000 Face Masks to Healthcare Workers Fighting COVID-19 The robot delivery service will be available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Featured Image via Woowa Brothers (left) and Seoul Walker (right) More from NextShark: Woman Violently Beaten on Vancouver Bus For Defending Asian Women From Racist Man Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Beijing suggests Canadian mail transmitted Omicron, Ottawa says the claim is extraordinary Photograph: Martin Divisek/EPA The former White House strategist Steve Bannon has publicly claimed Donald Trump does not lie. But according to sources quoted in a new book, Bannon told aides: Trump would say anything, he would lie about anything. Related: Game over: Steve Bannon audio reveals Trump planned to claim early victory The former president lies to win whatever exchange he [is] having at that moment, Bannon said. Bannon is quoted in The Big Lie: Election Chaos, Political Opportunism, and the State of American Politics After 2020, by Jonathan Lemire, White House bureau chief for Politico and a host for MSNBC. The book will be published on 26 July. The Guardian obtained a copy. A Bannon spokesperson on Saturday disputed the sources in Lemires book, saying they were inaccurate. Lemires title refers to Trumps lie, supported by Bannon, that his 2020 election defeat by Joe Biden was the result of electoral fraud. That lie fueled the attempt to overturn the election that culminated in the deadly Capitol attack of 6 January 2021. A far-right gadfly and provocateur, Bannon managed Trumps winning campaign in 2016 then spent less than a year in the White House before being fired. A source for numerous books about Trump even saying he believed Trump had early stage dementia he returned to the 45th presidents inner circle to play a central role in his attempt to stay in power. This week, Mother Jones published audio recorded three days before polling day in which Bannon told associates Trump planned to just declare victory on election night. Trump did not do so but Bannon continued to work to keep the president in power. Lemire reports that Bannon promised January 6, the day when congress certifies electoral college results and therefore an obscure date, known only by a few political junkies would [come to] be known the world over. On January 6, Trump told supporters to fight like hell and to march on the Capitol. Authorities have linked nine deaths to the riot that followed. More than 870 people have been charged, some with seditious conspiracy. Story continues Bannons role in Trumps attempt to stay in power, including links to far-right groups including the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers, is of central interest to the House January 6 committee. Bannon refused to comply with a subpoena. He has since offered to testify but jury selection in his trial for contempt of Congress a charge which can carry jail time is scheduled for Monday. Bannon escaped another brush with the law at the very end of Trumps presidency, when Trump pardoned his former adviser in a case of alleged fraud. As president, Trump was famously happy to lie. One count from the Washington Post found he did so 30,573 times in his time in power. Regardless, in 2018, Bannon made headlines by telling ABC News Trump did not lie. Related: Bannon suffers setback as judge rejects delaying contempt of Congress trial Told Trump has not always told the truth, Bannon said: I dont know that and also said claims Trump lied were another thing to demonise him. His host, Jonathan Karl, asked: The presidents never lied? Bannon said: Not to my knowledge, no. But Lemire writes that even for Bannon, Trump was something new. The chief strategist told me that Trump was not looking to win a news cycle, he was looking to win a news moment, a news second. Lemire, citing sources, added: An at-times shell-shocked Bannon would relay to aides that Trump would say anything, he would lie about anything to win that moment, to win whatever exchange he was having at that moment. Entire campaign proposals had to be written on the fly, policy plans reverse engineered, teams of aides immediately mobilised to meet whatever floated through Trumps head in that moment to defend his record, put down a reporter, or change a chyron on CNN. Note: This post was updated after receiving a statement from a Bannon spokesperson. A 24-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a gang-related shooting that left one man dead. Triston Broome has been booked into the Benton County jail on suspicion of second-degree assault in what police have confirmed was a motorcycle gang-related shooting at the corner of Kellogg Street and Clearwater Avenue on Thursday night. Investigators believe gunfire erupted between two people shortly before 9:40 p.m. Thursday, according to a news release from the Kennewick Police Department. Kennewick police are investigating a shooting and traffic collision that took place Thursday night near the intersection of West Clearwater Avenue and North Kellogg Street. Jordan Taylor, 30, of Pasco was killed and another injured personwas taken to a hospital for treatment. Benton County Coroner Bill Leach told the Herald Taylor appears to have been shot. Several people, including police officers, heard the gun shots. Officers responded to the area, where they found Jordan Patrick Taylor, 30, of Pasco, dead, and a second man injured. A witness reported the people involved were bikers, and an officer said there were some in the area, according to dispatch reports. Kennewick firefighters took the other man, later identified as Broome, to the hospital for treatment. He was arrested Friday after being treated for his injuries. The Spokane County Medical Examiners Office finished an autopsy on Taylor Friday morning, and confirmed he was killed with a gunshot. His death has been determined to be a homicide. Police said this remains an active investigation. A 30-year-old man was shot and killed in a Kennewick intersection Thursday night. Police are investigating the death. The murder is the eighth in Benton County during 2022 just one fewer than the record set last year. Most of those this year have occurred in or around Kennewick. Top drug cartel target Rafael Caro Quintero, accused of torturing and murdering a DEA agent, was arrested Friday in Mexico, according to Mexican officials. "The Secretary of the Navy reports today, in an operation carried out by the Attorney General's Office (FGR), the arrest of an alleged transgressor of the law, in the state of Sinaloa, designated as a priority objective for the Government of Mexico and the United States of America," according to a release from the Mexican Navy. The U.S. had offered a $20 million reward for help finding Quintero, nabbed during a special operation of the Mexican marines with the Secretary of the Navy, called SEMAR. He was listed at press time as "in transit" on the Seguridad government website listing national detainees. Rafael Caro-Quintero is wanted by the DEA on charges of kidnapping and murder of a federal agent, violent crimes in aid of racketeering, aiding and abetting, accessory after the fact. He had remained on the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's Most Wanted list for years for a variety of crimes, including drug trafficking and orchestrating the kidnapping and murder of Special Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena in 1985. The U.S. closed the Mexican border for several days until public pressure inside Mexico led the cartel to return the agent's body to American officials. "Kiki Camarena has been a North Star for DEA agents since his murder and torture," Chris Evans, who retired last year after overseeing DEA agents globally, told the Courier-Journal Friday. "His sacrifice has never been forgotten and runs through the blood of the agency." The kidnapping is depicted on the Netflix TV series "Narcos," Season 4. A bust of the 37-year-old agent remains on display at the U.S. Embassy in Guadalajara. More:Tennessee prisoner charged with running drug ring behind bars linked to Mexican cartels Quintero had served 28 years of a 40-year prison term when a Mexican court ordered his release on Aug. 9, 2013, on procedural grounds, according to the DEA. He is a fugitive from the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on felony murder, felony kidnapping and other criminal charges. Story continues Before Camarena's death, DEA units in Mexico destroyed millions of dollars' worth of marijuana grown on farms for the Guadalajara Cartel, named for the city in Jalisco, a state in western Mexico. Camarena served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was a 10-year veteran of the DEA, according to a USA TODAY report. Gunmen positioned themselves on the streets surrounding his office at the U.S. Consulate in Guadalajara, Mexico on Feb. 7, 1985, and were ready to block the young federal agent if he tried to escape. The men, who worked for one of Mexico's most powerful drug cartels, forced Camarena into their car and drove him to a cramped guest house nearby, where he was beaten, burned and eventually killed. Marijuana wars: Violent Mexican drug cartels turn Northern California into The Wild West The cartel enforcers took Camarena to a house on a street called Lope de Vega, where witnesses said they put him on a bed in a guest house at the rear of the property and interrogated him about raids on the cartel's supplies and the informants who helped lead agents to the drugs. They blindfolded him and, between questions, beat and burned him. Through the decades, even agents who never met Camarena have expressed the importance of bringing Quintero to justice in the U.S. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Top U.S. cartel target in DEA agent's slaying arrested in Mexico The United Nations Security Council voted unanimously on Friday to extend the mandate of the U.N. Integrated Office in Haiti, which would otherwise have expired Friday, for one year, but did not provide additional security assistance to the country as it faces its gravest spate of violence in years. The council adopted the resolution, drafted by the United States and Mexico, after extensive consultation between the United States and China. Beijing had been pushing for stronger language that would impose a ban on arms and munitions sales to Haitian gangs. The mandate reflects the key challenges facing Haiti, including the need to address illegal arms trafficking and illicit financial flows, and that the Security Council is ready to consider taking measures, as appropriate, to address these challenges, Jeffrey DeLaurentis, a U.S. diplomat, told the council after the vote. We must also note it is long past time for Haitis stakeholders to set aside their differences, he added, and to reach agreement on a political framework that will allow Haiti to hold presidential and legislative elections when conditions permit. A representative of Mexico, Juan Ramon de la Fuente Ramirez, told the Security Council that the resolution calls for a cessation of violence. The U.N. political mission in Haiti was established in 2019 to promote stability in Port-au-Prince. But the ongoing security crisis in Haiti, which has been devastated by gang violence and political paralysis since the assassination of its president last year, led some to call for a more robust security package to accompany the renewal. Chinas diplomat, Zhang Jun, said that more could have been done, but that several of its proposals had been incorporated into the U.S.-Mexico draft. This resolution raises clear warnings to the gangs that the Security Council is closely following their actions, said Zhang. For individuals who are gang members or supporters of gang activities, the Security Council will soon impose sanctions in accordance to the relevant provisions of the U.N. charter to seriously hold them accountable. Haiti has been one of the most complicated and intractable challenges on the councils agenda, Chinas diplomat said, describing the current situation in Haiti as a more severe crisis than the country has faced in 30 years. Ukraine, despite the blockade of ports by the aggressor, exports up to 2.5 million tons of agricultural products per month Read also: New talks on grain corridor for Ukrainian agricultural exports announced by Turkey He stressed that this is the route to the Danube ports of Izmail, Reni and Ust-Dunaisk. Read also: Ukraines MFA summons Turkish ambassador after Turkey releases a Russian ship carrying stolen Ukrainian grain "From now on, ships entering our ports to load agricultural products will be able to use two routes the Romanian Sulina channel and the Bystre estuary of the Danube River to reach the Black Sea," he said. "This will significantly reduce the load on Sulina, whose lack of alternatives and limited capacity leads to long-term idleness of vessels on the raid." Read also: Ukraine asks Turkey to probe three more Russian ships for stolen grain media The minister emphasized that Ukraine had managed to increase grain transshipment in the Danube ports to almost one million tons per month since March. "With the opening of traffic through the Bystre estuary channel, we expect to increase transshipment in the ports even more significantly." Read also: Turkish ports allow docking of Russian ships with stolen Ukrainian grain Skhemy Kubrakov also said that grain transportation by rail had doubled since the beginning of Russian invasion, to over 800,000 tons per month, while cargo flow at road checkpoints had increased 2.6 times. The official added that Ukraine exported about 2.5 million tons of agricultural products in June, which is more than three times less than the monthly requirement. "We still need to export about 20 million tons of grain from the past harvest," he said. Kubrakov noted that the situation is aggravated by the new crop, which requires free space in granaries. Read also: Russia exports 7,000 tons of Ukrainian grain via Berdyansk, Russian media reports "During the talks in Istanbul, we felt some progress, which we expect to develop into a full-fledged agreement with security guarantees from the international community," he said. Story continues "It is already clear to the whole world that global food security depends on these negotiations, and it is also a matter of life and death for millions of people in African and Asian countries. According to UN estimates, there are more than 400 million such people." Read also: Russian invaders steal at least 400,000 tons of grain from Ukraine, says Agrarian Ministry UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on July 13 that the export of Ukrainian grain could be agreed at a meeting in Istanbul next week with the participation of Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, and the United Nations. Help NV continue reporting on the Russian invasion Two bodies were pulled from the rubble after the strike on Nikopol (AFP via Getty Images) At least 16 civilians have been killed after Russia launched attacks on Ukrainian towns and cities in the north, south and east. Urban areas were hit by Russian strikes on Saturday, leaving a trail of destruction behind. This included Chuhuiv, a city in the northeastern Kharkiv region. Local officials said three people - including a 70-year-old woman - were killed in a pre-dawn rocket strike. The deputy head of Kharkivs regional police force said the rockets had partly destroyed a two-storey apartment block, a school and administrative buildings. Locals were seen searching through the rubble for documents, while other images showed a huge crater in the ground outside the damaged school. Russian shelling left a crater in the ground and damaged a school in Chuhuiv (AP) Further south, two bodies were pulled from rubble after rockets fell on the city of Nikopol on the Dnipro River on Saturday. Images showed a hole blown through the top of a building and firefighters clearing masses of rubble following the strike. They were the latest in a series of bombardments that Kyiv says have killed dozens of people in recent days. Local residents search for documents of their injured friend in the debris of a destroyed apartment house after Russian shelling in a residential area in Chuhuiv (AP) In the embattled eastern Donetsk region, seven civilians were killed and 14 wounded in the last 24 hours in attacks on cities, its governor said on Saturday. On the same day, Russias defence ministry revealed it had ordered military units to step up their operations to prevent strikes on eastern Ukraine and other territories under its control. Russias military campaign has been focusing on the Donbas, which includes the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, in southeastern Ukraine. Nikopol was hit by shelling on Saturday (AFP via Getty Images) But its forces have been attacking other parts of the country in a relentless push to wrestle territory from Ukraine and crush the morale of its leaders, troops and civilians. The strike on Nikipol came just hours after Russian shelling hit the city of Dnipro, also in the Dnipropetrovsk region. At least three are believed to have been killed in this attack. Over in the Sumy region, officials said one civilian was killed and at least seven more were injured after Russians opened mortar and artillery fire on three towns and villages not far from the Russian border. Story continues Two have been killed in a strike on Nikopol (AFP via Getty Images) On Thursday, Kalibr cruise missiles launched from a Russian submarine in the Black Sea hit an office building in Vinnytsia, a city southwest of Kyiv. Ukrainian officials said this strike killed at least 23 people, with President Volodymyr Zelensky calling it an open act of terror. People stood near a destroyed local market after a Russian missile strike in the town of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, on Saturday (AFP via Getty Images) It was the deadliest strike out of those bombarding cities over the past few days. Russia has repeatedly denied targeting civilian areas, despite mounting evidence that its missiles have hit residential areas across the country. The United Nations estimates thousands of civilians have been killed since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February. Additional reporting by agencies SATURDAY, 16 JULY 2022, 04:45 As many as 70% of Russian strikes target civilian infrastructure and only 30% hit military targets. Source: Suspilne; Oleksandr Motuzianyk, spokesman for the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, on air during the 24/7 national joint newscast Quote from Motuzianyk: "The Russians say that they strike military targets. According to our data, only 30% of their strikes hit military targets, while the remaining 70% of Russian attacks deliberately target peaceful cities." Details: Motuzianyk said that Russia has to be recognised as a terrorist state and that only destroying Russian missiles will put an end to this terror. Therefore, Ukraine needs more modern weapons. Masters Reykjavik champions OpTic Gaming continued their hot streak at Masters Copenhagen by sweeping regional rivals XSET, 2-0, in their upper bracket quarterfinals match. Pictured: OpTic Gaming FNS. (Photo: VALORANT Esports) The action continued on the sixth day of the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) Stage 2 Masters tournament in Copenhagen, Denmark on Friday (15 July), with the first round of the playoff upper bracket reaching a conclusion. In a rematch of the North America Stage 2 Challengers grand finals, Masters Reykjavik champions OpTic Gaming took their revenge by making short work of regional rivals XSET in a 2-0 sweep, proving that their strong start during the playoffs opening matches isnt a one-and-done deal. In case you missed it, heres how the showdown between OpTic and XSET went down: OpTic Gaming 2 0 XSET Game one: Haven The match started on XSETs pick, with them playing defense against OpTic. OpTic was quick on the move, and drew first blood by securing the pistol round with a 5v5. Not content, the reigning Masters champions took an additional three rounds, starting the first half with a four-round streak while XSET still finds its bearings. Finally, XSET pulled off a very chaotic retake with Matthew Cryocells Panganiban as the last man standing, giving them their first round. Unfortunately, that momentum was short-lived, as OpTic was able to take the next two rounds via mid-round calls and aggression. XSET would manage to win round 8, but OpTic answered with another four-round streak to end the first half at 10-2, in favor of OpTIc. After a short break, XSET came into the second half strong, winning four straight rounds in a row to close the gap and turn the tides to their favor. Unfortunately for them, OpTic only needed a few good rounds to get ahead, and would reach map point shortly. By round 20, OpTic would secure Haven at 13-7, putting them one stop closer at achieving revenge. Game two: Bind Same as Haven, Bind also started with OpTic securing the pistol round, once again drawing first blood. Story continues This time, however, XSET managed to quickly respond by winning the eco round and putting a dent in OpTics economy. XSET took the next round as well, but OpTic stopped the bleeding thanks to a 3k clutch from Austin crashies Roberts, who showed how dangerous he was in head-to-head confrontations. Then, XSET responded by winning the next round, but would once again be left in the dust as OpTic won the next four rounds in a row. At the helm was Pujan FNS Mehta, whos in-game leader skills are currently in their best shape. XSET managed to win another round with a 2v2, but OpTics great executions once again put them in the lead 8-4 at half-time. Similar to the first half, the second half also started with OpTic winning the pistol round and XSET hitting their economy by securing the eco round, and the one after that. Unfortunately for them, that would be their last, as OpTic would take another four-round streak to close the map at 13-6 and win the match. EL DIABLO POPPING OFF IN THE FINAL ROUND @yayFPS | #VALORANTMasters pic.twitter.com/xBIEAy54Fb VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) July 15, 2022 With Fridays results, OpTic finally exacted revenge for their previous loss against XSET in the North America Stage 2 Challengers grand finals and move onto the upper bracket semifinals. There they will face South Korea's DRX, who defeated LATAM's Leviatan in their own quarterfinals match. Meanwhile, XSET falls into the lower bracket, where they will face Leviatan in the first round of playoff elimination matches. Two teams fall to Lowers. Here's how the Playoff bracket is looking. #VALORANTMasters pic.twitter.com/l057pmjL4V VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) July 15, 2022 Masters Copenhagen will see 12 of the top VALORANT teams from all over the world clashing with each other from 10 to 24 July, all for the chance to reign victorious as the Copenhagen champions and claim a spot in VALORANT Champions 2022 in Istanbul come September. For everything you need to know about Masters Copenhagen, check here. Feb has been trying to speedrun Super Mario 64 ever since he started playing video games at 11 years old. He has never succeeded, but has completed other video games in the time since. When not playing, he's usually playing music or building Gunpla. For more esports news updates, visit https://yhoo.it/YahooEsportsSEA and check out Yahoo Esports Southeast Asias Facebook page and Twitter, as well as our Gaming channel on YouTube. Wayne Pivac was full of praise for Wales efforts in South Africa (Themba Hadebe/AP). (AP) Wayne Pivac described Wales South Africa tour as a big step in the right direction despite seeing their dream of Test series glory dashed. South Africa took the decider 30-14 in Cape Town, with head coach Jacques Nienaber having recalled eight of the Springboks 2019 World Cup-winning team after Wales levelled the series seven days ago. And it worked a treat as South Africa claimed the series 2-1 through tries from Handre Pollard, Bongi Mbonambi and Siya Kolisi, with Pollard kicking three conversions and three penalties for a 20-point haul. A brave and valiant display by Wales wasn't quite enough as the Springboks secured a 2-1 series win in Cape Town REPORT | https://t.co/1LO4mz3pQc pic.twitter.com/mCtHZhACvU Welsh Rugby Union (@WelshRugbyUnion) July 16, 2022 For us, it was a big step in the right direction, Wales head coach Pivac said. When we get together again for the autumn series, we will be less than 12 months from the World Cup, so we need to build on this tour. I am very pleased that the positives outweigh the negatives. The players enjoy rolling their sleeves up and each others company. There is disappointment about losing a game of rugby, but, overall, we will have a couple of beers tonight and it will be positive heading into the next series. I am a little frustrated and disappointed with the scoreline, but I am certainly not disappointed with the effort that has gone in during the last six weeks. I am certainly not disappointed with the effort that has gone in during the last six weeks Wayne Pivac We came here with a goal to try and win a series and we were serious about that. It wasnt just talk and the players worked really well together. Wales second Test win in Bloemfontein was their first against the Springboks on South African soil, while they were beaten by Damian Willemses last-gasp penalty in the first Test, going down 32-29. Story continues Pivac added: Obviously, we are pleased to have got the history with the win last week. You look at the first Test and there were one or two moments you look back on and think, If only. We certainly know we played very well on that occasion. We were right in the game and then to win the second Test, coming to South Africa I dont think many people would have predicted those first two weeks. Dan Biggar kicked three penalties but could not prevent Wales falling to defeat (Halden Krog/AP). (AP) Wales battled hard throughout on a difficult surface at the DHL Stadium and their defensive resistance often proved heroic. But they could only muster a Tommy Reffell try and three penalties from captain Dan Biggar as they missed out on matching series success for Ireland in New Zealand and England in Australia. Just four months after losing at home to Italy in the Guinness Six Nations, though, Wales will rightly view the tour as being successful in so many ways, particularly with one eye on the 2023 World Cup. Biggar said: We didnt start particularly well and South Africa had a lot of possession and momentum and got out to a lead. South Africa strangled the game a little bit and credit to them for that. It felt like we spent a lot of time in our own half. Wales and South Africa players embrace at the end of the hard-fought series (Halden Krog/AP). (AP) Overall, I would say it will always be disappointing to lose at the end, but to get a win over here is a huge tick. Overall, its been a hugely-positive tour. From where we came from in the Six Nations (Wales lost at home to Italy in March), I dont think anybody could have predicted how it went. We fell a little bit short after a long season, but weve said this is the standard we need to get to now, not the Six Nations, where we fell off a little bit. Naturally, Wayne and I will be disappointed with the overall result, but when we are on our holidays in the next few weeks we will look back on this tour with fond memories. Beanie Feldstein and Lea Michele. Bruce Glikas/WireIMage; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions Broadway musical "Funny Girl" recently announced that Lea Michele would be taking over the lead role come fall. Beanie Feldstein currently stars, but an Instagram post led some to believe that she was forced out. Here's a complete timeline of the drama unfolding behind the scenes at the hit musical. April 24, 2022: "Funny Girl," starring Beanie Feldstein as Fanny Brice, officially opens on Broadway. Beanie Feldstein during a preview curtain call for "Funny Girl" in late March 2022. Bruce Glikas/WireImage The "Booksmart" actress stars in the musical as Fanny Brice, an aspiring vaudeville performer who eventually becomes a hit sensation with the Ziegfeld Follies in early 20th-century New York. Barbra Streisand originated the role during the show's first Broadway run. Despite Feldstein's lifelong passion for the role (she previously told Jimmy Fallon she threw a "Funny Girl"-themed birthday party when she was 3), some reviews of her performance in the iconic musical were less than stellar. Critics took issue with her voice (Helen Shaw of Vulture, for instance, said that Feldstein's "unpleasant" singing was "simply not a sound you expect to hear on Broadway"), as well as her childlike demeanor throughout much of the show. The negative reviews were so pervasive that Gawker even published an article referring to Feldstein as "Beanie Flopstein." But some people on social media suggested that the criticism of Feldstein was partly due to fatphobia, and not just what some felt was a lackluster performance. June 15, 2022: A post on the musical's Twitter page revealed that Feldstein was set to leave the role in September. Ramin Karimloo and Beanie Feldstein during a preview curtain call for "Funny Girl." Bruce Glikas/WireImage After becoming ill with COVID-19 about a month ago, Feldstein took a break from performing. However, on June 15, both Feldstein and the Twitter page for "Funny Girl" announced that the "Ladybird" actress was returning to the stage as Brice but only until September 25. Jane Lynch, who plays Brice's mother in the musical, was also revealed to be leaving on the same date. "I'll never be able to find the words that could even begin to explain what the experience has been to me," Feldstein wrote in an emotional Instagram post, adding: "I gave and will continue to give this show all of me." Story continues Late June 2022: Lea Michele is officially tapped to play Fanny after Feldstein departs. Lea Michele at the 2022 Tony Awards. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions According to a recent report by the Daily Beast, Michele (who starred in the original Broadway production of "Spring Awakening" and on the hit musical television show "Glee") committed to playing the role of Brice sometime during the week of June 20. An anonymous source at the musical told the Daily Beast that Michele had reached out to producers individually to express her interest in "Funny Girl" and said she was available to take over for Feldstein. But another source emphasized that Michele's representatives and "Funny Girl" producers didn't officially discuss the "Glee" star's involvement in the musical until after Feldstein announced she would be leaving in September. The first source even told the Daily Beast that "the show was dying" due to Feldstein's casting, and that they wanted to "get rid of Beanie and get Lea in as soon as possible," despite pushback from others involved in the production. June 30, 2022: A Gawker article is published leaking the news of Michele's casting. Lea Michele in 2022. Steve Granitz/FilmMagic In the article, Gawker reported that Michele was "set to take over the role of Fanny Brice in 'Funny Girl' on Broadway September 30." Neither the show nor Michele had made an official announcement at that time, although Michele had reportedly already signed a contract. According to the Daily Beast's source, the Gawker article caused "great upset" to Feldstein so much so that producers, who'd previously been able to speak with the actress face-to-face, were then told to communicate through her representatives only. "As soon as the Gawker story appeared about Lea, it got very contentious. She stopped speaking," the source told the Daily Beast of Feldstein's reaction to the casting news. "Everything went downhill very quickly after that." Michele's desire to play Brice in a Broadway production of "Funny Girl" has been something of an open secret in Hollywood for several years. She performed many of the musical's songs during her time on "Glee" and revealed in subsequent interviews that the show's creator Ryan Murphy even had the rights to "Funny Girl" and was considering bringing it back to Broadway, with Michele as Brice (Murphy's project eventually lost steam). July 10, 2022: Feldstein causes an uproar on social media after she announces that she's leaving the show much earlier than expected. Beanie Feldstein attends the 2021 Emmy Awards. Rich Fury/Getty Images "Playing Fanny Brice on Broadway has been a lifelong dream of mine, and doing so for the last few months has been a great joy and true honor," Feldstein's post began. "Once the production decided to take the show in a different direction, I made the extremely difficult decision to step away sooner than anticipated." After thanking the cast and crew of "Funny Girl," Feldstein concluded her statement by saying, "I hope you to continue to join them on Henry Street after I depart on July 31st." July 11, 2022: The musical officially confirms that Michele will, in fact, be replacing Feldstein. Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) performs onstage as Fanny Brice in the fifth season of "Glee." FOX Image Collection via Getty Images Following Feldstein's bombshell announcement, social media was filled with people speculating just why the actress had suddenly decided to leave much sooner than her previously-announced date. Some wondered if Feldstein was upset that Michele, who'd previously been accused by several of her "Glee" costars of being "unpleasant" and committing "racist" microaggressions, was tapped as her replacement. Others speculated that Feldstein was simply eager to depart after the negative reviews. On Monday, the "Funny Girl" social-media pages finally announced that Michele would be replacing Feldstein as Brice starting on September 6. Feldstein's understudy Julie Benko, however, will be playing the role from the end of July, when Feldstein departs, until Michele takes over, according to the Daily Beast. Per the publication, Benko will stay on as understudy and continue to perform as the lead every Thursday after that. Adding to the uproar was the fact that Jane Lynch, who plays Mrs. Brice (and famously starred as Sue Sylvester opposite Michele on "Glee"), was also revealed to be leaving the musical on September 4, ahead of Michele's start date. Tovah Feldshuh, the show's socials announced, would be taking over the role for Lynch, who was originally scheduled to depart on September 25 with Feldstein before moving up her own departure date. July 12, 2022: Lynch celebrated Michele's casting in "Funny Girl." Lea Michele (left) and Jane Lynch in 2016. Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for ELLE In an interview with Deadline, Lynch seemingly shut down any speculation that her early departure from the show was because she didn't want to work with her "Glee" costar again. In fact, Lynch revealed, she and Michele "have been in touch" about the situation. "You know, it was just a really strong idea to have Feldshuh and Lea premiere together. That's the only reason," Lynch said of her exit from "Funny Girl" prior to Michele joining the show. "I adore her," the "Only Murders in the Building" star continued. "She's just going to take this show and make it her own. I'm so glad she's getting the opportunity in real life to do the show and not just on 'Glee.'" That same day, the Daily Beast's in-depth report about the drama was published, revealing, among other things, how producers dealt with Feldstein's bad reviews, and how they handled the "Booksmart" star's sudden departure from the show. Representatives for Michele and Feldstein didn't immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment. A representative for "Funny Girl" directed Insider to a statement shared with People, in which producers said they "were not blindsided by Beanie's social post," and that the star's exit had nothing to do with lackluster reviews. "The producers decided to take the show in a different direction and end Beanie's contract on September 25th, 6 months earlier than anticipated," the statement read. It continued: "A month after that decision, Beanie decided it was best for her to leave on July 31st. The producers were aware of and in support of her decision. The producers and Beanie worked on this together professionally, respectfully and graciously." Read the original article on Insider Mayor Cavalier Johnson discusses the Republican National Committee's move to bring the 2024 national convention to Milwaukee during a press conference Friday, July 15, 2022, at City Hall. The RNC's site committee announced Friday it had selected Milwaukee. The full RNC is expected to approve the convention's location in August. With Johnson are (from left) Paul Farrow, chairman of the Wisconsin Republican Party; Peggy Williams-Smith, president and chief executive of VISIT Milwaukee; and Gerard Randall, Republican Party of Wisconsin vice-chairman. Wisconsin politicians and business leaders from both sides of the aisle applauded a move by the GOP to bring its national nominating convention to Milwaukee in 2024. It's not a done deal, but a GOP site selection panel on Friday picked Milwaukee as the host city for the 2024 Republican National Convention. The full Republican National Committee must approve the choice during its summer meeting in Chicago, Aug. 2-5. The final decision is between Milwaukee and Nashville. Often overshadowed by Chicago, Milwaukee has a chance to be on a national stage, proving the city can host large scale events. Supporters believe this will continue to generate millions in economic activity for years to come. The Republican National Convention would be a second chance for Milwaukee, the city largely lost out on the Democratic party's convention in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Todays news is great for our region, especially as workers and businesses continue to recover from the devastating economic impacts of the pandemic," said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. "We are ready to show the world what Milwaukee has to offer. Subscribe to our On Wisconsin Politics newsletter for the week's political news explained. There are three potential blocks of dates for the event in July and August of 2024. A final decision on the convention dates is expected to be made by the end of this year. Milwaukee's bid has been spearheaded by VISIT Milwaukee president and chief executive Peggy Williams-Smith. "Milwaukee can 100 percent host this decision," Williams-Smith said Friday afternoon after learning about the GOP's decision. "Our job is to create an economic impact for the city. This will bring attendees from around the country and give us the economic boost we need." More: Reince Priebus, Rebecca Kleefisch and others react on social media after Milwaukee was selected to host the 2024 RNC The Republican host committee plans on raising $65 million for the 2024 event, which is expected to attract 50,000 visitors and provide a $200 million economic boost. Story continues Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and others celebrated the news Friday at a press conference at City Hall, where he called the announcement another step forward in our effort to bring a major political convention to the city of Milwaukee. I want Milwaukee to hold a prominent position as a convention city, Johnson said. This is about future conventions and future business, trade shows, major membership organizations, sports and entertainment activities happening right here in the city of Milwaukee. Johnson wants to see the cameras of the world trained on Milwaukee, he said, even if he disagrees with the platform of the Republican Party. Even though this isn't a completely done deal, Paul Farrow, the Waukesha County executive who is chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, told the Journal Sentinel that officials did not foresee any other challenges standing in the way of Milwaukee being officially selected as the site for the 2024 convention. I think we have put our best foot forward, he said. Members of the site selection committee were impressed, Farrow said, with the bipartisanship they found in Milwaukee between Republicans and the Democrats who lead the city and county Johnson and Crowley. Drawing two massive political conventions two presidential elections in a row shows the city has stepped up its game, he said. We are seeing a change where people realize that its not just that quiet city, Farrow said. It is a great city by a Great Lake. Gerard Randall, a Republican Party of Wisconsin vice-chairman and secretary of the host committee, said the RNC allows the city to reimagine the hospitality industry for the state. I look forward to having so many people enjoy the hospitality that Milwaukee has to offer in 2024 and beyond, he said. This is truly one of the most incredible announcements that Ive been able to make in my lifetime, and Im just so proud of what this city has come together to do, to make us a showcase for the rest of the world. Main venues for a Milwaukee convention would include Fiserv Forum and the Wisconsin Center, which is undergoing an expansion that is expected to be finished in time for the event. Fiserv Forum President Peter Feigin said the RNC will significantly elevate Fiserv Forum's profile as a world-class major-event venue. Fiserv Forum was on the national stage in July 2021 when the Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA championship. "In addition to creating a substantial economic impact for Milwaukee, the convention will further demonstrate that our city and arena can successfully host enormous events en route to attracting other prominent events in the future," Feigin said. Swing-state status secures site Wisconsin's swing-state status makes it an attractive location. Former President Donald Trump lost by only 21,000 votes in 2020 and coming to Milwaukee to nominate the ticket in 2024 could bolster Republican support in the state. Milwaukee Host Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, a White House chief of staff under Trump and the former chairman of the Republican National Committee, said he has always known Milwaukee is the perfect place to host the convention. Wisconsin is a battleground state, Milwaukee is a fabulous city, and the people of Wisconsin are the best in America," Priebus said in a statement. "We will have a blast and it will be a great way to start our work together so that the Republican Party and our great country can begin the beautiful process of electing a President of the United States. U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman, a Republican from Sheboygan County who represents the 6th Congressional District, said the RNC was recognizing Wisconsin's role in deciding presidential races. "Our state is the battleground state that will decide the Presidency in 2024. Im glad the @GOP sees #Wisconsin as launching point to win back the White House!" he tweeted. Former Republican Gov. Scott Walker joined committee members in a tour of the city earlier this year to promote the city to decision-makers. On Friday, Walker said hosting the RNC in 2024 is a major opportunity to showcase Milwaukee and a huge reminder of how important Wisconsin is to the GOP. Big win!!! Walker said in a statement to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Republicans have heavily criticized Democrats for abandoning their plans to hold an in-person national party convention during the summer of 2020 in Milwaukee during the first months of the coronavirus pandemic before vaccines were available. On Friday, GOP candidate for governor Rebecca Kleefisch said bringing her party's national convention to the state's largest city will take advantage of an opportunity Democrats rejected. "Democrats abandoned Milwaukee in 2020, and when we get to showcase Wisconsin to the nation in 2024, a Republican governor will be there to greet them," Kleefisch said in a statement. "The GOP was born here, and were ready to celebrate our legacy of freedom and put a Republican back in the White House." Kleefisch is running in a four-way primary for governor. The winner of the Aug. 9 primary election will advance to challenge Democratic incumbent Gov. Tony Evers in the general election. Not everyone excited about RNC coming to Milwaukee While some Wisconsin Democrats have praised the idea of Republicans hosting their massive national convention in the state's largest city, one state senator who represents Milwaukee said it was a bad idea to play host. "Doesnt seem like a good idea to invite to our community the party thats having trouble moving past their 'violently overthrowing democracy and celebrating gun violence' phase," Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, said in a tweet, referring to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and the fatal shootings by Kyle Rittenhouse in Kenosha in 2020. Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, congratulated Johnson and Crowley on their leadership in attracting economic stimulus to Milwaukee but said the party will work to ensure the Republicans lose Wisconsin again in 2024. "Time and again, Republican politicians have put their own partisan politics over Milwaukeeans voting against critical pandemic relief for small businesses, historic investments in infrastructure, and even, through the state legislature, undermining Milwaukees power to govern itself and raise critical revenue for public priorities," WIkler said in a statement. "Moreover, in 2020, Donald Trump and the GOP attempted to disqualify the valid votes of hundreds of thousands of Milwaukeeans." Corrinne Hess can be reached at chess@gannett.com. Follow her @corrihess Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin leaders welcome Republican National Convention to Milwaukee Japan's government decided Friday to expand the scope of people who can receive a fourth COVID-19 vaccine shot to all medical personnel and workers at elderly care facilities as the country faces its seventh wave of coronavirus infections and the nationwide daily count climbs closer to a record high. Tokyo reported 19,059 new infections, the highest level since Feb 5, more than doubling from a week earlier. The count surpassed the 10,000 mark for the fourth straight day. The government's decision means 8 million more people will be eligible for the shots in addition to people aged 60 and over and those between 18 and 59 with illnesses and considered at higher risk of developing severe symptoms. With the highly transmissible BA.5 Omicron subvariant propelling a rapid increase in the number of new coronavirus cases in the country, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at a government meeting on the coronavirus response that he intends to facilitate the vaccination of younger generations as well. The latest expansion of inoculations, aimed at protecting high-risk groups and securing enough personnel for treatment and care, is expected to start as early as next week. The government will ask prefectures to set up more than 100 free COVID-19 testing spots at major train stations, airports and other locations to allow people to be tested before traveling during the summer vacation season. It will also urge people and businesses to secure sufficient ventilation while air conditioners are used amid the summer heat. ...continue reading Russia has banned 384 Japanese lawmakers from entering the country. The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Friday that Moscow blacklisted Japan's Lower House members in retaliation for Tokyo's sanctions on Russian lawmakers, imposed in April. The ministry accused those Japanese lawmakers of taking an unfriendly position towards Russia, and in particular of making groundless accusations regarding what Moscow calls its special military operation in Ukraine. Social withdrawal (hikikomori) has become an internationally recognized phenomenon, but its pathology and related factors are not yet fully known. We previously conducted a statistical case-control study on adolescent patients with hikikomori in Japan, which revealed the non-specificity of pathology in patients with hikikomori. Further, environmental factors, such as the lack of communication between parents and Internet overuse, were found to be significant predictors of hikikomori severity. Here, we aimed to conduct a similar preliminary case-control study in France and to compare the results with those from the study conducted in Japan. Conclusion Hikikomori in Japan and France could be considered essentially the same phenomenon; moreover, our findings demonstrated the universal non-specificity and unbiasedness of the hikikomori pathology. This suggests that hikikomori is not a single clinical category with a specific psychopathology; instead, it is a common phenotype with various underlying pathologies. However, different strategies may be required in each country to prevent the onset and progression of hikikomori. ...continue reading NHK - Aug 05 Officials are warning of more rain on Friday after record rainfall hit parts of the Japanese region of Hokuriku and Niigata and Yamagata Prefectures from Wednesday through Thursday, causing flooding and landslides. They are urging vigilance over landslides and flooding in low-lying areas. A new National Suicide Prevention Line will launch today, offering a three-digit path to help for people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services announced Friday. The number for assistance will be 988. Iowans who contact 988 will be directly connected to trained crisis counselors who provide crisis de-escalation and connect individuals to the services and supports they need when they need it. According to a press release from Iowa HHS, an easy-to-remember three-digit number will not only make it easier to connect to support in a crisis, it will also: Reduce the burden on law enforcement and emergency medical resources so they can better respond to other public safety needs. Provide access to mobile response through warm handoffs, reducing confusion on how to access the service and enhance mobile response efforts statewide. Increase the number of contacts answered by Iowans knowledgeable about local behavioral health services, providing a personalized experience during a time of crisis and allowing for in-state quality assurance. The national launch of 988 coincides with the significant work weve been doing here in Iowa since I took office to enhance and improve our historically fragmented crisis response system, said Gov. Kim Reynolds. Iowa families all families should have quick and easy access to necessary mental and behavioral health care resources when they need them, and 988 will serve as a centralized resource for Iowans to utilize during their times of need. Iowa has two NSPL centers CommUnity and Foundation 2, the press release stated. Foundation 2 is staffing to answer the majority of 988 calls, and CommUnity is staffing to answer the majority of 988 chats and texts. Iowas Lifeline Centers will provide follow-up to individuals contacting 988 who are at risk of suicide and consent to follow up. Crisis counselors will provide seamless coordination with other community-based crisis services, including warm handoffs to mobile response teams throughout the state. HHS also operates Your Life Iowa, which provides free, 24/7 support available for anyone dealing with mental health concerns, thoughts of suicide, substance use, problem alcohol use, or problem gambling. In State Fiscal Year 2022, Your Life Iowa responded to 41,111 contacts that were received via phone text and chat. These numbers represent 185% increase since 2020. The pandemic exposed and magnified the strain families are facing today. Connecting Iowans to quick and reliable support for emotional distress through 988 marks a sea change in how we approach crisis response, said Iowa HHS Director Kelly Garcia. The need for these resources is increasing. We see it in our data and in our existing services. Your Life Iowa had a record number of contacts in May of this year. Our teams are ready to answer more calls, texts, and chats, and to be a lifeline when Iowans use 988. The 988 system is designed to complement the 911 system, and coordination between the two is vital in the development of a coordinated and comprehensive crisis response system. Crisis Counselors receive culturally sensitive trainings in crisis response. 988 is an important step in building equitable access to crisis services across Iowa and building a no wrong door approach to a coordinated and comprehensive mental health crisis system, aligning with SAMHSAs Best Practices Toolkit. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) designated 988 as the new three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on July 16, 2020. The U.S. Senate passed the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act (S. 2661), establishing 988, in May 2020, and the U.S. House of Representatives passed the legislation in September 2020. The National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020 was signed into law on Oct. 17, 2020. As wildfires continue to wreak havoc in Moroccos north, authorities relocate 1156 households away from the blaze in the area of Laarach, while firefighting efforts in the land and air tirelessly continue to battle wildfires. In total, more than 1500 hectares have been destroyed by the fires in the regions of Taza, Ouazzane, Chaouen and Laarach. A burned body was found while many cattle has been lost due to the mass blaze. Moroccan authorities deployed Canadair water bombers as firefighting units struggle to contain the blaze. The leadership of King Mohammed VI and the major role he played in the reopening of the Allenby Bridge has been hailed by US and Israeli officials. A senior official of President Joe Bidens Administration hailed, on Saturday, the key role played by the Kingdom of Morocco, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, in mediating the 24/7 opening of the Allenby/King Hussein border crossing. Israels decision to open the border crossing, which is the Palestinians only opening to the world, signals the first instance in which an Arab country has used its might to mediate between Israelis and Palestinians to produce a significant policy change, the US official said, as reported by a leading Israeli newspaper. The mediation efforts led by the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States, with senior Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian officials, constitute a collective dynamic that made the difference, he said, adding that we are delighted to see the Abraham Accords working to the benefit of the Palestinians this has been a priority for the Biden administration. He also recalled, in this connection, the statement of the Israeli Minister of Transport, Merav Michaeli, who particularly praised the major role played by King Mohammed VI, for the reopening of the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge. Michaeli publicly thanked Biden, as well as HM King Mohammed VI and the Kingdom of Morocco for their continued commitment and efforts to promote peace and prosperity in the Middle East, he added. the Israeli Minister of Transport Merav Michaeli actually told Moroccan Medi 1 TV channel, His Majesty the King has played a decisive role in this important process for the reopening of this crossing, praising the Kings willingness and initiative for cooperation from all the parties involved. She praised the Sovereigns firm commitment to peace in this region, affirming that this resolve will remain a very useful factor in the future. The time is right to recognize and seize our common opportunities, and to work on these bases to make our region better, she added. The Israeli official who announced earlier Friday the opening of the Allenby border crossing, expressed thanks to King Mohammed VI and to the US President, Joe Biden, for their commitment and their continuous efforts for peace and prosperity in the Middle East. I would like to thank President Biden, King Mohammed VI and Morocco for their commitment to furthering the peace process and the regions economic growth, the Israeli official tweeted. Morocco has thus succeeded in brokering the permanent reopening of the Allenby border crossing between Israel and Jordan, which is very popular with Palestinians and which will have a beneficial impact on the daily lives of Palestinians and facilitate the movement of people and goods. The border post, located about 50 km from the capital Amman, will be effective soon as soon as the logistical conditions are met, particularly in terms of human resources. Contacts have been going on for several months between the Israeli Transport Minister and her staff and American, Moroccan and Palestinian elements in order to lead to the continuous opening of the Allenby crossing between Israel and Jordan. The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has asked for clarifications about the questioning of Ennahda leader Rached Ghannouchi by Tunisian authorities, a former parliamentarian said on Saturday as reported by Anadolu news agency. Maher Madhioub said in a Facebook post that the IPUs Human Rights Committee requested clarifications from Tunisian authorities about the freezing of Ghannouchis bank accounts and banning him from travel. He said Ghannouchi, head of the leading Islamist party Ennahdha, had filed a complaint to the rights committee against the Tunisian measures, without providing further details. There was no comment from the Tunisian authorities on the former lawmakers claim. Ghannouchi is set to appear before a Tunisian judge on Tuesday for questioning on allegations of suspicious financial transactions within the Namaa Tounes charity, accused by authorities of financing terrorism. The move came after Tunisian authorities froze the financial assets of Ghannouchi and nine other people, including his son and former Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali. Ghannouchi revealed last Monday that he was expecting to be arrested on July 19 when he will appear before the countrys counter-terrorism prosecutor, in connection with investigations about Namaa Tounes Charity. Ghannouchi is among dozens of people targeted by the investigation which was launched following the arrest of former Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali late last month in connection with the case. Jebali was later on released as his health deteriorated following his hunger strike. The Interior ministry accused Jebali of involvement in a money laundering scheme in connection with the charity organization. The former Premier denied any wrongdoing and is also expected to appear for questioning on July 20 before the counter-terrorism prosecutor. Tunisia has been in the throes of a deep political crisis since July 2021 when President Kais Saied ousted the government, suspended parliament and assumed executive authority. He later dissolved the assembly after lawmakers held a session to revoke his measures. While Saied insists that his measures were meant to save the country, critics have accused him of orchestrating a coup. Tunisians will vote in a referendum on July 25 on a new constitution, decried by critics as backpedaling on democratic gains. A Hastings family proposing new horsetrack-casino combinations in North Platte and Gering has lost its primary partner in proposing both. Global Gaming Solutions LLC, a subsidiary of the Chickasaw Tribe of Oklahoma, told the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission its no longer involved in the two racino projects. Executive Director Tom Sage said Friday that Global Gaming, which operates horsetracks and casinos in Texas and Oklahoma, told the commission as much in an email that was read into the record at the panels Thursday meeting. Sage told The Telegraph he was in Omaha Friday afternoon and didnt have a copy of the email with him. But it included a sentence that, in Sages words, said that Global Gaming was no longer interested (in) or a party to the applications for Scottsbluff Expedition and Racing and North Platte Exposition and Racing. Those are the separate entities created last summer and primarily involving the family of quarter horse owner Brian Becker, who has operated a one-day annual quarter horse meet at FairPlay Park at Hastings Adams County Fairgrounds. Their separate horsetrack applications, filed July 16, 2021, proposed oval racetracks five-eighths of a mile long at sites between North Plattes two Interstate 80 interchanges and on the south edge of Gering. The Beckers and Global Gaming representatives also unveiled plans for accompanying casinos at both last summer. They lost a 4-3 Hastings City Council vote March 15 rejecting a permit for an all-new horsetrack and casino on U.S. Highway 34-281 in north Hastings. Attempts by The Telegraph to reach the Beckers for comment were unsuccessful Friday evening. Sean Boyd, president of Global Gaming Nebraska, declined comment Friday. Gary Person, president and CEO of the North Platte Area Chamber & Development Corp., referred questions about the North Platte projects status to North Platte Exposition and Racing. Sage said casinos werent included in either the North Platte or Gering applications, neither of which has been granted. The racino petition initiatives approved by Nebraska voters in 2020 say casinos may be built and operated only at licensed horsetracks. North Platte Exposition and Racing won a conditional use permit for its racino proposal on Aug. 17, 2021, after Mayor Brandon Kelliher broke a 4-4 City Council tie in favor of granting it. Another Chickasaw Nation subsidiary now owns the Becker groups planned site between I-80 and East Walker Road and due south of North Platte Community Colleges North Campus. Sovereign Properties Holdco LLC of Ada, Oklahoma, purchased the 77.25-acre site June 6 from Prospect Enterprises LLC for $2,464,275, according to the Lincoln County Register of Deeds Office. It had a 2021 taxable value of $415,591. The Gering Planning Commission voted 6-2 last Sept. 21 in favor of granting a conditional use permit to Scottsbluff Exposition and Racing for its racino project there. Gerings City Council voted Dec. 13 to send a letter of support for the Becker groups racino plan. It didnt vote on its conditional use permit at that time. State senators in April passed Legislative Bill 876, which put racinos beyond those proposed at Nebraskas six existing tracks on hold until the Racing and Gaming Commission can study their market and socioeconomic impacts. Such studies must be done by Jan. 1, 2025. The Unicamerals moratorium didnt stop Ogallala leaders from backing a second horsetrack-casino proposal for the gateway to Lake McConaughy, long a popular summer destination for Colorado tourists. Ogallala City Council members and Keith County commissioners last December endorsed a racino project backed by Minnesota-based Canterbury Park. That entity also has proposed a racino along I-80 near Kimball. In late June, the County Board and Ogallala council likewise lent their support to a fresh proposal with backers including Grand Islands Fonner Park, Nebraskas oldest continuously operating racetrack. The Racing and Gaming Commission has yet to receive any horsetrack applications for either Ogallala or Kimball, Sage said. Both Ogallala proposals are eyeing sites at the citys I-80 interchange. Elite Casino Resorts, which is building a casino at the Grand Island track, would also in time build one in Ogallala. Each of the Keith County seats would-be racino projects has a local nonprofit as its primary partner. Within a two-week timeframe, a husband and wife from Beauregard were blindsided by the discovery that they both have cancer. The couple, Chris Wright, 57, and Tina Wright, 55, have been married for 36 years and said the news changed everything. It just floored us, especially when we found out that both of us had it, Tina said. It knocked the wind out of us. Our whole aspect of life has changed, Chris added. Now we go day by day. See what tomorrow brings and thats all we do. Chris was diagnosed with stage 4 lung and bone cancer and Tina was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer. While battling cancer simultaneously, the Wright couple said they plan to fight for each other. Strong love Chris and Tina both grew up in Beauregard and started dating in high school while attending Beauregard High School. Chris was 15 and Tina was 13. Weve known each other our whole lives, Tina said. We know each other backward and forward. The Wright couple stopped dating for a few years, but found their way back to each other and got married at Tinas parents house on State Route 169 when she was 19 and Chris was 21. Tia Hobbs, Chris younger sister, said the couple is inseparable and people cant think of one without thinking about the other. Weve had our ups and downs, Tina said. Weve had our moments, but we stuck in there. A lot of people give up too easy, you know, you got to fight. Its like I told (Chris), Ive fought so long to keep us together and I aint about to give up now. Chris used to own Best Rates Mechanical, a plumbing, heating and air conditioning business, until five years ago when he and his wife started running the Lee County Public Fishing Lake. The Wright couple said this lake feels like home because they grew up fishing there. While they havent been able to go out on the boat to fish as much recently, Tina said they always enjoy talking with the people who come to the lake as well as occasionally fishing from the docks with their nieces, nephews and sisters. Since the two received their diagnoses, their family has stepped up to help them continue to run the lake. Chris has five sisters and Tina has three sisters who all live nearby in Auburn, Opelika, Valley or Beauregard. They have the biggest hearts and are the most giving people I know, Chris sisters wrote. It pains us to see them in this heartbreaking situation. Its heartbreaking because hes my only brother and hes just been the best brother in the world, Hobbs said. So its been really tough, but God is a big God and I trust Him completely. Diagnosed Two years ago Chris started having pain throughout his body, specifically his bones, and his primary doctor put him on rheumatoid arthritis medicine. About six weeks ago, he found two knots on the right side of his chest, which were tumors. Chris said he went to the doctor do get MRI, CT and PET scans and two biopsies. The results showed masses on his right lung, lymph nodes, right ribcage and left pelvis. Stage 4 lung and bone cancer was confirmed. I think I personally knew down deep, Chris said. It didnt really affect me until the after effect. Most of it I was prepared for, but (Tina) wasnt. The couple started preparing for what was next in Chris cancer journey, and a few days later, Tina went to the doctor for her annual mammogram when the doctor told her she found something and wanted to do an ultrasound and a needle biopsy. About four days after this annual checkup, the results came back and said she had stage 1 breast cancer. They told me that I need to stay a little longer during my mammogram, that they want to do further testing, she said. I was by myself because I was just going in to do a mammogram and go home, so when they told me they seen something, Im like you gotta be kidding me. She called her husband to tell him the news and he had the same reaction. Both sides of the family have a history of cancer. Chris has lost most of his aunts, his grandparents and recently his mother to cancer and Tina has several aunts who have breast cancer, one who was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer. Last week the oncologist found fluid on Chris lungs which needs to be removed. Once he has this procedure, he will wait to see if the results come back negative or positive. If its negative, he said he will be able to start radiation treatment and immunotherapy, but if the test comes back positive, he said the doctors will tell him how much time he has left. Bone cancer is not curable, Chris said. If he is able to start treatment, hell continually be checked for new tumors. Tina said that Chris told her he doesnt want to be a burden but she reminded him of the vows they took on their wedding day in sickness and in health. She said she plans to take care of him as long as she has breath in her body. The doctors were able to catch Tinas cancer early and are now checking to see if its genetic. Tina said if it is they will remove both breasts, but if its not they will just remove the mass and shell go through radiation treatment. The Wrights are hoping for the best and ask the community for prayer. Hobbs and other family members created a GoFundMe for Chris and Tina to help raise money for their hospital expenses. Theyve done so much for the community and are such loving and giving people, Hobbs said. Thats why we started the GoFundMe and just trying to get some awareness. A couple going through this at the same time, its just unheard of. What in the absolute fuck. Reply Thread Link And heres the kicker: Martin could face up to 50 years in prison for incest under Puerto Rican law. Reply Parent Thread Link I feel like I read a rumour of this two weeks ago. Most comments at the time were "no way!". Weird how it came true. I also heard a rumour of the Khloe/Tristan IVF thing a few weeks ago before it was confirmed. There are leaky sources in Hollywood. We, at ONTD, will all benefit. Reply Parent Thread Link Jesus... the trash heap is full on ONTD today. Reply Parent Thread Link Right?? This shit is CRAZY. Reply Parent Thread Link I was hoping so much it wasnt this. That poor child. I hope this predator piece of garbage gets the max and is beat up on in prison. I hope Dennis has support Reply Thread Link He's 21 now but given that they are family....who knows from when and what age the grooming and predatory behavior started from. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Why is there so much predatory incest happening this week. Reply Thread Link I'm reading Clementine Ford's first book right now. She's been super inspirational for me in helping me let go of a lot of anxiety. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm reading it as well. :) Reply Parent Thread Link all three of her books are absolute gems. Reply Parent Thread Link What's the name of the book? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Constantly amazed to see her referenced here more and more. Love it. Been a fan and followers for a long time. We live in same neighbourhood so Really hard not to freak out when I see her IRL. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Thats gross, Im curious to see how the Puertorican court handles this. You know this is gonna affect by alot the LGBTQ+ on the island. Fuck Ricky Edited at 2022-07-15 10:18 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Well they have strict ass incest laws and hes facing 50 years if found guilty. Reply Parent Thread Link I was born and raised there and trust the judicial system aint shit, I was more wondering if theyll actually do something and if theyll treat this seriously. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Seriously. As if Puerto Ricans arent homophobic enough already. The shitty Rolon fans will piggyback off of this. Reply Parent Thread Link what the hell Reply Thread Link What the hell is going on with men? Stay away from your family members. Jfc Reply Thread Link No words. jfc. Reply Thread Link I oh my god. What the fuck? Reply Thread Link Oh God. Reply Thread Link jesus christ what is happening Reply Thread Link So the rumors were true?! I don't want to shame open relationships but wtf. A close relative? I'd go insane Reply Thread Link This kind of stuff happens in traditional relationships all the time. My only question is if his husband knew or not. Reply Parent Thread Link Well if it's an open relationship, my assumption is that he knew? I guess?! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link This crime definitely has nothing to do with open relationships Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I MEEEAN THATS NOT EVEEENN IN THE SAME REALM Reply Parent Thread Link Seriously I hope this wasnt the career ending allegation that PR lady was talking about because the fact that she was ok with hiding it if she got her $ is even worse Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Right right Reply Thread Link She died of blunt force trauma injuries to her torso Did she fall? Reply Thread Link Pretty sure that's what the news said. She fell and sustained trauma to her torso. Reply Parent Thread Link She was found at bottom of the stairs. Reply Parent Thread Link i read she apparently had hip pain/issues recently so i think that might've been a factor Reply Parent Thread Link I'd assume that's code for fell and got impaled through the chest on something. Like how "head and neck trauma" is code for decapitated. Reply Parent Thread Link When I first saw it I thought it was Ivanka and then I was disappointed. Although, Im never gonna feel bad that anyone from this monstrous family has died, fuck her. One down. Edited at 2022-07-16 02:31 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link Baron is an exception because hes a kid, and all the other kids, but the adultsyeeeah Reply Parent Thread Link I kinda feel bad for Tiffany. it's clear her dad never wanted her. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link And how are y'all gonna feel when he turns 18 and is just as terrible as his siblings? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I mean they've been divorced for years and he abused and raped her Reply Parent Thread Expand Link For most of my life, all I knew her from was her cameo in The First Wives Club Reply Thread Link Same, I even came to say this. Reply Parent Thread Link Jesus the hair Reply Parent Thread Link I literally came here to say this. Reply Parent Thread Link Im sayin' nothin' so Im sayin' nothin' so Reply Thread Link Was she not close to her mom? Because Ivankas statement seems so hollow and PR. Id expect that sort of comment from a former coworker, not family. But the family is soulless so I really shouldnt be surprised either way. Edited at 2022-07-16 02:36 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link Yes I noticed that. People don't talk that way about a parent or anyone they were truly close with. Reply Parent Thread Link I feel like a PR person probably wrote it Reply Parent Thread Link Normally, I'd assume she was too heartbroken to post anything, so her PR people are just handling it all, and she's totally removed from it. But since it's her, nah. Reply Parent Thread Link i dont think she was as close to her mom as we assume afterall shes Donalds favorite, for good reason im sure Reply Parent Thread Link your icon is killing me in context with this subject it's giving me ding dong the witch is dead vibes Reply Parent Thread Link Shes a literal sociopath who exhibits zero emotions while lying on camera all day every day, this was a real emotional reach for her Reply Parent Thread Link I don't think she's been close to her mother in ages. She's been very pro-Donald for years. But also, I don't think she runs her own social media and this response is pretty on-brand for her (people). Reply Parent Thread Link death you got the wrong trump. try again please, the one with orange skin. Reply Thread Link @God, you missed again Reply Thread Link God is really out here playing games with our emotions. Reply Thread Link Right? Like, you take Betty White and leave us Donald Trump? Not funny. Not cool. Reply Parent Thread Link Lets never forget that a-the whole family is horrible and b-in her divorce deposition she accused him of rping her and a separate occurrence of him being mad about a hair transplant Dr she recommended to him because the he felt the Dr did a poor job thus he grabbed her by her hair and pulled some out by the scalp. *his attorney said that a husband cant rpe his own wife Reply Thread Link Mmmhmmm Reply Parent Thread Link OMG I didn't know that about the attorney!!! What the hell year did he think it was, 1901? Reply Parent Thread Link It was Michael Cohen lol Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Hate to break it to you, but marital rape was perfectly legal in all US states until 1974, only fully considered a crime in all states by 1993, and to this day some states treat marital rape as a less serious crime than other types of rape. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Their divorce was 1990-1991 and his divorce lawyer was Jay Goldberg (Michael Cohen was his fixer lawyer and only starting from 2006) Reply Parent Thread Link What stood out was that the rest wasn't denied. Reply Parent Thread Link can some details about tr*mp get revealed now that she isnt tied to any NDAs Reply Thread Link idk, let's ask her. i'll go grab my ouija board. Reply Parent Thread Link I meant like a journal or details left in a will lol Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Im crying lmao Reply Parent Thread Link Lmaoooo Reply Parent Thread Link Dear Death, your aim is still off Reply Thread Link And Orange Hitler still walks. Reply Thread Link old ppl falling down is no joke. my parents retired and bought a house with tons of stairs and even as a spry 20something I get nervous walking on them in certain shoes or while in a hurry. Im hoping they know when itll be time to get one of those seat machines before they take a spill Reply Thread Link my stairs are carpeted and last december, i was walking down them and got to maybe the fourth or fifth step from the bottom and i just slipped and slid hard the rest of the way down the stairs and into my front door. my whole backside was bruised and while i didn't break my toe, i still have residual pain from when it collided with the door. it's so frustrating because i was using my peloton treadmill daily and was feeling so good about how my running was coming along and that basically derailed my entire workout routine. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I literally missed ONE step at my sister's house (she accidentally turned off the light while trying to turn on the outside light) and I landed full weight wrong on my ankle. I was very lucky it wasn't broken. I had to do physical therapy and use crutches for months. Reply Parent Thread Link This happened to me a few days ago. Thankfully didnt break anything and actually didnt have very many bruises but my foot bent backward and my hands hurt from trying to grab at the railing and stairs. Had I tipped forward instead of backwards, it couldve been very bad. Glad youre (mostly) okay and hope you can get back to your workouts soon! Reply Parent Thread Link Oof yeah I lived in a group house that had a basement with what were in retrospect VERY unsafe stairs leading down - I think they were remarkably slippery and Im not even sure they had a railing? I walked down them in socks and fucked up my shoulder to the point I couldnt even wear a shirt properly for a few days. Luckily I was 25 and healed quickly but it scared me a lot, considering the only reason I ever went down there was to cart things like laundry and shit so it was all the more precarious Reply Parent Thread Link My dad broke his hip on stairs, just missing one step. It is scary for sure. Reply Parent Thread Link that happened to me and I had a huge bruise on my butt for what felt like months and an indent for at least a year Reply Parent Thread Link I absolutely understand your fears. Prior to my dad's health taking a turn for the worst (and he became bed bound), he would fall quite often. It's easy to get very paranoid. I do hope they decide to get a seat machine to make their lives easier. Also, that would probably help with preserving their knees for as long as possible. Reply Parent Thread Link My parents specifically wanted a downstairs bedroom even though they are in good shape and really most houses should have downstairs masters. Stairs are definitely risky the older you get. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Yeah I dont think people realize how common elderly are severely injured or have deaths related to bad falls. I fell down a flight of stairs a few years ago and luckily I didnt land wrong and seriously hurt myself but Ive been really cautious whenever Im going down a huge flight of stairs because I tend to fall a lot and I already have a bad back. Reply Parent Thread Link my mum fell over in our driveway this week and seriously fucked up her nose and got whiplash in her neck. She's in her seventies and it could have been so much worse Reply Parent Thread Link My boyfriend and I are currently trying to convince his parents to move out of their two story and into something smaller. His mom has already fallen multiple times - bruised and banged herself up pretty good. It's nerve-racking Reply Parent Thread Link I honestly have a huge fear of stairs. When I was 15 I fell down the stairs at school and knocked my tailbone out of place. I'm almost 30 now and still have chronic lower back pain. Reply Parent Thread Link As a kid, I didn't like one story houses just on principle. When my dad got sick, I worried about him going up and down the stairs. He got to the point where he would sleep upstairs (where all the bedrooms in the house are), walk downstairs in the morning, stay downstairs all day, and then walk up the stairs at night to go to sleep. An acquaintance of mine just moved his parents into a retirement community because their house is on a really steep hill and also has a very steep driveway. Even if you park in the garage, there are a lot of stairs to deal with (again, because the house is built on a hill). His parents are still pretty healthy but they're getting older (they're at least in their 70s). They discussed it as a family and decided that as sad as it was to sell the family home and do this, they'd rather be proactive about the situation instead of waiting until someone falls and breaks a hip in the driveway and then can't get around the house. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Yeah. Especially if youre living in an apartment complex with dim ceiling lightings thats bad for your eye sight yeah Reply Parent Thread Expand Link This is why my parents moved into a 1 story condo. No stairs allowed. My neighbor (late 60s) across the street rescued a beautiful pup (idk what mix of breed, but shes big and so loveable) right before the pandemic because she was feeling lonely. Not even 6mo later, the pup excitedly got in front of her and she fell and broke her hip. Had to give the pup back to the rescue and she was in rehab for 3mo. :( Just so damn scary. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link When my mom and dad were looking for houses to buy she made it a point to only look at single stories because she didnt want to have to deal with stairs late in life. Reply Parent Thread Link That's why my parents buy an apartment before they retire so they don't have to deal with stairs. My cousins who lives with their parents built an elevator inside the house too. Reply Parent Thread Link This terrifies me sbout my parents. Reply Parent Thread Link I know people think I'm strange because I always hold the railings whenever I'm walking up or down stairs. I feel safer doing it. And I sanitize my hands after or use my sleeves to hold on to the railing. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link For real, a lot of time someone falls and breaks a leg or a leg and it starts an immediate decline in their health that usually ends badly. IDK why it happens, but it does. Edited at 2022-07-16 07:57 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link My mom fell down the stairs. I heard it, had to call 911 so the paramedics could come get her. She broke her hip, had to have surgery, then it was a bit of a recovery, right after she had a walker and it was slow going. She has to hold the railing, not be carrying baskets of laundry. She was fortunate not to hit her head or anything. Reply Parent Thread Link The UK is home to some of the worlds leading fusion prospects, such as Tokamak Energy and First Light Fusion, both based in Oxford. The industry is quickly gaining traction as scientists hone in on new breakthroughs. Nuclear fusion has attracted more than $2.8 billion in new investment over the past year. Nuclear fusion has enjoyed a huge bump-up in global investment over the past 12 months, raising hopes of a breakthrough in clean energy technology. New industry figures reveal more has been poured into the sector over the past year than the previous ten combined, as first reported in The Telegraph. Fusion attracted $2.8bn [2.5bn] over the past year, compared to around $2bn over the previous decade. The Fusion Industry Association said more than 93p percent of companies that responded to its survey believe that fusion power will be feeding electricity into power grids by the 2030s. Producing energy through nuclear fusion has been a long-held ambition for scientists and energy experts, and has prominently featured in science fiction novels and movies. The process involves fusing nuclei together, which throws off energy which could then provide theoretically abundant energy on earth. Scientists have for decades tried to use nuclear fusion to produce electricity at a usable scale, however replicating the reaction on Earth is highly challenging, requiring vast amounts of heat and pressure. So far, they have not yet managed to produce more energy from the reaction than it takes to trigger the reaction. There are signs of progress, however, with scientists achieving a record 59 megajoules of energy in experiments at a facility in Culham, near Oxford earlier this year. This enough power to boil about 60 kettles. The UK is home to some of the worlds leading fusion prospects, such as Tokamak Energy and First Light Fusion, both based in Oxford. First Light Fusion raised $45m (33m) in February from investors including Chinese technology giant Tencent bringing outside backing for the venture to $107m. The Fusion Industry Association revealed eight new companies have entered the race for fusion over the past twelve months reflecting renewed optimism in the energy source. The UK Government backs the technology, with the UK Atomic Energy Authority working on plans for a prototype fusion power plant in the UK. By City AM More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Kimon C. Zachary, M.D., and Erica S. Shenoy, M.D., Ph.D., from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, conducted a rapid review of the literature to examine cases of transmission of monkeypox in health care settings outside endemic regions between 2000 and 2022, not including the current outbreak. Twelve studies were eligible for inclusion. The researchers identified cases that were part of the 2003 prairie dog-associated outbreak in the United States and outbreaks in various countries from 2018 to 2021 among travelers returning from endemic regions. Across reports, there was variation observed in definitions of exposures, as well as in descriptions of personal protective equipment used and risk stratification of exposed health care personnel (HCP). A single case of health care-associated transmission was described in the United Kingdom; this exposure was deemed high risk due to changing contaminated bedding when the patient had active lesions prior to isolation, while wearing a disposable apron and gloves but no face mask or respirator. The HCP received postexposure prophylaxis with the live attenuated vaccinia virus five to seven days after exposure and developed illness eight days after vaccine receipt. After more than two decades of city service, Franklin Thompson has announced his retirement. Thompson, a former member of the Omaha City Council and the current director of the Department of Human Rights and Relations, will leave his position at the end of the month. Gerald Kuhn, the departments assistant director, will serve as the interim department head as the Mayors Office conducts a nationwide search to find a successor. Thompson represented parts of west Omaha on the City Council for 16 years beginning in 2001. When his decision not to seek reelection in 2017 coincided with the resignation of the departments former director, Mayor Jean Stothert appointed Thompson to fill the position. The department is responsible for investigating discrimination complaints and civil rights violations, according to the city. It also promotes diversity via community outreach, administers the certification process for the Small and Emerging Business program, and monitors city contracts for compliance with economic inclusion requirements. It also plays a role in a misdemeanor diversion program created in 2021, according to the city. Reflecting on his tenure Friday, Thompson said two projects stand out as major successes. In conjunction with the Equal Justice Initiative, an organization based in Montgomery, Alabama, and the Omaha Community Council for Racial Justice and Reconciliation, the department worked to place historical markers honoring victims of racial violence in Omaha. Last year, the first marker was installed at the Douglas County Courthouse honoring Will Brown. Brown, a Black man, was brutally and publicly murdered by a White mob outside of the courthouse in 1919. Another marker to be erected on Oct. 7 will honor the lesser-known story of George Smith, who was lynched outside of the courthouse almost 30 years before Brown. The department also founded the Martin Luther King Jr. Living the Dream Competition, an annual event for middle and high schoolers in the metro area. Students compete for cash prizes by presenting short essays, spoken word poetry, original vocal and instrumental music, and dance performances that relate to themes of anti-racism, human rights and other socio-political issues. Im very proud of that competition, Thompson said. Before that, our interaction with the schools was mostly just resource officers. Though Thompson is retiring, hes not slowing down. He will continue working as a part-time instructor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha for at least one more year, teaching courses about multicultural education and race relations to future educators. He is also planning to release an autobiography in September. And though he doesnt have any concrete plans to get back into government, he hasnt ruled it out. Occasionally I get an inkling to want to run for the U.S. Senate, he said. But I want to wait to see if theres really a need and if theres support. Thompsons appointment in 2017 caused controversy after it was discovered that working in the position for just a few years would result in a significant boost to his city pension. He was set to receive roughly $13,200 each year in pension payments for his 16 years of City Council service. That number has nearly quintupled in the years Thompson has led the department. According to the Mayors Office, Thompsons monthly pension payments will be $5,450, adding up to $65,400 each year. His current annual salary is $151,507. Asked in 2017 about the increase, Thompson said that he wanted to focus on doing such a good job that the community would feel that he earned the six-figure salary and pension payments. Asked on Friday if he feels he lived up to that goal, he said yes. The mayor is very happy with what Ive done, and I think the community is, too, he said. In a statement Friday, Stothert said she was grateful for Thompsons friendship and his service to our city. Dr. Thompsons unique expertise in human relations, race relations, multicultural education, and counseling has been very beneficial, she said. cwalker1 Follow cwalker1 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 There you were, the night of November 22, 1987, hunkering down by the flickering light of your Curtis Mathis with a big bowl of cereal to watch that nights airing of "Doctor Who" on Chicago PBS affiliate WTTW. The episode, Horror of Fang Rock, a 1977 Tom Baker-era episode unseen by me as of this writing was cranking right along, until, during a scene with characters having a discussion in a lighthouse set so cheap that the real horror could have been the actors being avalanched by Styrofoam bricks if they bumped into a wall, the picture began to fuzz and then suddenly you found yourself staring at wait, Max? Is that you? Sure was. For someone in the Chicagoland area had managed to find a way to totally override WTTWs over-the-air signal, only a few hours after they had done the same thing, briefly, during WGNs nightly news. Now just imagine the night-shift engineers powerless to watch someone in a really creepy Max Headroom mask ranting incoherently about Chicago stuff like Chuck Swirsky and Worlds Greatest Newspaper nerds, humming the Clutch Cargo theme, and saying he either Stole CBS or can still see the x depending on what transcription you believe for nearly 30 seconds in front of a cleverly constructed rotating piece of corrugated metal meant to recreate the real Maxs rotating background of neon lines. Such things had happened before. Even as a kid I remember hearing about the Captain Midnight incident of 1986 where a disgruntled satellite engineer, also up in the Chicago area, usurped a late night HBO screening of The Falcon and the Snowman with color bars and a message protesting high fees for home satellite dish owners; and the even more crazy Vrillon incident of 1977 whereupon the audio of a Southern England TV broadcast was replaced by a statement from an alien representative of the Ashtar Galactic Command. But The Max Headroom Incident was big enough news to, indeed, make it all the way down to us here in the Journal on Nov. 24, with Decatur doing the same with a slightly longer piece that included a terrifying screenshot of the pirate broadcast in question. The Pantagraph didnt mention it at all until December, in a blurb within Bill Flicks column, All the News You might have missed, Unfortunately that helpfully addresses one of the incidents, lets just say, more PG-13 moments, so that I can bring it up just by quoting him as saying, (the man in) The Max Headroom Mask, repeatedly uttered ca-ca-ca-catch the wave while being spanked on the buttocks with a flyswatter by someone standing off camera. Max actually only said catch the wave once, Bill, but youre right about the flyswatter part. Well get back to that. These days the Max Headroom Incident is Weird Media 101, so much so that finding yourself in a group of know-it-all dudes and not knowing about it is akin to, say not knowing that Hall and Oates was only ever credited as Daryl Hall and John Oates, or speaking as if you know a thing about The Rime of the Ancient Mariner in front of a bunch of professors even though youve never really read it. Im guilty of one of those. Now that youre up to speed, mostly, if youd like to read more about it in the afterschool special sense, feel free to freak yourself out by looking up the footage. Its all online, thanks to, as the above articles mentioned, the efforts of all those "Doctor Who" nerds of the 80s who were home taping episodes the same way that I used to make audiocassette recordings of early 90s hipster programs like Get A Life and The Ben Stiller Show to listen to on my Walkman during vacation trips, or how youre gently clipping all my columns and running them through a laminator each week. While doing that, youre going to run into a lot of internet experts who all think theyre the first person to discover it. Skip all of them and check out The Oddity Archive, a favorite YouTube channel of mine, run by a former Illinoisan I believe; a wellspring for fascinating excursions into junky old tech like baking videotape in a food dehydrator to restore it or trying to get old Massey Ferguson advertising materials to play back on a reel to reel, all while half-hidden behind the top of a cardboard box. Its in episode 137 that he re-visits The Max Headroom video, from the correct perspective that its been talked about plenty enough already, and thus hones in on the last few important clues that remain: you can see some canisters and shelving in the background; there were probably three people involved (Max, the cameraman, and the girl holding the flyswatter, who was probably the one turning the background because its not spinning at the time of the concluding um ... swatting); it was probably shot on higher-grade consumer equipment because the one edit in the piece, again, the swatting, was so clean; and an assumption that the video was probably transmitted in progress, before reasoning that the incident could have been carried out by persons in a building nearby, with homemade equipment and just enough power, as long as they had a clear line of sight to the transmitter. Max and his fellow video pirates remain unknown. Weird, since these days everyone wants credit for any small bit of notoriety they achieve. Who knows, they may be reading this right now. In fact, if nothing Im saying is making any sense, because every paragraph between the first one and last one has been a big picture of Max Headroom laughing at you, then it looks like hes struck again, and sorry if he ruined your Throwback Machine scrapbook. BLOOMINGTON The second annual Carnival of Care welcomed families to Mid Central Community Action on Saturday for a day of free games and prizes. The carnival is also a fundraising event for the Mayors Manor, an apartment complex for people who are struggling with homelessness. Theresa Marlett, building coordinator at Mayors Manor, said the complex performs many functions. "We're there to do case management with them, teach them life skills and just want to see them succeed," Marlett said. "We teach them anything they need, we help them with counseling. I treat them as my family: 'I want you to treat me the way I treat you.'" Marlett said the purpose is to help underserved community members: "My success is seeing them succeed." Mayors Manor was originally built for then-Bloomington Mayor James Costello in the 1800s. In the 1940s, another Bloomington mayor, Walt Bittner, lived there. According to MCCA's website, when the Bittners moved out in 1998, they gave it to the city to "serve a community purpose." That community purpose is fighting homelessness. "We have 26 tenants in our building," Marlett said. "We just want the community to know that we're there." Joey Keller, senior relationship and resource developer for MCCA, said at first, the carnival was not about Mayors Manor. "The idea of the carnival came from a leadership institute through Neighborworks," Keller said. The funding was to be for a health fair in west Bloomington, he said. "But that evolved from a community event to a community event and a fundraiser event for us," Keller said. He said MCCA already has fundraising for their other programs, but did not have one for Mayors Manor. The carnival featured nine games this year, nonprofit community engagement agencies, as well as sandwiches and snacks. Keller said everyone who attended received a card to play all games free one time, with additional plays for $1. There also was a dunk tank where carnival goers could pay $5 for three tries to hit the target. Keller said they would raffle off prizes, which were not announced at the time of publishing. Carnival volunteer Karisma Morris-Bush said community engagement is important to her. "To me, it's just serving our community for a better opportunity...Bloomington-Normal does an exceptional job at being inclusive," she said. Marlett said one of the most important functions of Mayors Manor is community engagement. "If we want to do activities with the tenants out in the community, (the fundraiser) helps pay for that," she said. Sometimes, Marlett said, this looks like routine, daily functions. "We teach them if they need help cleaning their room, or if they need help getting out into the community, getting dentist appointments made, going to the doctor," she said. "If they just need somebody to sit down and talk with them because they're having a bad day, that's where I step in and I help." She said sometimes this process gets emotional. "One of my tenants, he came in and was struggling really bad and was always told that he can't do nothing in his life," she said. "And he got his welding certificate. "I cried. He made me cry for that," she said, laughing. "He went and got his certificate and showed me that he graduated." Editor's note: An earlier version of this story had the wrong name for Theresa Marlett. This version has been corrected. BLOOMINGTON Saturdays arrangement of the first Regency-era Promenade and Picnic event in Bloomingtons Franklin Park was really just a matter of chance. Popularized by Jane Austens literary works and other media, fans came from as far as the Quad Cities to experience a reawakening of early 19th century British culture by donning their best garbs and dresses. Tamar Ruehrdanz, who was sporting her middle name as her character name "Lady Rebekah," said she mentioned to her mother they should hold a promenade. And once it was in Susan Langes head, the daughter said: That was it. After attendees sauntered down the park paths, lined with colorful pinwheels, the guests were formally presented to Lange, who acted in dress as the Duchess of Gloucester. They were provided refreshments, a small flower arrangement, offered professional photo shoots, and invited to relax and socialize over a picnic. Also provided were activities like "battledore and shuttlecock," a game thats similar to badminton but doesnt use a net or boundaries. And there was pall mall," a croquet-like game that uses only starting and ending hoops. Lange said they had a modest but dedicated group of enthusiasts attend. She said she wanted to do something happy and sweet. One group of attendees included Rock Island married couple Christina and Robert Conklin, who are both retired librarians. Mr. Conklin went in character as "Captain Robert Conklin." And he was accompanied by Mrs. Robert Conklin. "Captain Robert Conklin" said hes an English captain who recently came back from Canada, which was involved in a border dispute with the U.S. Christina Conklin said they both love history, and Austen is a favorite author of hers. She also said dressing up helps put things into perspective. Having your dresses really restrict how you move, following certain etiquette restricts what you can do and say, and it made me really appreciate the rights that women have today, she said, because women didn't have very many rights. She added another fact was how women were so dependent on who they married, as she lovingly embraced her husband. Conklin also said it was so brave to start something like this. And, she said meeting the Duchess was worth the two-hour trip from the Quad Cities. Attending as well were Curt Roof, of Bloomington, and Emma Dorantes, of Champaign. Roof noted that pockets of nerd culture and fandoms can be found in the Twin Cities, from the Steampunk Festival to programming at Red Raccoon Games. He said Bloomington-Normal is a nice central hub for these events. Dorantes said it was a good crowd for a first-time event. Another pair at the promenade were Springfields Sarah Adams and Bryanna Tidmarsh, of Normal. Adams, whose Regency name is "Countess Sarah of Laurel," said she really loves Jane Austen. Her favorite book is "Northanger Abbey," she said, but she does love all of them. Adams said she started going to Jane Austen events in 2018. The whole atmosphere is just really fun, she said. In character that day as "Lady Bry of Manchester," Tidmarsh said she really enjoyed spending time with Adams, adding they went to the Bridgerton Ball in Chicago together. She also said that dressing up, wearing cute things and going out for a picnic makes for a magical day. Busy bees Ruehrdanz said her mother is someone whos always doing things and she absolutely loves hosting, creating events and experiences. She said when the event idea came up, they were discussing Netflix show Bridgerton, which shares the Regency time period, but is a separate book series from Austens works. Ruehrdanz said the Netflix show has opened the Regency era to a more popular audience. Both organizers hope to do another Regency event in the future, but it may not be until May. Lange said theyre considering renting out the Vrooman Mansion for a proper ball. CHICAGO - Four Cook County employees committed financial fraud directed at the federal government by wrongly collecting roughly $120,000 in payroll protection plan loans intended to help businesses survive the pandemic, according to a new report from the countys inspector general. The allegations stem from the first of several pending investigations involving dual employment and PPP Loan applications taken by employees in all offices of Cook County government, Patrick Blanchard, head of the Office of the Independent Inspector General, said in an email to the Tribune. Blanchards office recommended the four employees be placed on the countys do not rehire list, and has been in contact with both federal and state officials regarding this line of OIIG investigations, Blanchard said. The employees were not named in the report. But it noted that three work in offices under Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle that handle sensitive financial matters, while a fourth works at the countys Board of Review. The federal paycheck protection program was rife with fraud, with some experts estimating $80 billion in loans was stolen nationally as the government rushed to get financial relief to struggling businesses during the height of the pandemic. As of March, a Justice Department crackdown has led to just 120 defendants being charged with PPP fraud. The county IGs investigation looked into whether county employees who filed for PPP loans complied with the countys rules on outside employment or any other personnel rules. They found that a Department of Revenue employee received two PPP loans that totaled nearly $39,000 by saying she was self-employed, according to the report. That employee later admitted that she falsely claimed to own a business that did not exist in order to obtain funds through a federal PPP loan, and improperly spending those funds on personal expenses, the report stated. The worker violated countys personnel rules around conduct unbecoming of employees, the report said. She also violated the countys use of technology policy, admitting she used the county printer and computers to perpetuate her PPP loan fraud activities, according to the report. Two employees of the county comptrollers office, which handles payroll and other financial matters, were cited in the report. One of the employees obtained a $20,832 PPP loan by claiming to be the sole proprietor of an unnamed business. That employee admitted that she misrepresented information about her business and its operations in her PPP application, including inflating its gross receipts so she would qualify for a larger PPP loan, the report said. All the figures she conveyed about her business . were arbitrary figures which did not represent any actual business that she conducted in 2020, according to the report. The employee admitted using the money for personal family vacations on several occasions, the report says. She also had failed to report to the county that she had a second job, the report said. The second employee at the comptrollers office, a payroll supervisor, signed two loan applications falsely stating that she owned a business that paid her a salary of $107,000 in order to obtain $41,510 in PPP loans. The supervisor is experienced in tax and financial matters and knew it would be wrong for her to spend the loan money, the report said. The Board of Review employee admitted to making false statements on an application to get $18,750 in PPP loan funds, and falsified information in a second application when the first was denied. After it was accepted, she spent the money on travel, according to the report. In an email, Preckwinkle spokesman Nick Shields said, We typically do not discuss personnel matters. We just received the report and are reviewing it accordingly. We will subsequently assess how to move forward. William OShields, a spokesman for the Board of Review, said the employee in question voluntarily resigned in June without mentioning the investigation. The office will follow up with county human resources officials about placing that employee on the do not hire list, he said. Blanchard said the county has 45 days to act on the recommendations, and that he has been informed that the disciplinary proceedings are underway. A notorious drug lord on the FBI's 10 most wanted list was detained on Friday in an operation that ended in tragedy when 14 Marines who assisted in his capture were killed in a helicopter crash, Mexican Navy officials said. Rafael Caro Quintero was detained by Marines after he was found hiding in bushes by a navy dog in the town of San Simon, Choix municipality, in the northwestern state of Sinaloa, according to a Mexican Navy statement. Caro Quintero, known as the "narco of drug traffickers," is considered by Mexican authorities to be the founder of the Guadalajara cartel. They accuse him of trafficking methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and marijuana. The Mexican Navy Black Hawk helicopter crashed in Los Mochis, Sinaloa following the operation to capture him, according to the statement. One other Marine was injured and remains in hospital. The cause of the crash was unknown and an investigation would take place, the statement added. Caro Quintero, whose exact age is unknown but is believed to be in his 60s, is wanted by US authorities for allegedly kidnapping and conspiring to murder Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Enrique Camarena Salazar in 1985. Camarena Salazar was kidnapped, tortured and murdered in retaliation for a raid in 1984 of Caro Quintero's 2,500-acre marijuana farm by Mexican authorities, according to the DEA. The events were serialized in the Netflix drama "Narcos: Mexico." Caro Quintero spent 28 years in prison in Mexico for his role in the murder before he was released on a technicality in 2013. The Mexican Supreme Court later overturned the decision that freed him. Read Full Story .... HERE >>> : Source: CNN 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 Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central Constituency has advised Ghanaian youth to sacrifice their spending for today and enjoy the benefits tomorrow. He emphasized: If you sacrifice today's spending for tomorrow you will succeed,' but that requires the individual to wake up and take his/her destiny into his/her own hands through hard work, honesty and the ability to save and make investments. According to him, there could be risk-taking alongside it, though they were bound to succeed. Mr Agyapong, also a business mogul gave the advice at the fourth in the series of Guidance Conference held in Sunyani on the theme 'The Youth: Our Future Hope'. The conference is an initiative by the MP and designed to instill hope in the youth by using his life as an example and other well-established personalities sharing their life experience for the youth to emulate. Mr Agyapong encouraged the youth never to give up in life, but must always persevere, saying the Government could not employ all the graduates and must, therefore push hard because once there is life, there is hope. He stated that most of the youth who went through challenges and could stand the test were the ones who possessed potential and abilities to succeed in life. 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 General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called for a comprehensive and integrated approach to tackling child labour in the fishing and farming communities. Mr Andrews Tagoe, Deputy General Secretary of GAWU who made the call, said it was important for effective collaboration between government agencies, NGOs, Civil Society Organizations and Trade unions to initiate and implement efficient strategies that would help eliminate child labour in Ghanaian society. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Kumasi, Mr Tagoe said effective collaboration was crucial in addressing child labour in the informal sector. He said the International Labour Organisation, (ILO), had indicated that the informal economy had implications for policy and administration in respect of employment, social security, health and safety as well as migration, education, employment relations and microeconomic policy. Its therefore important for government agencies which were mandated to address these issues, to find a way of sharing information and better coordinate their activities with other organizations in the sector to achieve positive results, Mr Tagoe advised. He called on trade union educators to collaborate with government actors at the national, district and village levels to work towards eliminating child labour on farms. Trade unions have a role to play in cooperating with government agencies and organised non-governmental organisations in ensuring that the appropriate labour inspection and regulatory systems identify those subjected to forced labour. Mr Tagoe said preventing hazardous work was particularly important in rural communities where forced labour often occurred on farms, quarries, and mining sites that were remote and hard to reach, He called on the media to allow some time to raise awareness on child labour issues to help educate the public on its effect on the economy and society. 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 U.S. may train Ukrainian pilots on F-15, F-16 fighter jets Xinhua) 10:14, July 16, 2022 KIEV, July 15 (Xinhua) -- The United States may train Ukrainian pilots on F-15 and F-16 fighter jets, Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, said on Friday. The U.S. House of Representatives has approved an amendment to the U.S. defense budget for the 2023 fiscal year that will enable the beginning of the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-15 and F-16 jets, Yermak wrote on Telegram. The training program for the Ukrainian pilots will cost 100 million U.S. dollars, Yermak said. Earlier in the day, Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova said that the U.S. defense budget bill for 2023 envisages allocating Ukraine 1 billion dollars in security aid in the 2023 fiscal year, which runs between Oct. 1, 2022, and Sept. 30, 2023. To take effect, the draft law must be passed by the U.S. Senate and signed by U.S. President Joe Biden. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji) A white woman who attacked a Staff at the Kotoka International Airport in Ghana has been arrested. In a statement issued by Ghana Airports Company Limited over the incident, it was disclosed that the lady whose identity is yet to be revealed has been arrested by the Ghana Police and is now in their custody. Giving more details on the incident, the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) said the attendant clamped her vehicle after she refused to move. The lady who got enraged by this got down from her car, removed the clamp and threw it at the car park attendant, injuring him in the process. View this post on Instagram A post shared by (@utvghana) Source: UTV 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 Delegates have started voting in the ongoing NPP Delegate Congress to elect new party national leaders. At least 306 delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have been barred from taking part in the party's National Executive Elections to elect its executives for the next four years. This reduces the total number of delegates for the election from 6,730 to 6,439. The Chairman of the National Election Committee of the NPP, Peter Mac Manu, who disclosed this said the affected delegates include the Tertiary Students Confederacy (TESCON)) delegates and some local proxy delegates. 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 President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said the Free Senior High School programme will not be cancelled despite the economic challenges. He said he wants every child to be in school. Government will continue to intervene and remain responsible for the provision of free, quality basic and secondary education for all. Education should be a right for all of Ghanas youth. Education is the equalizer for opportunities. I want every child to be in school not only for what they learn in the books but also the life experiences that they will gain, he said at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), in Ho, on Friday, July 15 when he attended the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the University. UHAS is pursuing aggressively the realisation of its agenda of becoming our nations pre-eminent health learning and teaching institution, dedicated to research and community service. Mr Akufo-Addo said the evidence is in the great strides it has chalked in health research, in being ranked amongst the top three (3) Universities in Ghana, and, also, being named number one in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2022 in the SDG-3 category in Ghana. The President in a Facebook post after the event said I also inspected ongoing work on $60 million Phase Two Expansion Project of the University, whose sod I cut in September last year. As a demonstration of our commitment to this project, Government has made available GH6.2 million of counterpart funding for the preliminary works, which covers extension of electricity, municipal water supply, construction of storm and waste drains, and all ancillary services required for the project implementation. Eight months on, I am happy to note that the Phase II Project, which will accommodate the Central Administration of the University and the School of Nursing and Midwifery, is progressing steadily according to schedule. Some thirty-six percent (36.3%) of work has been completed, and, at this rate, I am convinced that work will be completed on time. 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 After hours of delay, finally, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has begun its National Delegates Conference scheduled for Saturday, July 16. The main activities for the conference kickstarted at around 2:15pm with scenes of the various aspirants for the national executive positions walking through the stands amidst ecstatic cheers from the delegates and supporters. This was after the MC, Anthony Abayifa Karbo called the conference to order. The Vice President of the Republic, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia arrived at about 2:35pm to thunderous cheers from party activists. The arrival of the President, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is eagerly being anticipated. For now it still remains unclear when voting and subsequent collation of ballots will happen. The National Delegates Conference is under the theme "Holding Together, Working Together". At exactly, 2:56pm, the opening prayers were said by one Bishop Ayeh, and this was after President Akufo-Addo strode unto the pitch amidst massive adulation from the supporters herein gathered. #NPPNationalDelegatesConference Arrival of high profile members pic.twitter.com/TnefnUW2Up Peace FM Online (@peacefmonline) July 16, 2022 More soon........ 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 There have been calls for the resignation of the finance minister after he stated that Ghana was not going to the IMF but made a U-turn to seek an IMF bailout. Speaking at the ongoing New Patriotic Party (NPP) annual national delegates conference in Accra on July 16, Ofori-Atta said I will not resign. According to him, resigning at this time can be likened to an abandonment of children by a father. It is almost like telling a father to resign from his children because he changed his mind. There are times that decisions have to be made for the survival of a country and therefore if circumstances such as COVID or the Ukraine war occur which are not typical, it does change the environment, and sensible people will change their minds, Ofori-Atta added. However, the Finance Ministry stated that the governments decision to go to the IMF is to help shore up the countrys foreign reserves. The engagement with the IMF will seek to provide balance-of-payments support as part of a broader effort to quicken Ghanas build-back in the face of challenges induced by the COVID-19 pandemic and, recently, the Russia-Ukraine crises, an earlier government statement read. A statement by the team from the International Monetary Fund led by Carlo Sdralevich after concluding its engagements with the government of Ghana noted that Ghana's debt situation is worrying. Ghana is facing a challenging economic and social situation amid an increasingly difficult global environment. The fiscal and debt situation has severely worsened following the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, investors concerns have triggered credit rating downgrades, capital outflows, loss of external market access, and rising domestic borrowing costs. 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 woman dressed up as Marianne, a woman symbol of the French republic since the 1789 revolution, holds a French flag during a May Day demonstration in Marseille, southern France, May 1, 2022. Two landmark new studies in France are busting myths about immigration, at a time when xenophobic far-right discourse has gained ground, highlighting that immigration is melting into society but also pointing out persistent discrimination against some groups with immigrant backgrounds. Credit: AP Photo/Daniel Cole, File Two landmark new studies in France are bursting myths about immigration at a time when xenophobic far-right discourse has gained ground. They show that the children of immigrants are increasingly melting into French society but some with African and Asian backgrounds face persistent discrimination. Karima Simmou, a 20-year-old French-Moroccan student at the prestigious Paris university Sciences Po, embodies the phenomenon. She comes from a working-class family of eight children, with a mother who raised the family and a father who worked as a miner in western France. She was pushed by her family to go to the elite school. "As a child of immigrants my parents, from their experience, told me that I needed to do more than others to succeed," Simmou told The Associated Press. Advocates who fight discrimination welcomed the new data published this month that gives a rare insight because France follows a universalist vision that doesn't differentiate citizens by ethnic groups. The surveys published by the state statistics agency and the French state Institute for Demographic Studies, Ined, provide national data and statistics about the path of immigrants to France, their children andfor the first timetheir grandchildren. It's an updated and more extensive version of a similar survey made 10 years ago. It includes a representative sample of more than 27,000 people drawn from the national census who responded to extensive questions about topics such as family life, income and religion from July 2019 to November 2020. One of the reports found that a large swath of France's population has an immigrant ancestoran estimated 32% of people under 60and that children and grandchildren of immigrants are increasingly integrated into French society. Nonetheless, immigration isn't evenly spread across France. Patrick Simon, one of the Ined researchers, said that about 70% of France's population aged under 60 has no immigrant heritage over the past three generations and that ethnic diversity depends heavily on where in France people live. The report brushed aside the "great replacement," a false claim propagated by some extreme-right figures that the white populations of France and other Western countries are being overrun by non-white immigrants. "Population with immigrant backgrounds share a profound bond with the population who have no direct immigrant parentage. In every family, people have a less or more direct link with immigration," Simon told The AP. Over the generations, the immigrant heritage is diluted, the survey notes. It found that 66% of people with at least one immigrant parent are married to people without recent immigrant heritage, while nine out of 10 people of France's third generation of immigrant families have only one or two immigrant grandparents. French immigration covers a wide range of origins, partly reflecting the country's colonial history. Young generations with immigrant backgrounds tend to have North African or sub-Saharan roots while older ones tend to have European roots. The survey said 83% of people under 18 in France who have at least one immigrant parent trace their origins to countries outside Europe, especially Africa. In contrast, more than 90% of second-generation immigrants over age 60 have Italian, Spanish, Polish, Belgian, German or other European parents. A crowd watch French President Emmanuel Macron and centrist candidate for reelection arriving in the village of Spezet, Brittany, April 5, 2022. Two landmark new studies in France are busting myths about immigration, at a time when xenophobic far-right discourse has gained ground, highlighting that immigration is melting into society but also pointing out persistent discrimination against some groups with immigrant backgrounds.Credit: AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez, File The children and grandchildren of immigrants from Africa and Asia are well integrated in the French educational system compared with their elders, according to another report. Data show they have increasingly higher education levels than their parents, though many struggle to attain comparable educational levels to French people without immigrant heritage. And getting jobs is harder, too: 60% of those with non-European roots hold intermediate or high-level jobs, compared with 70% of French people without direct immigrant kinship. Ined researcher Mathieu Ichou noted two possible explanations for the hiring discrepancy. "Several surveys, data and audit studies backed up that hiring is not favorable to minorities, and they experience discrimination. France is pretty bad regarding this issue, compared to other European countries," he said. Also, Ichou said, "minorities tend to be underrepresented in the French elite schools." Simmou joined Sciences Po thanks to a special program for students from underprivileged areas. But she is well aware that her journey is exemplary and unusual. Goundo Diawara, an educational adviser and member of a union of parents in working-class neighborhood schools with large immigrant communities, is a firsthand witness of how France's school system fails to eradicate inequality. "In daily life, we report issues like the struggle with orientation in schools in underprivileged areas. Most of the time, these students don't know these elite schools. In addition, having a child who is doing long studies costs more for poor families," she told the AP. Still, she praised the two reports for providing "useful resources." Even though Simmou has been studying at one of France's most prestigious universities for three years, she still feels a gap between herself and her classmates. "During my second year at Sciences Po, people reminded me that I have immigrant roots, trying to put me in a box, whereas I want to choose who I want to be," she said. But the 20-year-old hopes that her journey will inspire others. "If we don't set examples to hold on to, it is difficult to widen our horizons and imagine another future," she said. Explore further Age of oldest child key to unlocking immigration mobility within Canada 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. In this handout photo released by Roscosmos, Russian space agency Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina trains during preparation for space mission at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre (GCTC) in the Star City, outside Moscow, Russia Friday, July 8, 2022. U.S. astronaut Frank Rubio will launch to the space station from Kazakhstan with two Russians in September. That same month, Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina will join two Americans and one Japanese aboard a SpaceX rocket flying from Florida. (Irina Spektor, Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre (GCTC), Roscosmos space agency, via AP) NASA astronauts will go back to riding Russian rockets under an agreement announced Friday, and Russian cosmonauts will catch lifts to the International Space Station with SpaceX beginning this fall. The agreement ensures that the space station will always have at least one American and Russian on board to keep both sides of the orbiting outpost running smoothly, according to NASA and Russian officials. The swap had long been in the works and was finalized despite tensions over Moscow's war in Ukraine, a sign of continuing Russia-U.S. cooperation in space. U.S. astronaut Frank Rubio will launch to the space station from Kazakhstan with two Russians in September. That same month, Russian cosmonaut, Anna Kikina, will join two Americans and one Japanese aboard a SpaceX rocket flying from Florida. Another crew swap will occur next spring. No money will exchange hands under the agreement, according to NASA. NASA astronauts routinely launched on Russian Soyuz rocketsfor tens of millions of dollars apieceuntil SpaceX started flying station crews from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in 2020. Russian cosmonauts rode to the space station on NASA's shuttles back in the early 2000s. Before that, during the 1990s, astronauts and cosmonauts took turns flying on each other's spacecraft to and from Russia's Mir station. In this photo provided by NASA, backdropped against clouds over Earth, the International Space Station is seen from Space Shuttle Discovery as the two orbital spacecraft accomplish their relative separation on March 7, 2011. It was announced Friday, July 15, 2022, that NASA astronauts will go back to riding Russian rockets under a new agreement. At the same time, Russian cosmonauts will launch aboard U.S. rockets to the International Space Station beginning this fall. Credit: NASA via AP, File In this handout photo released by Roscosmos, Russian space agency Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina trains during preparation for space mission at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre (GCTC) in the Star City, outside Moscow, Russia Friday, July 8, 2022. U.S. astronaut Frank Rubio will launch to the space station from Kazakhstan with two Russians in September. That same month, Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina will join two Americans and one Japanese aboard a SpaceX rocket flying from Florida. (Irina Spektor, Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre (GCTC), Roscosmos space agency, via AP) Friday's news came just hours after the blustery chief of the Russian space agency, Dmitry Rogozin, was replaced by President Vladimir Putin, although the move did not appear to have any connection to the crew swap. Rogozin was expected to be given a new post. NASA said the agreement will "ensure continued safe operations" of the space station and protect those living on board. Seven people are up there right now: three Americans and one Italian who flew up with SpaceX and three Russians who arrived in a Soyuz. Explore further US renews space flights with Russia in rare cooperation 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. The meteorite NWA 7034, nicknamed Black Beauty, has fascinated geologists since it was discovered in the Sahara Desert in 2011. Scientists announced Tuesday they had found the crater from which the oldest known Martian meteorite was originally blasted towards Earth, a discovery that could provide clues into how our own planet was formed. The meteorite NWA 7034, nicknamed Black Beauty, has fascinated geologists since it was discovered in the Sahara Desert in 2011. It fits easily in the hand, weighing just over 300 grams (10.6 ounces), and contains a mix of materials including zircons, which date back nearly 4.5 billion years. "That makes it one of the oldest rocks studied in the history of geology," Sylvain Bouley, a planetary scientist at France's Paris-Saclay University, told AFP. Its journey dates back to the solar system's infancy, "about 80 million years after the planets began forming", said Bouley, who co-authored a new study on the meteorite. The distribution of 90 million craters on the surface of Mars obtained from the Crater Detection Algorithm. Colors indicate crater size and their intensities are linked to the crater density on the surface. Blue spots and rayed patterns are associated with the youngest and largest craters formed on the surface. The red circle pinpoint the Karratha crater that has ejected the Black Beauty meteorite. Credit: Lagain et al, Curtin University Tectonic plates long ago covered up Earth's ancient crust, meaning that "we have lost this primitive history of our planet", Bouley said. But Black Beauty could offer "an open book on a planet's first moments", he added. To open that book, a team of researchers at Australia's Curtin University set out to find the meteorite's original home on Mars. They knew that it was likely an asteroid hitting the red planet that sent Black Beauty shooting up into space. The impact "had enough force to eject the rocks at very high speedmore than five kilometers (three miles) a secondto escape the Martian gravity", Curtin's Anthony Lagain, the lead author of the study in Nature Communications, told AFP. Such a crater would have to be massiveat least three kilometers in diameter. The problem? The pockmarked surface of Mars has around 80,000 craters at least that big. Following the clues But the researchers had a clue: by measuring Black Beauty's exposure to cosmic rays, they knew it was dislodged from its first home around five million years ago. "So, we were looking for a crater that was very young and large," Lagain said. Another clue was that its composition showed it had suddenly heated up around 1.5 million years agolikely by the impact of a second asteroid. The team then created an algorithm and used a supercomputer to trawl through images of 90 million craters taken by a NASA satellite. That narrowed it down to 19 craters, allowing the researchers to rule out the remaining suspects. They found that Black Beauty was dug up from its first home by an asteroid that struck around 1.5 billion years ago, forming the 40-kilometer Khujirt crater. Then a few million years ago, another asteroid hit not far away, creating the 10-kilometer Karratha crater and shooting the Black Beauty towards Earth. The region in Mars' southern hemisphere is rich in the elements potassium and thorium, just like Black Beauty. Another factor was that Black Beauty is the only Martian meteorite that is highly magnetized. "The region where Karratha was found is the most magnetized on Mars," Lagain said. Known as the Terra CimmeriaSirenum province, it is "a relic of the early crustal processes on Mars, and thus, a region of high interest for future missions," the study said. Bouley pointed to a "bias" in the currently planned missions to Mars in favor of searching for signs of water and life. But to understand how planets first form would answer some fundamental questions, Lagain said, including "how Earth became such an exceptional planet in the Universe". Explore further Machine learning identifies crater that ejected famous Martian rock More information: Anthony Lagain, Early crustal processes revealed by the ejection site of the oldest martian meteorite, Nature Communications (2022). www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-31444-8 Journal information: Nature Communications Anthony Lagain, Early crustal processes revealed by the ejection site of the oldest martian meteorite,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31444-8 2022 AFP Armies of firefighters battled blazes in France, Portugal and Spain as Britain braced for 'extreme heat' Southwest Europe baked under sweltering temperatures on Friday for a fifth day, with the heat sparking devastating wildfires, forcing the evacuations of thousands and ruining holidays. Armies of firefighters battled blazes in France, Portugal and Spain as Britain braced for "extreme heat" in coming days and even Irish forecasters predicted a taste of blistering Mediterranean-style summer temperatures. As French President Emmanuel Macron vowed authorities would do everything to mobilise resources to fight the fallout, the Bordeaux public prosecutor indicated a "criminal" origin was its main line of inquiry for at least one fire near the southwestern city. The furnace engulfing swathes of southwest Europe is the second in weeks, with scientists blaming climate change and predicting more frequent and intense episodes of extreme weather. In Portugal, five regions in the centre and northwhere temperatures hit a July record 47 Celsius on Thursday before dropping back were on red alert again Friday as more than 2,000 firefighters tackled four major blazes. A plane that was battling forest fires in the Braganca region crashed on Friday near Vila Nova de Foz Coa in northern Portugal, killing its pilot, the civil defence said. As of late Thursday, the fires had killed one person and injured around 60. Nearly 900 people had been evacuated and several dozen homes damaged or destroyed, authorities said. Wildfires have destroyed 30,000 hectares (75,000 acres) of land this year, the largest area since Portugal's horrific summer of 2017 when around 100 people died. Southern France, battling temperatures around 40C is bracing for more heat next week with 16 departments already on orange, a severe alert. In neighbouring Spain, where temperatures were as high as 37C by 7:00 am, a fire that broke out Thursday near the Monfrague National Park, a protected area renowned for wildlife in the Extremadura region, continued to blaze. Spanish authorities reported close to 20 fires still raging out of control with one near Mijas in the deep south, inland from regional capital Malaga, forcing some 2,300 people to evacuate their homes. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez tweeted he was "closely following the evolution of active fires" posing an "extreme risk". The mercury reached 45.4C in Spain on Thursday, shy of the all-time high of 47.4C registered in August last year. In southwestern France, flames have destroyed some 7,700 hectares since Tuesday and forced the evacuation of 11,000 peopleincluding many holidaymakers who decided to abandon their vacation rather than remain in makeshift shelters set up by local authorities. Southern France, battling temperatures around 40C on Friday, is bracing for more heat next week with 16 departments already on orange, a severe alert. Across the Mediterranean, authorities said one person was found dead in northern Morocco as forest fires raged. Authorities also evacuated hundreds of people from more than a dozen villages in northwestern Morocco. Heatwave in Europe. 'Post-apocalyptic' One fire was raging in pine forests near France's Dune du Pilat, Europe's tallest sand dune and a magnet for tourists. "I've never seen this before and you get the feeling that it's post-apocalyptic," said resident Karyn on Thursday shortly before the preventative evacuation order at Cazaux village near the dune. Fire commander Laurent Dellac spoke of "tunnels of fire" around Teste-de-Buch, in the middle of the Landes forest to Bordeaux's southwestalthough nobody was reported hurt. "The blazes are still not under control, and unfortunately conditions are windy again," firefighter spokesman Matthieu Jomain told AFP. Britain's meteorological agency meanwhile issued its first ever "red" warning for exceptional heat with nights exceptionally warm. The Met Office said there was a 50 percent chance on Monday or Tuesday of temperatures topping 40C for the first time, and an 80 percent chance that the country's previous record of 38.7C set in 2019 will be exceeded. Tourists watch dark smoke from the pier in Andernos-les-Bains, France due to a wildfire near La Teste in the southwest of the country. 'Risk to life' UK hospitals have warned of a surge in heat-related admissions and train operators have told passengers to expect cancellations. The Irish meteorological office issued a weather warning for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday with "exceptionally warm weather". A high of 32C was possible on Monday, Met Eireann said, just short of Ireland's record high 33.3C set in 1887. Belgian authorities said they expected much higher temperatures next week, with a high of 38C in parts of the country forecast for Tuesday. Scientists blame the increasing regularity of heatwaves on global warming. "Climate change is driving this heatwave, just as it is driving every heatwave now," said Friederike Otto, senior lecturer in climate science at the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London. "Greenhouse gas emissions, from burning fossil fuels like coal, gas and oil, are making heatwaves hotter, longer-lasting and more frequent," she said. Explore further Southwest Europe swelters as wildfires burn 2022 AFP Donald R. Martin III, 36, was sentenced in Saratoga County Court on Monday to 2 to 4 years in prison for possessing a loaded handgun in a vehicle at his residence. He was arrested back in December. Martin pleaded guilty in May. He also pleaded guilty to failure to register as a sex offender. He received 1 to 4 years in prison in that case. The sentences are to run consecutive, which means that Martin could spend over 8 years in prison. MOREAU After two years of review, the carbon fertilizer plant proposed by Saratoga Biochar Solutions may finally call Moreau home, if the vote passes at the Planning Board meeting on Monday. At 7 p.m. inside Moreau Town Hall, Planning Board members will cast a final vote on whether to approve site plans for what has been called a sewage sludge burning plant. Although residents will not have the opportunity to speak at the public meeting, a Facebook page organized by community members called Not Moreau encourages public attendance to the meeting. Although we cannot speak, a strong presence will have a large impact. Thank you all for your continued support of our community! a post on Friday read. A sign made by the citizen-organized group was put up outside of the Moreau Industrial Park ahead of the scheduled meeting. The page is described as a collaborative, community effort against the Biochar Sewer processing facility being built in the Town of Moreau Industrial Park. We are here to answer questions about how this will affect us all. Please help stop this from happening, the accounts description states. On Friday, CEO of Biochar Solutions Raymond Apy said the company is hopeful for a positive outcome at the meeting. From mid-May through June, we completed and submitted what the Planning Board required of us, and what we thought would be additionally helpful, and received a document during their meeting on June 20 indicating that our application was complete, Apy said. The Post-Star previously reported, after hearing numerous concerns from many residents during a public hearing on May 12, that the Planning Board voted in favor of an independent review of Saratoga Biochar Solutions, potentially slowing down the plants application process. Part of the application process involved the company undergoing an environmental review process by the state Department of Environmental Conservation under the state Environmental Quality Review Act. The DEC completed the process and submitted a negative declaration, meaning that the DEC determined that Saratoga Biochars plant operations would not have any adverse affects on the environment. Apy, and Biochar President Bryce Meeker, told The Post-Star they had found a way to turn waste into a useful product while emitting less greenhouse gases than the alternative waste control methods: landfills and incineration. Despite this, many people have spoken out against the plant, in particular their concerns regarding pollution from heating PFAS, a group of manufactured chemicals used in industry and consumer products that have been linked to adverse effects in humans. The process the plant uses results in a biodegradable fertilizer that can restore nutrients in the soil it is used in, according to Meeker. We will not be burning solids in any shape or form. What we do is burn a gas, he said. He explained the process known as pyrolysis, which involves a chemical change in composition due to exposure to extreme heat in an oxygen-less environment. The process results in an undetectable level of PFAS chemicals in the finished product. Meeker said this process creates a lot of heat, which is turned into energy to help run the plant, resulting in 83% of the facilitys power coming from renewable energy. Despite numerous presentations made by the company, some residents voiced their distrust and doubts in the DECs regulatory procedures. When we asked the company if they would consider continuous emissions monitoring based on the concerns of residents, they deflected to DEC regulations five times. The DEC, as was said at the Planning Board meeting, doesnt have to report its findings to the town. So if they (Biochar) are out of compliance, we may not even know. Thats an issue for our town, town resident Matt Boucher said at the May meeting. Other concerns voiced by residents include bad odors that could come from such a plant, as well as noise levels, as the plant is proposed to run around the clock. FORT EDWARD Washington County will pay $1.6 million toward SUNY Adirondacks 2022-2023 budget of $33 million, as approved Friday by the county Board of Supervisors. Washington and Warren counties sponsor the college. Together, they will fund 12.3% of the colleges 2022-2023 operating revenues. The Warren County Board of Supervisors voted to pass its $2.1 million share of the budget during its meeting on Friday. The college also expects to receive in-state student revenue, chargebacks, out-of-state tuition, state aid and federal relief funds of $1.7 million to offset expenses from the pandemic and lost tuition. The colleges 2022-2023 budget proposes a 2% increase in the sponsors contribution. Washington Countys share will rise by $32,000. Warren County pays 52% of the sponsors share and Washington County pays 48%, said Hebron Supervisor Brian Campbell, chairman of the boards Finance Committee. Campbell said he and college officials are discussing whether the basis of the shares should be changed to the counties tax roll assessments, similar to the way the counties split the cost of shared capital projects. If approved, Washington Countys annual payment would be fixed until Warren Countys payment had risen to match the percentage difference between the two counties tax roll assessments, he said. Supervisors had no questions and there were no public comments. Hartford Supervisor Dana Haff cast the lone no vote. Also at the meeting, it was noted that the countys death toll from COVID-19 has increased by one, to 90, after a review determined that a death in May was caused by the coronavirus. Deputy Director of Public Safety Tim Hardy said the individual was in the 80-90 age range and living in a care facility. As of Friday morning, 50 county residents were known to have active cases and one person was hospitalized, Hardy said. The infection rate in the county is considered low, but wastewater analysis shows a high prevalence of virus particles. Its sad to see the numbers going back up, Hardy said. The Public Health Department continues to hold weekly vaccination clinics. Staff administered 26 doses Thursday evening at a clinic for children ages 6 months to five years, Hardy said. Later in the meeting, Haff said he disapproved of the county vaccinating small children. All of them will have cardiac troubles in 20 years, Haff predicted. He said he doesnt trust the vaccines or the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions assurances that the vaccine is safe. Medical websites, including mayoclinic.org and medical.mit.edu (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), say that while there have been a few cases of heart inflammation after vaccination in people, mostly boys, ages 12 to 29, most of those cases responded quickly to treatment. The MIT website says that the risk of myocarditis from natural infection is much higher than from the vaccine. In other board matters: The county Planning Office wants to apply for a Community Planning Grant from the state Office of Community Renewal to help Homefront Development Corp. undertake an operational feasibility analysis and evaluate the senior housing facilities it owns. At a public hearing on the application, Economic Development Director Laura Oswald said the state has $20 million available for the 2022 program year. Homefront Development Corp. is a nonprofit founded in 1989 to assist communities in and around Washington County with housing needs, downtown revitalization and community development. In Washington County, it owns and operates low-income senior citizen apartments in Argyle, Fort Ann and Kingsbury, with a total of 36 units. There were no comments at the public hearing. The board authorized board Chair Samuel Hall, the Fort Ann supervisor, to sign a road use and crossing agreement with Champlain Hudson Power Express LLC and CHPE Properties. The companies are building a transmission line that will bring electricity from Canada to New York City. The line will cross Washington County from Putnam to Fort Edward. Kingsbury Supervisor Dana Hogan, chair of the countys Public Works Committee, said construction on the countys portion of the line is expected to start in late August or early September and continue into the winter as weather allows. The board recognized Michael Bittel, past president and chief executive officer of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce, and his family for their service to the region. Bittel retired from the chamber of commerce in June and is moving to another state. LAKE LUZERNE Dr. Richard Dressner has spent the last 30 years vacationing at his cabin on Lake Luzerne. Several months ago, the history professor and passionate collector found a letter for sale online by the Le Chevalier de La Luzerne written in 1788. Ive used the name Luzerne a hundred, a thousand times, but Ive never really thought about who is Luzerne? Why was the town and when was the town named for Luzerne? said Dressner, president of Capital Development, a consulting firm offering capital campaign counsel to museums, historic sites and patriotic organizations. After extensive research, Dressner, along with David K. Allison, curator emeritus at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, tried to uncover Lake Luzernes connection to French diplomat Anne-Cesar, Le Chevalier de La Luzerne, the towns namesake, considered one of the unsung heroes of the American Revolution. Dressner and Allison will be featured at the Hadley-Luzerne Historical Societys Speaker Series at the Lake Luzerne Town Hall at 7 p.m. on Aug. 3. At the event, Dressner and Allison will unveil a digital reproduction on canvas of a portrait of Le Chevalier de La Luzerne originally painted by Charles Wilson Peale. Dressner will also present the letter he purchased online to the town. We became aware that most of the people that lived in Lake Luzerne, or visited there all their lives, had never seen a picture of Luzerne and certainly had never seen a color picture, Allison said. Lake Luzerne was known as Westfield in 1767 after the end of the French and Indian War. It was a part of the town of Queensbury. The name was changed to Fairfield in 1792 as a separate town detached from Queensbury. In 1808, the state Legislature approved the petition to change the name to Luzerne, the name it used until Lake was added in 1963. There are some theories, but no written authoritative record on why it changed its name to Luzerne, Dressner said, and it is still a bit of a mystery. There was at the time another town in Herkimer County also named Fairfield, a fact some historians have surmised might have precipitated the name change, he said. I cant authoritatively say why this town selected the name Luzerne, Dressner said, adding, There is no question that it was named in honor of this particular man. The diplomat Anne-Cesar, Le Chevalier de La Luzerne was the French ambassador to the United States from 1779 to 1784, the most critical years of the American Revolution. He was born into nobility on July 15, 1741, in France. He spent his early career in the military and entered the diplomatic service in 1776. King Louis XVI first appointed him to Bavaria, then to the United States. For two and a half years, he is the first and only ambassador from a foreign country to recognize American independence, said Dressner, adding that France was the first nation to aid the United States in fighting the war against Britain. France was concerned about protecting its interests in North America and around the world. France wanted America to have as much military, naval and financial support as possible from the French government, he said. Luzerne was very friendly with the founding fathers and had close personal relationships with members of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, where he resided. He was successful in helping Washington secure congressional support for the Continental Army, and he also pushed very hard for a strong central government, Dressner said. In 1781 we did adopt the Articles of Confederation, and it was to Frances interest and it was to Luzernes credit that America kept pushing toward a stronger central government. Luzerne returned to France in 1784. Four years later, he was appointed ambassador to the Court of St. James, the most important diplomatic post in 1788 until his death in 1791. A letter from George Washington to Luzerne on March 29, 1783, extolled the diplomats part in the American Revolution. The part your excellency has acted in the cause of America and the great and benevolent share you have taken in the establishment of her independence, are deeply impressed on my mind, and will not be effaced from my remembrance, or that of the citizens of America, Washington wrote. An international war Early in the Republic, the question of who would be the most important European power for the new United States was very much in question, Allison said. Alexander Hamilton and George Washington both were inclined to look to Great Britain, Allison said, while Thomas Jefferson and James Madison were more interested in developing relationships with the French. Towns with names like Luzerne, Vergennes, Rochambeau, and later on, Lafayette, are all based on French men who fought for independence for America. One of the things that I think Americans dont understand is that the American Revolution could never have been won by America if it hadnt become much bigger than the revolution in America, Allison said. It became a world war. People dont know that battles were fought all over the world. The last battle of the American Revolution, he noted, was fought in India. The revolutionary leaders in America had a lot of spirit, but they didnt really have a lot of resources, he said, no major army and no navy at all. So unless they could get support from European powers there was no way they could win. Allison encourages Americans as the country approaches its 250th anniversary to understand the international perspective of the American Revolution. This is not just a story about the colonists and the British, Allison said. Its a world story. His talk on Aug. 3 in Lake Luzerne will focus on this broader subject. This international aspect, we think, is equally important as well as recognizing the sacrifices of the people who were involved with the revolution at that time, Allison said. Dressner and Allison have invited town and county historians from Saratoga and Warren counties to participate in a roundtable discussion on Aug. 4. They will discuss what the towns in the region were doing at the time of the American Revolution and how that history could affect the towns identity today. Most people think that the revolution was about combat, Allison said. And it was about combat, but it was also about diplomacy. The end of the war was mostly a diplomatic ending, not an absolute victory. It was a conditional surrender with complex treaties with four different parties, he said. Luzerne was a consummate diplomat, and his involvement influenced how the war ended. Thats why the name Luzerne is really more than just symbolic, Dressner said. It does say something about the identity of America and it should have an impact on how we think about America in the world today. GLENS FALLS Rachel Galvin organized a Womens Rights March in 2019 in response to some states in the country placing stronger restrictions on abortion laws. Alongside Jade Blanchard and Cheyenne Richardson, the trio of local residents planned a rally that Galvin said had a smaller turnout than the one they are expecting on July 23. Galvin resides in Hadley, Richardson in Corinth, and Blanchard in Glens Falls. Fast forward three years and they have organized another march for womens rights, and the topic of abortion has remained the focal point. Once we heard about the overturn of Roe v. Wade, we knew what we needed to do, she said. We had to buckle up and do it again, but we need to do it bigger. We need to do it better. Galvin said that they are ready to let the government officials and community members know that they are prepared to make their voices heard in opposition to the Supreme Courts ruling. She said that, luckily, the state she lives in doesnt plan to take away or limit abortion rights, but that doesnt mean that other peoples lives arent at risk. We are very excited to see how large of a turnout we can get, because the more people that show up the louder our voices are going to be, Galvin said. The march is scheduled to begin at noon from Crandall Public Library. From there, those in attendance will march to Crandall Park. Galvin said that the organizers are in contact with the Glens Falls Police Department to see if they can close the section of Glen Street that the group would be marching down to get to Crandall Park, but nothing had been set in stone as of Friday afternoon. There will be time to display signs, listen to speakers from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., and visit booths and vendors on site for the remainder of the event at 4 p.m. Galvin said that the list of speakers for the event will be finalized this weekend, but it will feature a spokesperson from Planned Parenthood. We plan to have at least four or five, but it should be an hours worth of speakers. Afterward, we will have a bunch of vendors there. We have some Democratic nominees that will be there. We have local women-owned businesses and local businesses in general that are setting up vendor booths, she said. Galvin said that the politicians in attendance would not be speaking, but they will have booths set up for people to learn about their campaigns. Galvin, Richardson and Blanchard are not affiliated with any organizations and planned the event on their own. They started a GoFundMe page on Thursday to help cover the cost for things such as securing the proper permits, the cost of hiring a DJ, and reserving a pavilion in Crandall Park. The march is set to go ahead regardless of how much money is raised through the page. Any excess that we make off that GoFundMe will be donated to Planned Parenthood to ensure that we still have access to that super-important resource in our community, Galvin said. To donate to the GoFundMe page, visit gofundme.com/f/womens-right-march. She said that Blanchard and herself met Richardson while organizing the march in 2019. Galvin said that Richardson was a participant in the march that year. Galvin said that she reached out after, expressing her interest in helping them organize similar events in the future. Galvin said that the trio is excited for the march. She said that the event on Facebook has over 800 people interested. We are really grateful for our community, the people around us, and to have a sense of knowing that youre not alone, she said. Youre not the only one that wants to not be silent about this issue. ATLANTIC CITY The Atlantic City Arts Foundation held a kickoff party Friday evening to celebrate the citys growing public arts inventory, much of it driven by its 48 Blocks program. Each year since 2017, 48 Blocks Atlantic City has celebrated the resorts culture and diversity by enlisting artists to create public art displays showcasing their visions. The program also allows the creators to interact with the community as they help beautify the city, said Kate OMalley, operations director for the Arts Foundation. Fridays party was the first of three large-scale events the foundation planned for this summer. The kickoff party was in partnership with Bourre, which hosted the event and has two of the 48 Blocks murals painted on its exterior. Other partners included the Atlantic City Development Corp., Atlantic Cape Community College, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Little Water Distillery and Hayday Coffee. We wanted to celebrate how far the 48 Blocks A.C. program and the arts in A.C. have come since the beginning of the program in 2017, as well as celebrate our community that continues to make the work possible, OMalley said. At least 50 people, including creatives and members of the community, attended the 6 p.m. event, which featured live music. The scene was so lively, it caught the attention of neighbors, who came out of apartment buildings with their families to enjoy the music and festivities from their front doors. This is my favorite place to come out to just because of what they do for the city, Jack Cannon, 27, of Galloway Township, said about the rich culture of art in Atlantic City. Bringing art to the city brings culture to the city. Casinos arent entirely our culture. Cannon said places in the Orange Loop district like Bourre and Anchor Rock Club are helping to foster a growing arts community. As a local who frequents the city, we want to do more than just tourist things, Cannon said. Gary Lindley, 37, an artist from Ocean City, was creating live abstract art with spray paint and markers at the kickoff party. People think Philadelphia or New York City is where you go for art, but I didnt know there were so many good artists here until I started coming to these events, Lindley said. The event had local artists making art in the grass as onlookers enjoyed their creations, food, music and, of course, booze on a nice summer day. Our small team worked really hard on creating a party bigger and better than any one we have produced before, OMalley said. We cant wait to celebrate the arts and culture of our city with our whole A.C. community. Allison Rose waited more than an hour for her son to get out of work before making calls to find him. Rose had dropped off her son, Casen Garcia, for his third-shift job at 8 p.m. Friday, July 8, at the Tyson Foods plant in rural Joslin. Rose regularly dropped him off, then picked him up in the morning. Garcia, 22, was supposed to get off work at 7:30 a.m. on July 9. His mom got there early, 7:20. At 8:35, with no sign of Garcia, she called his fiancee, Jessica Rocha Alvarado, to see if she had heard from him. "I tried calling him two or three times, then I used the security call-in line," Alvarado said. "I was told they'd been trying to call me and his mom, Alli, for an hour. Neither of us had any missed calls on our phones. "They said they couldn't tell me anything on the phone. I honestly thought he hurt himself. I thought he'd cut his hand off; I hoped. Deep down, I could feel something was wrong." Her instincts were correct. "I went to the guard shack, and that's where they told me they had found my son in the parking lot and he was already gone," Rose said. "They told me that it had something to do with his heart an underlying medical condition. "I came to find out he never was in the parking lot, and he never had an underlying medical condition at all, ever." However, preliminary autopsy results indicate Garcia, of East Moline, had an enlarged heart, according to Rock Island County Coroner Brian Gustafson. The condition can result from a number of causes, and Gustafson said toxicology results are likely to give more specific clues. Tyson Foods issued this statement: "Were cooperating with authorities as they investigate the passing of one of our team members from our Joslin, Illinois, facility. The team member experienced a medical episode on July 9. We extend our thoughts and prayers to the team members family, friends and co-workers." But Garcia's family and several co-workers say they think the "medical episode" was brought on by conditions inside the plant. Investigations are underway Despite Tyson's declaration that Garcia died as the result of a "medical episode," the cause of his death has not yet been determined. In addition to pending autopsy results, the Rock Island County Sheriff's Department is investigating, and the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, is conducting an inspection at the plant. "We have an open investigation into this persons death. As of right now, the investigation is centered on why someone so young may have passed away," Sheriff Gerry Bustos said. "I know the investigators have attended his autopsy and are awaiting the final results and toxicology report, but no cause has been definitively identified." Garcia's body was found just outside the doors of a rendering area known as "the basement," Rose said. He was lying on railroad tracks that serve the plant. Several of his co-workers spoke to a reporter on the condition of anonymity, saying they feared they would be fired for talking about what happened. Each has reached out to Garcia's mother, telling her what they think happened: He died either from extreme heat exposure, ammonia inhalation, electrocution or a combination of all three. His mother, fiancee and his co-workers said Garcia was a healthy and fit 22-year-old. He was an active member of the Illinois Army National Guard, and it was not unusual for him to sprint several blocks to the convenience store near his home, Alvarado said. "He never was out of breath," she said. "If 'health issues' caused this, it had to be from the conditions he was working in." His mother, having spoken with several of her son's co-workers, said she was convinced something besides an undetected heart issue took him. "I'm told it was 120 degrees in that basement, and Casen always talked about the smell of ammonia," Rose said. "Two days before he died, he said, 'Mom, I can't believe no one's died down there.'" Several co-workers said Garcia and others would rotate through the basement, taking regular breaks to escape the heat and smell. Garcia had left the basement just minutes before he collapsed outside the plant doors, they said. Just before that, co-workers said, another maintenance worker in rendering had been told to get out of the basement because he was pale and had stopped sweating. Delays in reaching him A co-worker and a supervisor tried to revive Garcia, but the co-worker didn't know CPR and the supervisor had injuries that prevented him from performing life-saving measures effectively, co-workers said. While a medical office is just a few minutes' walk from the tracks where Garcia died, several people said, the medical response took 25 minutes. Workers said those around Garcia were pleading desperately into a radio, "Man down!" and "He's not breathing!" but radio chatter about equipment repair kept overriding their pleas. "It took another 15 minutes for the ambulance to get there," Rose said. "As my son was dying, the production crew was told to keep working, and several of them said they were told not to talk to the police." Two of Garcia's colleagues said he appeared to be gasping for air before he died. One worker said he took off one of his boots just outside the door, suggesting he was trying to cool off. But another told Rose that Garcia had moved an overhead hoist just outside the door, and it came into contact with a power line. "We know he only had one boot on, and the other was a distance away from him, which may have happened if he was shocked," Rose said. "The coroner said that hasn't been ruled out." Gustafson, the coroner, declined to say whether Garcia's body showed signs of electrocution, saying the investigations and the toxicology screen should supply more answers. Family says drugs are out A co-worker who spent a recent holiday with Garcia said the two had a "deep conversation" about drugs, and Garcia worried about people using illicit drugs because he had read so many bad things about fentanyl. His mother and fiancee said he used marijuana, which is legal in Illinois, but he was not an illicit-drug user. "He wouldn't even let me buy nicotine vapes," Alvarado said. "Drugs? Absolutely not." Garcia was into healthy living, she said. His goal, in fact, was to one day open a vegetarian restaurant. "We had our house, and we were just starting to save," she said. "He was amazing with food. He hated working at the plant and was always complaining about how dangerous it was. "He was scared he would die there. He was trying to get some experience, then move on. He had just applied at Arconic." A good job was important to Garcia. He and Alvarado have a 14-month-old son together whom he adored. "The last couple days, it's been hitting our son," she said. "He's agitated and screaming out, 'Da-da! Da-da!' Honestly, sometimes I just scream with him. "I just can't believe I lost him. How is this even happening?" Construction on a new federal courthouse in downtown Rock Island has begun. The courthouse, serving the Central District of Illinois, will be built on the site of the former Bituminous Insurance Co., 320 18th St., which was demolished in November. Kelly Young, director of government development for Russell Construction, said the "shell building" would cost less than $10 million and the project was on track to be completed by the summer of 2023. The 53,356-square-foot, three-story federal building will house multiple federal tenants. "Site work, underground piers and foundations are underway," Young said Friday. "We have had fantastic support from subcontractors and teaming partners to maintain schedules for site work, steel fabrication and more. We expect to see a lot happening as we go vertical in September; the building will really start to take shape. "We continue to appreciate our great relationship with the city of Rock Island navigating through our development and construction downtown." Rock Island Investors was awarded a $49.8 million contract by the General Services Administration in July 2021 for construction of the courthouse. Russell Government Group, LLC, makes up 50% of Rock Island Investors. The remainder of the development group is owned 30% by Fishman Family Properties LLC and 20% by Jeff Eirinberg. Rock Island Investors began soliciting the contract in 2018. Shive-Hattery, which specializes in judicial design, will serve as the architect. Rock Island Investors will lease the building to the federal government through a 20-year contract with the General Services Administration. The agreement states the government will pay $2.5 million annually for rent, tenant improvements, secured parking and operating expenses. The former Central District of Illinois courthouse at 211 19th St., Rock Island, was closed in October 2018 because of mold and flooding issues. Operations were temporarily relocated to the Southern District of Iowa U.S. District Court, 131 E. 4th St., Davenport. Anyone needing to conduct business at the federal courthouse has had to travel to Iowa since then. Residents in five eastern Iowa counties will be able to voice their thoughts on a proposed carbon pipeline by Wolf Carbon Solutions next month. The pipeline, the third proposed in Iowa, connects ADM ethanol plants in Cedar Rapids and Clinton to an underground CO2 storage site in Illinois, and runs through five eastern Iowa counties, including Scott. The Iowa Utilities Board this week approved six public information meetings scheduled mostly for late August. The timeline is a few weeks ahead of what Wolf Carbon Solutions, the company completing the 350-mile pipeline for ADM, originally asked for. Filings also include a more refined map of the proposed pipeline's path, which shows a 1-mile wide corridor from ADM plant in Cedar Rapids through Cedar and northern Scott counties, crossing the Mississippi River, ending in a carbon sequestration site in central Illinois. The ADM plant in Clinton would also connect into the pipeline. At the meetings, Wolf is required to provide individual county maps that identify the corridor and pipeline location, as well as parcel-specific maps for each landowner and resident of land in the path of the pipeline. The Wolf pipeline is the third such pipeline being proposed in Iowa, which advocates say will help the ethanol industry remain viable as the U.S. looks to cut greenhouse gases to combat climate change. Texas-based Navigator plans a 1,300-mile pipeline and Summit Carbon Solutions wants to complete a 2,000-mile carbon pipeline to North Dakota. More than 150 objections have been filed with the Iowa Utilities Board against the Wolf pipeline since the company first applied for public meetings in late June, some of which addressed other pipeline projects. Some Iowans have opposed carbon pipelines going through their land, with concerns companies will use eminent domain to seize land from unwilling landowners. And some environmental groups say carbon pipelines represent a continued dependence on fossil fuel use and rely on public tax dollars that could instead be used for wind or solar projects. The Johnson County Board of Supervisors submitted a letter in opposition to any use of eminent domain by Wolf Carbon Solutions, writing "the use of the government's authority to take private property for public use should be limited to projects that serve the entire public." In a meeting earlier this year with the Scott County Supervisors, a Wolf company representative, Nick Noppinger, assured supervisors that the company did not plan to use eminent domain to seize land. He told supervisors the company tries to provide incentives for landowners' support, and without it, they try to build around. Several supervisors at the time questioned whether the pipeline makes economic and environmental sense if the U.S. moves away from fossil fuels and toward electric vehicles. The Iowa Sierra Club opposes the pipeline and other carbon pipelines like it, arguing that subsidies that would support the project would be better spent with renewable energy projects rather than what they say is unproven technology. Under the proposal, liquid CO2 would be transported from the ADM facilities to Mt. Simon Standstone sequestration site in Decatur, Illinois, which would trap the CO2 more than a mile underground in porous rock. According to David Larrick, associate professor of biology and sequestration at Richland Community College, the estimated storage capacity at Mt. Simon ranges from 11 to 150 billion tonnes of CO2, which he said could potentially store 38 to 515 years worth of CO2. The meeting dates are: Johnson County Noon August 29, 2022 North Liberty Community Center (Gerdin Conference Hall), 520 W. Cherry St., North Liberty Cedar County 6 p.m. August 29, 2022 Tipton High School (Auditorium), 400 E. Sixth St., Tipton Linn County Noon August 30, 2022 Veterans Memorial Building, 50 Second Ave. Bridge, Cedar Rapids Clinton County 6 p.m. August 30, 2022 Wild Rose Convention Center, 777 Wild Rose Drive, Clinton Scott County Noon August 31, 2022 RiverCenter (Adler Theater), 136 E. Third Street, Davenport Virtual Meeting 6 p.m. September 19, 2022 Participation through the IUB Webex system at iub.iowa.gov DES MOINES Women who have an abortion should not be prosecuted if the procedure is outlawed, but physicians who violate a state law by administering an abortion should, Iowa Republican U.S. Rep Ashley Hinson said Friday. Hinson did not directly say whether she believes anyone who assists a pregnant woman who has an abortion should be prosecuted. In Congress, she voted against it, but earlier as a state lawmaker, supported an abortion bill that was silent on the issue. First and foremost, I do not support prosecuting women for having an abortion, Hinson said during her weekly conference call with Iowa reporters. I want to make sure women have access to maternal health care and other resources for alternatives to abortion. But I firmly also believe medical providers should follow the law and should be accountable to the law. Hinson said she does not support criminal charges for anyone who receives an abortion, including those who may travel out of one state where abortion is illegal to have an abortion in another state where it remains legal. It also means Hinson supports prosecuting physicians who administer abortions in states where it is illegal. Hinson, during the conference call, did not directly answer whether she supports prosecuting other individuals who assist a person who is receiving an abortion. While Hinson has yet to comment on the question, her staff said she has been consistent on the matter and pointed to a recent vote Hinson cast in the U.S. House. On June 28, according to congressional records online, Hinson voted in support of an amendment to a federal budget bill that says the federal justice department shall not use funding in the bill to investigate or prosecute any individual that crosses state lines to access abortion services or provides assistance to another individual to obtain abortion services. Hinson was the only Republican to support the amendment, which passed. However, Hinson as an Iowa legislator voted for state abortion restrictions that do not include protections for other individuals who assist a person who is receiving an abortion. That legislation could soon become state law, as Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds plans to ask the state courts to lift their injunction on the measure. Iowa Senate File 359 known as the fetal heartbeat bill would ban abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy, which often is before the woman knows she is pregnant. The bill contains exceptions for pregnancies that are the result of rape or incest or where a pregnancy threatens a womans health. It also states a woman should not be prosecuted for having an abortion. However, the bill is silent on protections for other people who may help a pregnant woman who has an abortion in violation of the law. The measure was halted by the courts after it was signed into law by Reynolds in 2018. But in the wake of recent U.S. and Iowa Supreme Court rulings, Reynolds said she plans to ask the state courts to lift that injunction and allow the law to go into effect. Camanche Police were searching the area of Indian Village, 1215 7th Ave., late Friday for an 82-year-old woman who was last seen Wednesday, according to a news release issued Friday night by Camanche Police. Sharon Martensen was last seen Wednesday, however, police said it is not known when she actually left her residence. Martensen suffers from severe dementia and walks with a cane, police said. Police have obtained several pings on Martensens cell phone and were going door-to-door in the area trying to locate her. The Clinton Police Department, Camanche Fire Department, Clinton County Emergency Management, Clinton Sheriffs Department, Iowa State Patrol and Clinton County Communications have been aiding in the search. Martensen is a white female who stands about 5-feet 6-inches tall and weighs 135 pounds. Anyone with information on Martensens whereabouts is asked to call the Camanche Police Department at 563-259-8575 or 911. Rock Island Police are investigating the shooting death of a 25-year-old man Friday at the Century Woods apartment complex in the 1300 block of 4 Street. It is the fourth shooting death in less than two months, and the third in less than one month, that Rock Island Police are investigating. Rock Island Police Deputy Chief Timothy McCloud said in a news release Saturday that officers went to Century Woods at about 9:50 p.m. to investigate a report of shots fired. Officers located the victim, who was taken to UnityPoint Health-Trinity Rock Island but died of his wounds before arrival. McCloud said the initial investigation indicated the victim was involved in an altercation with a group of people when he was shot. Rock Island County Coroner Brian Gustafson said the victims name was not being released Saturday and that an autopsy was tentatively scheduled for Monday. Three other people have been shot to death in Rock Island in less than two months. In those incidents: At 2:55 p.m. May 22, Rock Island Police were sent to the 1000 block of 15th Street to investigate a shots-fired call. Desavion D. Foster, 19, died of his wounds at UnityPoint Health-Trinity Rock Island. Police have arrested Terrionce C. Kitchen, who is charged with one count of murder. Kitchen is being held in the Rock Island County Jail on a cash-only bond of $1 million. A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for Tuesday in Rock Island County Circuit Court. At 12:25 a.m. June 25, 61-year-old Gregory McGhee arrived at UnityPoint Health-Trinity Rock Island with a gunshot wound. He later died of his injuries. Gustafson said McGhee died of traumatic gunshot injuries to his chest and abdomen. Police said he was shot in the 500 block of 6th Street. McGhee's death remains under investigation. At 7:14 a.m. July 10, the body of Amani Kamata, 39, of Rock Island, was found by police in the 1100 block of 10th Avenue. Kamata had been shot to death. Kamatas death remains under investigation. Police ask that anyone with information about these cases to call the Rock Island Police Department at 309-732-2677 or Crime Stoppers of the Quad-Cities at 309-762-9500, or submit an anonymous tip via the P3 Tips mobile app or submit a tip online at qccrimestoppers.com. Tons of trash that has been pulled from waterways by Living Lands & Waters volunteers now needs to be sorted, and the group is looking for Quad-City volunteers to help. "Recycle Like a Rockstar" is a sorting event that is held as-needed; when the Living Lands & Waters barges gets too full. Crew members from the environmental group work with volunteers to hand sort the collection, sending as much as possible to be recycled. The Rockstar event begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 23. Volunteers are asked to meet on the Mississippi Riverfront in Davenport, near the Lake Davenport Sailing Club and former Bare Bones BBQ, 1201 E. River Drive. Volunteers are asked to sign up at www.xstreamcleanup.org/event/recycle-rockstar-july-23-2022. The event welcomes ages 8 and up. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a guardian at least 21 years old. Lunch and live music will be provided for volunteers. Were stoked to be back in the Quad-Cities, where the community shows up for us time and time again. Its great to have the barge back home; it feels like a family reunion!" LL&W founder Chad Pregracke said. "Its been a huge year for us, and we currently have 98,397.5 pounds of trash to sort through. We truly cant do it without all the awesome volunteers who come out. Since its founding nearly 25 years ago, Living Lands has removed more than 12.8 million pounds of trash from Americas rivers with the help of over 120,000 volunteers on 25 rivers in 21 states. The 2022 Badlands Astronomy Festival will be held July 29-31, bringing together space and science professionals, amateur astronomers, educators and visitors for a three-day celebration of the night sky, the sun and the wonder of space exploration. Nestled in a corner of the Great Plains far from light pollution, the Badlands offers visitors dazzling views of the night sky. The free event, co-sponsored by Badlands National Park and NASA South Dakota Space Grant Consortium, will include public star parties, with family-friendly events and activities throughout the day. Events will include a scale model solar system tour and walk, solar telescope viewing, public stargazing activities, static displays and a variety of guest speakers, to include a presentation on the Hubble and James Webb telescopes. Telescopes will be provided by astronomers from the Black Hills Astronomical Society, Badlands National Park, Dark Ranger Telescope Tours and the University of Utah for day and night observations, according to a National Parks Service press release. The event will also include equipment demonstrations by professional and amateur astronomers. The schedule of events begins Friday, July 29, with a planet walk from 1:30-3 p.m., meeting in front of the Ben Reifel Visitor Center Theater in Interior. The planet walk will take place Saturday and Sunday, as well, at the same time. From 3-5 p.m. each day will be a Sun Fun Solar Observing event, where visitors can view solar flares and sunspots through a special telescope, along with various other sun-based activities. Evenings will begin with speakers each night at 9 p.m. at the Cedar Pass Campground Amphitheater Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Fridays speaker will feature Tom Durkin of NASA Space Grant Consortium, South Dakota School of Mines, Rapid City, called Journey to the Stars with NASAs Space Telescopes: Hubble and James Webb. The presentation, according to the NPS website, will take audiences on a virtual trip into space passing by the sun, several of the planets in our solar system, exploding stars and nebulae within the Milky Way Galaxy, and galaxies far far away. Saturdays speaker will be Megan Ostrenga, The Journey Museum, Rapid City, speaking on Western Skies and Lakota Star Knowledge. Ostrengas talk will focus on constellations from both a Western and Lakota perspective, including the history of constellations, how to find them and corresponding star stories. Sunday will close with Kevin Poe, Dark Ranger Telescope Tours, Bryce Canton, Utah. Poes talk, entitled Just 42!, will center on the science of astronomy, providing attendees with 42 things to learn about before understanding the entire universe, the NPS website said. Nightly presentations will be followed by hands-on experience with multiple state-of-the-art telescopes and amateur astronomers providing constellation tours, said the NPS press release. This free event is made possible through funding and support from the Badlands Natural History Association, NASA South Dakota Space Grant Consortium, Dark Ranger Telescope Tours, Black Hills Astronomical Society, The Journey Museum and Learning Center, International Dark Sky Association, University of Utah, Badlands National Park Conservancy, Minuteman Missile National Historic Site and Badlands National Park. Rapid City will soon be home to a new national memorial. Construction is set to begin in October on the first national public memorial built on the site of a former Indian boarding school. The Rapid City Indian Boarding School was located on land near West Middle School on the city's west side. It operated from 1898 to 1933. Unmarked graves of children who were taken from their homes and brought to the school to live and work have been discovered on the property. The memorial is designed to honor all of the children who were brought to the school, but especially those who died and were buried without even a mention of their names. "This is the only place on Earth that these children are going to be remembered, these kids whose names weren't even recorded, you know, that's the spirit of the project," said Wakhanyeza Wichakiksuyapi Executive Director Amy Sazue. "We have to make sure that we do the best by all of them. We really found the best people and we make sure that everybody involved is invested in the story and understands the significance." Some of the team members include Sazue, Bobbie Koch, Eric Zimmer, Valeriah Big Eagle, Kibbe Brown, Sandra Fire Lightning, Eirik Asa Heikes, LaFawn Janis, Tatewin Means, Lorraine Nez, Jennifer Read, Beverly Stabber-Warne, Heather Dawn Thompson and Robin Zephier. "We have the land already protected in a trust," Sazue said. "The important part was telling the story like we need to tell the story of the kids that lived and died there. But also it opens up that bigger story that this is a boarding school. All of this land here was land that kids worked on. They were forcibly taken from their homes and then forced to work there." The memorial will include a larger than life statue from South Dakota Hall of Fame member Dale Lamphere, who is most famous for sculpting the Dignity statue just off of I-90 near Chamberlain. There will also be an interpretive site and a visitors center on the property. "This is a huge step for their committee and the city as a whole," said Karen Mortimer with the city's Human Relations Commission. "They have done a great job with the design and funding. It's something we will all benefit from." More than $2 million in grants have been received for the project. The Mellon Foundation gave $2.1 million which is being held and managed by the committee's fiscal sponsor, the Black Hills Community Foundation. "The foundation has been great to work with," Sazue said. "They have provided a lot of support." Other funding for the project has come from Monument Lab a Philadelphia-based nonprofit group committed to rethinking how stories from history are told. "I always just say it's our shared history," Sazue said. "Nothing about this is political. It is only about how we need to protect and remember these kids and acknowledge our not-so-positive history together, but that we're all still here. And so what is our obligation now to tell the story?" Sazue said nailing down facts of what happened at the school and who was buried on the property have been difficult because of poor record keeping at the time. "There are no records in the first 10 years of school. That first 10 years is probably when there were the most deaths," she said. "They didn't know what they were doing. They had 50 kids to one adult. They had 60 kids in one room." The memorial has received support from South Dakota tribes and even received an easement for access to the land from Canyon Lake Methodist Church. In addition to serving as a memorial for the children and expanding information about the history of the site, Sazue said the committee will help develop a curriculum that could be taught in schools. "We have a curriculum lesson plan development team that is coming together next Friday," she said. "And I've recruited some Rapid City area teachers and making sure that we mix together a good group of Indigenous people, Lakota people and elders, with this curriculum development, but we are going to build our own curriculum too and hopefully deliver it to the Rapid City schools." The Wakhanyeza Wichakiksuyapi is only affiliated with the memorial project. There are two more groups working on projects in the city. The He Sapa Otipi committee is working to receive almost $9 million in Vision Funds from the Rapid City Council for a community center for the tribal community in the area to use for various projects and programs. There is also a CDC-housing program that will help build housing for tribal members and will one day work with the community center. That program is still seeking original and sustainable funding sources. Neiman Enterprises, a large-scale timber and logging company, announced Thursday it would reduce work hours from the company's remaining sawmills in the Black Hills, citing a reduction in timber supply. The company's announcement came the same day that the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management announced they were going to seek outside help as they craft definitions of old growth and mature forests under an executive order from President Joe Biden. Many of the trees in the Black Hills National Forest that Neiman processes could be considered old growth or mature. In March 2021, Neiman Enterprises permanently closed its sawmill in Hill City, eliminating 120 jobs and 12 contract crews, citing a reduction in timber available in the Black Hills. The Hill City closure was announced one day prior to the U.S. Forest Service releasing a report that called for a large reduction in timber harvesting in the Black Hills, by as much as 50% to 60%. An in-depth report from the Associated Press showed timber production dramatically ramped up two decades ago in the Black Hills National Forest, as beetles ravaged huge expanses of forest and worries grew over wildfires. The beetles left, but the loggers havent and they're now felling trees at twice the rate government scientists say is sustainable. That means the Black Hills forests are shrinking, with fewer and smaller trees. Timber sales from federal forests nationwide more than doubled over the past 20 years, according to government data. In Washington, D.C., Republicans and Democrats alike have pushed more aggressive thinning of stands to reduce vegetation that fuels wildfires. However, despite the U.S. Forest Service's report that calls for reducing timber production in the Black Hills and the scientific consensus that logging rates in the Black Hills are not sustainable, two Republican lawmakers are trying to force more timber production. U.S. Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and John Barrasso, R-Wyo., introduced legislation that would require the U.S. Forest Service to expedite issuing environmental decisions to increase timber production in the Black Hills. The bill, filed at the end of February, is called the Black Hills National Forest Protection and Jobs Preservation Act. It directs the forest service to "carry out vegetation management projects and timber production projects" in the Black Hills National Forest. The measure defines wood products as key pieces of critical infrastructure, mirroring a similar decision in 2020 by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and as authorized under the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. A hearing on Thune and Barrasso's measure was held June 7 by the Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests and Mining. During testimony, U.S. Forest Service Deputy Chief Chris French said the Forest Service has a good partnership with the timber industry and it is a vital part of forest management, but the agency cannot support the bill in its current form. "We believe it's premature to redirect specific Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds, such as those proposed in the Black Hills Forest Protection and Jobs Preservation Act, but we would appreciate working with the committee to meet the bill's intended outcomes," French said. Barrasso said the timber sale program in the Black Hills National Forest has been a primary tool for forest management for more than a century, and that the "drastically lower timber harvest levels are now threatening this partnership." "It will cripple the Forest Service's ability to manage and protect the forest by prioritizing management projects to improve forest health and resilience," Barrasso said. "Our bill would protect the forest and help provide local economies and preserve them." Thursday's announcement from Neiman Enterprises will eliminate one shift of work at its sawmill in Hulett, Wyoming, and a reduction in hours for the facility in Spearfish. While we may not agree with the reduction in timber harvest that led to these curtailments, we are committed to our partnerships with all stakeholders, including the local, regional and national levels of the U.S. Forest Service, and will continue to work side-by-side with them to maintain the health of the Black Hills National Forest," said Jim Neiman, president of the company. Neiman Enterprises' CEO Steve Hanson released a statement saying the company is looking for the right balance between timber supply and the needs of the company's workers. "Neiman Enterprises is pursuing an updated stewardship-driven model of fostering health and resilience in the lands we help manage, and we are obligated to balance the needs of our families with the needs of our forest, he said. Meanwhile, the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management issued a notice Thursday seeking public input for a universal definition framework to identify older forests needing protection. That definition could include the Black Hills National Forest. Biden in April directed his administration to devise ways to preserve older forests as part of the government's efforts to combat climate change. Older trees release large volumes of global warming carbon when they burn. Bidens order called for the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management over the next year to define and inventory all mature and old growth forests on federal land. After that, the agencies must identify the biggest threats those forests face and come up with ways to save them. There's disagreement over which trees to count. Environmentalists have said millions of acres of public lands should qualify. The timber industry and its allies have cautioned against a broad definition over concerns that could put new areas off limits to logging. The Forest Service manages 209,000 square miles of forested land, including about 87,500 square miles where trees are older than 100 years. The Bureau of Land Management oversees about 90,600 square miles of forests. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The Keystone XL project would have primarily carried tar sands oil from Canada to the Gulf, most of which would have been exported anyway. Even the Trump administration admitted that it would not have lowered gasoline prices. So the largest meat packing plant in the U.S. is going to be built near Rapid City. I have a bridge in New York to sell you if you believe that. News flash readers... You can be critical of someone and still be supportive. I am very critical of Kristi Noem, but I support most of her thoughts and actions. And that is why I and somewhere around 200,000 other South Dakotans will vote for her reelection in November. Usually when politicians get criticized they deserve every bit of it but heaven forbid you criticize Noem because apparently she can do no wrong. Well she sure was wrong about the 10-year-old girl that got pregnant and showed once again she has no integrity with her comments. Thank you Gov. Noem for standing with true South Dakota values. Everyone I speak with is looking forward to your next four years as governor. Former President Donald Trumps pick to unseat Rep. Liz Cheney in the race for Wyomings lone House seat holds a commanding 22-point lead with a month until the primary, a new Casper Star-Tribune poll shows. Natural resources attorney Harriet Hageman leads Cheney 52% to 30%, the poll shows. No other challenger received more than 5% support. Only 11% of voters were undecided. The poll, conducted for the Star-Tribune by Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy, surveyed 1,100 registered Wyoming voters likely to participate in the primary, resulting in a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent, according to Brad Coker, Mason-Dixon managing director. While the Cheney-Hageman race is one of the nations most closely watched, this is the first independent, public in-state poll to be conducted. It was performed from July 7 to July 11 shortly after early voting began here. "The big story is Liz Cheney is going to get beat," said Coker. "That's a foregone conclusion." Cheneys vote to impeach the former president after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and her relentless criticism of Trump as a threat to democracy and the rule of law have spurred the toughest reelection fight of her career. In September, Trump selected Hageman from several challengers as his pick to take on Cheney, one of his biggest political enemies. In past elections, Cheney has handily beat her primary opponent. And given that Wyoming is one of the nations most conservative states, the Republican House nominee often coasts to victory in the general election. But the Wyoming Republican Party has turned on Cheney, censuring her soon after Trumps impeachment and voting last fall to no longer recognize her as a member of the GOP. Among those polled, only 27% approved of Cheneys job performance. Two-thirds disapproved, with 7% saying they were not sure. Men were especially critical of Cheneys performance: Only one in five approved of the job shes doing. Those results track with interviews conducted by the Star-Tribune this summer. The congresswomans critics say she's too distracted by her service on the House Jan. 6 committee and her battles with Trump to properly serve the state, and the poll found 54% of voters were less likely to support her because shes part of the panel investigating the attack on the Capitol. Cheney critics complain that she rarely visits, with many of them calling her a "RINO" (Republican in name only) as they air their grievances. Voters also called her a "carpetbagger," an insult she's been hit with since she moved to the state in 2012, a year before her unsuccessful bid for U.S. Senate. "Liz Cheney betrayed President Trump," said Mark Hladik, who's lived in Wyoming for 42 years. "Ninety-nine point nine percent pure RINO." Hladik is a Trump backer, but said the former president's endorsement of Hageman didn't influence his choice. Travis Van Hecke, a Casper City Council candidate, thinks "it's time for someone different," adding that he would've voted for almost anyone who ran against Cheney. "This race is more about Liz Cheney than it is about Donald Trump," Coker said. "Anybody who's credible, who ran to the right of Liz Cheney would probably win this race with or without Donald Trump." Many of those interviewed, including Hladik and Van Hecke, voted for the congresswoman in the past, including as recently as 2020. But that past support no longer matters. "Once a politician gets to a certain point, there's a point of no return," Coker said. Still, Cheneys opposition to the former president has earned her some backing. John Strong, a 67-year-old Casper Republican who's lived nearly his entire life in Wyoming, said many who plan to vote for Cheney "commend her for standing up to Trump." This time around, it's not just Republicans who are participating in the GOP primary. Many Democrats and independents plan to take advantage of Wyomings same-day voter registration and party-affiliation changes to vote for Cheney. According to figures from the Wyoming Secretary of State, the number of registered Democrats and independents in Wyoming has dropped considerably more from January through July of this year than in previous midterm elections. Cheney has a 53% job approval rating with Democrats who planned to vote in the Republican primary, the poll shows. Her approval rating among independents who plan to vote Republican in August is 29%. Many crossover voters who intend to support Cheney cite her resolve in fighting back against Trumps attempts to undermine the results of the 2020 presidential election. "This is a straight value question. And the question is whether you're on board with democracy or not," said Jane Ifland, a two-time Democratic candidate for statehouse and a pro-abortion activist who's lived in Casper since 1980. "I just can't believe it," she said. "I've never registered Republican in my life." But because of the relatively small number of Democrats in Wyoming, crossover voting is unlikely to make a difference, the poll shows. While 69% of registered Democrats who plan to participate in the GOP primary are supporting Cheney, that level of support still leaves her trailing Hageman by a wide margin. Before jumping into the race with Trump's endorsement in tow, Hageman, a well-known attorney, ran for governor in 2018 and finished third with 21% of the vote. She was born and raised on a family ranch outside of Fort Laramie and attended the University of Wyoming for undergraduate and law school. Just over half of all primary voters have a favorable opinion of Hageman, the poll shows. Among registered GOP voters, the number is higher at 57%. Cheney and Hageman used to be friendly, something that Cheney plastered on a billboard on a major highway coming into Casper this spring. "Hageman: Liz Cheney is a Proven, Courageous Constitutional Conservative. Thanks, Harriet," the billboard says next to a picture of the two women smiling together. Since joining the race, Hageman has pushed the narrative that Cheney is too distracted by her fights with Trump to properly serve Wyoming. She also frequently touts her history of fighting the federal government in court. Until the last couple months, Cheney rarely campaigned, despite having millions of dollars in the bank. In roughly the last month, however, Cheney has put out three TV ads and multiple mailers. Hageman has put out mailers, but has focused on her ground game, often appearing at local events and holding town halls. While Cheney participated in the latest Jan. 6 hearing, Hageman walked in Casper's annual summer parade on Tuesday. Cheney and Hageman are the highest-profile candidates in the race, but there are others. State Sen. Anthony Bouchard, R-Burns, garnered 5% support. Bouchard was the first to challenge Cheney, but his campaign faltered after he admitted in May 2021 that he impregnated a 14-year-old girl when he was 18. Small business owner Robyn Belinskey and retired army colonel Denton Knapp each polled at 1%. The primary will be held Aug. 16. Guatemala returns 1st Texas trailer victim Guatemala repatriated its first victim Friday from the smuggling attempt that left 53 migrants from Mexico and Central America dead last month in San Antonio. The body of 13-year-old Pascual Melvin Guachiac Sipac arrived around midday in Guatemalas capital. Twenty-one Guatemalans were among the migrants who died after being abandoned in a tractor-trailer June 27 in sweltering heat. The boys family was on hand to receive the casket at the capitals airport. Guachiac Sipac was an Indigenous Quiche who spoke little Spanish, but he set out with his cousin for the United States, both hoping to work and help their families. His cousin, Wilmer Tulul, died, too, and his body was expected to return to Guatemala on Saturday. Grandma sought after child abandoned in car Authorities are searching for the grandmother of a toddler after her 2-year-old grandchild was found alone and abandoned for two days in a locked car on a rural Alaska road. The search for Mary Dawn Wilson, 69, is being concentrated around the community of Healy, Alaska State Troopers said in a statement. The car was found abandoned Thursday on Stampede Road, just outside Healy. The child appeared to be in good health and was handed over to the state Office of Childrens Services, the statement said. Officials said evidence in the car indicated the child and car were abandoned Tuesday. Wilson was the last known person with the child, the statement said. Mexico captures drug lord Quintero Infamous drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, who was behind the killing of a U.S. DEA agent in 1985, has been captured by Mexican forces nearly a decade after walking out of a Mexican prison and returning to drug trafficking, an official with Mexicos navy confirmed Friday. Caro Quintero walked free in 2013 after 28 years in prison when a court overturned his 40-year sentence for the 1985 kidnapping and killing of Enrique Kiki Camarena. Caro Quintero had since returned to drug trafficking and unleashed bloody turf battles in the Mexico border state of Sonora. He was on the FBIs most wanted list, with a $20 million reward for his capture through the State Departments Narcotics Rewards Program. He was added to the FBIs top 10 most wanted list in 2018. Retired Justice Breyer to join Harvard faculty Harvard said Friday that retired Justice Stephen Breyer, who retired from the Supreme Court on June 30, is rejoining its law school faculty. Breyer is a graduate of the law school and first joined the Harvard faculty in 1967. He continued to teach at Harvard after he became a federal appeals court judge in 1980 until former President Bill Clinton nominated him to the Supreme Court in 1994. Harvard said in a statement Breyer will teach seminars and reading groups, continue to write books and produce scholarship, and participate in the intellectual life of the school and in the broader Harvard community. Breyer, 83, does not yet have any classes listed in Harvards online course catalog. However, the school said his appointment as Byrne Professor of Administrative Law and Process would be effective immediately. Many employers are evaluating their hiring practices after the pandemic as they assess on-site needs, efficiency, use of artificial intelligence, outsourcing and general recruitment practices. These are some solid best practices that employers should consider: 1. Post job openings and conduct an objective recruitment. Some employers have gravitated to promoting employees without posting roles. When a company fails to post roles, it creates division and a sense of favoritism. I see this in all roles even when selecting interim or temporary assignments. Managers should be developing their talent so they will be prepared and successful in an open internal recruitment. There should be no sham or post and fill recruitments. Some employers post internal recruitments for a couple of weeks and then open it to external only if an insufficient number of qualified candidates apply. Depending on the current representation of the workforce, employers are cautioned that only conducting internal recruitments can delay progress in the area of DEI. 2. Publish the salary range. Its time to bring pay transparency to all roles. A new law that goes into effect Nov. 1 in New York City requires employers to post the salary range. Candidates deserve to know the salary range when they apply so that they can determine if its worth the effort to even seek out the opportunity. If the pay is truly competitive, then the employer should not be too concerned about posting the range. 3. Review the qualifications. Employers should be updating their job requirements and asking whether a degree or certification is actually required to perform the role and/or whether experience can substitute for educational requirements. Employers can expand the applicant pool by removing unnecessary requirements. 4. Be intentional, but dont draw out the process. The No. 1 complaint I hear from managers and candidates is the process is too lengthy. Most blame HR, but many times it is the indecisiveness of management that causes the delay. Employers need to run a deliberate recruitment process and strategically determine who needs to interview the candidate and why. Candidates complain that they endure hours of interviews that includes lengthy project work. Some of this is unnecessary. Be efficient in the process. 5. Make the process easy and personalized. It seems like everyone is hiring but no one is getting hired. Some feel that online applications have made it more difficult to get selected for interviews. Employers should test their process by having people in your organization actually play the role of a candidate and try to go through your own process. You might be surprised at how difficult it is to search for jobs, apply and get noticed/selected for an interview. 6. Conduct background checks. Too often, bad employees get passed along to other organizations because of a failure to conduct a background check, which not only hurts potential productivity but could also be a safety or negligent hiring situation. Require references given by the candidate to be professional references for those who worked with the candidate in some capacity (colleague, client, served on a board together, etc.). Employers should also always confirm prior employment, dates of employment, reason for leaving (if the employer will provide it) as well as graduation from college or graduate school. Inspect what you expect. While some prior employers will provide only dates of employment, job title and possibly salary, employers should build into their process contacting prior managers to seek information about the candidate. Unfortunately, some candidates misrepresent or flat out lie about their educational or job experiences. Many employers use a third party to conduct background checks and, if they do, the employer must also comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. 7. Make and communicate selection decisions. Candidates frequently complain that they have been ghosted either in the application process or following an interview. Let candidates know if they are not selected when you are made aware of that decision. 8. Pay fairly. The recruitment effort is not a chance to get a good deal. Pay consistent with what others in the role make based on experience, education and other relevant factors. Avoid relying upon prior salary as a basis to determine the pay. Virginia passed a law in 2020 that permits employees to share wage information without retribution by the employer. Many employees share their wage information with each other to hold the employer accountable for pay equity. Make sure you can justify all pay decisions. Managers rely upon HR for their recruitment efforts but, in reality, they need to own their own recruitment. Managers should be continuously expanding their network so that when they have openings, they can tap into a diverse network of potential candidates and encourage them to apply for the roles. Cross-border goods are reloaded at a freight transit yard of China-Laos Railway's Vientiane South Station on July 1, 2022. A freight transit yard of China-Laos Railway was officially put into operation on Friday with the first railway containers heading to Thailand's Laem Chabang port. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) VIENTIANE, July 1 (Xinhua) -- A freight transit yard of China-Laos Railway was officially put into operation on Friday with the first railway containers heading to Thailand's Laem Chabang port. This makes the international logistics channel of land-sea intermodal transport more convenient. The China-Laos Railway adopts international standards while the Thai railway currently uses 1-meter gauge system. Railway freight transport between Laos and Thailand requires reloading operations. The freight transit yard of China-Laos Railway's Vientiane South Station is expected to work to improve the efficiency of freight transport between China and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries. The freight transit yard will greatly benefit Laos given its significant role in bolstering the transport of goods, Lao Deputy Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone said during a speech delivered at the opening ceremony held on Friday. Laos always attaches great importance to and supports the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), said the deputy prime minister, adding that the initiative is in line with Laos' strategy to transform the country from being landlocked to a land-linked hub in the region. "I believed that the railway would create more business opportunities and bring great benefit to Laos. The railway is significantly cutting the time and logistics costs for cargo transportation," said Sonexay. "The railway will result in the growth of many industries like trade and investment." "From now on, the cross-border freight train operated by the China-Laos Railway can, to the north, reach China's Chengdu, Chongqing, Wuhan, Xi'an and other logistics distribution centers, and be connected to the China-Europe Railway Express network, and, to the south, reach port cities such as Laem Chabang of Thailand and Singapore," Yuan Minghao, general manager of the Laos-China Railway Co., Ltd. (LCRC), a joint venture based in Vientiane responsible for operating the Railway's Lao section. The LCRC is also investor of the transit yard located in Thanaleng Dry Port on the outskirts of the Lao capital Vientiane. "Gradually, a new international land-sea logistics corridor will take shape, which will further enhance the status and role of the China-Laos Railway, and reduce cross-border logistics costs. It will provide reliable transportation support to Lao and ASEAN people and enterprises," Yuan said. Chanthone Sitthixay, chairman of Vientiane Logistics Park Co. Ltd., a local company running the Thanaleng Dry Port where the transit yard is located, said the freight transit yard will create more favorable conditions for expanding economic and trade cooperation. He added it will provide cost-effective services for the shipment of products to regional markets and beyond. So far by June 30, the China-Laos Railway has carried 3.36 million passengers with the railway's Lao section carrying 0.48 million passengers, 4.69 million tons of freight and 0.77 million tons China-Laos cross-border goods. The China-Laos Railway is a docking project between the China-proposed BRI and Laos' strategy to convert itself from a landlocked country to a land-linked hub. Cross-border goods are reloaded at a freight transit yard of China-Laos Railway's Vientiane South Station on July 1, 2022. A freight transit yard of China-Laos Railway was officially put into operation on Friday with the first railway containers heading to Thailand's Laem Chabang port. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) Cross-border goods are reloaded at a freight transit yard of China-Laos Railway's Vientiane South Station on July 1, 2022. A freight transit yard of China-Laos Railway was officially put into operation on Friday with the first railway containers heading to Thailand's Laem Chabang port. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) Cross-border goods are reloaded at a freight transit yard of China-Laos Railway's Vientiane South Station on July 1, 2022. A freight transit yard of China-Laos Railway was officially put into operation on Friday with the first railway containers heading to Thailand's Laem Chabang port. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) Cross-border goods are reloaded at a freight transit yard of China-Laos Railway's Vientiane South Station on July 1, 2022. A freight transit yard of China-Laos Railway was officially put into operation on Friday with the first railway containers heading to Thailand's Laem Chabang port. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) A former sales associate for Virginia ABC and another man have been indicted in what authorities described as a conspiracy to obtain internal ABC inventory data on high-demand and limited-availability bourbons, and provide that insider information to interested parties for a price. Former ABC employee Edgar Smith Garcia, 28, of Manassas and Robert William Adams, 45, of Chesapeake were indicted last month by a Richmond Metropolitan Multi-Jurisdiction Grand Jury on charges of using a computer to illegally obtain an unauthorized copy of ABC data and embezzling the agencys inventory product sales list. They also are charged with two counts of conspiring to commit those offenses. The cases are being tried in Hanover County because thats where Virginia ABC recently moved its new headquarters and distribution center from Hermitage Road in Richmond. The charges are based on allegations that Garcia, as an ABC employee, had access to an internal list of the agencys allocated liquor products that was not available to the public. Garcia then provided the information to Adams, who had a private Facebook page, and Adams would release the information to his subscribers who would pay him $300 each for access, said Henrico County Assistant Commonwealths Attorney David Stock, who is prosecuting the case and is special counsel to the multijurisdictional grand jury. They would know where bottles of bourbons highly sought by collectors would be placed in stores for sale before the general public was aware, Stock said of the two defendants. Stock said the investigation focused on various labels of high-demand, limited-availability bourbons allocated by the government-run liquor monopoly. The agency has compiled a list of more than 100 products that are not readily available to meet public demand, but occasionally offered for sale at randomly selected ABC stores at one bottle per customer per day. Some of the sought-after bourbons include Buffalo Trace, Bookers Bourbon and Blantons Single Barrel. The goal was to make the products as accessible as possible and correct a system where bourbon hunters or whiskey enthusiasts were camping outside Virginia ABC stores when they thought or caught wind that a shipment of allocated whiskey was coming in. Now, Virginia ABC will announce on its Spirited Virginia Facebook or Instagram page that certain stores will have the allocated bourbon for purchase. Because both cases are pending adjudication, Stock declined to say how Garcia and Adams were connected or what brought them together. Garcia was employed as a lead sales associate from Feb. 14, 2020, to March 25 and earned $16.53 an hour, ABC officials said. Reached Friday, attorney Vaughan Jones, who is representing Adams, said he could not comment on his clients ongoing legal matter. But Vaughan said that based on his initial review of the evidence, he found that the acquisition of hard-to-find alcoholic beverages became a hobby among enthusiasts that gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are many people and I cant comment on whether my client is one of them who were pursuing all avenues possible to acquire, through legal means, hard-to-find alcohol, Jones said. Attorney Tony Paracha in Centreville, who is representing Smith, could not be reached for comment. Virginia ABC and other law enforcement agencies conducted an investigation based on complaints the agency received, along with our own observations, said ABC spokeswoman Dawn Eischen in a statement Friday. Since this is an ongoing criminal investigation, we cannot comment on how ABC investigated this case or provide details about products associated with the charges. We can confirm, however, that they were limited availability products. Added Eischen: As the sole provider of spirits in Virginia, we want to ensure that every customer has a fair chance at acquiring highly sought-after products. We are committed to this standard and are confident that our current random process to distribute limited availability products addresses the issues identified in our investigation that led to the arrest of these two individuals. Garcia and Adams were released on bond after their arrests. Garcia is scheduled to enter a plea to the charges on Sept. 19, court records show. On Friday, a judge set a jury trial date of Dec. 12-13 for Adams in Hanover Circuit Court. Friends and family gathered Friday on the second floor of Richmonds Main Street Station to celebrate the life of 36-year-old Kyle Stoner. The service started with anything but tears. It was ushered in by a standing ovation. If youre here for Kyle Stoner, can I get a Hell yeah!? one speaker said. Hell yeah! the room erupted. Ryan Stoner, 39, said during the celebration of life service that it still feels surreal not to have his brother beside him. Weve been calling and talking to family on the phone leading up to today, and I keep finding myself talking to my mom saying, I need to get in touch with Kyle and see what he wants, Ryan said. It just does not feel real yet. Richmond police said in a statement that the shooting took place July 3 at around 10:28 p.m. on the 1300 block of West Main Street. Detectives later identified the suspect as Derrick Adjei, 24, of Alexandria, after a Virginia State Police trooper pursued a Toyota 4Runner traveling on Interstate 95. As friends and family marched into Main Street Station, Ryan said he wants people to remember his brother as hed want to be remembered. The idea of this being a celebration, I think, was really easy for us, Ryan said. As the service began, an army of friends and family took turns sharing their memories of Kyle. At the front of the packed facility sat Kyles sister, Cory Stoner; his mother, Barb Froede; and his 5-year-old son, Ashton. From one story to the next, Kyles fortitude, creativity and above all else joy shined through. Ryan said he knew his brother had close friends, but seeing the room filled to the brim really put into perspective the impact he had on peoples lives. The number of people that have responded or sent us messages or something along those lines has been really endearing, Ryan said. Throughout Kyles life, Ryan said his brother was quiet and reserved. However, the stories from loved ones painted a picture of the brother he came to know. I felt like I was seeing him in a way I hadnt for years, Ryan said. That included the time Kyle dressed up as Gumby in grade school, his frequent trips to Hollywood Cemetery, festivals and concerts, plus his brothers favorite story of an elementary school yearbook photo. I remember looking up on the wall seeing Kyle with no shirt, a temporary tattoo on his arm and his ear pierced and the name Spike written underneath, Ryan said. There he was mugging up to the camera. ... I turned to a friend and was like, Im never going to be that cool. The night went on in celebratory fashion as Kyles favorite songs played in the background, laughs were shared and drinks were fashioned. For Kyles mother, whom his friends call Momma Stoner, Fridays ceremony really was a testament to his life. Some of the people here Ive known since they were babies, Froede said. Kyles touched their lives in some way or another, and that will always be the case. Family and friends gathered at Main Street Station on Friday to pay tribute to Kyle Stoner, who was killed in Richmond earlier this month. His mother, Barb Froede (facing left), greeted people as they arrived. The Democratic incumbents in Virginias three most hotly contested U.S. House contests hit the midyear point with financial advantages over their rivals, according to new reports posted by the Virginia Public Access Project. But with Gov. Glenn Youngkin and national Republican groups highlighting the races for possible pickups, the GOP hopefuls likely will raise the funds they need to compete this fall. Rep. Elaine Luria, D-2nd, who is trying to fend off a challenge from state Sen. Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia Beach, raised nearly $1.88 million in the second quarter of the year and has raised about $5.95 million in the first 18 months of the election cycle. Luria had $4.32 million in cash on hand as of June 30. Kiggans, who won the GOP nomination in a June 21 primary, took in $470,225 in the second quarter and has raised about $1.57 million in the cycle. She reported $413,729 in cash on hand. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, seeking a third term in a district now based in Northern Virginia, raised $1.42 million in the quarter and has raised $5.56 million in the 18-month span. Spanberger tops Virginias congressional hopefuls with $4.9 million in cash on hand. Republican Yesli Vega, a Prince William County supervisor and deputy sheriff who also captured her partys nomination in a June 21 primary, raised $385,399 in the quarter and $742,209 so far in the cycle. Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-10th, who represents a competitive district based in Loudoun and Prince William counties, raised $863,675 in the second quarter and $2.54 million in the first 18 months of the cycle. Retired U.S. Navy captain Hung Cao, who topped 10 other GOP candidates in a May firehouse primary, raised $668,440 in the second quarter and has raised $982,756 in the 18-month cycle. He reported $354,183 in cash on hand. VPAP also reported on campaign finance reports for next years legislative contests. The state Supreme Court released new General Assembly districts last December, scrambling the map and setting up some competitive contests next year, featuring high-profile rivals. For instance, a three-way GOP nomination contest in Senate District 12, a strongly Republican district based in Chesterfield County, features Sen. Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield; former congressional hopeful Tina Ramirez; and former state Sen. Glen Sturtevant. Ramirez reported that she raised $183,166 from Jan. 12 through June 30, the reporting period for legislative candidates. That included $145,000 that she transferred from her congressional campaign fund. She ended the period with $129,309 on hand. Sturtevant, a lawyer who lost his former Senate seat to Democrat Ghazala Hashmi in 2019, reported raising $94,116 in the reporting period. He had a balance of $100,512 at the end of the reporting period. Chase, a former GOP candidate for governor, scrapped a planned run for Congress after the state Supreme Court shifted the 7th District from the Richmond suburbs to Northern Virginia. Chase reported that her Friends of Amanda F. Chase committee raised $21,779 between April 1 and June 30 and finished the period with a balance of $37,432. Former Del. Lashrecse Aird, who lost her seat in November to Republican Kim Taylor, is now vying with Sen. Joe Morrissey, D-Richmond, for the Democratic nomination to run in Senate District 13, a strongly Democratic, majority Black district. It gets 54,000 voters from eastern Henrico County and includes part of Dinwiddie County, as well as all of the cities of Petersburg and Hopewell and Charles City, Prince George, Sussex and Surry counties. Aird reported raising $163,425 from March 16 to June 30 and finished the period with $148,649. Morrissey raised $122,238 from Jan. 1 through June 30 and finished with a balance of $253,281. When the private sector cannot fulfill a basic human need and make a reasonable profit, the government fills that need. Most government programs assist a large majority of people needing help. Examples include food and nutrition, education and health care. For almost two years, Virginias Rent Relief Program (RRP) made housing another example. But thats no longer the case. Through March 31, the RRP processed 41,330 payments for nearly 105,000 households, totaling more than $713 million. Based on 2016 statistics the most recent year that Princeton Universitys Eviction Lab reported statewide figures this is more than two-thirds of the Virginia households against whom an eviction lawsuit is filed annually. RRP applications closed after May 15. The last rent payments to landlords are expected to be made in July or August. Although the RRP paid around $1 billion to Virginia landlords, it was not a housing program. It was an emergency public health measure designed to limit the spread of COVID-19 through promoting housing stability and paying past due rent to landlords in full. The RRP succeeded. In the first half of 2021, Virginia distributed a higher percentage of rent relief funds than any other state. The RRP was second only to Texas in total dollars dispersed. It was a win-win-win for landlords, tenants and public health. The RRP also illustrated the inadequacy of Virginias prepandemic housing programs. In December 2021, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission reported a statewide shortage of at least 200,000 affordable rental units. This shortage causes households to become housing cost-burdened, which is defined as paying more than 30% of their income on shelter. Approximately 29% of Virginia households are housing cost-burdened. An additional 14% are extremely housing cost-burdened, paying more than 50% of their income for shelter. In Richmond, rent burden is even worse: 30% of households are housing cost-burdened, and another 21% are extremely housing cost-burdened. These households have no place to go. During the pandemic, U.S. rental vacancy rates dropped to 5.8% a 35-year low. Among large metropolitan areas, Richmond has the second lowest rental vacancy at 1.1%. The result was inevitable. The eviction tsunami has arrived. From June 15 through July 11, in the Richmond, Petersburg and Charlottesville regions a total of five independent cities and 15 counties 2,453 eviction lawsuits were filed. Projected statewide, this will mean more than 121,000 annual eviction filings. To combat this return to normal, Richmond must do better. In 2010, the city needed a minimum of $10 million per year to begin solving its affordable housing shortage of 25,000 units. Over the past seven fiscal years, the city provided a total of $12.7 million in local funds. This average of $1.8 million a year was far too little. Todays prices are one and one-third times higher than 12 years ago. Ten million dollars in 2010 is the same as $13.3 million today. In FY22, Richmond came up short on its Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The citys $2.9 million, added to $10 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds, was only $12.9 million almost $500,000 short. The budget for FY23 came up even shorter and went backward. It provided the final $10 million in federal ARP money, but zeroed out city funds for affordable housing. The city did approve $733,000 for the Eviction Diversion Program for FY23, roughly a 50% increase from FY22. This could help between 350 and 450 Richmond households avoid eviction, about 3% of expected total filings. Given the end of the RRP and pandemic-era state eviction protections, the citys lack of support for affordable housing and eviction prevention is alarming. For decades, Richmond has provided some of the smallest financial allocations toward one of the biggest problems confronting the city housing stability. Plans to tackle this problem are written, revised, shelved and forgotten. At its formation in the fall of 2019, city officials directly and specifically told Richmonds Eviction Task Force: You come up with the solutions. Well find the money. We have the solutions. Now show us the money. Before his flight home Saturday from a tour through Southwest Virginia, U.S. Sen. Mark Warner delivered an oversized copy of a $15 million check for planned improvements at Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport. Ending a three-day swing in the region, Warner, D-Va., said federal funding to the local airport comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Its a $1.2 trillion package to improve the nations roads, bridges, rails and other core structures, signed into law last November. For 40 years in this country, weve been talking about needing to invest in roads and rail and broadband and airports and water and sewer, Warner said. Instead of talking about infrastructure, we actually put our money where our mouth is, and this check is part of the results. The $15 million will be spent on improvements to security screening checkpoints, thereby expediting and improving the customer experience, said Mike Stewart, airport executive director. The federal governments help is huge, Stewart said. We need all the help we can get. The project is in the planning stages and it will be a year or so before construction starts, Stewart said. Out of the trillion-dollar nationwide infrastructure plan, almost $400 million was guaranteed to Virginia airports, Warner said. Further federal money could be won for regional infrastructure through competitive grants, he said. Whats really, really important is weve got to improve the customer experience and the number of flights out here in Roanoke, Warner said. One of the things that Im concerned about is the leakage of traffic down to Charlotte, or even sometimes people are going cross-country, driving all the way up to Dulles [in Northern Virginia]. If Roanokes airport can improve the customer experience and open an additional gate, that could bring lower fares and more flights, he said. This is one of those self-fulfilling prophecies, Warner said. Build it, and theyll come. Saturday was Warners second visit to Roanoke since April, when he walked a low-water bridge along the greenway in support of the infrastructure act. Local and state politicians joined him alongside airport executives for a 30-minute meeting that was closed to the public. Some pretty exciting stuff. Ill let the community share with you at an appropriate time, Warner said of the closed-doors discussion. This is a group that doesnt lack forward vision. Hows that for a teaser? Other windfall to Virginia from the federal infrastructure act during the next five years includes an estimated $7.7 billion for highways and bridges, and $1.2 billion for improving public transportation options. A partial assessment reveals more than 100 Buchanan County homes and businesses were damaged by flooding with more reviews to follow, according to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Teams from the department visited areas affected by flash flooding Tuesday and Wednesday and reported 25 structures including 22 homes were destroyed while another 32 homes and seven businesses received major damage. A total of 99 homes and 15 commercial structures were affected by floodwaters which caused downed trees, flooded roads and flooded residences across various regions of the county. The most impacted communities were Whitewood and Pilgrims Knob, due to the Dismal Creek overflowing its banks. No cost estimate was included in the report. Major flooding wreaked havoc on Buchanan Countys infrastructure, causing millions in damage to the public water system where restoring some service could take weeks. Electricity is rebounding faster with most residential customers expected to have service restored by over the weekend, according to Appalachian Power. Floodwaters caused widespread damage Tuesday night and Wednesday morning in the Whitewood, Pilgrims Knob and areas located east of U.S. Route 460, destroying or damaging homes and businesses. Included in the carnage was the county Public Service Authoritys lower office and Appalachian Powers Dismal transmission and distribution station. Six Buchanan County PSA crews have been working 16-hour days trying to re-establish service, according to Chairman Ray Blankenship. On Friday he estimated about a third of the authoritys 8,500-plus customers remained without water service. Restoration for some could take weeks. The Whitewood area is all down. Some of it, if we had the parts and everything went good, it will probably take at least a month, Blankenship said. When we had the flood in Hurley, to get it [water] back to everybody, they let us run lines on top of the ground, temporarily. If we can do that here, it would be faster. The damage estimate is more than $2 million, he said. While some residents use wells, nearly half of the countys residents rely on public water. Another major problem, he said, is most of the authoritys lines run along roadways and some of those were washed out. Weve got to wait for them to fix the road before we can put the water lines back in, Blankenship said, adding they met with Virginia Department of Transportation officials Thursday to prioritize repairs. VDOT reported Friday that 11 routes impacted by flooding, except state Route 715, were passable with care but 715 has significant bridge damage. VDOT crews will be working this weekend to clear debris and make repairs. Another problem is a significant shortage of replacement water line. When COVID was going on a lot of factories wasnt producing a lot of water line and that still carries over to now. Its almost impossible to get supplies, Blankenship said. We reached out and PSA directors throughout Southwest Virginia are trying to help us locate stuff, give us their extra stuff and Lee County even offered to send a crew in to help. Some water service was restored Friday. At one point the authority had no power to any of its pumping stations. As of Friday afternoon, Appalachian Power had restored service to a couple of the authoritys pump stations, Blankenship said. One kept Keen Mountain Prison from running out of water and the other got water flowing again to Hurley and Slate Creek, two areas outside this past weeks flood damage zone. It looks better today than it did. Situations with PSAs can change quickly; luckily for us it changed in our favor, Blankenship said. About 175 Appalachian Power employees have been working since early Wednesday to restore service, spokesperson Teresa Hall said Friday. At the peak we had about 3,700 customers without power and that number was down to less than 400 Friday afternoon, Hall said. That number wont go to zero for some time because some homes are too damaged to accept service. VDEM crews had completed about 75% of the damage assessment on Friday and were continuing their work this weekend. Much of the damage is due to debris, especially tree limbs Residents that were impacted by the flooding and have debris on their property can have it removed by the county. Push all debris to the edge of your property by the road and the county will dispose of it, a VDEM statement read. Residents are urged to be patient, given the extensive area affected by the flooding. The assistance center at Twin Valley Elementary and Middle School will provide water, snacks, tetanus shots and access to showers. It is also a place to cool off in an air conditioned facility and charge any electronic devices such as cell phones or tablets. It is being staffed 24 hours and can be reached by calling 276-498-4537. The American Red Cross began serving hot meals Saturday at the assistance center. Lunch will be at 11:30 a.m. and dinner at 5 p.m., according to the statement. LYNCHBURG When he was just a year old, Waylon Means underwent two surgeries for hip dysplasia. Afterwards, doctors found out he had a growth hormone deficiency because he was so small, his parents Aaron and Lauren Means, of Lynchburg, said. After continuous blood draws, Waylon was diagnosed with Fanconi Anemia a rare genetic blood disorder that leads to Aplastic Anemia and an increased risk of Leukemia when he was 3 years old. In an effort to raise money for his medical expenses, a Roanoke-based nonprofit held a car, truck and bike show Saturday for him and his family at Tree of Life Ministries on Greenview Drive in Lynchburg. HopeDriven, a 501c3 nonprofit, holds events such as car shows, toy drives and other community events to raise money for children ages 18 and younger whove experienced a life-altering event such as a disease, accident or sickness. So anytime we run an event, the money that we raised is donated directly towards them and their medical expenses and associated costs, HopeDrivens president Kevin Jenkins said. The nonprofit was established in 2019 after Jenkins held a car show to benefit a child with Leukemia in Vinton and raised $11,000 for her medical expenses. Waylon must undergo regular blood draws every two months and bone marrow biopsies every six to twelve months depending on blood results. He will be going to Cincinnati Childrens Hospital this Wednesday to undergo further testing and treatment, his father said. There, the family will meet with an endocrinologist, hematologist and oncologist about what the next steps are for Waylon. Lauren Means said Fanconi Anemia makes Waylon highly susceptible to cancer, especially leukemia. She said it is expected that by the time he is 8 years old, Waylon may require a bone marrow transplant. Were very lucky to have gotten in as soon as we did to meet with the people who specialize in his type of Fanconi Anemia, she said. The way the steps have happened has been nothing but a blessing. To be in a situation like this and to get news like that and to not know what the future holds, were in good hands. Looking around at the hundreds of people who came out to support her son, she said she had no words. We were praying, she said. We got here and its been one of the biggest turnouts theyve had. Its incredible. Theres so many people who we dont even know who have shown up. Aaron Means said hes been amazed to see how many people have shared about the event and about Waylon on Facebook and have wanted to support the family through his Go Fund Me page. Its just been a blessing, he said. The Lord has really done a lot of good work for us and for Waylon and putting all this stuff together. The event brought in a variety of vehicles such as motorcycles, muscle cars, classic cars from the 50s, 60s and 70s, Jeeps, ATV, trucks and foreign cars. We have tons of variety of cars, we try to bring older and newer cars together and bridge that gap because at the end of the day, were using our passion for vehicles to raise money for this kid, Jenkins said. Along with various local food vendors, the event held Hot Wheel Racing for children and an exhaust competition at the end that Jenkins said was sure to get everyone ramped up. And then at the end of every show, the kid that we sponsor if theyre here or they have a family representative here, they pick the best in show for us, he said. Estonian Reform Party Chairwoman Kaja Kallas addresses the parliament in Tallinn, Estonia, July 15, 2022. The Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu) on Friday granted a mandate to the new government coalition of the Reform Party, Isamaa Party and the Social Democratic Party (SDE). (Erik Peinar/Parliament of Estonia/Handout via Xinhua) TALLINN, July 15 (Xinhua) -- The Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu) on Friday granted a mandate to the new government coalition of the Reform Party, Isamaa Party and the Social Democratic Party (SDE). At an extraordinary parliamentary session, Reform Party Chairwoman Kaja Kallas made a political statement introducing the new coalition agreement jointly signed by the leaders of all three parties earlier on Friday: Kallas, Isamaa party's Helir-Valdor Seeder and SDE's Lauri Laanemets. The vote was 52 in favor and 26 against in the 101-seat parliament to grant Prime ministerial candidate Kaja Kallas a mandate to form the next government, said the press release. On Thursday, Kallas submitted her resignation as prime minister and that of the entire government to Estonian President Alar Karis, who then asked her to form a new government. The three coalition partners also announced candidates for ministers of the next government, five ministerial portfolios to each party including the post of prime minister. The Reform Party, 34 seats in the Riigikogu, has been ruling as a minority government since Kallas dismissed all seven ministers from the junior coalition partner Center Party due to a dispute over welfare policy on June 3. At present, Isamaa and SDE have 12 and 9 seats respectively in the Estonian Parliament. In accordance with the Constitution, the Estonian head of state nominates the candidate for prime minister, who is granted the authority to form a government by the parliament. The head of state then appoints the members of the government, after which they swear the oath of office before the Parliament. Kallas, 45, has led her party since 2018 and became prime minister in 2021. The country is scheduled to hold the next parliamentary election in March 2023. Credit: Courtesy of the University of Houston What started as a scientific investigation has become a passion project for Samina Salim. The University of Houston associate professor of pharmacology has worked alongside colleagues to determine the biochemical basis of mental stress and breast cancer risk among Syrian refugees in Houston. As Salim began learning about the trauma experienced by families displaced by the Syrian Civil War, she became personally invested in Houston's refugee community. This week, Salim expands on that work by traveling to Jordan, which hosts one of the world's largest Syrian refugee populations. Her journey is made possible by the Fulbright Specialist Program. She is among the U.S. scholars selected for this program and will continue her work with Syrian expatriate communities. In northern Jordan, she will examine Syrian refugee mental health, stress, and their awareness of breast cancer. Her Fulbright-sponsored trip will also facilitate collaborations with Jordan University of Science and Technology in the city of Irbid, Jordan. At this institution, Salim will review its master's and doctoral pharmacy curriculum and conduct a scientific writing workshop for graduate students and junior faculty members. She will also showcase her research during presentations at the institution to further spotlight UH's scientific enterprise. Salim will depart on July 15 from Houston and returns on Aug. 8. This is Salim's first Fulbright award, and she is proud to continue her research abroad and to represent the University of Houston on a world stage. "International collaborations such as this are important to UH," she said. "Showcasing the University's scientific expertise on a global level will only lead to greater things for our university." She is particularly pleased to also resume her research with Syrian refugees and looks forward to visiting those groups residing in Jordan. "I never thought I would become so passionate about working with these communities," she said. "Once I began seeing the challenges faced by the children of refugees, I felt there was more work to be done." In addition to researching mental stress among refugees, Salim also led an effort to tutor and mentor both Arab refugee and Arab immigrant high school students in STEM subjects. This project, the Incubator of Racial Equity in STEM Education, was supported by a Cougar Initiative to Engage (CITE) grant. Salim also researched the effects of racism on refugee children alongside Johanna Bick, assistant professor of psychology. Their efforts were assisted by a Division of Research Grant to Enhance and Advance Research (GEAR). Salim credits pilot grants from CITE, GEAR and the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Centers in Minority Institutions program, as well as the support of the UH community for helping elevate her work to a global scale. Likewise, she is grateful to the Fulbright program for providing this opportunity to further research and assist communities in need. "It is an honor to travel to Jordan as a Fulbright Specialist," she said. "This is an amazing opportunity, but more importantly, it's a chance to extend my expertise to a new institution." Salim joins other UH professors and students in traveling the globe as a Fulbrighter. Each year, Fulbright Specialists are selected based on academic and professional achievements to foster long-term collaborations between institutions in the U.S. and abroad. UH recently announced that 10 of its students were selected as Fulbright Scholars, and the University has been recognized as one of the nation's top Fulbright producers. Provided by University of Houston Sri Lanka is in political turmoil after anger over the countrys worst economic crisis in 70 years cascaded into a public uprising, forcing the president to resign and flee the country. After reaching Singapore on Thursday night following his escape to the Maldives on a military jet, president Gotabaya Rajapaksa gave his formal resignation - marking an end to nearly 20 years of rule by the family. To fill the political vacuum, incumbent prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is also facing pressure to step down, has taken the role of acting president. The speaker of Sri Lankas parliament says meetings will begin on Saturday to choose the new president. So far three candidates have thrown their hats in the ring to lead the country that is suffering crippling shortages of food, petrol and diesel and runaway prices of basic amenities like bread and gas. Ranil Wickremesinghe - prime minister The current prime minister and finance minister of the country, who is also newly sworn in as interim president after being selected by Mr Rajapaksa, Ranil Wickremesinghe is expected to run for the position permanently, his ruling Podujana Peramuna party announced on Friday. We have decided to back Ranil Wickremesinghe as our presidential candidate, Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) general secretary Sagara Kariyawasam told Reuters. Mr Wickremesinghe, 73, has served six stints as prime minister of the cash-strapped nation but has never completed a full term. His sixth tenure began in May when he was appointed by Mr Rajapaksa to help bring international credibility to his government as it negotiated a bailout package with the International Monetary Fund. Ranil Wickremesinghe was also made the finance minister in May after one of Rajapaksas brothers resigned from the post (REUTERS) Mr Wickremesinghe who was also made the finance minister in May after one of Mr Rajapaksas brothers resigned from the post soon became the face of the economic collapse of the country. But the ruling party remains dominated by the family of the former president and his nomination reportedly has backing from Mr Rajapaksas brother Basil Rajapaksa. Story continues Sajith Premadasa - opposition leader Sri Lankas main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa announced his bid to run for president on 12 July. The 55-year-old leader of the opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) party held talks with allies to get support for the move in the parliament. We are continuing and stepping up our efforts to take responsibility to protect our motherland and its people. Continuously seeking support from all to achieve this task, he tweeted on Friday. An MP in Colombo, Mr Premadasa lost the last presidential elections in 2019. Sri Lankas Opposition Leader and leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya Sajith Premadasa during protest (EPA) Mr Premadasa is the son of former Sri Lankan prime minister Ranasinghe Premadasa, who was assassinated in a suicide bombing in 1993 by LTTE militants. He studied at the London School of Economics and served as deputy health minister in 2001, gaining popularity for his stand on issues of racism and alienation of minorities. We are not going to hoodwink the people. We are going to be frank and present a plan to get rid of Sri Lankas economic ills, Mr Premadasa told BBC News. Dullas Alahapperuma - journalist A former journalist, Dullas Alahapperuma, 63, has been dubbed a potential dark horse in the surprise presidential elections in the country. Announcing his run for the elections, Mr Alahapperuma said that the people of this country should not suffer any more hardship, hardship or despair. I ask for the support of fellow MPs, who believe that needs to embark on a new, constructive course. Together, lets commit to guide to the path of economic prosperity while upholding rule of law and maintaining ethnic solidarity, he said. He served as minister of mass media and a cabinet spokesperson (AFP via Getty Images) Mr Alahapperuma is a senior MP for the ruling SLPP party. He was serving as the minister of mass media and a cabinet spokesperson before he resigned in April when disgraced President Rajapaksa dissolved the cabinet. Putting his weight behind the politician, SLPP lawmaker Charitha Herath said: Im a pragmatist. We need a candidate who is acceptable to the Aragalaya (struggle) and the larger public but someone who can also get parliamentarians approval. It is not easy to get such a person, he said. Dullas would be a formidable and practical option. He is also emerging as a popular choice of the governing alliance and is believed to be close to the Rajapaksa family. OMAHA -- When a teenager says his business inspiration is McDonalds founder Ray Kroc, adults tend to pay attention. After all, how many kids (let alone their elders) even know who that is? Entrepreneur aRon Burns, for one. Burns, a 17-year-old Omaha Central High School senior, already has his own ice cream store. And its not even his first business venture (that had something to do with e-commerce.). Roll-N-Sweetz has been open for about a month in a strip mall near 59th Street and Ames Avenue. It sells rolled ice cream, created when a cup of aRons secret mix (refrigerated milk and sugar are two ingredients) meets a surface thats cooled to 21 below zero. Employees smooth it to a thin layer, mix in things like candy and cookies, then create rolls that are served in cups with a variety of toppings. So far, Burns says, hes pleased with the communitys response. It has been crazy ever since we opened, he said last week. That success doesnt surprise Willie Barney, who founded the Carver Legacy Center with his wife, Yolanda, and another couple, Martin and Lynnell Williams. The center, a joint venture with American National Bank, helps Black entrepreneurs realize their dreams. Barney said aRon and his mother, Alexis, came to Carver for help earlier this year when they were running into snags as they renovated the space they leased for the store. He was immediately inspired by Burns, who calls himself a serial entrepreneur. We were really blown away by their business plan and their strategy, he said. His brilliance really impresses everybody he speaks with the homework hes done, the research hes done and his experience in entrepreneurship. The Carver people were so amazed following their initial talk with the Burnses that they took immediate action. After that meeting, we got in our cars and actually walked through the building with him, Barney said. The result was a $95,000 investment in the project from the Carver Center for the renovation and equipment Burns needed to open the store. Burns said hes been interested in business since he was a young kid. He read everything he could about entrepreneurship, including material about Kroc, who made millions in the fast-food business. Hes an influential person, Burns said. I watch a movie about his life every night. He got the idea for Roll-N-Sweetz from working at a similar store downtown. He targeted North Omaha for his first store because he wanted to support his community, not only with a business unique to the area, but also with the jobs it would create. He canvassed neighborhood shop proprietors and conducted additional research to gather statistics for his business plan. He learned that 24,000 cars pass by the area every two days and that residents and business owners missed the Dairy Queen that used to be nearby. And he did it all while faithfully attending classes at Central. I had to mature quicker than some of my peers, he said. Hes taking summer school classes at Omaha Burke so he can go to school half-days in the fall and graduate in December, because he has big plans for the business. It already has more than 15 employees, including some adults, though his store manager, Ciara Mercer, is a senior at Omaha North. She worked with him at the ice cream store downtown, where the owners gave him a lot of responsibility and offered him a chance for promotion before he decided to open his own place. If they took such a chance on him, he said, it would be a contradiction not to trust her. Besides, he said, At first I hired a 26-year-old (as manager), but they didnt show up. In mid-afternoon on a recent weekday, Burns (wearing a nametag that said COO, as in chief operating officer) and Mercer cheerfully greeted all their guests, even the woman who just wanted to use the restroom. They get a fair amount of foot traffic, even though there isnt yet a sign outside. The city is so backed up with sign permits, Burns explained. A couple of girls, both 15, came in because one of them learned about the store on social media. I saw it on Instagram, said JayCionna Fisher, who lives in Mesa, Arizona, and is in Omaha visiting her cousin. She ordered the No. 12, Candy Land: made with rolled-in unicorn snack cake, drizzled with strawberry syrup and served with whipped cream and cotton candy. Burns said that his mom devised the menu, and that his favorite is the No. 2, Annies Brick, made with butter brickle candy, Pepperidge Farm Chessman cookies, caramel topping, whipped cream and chocolate Pocky sticks. She also came up with the name. Alexis Burns said her son wanted to keep the menu simple, but she prevailed. I was like, oh, no. Ice cream is my favorite dessert, and I knew if there were multiple versions (at a shop), I would keep coming back, she said. The store is open from noon to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and noon to 2 a.m. on weekends. Burns said late-night traffic is one thing thats made the opening days so busy. Alexis quit her job with the Omaha Housing Authority and cashed out money from her 401(k) to help her son achieve his goals when she realized he was serious about the venture. She has an online boutique for women and helps out at Roll-N-Sweetz. Im loving it, she said. It doesnt feel like a job. Burns has plans for additional Omaha stores, one near the refurbished Gene Leahy Mall and one near the new Crossroads development at 72nd and Dodge streets. He also wants to branch out to Lincoln and eventually have franchises elsewhere in fact, a few days after being interviewed for this story, he was off to Miami for business meetings and to scout out possible locations. Barney, of the Carver Center, said he thinks the plans for expansion are sound, even though Burns is Carvers youngest client so far. He has a lot of attention from around the country, Barney said. People are contacting him already. He has knowledge of profit margins and the number of customers he has to have each day. Hes making it happen. Burns is not sure about college hes been courted by the entrepreneurship program at Creighton University but hasnt decided on anything because he has been so laser-focused on his business. And, he points out, Kroc only went to college for a year. SIOUX CITY -- A Sioux City man has pleaded not guilty of setting fires to two vehicles. Shaw-Keem Goodman, 27, entered his written plea Friday in Woodbury County District Court to two counts each of first-degree arson and second-degree criminal mischief. He is accused of setting fire to an SUV parked inside a garage in the 1800 block of Virginia Street on June 27. According to court documents, he told police after his arrest that he had opened the SUV's fuel cap, placed a piece of fabric by the gas tank fuel neck and set fire to it with a lighter. The vehicle sustained approximately $5,000 in damage. He also claimed responsibility for a June 26 vehicle fire in the 2100 block of Grandview Boulevard. In his interview with police, court documents said, Goodman said he had inspired and trained other people in the city, and more fires were planned. Li Zhanshu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, visits Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous region, July 13, 2022. Li made a research tour in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region related to the legislation on the ecological protection of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau from Tuesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) LHASA, July 16 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Li Zhanshu has stressed the implementation of a systematic, coordinated and special protection approach in drafting a new law on the ecological protection of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, made the remarks during a research tour in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region related to the legislation from Tuesday to Friday. Noting the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau's special ecological status and its value to national and global ecological security, Li said the new law should embody the idea that ecological protection is the basic premise and the rigid constraint of the region's development. It should also implement the new development philosophy, adhere to a systemic, science-based and problem-solving approach to strengthen the protection, conservation, restoration and risk prevention and control of key ecological systems, said Li. During the stay in Tibet, Li also visited residential communities, the Potala Palace and temples, and held talks with local lawmakers. He called for efforts to further implement the Party's ethnic and religious work policies, to focus on safeguarding national unification and strengthening ethnic unity, and to ensure enduring social stability and long-term security and high-quality development. Li Zhanshu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, visits a residential community in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous region, July 15, 2022. Li made a research tour in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region related to the legislation on the ecological protection of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau from Tuesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Li Zhanshu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, visits Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous region, July 14, 2022. Li made a research tour in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region related to the legislation on the ecological protection of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau from Tuesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Li Zhanshu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, visits Nyingchi, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 12, 2022. Li made a research tour in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region related to the legislation on the ecological protection of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau from Tuesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) ST. FRANCOIS COUNTY As a noon deadline approached Thursday, and sheriffs deputies stood in the gravel driveway, Jason Uhlmansiek, 32, swung back and forth in an outdoor swing as his grim reality was being discussed. We gave them 30 days notice on June 14, said Calle Melkersman, director of waivers at Sunnyhill, a nonprofit organization that works with the Missouri Department of Mental Health to provide protective oversight for people with developmental disabilities. Sunnyhill had been Uhlmansieks service provider for nine years. But for some reason on Thursday, they were pulling out of his home here at Lake Timberline. Efforts to find a replacement over the past month were unsuccessful. Now it was deadline. So theres no other place for him to go? asked St. Francois County sheriffs Deputy Bruce Momot. Shes the legal guardian, Melkersman said. He hasnt lived with me for 22 years, said Donna McCluskey. McCluskey said shes unable to care for him. She said hes incapacitated, has the temperament of a 5-year-old in a mans body. As part of an independent supported living contract through the state, she said Uhlmansiek is supposed to have two men with him at his home at all times. Three when he goes to the hospital or dentist. He did nothing wrong to deserve this, said McCluskey, who adopted Uhlmansiek from a Romanian orphanage when he was 18 months old. She pleaded with Deputy Momot to do more to keep Sunnyhill from abandoning care on Thursday, saying the firm received government funding. Momot told her to file a complaint for that. Right now, thats not going to do any good, Momot said. I know, thats why I called you, McCluskey said. He acted pretty violent when I pulled up, Momot said. They talked some more about calls that had been made to mental health providers that couldnt do anything fast enough to keep Uhlmansiek in his home on this day. McCluskey walked away, to a picnic table where her sons many medications were being sorted for transfer. But transfer to whom? And how? There was concern that an ambulance would alarm Uhlmansiek. Momot spoke to Melkersman. This is not my problem either, Momot said. I am a deputy sheriff. I dont deal with mental health. I deal with criminal law. What you agreed on in the contract is between you guys. Momot thought it through some more. I cant have somebody running loose out here, he said. He needs his own facility to go to. Sticks us in a bind. Theres financing in the city, not in the rural areas. At that point, a reporter asked Melkersman why Sunnyhill couldnt stay put until a successful transition could take place for Uhlmansiek in his home. Melkersman declined to comment. She walked over to the swing to visit with Donny Mitchell, Sunnyhills chief operating officer, who was part of a team calming Uhlmansiek. Mitchell referred questions to attorney Derrick Good. There are things in this story that could help everybody understand some of the challenges for him and service providers, Good told the Post-Dispatch by telephone. But due to privacy concerns, he wouldnt elaborate. A DMH spokeswoman didnt respond to a request for comment. Vincent Heitholt, an attorney for Missouri Protection & Advocacy Services, told the Post-Dispatch by email that Sunnyhills abandonment of its client is a form of neglect. He said the case is indicative of many other people with disabilities who cant get appropriate residential treatment in the state. He said they are waiting in hospitals, nursing homes and less safe places. Because of the current staffing crisis, 30 days is not sufficient time to arrange for replacement services when a provider chooses to back out of its contract, he said. Further, because of the lack of provider options, DMH seems reluctant to hold any providers accountable ... parents of consumers are reluctant to advocate for their childrens rights out of fear that a provider will retaliate by terminating services that the children desperately need. Its unclear what motivated Sunnyhill to discontinue service with Uhlmansiek. Heitholt said the firm wouldnt negotiate an extension even though there wasnt a replacement plan. Heitholt said there have been several disputes over the maintenance of the property. McCluskey said Uhlmansiek and his 31-year-old sister own the home. Also disabled, she was transferred to a nursing home on Wednesday. Uhlmansiek is lower functioning. In 2004, he was awarded $950,000 in a settlement with the state stemming from abusive care at Marshall Habilitation Center. He was among eight boys believed to have been victims of a wide range of abuse, including being slammed against floors and made to attack each other. They failed him once, McCluskey said. They failed him again. Instead of leaving it up to an ambulance crew to sort out on Thursday, Sunnyhill ended up taking Uhlmansiek by van from his home to Parkland Health Center in Farmington. Momot, the deputy, said he couldnt stay at the hospital long, but it was the best case scenario for the time being. They are going to find a safe place for him, he said. Posted at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 14. Ivana Trump, the first wife of former President Donald Trump and mother to his eldest children, died accidentally from blunt impact injuries to her torso, the New York City medical examiner's office said Friday. Police had been looking into whether or not she fell down stairs, two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Thursday. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they could not discuss the matter publicly. The medical examiner's brief report did not specify when the accident took place. Donald Trump announced Thursday that Ivana died at her home near Central Park on Manhattans Upper East Side. She was 73. A Czech-born ski racer and businesswoman, Ivana Trump was born Ivana Zelnickova in 1949. She was married to the former president from 1977 to 1992, and they had three children together: Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric. The House committee investigating the U.S. Capitol attack subpoenaed the Secret Service on Friday night for text messages agents reportedly deleted around Jan. 6, 2021, as the panel probes Donald Trump's actions at the time of the deadly siege. For the Jan. 6 panel, the watchdogs finding raised the startling prospect of lost evidence that could shed further light on Trumps actions during the insurrection, particularly after earlier testimony a about the president's confrontation with security as he tried to join supporters at the Capitol. Six people have died after a dust storm fueled by wind gusts topping 60 mph caused a pileup Friday evening on Interstate 90 in Montana, authorities said. Twenty-one vehicles crashed and Montana Highway Patrol Sgt. Jay Nelson said authorities believe the weather was the cause. From earlier: Meanwhile in Las Vegas, the 2022 World Series of Poker Main Event final table kicked off in two parts. The first session began Friday afternoon and continued overnight, and the second session, the day a winner will be crowned, takes place Saturday. See player actions and reactions from Friday here: His name is unknown to most, but few have done more for higher education than the late Claiborne Pell, a six-term senator from Rhode Island. It was Pell who sponsored a 1972 bill that reformed the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant, which provides financial aid to American college students. Eight years later, the grant was given Pell's name in honor of his work in making higher learning accessible to everyone. Fifty years later, there are thousands of Nebraskans who have benefitted from the Pell Grant and the opportunities it afforded students who might not have otherwise been able to afford to go to college. The current funding of the Pell Grant about $5,600 per semester pays the full tuition rate for in-state colleges and would cover additional costs of those students. The money does not have to be paid back. According to data collected by the U.S. Department of Education and published through the College Scorecard, roughly 36% of students attending Nebraskas public and private colleges and universities received a Pell Grant in the 2019-20 school year. Now consider how many students both in Nebraska and nationwide who have benefitted from Pell Grants. That list includes UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green, who received financial assistance when he enrolled at Virginia Tech University in 1979. Journal Star higher education reporter Chris Dunker wrote last week that the grant, when combined with other scholarships, helped Green graduate with no college debt. I didnt work a lot when I was in college I worked some as a student worker but I was able to go full-time as a student and not have to worry about 20-30 hours of workload a week, he said. I was able to finish in 3 years instead of five or six years. The world was different four decades ago, particularly when it comes to the cost of higher education. Student debt has become a fact of life -- an unavoidable curse -- for many students, but Pell Grants still serve a valuable role in reducing that debt. The average debt University of Nebraska-Lincoln students graduate with is roughly $24,500, according to the Institute for College Access and Success, which is below both the state average of $30,500 and the national average of $32,700. That's a bigger hole than we'd like to see young people saddled with as they enter the workforce, but that kind of debt is at least manageable. We can thank Pell Grants for that. Without this financial aid, there are thousands of Nebraskans who would have entered the workforce immediately out of high school, perhaps without the skill-sets necessary to run some of the firms and industries that help us to maintain the Good Life. Even worse, consider the thousands of students who might have been forced to leave school without a degree because such funding wasn't available to them. Fifty years later, Claiborne Pell deserves a long overdue tip of the cap for making a difference. Well into the nineteenth century, most European swimmers were still using the breaststroke and backstroke, and keeping their faces out of the water, even in competition. That is, they swam even less well than the Assyrians, Greeks and Romans had in antiquity, since the ancient swimmers had at least used a crawl stroke. Some Eurasians were aware that Indigenous and Black American swimmers used an overhand stroke, which was much faster than the breaststroke. They saw that these natural swimmers used side breathing rather than holding their heads up out of the water. But for decades, swimmers from Britain to China resisted the crawl stroke. They saw the breaststroke as calm and rational, and rejected the crawl as excessively splashy and energetic. As swimming races became more competitive, however, slowly the advantages of the crawl stroke proved irresistible, and more swimmers began to use it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the early sixteenth century, the illustrations in Everard Digbys early swimming manual show that Europeans swam with their heads out of the water. Even though contemporary European slave traders were already publishing books describing the overhand stroke of African and Native American swimmers, Wynman and Digby only explained four strokes. They knew the breaststroke, backstroke, sidestroke and dog-paddle, and how to tread water and dive underwater, but not the overhand crawl stroke used by Indigenous swimmers. By the early 1700s American colonists had seen Native Americans swimming overhand strokes and were interested in imitating them. Accordingly, Virginias William Byrd took lessons from local Native Americans. Byrd wrote in his journal for 1733 that, This being Sunday, we were glad to rest from our labors; and, to help restore our vigor, several of us plunged into the river, not-withstanding it was a frosty morning. One of our Indians went in along with us and taught us their way of swimming. They strike not out both hands together, but alternately one after another, whereby they are able to swim both farther and faster than we do. Advertisement Advertisement Byrds shift to the crawl stroke did not immediately catch on with other American colonists. Probably both John Quincy Adams and Benjamin Franklin still swam the breaststroke. But by the 1830s other swimmers in the United States were emulating Byrd and studying Native American swimming. The American painter George Catlin was inspired to investigate Native American swimming after his brother Julius drowned in a swimming accident. Like other Native Americans, Mandan men and women in what is now North Dakota used the overhand crawl stroke with their faces in the water and side breathing. Catlin was surprised and impressed by it, and thought the crawl was superior to the European breaststroke: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By this bold and powerful mode of swimming, which may want the grace that many would wish to see, I am quite sure, from the experience I have had, that much of the fatigue and strain upon the breast and spine are avoided, and that a man will preserve his strength and his breath much longer in this alternate and rolling motion, than he can in the usual mode of swimming, in the polished world. Advertisement Other American painters also painted Native American people swimming, taking care to show how Indigenous swimmers dived head first into the water, and how they swam with their faces in the water. Catlins concern that the overhand stroke was less graceful than the breaststroke, the usual mode of swimming in the polished world, was probably still the dominant attitude among White Americans in his lifetime. As late as the 1870s an American traveler mocks the crawl stroke he saw used in Sudan, where a Nubian swimmer pulling the Americans boat swims hand over hand, swinging his arms from the shoulders out of water and striking them forward splashing along like a side-wheeler. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, by 1880 the crawl stroke had apparently become normalized even among white swimmers in the United States, as shown in the illustration from Harpers Weekly at the top of this page, which depicts two women using overhand strokes in a river race. The women have also learned to swim like natural swimmers with their faces in the water, turning their heads to the side in order to breathe as they go. The title, Swimming a la Mode, highlights that the women are using the latest fashionable stroke. Difficult as it was for Americans to accept the new overhand swimming stroke, European, Central Asian and Chinese swimmers had much more trouble accepting it. Breaststroke, backstroke and sidestroke remained their only options for longer. In the early 1700s Ottoman artists depicted breaststroke and backstroke. Contemporary Indian paintings also show swimmers holding their arms out stiffly in front of them, as in the breaststroke. By the 1790s avant-garde British swimmers were attempting side strokes and diving, but not the crawl. In Thomas Rowlandsons first satirical drawing on the topic, a woman is attempting to dive headfirst. In the other she is using a sidestroke, and his caption specifically points it out: Side Way or Any Way. In 1819 a Swiss sports writer describes the side- stroke, or something like it, as the most rapid stroke he knows: Advertisement Advertisement The body is turned either upon the right or left side, and the feet perform their usual motions. The arm from under the shoulder stretches itself out quickly, at the same time that the feet are striking. The other arm strikes at the same time with the impelling of the feet As swimming on the side presents to the water a smaller surface than on the [front], where rapidity is required, the former is often preferable to the latter. Advertisement Lord Byron described himself as a strong swimmer, but he and his friends did not use a crawl stroke, and probably did not swim with their heads underwater unless they were diving. By 1815 magazine illustrations show that some cutting-edge swimmers in France were swimming the crawl stroke, though they were still keeping their heads cautiously out of the water. Adolfo Cortis 1819 Italian swimming manual also contains an illustration of what Corti calls A French and Russian Stroke, which looks like an early form of the crawl. Corti suggests that, when swimming on your front, you use one hand alternating with the other to press the water backwards. He assumes that you will keep your head out of the water. But Corti still considers the overarm stroke to be a novelty, and his go-to stroke remains the breaststroke with a frog kick, a guisa di rana. The breaststroke continued to be the normal Eurasian stroke. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When American swimmers tried to convert Britain to the crawl in the 1840s, they met with considerable resistance. George Catlin was so impressed by Native American swimmers that he brought two Ojibwa men from Lake Superior over to Britain to give swimming demonstrations there. But when these men, going by the stage names Wenishkaweabee and Sahma, accompanied Catlin as part of a swimming demonstration in London, British spectators professed themselves shocked at the crawl strokes splashing. British swimmers preferred the breaststroke, they said, because it was more decorous and civilized than the crawl. The Times described the Ojibwa stroke disgustedly as totally un-European: the swimmers lashed the water violently with their arms, like the sails of a windmill, and beat downward with their feet, blowing with force and forming grotesque antics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Catlin had set up various swimming competitions to please the many spectators who gathered for this event. The two Ojibwa swimmers, who may not have been particularly good swimmers at home, first raced one another several times. Despite its contempt for the crawl stroke, The Times reported admiringly that both men swam with the rapidity of an arrow, and almost as straight a tension of limb. In the first race, one of the Ojibwa men swam 130 feet in less than half a minute, which was fast for the time. Then, when they were tired, the Ojibwa men raced one of the best swimmers in England, who beat them with the greatest ease. The Times reporter chose in the end to disregard the Ojibwas fine swimming in favor of his desire to support the superiority of British swimmers. Advertisement Like that reporter, many British swimmers, alarmed by the new stroke and its associations with Indigenous people, looked for reasons to put down the crawl stroke in favor of the breaststroke with which they were more familiar. They developed the idea that graceful and elegant movements, with a minimum of splashing were the most important aspects of swimming; like dancing, the poetry of motion, these were best represented by the breaststroke. The crawl stroke was disparaged as ugly gestures and trick swimming. A struggle developed between competitive swimmers, who wanted to use the new fast stroke to win races, and recreational swimmers, who resented the implication that their swimming owed anything to Indigenous people. Advertisement Advertisement As we have seen, the crawl was probably not entirely unknown in Europe even before the Ojibwa demonstration. After the demonstration, alternating overhand strokes slowly became more popular, aided by increasing British familiarity with Aboriginal Australian swimming as the British Empire colonized Australia. After a British traveler demonstrated Aboriginal Australian swimming strokes in London in 1855, those strokes helped Fred Beckwith win a championship race a few years later. In 1861 a second race between a British swimmer and a Native American man (this time a Seneca man from Lake Erie) was widely promoted, though in the end the race never took place. Publicity from these events caused more Europeans to use the front crawl in the late nineteenth century, calling it the Indian stroke. Catlins description of the crawl stroke was plagiarized in a swimming manual in 1867. By the 1890s even recreational club swimmers in Britain were beginning to use both the crawl stroke and side breathing. In France, the crawl stroke gained ground after an Aboriginal Australian man called Tartakover gave an impressive demonstration of it in 1906, though apparently French swimmers were still holding their heads out of the water. Advertisement Advertisement Variations on the crawl stroke were promoted by the Cavill brothers, who originated the Australian crawl, and by John Trudgen, who promoted a stroke he had learned from Indigenous people in Argentina. The Trudgen stroke was popular because you still kept your head out of the water, and because it used a scissor kick that avoided splashing. Trudgen won a race using this stroke peculiar to Indians in 1873, but despite that, the Trudgen was much slower than the traditional crawl with a flutter kick. The Australian crawl with a flutter kick, on the other hand, turned out to be faster than Native American versions, and soon became popular for competitions. (A younger Cavill brother later invented the butterfly, a faster variation of the breaststroke.) Advertisement Advertisement But crawl strokes still met with suspicious resistance in both Europe and the United States. Even professional swimmers resisted the switch. In 1906 a prominent American swimming coach condemned variations on the Trudgen stroke, in vogue among the inhabitants of the Hawaiian Islands, the Indian tribes of South America, and the lifeguards at our summer resort,, as very exhausting. He disapproved of the association with Indigenous people, and with young people. He had to admit that the ordinary crawl stroke with side breathing was the fastest of all known swimming strokes. Nevertheless he opposed it: For long distance swimming this stroke is almost useless, as it is very exhausting, owing principally to the fact that the breath must be held, excepting at intervals when the head is raised forward or at one side for breathing purposes. In addition the swimmer finds it difficult to keep a straight course. Advertisement By this time many good swimmers in both Europe and the United States were using overhand strokes, but a 1914 book on swimming still contains directions for how to swim the breaststrokewith your head held well above the water. Most American children ended up learning the crawl in the name of speed, but breaststroke is still today by far the most common swimming stroke among Europeans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The overhand crawl stroke took so long to catch on with Europeans and European-descended people that it could be presented as a novelty by Byrd in the early 1700s, by Catlin in the 1830s, again in Harpers Weekly in the 1880s, and still be a novelty in 1906. One British-born swimming coach recalled that in 1906 most instructors still taught the breaststroke first to beginning swimmers. At that time, he says, the peculiar crawl style practiced by Pacific islanders had not been refined and was, in fact, barely known in the civilized world. The coach overlooks that the Pacific islanders themselves had refined their stroke over thousands of years of practice. He may not have known that overarm strokes had been known at least since ancient Egypt, and were common in ancient Greece and Rome. Even modern Europeans had known about the crawl stroke for two hundred years. Advertisement But while his casual assertions are not true, they were true for him. Like many people of his time, he still thought of the breaststroke as normal and associated the crawl stroke with foreign danger. And despite the efforts of various early books on swimming, this notion prevailed well into the twentieth century. When Clarabelle Barrett wanted to attempt a swim across the English Channel in 1926, at least one newspapers photo caption presented her intention to use the crawl stroke as a daring innovation. In 1928 an American swimming coach was still startled to discover that people swam the crawl strokethe modern swimming strokein ancient Greece, and that the Greeks might well have learned it from the Egyptians before them. In the 1960s, when I myself learned to swim, though the Australian crawl was the first stroke taught to American children, it was still regarded as slightly progressive and experimental. And even today, European children learn the breaststroke first. Unless they show promise as swimmers, they do not learn the crawl. Advertisement Advertisement Excerpted from Shifting Currents: A World History of Swimming, by Karen Eva Carr (Reaktion Books, cloth, $35). Slate receives a commission when you purchase items using the links on this page. Thank you for your support. AMMAN, July 16 (Xinhua) -- King Abdullah II of Jordan said on Saturday that the region will not enjoy security or stability without establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 border and with East Jerusalem as its capital, according to a royal statement. The king made the remarks during the Security and Development Summit held in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah, which was also attended by U.S. President Joe Biden, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and leaders of the other Gulf Cooperation Council member states, Egypt and Iraq. He also highlighted the importance of reaching a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution. The Jordanian leader also highlighted collective action as the only way to address regional challenges given the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukrainian crisis on supplies of energy and food. "We must examine opportunities for cooperation and collective action, in pursuit of regional integration in food security, energy, transport and water," he said at the summit. Biden and the Jordanian king also met on the sidelines of the security summit, and the United States later announced that no less than 1.45 billion U.S. dollars in financial aid will be provided annually for Jordan between 2023 and 2029, according to a separate royal statement. ANKARA, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye's plans for another military operation in northern Syria and a possible grain corridor from Ukrainian ports across the Black Sea are high on the agenda of an upcoming meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Iran, experts said. A trilateral summit scheduled for July 19 in Iran's capital Tehran will bring together Erdogan, Putin and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi as the leaders of the guarantor countries of the Astana Process which was initiated in 2017 for peace in Syria. The potential new Turkish military operation in northeastern Syria, particularly Tal Rifaat and Manbij areas, against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) may again draw criticism from Moscow which is against any military operation by the Turkish army in Syria, Serkan Demirtas, a Turkish foreign policy analyst, told Xinhua. However, the conflict with Ukraine seems to have diverted much of Russia's attention away from Syria, paving the way for Iran and Turkiye to expand their influence in the region, Demirtas said. The Turkish army launched Operation Euphrates Shield in 2016, Operation Olive Branch in 2018, Operation Peace Spring in 2019, and Operation Spring Shield in 2020 in northern Syria in order to create a YPG-free zone along its border within the neighboring country. Turkey sees the YPG as the Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the EU, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for over 30 years, which has claimed the lives of more than 40,000 people. The vital Tehran summit will also see the first in-person meeting between Erdogan and Putin since the Ukrainian crisis broke out in late February, Demirtas noted. According to the Turkish analyst, Erdogan has two Ukraine-related objectives for the meeting: first and foremost, to create a grain corridor from Ukrainian ports to prevent a global food crisis, and then to convince Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to meet in Turkiye to end the conflict. "Erdogan will also be the first NATO country leader to meet Putin" since the Ukrainian crisis, Demirtas said. At a meeting of military delegations in Istanbul on Wednesday, Russia, Turkiye, Ukraine and the United Nations reached a consensus on some issues regarding grain exports from Ukraine, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. Kerim Has, a Moscow-based analyst on Russian-Turkish relations, said he expects further developments on the grain exports issue after the upcoming meeting between Erdogan and Putin in Tehran. Noting increased trade cooperation between Moscow and Ankara since the crisis, Has said Turkiye has not imposed sanctions on Russia despite international pressure. "Russia's need for Turkiye in the economic and commercial field has increased a lot. As Western companies leave the Russian market, they are replaced by Turkish companies. Turkiye's strategic importance has increased in Russia's foreign economic relations," he explained. ORANGEGordonsville resident Brianna Knicely has been found not guilty of murdering her babysitters husband, ending a four-day trial in Orange County Circuit Court. The jury deliberated for nearly seven hours Friday before finding Knicely not guilty of second-degree murder. Knicely, 28, stood trial in the June 16, 2021, fatal shooting of James Manning, 36, at his home in Barboursville. The Orange County native maintained her innocence in the case. She has been held in Central Virginia Regional Jail without bond eligibility since her arrest on June 17, 2021. Circuit Judge David Franzen will grant Knicely a bond hearing at 10:30 a.m. Monday, and Knicely will be released pending further unresolved charges that ended in mistrial Friday. Prosecutors and law-enforcement officials expressed shock Friday at the verdict, believing they had more than enough evidence for a conviction, including Knicelys videotaped confession that she shot Manning. The defendant and the deceased did not know each other than through Mannings wife, Jessica, being a friend of hers and the childcare provider for the defendants two small children for nearly three years. Over the course of evolving testimony, Knicely claimed James Manning knocked her out and tried to sexually assault her when she went to his house around 4:30 p.m. June 16 to get her childs bathing suit. Knicely shot him three times with a loaded .380-caliber Ruger automatic pistol she had in her purse, hitting Manning in the head, chest and groin area. Charges downgraded, manslaughter mistrial Originally, prosecutors charged Knicely with first-degree murder. On Friday, Judge Franzen downgraded the charge to second-degree, saying the commonwealth had not proven premeditation. The jury also found Knicely not guilty of using a firearm to commit murder and not guilty of maliciously shooting into an occupied dwelling, as court proceedings wrapped up after 10 p.m. Friday. The diverse panel of six men and six women, in their 20s to 60s, could not reach a unanimous decision on whether Knicely committed voluntary manslaughter when she shot Manning three times in his kitchen. Were not making progress, the jury wrote in a note to the court around 10 p.m. This was after judge had inquired of them by note if the jury wanted to continue deliberating into the night or break and continue Saturday morning. We dont anticipate any juror changing their mind, the jury wrote back of the voluntary manslaughter charge. Franzen declared a mistrial on the voluntary manslaughter charge, meaning the prosecution can reinstate it and attempt to again try a case against Knicely. A mistrial was also declared for a charge of unlawfully shooting into an occupied dwelling. After the verdict, Orange County Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Katie Fitzgerald said that she would consult with Commonwealths Attorney Diana OConnell to confirm they will retry the case on the lesser charges. Franzen thanked and commended the jury for its work during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the judge said many others are shirking their duty. He dismissed the panel from service, saying the jurors could feel proud of their work and hold their heads up high. Prosecution limitations The commonwealths case was crippled by numerous prohibitions on presentation of evidence to the jury to establish motive. Social worker Sheila Morrissey was not allowed to testify about multiple calls regarding the health and safety of Knicelys children or a home visit that went awry on the day of the shooting. The social worker testified she tried to call Knicely on June 16, 2021, and got no response. On her way to Knicelys house that day, Morrisseys vehicle was rear-ended and she had to cancel the visit, she testified. Defense attorney Richard Harry successfully argued that was irrelevant, calling it another attempt by the commonwealth to prompt a separate trial about whether his client is a good person or a good mother. In another limitation on evidence seen by the jury, the judge would not declare as experts members of the medical examiners office and state forensics office because prosecutors had not requested them in the required timeframe. When Harry objected to opinion testimony, the commonwealth was not permitted to present ballistics or forensic experts. Cara McCarthy, a state forensics scientist, was allowed to testify generally about muzzle-to-target ratios and how close range shootings generate denser gunshot residues on clothing. No gunshot residue was found on Manning's clothes, McCarthy testified, according to the certificate of analysis. The court, in addition, after meticulously going through 30 jury instructions, spent some time Friday night redacting Mannings autopsy report so the jury could not view his cause and manner of deathgunshot wounds and homicide, according to law enforcement. Harry also characterized this public information from the medical examiner as heresy evidence because it is a opinion. Since the medical examiner was not designated an expert, per the judges order, the defense motion prevailed. Knicelys motive, according to testimony, was To get him the hell up off me, Harry repeated more than a dozen times during at trial. The jury believed she was attacked. Two weeks before Manning was shot, Knicely had a confrontation at the house with Jessica Manning about a Department of Social Services investigation involving neglect and improper supervision of her children. According to testimony, Knicelys mother, Jessica Atkins, made the report to the Orange County agency, but Jessica Manning somehow got assigned as being at fault. Atkins was not permitted to testify about series of events prior to the shooting. Knicely put up her fists during a June 1, 2021, exchange at the Manning home, Jessica Manning testified at trial. Mannings widow said she told Knicely never to come back, and Knicely agreed. Jessica Manning and her three children were not home when the former babysitter client returned. Reactions to trial, downtime The defendant showed joy, elation and relief Friday at being cleared of the murder charge, more than a year later. Her large family, which had been seated in the courtroom, gathered around her at the defense table soon after the verdicts were read. On the other side, the Manning family expressed devastation at what they said was a loss of justice for their deceased son, brother, father, friend and coworker. When asked what happened with the case, prosecutor Fitzgerald said she did not know. A local law-enforcement source said the case was lost due to Judge Franzens different world view about the administration of justice. Harry fiercely defended his client, who had no prior criminal history, was trained as a nurse and was unemployed when Manning was shot. During more than six hours of jury deliberations Friday night, the courthouse remained open and staffed with bailiffs. Outside the main entrance on Madison Road, Knicelys family set up chairs for the grandparents and got refreshments from their coolers amid a party-like atmosphere. People sat and lay on the concrete curb, some talking on their cell phones, which are not allowed inside the courthouse. A few females loudly cackled and shouted across the courthouse parking lot about the Culpeper Star-Exponents coverage of the trial as a reporter worked inside her vehicle in view of the scene before going back into the courthouse. In a video confession to authorities the morning after the slaying, the defendant said she shot Manning after he pulled her hair and grabbed her. Testimony, rebuttal evidence On the stand Thursday, Knicely testified that Manning pulled her down on the ground, knocking her unconscious. She said when woke up on the kitchen floor, he was straddling her and trying to pull down her pants, so she shot him in self-defense. Harry continued his argument Friday that James Manning had a history of violence against women, including his wife, based on a criminal complaint from a decade ago, and a DUI. The defense attorney asserted that Manning was high on Kratom, a legal plant, when he attacked his client. Harry told the jury Kratom is used as a sexual stimulant, based on defense-expert testimony. Manning was an honorably discharged Army veteran of the Afghanistan War who worked as a United Parcel Service driver and loved spending time with his kids. In rebuttal evidence Friday, Jessica Manning said she never told Knicely that James abused her. The two women had discussed domestic violence by her first husband, Jessica Manning said. This caused Knicely to open up about her own domestic abuse, according to testimony. Landlord Jeff Buck, in rebuttal testimony Friday, said he knew the deceased for more than 10 years while they lived in his property. Buck said he did not know Manning to be a man of violence. He was a hard worker, kind soft-spoken, but a real good guy, Buck said. The prosecution called Trent Blankenbaker, the father of Knicelys children, as its final rebuttal witness Friday. He testified she left their home on the night of the shooting about 4:15 p.m. and got back about 4:45 p.m. Blankenbaker testified he was waiting outside for her when she pulled in; he was running late for work in Culpeper. She said she couldnt find the keys to her car, he testified. So they took his car, a white Acura. Knicely did not tell her childrens father what happened at the Manning household. Blankenbaker said they talked about normal stuff on the 40-minute drive to work. He said he started to get concerned when he couldnt reach her by phone. When he talked to her next, Knicely was in jail, he testified. Blankenbaker said Knicely carried a gun on her at times. Me, too, because we got kids, he said. He noted there was a gun in his Acura when Knicely was pulled over in Culpeper early the morning of June 17, 2021, after law enforcement issued a be-on-the-lookout alert for a homicide suspect. PTSD defense experts Dr. Peter Schmidt, a licensed professional counselor from Charlottesville, testified Thursday that he treated James Manning in 2010 for PTSD after a road-rage incident. The deceased spent more than a year on the battlegrounds of Afghanistan, the doctor noted about the cause for Mannings post-traumatic stress. Schimdt said Manning did well in therapy and was making a good recovery from the condition. Pressed by Harry, the doctor testified that using substances would not trigger someones PTSD. Dr. William McKenna, a psychologist and forensics evaluator, testified he visited Knicely twice in jail to conduct a psychological evaluation. The defense witness said he diagnosed Knicely with PTSD, saying she had classic symptoms. McKenna mentioned a term, delayed reporting, that describes how people who experience a traumatic event, especially sexual assault, dont always report it right away. Finally, a medical toxicology expert, Dr. Sessions, testified about Kratom, an Asian tree in the coffee family long used for its medicinal purposes. The legal substance was found in Mannings blood during autopsy toxicology testing. In low doses, the leaves of the plant can be a stimulant or provide pain relief when chewed. Traditionally, someone who does a hard days labor might rely on it, Sessions said, but it is viewed today as an unsafe drug due to dosing dangers. On cross examination, Fitzgerald asked the doctor if he was aware Manning worked 16 to 18 hours a day driving a UPS truck. Perhaps he could have used that extra energy at a low dose, the prosecutor said. Closing statements, bail hearing set In closing arguments Friday, Harry argued for more than an hour that his client was innocent. He pointed out the prosecution did not present Mannings cause and manner of death. Harry accused the prosecution of failing to retrieve or preserve Ring video from the front of the Manning house that would have captured the encounter between Knicely and Manning. Police testified at trial that for large periods of time on June 16, 2021, Ring movement-based alerts were issued, but no videos were recorded. Police were unsuccessful in retrieving footage from Ring, which said the videos did not exist, according to testimony. The commonwealth also did not have ready for trial the results of a rape test kit that Knicely had done at a local hospital within days of being in jail after claiming she was sexually assaulted. Harry ridiculed the prosecution for its theory that Knicely killed Mr. Manning because of the DSS investigation. Its not a trial about her being a good mom, the defense attorney said. Harry said his client did not disclose the reported sexual assault by Manning to Orange County Sheriffs Office Investigator Becky Jones in their morning-after interview because of previous interactions with Jones where she wasnt believed. Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Crystal Hasting argued in closing that Knicely went to the Manning home with a loaded gun in her purse because she was angry at Jessica Manning for speaking with Knicelys mother, Jessica Atkins, about her children. Hasting said Knicely was angry because DSS was going to take away her children. It was the lighting of a fuse that simmered over the next two weeks, Hasting said, over Harrys objection, which was sustained. The night he died, Manning was home alone working on a boat motor while his wife and three kids were swimming at his mother-in-laws. He answered the door wearing black latex work gloves. No hairs were found on those gloves when analyzed in the lab, Hasting said. There was no sign of a struggle in the kitchen, multiple witnesses testified. This defendant, with malice and without justification, shot James Manning and left him to bleed out at the bottom of the basement stairs, the prosecutor said in her closing arguments. At the very end of the trial, with the jury dismissed, Harry requested a reasonable bail amount for his client. Fitzgerald asked that Knicely be held without bond on the pending charges, including voluntary manslaughter. Franzen replied that the defendant could request a reasonable bond, but not Friday. We will schedule that as soon as possible, the judge said. Harry said he would be in Circuit Court at 10:30 a.m. Monday. Fitzgerald said that was too soon for the commonwealth. The judge set the bond hearing for Monday morning. Knicely was remanded to the custody of the sheriff. In any given gulp of air, there are thousands, sometimes even tens of thousands, of different chemicals, said one researcher at Virginia Tech. Things like the smell of gasoline, the smell of pine trees, the smell of lemon those are all just different chemicals floating around in the atmosphere, said Gabriel Isaacman-VanWertz. They all sort of mix together, and theyre present at these really, really low concentrations. Some airborne chemicals are known to be hazardous to human health: mercury, lead, benzene, chloroform. Theyre pollutants, said Isaacman-VanWertz, who researches air quality and atmospheric chemistry with Virginia Techs Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. These are chemicals that we know are toxic, Isaacman-VanWertz said. They might cause cancer they may be toxic to breathe immediately, or they may have effects that build up over lifetimes. Virginia Tech is one of several groups challenged by the federal government to develop a low-cost technique to measure hazardous air pollutants, he said. The Environmental Protection Agency awarded an $800,000 research grant to Tech, one of seven institutions working collaboratively on the project through 2025, according to a press release. Most relevant to the EPA is that they regulate something like 187 hazardous air pollutants, Isaacman-VanWertz said. The EPA is really interested in being able to measure these Right now, the best way to do that is with these relatively large, somewhat expensive instruments. The challenge is to develop a device that is more accessible to researchers, citizen scientists and other organizations interested in monitoring local air quality, he said. The EPA in a press release said there is extensive evidence that low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately exposed to air toxics. What we want to do is basically developing a tool or an instrumenta detector, essentiallythat is smaller and cheaper, and can target individual chemicals within that mixture of thousands of different airborne compounds, Isaacman-VanWertz said. This is a really hard task. Contributing to the difficulty are those tens of thousands of different chemicals floating around in any given breeze, and the incredibly low concentration of those pollutants in that air, he said. Air is a very diluted and complicated mixture, even though more than 99.99% of it is usually just oxygen and nitrogen. Generally, some of these can be toxic or poisonous at concentrations of parts per billion or even lower, parts per trillion, Isaacman-VanWertz said. Youre basically trying to measure one little thing in a mixture of thousands, in a mixture of something thats almost entirely just actual air.Ideally, the device will be tuned to identify and measure certain pollutants concentrations in the air, but will be flexible enough to have a wide range of applications, he said. Unlike consumer-grade air quality devices, this tool developed at Virginia Tech needs to produce precise measurements for meaningful science. The idea is that it will be small enough and portable enough that one can use it globally, Isaacman-VanWertz said. So you could sort of drive around a neighborhood, or drive around the city and try to map out and understand the ebb and flow of these pollutants. Isaacman-VanWertz said his department is collaborating with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an air quality management district in California, among other entities. Its nationwide collaboration, for an issue that hits close to home. People in this area have reached out interested in measuring things like the Mountain Valley Pipeline the impact of building a proposed transfer station the Radford Arsenal this smell from the Celanese plant up in Giles County, Isaacman-VanWertz said. Theres all these large, industrial sources of potential pollutants that community members are interested in for their own health, and for their own communities. With that demand for a better understanding of whats floating around, he said it brings a level of urgency to the work. But science, like most progress, does not occur overnight. In three years, hopefully well have the tool to help, Isaacman-VanWertz said. The tools just arent there yet to do what we would like to do. A federal judge sentenced a Gering woman Friday on charges connected to stealing mail along her former postal route. Jean Thomas, 56, worked as a rural route carrier for the United States Postal Service from 2017 until October 2021. According to a press release from Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell, Thomas had been arrested after authorities began an investigation when postal customers began to complain about mail missing from Thomas delivery route. The United States Postal Service Office of the General Inspector investigation involved an agent placing test pieces of mail with gift cards of various amounts on Thomas route from April 2021 until August 2021. At least half a dozen test pieces were neither delivered nor properly returned to the post office. Store financial records and surveillance footage revealed that Thomas took the gift cards, ranging between $10 and $20, for her own personal use. United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Thomas to two years probation and imposed a fine of $250. UNITED NATIONS, July 15 (Xinhua) -- China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, on Friday called for strengthening the rule of law for the oceans to boost sustainable development. Oceans nurture lives, contain resources and connect the world, providing an important platform for promoting sustainable development. At present, global ocean governance is facing various challenges such as environmental pollution, climate change and sea level rise. All these cannot be solved by any country on its own, but need joint action by the international community, said Zhang. "We should jointly champion multilateralism, defend the international system centered around the United Nations, maintain the maritime order based on international law, and promote the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," he said in opening remarks at a webinar on "Promoting the Sustainable Development: A Perspective from the Modern Law of the Sea." Sustainable development requires strengthening the rule of law for the oceans. The modern law of the sea is an open and inclusive system consisting of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), other sea-related international legal instruments, and customary international law. They provide important legal norms for global ocean governance and have also enriched the legal framework for sustainable development, he said. China is ready to work with all parties to safeguard the maritime order based on international law and maintain maritime peace, security and sustainable development, he said. "We need to view the status and role of UNCLOS in an objective and historical perspective, and accurately interpret and apply UNCLOS in good faith. We hope that the international community will advance the process of marine-related legislation in an orderly manner to provide new opportunities for sustainable development of the oceans. We look forward to the peaceful settlement of disputes by all parties in accordance with international law, the proper settlement of differences through negotiations, and the strengthening of cooperation in pursuit of win-win results." Sustainable development requires advocating international cooperation, said Zhang. Last September, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI), which is in line with the trend of the times and meets the needs of all parties. Maritime connectivity and cooperation in various fields are important drivers for economic and social development, as well as a focal point for GDI implementation. China will work with all parties to jointly address maritime challenges, share the fruits of maritime development, and promote a more robust, greener and healthier global development, he said. The 21st century is the century of the oceans. There is a need for countries to work together to maintain the international maritime order based on the modern law of the sea, jointly promote global ocean governance, build a maritime community with a shared future, and contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and promote global development, he said. Replenish Festivals day of fun and worship opportunities on the Burnett Farm in Willis had activities and music for all ages and tastes. Local music groups that performed this year include the Floyd County High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Jonny Diaz opened the main concert the evening of July 9, after featured speaker Ed Slaughter. Headling band The Afters, which rose to the top of the Christian music charts with hits like Live on Forever and Well Done, closed out the evening. Videos of the concerts and additional photos can be found at www.facebook.com/Replenishfest. The Floyd County Commonwealths Attorneys Office announced last week three men from Florida are facing charges related to the robbery at Floyd Jewelry last month. The smash and grab style burglary occurred June 24. Floyd County Sheriffs Department conducted an investigation that spanned from Roanoke to southern Florida, the Commonwealth Attorneys Office said in a release. Two suspects matching the description of the perpetrators were detained on July 10 in Rockingham, N.C.: Jonathan Flowers of Ocala and Dale Bennett of Tallahassee. A warrant was obtained of Sean Flowers of Dania for conspiracy to commit grand larceny. The individuals will face extradition to Floyd County after their North Carolina charges have been resolved. Tower Road residents forced to detour after a culvert collapsed earlier this year can look forward to a temporary bridge installed in September. The Cowlitz County commissioners Tuesday approved adding $400,000 to the agreement with engineering firm WSP-USA to account for added work designing a temporary, as well as a permanent bridge near Toutle. Susan Eugenis, county engineer, said the Tower Road work alone is above the $200,000 agreement previously approved for the year. The additional funding, bringing the total to $600,000, would cover the bridge load ratings the firm is set to do this year and any other emergent work, she said. Tower Road bridge planned for fall after heavy rains washed away part of road TOUTLE Public works staff plan to install a temporary bridge by this fall at the Tower Road/Rock Creek washout near Toutle. The engineering is one piece of the larger project to repair Tower Road after heavy rain and flooding in early March destroyed the Rock Creek culvert, washing out a segment of the roadway in the 2400 block. For households nearby the washout, it takes about 17 extra minutes to drive around to Spirit Lake Memorial Highway, according to commissioner workshop meeting minutes. Purchasing and installing the 18-foot wide and 140-foot-long temporary bridge will cost about $1.25 million, Eugenis said. Once the permanent bridge is built next year, the county will be able to use the temporary bridge, which has an adjustable size, for other projects, she said. The commissioners decided to move ahead with a temporary bridge rather than starting on the permanent solution immediately in part because it will open up traffic sooner, according to meeting minutes. The bridge will be limited to one lane of traffic. Cowlitz County commissioners approve funding to start Tower Road repairs The Cowlitz County commissioners Tuesday took a step in what will be a long and expensive process to repair flood-damaged Tower Road. Engineers are expected to reach the middle of the 50% design for the temporary bridge by the end of July, which would allow the county to bring a contractor on board, Eugenis said. In August, crews will begin cleanup, removing the old culvert, asphalt and problematic trees, Eugenis said. The following month, they will begin constructing the foundation and installing the temporary bridge, she said. Eugenis said staff decided to go with a permanent bridge instead of a culvert because it will allow the road to stay open during construction and not restrict stream movement. The total cost estimate for the permanent bridge is $2.5 million, she said. The county didnt receive any state or federal funding for the project, Eugenis said. Public Works is delaying several projects this year to cover the cost of the temporary bridge and starting to plan for next year, she said. Community Home Health & Hospice in Longview is halfway to the nonprofits goal of raising $4.2 million in donations to remodel the facility, and officials announced Friday the center will be named after its million-dollar donor: Dr. Richard Nau, a retired Longview pathologist who worked for PeaceHealth. The 37-year-old inpatient and at-home hospice facility is now called the Dr. Richard Nau Hospice Care Center. In 2017, Nau also contributed $60,000 as an endowment to a Lower Columbia College fund that supports students access to college. About 100 people, mostly donors, gathered at the hospice facility Friday to celebrate the sites new name and donation drive. I would like to thank Dr. Nau and all of our project donors so far for their support of our vision of a new and expanded hospice care center with room for families for decades to come, said CEO Greg Pang. Community Home Health & Hospice Development Manager Rylee Trapp said there is no deadline to raise funds, and once construction starts, completion will take about a year. Pang previously said construction could begin in 2024. The center has collected a total of $2 million so far, and donors include individuals, local foundations and the state. The facility received $769,000 from the state Legislature in 2021 through a Washington State Department of Commerce grant. The nonprofit is remodeling its building to prepare for the next airborne pandemic based on the lessons learned fighting COVID-19, including allowing administrative staff to permanently work from home part-time. Updated plans include adding six more patient rooms with negative airflow to prevent airborne pathogens from entering other parts of the building. New rooms also will include entryway chambers for staff to put on and remove personal protective equipment, like face shields, to minimize hazardous exposure. Administrative staff in departments like billing and medical records will work from home part-time. Staff will rotate sharing desks, freeing up about 3,900 square feet of space in the facilitys main building for more and larger patient rooms. The new patient rooms will be 78% larger than the four original rooms built when the facility opened in 1984, Pang said, and include private bathrooms and more room for visiting families. A dedicated entrance and exit to the building will be added to avoid grieving family members from passing families of newly arrived patients. Pang said the Longview site was the first in the state to offer hospice services at a facility, in addition to patients homes. PeaceHealth also offers in-home hospice services in Cowlitz County. The magnetic field of the Earth were broken apart as solar winds rushed inside the protective shield of the planet and caused a 14 hours long geomagnetic storm. A strange and dangerous event took place in the magnetosphere of the Earth on July 7, when an unexpected geomagnetic storm struck the planet and cracked open the Earth's magnetic field, the primary shield from all solar radiation and magnetic flux. It turned out that as the crack opened up on the magnetosphere, fast moving solar winds rushed inside the Earth's atmosphere and caused auroras. A similar phenomenon was observed in June but this time, it lasted an unusually long period of 14 hours. So, how exactly did a crack form in the Earth's magnetic field and how devastating were its effects? Read on to find out. The event has been widely captured by aurora enthusiasts and astronomy lovers who took pictures of the night sky as a G1-class geomagnetic storm rushed in through the cracks of the Earth's magnetic field. The geomagnetic storm even managed to reach the mid latitudes which is usually not possible for a minor G1 storm. A crack in the magnetic field of Earth causes a surprise geomagnetic storm It turns out that the phenomenon is neither dangerous nor abnormal. According to SpaceWeather.com, it was caused by a co-rotating interaction region (CIR). A co-rotating interaction region or CIR is the region where two different streams of solar winds collide. As solar winds carry magnetic flux, it stretches open the Earth's magnetic field causing cracks within itself. But what was unusual in this instance is that CIRs do not last longer than a couple of hours but this one stayed on for more than 14 hours. It is believed that due to increasing solar activity, the speed of solar winds are also increasing, causing strong CIR effects. But one question still remains. Is it safe? And as it turns out, yes it is. These cracks are temporary and as soon as the effect reverses, the magnetic field repairs itself. NASA in a blog post explains it. We've discovered that our magnetic shield is drafty, like a house with a window stuck open during a storm. The house deflects most of the storm, but the couch is ruined. Similarly, our magnetic shield takes the brunt of space storms, but some energy slips through its cracks, sometimes enough to cause problems with satellites, radio communication, and power systems, said Harald Frey of the University of California, Berkeley and lead author of a paper on the study of this phenomenon. China has been aggressively building the roadmap for its asteroid monitoring and defense system to track and hit Earth directed asteroids and deflect them. NASA is also working on a similar system with its DART mission. The space war is getting intense and everyone is aiming to build a system to destroy dangerous asteroids. These anti-asteroid missions can take out any space rock threatening the Earth. In November 2021, NASA finally launched its Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) which is testing a planetary defense mechanism against all near-Earth objects (NEO). But it turns out, NASA is not the only one trying to build a system like this. China has been in a rush to boost its capabilities in space. Recently it tested out a new weapon system using which it can both capture and destroy another satellite. And now, it also wants to test an anti-asteroid system which would work along the same principles of NASA's DART mission. But as the race between the two builds up, who might come out on top? China enters the space race to create its anti-asteroid system Wu Yanhua, deputy director of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), announced in April that China will also focus on building a system that can both track NEOs and attack them to slightly deflect their path and avert any future instance of an asteroid strike. According to a tweet by Andrew Jones, a journalist for SpaceNews who covers China's space industry, we have more information about China's plans. On July 12, Jones posted an image on Twitter. The image displays a lecture being delivered by Long Lehao, chief designer of China's Long March series rockets. Behind Lehao, a presentation slide can be seen which sheds more light on China's roadmap. Explaining the image, Jones wrote, New details on China's asteroid deflection mission: launch in 2026 on Long March 3B rocket, targeting Earth-crossing, near-Earth asteroid 2020 PN1 (~40m diameter). It will combine an orbiter and impactor, according to a slide from a lecture by Long March designer Long Lehao. On the other hand, NASA DART mission is headed towards the minor-planet moon Dimorphos of the double asteroid Didymos and will collide with it between September 26 and October 2, 2022. So, for now it appears that NASA will have a clear lead in the race to the asteroid defense system. But it should be remembered that this is merely the first step towards building a functional, economically viable, accurate and reliable system. Elon Musk has sent a message to Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal and CFO Ned Segal, saying that the companys lawyers were trying to cause trouble and they need to stop. Check details here. The news of Tesla CEO Elon Musk buying Twitter was one of the biggest announcements in the tech industry. However, Musk later pulled out of the USD 44 billion Twitter deal leading to a rift between him and the micro-blogging platform. Musk has even been sued by Twitter for breaking the deal. And now, according to a new report, Musk has sent a warning message to Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal and CFO Ned Segal, saying that the company's lawyers were trying to cause trouble and they need to stop. As per the report, Musk had sent the message on June 28, and said "Your lawyers are using these conversations to cause trouble. That needs to stop," as quoted in the report by Business Insider Africa. It can be known that the message was sent after the micro-blogging platform asked Musk how he would finance the Twitter deal. Before stepping out of the Twitter deal, Musk had been dropping hints of the same over his Twitter handle. Recently, on July 11th, Musk shared a meme over his Twitter account regarding the deal. The meme read, They said I couldn't buy Twitter, then they wouldn't disclose BOT info, now they want to force me to buy Twitter in court, now they have to disclose BOT Info in court. It can be known that Musk had on July 9, finally terminated the deal. However, Twitter has taken the matter to court in order to stop him from doing so. Twitter chairman Bret Taylor tweeted on July 13th, Twitter has filed a lawsuit in the Delaware Court of Chancery to hold Elon Musk accountable to his contractual obligations. Twitter has filed a lawsuit in the Delaware Court of Chancery to hold Elon Musk accountable to his contractual obligations. Bret Taylor (@btaylor) July 12, 2022 While, earlier on July 9th, he said, The Twitter Board is committed to closing the transaction on the price and terms agreed upon with Mr. Musk and plans to pursue legal action to enforce the merger agreement. We are confident we will prevail in the Delaware Court of Chancery. South Africas Competition Commission, which has been probing online markets for the past 14 months, has provisionally found that Googles search-engine practices distort competition in the companys favor. South Africa's Competition Commission, which has been probing online markets for the past 14 months, has provisionally found that Google's search-engine practices distort competition in the company's favor. Paid-for results that typically appear at the top of a Google search should be prominently labeled as advertising and the top of the page reserved for results based on relevance only, the antitrust group said in a statement. The inquiry also recommended the U.S. giant -- part of Alphabet Inc. -- allows competitors to compete for prominence in a search by having their own specialist units and with no guaranteed positions for Google's own products. It's also exploring whether Google Search should remain the default position on South African mobile devices. Google will review the report, and work constructively with the Competition Commission to answer their questions, the company said in an emailed response to questions. Our mission is to organize information and make it universally accessible and useful, Google said. That's why we invest in products like Search, Gmail and Maps to help people in South Africa every day. Stakeholders and the public have six weeks to make submissions to the inquiry on the provisional findings and recommendations. According to NASA, a large 290-feet wide asteroid will make its closest approach to the Earth tomorrow, July 17. How likely is it to strike our planet? Find out. After a relatively quiet period of time, asteroids have begun swarming our planet. Just last week, NASA spotted a small 41-feet wide asteroid coming dangerously close to the Earth, and this week astronomers have given warning for a massive asteroid which is going to make its closest approach towards the Earth tomorrow, July 17. This asteroid is 290-feet wide. For reference, the Qutub Minar, at 238-feet tall, is still smaller than this asteroid. Due to the asteroid's close proximity to the Earth, it has been classified as a near-Earth object. With the closest approach set for tomorrow, now scientists are observing the space rock to ensure it makes a safe passage away into space. So, is there any risk of an asteroid strike? Find out. According to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of NASA, the asteroid has been named 2022 KY4. The number in the name indicates the year when it was discovered. As per estimates, the space rock is moving at a tremendous speed of 27,000 km/h. The asteroid is expected to come as close as 6.1 million kilometers to the Earth. This distance is pretty wide and usually it is assumed to be safe for any asteroid passage. However, scientists continue to observe it for any deviation in its path. Asteroid, larger than the Qutub Minar to approach the Earth tomorrow Like most asteroids in our solar system, 2022 KY4, is part of the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The farthest point in its orbit is placed in between the two planets but the shortest point just near the Earth. NASA records suggest that it is a rare occurrence when this asteroid comes this close to the Earth despite sharing a common point in their respective orbits. The last time this asteroid was seen was in 1959 and the next time we get to see it again will not be before 2048. Since at the moment there is no threat of an asteroid strike, astronomy enthusiasts can try to watch this rare sight live. However, a professional telescope will be required in order to view it. by Sanaa Kamal RAMALLAH/GAZA, July 16 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden's ignoring of the Palestinian-Israeli issue made him lose the "last chance" to be trusted by the Palestinians, forcing the Palestinian leadership to search for a new international sponsor, analysts said. On Friday, Biden arrived in the West Bank city of Bethlehem for a short visit to meet his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas, after a 40-hour visit to Israel. Biden said at a joint news conference following the meeting that "the U.S. commitment to the goal of a two-state solution has not changed," but added that the goal may seem "unattainable." Biden announced that the United States would provide 200 million U.S. dollars in funds to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) for its critical role in the region. During a trip to a local hospital, he also pledged to provide 100 million dollars to the East Jerusalem Hospital Network, which includes six health institutions and works to serve the Palestinians in Jerusalem. Mohammed Hijazi, a Gaza-based political analyst, told Xinhua that "Biden is just offering Palestinians' money in exchange for not demanding any political move." "The previous U.S. administrations, despite their failure to do so, were seeking to put forward a complete project to settle the Palestinian issue, but the Biden administration deliberately marginalized the issue and made it an internal Israeli affair," he added. Such a procedure would allow the Israelis to expand settlement activities and commit more political, economic, and field violations against the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, noted Hijazi. Adel Samara, another Ramallah-based political analyst, told Xinhua that "Biden is doing his best to transform the Palestinian cause from a political issue into humanitarian and economic issues by coming to the region to provide financial aid to a group of starving poor." Meanwhile, Samara doubted the possibility of Biden fulfilling his economic promises to the Palestinians, pointing out Washington "is facing a major economic crisis." Hani al-Masri, a Ramallah-based analyst, said that Biden's visit did not bring anything new to the Palestinians. "Biden wanted to integrate Israel into the Arab region at the expense of the Palestinian cause," he told Xinhua, adding that "he tried to silence the Palestinians by providing only some financial aid." "Although the main goal of Biden's visit is to secure Israel and protect it from the surrounding dangers, whether Iran or others, and make Israel a dominant state in the region, the United States is experiencing a real crisis which lies at the beginning of the formation of a bipolar world," al-Masri said. Hijazi believes that the Palestinians have two main paths that they could pursue, internationally and locally, in order to get rid of the U.S. hegemony and Israeli intransigence regarding the Palestinian issue. Locally, it is important for the Palestinians to present the Palestinian cause to the international community to pressure Israel to find a solution to the conflict, he said. Internationally, "the Palestinian leadership will be forced to search for a new sponsor of the peace process with the Israelis instead of the United States," he added. A sexual assault survivor chooses sterilization so that if she is ever attacked again, she wont be forced to give birth to a rapists baby. An obstetrician delays inducing a miscarriage until a woman with severe pregnancy complications seems sick enough. A lupus patient must stop taking medication that controls her illness because it can also cause miscarriages. Abortion restrictions in a number of states and the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade are having profound repercussions in reproductive medicine as well as in other areas of medical care. For physicians and patients alike, this is a frightening and fraught time, with new, unprecedented concerns about data privacy, access to contraception, and even when to begin life-saving care, said Dr. Jack Resneck, president of the American Medical Association. Even in medical emergencies, doctors are sometimes declining immediate treatment. In the past week, an Ohio abortion clinic received calls from two women with ectopic pregnancies when an embryo grows outside the uterus and cant be saved who said their doctors wouldnt treat them. Ectopic pregnancies often become life-threatening emergencies and abortion clinics arent set up to treat them. Its just one example of the horrible downstream effects of criminalizing abortion care, said Dr. Catherine Romanos, who works at the Dayton clinic. Medical dilemmas Dr. Jessian Munoz, an OB-GYN in San Antonio, who treats high-risk pregnancies, said medical decisions used to be clear cut. It was like, the moms life is in danger, we must evacuate the uterus by whatever means that may be, he said. Whether its surgical or medical thats the treatment. Now, he said, doctors whose patients develop pregnancy complications are struggling to determine whether a woman is sick enough to justify an abortion. With the fall of Roe v. Wade, the art of medicine is lost and actually has been replaced by fear, Munoz said. Munoz said he faced an awful predicament with a recent patient who had started to miscarry and developed a dangerous womb infection. The fetus still had signs of a heartbeat, so an immediate abortion the usual standard of care would have been illegal under Texas law. We physically watched her get sicker and sicker and sicker until the fetal heartbeat stopped the next day, and then we could intervene, he said. The patient developed complications, required surgery, lost multiple liters of blood and had to be put on a breathing machine all because we were essentially 24 hours behind. In a study published this month in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, doctors at two Texas hospitals cited the cases of 28 women less than 23 weeks pregnant who were treated for dangerous pregnancies. The doctors noted that all of the women had recommended abortions delayed by nine days because fetal heart activity was detected. Of those, nearly 60% developed severe complications nearly double the number of complications experienced by patients in other states who had immediate therapeutic abortions. Of eight live births among the Texas cases, seven died within hours. The eighth, born at 24 weeks, had severe complications including brain bleeding, a heart defect, lung disease and intestinal and liver problems. During the time since the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, the Supreme Court never allowed states to ban abortion before the point when a fetus can survive outside the womb roughly 24 weeks. Chicago diversity executive Sheena Gray survived a harrowing pregnancy-ending experience last year, when doctors discovered she had an embryo in a fallopian tube and an eight-week fetus in her womb. They removed the embryo along with the affected fallopian tube, and told her they needed to abort the other fetus to save her life. The decision to proceed with treatment was hers abortion is still legal in Illinois. In fact, the state provides greater access to abortion than most others, and has been flooded with patients seeking abortions following the recent Supreme Court decision. Gray said shes heard about similar care being denied or delayed in other states, and fears the high court ruling will force other patients to face the same fate. No one should make these choices for a woman, period, she said. Her story has a much happier ending: Gray became pregnant again and gave birth July 8 to healthy identical twin girls. Choosing sterility Julie Ann Nitsch, a sexual assault survivor and community college trustee in Austin, is among many women in states with restrictive abortion laws who are taking drastic steps. Nitsch says she chose sterilization at age 36 rather than risk getting pregnant by another rapist. I ripped my organs out to avoid that, she said. Nitsch said she saw the writing on the wall after Texas enacted a law last year banning most abortions after six weeks, even in cases of rape or incest. She said she sensed that Roe v. Wade would be overturned, so she had surgery to remove her fallopian tubes in February. Its sad to think that I cant have kids, but its better than being forced to have children, Nitsch said. Dr. Tyler Handcock, an Austin OB-GYN, said his clinic has heard from hundreds of patients seeking sterilization since the Supreme Courts June 24 decision. Many choose this route because they fear long-acting birth control or other contraceptives could also become targets, he said. His clinic scheduled a July 9 group counseling session to handle the surge, and every one of the 20 patients who showed up to hear about the risks and ramifications of fallopian tube-removal made an appointment to have the surgery. Some physicians are reluctant to perform the surgery on young women with many reproductive years left, fearing they will change their minds later. Handcock said he heard from one 28-year-old woman who said six OB-GYNs declined to sterilize her. Handcock said the choice should be up to patients. I will protect my patients and their rights however I can, he said. Targeting medication Becky Schwarz, of Tysons Corner, Virginia, found herself unexpectedly thrust into the abortion controversy even though she has no plans to become pregnant. The 27-year-old has lupus, an autoimmune disease that can cause the body to attack tissue surrounding joints and organs, leading to inflammation and often debilitating symptoms. For Schwarz, these include bone and joint pain, and difficulty standing for long periods of time. She recently received a notice from her doctor saying shed have to stop taking a medication that relieves her symptoms at least while the office reviewed its policies for methotrexate in light of the Supreme Court ruling. Thats because the drug can cause miscarriages and theoretically could be used in an attempt to induce an abortion. For me to have to be essentially babysat by some policy, rather than being trusted about how I handle my own body ... has made me angry, she said. The Arthritis Foundation and American College of Rheumatology have both issued statements of concern about patients access to the drug. Steven Schultz of the Arthritis Foundation said the group is working to determine how widespread the problem is. Patients having trouble getting the medication can contact the groups helpline, he said. Many abortion laws are vague and they vary by state. That can leave physicians in a quandary. Weve asked some legislators, How are medical providers supposed to interpret the laws? said Dr. Dana Stone, who is based in Oklahoma, a state that recently banned almost all abortions. They say, Theyll figure it out, she said. LOS ANGELES A Texas man has been arrested in connection with four cold-case homicides from the Los Angeles area dating as far back as 1980, authorities said Thursday. Detectives from the Los Angeles and Inglewood police departments traveled to Fort Worth, where they arrested 76-year-old Billy Ray Richardson with assistance from the Fort Worth Police Departments Ghost Unit, LAPD officials said. Richardson is suspected in the 1980 killings of Beverly Cruse, Debra Cruse and Kari Lenander in Los Angeles, and in the 1995 slaying of Trina Wilson in Inglewood, according to the LAPD. He was in custody Thursday night pending extradition to Los Angeles, police said. Investigative and forensic work over decades connected these murders through DNA and linked them to [the] suspect, police said. Authorities presented the case against Richardson to the L.A. County district attorneys office, which filed four counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances of multiple murders and murder in the commission of rape, police said. Beverly and Debra Cruse were found dead by their brother, James, in the bedroom of Beverlys apartment in Palms, according to a Times article published March 6, 1980. Beverly, 25, was a USC employee and part-time student. Police believed Debra, a 22-year-old receptionist at KFI-AM 640, was visiting when they were killed. Investigators said both young women had been murdered, but there were no obvious wounds on their bodies, which were decomposing, The Times reported. Nearly five months later, Lenander, 15, was found raped and strangled, her body dumped in a gutter in South L.A., according to a Los Angeles Times Magazine story published April 4, 2010. An LAPD bulletin from 2012 calling for the publics help to solve the cold case said her body was found July 26, 1980, in the 3700 block of Victoria Avenue. A resident of Brentwood and student at Palisades Charter High School, Kari was at the home of her best friend, Toni Garfield, preparing for a sweet-16 party, according to the 2010 article. Tonis parents were out of town, and the girls were drinking tequila. Eventually, they decided to go out dancing in Hollywood and began hitchhiking at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Barrington Avenue. The girls were picked up by a man who said that his name was Ken and that he was visiting from Canada. The three got to Hollywood and stopped to use the bathroom when Toni realized she had too much to drink, according to the article. The man calling himself Ken agreed to drive Toni back to Brentwood, but when they arrived at her home, Kari said she wanted to stay with him and keep partying. It was about 10 p.m. when the girls said goodbye outside Tonis house, the story stated. Just five hours later, Karis body was found under a brightly shining moon, a world away from Brentwood. Information on the circumstances surrounding Trina Wilsons death was not available Thursday night. UN seeks solution after Egypt suspends participation in Mali peacekeeping mission Xinhua) 10:17, July 16, 2022 UNITED NATIONS, July 15 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations is talking with the Egyptian government after Cairo announced a suspension of its participation in the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, said a UN spokesman on Friday. The Egyptian Permanent Mission to the United Nations has notified the world body that Egypt will temporarily suspend its activities in support of the peacekeeping mission in Mali starting Aug. 15, confirmed Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Egypt's decision came a day after the Malian authorities ordered a suspension of rotations of UN peacekeepers. "The (Egyptian) decision is related to concern about the increase in attacks on Egyptian peacekeepers who escort convoys supplying bases in central and northern Mali," said Haq. Seven Egyptian soldiers have been killed since the beginning of the year. The safety and security of peacekeepers is a top priority and essential to ensuring that the United Nations can carry out mandated work to protect civilians and build peace in Mali and all other peacekeeping missions, he said. "We respect and deeply appreciate the service and significant sacrifice by Egypt and other countries contributing uniformed personnel to our missions, which operate in extremely difficult and often dangerous conditions," he said. "The UN is working closely with Egypt to address this issue." Haq said the United Nations is dealing with the government of Mali on a number of issues. On the suspension of rotations, the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, known by its French acronym as MINUSMA, is continuing all efforts to meet with the Malian authorities and to address this issue without delay, he said. "And we're going to continue to push our various efforts and see what progress we can make." On the way ahead beyond Aug. 15, Haq said the United Nations is still in discussions with the Egyptian authorities and will see what will result from the discussions. "And we're trying to make it clear to them, as well to all of our contingents, not just that we appreciate the contributions that they've made, but that we're doing our utmost to find ways to ensure the safety and security of the peacekeeping contingents themselves. But there's no getting around the fact that it is a dangerous task," he said. "It's been a very fraught situation on the ground. But we'll see also what the results of the discussions with Egyptians are before we consider what the next steps would be." It is very clear that the people of Mali need protection. So the contributions that the Egyptians have made are crucially important. That is why the world body is seeing what it can do to handle this particular situation, he said. "They've given us some advance warning, so we'll see what can be done. But right now, we are working closely with Egyptians to address this issue." Haq stressed the fact that Egypt is not talking about a withdrawal, but rather a temporary suspension of activities starting Aug. 15. He said the Egyptian contingent in MINUSMA has 1,035 personnel. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji) DAKAR, July 16 (Xinhua) -- The French version of the Chinese TV drama "Ebola fighters", a production of the China International Television Corporation (CITVC), premiered on Friday at the Grand National Theatre in Dakar. Designed in 24 episodes of 45 minutes each, this TV drama tells the experience of Chinese virologist Zheng Shupeng and his medical team in the fight against the Ebola epidemic in several West African countries in 2014. The Chinese drama will soon be broadcast on the first and second channel of the Senegalese Radiodiffusion Television (RTS 1 and RTS 2), as well as on various regional channels of Senegalese public television, announced Boubou Sall, head of the IT department of RTS. He praised "the exemplary relations" between RTS and CITVC, noting that the new Chinese production will further strengthen the relations between the two organisations. The president of the Senegalese Association of Film Critics, Fatou Kine Sene, said this drama was "well done" and hoped China and Senegal will strengthen the audiovisual partnership. A California man who was arrested in Merrick County in 2020 was sentenced Thursday in federal court in Lincoln to 72 months in prison. George D. Licata, 44, of Vista, California, was sentenced for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge John M. Gerrard. After serving his sentence, Licata will be placed on supervised release for four years. There is no parole in the federal system. On Sept. 16, 2020, a Merrick County Sheriffs deputy stopped Licata for a traffic violation. During the traffic stop, Licata provided consent to search his vehicle. The deputy located several syringes in the trunk of the vehicle and six glass methamphetamine pipes in a box. Under the air filter in the engine compartment, the deputy found a plastic bag containing a white crystal substance that appeared to be methamphetamine. The substance was sent to a lab for testing, and the lab determined that there was 107 grams of methamphetamine, of which at least 96 grams were pure. The case was investigated by the Merrick County Sheriffs Office, the Nebraska State Patrol and the Tri-Cities Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT). A groundbreaking was held last Saturday for the second Habitat for Humanity home in Grand Island funded by the JBS Grand Island beef plant. The home will be built at 2077 Nelson Lane. JBS USA recently contributed $200,000 in Hometown Strong funding toward an affordable housing project in partnership with Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity. The investment will fund construction of two new homes after which Habitat will use the mortgage payments to fund additional home-building into perpetuity. The first house is in progress and will be unveiled during a special dedication ceremony in early August. The second home is expected to be completed this fall. We are proud to break ground on this housing project, which will help local families in their pursuit of home ownership, Mathew Trowbridge, general manager of JBS Grand Island, said in a news release. Our partnership with Habitat for Humanity means that families can achieve their dream of owning a home without some of the obstacles that often stand in the way. We are grateful to JBS for sponsoring our 112th Habitat house in Grand Island, Alyssa Heady, executive director of the Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity, says in the release. Hometown Strong was designed to strengthen local communities, and we will see that goal achieved with every nail as this piece of land is turned into a home. We couldnt provide safe, decent, affordable housing without great community partners like JBS. JBS Grand Islands total Hometown Strong investment is $5.25 million. The JBS Grand Island beef production facility employs more than 3,600 people with an annual payroll of more than $160 million. The facility supports more than 675 local producers, paying them more than $2.2 billion per year for their livestock. Hometown Strong is a $100 million initiative that was developed to strengthen the communities where JBS operates. Everyone in Grand Island is familiar with the magnificent Queen Anne-style house that graces the corner of Second Street and Lincoln Avenue. A group of women needs your help to keep the Grand Island landmark in good shape. The Hargis House Womans Club, which owns the three-story structure and the land it sits on, is actively seeking new members and financial support. The club also wants people to know the house can be rented for graduation parties, bridal and baby showers, Christmas parties, company meetings and even weddings. It can hold gatherings of up to 115 people. The womens club held an open house Friday afternoon in an effort to familiarize more people with the old mansion, which is known as the Hargis House. Dont assume that things will always remain the same. The house came close to being auctioned off two years ago. Jolynn Gardner-Scholz, a member of the Hargis House Womans Club, says the building is the perfect place to have a gathering. The structure is big and has all the tables and tablecloths any group would need. On the main floor is a grand piano. The Grand Island Womans Club, which owned the building for many years, has disbanded. Members of the Hargis House Womans Club sent out letters to 160 people, inviting them to Fridays open house. Having more members and renting out the structure would help the group raise money. Theyd also like more people to get to know the building. If people see how beautiful it is, maybe theyll want to rent it out, said Sherry Mason, one of the groups members. Mason and Gardner-Scholz were both members of the Grand Island Womans Club. Mason hopes that new members would help keep the Hargis House going forever and ever. Theres just an air in here that make you feel like youre Victorian, Gardner-Scholz said. Needed renovation includes a new roof, window reglazing and some new windows. A new sidewalk is needed, as well as work on the foundation. We probably need $100,000 just to redo the roof, Moore said. In redoing windows on the third floor, the wood must match the original design, because of National Historic Register specifications. After the major jobs are taken care of, the group would like to reopen the third floor and have it be a dance floor again, Moore said. The ballroom still has its original floor, she said. The grand dame of Second Street was built in 1898 by Andrew Hargis, who moved to Grand Island in the early 1880s to help establish a business college. Before construction of the house began, 1,500 wagon loads of dirt were brought in to raise the lot several feet above the street. Southwest of the home, a large carriage house painted in the same colors as the mansion was built as a stable for the horses and the family cow. On the west side of the house was a circle driveway. Hargis passed away in 1920, at the age of 51. Later, the building housed a chiropractic clinic and Christ Lutheran Church. The Grand Island Womans Club bought the property for $17,500 in 1954. Its just part of Grand Island, and always has been, Moore said. When Gardner-Scholz was a youngster growing up in Cairo, shed see the Hargis House and doubted that shed ever become a member of the group that ran it. She figured the group consisted just of rich people. But were not. Were just common people, Moore said. Members of the Grand Island Womans Club used to gather for bridge in the Hargis House. Gardner-Scholz was a member of that group. Another unit of the Womans Club was a book club. Occasionally, proceeds from the Womans Club would be applied to the house itself. Gardner-Scholz would like to see the bridge and book clubs return. Membership in the Hargis House Womans Club is $40 a year. The group would appreciate donations of any size. Those who make required minimum distributions from their retirement accounts and IRAs should keep the Hargis House in mind, the women say. The mailing address of the Hargis House Womans Club is 1109 W. Second St. For more information, call Moore at 308-379-7377 or Gardner-Scholz at 308-379-2339. FRIDAY, July 15, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- A virus dangerous to infants is spreading across the United States, and parents and pediatricians should be on the lookout for symptoms, federal health officials say. Parechovirus has caused at least one infant death and has cropped up in multiple states since May, according to a health advisory issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Human parechoviruses are common childhood pathogens that are transmitted via respiratory droplet or by the fecal-oral route, the CDC says. Symptoms like upper respiratory tract infection, fever, and rash are common in children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years. Most children have been infected by parechoviruses by the time they start kindergarten. But the viruses can cause severe illness in babies younger than 3 months, including sepsis, seizures, meningitis, and meningoencephalitis, the CDC said. This is of particular risk in infants younger than 1 month. In its alert, the CDC warned doctors that these viruses circulate in the summer and fall and that they should be considered as a potential infection in an infant with fever, sepsis, or neurological symptoms. A Connecticut baby died in June after contracting the virus when he was 8 days old, according to CT Insider. His first symptoms were a rash on his cheeks and a red chest, but then he became less active, stopped crying, and suffered seizures. Ronan Delancy only lived 34 days, according to his mother Katherine Delancy. Before he died, the virus had attacked and destroyed the white matter in much of his brain. Because there is no routine surveillance for parechoviruses in the United States, it is not clear how the number of cases reported this year compares to previous years, the CDC said. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has reported 33,066 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 59 deaths, since July 8, 2022. Illinois now has 50 counties rated at high community level for COVID-19 and an additional 44 counties rated at the medium community level. Those numbers include Alexander, Franklin, Jackson, Perry, Pulaski, Union and Williamson counties at the high community level locally. Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jefferson, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Randolph and Saline counties are at the medium level Currently, IDPH is reporting Illinois has had a total of 3,496,014 cases, including 34,257 deaths, in its 102 counties since the beginning of the pandemic. Shawna Rhine, community outreach coordinator and public information officer for Southern Seven Health Department & Head Start, said all seven counties in their district are at the medium or high level. She sent out a press release to help residents know what their countys transmission level is and what they should do to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This comes as hospitals are seeing increases in COVID-19 positive cases following the July 4th weekend. An increase in COVID hospital admissions could impact care of all patients, the press release read. To determine a countys Community Level, the CDC looks at the combination of three metrics: new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population in the past seven days, percent of staffed inpatient hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, and total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the past seven days. Using these data, the COVID-19 community level is classified as low, medium, or high. Vaccination is the key to ending this pandemic, according to Illinois Department of Public Health. Vaccines are available for most ages, including children 6 months to age 18 and adults. Vaccines are available from county health departments, as well as most major retail pharmacies. To find a COVID-19 vaccination location near you, go to www.vaccines.gov. IV medications and oral pills can now be used to treat COVID-19. Talk with a health care provider as soon as possible to see if you are eligible for one of these treatments. They do require a prescription. The federal government has established a new website that provides an all-purpose toolkit with information on how to obtain masks, treatment, vaccines and testing resources for all areas of the country at: https://www.covid.gov/. It includes recommendations for each community level. Southern Illinois University Carbondales Saluki Summer Bridge gives first-year students a head start toward college success as they participate in enrichment courses, leadership activities, check out the learning platforms utilized on campus, and get acquainted with all SIU has to offer. During the special, free two-week program they will also engage in leadership activities, connect with faculty, staff and administrators, learn about student employment opportunities and meet other first-year students. This summer, a group of about 20 future Salukis will participate in the college transition program hosted by TRIO Student Support Services. Since its inception in 2013, Saluki Summer Bridge has helped students successfully transition to our campus by providing them with a multitude of benefits, said Renada Greer, assistant dean of students and director of Trio Programs. The program helps students feel a greater connection to the campus community, it fosters early positive relationships with faculty and staff, it promotes student engagement and involvement and improves the overall undergraduate student experience and retention. Online, Zoom and more The 2022 bridge program is set for July 18-29 and its happening virtually. The five enrichment courses, which are designed to let students know what to expect at SIU and provide them with the tools they need to succeed, will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. The format will combine online and Zoom formats. The courses cover topics including: Interpersonal Communication. Self-Branding for Success. Emotionally Intelligent Leadership. Communication Across Cultures. Professional Development 101. Each evening, virtual events and activities will give participants a chance to meet campus administrators, including Chancellor Austin Lane and Jennifer Jones-Hall, dean of students, as well as to connect with current SIU students. Resumes in August Although the program wraps up in July, in order to make the connections a little more personal and provide ongoing support, Summer Bridge participants will attend some of the fun fall semester Saluki Start-up and Weeks of Welcome events together. This years schedule is still being finalized, but the 2021 participants enjoyed attending events such as Light Up the Lake, Saluki Kick-off, Saluki Spirit Zone and the Chancellors Welcome Fest together, Greer said. Family reunions can be a lot of fun, and they can also be a lot of work. No one knows that better than community activist and family advocate, Jackie Whitmore. The 2022 Lang Syne Family Reunion, which because of COVID had not been held since 2019, took place July 9-10 with more than 200 descendants of enslaved South Carolinians who had labored in the fields of the Fort Motte area of Calhoun County. The focal point of this years reunion was a former African American schoolhouse built in 1935 through the personal involvement of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. During its existence, the school provided meaningful educational opportunities for students in grades 1-8. Following the schools closing in 1957, the building was used for agricultural storage but eventually fell into a state of serious disrepair. Not to be deterred, a determined team of reunion organizers, including Jackie Whitmore, Lee Scott and Benny Hanes, actively pursued their vision of refurbishing the structure to a replica of its former glory and worked tirelessly with the current property owners to waterproof it, fortify rotting floors, exterminate bat colonies and hornets nests, construct wide, solid steps into the buildings entrance, and scrub and oil the aged, worn floors and walls. Their next step was to recreate parts of the original classrooms. They collected and displayed period-appropriate regional artifacts, photographs of students and teachers who had been associated with the school, and copies of available public financial records related to the schools operation. I had the exciting opportunity to work with the reunion team on this project during the past year. One of the very rewarding aspects of this experience was to see the delighted faces of the many former students who had at one time attended the school, the oldest of whom is now 94 years old. I also had the enormous pleasure of recording interviews in the homes of other former students who because of their advanced age could not attend the reunion. During these interviews, they described the schools absence of electricity and running water in its early years. A former student described the devotion and close involvement of her impoverished parents with the schools operation. She recounted that because her parents lacked the cash to pay for her daily lunches provided by the school, they instead sent crops theyd grown in payment for her lunches. Some former students spoke of teachers assigning them daily chores, which in the winter included shoveling coal into the schools storage closet for loading into the four pot-bellied stoves used to heat the school. Others described that after students ate their lunches at their desks each day they had to move all desks to thoroughly sweep under them, then arrange them for afternoon classes, and then move them again to sweep the classroom floors at the end of each school day. But not all memories focused on the routine chores, as one former student described her excitement in practicing for various performances for the community. The reunions itinerary on Saturday, July 9, included visits to two historic African American cemeteries in the Fort Motte area, one of which was located on private property and which had not been accessible to descendants of the deceased for over three generations. Included in that cemetery were the remains of a prominent Reconstruction-era state senator who was the great-grandfather of a Richland County School District Two educator who attended the reunion. The propertys current owner gave permission for reunion organizers to clear a path into the overgrown cemetery and to cut away decades of growth that was covering the final resting places of interred ancestors. An elderly descendant making the walk into the cemetery searched longingly but to no avail for her fathers headstone, which she believed had been erected years ago. At a cemetery adjacent to the Lang Syne schoolhouse, reunion participants expressed their love and paid their final respects to a very recently deceased family member. The owners of the property on which this cemetery is located have always graciously provided families unrestricted access to the gravesites of their ancestors buried within. Reunion attendees then proceeded to tour the old Lang Syne schoolhouse, initially assembling near its front entrance to photograph the schools former students in attendance. Proceeding inside, dozens of camera phones captured still photos and recorded videos of displays while parents and grandparents explained to young family members what they had experienced in attending this humble school in bygone years. Dutch Fork High School students in Irmo had seen a prominent design within the original indoor trim of the building and used it to create a Lang Syne School logo. The logo was incorporated into the 2022 family reunion t-shirts and the banner adorning the front of the school. Saturdays activities culminated with an assembly under a huge tent temporarily erected in the now-unused retail section of downtown Fort Motte where a catered meal was enjoyed, speeches were given, attending family representatives were recognized while attendees identified the various states in which they currently live. They hailed from over a dozen states, with the most distant being Alaska. Jackie Whitmore, the reunion organizer, also announced his creation of the Ben Hanes Fort Motte Community History Center in a building Jackie constructed for that purpose on property he had acquired in the old downtown area. The center will permanently display artifacts, photographs and documents of local historical significance for the education and enjoyment of future generations of the Fort Motte community. On Sunday morning, July 10, reunion attendees congregated at Bible Way Church of Atlas Road in Columbia to worship at a service led by the churchs Senior Pastor Darrell Jackson, a current state senator who also hails from a family that descended from the Fort Motte area. Following the service, attendees gathered for group photographs before proceeding to a midday meal served at the church. Throughout the entire weekend, the feeling of kinship was intense. Regardless of differences in race, age or economic status, a powerful sense of unity prevailed among reunion attendees. Family matters. WINDHOEK, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Namibian president Hage Geingob Friday announced that all restrictions imposed on the COVID-19 pandemic were removed. Geingob was speaking during the country's 45th COVID-19 public briefing, where he also said the government would intensify its vaccination campaign. "We believe that vaccination is necessary to protect the nation against any outbreak of new variants of COVID-19," he said. In addition, foreign travelers are required to present vaccination certificates at point of entry, similar to the requirement for travelers to produce certificates of vaccination against Yellow Fever in some countries. Geingob stated that the control of COVID-19 would be carried out in the same way as was for Hepatitis E. Geingob also thanked international cooperating partners for their assistance in containing COVID-19 "in particular the People's Republic of China and India amongst others." "However, I still encourage voluntary compliance to public health and social measures. Good hand hygiene should become part of the new normal," he concluded. Namibia detected its first COVID-19 case on March 13, 2020. Calhoun County Council voted unanimously Monday to support the Regional Medical Center entering into a partnership with the Medical University of South Carolina. There was no further public discussion about the matter during the meeting. Calhoun County Council members met with Orangeburg County Council, MUSC leaders, local lawmakers and members of the RMC Board of Trustees June 30 to discuss the RMC entering into a partnership with MUSC. The proposed partnership is allowed under a budget proviso passed by the S.C. General Assembly allowing MUSC, within its own budget, to enter into the partnership with RMC to help enhance services. Both Orangeburg and Calhoun counties own the hospital. The proviso extends through June 30, 2023, and has the potential of extending for years to come depending on the nature and progress of the relationship between the two institutions. The partnership would provide RMC a number of resources, including clinical, educational and research programs with an aim at improving care and the financial outcomes of the hospital. The proposal discussed would keep the RMC board in place for quality oversight, medical staff accreditation and community engagement while financial responsibility for RMC would fall under the MUSC board. All RMC employees would remain. MUSC officials propose entering into the partnership within the next three months or 90 days. The hospital's fiscal year begins Oct. 1. The proviso was enacted in an effort to help enhance the hospital's financial viability and sustainability. At the end of the 2021 fiscal year, the hospital had a deficit of between $32 million and $35 million. The hospital's financial situation has improved since that time. Through the end of May the hospital was about $18 million in the red absent non-operating income. With operating income, the hospital is about $9.8 million in the red. In other business: Council unanimously approved a $1.125 million, 10-year lease agreement with Motorola to purchase a new radio and dispatch system that will include new radios, dispatch system, phones, a mapping system and mobile automations. The lease agreement will be $138,000 a year. The entire system will go live in about 12 to 14 months. The system is currently being used by a majority of the response agencies throughout the state, said Matt Trentham, Calhoun County Sheriff's Office chief deputy. Individuals in the county will be trained to use the system and the equipment before full implementation, Trentham said. Council approved spending $207,000 to clean, repaint and disinfect the Interstate 26 half-a-million gallon water-storage tank. The contractor is Southeastern Tank and Tower. The work will begin in three months and last over a period of five weeks. The tank will need to be taken out of service during this time, though there will be ways to ensure coverage is still available. Orangeburg-Calhoun-Allendale-Bamberg Community Action Agency Inc. Executive Director Calvin Wright requested the county continue to allow the agency's Head Start program to use the John Ford Community Center lease or rent-free as it has been over the years. He said there are some indications that this could change. The Head Start program operates two classrooms helping 20 children at the center. He said there is a waiting list for the program with more interest than availability. "We are asking you to continue the agreement that we now have with you since we don't have those dollars budgeted," Wright said. "Things are getting tighter and tighter every day." Council Chairman James Haigler promised Wright the matter would be discussed in a future meeting. "We are not just going to throw you out in the cold," Haigler said. "I am pretty sure we are going to give you something positive. We will get back to you." Central South Carolina Alliance President & CEO Nelson Lindsay provided council an update on the work the alliance has done for the county since January 2021. Over this time, the county has seen about 29 inquiries, noting the Sandy Run Industrial Park, the Calhoun County Industrial Park and the new speculative building at the Sandy Run Industrial Park have been the most popular inquiries. The CSCA has generated about 18% of the county's new projects, with about 55% from the South Carolina Department of Commerce and 27% from the county itself. The CSCA is a public and private alliance helping with industrial development and recruitment in the Midlands of South Carolina. Council unanimously appointed James Cooke of the Fort Motte Fire Department to the Calhoun County Fire Training Committee. Cook is replacing Fort Motte Fire Chief Randy Coleman. A working group has been formed to help implement a partnership between the Regional Medical Center and The Medical University of South Carolina. The partnership is touted by officials as an effort to improve access to health care in The T&D Region. The working group will be responsible for drafting specific details on an RMC/MUSC partnership and any structural changes needed to facilitate the partnership. The working group's composition and role was outlined in a July 7 email attachment sent by Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, to Orangeburg County Council Chairman Johnnie Wright and Calhoun County Council Chairman James Haigler. Both Orangeburg and Calhoun County own the hospital. The email was also sent to Rep. Russell Ott, D-St. Matthews, MUSC CEO Dr. Patrick Cawley, MUSC Chief of Governmental Affairs and Secretary to the Board of Trustees Mark Sweatman, and South Carolina House of Representatives Research/Budget Analyst for the Ways and Means Committee Sarah Hearn. Initially, the working group draft was to include both board and administration of the RMC and MUSC, as well as both Orangeburg and Calhoun County administrators. The group's composition, which is fluid, has changed. The group will no longer include the county administrators and will include RMC Board member Dr. Yvonne Johnson (Orangeburg County Council District 6) instead of Samantha Farlow-Moyd. Others on the board include Cynthia Keller (Calhoun County); Dr. Franklin Coulter (Orangeburg County, at-large); Dr. Lucius Craig (chief of medical staff); RMC President and CEO David Southerland; RMC Vice President of Operations Sabrina Robinson, and RMC Chief Financial Officer Dennis Pettigrew. The group will also include the Medical University of South Carolina Trustee Barbara Johnson-Williams, MUSC CEO Dr. Patrick Cawley, MUSC Chief of Governmental Affairs and Secretary to the Board of Trustees Mark Sweatman. The group will be staffed by Sarah Hearn, research analyst for the S.C. House Ways and Means' health care subcommittee. Additional individuals may be added or subtracted to the working group if needed. The group is to be responsible for drafting a plan that will be provided to the local legislative delegation and Orangeburg and Calhoun county councils for review and action. The working group is asked to submit its recommendations before Sept. 1. Upon review, both councils would pass an ordinance by Oct. 1 reflecting the recommended implementation of the partnership, according to the emailed document. The hospital's fiscal year begins Oct. 1. In the body of Cobb-Hunter's email, she notes, "it will not be necessary for the RMC Board of Trustees to vote on the issue." "The two RMC Board members were selected based on their expertise in technology and law and provides representation from each county," Cobb-Hunter wrote. The working group is the first step in the creation of a partnership between the two health care institutions. A budget proviso passed by the S.C. General Assembly allows MUSC, within its own budget, to enter into the partnership with RMC. The proviso extends through June 30, 2023, and has the potential of extending for years to come depending on the nature and progress of the relationship between the two institutions. The proviso was entered into at the behest of Cobb-Hunter after she learned about the RMC's financial challenges during a February presentation to the House Ways and Means health care subcommittee. The hospital had been $32 million in the red at the close of its 2021 fiscal year. It has since improved its financial standing through the end of May with a loss of about $18 million. The partnership would provide RMC with a number of resources, including clinical, educational and research programs with an aim at improving care and the financial outcomes of the hospital. The proposal discussed would keep the RMC board in place for quality oversight, medical staff accreditation and community engagement, while financial responsibility for RMC would fall under the MUSC board. All RMC employees would remain. Lawmakers say there has been no discussion about selling RMC. MUSC officials propose entering into the partnership by the close of RMC's fiscal year Sept. 30. Cobb-Hunter issued a number of requests of both county councils in following through with implementation of the partnership. These include: For both bodies to have a public vote to move the partnership process with MUSC forward. Calhoun County Council did so at its July 11 meeting. That no contracts, major expenditures or personnel changes be done while the partnership is under development. "That would keep things simple and let us get a handle on what outstanding obligations might be out there," Cobb-Hunter wrote. "The MUSC letter also stated that all employees would be retained and I want us to be able to keep that promise." That both county administrators check with their respective attorneys regarding the ordinance that established the RMC board. "That ordinance will need to be revised based on the changes the partnership will bring," Cobb-Hunter wrote. Thoughts of councils on sharing RMC Board appointments with the local legislative delegation. Currently, both councils are solely responsible for appointing members to the RMC board. Partnership thoughts Orangeburg County Council Chairman Johnnie Wright said his concern is to make sure RMC is viable into the future to continue providing rural residents access to health care. "I feel that if we have an alignment and partnership with something that is large enough to make it work as long as we make sure we get in writing that we are not going to neglect those folks in the rural area," Wright said. "We need to make sure they still have access to the health care they need. I think it will be a benefit to us if we have that, especially with the way technology is today." Wright said having the backing of the legislature and the fact that MUSC is a state-owned hospital also provides a stabilizing force. He said MUSC could help bring innovative health care instruction to RMC providers, as well provide an opportunity for greater specialty services. "It ain't going to happen overnight," Wright said, noting there are also cost-saving opportunities. "The bigger you are, you have more buying power and get better prices for things that are coming in," Wright said, "hopefully more stability for employees and state benefits." When asked about the proposed sharing of joint appointment authority of RMC trustees with the local legislative delegation, Wright said, "I am supportive to change to try to make things better. "Sometimes we humans don't always like changes, but everyone has to give a little to take a little," Wright said. "I am open to changes as long as we get in writing that we are going to be taking care of and not for someone to just come in and don't provide the services for the little people." "It is a matter of time before we probably will be like these other rural hospitals," Calhoun County Council Chairman James Haigler said, noting a number of rural hospitals such as thosed in Bamberg and Barnwell have closed in recent years. "We couldn't hold out like what we are doing." "We had to make some kind of move," Haigler said. "The councils and the delegation are kind of responsible for that hospital. Trustees are actually appointed by us." Haigler said the move by council is not a personal indictment on the RMC board, but the reality is the hospital financially is struggling. "We appreciate what they have done," he said. "They have done a good job." "I think if we can get established with MUSC, that is a plus there alone," Haigler said. "That name alone is going to do some things for us. They have a lot of plans. I can't go into details now until the committee comes back, but they have a lot of plans about expanding." Orangeburg County Council Vice Chair Janie Cooper-Smith, who was unable to attend the June 30 meeting between RMC and MUSC, has read about it through the newspaper. She sees some positives but has some concerns about the partnership. "We need doctors, specialists, that MUSC could probably give us that we don't have in the Orangeburg area," Cooper-Smith said. "Presently, if you want a certain specialist, you have to go to Columbia or Charleston or maybe even farther." Cooper-Smith also said MUSC would be able to help the hospital financially and could help improve the hospital's rating as indicated on the hospital watchdog group Leapfrog's survey of hospitals nationally. The RMC recently received a "D" for the spring 2022 survey and has a failing grade in surveys before that. She is concerned about possibly losing the Regional Medical Center name. There have been some preliminary discussions about the RMC possibly being named MUSC Orangeburg. She is also concerned about MUSC "taking over" RMC. "I have nothing against them (RMC board) being an advisory board, but I don't want MUSC to come in and take over what we have had for many, many years," Cooper-Smith said. She also does not particularly care for the idea of the local legislative delegation having joint appointment authority. "I think we should stay as we are," Cooper-Smith said, noting the delegation already has duties with other boards such as the Department of Social Services. "I think they should leave the local boards to the council." Calhoun County Council Vice Chair Ken Westbury gave his approval of the partnership. "I think we are to the point now that it will take a major move, a major rebranding of our health care system for people to start using it on a more consistent basis," Westbury said, adding that he hopes a partnership with MUSC will mean a new day for RMC. A new day would include the hospital receiving greater respect as well as "expanded health coverage" and additional specialties and services. He also noted the ability of local private practices associated with the hospital to be able refer people to MUSC. Westbury said a partnership with MUSC would give RMC greater purchasing power, which will help reduce costs and enhance services. RMC Board Chair the Rev. Dr. Caesar Richburg, who had initially publicly expressed reservations about how the proposed partnership has come about, said the board is "excited" about the partnership and the "stability of a state program to build for the future health needs of our community." Richburg thanked council members and legislators for acting on behalf of the hospital, envisioning that the pairing of the two hospitals could "foster economic growth for our area and provide the existing citizens and the next generation of our citizens the world-class care they all deserve." "MUSC is a world-class health care organization, and we have a history of relationships with them," Richburg said in a prepared statement. "There is no finer hospital system in the state, and we are happy to see their excitement about a potential partnership. "Such a partnership will bring financial resource; clinical improvement expertise; grants and contracts as well as leadership assistance to TRMC," Richburg stated. "A strategically focused partnership will give us the capital and knowledge to offer new services and aid us in recruiting new physicians, nurses, and other clinical staff." "The state funding appropriation will allow us to improve our campus and replace some equipment that is due for replacement," Richburg continued. "I am an optimist, and I am confident that this will prove to be a strong and lasting partnership." Richburg said he envisions "open dialogue with the community through town hall meetings" to discuss what the partnership will mean for RMC and patients. When asked about the board's new role in a proposed advisory capacity, Richburg said, 'It is clear that the board will continue to serve the community and represent the community to any partner such as MUSC." "The board of trustees has long been the face of the hospital in our tri-county region, and we anticipate we will continue that role," Richburg said. "The Regional Medical Center has provided local care to generations of our families and with an MUSC partnership, we will assure the local care will be maintained." The party's priorities in the capital include reducing the CO2 emissions of buildings, more options for citizen participation, and above all measures against the housing crisis. These are the three main priorities of the Left Party's Luxembourg City Section ahead of the 2023 municipal elections. The local politicians criticised the municipal executive, a two-party coalition between the Democratic Party (DP) and the Christian Social People's Party (CSV), for "boasting about the offer of affordable rented flats in Luxembourg City," despite the fact that "the offer of social housing is nowhere close to meeting the demand". According to the Left Party, the current rate of just over 1% should be increased to 10% in the medium-term and 20% in the long-term. The opposition party argues that this is possible if the 'Porte de Hollerich' and 'Stade Route d'Arlon' projects remain in public hands. In addition, the Left Party proposes the creation of a communal real estate company as a "counterweight" to private developers. Nathalie Reuland from the Left Party's Luxembourg City section explained that this would allow the municipality to start its own construction projects to allow "people with low or normal income but also those dependent on social welfare" to continue living in the capital. Reuland pointed out that the municipality not only has "an enormous amount of building land," 87.5 hectares in total, but also "substantial financial reserves", 1.28 billion to be exact. The municipality employs 4,400 workers and through the Ministry of Housing's bricks-and-mortar aid, the commune is eligible for subsidies that would cover 75% of the costs of affordable housing projects, Reuland explained. As for citizen participation, the Left Party proposes the creation of one committee per neighbourhood, which would receive both material and financial support. These neighbourhood committees could tackle any issue related to their local area and write opinions that would have to be considered before a vote in the municipal council, the opposition party explains. The Left Party is also worried regarding the shortage of places in childcare facilities and the resulting long waiting lists. According to the opposition party, the main cause of this issue is staff shortages. Finally, the local politicians highlighted the "great commitment" of its councillors, despite the fact that the municipal executive only accepts few proposals. For this reason, Councillor Guy Foetz argues that the capital would benefit if neither the DP, nor the CSV were part of the next coalition, declaring that the Left Party will campaign for an alliance with the Green Party and the LSAP "so that we can finally make some progress in Luxembourg City". A 30-year-old Tunisian national was extradited to Trier by the Grand Ducal police in Wasserbillig. The man was sentenced to 40 days in prison after stealing a pair of glasses worth 800 from a car. He was brought to Trier prison following the exchange. The Grand Ducal police confirmed a number of checks had taken place over the last fortnight, to ensure compliance with the Register of Beneficial Owners (RBE) rules. The checks, which deployed between 160 and 200 police officers, yielded more than 100 verbal warnings for infractions. The checks will continue through the summer. Read also: Luxembourg Business Register: Police to reinforce stricter checkups The Register of Beneficial Owners was launched three years ago. Each entity registered with the RBE must provide information as required by the law, which also applies to non-profit organisations. Violations of RBE law can be punishable by fines ranging from 1,250 to 1,250,000. Businesses which are not located at the registered offices or addresses can even be subject to liquidation. On Friday, Minister of Health Paulette Lenert and Minister of Justice Sam Tanson met with representatives from Germany, the Netherlands, and Malta at Senningen Castle. The aim? To coordinate a softer regulatory approach to cannabis. During a press briefing on Friday evening, Lenert noted that "if you want to go down a path that not many countries have chosen before, it is important to stick together". On Friday, Lenert and Tanson met representatives of several countries to discuss the potential regulation of recreational cannabis. Read also: Government council green-lights cannabis law on personal consumption Representatives from Germany, the Netherlands, and Malta met at Senningen Castle and agreed that they want to switch to a different drug policy. Lenert observed that the policies in place until now "did not deliver the results that they should". There is no denying that cannabis consumption has been steadily increasing, she said, especially over the last ten years. The Minister of Health stated that "we are confronted with a reality". This reality, according to Lenert, is that of a "black market that works according to a market logic, which means that there is an increasing amount of cheap rubbish on the market". This situation is developing in a way that it risks becoming "a real danger for the health and security of everybody". Minister of Justice Sam Tanson named other reasons for shifting gears in the area of drug policy, for instance reducing crime by "not pushing people into criminality for things that do not belong there". Arnaud Serexhe / RTL At the same time, a new policy would allow law enforcement "to focus on other things rather than fighting drug users". Another argument, Tanson added, is the aspect of social justice, as it is "evident" that in the context of criminality, those from "less favoured social classes" are disproportionally affected. New policies require various indicators, Lenert explained. For this reason, the minister announced that the government would commission a study. This study will be launched over the summer and will serve as the basis on which the government intends to hold itself accountable for all of its future endeavours, according to the minister. The first step in this new approach is the draft bill that will allow every household to grow up to four cannabis plants at home. This draft bill is already in the process of being implemented. Afterwards, the government will focus on creating the legal framework for the production of medicinal cannabis before finally doing the same to establish a national production chain for recreational cannabis. The government aims to table this draft bill "next year". (from right to left). Victor SANNES, Director and National Drug Coordinator, Ministry of Health; Paulette Lenert, Minister of Health; Alexis GOOSDEEL, Director of the EMCDDA; Sam Tanson, Minister of Culture and Minister of Justice; Burkhard BLIENERT, Delegate for Drugs of the German Federal Government; Michel KAZATCHKINE, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria from 2007 to 2012; Ruth DREIFUSS, Former President of Switzerland and Minister of Home Affairs; Rebecca BUTTIGIEG, Member of the Maltese Parliament, Parliamentary Secretary for Reform and Equality / SIP / Luc Deflorenne Video report in Luxembourgish: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776 Of course the founders of our country did not wholly agree that all men were created equal. Certainly not Black Americans, or Indigenous people, or even women for that matter. The expansion to include people of color and women would take another 144 years to achieve. But the idea that equality was self-evident was a radical idea and it was the very idea that serves as the cornerstone of our republic. In 1863, Lincoln was forced to remind Americans that Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. And America was forced to fight a war to prove that point. We are more divided now than at any point in our post-Civil War history save maybe during the Vietnam War. Many have placed party over country and demand fealty to party in order to prove loyalty. And so in 2022, we are at another crossroads in America and 246 years after the Declaration of Independence was written, we again must look back to the wisdom of Lincoln that a house divided cannot stand. Let us look to the founding of our country for inspiration. It is we the people who consent to be governed. It is we the people who seek to form a more perfect union. We cannot allow foreign entities and even our own politicians to seek to divide us. Our founders who signed the declaration pledged their lives, their fortunes and their honor to defend the basic idea of equality. And so, while we should seek to ensure that our elections are secure, we should not fall prey to those who, without proof, claim that there is widespread fraud, especially here in Johnson County and Wyoming, where we know and trust all the election judges and elected officials. Let us not fall prey to those who only seek to destroy with no plans to build. Let us not allow those who stand to gain from conflict to drive a wedge between us. This country was born of freedom and equality. As we reflect on our shared history, we should focus on how we can become more unified. It could be as simple as practicing a bit more grace and patience. We are all Americans. We all care about our country. And we have achieved our greatest accomplishments when we worked together. ACCRA, July 16 (Xinhua) -- The Ghanaian government is committed to fiscal measures to help mitigate the impact of global economic headwinds on the local economy, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement Friday. The statement was released after the first round of talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to aid Ghana in overcoming turbulent domestic and global economic upheavals. The government of Ghana would continue to work closely with the IMF in the coming weeks to complete the enhanced economic program in support of a robust economic recovery, said the statement. "The Ministry of Finance further assures Ghanaians of the government's steadfast commitment to a speedy economic recovery towards achieving a Ghana Beyond Aid," it said. Ghana Beyond Aid is the vision announced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2017 to pursue a foreign aid-free country. Ghana announced on July 1 its decision to start negotiations with the IMF for an economic bailout amid crippling global and domestic economic disruptions. At the end of the initial discussions, the IMF announced late Wednesday its commitment to support Ghana in overcoming the current economic challenges. "We reaffirm our commitment to support Ghana at this difficult time, consistent with the IMF's policies," said the IMF. CLOSE CALL: Aquimer Charles shows where a piece of wall came crashing through her bedroom yesterday around 9 a.m. after the retaining wall from the house above hers collapsed following heavy rainfall and damage due to Thursdays earthquake. Photo: ROBERT TAYLOR Summary: TWO men were shot and killed in separate incidents on Sunday night and yesterday morning with one murder in Laventille and the other in Petit Valley, Diego Martin. One month before his passing on May 6, 2001 the artist Carlisle Chang relived with relish th Some math lessons in Tucson Unified School District could be streamed onto classroom screens by teachers from a Chicago-based company because the district is struggling to find enough teachers here. With the new school year less than three weeks away, TUSD is considering hiring the company as a temporary solution for its shortage of up to 24 math teachers at a dozen schools. Certified teachers from the company, Elevate K-12, would provide live-streamed math instruction where needed during the 2022-2023 school year, said Flori Huitt, TUSDs assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. We wanted to bring this just as a proactive, temporary solution for our district given the number of vacancies that is very daunting, Huitt told the TUSD governing board at Tuesdays meeting. The contract, potentially for $780,000, would cost significantly less than the approximate $1.77 million it would cost the district to fill all 24 vacancies. However, the district would still have to hire additional classroom managers to be physically present with the students. TUSD did not provide an estimate for how much it would cost to hire those managers, but spokeswoman Leslie Lenhart said the district would not incur additional costs from those positions. It would not cost the district more because our current vacancy savings would cover the cost of these positions, Lenhart said. Board members have not yet taken action on the matter, as the district is still focusing on recruiting additional teachers. But Huitt said it was important to discuss in case the district needs to contract with Elevate K-12 in time for the first day of school on Aug. 4. The district is facing its second year of vast teacher shortages, this time largely of certified math teachers, as well as of qualified substitute teachers who could step in as content experts for math classes, Superintendent Gabriel Trujillo said. What thats going to cause is our students to be further behind, Huitt said, especially if they have roving subs or different teachers that are not consistently there giving them the instruction that they need so that they can be successful. In the previous school year, Trujillo said, the district turned to its existing teachers and asked them to surrender their planning hours to work additional class periods as schools struggled with vacancies and teacher absences midyear. It created a lot of burnout, a lot of employee anxiety and frustration as they were taken away from their primary duties and moved into, essentially, substitute roles, so we want to make sure we dont replicate that mistake again, Trujillo told the Arizona Daily Star. Online learning lite Elevate K-12 would be in charge of assigning certified math teachers to the requested TUSD classrooms. According to an Elevate K-12 video shown at the TUSD meeting, the online teacher would be projected in a large display at the front of the classroom for all students to engage in the same daily lesson. The teacher, in turn, would view the students altogether in the classroom, rather than each student individually. The video says Elevate teachers have access to different curriculums created by the company, which are aligned with both national and state standards, and are customizable to individual classes and teachers notes. Lenhart said Elevates curriculums align with Common Core and state-specific standards. In addition, she said, the company would work with the district to ensure the lessons also align with TUSDs math curriculum guidelines. Like most distance learning models, the Elevate program offers students the opportunity to virtually raise their hands to ask questions or message the teacher privately to ask for help during class. All Elevate teachers are certified in their respective grades and subjects, and have more than five years of teaching experience, according to information presented at the meeting. Its kind of like online learning lite, Trujillo told the Star. Its kind of like a halfway point where the students are physically in the classroom in desks, still having access to all the resources of the school. Huitt said Elevate offers the district the opportunity to both relieve teachers of the heavy workload to prevent burnout, and ensures that students always have a certified teacher to present the material. Even if we were to get teachers to cover periods, they may not have that specific mathematical content knowledge to be able to provide that instruction that is so particular for these secondary school years, she said. The district provided a list of 12 schools in the district that were facing teacher shortages, but administrators reiterated theyre still in the process of interviewing potential hires for those positions. The schools are Booth Fickett K-8 School; Pistor, Valencia, Doolen and Mansfeld middle schools; and Catalina, Cholla, Rincon, Sabino, Sahuaro, Santa Rita and Pueblo high schools. Reactions to more virtual learning Christina Berry, mother of an incoming sophomore student at Pueblo High School, one of the schools on the list of vacancies, said she understands why the district had to turn to this potential solution. And, while she doesnt think its a perfect alternative, she also doesnt worry too much about the changes affecting her childs education. She said all her kids had a difficult time with distance learning during the beginning of the pandemic because it was easy for them to become distracted and disengaged, and ultimately lose motivation for their studies. But, she believes the situation will be much different if its only one online class on campus, where the students can still socialize in other classes throughout the day. If its math only and its that one period and theyre going to be in a classroom supervised while a teacher is teaching them online, I think thats OK, Berry said. I would rather have that than have multiple substitute teachers rotating around different styles of teaching all in one semester. That can take a toll on the student, she added. But Margaret Chaney, president of the Tucson Education Association, expressed concern for those students who typically dont learn well with online classes. My biggest concern is if my kids not experiencing success online, do I have the option of pulling them out of there and placing them with a live teacher? Chaney said of a possible scenario for students and parents. Teacher costs are the same The cost of an Elevate teacher wouldnt be much different than the cost of an average salary for a TUSD teacher, she said. The average salary for a full-time TUSD teacher, including benefits, is about $65,000. The yearly cost per teacher with Elevate would also be approximately $65,000, Huitt said. To put that number in perspective, she said, it would cost the district about $780,000 to have Elevate teachers cover a total of 60 class periods each day for the duration of the 2022-2023 school year, with each class being 45-60 minutes long. The district would be responsible for providing all the technical equipment to connect TUSD students to Elevate teachers, Huitt said. She added that Elevate would also be responsible for replacing any of its absent teachers, rather than the schools and TUSD teachers scrambling to find a last-minute replacement. Nobodys preferred solution But partnering with Elevate K-12 would still not relieve the district of the pressure to hire more personnel in time for the coming school year. Trujillo said the district needs to hire at least 24 classroom managers assuming they could work full school days to manage the logistics of an Elevate classroom, such as ensuring students safety and that classwork is flowing smoothly. Those classroom managers, he said, would most likely be teacher assistants hired specifically for that role to avoid pulling staff members from other school departments as the district did in the previous year. Trujillo said TUSD had already advertised vacancies for teacher assistant positions that were budgeted in the original fiscal year 2023 budget proposal, prior to considering the Elevate K-12 partnership. Noting the shortage of teaching assistants, Chaney said she is concerned the district would also struggle to fill those positions, and ultimately have to pull them out of other classrooms that need them. Responding to a request from board member Ravi Shah, Trujillo said the district could look to assign some certified math teachers from Tucson Unified Virtual Academy to other high schools if the enrollment numbers allow for that flexibility. Still, Chaney expressed doubt that this would be the solution to preventing teacher burnout throughout the district, noting that educators have been dealing with other big workloads aside from covering additional class periods. A lot of teachers left this past year because it was ridiculously overwhelming. The amount of work that was compounded on everybodys plate was just horrendous, she said, referring to teacher meetings, pressure over testing, collecting new data and dealing with behavioral issues inside the classroom. Administrators get to go back into their offices and retreat every now and then, but teachers are on all the time, Chaney said. Trujillo said that this is nobodys preferred solution, but facing so many vacancies just shy of the start of the new school year has pushed the district to think outside the box. If the district is unable to hire the necessary math teachers in time, the TUSD governing board can be expected to take action on this measure by the end of July or early August, Lenhart said. A pump that helps deliver raw water to Sand Springs and Sapulpa has failed and is awaiting repair, City Manager Mike Carter told the City Council last week. But the 200-horsepower, 3.18-million-gallon-per-day-capacity pump is the midsize of three pumps delivering water from the lake, so no special conservation or rationing is expected, he said. Were OK right now. Were pumping water. We have two other pumps, Carter said. But if we were to have another failure while this pump is still out of service, we could have to cut back on the usage in town. Pump No. 2 of the Skiatook Raw Water Conveyance System, which pumps water from Skiatook Lake to Sand Springs and Sapulpa, experienced an operational failure due to excessive vibration, Carter said. Rectifying the situation requires the pump to be removed from the pump station to be assessed before the exact repairs needed are known, Carter said. The estimated cost of repairs, to be completed by Ruhrpumpen of Tulsa, is $87,328, plus or minus 10% pending teardown and assessment, although Sand Springs share of that amount is estimated to be $52,397, or 60%, with Sapulpa paying the remaining 40%, or an estimated $34,931. The division roughly equates to each citys water use. The expected repair time of 10 to 12 weeks led Sand Springs city officials to declare an emergency so that work on the project could commence immediately. Sand Springs city staff members will present a resolution to the City Council, likely at its August meeting, for formal approval of the expenditures. It was something we didnt feel could wait until the council meeting, Carter said Thursday. We dont ever want to get into a situation where we didnt act quickly enough. Although the pump failure is concerning enough that we need to get it taken care of, he said he isnt terribly worried. If a second pump were to fail, we might have to conserve water, but that would be really rare, he said. Thats why we have three pumps. This is why we all pay for water, Carter said. Its not free. It takes money to transport it and treat it. But good, clean water is a great difference between us and the rest of the world. The Sand Springs and Sapulpa municipal authorities, functioning as the Sand Springs & Sapulpa Joint Board, jointly own and operate the Skiatook Raw Water Conveyance System, an operating agreement that has existed for about 35 years. Water is pumped from Skiatook Lake and delivered about 20 miles south to Sand Springs. From there, one line splits off to serve Sand Springs, and another line continues south to Sapulpa. In August 2007, a malfunction in a Public Service Company of Oklahoma transmission line knocked out the power to the Skiatook Lake pump station, shutting it down, reports indicate. Residents in Sand Springs and Sapulpa were asked to conserve water while utility crews worked to find another power source, according to Tulsa World stories from the time. The outage lasted only about six hours, but not knowing that early on, officials in both cities took no chances and switched to contingency plans to keep the water flowing. Then-City Manager Doug Enevoldsen told the World that Sand Springs turned to Shell Creek Lake for backup water and also had some available surplus from the city of Tulsa. He said the Fire Department notified mutual-aid partners about the situation and that water tankers were brought in in case they were needed. CAIRO, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and U.S. President Joe Biden discussed on Saturday cooperation between the two countries, the repercussions of the global food crisis, and the disruption of energy supplies, the Egyptian Presidency said in a statement. Sisi and Biden met in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah, where they will also participate in a joint conference later in the day with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states, as well as the Jordanian king and the Iraqi prime minister. This was the first meeting between Sisi and Biden. During the meeting, Sisi underlined Egypt's keenness to strengthen cooperation with the United States and the importance of the Egypt-U.S. partnership in promoting peace and stability in the Middle East region, according to the statement. For his part, Biden affirmed his government's aspiration to activate the frameworks of bilateral cooperation and enhance the existing coordination and consultation between the two countries. Sisi also stressed the need to help regional countries through crises and reach a just and comprehensive solution that guarantees the rights of the Palestinian people and the establishment of their independent state, according to the statement. On the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam that also involves Sudan and Egypt, the Egyptian leader demanded to reach a binding legal agreement for the process of filling and operating the dam, in a manner that preserves Egyptian water security and achieves the common interests of all the three countries. FRIDAY, July 15, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Starting Saturday, if someone is contemplating suicide or having a mental health crisis, they can dial just three numbers -- 988 -- to get help. Callers will be connected to a trained counselor at a local call center and ultimately routed to potentially lifesaving support services. The three-digit code for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline replaces the 10-digit number for what was formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The new three-digit number is easy to remember, free, available 24/7, and confidential, Thea Gallagher, a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at NYU Langone Health in New York City, told HealthDay. "If 988 becomes just as ubiquitous as 911, we are saying that mental health and physical health are on the same level, and that breaks stigma," she said. The new number will also accept texts, and live chat is available, May Lau, M.D., a pediatrician at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and the medical director of the Adolescent and Young Adult Clinic at Children's Medical Center Dallas, told HealthDay. Crisis counselors speak multiple languages and are culturally competent at counseling members of the LGBTQ community. There are also resources available for people who are deaf or hearing-impaired, Lau said. The new line is not just for people who are contemplating suicide. Counselors are also skilled in discussing self-harm, addiction, domestic violence, and other mental health issues. If a caller needs immediate medical attention, 988 will collaborate with local police or hospitals to dispatch services. "We are trying to help people deal with crises before they become life-threatening," Anthony Wood, interim CEO and COO of the American Association for Suicidology, told HealthDay. The group has been calling for a three-digit suicide hotline for years. And while a three-digit number is a big step forward, there are still some kinks to work out, Wood said. For starters, local crisis centers will need more counselors to handle the expected surge in calls, he said. JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) President Joe Biden, speaking at a summit of Arab leaders, said Saturday that the United States "will not walk away" from the Middle East as he tries to ensure stability in a volatile part of the world and boost the global flow of oil to reverse rising gas prices. His remarks, delivered at the Gulf Cooperation Council on the final leg of a four-day Middle East tour, came amid concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions and support for militants in the region. "We will not walk away and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia or Iran," Biden said. "We will seek to build on this moment with active, principled, American leadership." Although U.S. forces continue to target terrorists in the region and remain deployed at bases throughout the Middle East, Biden suggested he was turning a page after the U.S. invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. "Today, I'm proud to be able to say that the era of land wars in the region, wars that involved huge numbers of American forces, is not under way," he said. He announced $1 billion in U.S. aid to alleviate hunger in the region and he pressed his counterparts, many of whom lead repressive governments, to ensure human rights, including women's rights, and allow their citizens to speak openly. "The future will be won by the countries that unleash the full potential of their populations," Biden said, and that includes allowing people to "question and criticize leaders without fear of reprisal." Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, convened the summit, which gave him an opportunity to showcase his country's heavyweight role in the Mideast. He also hinted that the kingdom could pump more oil than it is currently, something Biden is hoping to see when an existing production deal among OPEC+ member countries expires in September. After a lunch with other leaders, Biden began his trip back to Washington, flashing a thumbs-up and waving to reporters as he boarded Air Force One. Here's a roundup of Biden's trip: Epic Charter Schools governing board showed that its never too late to do the right thing, in this case making amends to former state Sen. Ron Sharp. The board voted unanimously to pay out more than half a million dollars in court-ordered sanctions to Sharp, who rightly contended that the school used public funds to attack him for questioning its business practices. In 2019, Sharp sponsored an interim study on how Epic was reporting student enrollment to the state. In return, Epic sued Sharp for libel and slander. The lawsuit failed, and an Oklahoma County judge ordered Epic to pay Sharp $36,000 in legal fees and $500,000 in sanctions for violating a state law designed to prevent the use of litigation to intimidate or silence critics who exercise their First Amendment rights. Sharp became a target of the schools political operations, and he lost his reelection bid in 2020. His case is one in which the school and its former top leaders used public funds meant for the classroom to finance political campaigns of candidates it preferred. That, plus allegations of racketeering and embezzlement, led to criminal charges being filed against Epic co-founders David Cheney and Ben Harris and their former chief finance officer, Josh Brock. The defendants are no longer part of Epic Charter School. In that vein, the schools governing board has undergone changes in leadership that we hope will steer Epic away from the sins of its past. Steps to that end included scrapping its lawsuit against Sharp, agreeing to making the court-ordered payouts, and issuing this apology, as voiced by board Chairman Paul Campbell on Wednesday: This school was weaponized back previously with the prior management company and used inappropriately against Mr. Sharp. On behalf of the school, I wanted to apologize to him and for what he went through because it was not easy, Im sure. While the Epic board is moving to right the schools wrongs, its imperative that other enablers of its former leaders do likewise. Plenty of people within the Legislature and candidates for other public offices were quick to accept Epics campaign money and do its bidding, even if that meant wrongfully attacking fellow public servants. Its important to understand that the financial cost of Epics transgressions totaled in the tens of millions of dollars in what State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd called the worst case of embezzlement of public funds in Oklahoma history. This is not the side you want to be on, and doubling down on defending what Epic had become for the sake of some larger education policy goal is a violation of public trust. Virtual schools and charter schools have a place in Oklahoma education, but so do transparency and accountability. Epics board has taken an important step in that direction. Moving forward, we hope educators, lawmakers and other state elected officials learn from this scandal and do right by Oklahomas children and state taxpayers. All six Vietnamese students attending the 2022 International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in Norway secured medals, with one winning the maximum score of 42, according to the Ministry of Education and Training. Among the six Vietnamese high school students, 12th grader Ngo Quy Dang and 11th grader Pham Viet Hung, both from the Hanoi University of Sciences High School for Gifted Students, grabbed gold medals. Of whom, Dang got a perfect score of 42 points. In addition, silver medals went to Pham Hoang Son, a 12th grader of the High School for Gifted Students under the Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, and Nguyen Dai Duong, a 12th grader from the Lam Son High School for the Gifted in the north central province of Thanh Hoa. Meanwhile, the two bronze medalists were 12th graders Vu Ngoc Binh and Hoang Tien Nguyen from the Vinh Phuc High School for the Gifted in the northern province of the same name and the Phan Boi Chau High School for Gifted Students in the north central province of Nghe An, respectively. The results of the Vietnamese delegation at the 2022 IMO. Photo: IMO Thus, after two decades, a Vietnamese high school student has achieved the maximum score at the IMO. Most recently, two local students obtained such achievement in 2003. In 2020, Dang was the first 10th grader from Vietnam to participate in the IMO and scored 36 points, winning a gold medal. With the results this year, the Vietnamese delegation ranked fourth among the 104 delegations taking part in the competition, following China, South Korea and the U.S., jumping 10 positions from the result last year. In 2021, Vietnamese students won one gold medal, two silver medals and three bronze medals. To date, 10 Vietnamese high school students have got a maximum score at the IMO. The first one is Le Ba Khanh Trinh from Quoc Hoc - Hue High School for Gifted Students in Thua Thien-Hue Province. Trinh attended the competition in 1979. According to the Ministry of Education and Training, the achievements of Vietnamese students at this years IMO continue to affirm the quality of Vietnams education, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic over the past three school years. Hosted by Norway from July 6 to 16, the in-person IMO this year drew 104 delegations with 589 contestants, after being held online for two years due to COVID-19. In the competition this year, 10 students got a maximum score. Besides Dang from Vietnam, six other students from China, one from Japan, one from Ukraine, and one from Afghanistan achieved the same result. The IMO is held annually, except in 1980. The first IMO was held in 1959 in Romania, with the participation of seven countries. It has been now attracted students from over 100 countries. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son held phone talks with his Czech counterpart Jan Lipavsky on Friday, during which the latter pledged to hasten EU agencies to consider Vietnams proposal on removal of a penalty on Vietnamese fisheries sector. Lipavsky said that the Czech Republic considers Vietnam one of the prioritized economic, trade and investment partners in the Asia-Pacific region, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs recounted in an announcement later on the same day. He affirmed that the government of the Czech Republic always backs the promotion of ties between Vietnam and the European Union. As the rotating chair of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2022, the Czech Republic will hasten EU agencies to consider Vietnams proposal on removal of a yellow card on Vietnamese fisheries sector. The nation will also call on EU member countries to soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing remains one of the EUs concerns for Southeast Asian seafood, including Vietnam. In October 2017, the EU imposed a yellow card punishment on Vietnamese seafood for failing to meet relevant requirements on anti-IUU. This penalty has shrunk Vietnams seafood exports to the EU since 2017. Over the past four years, the Vietnamese government and relevant ministries have made efforts to tackle the IUU fishing issue. Although those efforts have been recognized and appreciated by the EU, the yellow card warning has not been removed. For his part, Vietnamese foreign minister Son thanked the Czech Republic for providing 250,800 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Vietnam, helping the country fight the pandemic. He also expressed gratefulness to the government and Foreign Ministry of the Czech Republic for creating favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community to settle down in the European country, contributing to strengthening the traditional friendship between the two countries. Son then took the occasion to invite Lipavsky to visit Vietnam at an appropriate time. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A rare yellowish orange lobster caught in Canada is on exhibit at the Museum of Oceanography in Nha Trang, the capital of Khanh Hoa Province in south-central Vietnam. The exhibition opened on Thursday afternoon, amazing tourists who had the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the unusual yellowish-orange lobster. The museum received the lobster for research and exhibition purposes from Royal Seafood International Trading Company Limited in Ho Chi Minh City. The company imported the rare crustacean from Canada earlier this month. The lobster, which weighs about two kilograms and measures 55 centimeters long, is doing well in its tank. A yellow-orange lobster and a sapphire-blue lobster are kept in the same tank at the Museum of Oceanography in Nha Trang, the capital of Khanh Hoa Province in south-central Vietnam. Photo: Minh Chien / Tuoi Tre The water temperature inside the tank is maintained at 5-10 degrees Celsius in order to mimic the lobsters natural habitat. Yellowish orange lobsters are extremely rare, with a probability of one in 30 million, said Kieu Tan Vu, marketing manager at Royal Seafood. This lobster was on display at the company's seafood store in District 7 in Ho Chi Minh City, where a buyer previously offered VND150 million [US$6400] to buy it, Vu said. We decided not to sell the crustacean because we already had plans to donate it to the Nha Trang Museum of Oceanography for research and display. In March, Royal Seafood gifted a 48-centimeter-long, 3.9-kilogram rare sapphire-blue lobster to the museum. The sapphire blue lobster had also been imported from Canada. According to Ho Son Lam, deputy head of marine biology technology at the museum's Institute of Oceanography, the scientific name for Canadian and American lobsters is Homarus gammarus. Lobsters are typically dark blue to bluish green and are primarily found along the Atlantic coast and in North America. Lam said. There are, however, yellow and orange lobsters due to genetic abnormalities. Yellow-orange lobsters are difficult to find in the wild because their bright shells make them easy targets for predators. According to various studies, the yellow lobster is the consequence of a rare genetic mutation, whereas the orange lobster is the result of a lack of a protein that helps bind pigments," Lam said. The majority of orange lobsters are tricolored, with a mix of orange and black. "However, these studies were conducted on a small scale because the lobsters are so rare in the wild. "This lobster is being kept for research and display. "If its orange-yellow color persists in the next shelling, that means the color is the result of a genetic mutation. "If the color changes, it is the result of the lobster adapting to its natural habitat." Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Check out the news you should not miss today: Politics -- Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son held phone talks with his Czech counterpart Jan Lipavsky on Friday, during which he underlined that Vietnam always seeks to promote its relations with traditional friends, including the Czech Republic one of the countrys priority partners in the Central Eastern Europe. -- Tran Sy Thanh has been relieved of the post of Secretary of the Party Civil Affairs Committee of the State Audit Office of Vietnam to work as Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee for the 2020 - 25 tenure, according to the Politburos decision announced on Friday. Society -- Police in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday have arrested two people who snatched a phone of a woman as she was standing in front of her house this week. -- Police in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday have arrested and initiated legal proceedings against a 26-year-old man for hitting and stabbing a woman before stealing her properties last week. Lifestyle -- Vietnams southern economic hub Ho Chi Minh City warmly received nearly 460 MICE tourists from India on Friday, the largest MICE travel group to the country ever. -- Nguyen Huynh Kim Duyen, from Vietnam, was crowned the second runner-up at Miss Supranational 2022 at the pageants final in Poland on Saturday (Vietnam time). -- A tuna festival will be held in south-central Vietnamese province of Phu Yen from July 28 to 31, as part of the provincial tourism activities. World News -- Mexico's Navy said on Friday that 14 people were killed and another person was injured after a Black Hawk military helicopter crashed in the northern state of Sinaloa, Reuters reported on Friday. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A project turning Thanh Da peninsula in Ho Chi Minh City into an ecological urban area has been repeatedly delayed for 30 years after its announcement, leaving thousands of residents in miserable conditions. The development plan, approved by the municipal administration in 1992, has remained on paper ever since and has been negatively affecting the lives of more than 3,000 households. Thanh Da covers an area of 570 hectares in Ward 28 of Binh Thanh District and was zoned in 1992 to become an ecological urban area. Therefore, locals are not permitted to build new house or transfer their land to others. A bird's eye view of houses on Thanh Da peninsula in Binh Thanh District overlooking the developed parts of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Huu Hanh / Tuoi Tre In 2004, the municipal Peoples Committee chose Saigon Construction Corporation as the developer of the urban area. After the administration was forced to cease the plan due to slugglish compensation, they selected a joint-venture between Bitexco Group and Emaar Properties PJSC as the new developer in 2015. Emaar Properties PJSC then withdrew from the project in mid-2017, putting the plan on hold once again. A bird's eye view of makeshift houses on Thanh Da peninsula in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Huu Hanh / Tuoi Tre Miserable life Due to the implementation of the plan, local residents are deprived of their rights to transfer their land, build new houses, or sell their properties. Many have been forced to abandon their land and rent houses elsewhere in the city. Meanwhile, others who are burdened with financial issues and have no choice but to stay have been facing various difficulties due to degraded infrastructures. Children play on a street on Thanh Da peninsula in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Huu Hanh / Tuoi Tre Residing in a neighborhood in Thanh Da, Phan Thi Thanh Thuy and her seven family members are now living in a house built without the authorities permission on a 100-square-meter land plot she purchased a long time ago. The house was forced to be pulled down by the authorities three times, after each of which Thuys family put up another temporary shelter using old planks of wood and corrugated iron to accommodate the eight of them. The roof of Phan Thi Thanh Thuy's house is just a few inches higher than a persons height. Photo: Huu Hanh / Tuoi Tre The houses roof is just a few inches higher than a persons height and is made of plastic tarpaulin, leaving furniture all wet after every single rain. I knew my familys properties would be affected by the project when I was still young, but I didnt expect its negative impacts would linger through my childrens time and now my grandchildrens, said Thuy. Ferries leave and arrive at a wharf on Thanh Da peninsula in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Huu Hanh / Tuoi Tre Residents of Thanh Da like Thuy have lived without proper streets and sewer systems, with Kinh Bridge being the only concrete structure connecting the peninsula with other parts of the city over the past decades. Traveling by ferry or boat is another option to reach and exit the peninsula. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! ZARANJ, Afghanistan, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Two of the three wives of a polygamist have killed their husband in Afghanistan's western Nimroz province, a provincial official said on Saturday. Director of Public Relations Office Bahram Haqmal said the incident took place in a suburb of Police District 4 of provincial capital Zaranj city several days ago. A statement of Haqmal's office said preliminary investigation by the police found the women murdered the husband in conspiracy with their brothers. The police have arrested four persons in the case. Polygamy is common in Afghanistan and a Muslim man can easily have up to four wives at one time. Beauty & the Geek returns to Nine tonight with 10 newly-matched couples exploring whether opposites attract and whether they can impart life experience. This season the beauties include dancers, hairdressers, even a professional mermaid, while the geeks include a trainspotter, a Harry Potter mega fan, a martial arts ninja and a crypto trader. Episodes involve challenges where the winning couples score a one-on-one date that helps them to learn more about their partners. But the bottom two couples must duel it out in an elimination quiz and challenge that could get them sent home. In the end, the final couple, voted the winners by the remaining couples, will walk away with $100,000. And of course there is the all-important makeover which viewers love if the ratings are anything to go by Here are the 10 beauties and 10 geeks (with thanks to the costume department). Host Sophie Monk Sophie Monk rose to prominence as a member of the girl group Bardot after success in the Australian reality television series Popstars. Bardot became the first Australian act to debut at the No. 1 position with both their debut single Poison and self-titled debut album. In 2005, Sophie relocated to LA to focus further on her acting. She quickly found her feet in Hollywood and appeared in films such as Date Movie (2006), Click (2006) and Spring Breakdown (2009). She also made her American television debut with a role in the HBO series, Entourage. She was declared the winner of the fourth season of Celebrity Apprentice Australia in 2015 and in 2016 was a judge on Australias Got Talent. Refreshingly down-to-earth and an admitted dork, Sophie has endeared herself to the Australian public in recent years as a host on 2Day FM and as a regular fixture on KIIS 1065. As well as hosting Nines Beauty and the Geek, she has hosted three seasons of Love Island Australia and was The Bachelorette in 2017. Sophie is a proud supporter of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation. She lives with her husband Joshua and their dog Bluey. Beauties Aimee Trainee Nurse, 23, Tas Aimee is from Hobart, where she says theres not much of a dating scene, so trying to find love is not easy. The dating scene is honestly terrible, she declares. Never date a Tasmanian, unless its me! Confident and funny, Aimee loves socialising, and when shes not on a dance floor shes at home with her pets or practising yoga. Shes hoping her confidence will help her geek to find his and is looking forward to meeting a new kind of guy who is better than the types she usually goes for. Aimee says: I think a geek would be good for me because he wont have a criminal record, or be a bad boy who would cheat on me. He might have a receding hairline, if were lucky. Done with the rogues and the cheaters, Aimee is looking for a geek who is loving, happy, funny but most of all genuine. Angelique Social Media Content Creator, 21, NSW Calling herself an open alien book, Angelique is one of a kind who likes telling people shes from Mars and sometimes shocks them with her zany personality. Energetic and always positive, she greets folks by calling them alien and creates content for her social media platforms by going up to strangers and doing crazy challenges. Looking for a world thats full of good vibes with vibrant people, Angelique is hoping to align with her geek to make him more assertive and stand up for what he wants. Angelique doesnt think shes your usual glamour, saying Im eccentric, Im not the typical, big-booby beauty. I feel like Im a rainbow gem that has yet to be discovered. I feel like Im hidden and I want to learn more. I want to know more about the world around me and thats why Im here. To see if the geeks can teach me that. While not necessarily looking for love, Angelique isnt running from it if she forms a strong connection with her geek. Shes looking for someone she calls genuine and amazeballs. Bri Ex-NRL cheerleader, 30, NSW Loyal, loud and full of energy, Bri is a medical secretary and former NRL cheerleader from Sydney. As someone who gets along with everybody, Bri wants to use her confidence and positivity to bring out the best in her eek. I would teach him to always look at the bright side of things. Its either in your life for a reason or a season. I like people who remain humble and kind, no matter what, she says. Bri loves her makeup, lashes, tanning, and dressing to impress, so she has the beauty part nailed. But as she says, thats only skin deep. Its not whats on the outside that counts, its whats on the inside. I believe you have to be beautiful on the inside to be a true beauty. Coming from a big, noisy family, Bri will have no problems getting along with her fellow beauties and geeks and wants to be the glue to keep them all together. Daniella Miss Universe Finalist, 26, WA Theres no denying Daniella is an absolute beauty, but she says people are often surprised to find out shes studying primary education and works at a creche looking after children of parents who are learning English. She gets great joy making learning fun for them. Daniella is also a model who entered Miss Universe last year as a WA finalist, so she still loves fashion and beauty. The competition was a worthwhile experience as she was coming out of a bad break-up that left her feeling very low. It gave her some confidence again and an insight into having a voice and speaking up. She says a common misconception about her and other beauties is that they are full of confidence, which is actually something she wants to help the geeks and the beauties find. After watching the show last year, it was wonderful to see the growth in the geeks and also the beauties. We have our down days and insecurities, so I hope we can make this a really nice, positive experience for both beauties and geeks. WA-born and bred, Daniella is a Leo. She thinks the lioness in her will be a strength in the challenges that gets her to the end of the competition. Emily Flight Attendant, 25, NSW Admitting shes the loudest person at every party, Emily says her favourite thing to do is tanning, tanning and fake tanning. As a flight attendant who has already been to 56 countries, she exudes confidence and is used to making people feel at ease. But she is hoping to use the Beauty and the Geek experience to open up and show her vulnerable side. I want to talk more about my feelings, rather than always keeping things light-hearted, she says. I want to find someone who can treat me the way I deserve to be treated. Im looking for love, but if I get great friends out of it, then thats amazing. After some rough break-ups, Emily has tried dating apps but usually deletes them after 20 minutes. She hopes the geeks will show her a different side to the types of guys she usually dates. Passionate about health and fitness, she loves hitting the gym to beat her PBs and cooking for friends at home. Heidi Waitress, 20, VIC Country girl at heart Heidi dreams of becoming a police officer. After leaving her town for the big smoke of Melbourne, she is what her friends describe as a hype girl who likes to have fun and play pranks. She used to be shy, but Heidi who cant leave the house without her makeup on is proud of how far shes come with her confidence and ability to make people feel good. Heidi loves romantic comedies and going out with friends for a dance, and is ready to meet a geek who is her polar opposite. Ive always gone for the same type of person and I need to change it up. It will be really nice to meet someone who could be my best friend or to find love, but I just want to find someone who will appreciate me for me, she says. Heidi hopes her natural banter will click with her geek right away and help them find a connection. Karly Hairdresser, 28, WA Karly has a big heart and loves love. On a few occasions, she says people have compared her to the donkey from Shrek because of her loyalty and sense of humour. She gets along with everyone, does her best to make others feel good, and says she can talk to a tree which comes in handy for her job as a hairdresser. Shes done it since she was 16, and finds that it makes her like a counsellor to her clients, handing out advice while she styles their hair. Karly hopes to find someone long-term in her life. By coming on the show, shes open to finding love but mostly wants to learn from this new experience. Ive had quite a lot of life experience and I have a lot of good vibes to spread. I love helping people wherever I can, and if I can bring confidence out in a geek, then thats my job done, she declares. If Karly and her geek make it to the end, she would use the prizemoney to buy a home or a block of land. Sophie Aspiring Prime Minister, 20, WA With a dream of becoming either Australias prime minister or a comedian, quirky Sophie speaks Mandarin and studies international politics. But if she cant get a car spot at her university, she believes she wasnt meant to go that day. Sophie says people often misjudge her and think shes ditzy, but she has depth and knowledge that surprises them. She also believes brains are more important than beauty, insisting that beauty doesnt last forever but brains do. As a long-time fan of Beauty and the Geek, Sophie was encouraged to do the show by her mum, who thought shed be perfect. My mum and I love the show and I know it would fill her heart up to watch me on it, she says. Hoping to meet a geek she can have fun with, Sophie rather surprisingly admits she loves some of the geekier things in life, like LEGO and Pokemon, so maybe it wont be too hard to form that connection. Tara Mermaid Performer, 22, VIC Its rare indeed to come across a real-life mermaid, but talented Tara is one. As a professional entertainer for childrens birthday parties, she arrives with an impressive tail and loves bringing magic to young lives. When shes not being a mermaid Tara is studying law, which she chose because she wants to help people and make a difference. Wanting to show that she is more than just a pretty face, Tara says: I think the beauties are smart, fun, bubbly, positive people, and I want to show they can be taken seriously for their intellect and personalities while still caring about their appearance. She is looking for a decent man and hopes one of the geeks could possibly be the one for her. Tegan Professional Dancer, 26, VIC Living by the motto that everything happens for a reason, Tegan started dancing at the age of three and turned it into an impressive career. She has been the lead tap dancer at Disneyland Paris and a cheerleader for the Melbourne Storm NRL team. But feeling at a loss with work stalling over the last two years due to COVID, she hopes making friends with the beauties and the geeks will get her out of her rut. She says, Im hoping my geek will help me to learn to believe in myself, and I want to teach him too how to come out of his shell, and definitely about the flirting game! Looking for someone who likes the great outdoors, Tegan is prepared to find love with her geek a man who will treat her the way she deserves. Meet the Geeks Aaron Train Driver, 30, NSW A childhood dream to be a train driver came true for Aaron from Sydney. He knows everything you can about trains, and when hes not driving them, he loves to sit by the tracks and watch them go by an inveterate trainspotter. Looking for someone who will share his passion, Aarons dream date would be taking a girl to a station that has a river and a walking track nearby. It would be good to set up a picnic by the water and watch the trains go by, he reckons. Aaron is a romantic who believes in love at first sight, but finds his lack of confidence makes it hard to meet new people. I try to be friendly and make jokes with people but theres always something in the back of my mind, thinking I might say the wrong thing, so I overthink situations a lot. Im hoping to learn to be more confident and get pushed out my comfort zone. Alexander Bookworm, 27, SA Alex is a maths teacher from South Australia who lives alone with his 18 house plants and his cat called Coconut. He loves Dr Who and is looking for a girl he can talk philosophy with and show around his extensive library. Bookworm Alex says hes introverted but grows more chatty the more comfortable he is with people. Alex skipped a year in high school, and being a different age to his fellow students meant he didnt always fit in. The memory of those days makes it hard for him to feel confident, especially around girls. He says: I want to learn how to be naturally confident and not just put on a brave face when I go out. I want to be a better version of me. Anthony Harry Potter Fanatic, 26, NSW Theres nothing Anthony, a digital content director, doesnt know about the Potterverse, and he is a proud Gryffindor. Admitting hes shy around new people, Anthony retreats into his Harry Potter world when hes feeling insecure. But around his fellow fans, taking part in cosplay, he comes to life, especially when hes in different characts like Harry or Captain America. Anthony was bullied at high school, which has made him a little distrusting of people and forced him to put his guard up. But hes hoping this experience will help him to let people in. So hes banking on learning more about himself, finding a beauty who can build up his confidence . . . and maybe finding a love like Lily and James Potter. Christopher International Yu-Gi-Oh! Champion, 30, SA By day Chris is a software engineer, but his real passion is playing Yu-Gi-Oh!, the Japanese card game. Highly competitive yet lacking in confidence when it comes to dating, he finds it hard to meet girls in an industry thats filled with men. Chris has been all over the world for Yu-Gi-Oh! tournaments, including Las Vegas. But all those years of working hard means hes missed out on a lot of socialising, and now he wants to make up for lost time. Ive spent most of my time hanging around people who share my interests, so I dont tend to add a lot to conversations around things Im not specifically interested in, he says. So Id like to learn more about how to interact with everyone, not just the people I know who share my interests. Chris also admits he would like some help from his beauty about how to be more fashionable. As he says, I basically have no style, no fashion sense at all. Jason Musician, 29, VIC Self-confessed hermit Jason is a data scientist from Victoria and a talented musician who can play multiple instruments. Looking to get out and meet new people, he says he has always been introverted, and after lockdowns and working from home he finds it hard to feel comfortable out socialising in big groups. Jason says: Everything I do is geeky. I work as a data scientist, I play video games, board games, role-playing games. I love philosophy, coding, and Im pretty geeky about my music too. As a guy who rarely leaves his apartment, he hopes that taking the leap to be on this show will help him break out of his shell. But after a friend urged him to apply for Beauty and the Geek he became nervous I normally take things one step at a time, I just dip my toe in, he says. But this is the exact opposite. Its nerve-wracking though exciting. This will be a challenge and I just want to step out of my comfort zone. Jayden Martial Arts Expert, 24, NSW Even though hes a black belt in martial arts, Jayden is more a lover than a fighter. Confident and intense, he has been training since school after dealing with bullies, which helped him with his confidence. A bookworm who loves all sorts of reading, from fantasy to maths, Jayden has different groups of friends but wants to find new ones who share his interests. He says: I like the idea of meeting people who are geeky like me and have their own interests. But we all are here for the same reason. I want to have those personal friends I can call up for advice when something bad happens or if Im upset. Jayden works as a mail officer and is also a bartender and a tutor, which he says makes him a workaholic. He finds that his workload is also a factor in still being single. Coming into the Beauty and the Geek experience, Jayden is excited about the geek makeovers. But . . . To be honest, I dont know if I can make myself look good. Itll be interesting to say the least. Im hoping to look good. Im not looking at Ryan Reynolds-level of good, just better! Michael Childrens Party Entertainer, 25, NSW A man of many roles, Michael is a part-time childrens party entertainer, part-time crypto trader, and confessed full-time geek. Hes had a few girlfriends but still feels anxious around groups of women. I try and remember to breathe and relax, he says. I think I have put on a mask in front of girls to hide the nerves and anxiety behind a big smile and the jokes, but Im always overthinking what Im saying to a girl. Michael loves gaming with his flatmates when hes not working and learning history. He has his work cut as a childrens entertainer where he dresses up as characters like Spider-Man, Captain America, and Shaggy from Scooby Doo. I look out for landmines, which is what I call horrible kids. Sometimes you get to a party where you turn up as Spider-Man and theyll run over and punch you straight in the family jewels! Hoping to find a real connection with his beauty, Michael considers himself a romantic. He is most looking forward to taking on the challenges with his partner. Mike Batman Fanatic, 20, QLD Mike might come off as confident as he hosts trivia nights or other events, but put him in a one-on-one situation and he freezes, especially in front of girls. I talk to fill space to make sure theres no silence or opportunity for awkwardness. In intimate conversations I find I fidget and get stressed, he says. A huge Batman fan, he works at a Brisbane radio station, but its Batman that really gets him excited. With a dream of owning a Batmobile and writing his own script for a Batman movie, Mike resonates with the famous character in the way he has flaws but always builds himself back up, looking for ways to overcome setbacks. He jokes that his love for Batman might be a reason why hes single and says he struggles to pick up on signals from girls. Hes not necessarily looking for a beauty to fall in love with, although that would be an added bonus. Says Mike: Im open to finding love, but at the same time I really want lifelong friends and to gain some confidence in myself. Nate Japanese Anime Expert, 20, SA Nates mother was the one who encouraged him to come into this experience, thinking it would be a good chance to spruce up my romantic skills and meet some cool geeks. Not one to think too far into the future, Nate has no expectations of his relationship with his beauty and will let whatever happens happen. He says, Its going to be a new experience and challenging, but thats as far as Ive thought about it. Id like to learn to give myself more credit and learn more about myself. A computer science student, he grew up in lots of different countries and cities, which helped him adapt to new social settings and groups. After settling in Adelaide, Nate discovered anime and now has hundreds of figurines, video games and other memorabilia. He has learnt to draw it as well. Looking forward to the geek makeovers while a little nervous about the challenges, Nate is hoping to build on his confidence . . . and maybe find a little romance. Samuel E-Sports Champion, 25, VIC Playing E-Sports professionally, Sam is very competitive and loves a little friendly sledging of his opponents. Yet while he may have the confidence to take on some big players, the years of COVID have seen him retreat into a shell, and now he wants to go back to his old self. As hype man to his E-Sports team, he helps to keep their vibes high and emotions in check, which he thinks hell be able to do for his fellow geeks. Sam says, If any of the geeks need anything, Im going to be out there to hype them up and help. He has played almost 8000 hours of Counter-Strike and has a penchant for all things geek. I love being a geek because its about having passion for something. Ive shaped my whole career, my whole life, around Counter-Strike and E-Sports and I love it. Not many people can say they love what they do, but I love everything about what I do. Sam has dated in the past and is definitely open to meeting a beauty he can connect with. And while hed love to win, he really just wants to meet someone who will help him out of his comfort zone. 7pm Sunday, 7:30pm Monday Wednesday on Nine. Seven News Sydney has paid tribute to retiring network engineer Rob Brear, who departs after 48 years at the network. Brear was part of the innovation team who developed race cam and underwater cams. Their technologies went around the world, winning awards. At first I wasnt sure whether I loved or hated The Rehearsal. Its part-Truman Show, part-Big Brother and part-absolute-pyscho-stalker. But I did find myself frquently yelling at my TV screen, Get out! Get out! GET OUT! The more it went on (Ive now seen three episodes) the further down the rabbit hole I went. The Rehearsal, by comedian Nathan Fielder, is one of the more bizarre television concepts Ive seen in a long time. According to the publicity release, Fielder (Nathan For You, How To with John Wilson), explores the lengths one man will go to reduce the uncertainties of everyday life. With a construction crew, a legion of actors, and seemingly unlimited resources, Fielder allows ordinary people to prepare for lifes biggest moments by rehearsing them in carefully crafted simulations of his own design. When a single misstep could shatter your entire world, why leave life to chance? So before your big job interview, or the break-up conversation you are planning to have, or telling someone youve been cheating on them (for example), you get to rehearse the whole thing in an elaborately-staged recreation with actors and fake set to prepare you for every possible outcome and principally to orchestrate the outcome you really want. In episode one, we meet Corr, a TV trivia nut who once lied about having a Masters degree to impress his new pub quiz friends. Hes decided he really wants to fess up but is worried about how to tell them and is particularly fearful it will be a deal breaker for one female friend. Fielder, who has even rehearsed his own meeting with Corr (stalker alert?), convinces him to participate in his wild experiment with the aid of actors and a meticulously-reconstructed pub set. The attention to detail is scary. right down to the floating balloon stuck in the ceiling. Actors will play pub staff, drinkers and his trivia friend. But there are also some downright devious reality tactics employed of which Corr is not aware of. In episode two we meet Angela, a deeply Christian 30-something who wants to rehearse what it might be like to raise a child. Say what? Parents consent to their own babies and toddlers becoming child actors for this experiment, in which Angela is moved into a farmlet to practice life with a baby, with cameras filming it all. I couldnt help but wonder what those same child actors thought when a crew member climbed in the window to swap them over after 4 hour shifts. Nightmares! Morally, ethically, you will often be torn by choices. But here is where the series takes a twist, with Fielders own participation shifting, prompting me to ponder. is The Rehearsal a case study on the participant or the producer? Or both? Either way, Im hooked and now I cant look away. Im not sure if these participants are on the spectrum or have wandered away from a Louis Theroux casting call, but Fielder is a nerdy-yet-compelling host in a show that Foxtel is calling a comedy series. No way, Jose. Its much more than that. I just havent landed on what it is as yet, but Im glued trying to find out. The Rehearsal airs 9:30pm Sunday on FOX Showcase. Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo--(Newsfile Corp. - July 16, 2022) - The Collectif, environmental and social campaigners in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are calling on the country's prime minister to revoke a controversial cobalt agreement with Trafigura, the international commodity giant. The "Collectif des Mouvements Citoyens, Leaders des Organisations des Jeunes et Jeunes Femmes" is a co-operative that includes 33 civil society groups based in the DRC. The Collectif has written to prime minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde over allegations that the Trafigura deal breached strict laws designed to prevent corruption and bribery. The Collectif is calling on the DRC Government to take action over what the campaigners have branded a "violation of competition rules designed to prevent corruption and bribery in the DRC". In November 2020, Trafigura signed a contract with Entreprise Generale du Cobalt (EGC), a subsidiary of state-controlled mining company Gecamines, to market cobalt produced from artisanal mining zones. According to the terms of the deal, Trafigura will be able to purchase 50% of artisanal cobalt production in the country over a five-year period. Trafigura will provide financing to fund the creation of artisanal mining zones, the installation of ore purchasing stations and costs related to the delivery of cobalt it receives. The Collective believes that the award of this contract to Trafigura broke strict Congolese competition laws. In an open letter the Collectif said: "The deal was made in secret and, as a result, rode roughshod over article 17 of the law n 10/010 du 27 avril 2010, which stipulates that 'public contracts are awarded by invitation to tender'. There was no tender and Trafigura was therefore illegally awarded the contract. "We fear that EGC's partnership with Trafigura will harm our country's international standing and, more importantly, be to the detriment of the 200,000 Congolese artisanal miners whose labour is the lifeblood of this country's economy." Story continues The Collective has also said that the full details of the EGC-Trafigura agreement have not been published as required under DRC laws and international agreements on transparency to which the DRC is a signatory. "This lack of transparency is troubling for such a high-profile project," the Collectif wrote in their letter to the prime minister. The Collectif also raised concern about Trafigura's tarnished reputation worldwide, which it said should disqualify it from government contracts. The Collectif wrote: "We also harbour serious ethical concerns regarding Trafigura. The company is currently under formal investigation for corruption in Brazil and has been linked to corruption in many more countries, including Venezuela, Jamaica, Angola, Zimbabwe, Republic of Congo and South Sudan. "Why has the DRC government jumped into bed with a company whose reputation is so tarnished? It is vital that EGC selects an appropriate partner. Trafigura's lamentable track record and woeful standards should disqualify it from being this partner." The warning letter comes after the government's anti-corruption watchdog revealed that Gecamines had overseen a series of irregularities that led to the loss of $400 million. DRC's General Inspectorate of Finances, or IGF, criticized the terms of Gecamines's deal with the world's biggest miners and advised the government to put a halt to any new deals for the company's assets. The civil society groups' calls for the government to revoke the contract also comes after a similar decision was taken over the Nzilo II hydroelectric power station. In that case, the Agence Regulation des Marches Public (ARMP) reversed a ministerial decision to award Lualaba Power the contract. In its ruling, the regulatory authority found that the Ministry of Water Resources and Electricity had failed to comply with the requirement to refer the tender process to the ARMP. In its letter to the DRC Government, the Collectif wrote: "We fear that EGC's partnership with Trafigura will harm our country's international standing and, more importantly, be to the detriment of the 200,000 Congolese artisanal miners whose labour is the lifeblood of this country's economy. At a time when President Felix Tshisekedi has vowed to clean up the corruption that blighted the mining sector under his predecessor Joseph Kabila, the government should cancel this agreement and start afresh as a matter of urgency." The DRC is the world's leading source of mined cobalt, producing 120,000 metric tons - around two thirds of global supply - every year. Artisanal cobalt miners mine around 15% of all cobalt in the DRC. About: The "Collectif des Mouvements Citoyens, Leaders des Organisations des Jeunes et Jeunes Femmes" is a civil society movement comprising 33 local and national Congolese non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The movement has spearheaded a string of previous successful campaigns including lobbying the Congolese government to strip a controversial Middle Eastern health company of a contract to manage and operate a hospital in the city of Lubumbashi. The collective is also notable for leading efforts demanding the government improve its response to the Covid pandemic and offer greater support to Congolese people. Among the groups that make up the movement are national civil society groups Telema and Nouvel Congo, as well as regional organisations such as Peuple Likozi and Peuple Likonzi. Contact: Nathan Mavinga, coordinator Collectif des Mouvements Citoyens, Leaders des Organisations des Jeunes et Jeunes Femmes +243 825 556 292 mavinganathanael@gmail.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/130969 PHNOM PENH, July 16 (Xinhua) -- China-proposed Global Development Initiative (GDI) is crucial in supporting least developed countries to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and to reduce poverty, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said. In a recent written interview with Chinese media, Sokhonn said the GDI has been warmly welcomed by international community, especially developing countries. "This is because the GDI aims at aiding least developed countries, especially those struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, mitigating poverty and food security through international cooperation, and promoting financial and green development," he said. "Indeed, the GDI is another public good that China provides to the rest of the world," he added. Sokhonn said the GDI will contribute to strengthening international development cooperation and accelerating the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Moreover, the GDI reminds that each nation wants development and growth, hence cooperation is needed, he said. The top diplomat said Cambodia strongly supports the GDI. "I strongly believe that Cambodia's participation in the initiative will further energize the existing cooperation frameworks, noticeably the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the building of a Cambodia-China Community with a Shared Future," he said. Senior economist Ky Sereyvath, director-general of the Institute of China Studies at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said on Friday that the GDI has set out a blueprint for the development of countries and international development cooperation, and pointed the way forward for global development and international development cooperation. "The GDI embraces the people-centered core concept," he told Xinhua. "It will help promote global prosperity, steering global development toward a new stage of balanced, coordinated and inclusive growth." Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh, said on Friday that the GDI will foster a global community of development with a shared future and it's the aspiration of all nations for a better life. "The initiative focuses on development as the master key to addressing all problems, and strives to solve difficult issues of development and create more opportunities for development, leaving no countries and no individuals behind," he told Xinhua. He added that the GDI responds to the dynamics and urgent needs of global development, as it has identified priority areas including poverty alleviation, food security, COVID-19 and vaccines, financing for development, climate change and green development, industrialization, digital economy, and connectivity. "The GDI advocates the spirit of open and inclusive partnership, and I believe that it will inject a new impetus into the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," Matthews said. Day 2 of Event #84: $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. at the 2022 World Series of Poker at Bally's and Paris Las Vegas has reached a finish. The day started with 179 gold bracelet-seeking hopefuls. That number has been cut to just 22 players who found bags. Leading the pack is David Bach with 1,094,000. The 2009 WSOP $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. Champion is no stranger to mixed-game success, and he looks to add another bracelet to the three already in his collection. Closest on his tail is Perry Friedman with 985,000. Friedman donned his staple LED hat and mask as usual, with virtual bubbles when on the bubble and a dollar sign to celebrate the bubble bursting. Event #84: $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. Top 10 Chip Counts Place Player Country Chip Counts 1 David Bach United States 1,094,000 2 Perry Friedman United States 985,000 3 Tomasz Gluszko Poland 982,000 4 Roberto Marin United States 968,000 5 Mike Wattel United States 843,000 6 Andrew Brown United States 827,000 7 Joseph Thomas United States 796,000 8 Kevin Gerhart United States 778,000 9 Andre Akkari Brazil 747,000 10 Richard Tatalovich United States 738,000 Perry Friedman Taking place in Bally's Event Center for Day 2, the H.O.R.S.E. players were surrounded by the electric energy of the World Series Main Event at the main stage. Some players were not a fan of the distracting sounds that come with that spectacle, and others loved having the room's energy for the day. They will be near the spotlight again tomorrow as players in the Main Event will return to the main stage tomorrow as well. Not everyone was lucky enough to find a bag, early casualties were Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, Mike Matusow, Eli Elezra, Allen Kessler, and Scott Seiver. Eric Kurtzman felt the pain of being the stone bubble when his two pair wasn't good enough for the high or low of a stud eight or better hand. Later in the day saw the falls of Adam Friedman, Brad Ruben, and David Williams. Players did reach the final three tables redraw before the end of the night and will come back tomorrow at 2 p.m. local time in Bally's Event Center once more. That does it for today's action, be sure to tune back into PokerNews tomorrow to see who can become the final mixed-game champion of the summer here at the 2022 World Series of Poker. The first of three $100,000 bounties is off the table as Andrei Stoenescu just pulled one of the coveted envelopes out of the drum. He jumped up and down in excitement as he was handed an enormous (in more than one sense of the word) cardboard check. When asked what he was going to do with the money, Stoenescu said "there's still two bounties to go". In any event, he cannot be too disappointed if he ends up taking only one of the top bounties home to Romania. STORY: "There is still this possibility of reaching up towards 40 degrees (Celsius) and breaking those records that we have here in the UK," climate scientist Hannah Cloke from the University of Reading told Reuters. "That's very frightening in a way, that even some of the computer models are picking up these extremely high temperatures." Hot days in the UK usually see Britons fill its beaches, but aside from the dangers of lying in the sun, plunging into cold water could also be a serious risk. "There is this danger of cold shock, which does kill people every year and people drown in these heat waves," Cloke said. "So be very, very careful. Enter the water very slowly, make sure you're with an experienced swimmer." Scientists blame human-caused climate change for the increased frequency of extreme weather such as heatwaves, which have also hit parts of China and the United States in recent days. Purdues first-of-its-kind vector-borne disease panel screens for 22 different pathogens in a single test A diagnostic panel developed by researchers in Purdue Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine will enable its Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) to screen for 22 different vector-borne pathogens in a single test. The panel, designed to be used on cats and dogs, is the only test of its kind and will soon be available to clients of the ADDL. Dr. Becky Wilkes, associate professor of molecular diagnostics in the colleges Department of Comparative Pathobiology, and head of the ADDLs Molecular and Virology sections, developed the methodology using next generation sequencing (NGS), a process that can sequence large amounts of DNA more economically than other techniques. First commercially available in the mid-2000s, NGS technology has been used to sequence the human genome and track foodborne outbreaks and infectious disease transmission. Dr. Wilkes novel approach of incorporating NGS as an everyday diagnostic tool will facilitate more accurate identification of a wider range of pathogens in a single test through rapid sequencing of the pathogens DNA. Polymerase chain reaction testing (PCR), the current industry standard, can only test for three or four pathogens at a time in a single test and it only gives a fluorescent signal that pathogens are detected; it cannot sequence their DNA. Were using a targeted NGS method to specifically identify vector-borne pathogens such as those transmitted through the bite of a mosquito, flea or tick, Dr. Wilkes said. Multiple pathogens can be found within the same tick and sometimes co-infections go undiagnosed because were not looking for all the organisms that could be there. Diagnosing vector-borne diseases in dogs can be difficult because there are many different disease-causing agents that can be transmitted from an insect bite and the clinical signs caused by these agents often overlap. Patients can also initially present with non-specific signs, such as fever and lethargy. For the NGS panel, Dr. Wilkes developed specific primers short single-stranded DNA fragments for each organism of interest, ensuring the primers would be specific for each pathogen. She then collaborated with Thermo Fisher Scientific to finalize the assay design, ensuring the primers wouldnt interact with each other or amplify genetic material from the dog or cat. The primers target specific DNA segments in the pathogens of interest. This results in amplification of these pathogen-specific sequences if present in the sample. When pathogens are present, they make up less than 1% of the sample. The majority of the sample is made up of host genetic materials. NGS provides sequences for everything in the sample, including pathogens and the host genetic materials. The targeted NGS approach enhances the sequences of the pathogens of interest to make them easier to detect. Once the targeted DNA is sequenced, it can be compared to information in the GenBank database, an annotated collection of all publicly available DNA sequences, to confirm its identification as a pathogen. As I researched NGS, I was amazed by the amount of data it generates, Dr. Wilkes said. In the past, you could only sequence one piece of DNA at a time, which could be 1,000 base pairs. Thats the process originally used to sequence the human genome. It took 13 years and $3 billion. With NGS, you can generate the same information in a matter of days. Its use as a diagnostic tool for pathogen detection was untested when I started working with targeted NGS. That motivated me to conduct this research to see if NGS could be used to create a targeted diagnostic panel that would be affordable for the veterinary community. In a recent canine necropsy case at the Purdue Small Animal Hospital, Dr. Viju Pillai, a resident in anatomic pathology, suspected the dog had been infected with Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a relatively rare tick-borne zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Rickettsia ricketsii. The ADDL doesnt have a standalone PCR for that organism and previously would not have been able to conduct a test onsite. A sample would have been sent out for PCR testing at another lab. The NGS panel developed by Dr. Wilkes confirmed Dr. Pillais suspicion that the case was Rocky Mountain spotted fever. As the panel becomes more widely used, faster diagnosis of less common diseases will aid veterinarians in developing appropriate treatment plans for their patients. Most tick-borne diseases are bacterial and can be treated with doxycycline, Dr. Wilkes said. But there are a few vector-borne diseases that are caused by parasites, and in those cases doxycycline wouldnt work. These organisms are less commonly tested for, and if they are missed it can delay proper treatment. Earlier diagnosis and treatment is especially critical when the animal is infected with a zoonotic disease one that can spread to humans such as West Nile virus, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever or malaria. Although the initial panel targets vector-borne pathogens in cats and dogs, NGS technology can be applied to panels for a range of illnesses affecting a variety of species. The method were launching is going to change the way we do diagnostics, said Dr. Kenitra Hendrix, director of the ADDL and clinical associate professor of veterinary diagnostic microbiology. We will no longer be limited to picking and choosing a few pathogens to determine whether or not they are present in the sample. Well be able to select these panels based on the syndrome the animal has which will give us a better understanding of all the potential causes of the disease. Last year, the ADDL conducted 107,332 tests. Implementation of the NGS testing platform, which requires state-of-the-art equipment and specific lab expertise, will expand the ADDLs ability to fulfill its mission of providing accurate and reliable animal diagnostic services and consultations to its clients, which include veterinarians, animal health officials, livestock producers and animal owners. Future panels might be developed for diseases that spread through livestock, such as pigs and poultry. Its a lengthy and expensive process to validate the panels, Dr. Hendrix said. So we need to be strategic about implementing tests that will be most useful to our clients, but the opportunities are limitless. Dr. Wilkes is a leading expert in molecular diagnostics for infectious diseases for animals. We are very fortunate to have her here at Purdue developing these diagnostic panels. The research was funded by the American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Health Foundation, which awarded Dr. Wilkes a $103,000 grant to develop the comprehensive vector-borne targeted NGS panel. Dr. Jobin Kattoor, postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology, assisted Dr. Wilkes in validating the vector-borne panel. Through parallel sequencing, the panel will incorporate testing for additional infectious diseases that may cause gastrointestinal, respiratory, reproductive, dermatologic, or neurological signs in dogs and cats. Dr. Wilkes was recently invited to present her research at a meeting of the Flat-Coated Retriever Society of America whose members were amazed at the number of organisms that can be detected with a single test. The vector-borne testing is only part of this panel, Dr. Wilkes said. The panel is validated for 22 vector-borne pathogens, but it contains many more. It is capable of detecting basically all known pathogens in dogs and cats. That is what we are working toward. Click here for more information about the comprehensive vector-borne targeted NGS panel. Writer(s): Kat Braz | pvmnews@purdue.edu A tourist surfs the net for travel destinations. Insiders said a non-sharing mindset had been holding back digital transformation in the industry. Photo doanhnghiepvn.vn HA NOI Sector-wide digital transformation has been set in motion for a while, but many tourism firms are holding back the process with a reluctance to share data. Vu Tien Loc, chairman of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre, underscored the non-sharing mindset as a setback for the development of big data in tourism. He called for a governmental initiation of data collecting to set the ball rolling and follow-up favourable policies to make firms more open about their figures. "It's not an easy task to establish a common database in tourism due to a non-sharing mindset. The Government must take the initiative and collect the data, and introduce favourable policies to encourage data-sharing among firms," he said. Nguyen Le Phuc, deputy general director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), revealed that a national tourism database would be developed in the short term. The database will require the installation of a digital platform in every tourism firm. Firms with the platform will access the database, whereas those without the platform will be helped with installation. Nguyen Trong uong, deputy general director of the Enterprise Management Department, suggested a different idea. He held that firms should be allowed to develop their own platforms accessible to external users. As one single platform, he believes, attracts up to 1 million users, the interconnection of those platforms would create a gigantic data source for practical use. "Data is generated by user transactions on those platforms. The more users, the more data, and thus more beneficial to tourism," he said. Ngo Minh Quan, CEO of Rikkeisoft, highlighted data incoherence as one of the main reasons for tourism firms' failure to leverage digitalisation since incoherent data was of no use to the firms. "Firms, even with data-processing software, cannot extract any useful information from incoherent data," he said. The CEO also said that data privacy and transparency were factors firms must focus on to safeguard their users. He suggested some technological solutions to that end, including blockchain and anonymity. "Those solutions act as a shield against threats when data passes through systems," he added. Nguyen Quyet Tam, chairman and CEO of the VietISO, attributed the slow-paced digitalisation of tourism to the absence of a common database for all tourism firms. Without such a database, it is difficult to make reliable reports on the sector and give accurate forecasts. Ha Van Sieu, another deputy general director of the VNAT, shared this view. He underscored the close cooperation between central and local tourism authorities, the establishment of a national database, and the creation of a digital platform for firms and tourists as the three pillars of the digital transition in tourism. VNS McLennan County District Attorney Barry Johnson, a Republican, announced Friday that Aubrey Robertson, the Democratic candidate for district attorney in the Nov. 8 election, will join his office as first assistant district attorney for the final few months of Johnsons term. During a press conference, Johnson said Robertson is joining his office to assist in lowering the countys backlog of criminal cases. Johnson said his office was able to reduce the backlog from 1,800 felony cases to 1,000 before COVID-19 hit and forced the courthouse to essentially close down until this past April. Johnson said the backlog now stands at about 1,200 felony cases. The county saw a similar trend with the misdemeanor backlog, which now stands at about 2,000 cases, he said. I am very excited to have Aubrey come join us as my first assistant for the last five-and-a-half months of my term, Johnson said. Weve gotten a lot of backlog from the COVID days. Weve got a lot of very important cases that are going to be tried. Weve got to work that backlog down so that, whoever takes my place in January, that its as completely under control as we can get it. Robertson previously served as a prosecutor for three years in Harris County and four years in McLennan County, before Johnsons predecessor, Abel Reyna, fired him shortly after losing his 2018 reelection bid to Johnson. Since then, Robertson has worked at the law firm of former DA Vic Feazell. Johnson said he asked Robertson to join his office because of Robertsons experience as a prosecutor. Robertson said he will begin his new role immediately. Coming back to the DAs office feels a lot like coming home, Robertson said. I am eager to get to work and bring my years of prosecutorial experience to bear on what I see as the issues in our local criminal justice system. Robertson said he wants to focus on getting violent crime down and place a particular importance on tackling the many murder cases pending at the courthouse. Both nonviolent crime and violent crime, with the exception of homicide, have been flat in Waco this year compared to last year, Police Chief Sheryl Victorian has said. Robertson said tackling the large backlog of cases is key to reducing violent crime. People who commit crimes have to know that justice is not only going to be severe, but justice will be swift, Robertson said. The consequences for breaking the law in this county will be swift. When asked if bringing Robertson into his office could be seen as Johnsons way of endorsing Robertson, Johnson said neither Robertson or Josh Tetens, Robertsons Republican opponent, had asked for Johnsons endorsement. I am very impressed by his (Robertsons) credentials, no question about his prosecutorial credentials, Johnson said. But nobodys asked for my endorsement. Referencing his Republican primary loss to Tetens in March, by a 40 percentage-point margin, Johnson joked that I dont know that either Josh or Aubrey would want my endorsements. Johnson said Robertson will not be allowed to campaign while working as first assistant DA, and will instead campaign on weekends. I want everybody to know that during county time, there will be no electioneering, no campaigning or campaign activities at all while Aubrey is up here working at the district attorneys office, Johnson said. The penalty to that will be termination. Robertson said he hopes to continue in his new role in the case that he loses the election against Tetens, but that he fully intends to win. In my role here as first assistant, Josh and I are great friends, Robertson said. Josh is a great lawyer. I think that if he recognizes in the same way that the rest of the community recognizes the experience that I have, he might keep me on. But I fully intend to win in November. And all the policies and procedures that were going to put in place between now and the election, I intend to continue those into January and the first four years of my first term. HOUSTON Amid a summer heat wave that has pushed temperatures in some Texas prisons without air conditioning to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, many inmates fear dying or falling gravely ill from the hot weather and believe actions taken by officials to mitigate the dangerous conditions continue to fall short, according to a new report. The report comes as the head of the Texas prison system told lawmakers this week the oppressive working conditions caused by the lack of air conditioning in many of the states units is likely contributing to difficulties officials are having in filling 7,000 prison job vacancies. Without air-conditioning or regulated temperatures, the system will continue to be under extreme stress and members of the (Texas Department of Criminal Justice) population will remain on the brink of potential health emergencies. This could kill them, but if it doesnt, it will certainly degrade their health over time, according to a report released this week by the Texas A&M University Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center and Texas Prisons Community Advocates, an advocacy group for inmates. Advocates and others have been highly critical of the lack of air conditioning in the Texas prison system, which has 120,000 inmates. Only 30% of Texas prison units are fully air-conditioned. Near Waco, Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates prison units in Marlin and Gatesville. The report from Texas A&M and the prison advocates notes one unit in this area with no air conditioning, Hilltop, in Gatesville, with 552 beds, and one with full air conditioning, the Marlin Unit, with 606 beds. The rest of the area units have partial air conditioning. Partial air conditioning could mean as few as 7 beds out of 1,384 at Hobby in Marlin and 25 beds out of 900 at Woodman in Gatesville. It could also mean 610 beds out of 645 at Mountain View or 289 beds out of 1,342 at Murray, both in Gatesville. In 2017, U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison in Houston said the nations largest prison system was deliberately indifferent to heat risks and subjected inmates to a substantial risk of serious injury or death. Ellisons comments came as part of a settlement of a lawsuit filed by inmates at one unit. Texas is one of at least thirteen states in the country that does not have universal air conditioning in state prisons, according to the universitys report. In the wake of the settlement, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice formalized many of the heat mitigation policies it had been following, including providing water and ice, creating respite areas where inmates could go to cool down and allowing inmates to purchase cooling items such as fans or towels. But the university report called the procedures in place inefficient and ineffective as they are not designed to offer systemwide relief but instead rely on overworked prison employees to offer help on an individual basis to inmates while also suffering through the heat themselves. As part of the report, 309 Texas inmates were surveyed about their experiences. I fainted four times in my cell and no reports were filed and I received no medical attention, one inmate wrote. Other inmates described seeing prisoners pass out from exhaustion as they worked outside in the heat and not being allowed to go to respite areas where they could cool down. This issue is only going to continue to worse with increasing annual temperatures, Carlee Purdum, a Texas A&M research professor who helped write the report, told the Texas House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday. Earlier in the meeting, Bryan Collier, executive director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, said in the last 10 days, the average temperature inside the housing areas at non-air-conditioned prisons was 91.4 degrees Fahrenheit, with five units having average temperatures over 100 degrees. So far this year, six inmates and 11 employees have been treated for heat related illnesses. There have been no heat-related deaths in Texas prisons since 2012, Collier said. There were 17 deaths from 2000 to 2012, with 10 of those deaths just in 2011, when Texas experienced a record heat wave. But Collier told lawmakers the prison system has a wide array of things we do to manage heat, including providing extra ice and water in housing areas and training staff to monitor temperatures and shut down activities when temperatures get too high. Collier told lawmakers Tuesday it would cost about $1.1 billion to install air conditioning in all of the states prison units. A bill that would have required the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to install air conditioning failed to pass during last years legislative session. State Rep. Carl Sherman, D-DeSoto, said air conditioning can be provided in Texas prisons if we have the desire to do this. This is about being politically humane, Sherman said. An 18-year-old Grand Island man has been arrested for possessing and threatening to publicly share sexually explicit photos of 11 girls between the ages of 13 and 18. Police say that in some cases Israel Trautman posted the photos on public social media platforms. Grand Island Police are requesting that he be charged with multiple felony offenses in relation to receiving or soliciting numerous illicit images of minors as well as sharing and extorting minors into providing additional illicit images or conduct. The Grand Island Police report for Thursday lists 11 victims. Five of the females are 17, two are 15, two are 14 and one each is 13 and 18. Trautman was arrested on June 1 in relation to a case of human sex trafficking of a minor and visual depiction of explicit conduct in relation to receiving or soliciting images of a minor. Following that arrest, a search warrant was obtained for Trautmans residence including electronic devices, Grand Island Police said in a news release. Grand Island Police Departments cyberinvestigator developed evidence that alleges Trautman solicited or received photos from 11 other minor victims, and that he extorted those victims into sharing additional images, illegally shared some of those images and threatened some participants into conducting additional illegal explicit acts. In most of the cases, Grand Island Police said, Trautman allegedly told the females that if they did not send him additional sexually explicit material, he would post their photos online. In one case, he posted a females phone number online, police said. In another case, police said, Trautman had possession of 46 sexually explicit photos of a 17-year-old female. She was between 14 and 16 when the photos were taken. Trautman allegedly sent her a picture of exposed male genitalia and sent her nine sexually explicit photos of herself. He allegedly demanded she send him additional sexually explicit material or he would post her photos online, police said. Trautman did in fact share five photos of the female on a public social media platform, officials said. Police allege that Trautman sexually assaulted one victim, who is now 14, five or six times between October 2020 and March of 2021. Trautman allegedly threatened her that if she refused to have sex with him, he would disclose personal information to her family, police said. She told police that he physically assaulted her, leaving her with painful bruising on her face, arms and back, officials said. The victim was 12 and 13 years old at the time of the alleged sexual assault and intentional child abuse. In another case, a 17-year-old female refused to send Trautman any sexually explicit material, so he offered to pay her for it, police said. Trautman continued to harass her about providing him with more sexually explicit material, even though she expressed how uncomfortable she was and that she was underage, Grand Island Police reported. In another case, Trautman allegedly offered $500 to a 17-year-female if she would make a sex tape with him, officials said. Grand Island police are asking the Hall County Attorneys office to charge Trautman with one count of human sex trafficking, 31 counts of sexually explicit conduct, 112 counts of visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct, one count of first-degree sexual assault, nine counts of human sex trafficking of a minor, seven counts of delivery of obscene material, one count of terroristic threats and one count of child abuse. This was a lengthy investigation that demonstrates the ability of a single suspect to prey on multiple youth within a community, Grand Island Police said in the news release. If young people are being exploited, it is a crime and should be reported by calling your local police or the FBI Hotline at 1-800-Call-FBI. Now settled into its new home, the legendary Anthonys restaurant steer probably isnt the slightest bit homesick. Its new digs at a Columbus truck stop are extraordinary, perfect for the large black Angus statue that spent most of its life on top of the popular Omaha steakhouse. And its new dad, truck stop owner Bill Lehr, is thrilled to have the steer with him after bidding $45,000 in an auction for items from Anthonys, which closed in January. I always did want that damn steer, he said the other day. He plans to give his new baby a name, probably Black Thunder. Several facts or coincidences, or even serendipity seem to indicate that the steer has landed in the right place: The truck stop has a highly appropriate name, the T-Bone, and a highly appropriate rural location at the corner of U.S. Highways 30 and 81 across from farmland just outside of Columbus. It has large hand-painted cowboy boots, complete with spurs, perched on poles to mark both truck stop entrances. Lehr said they are part of the reason he bought the steer the entire sale price went to Scare Away Cancer, an Omaha nonprofit that helps families touched by the disease. It kind of works together with the boots, that we could give cancer the big boot, he said. It has a clientele that includes farmers and other rural workers, busy cattle-truck drivers and a lot of locals who come to shoot the breeze, and at least one clerk who knows something about steers: Bailey Lehr, the owners granddaughter and the current Miss Rodeo Nebraska. And it has Lehr himself, whose family has owned a cattle operation right down the road near Duncan, Nebraska, for more than 80 years. What more could a bovine icon want? Lehr appears determined to help the steer feel comfortable in its new surroundings and give its visitors a great experience. He wont remove its red and white Anthonys blanket in homage to its longtime home and because the Lehrs have a family connection to the steakhouse. Thats how its known. It was a very well-liked place in Omaha, he said. My wifes sister worked there for 20 years. He wont put the steer on the roof in deference to its fans. Since the steer arrived a few weeks ago, he has watched people pull into the truck stop lot, get out, touch it, take pictures and then get in their cars and drive away in fact, at least one person did that in the middle of an interview and video session for this story. They couldnt do that in Omaha because it was on the roof, Lehr said. It also would have been difficult and costly to mount the steer on the truck stop building Lehr estimates that the statue weighs about 3,000 pounds, even though its hollow. He had no idea what was used to make it maybe some kind of fiberglass, he said. Ive looked at it hundreds of times and I still dont know what material it is, he said. Springfield, Nebraska, residents Mick and Kathy Kriefels visited the steer when they were at the truck stop Tuesday on the way home from their cabin on Brandenburg Lake near Columbus. Kathy said the now-closed steakhouse was a tradition in her husbands family. He had gone to Anthonys since he was young for birthday dinners, she said, and the couple continued to go there after they were married. When they were asked to deliver a quilt made by a friend in Rising City, near Columbus, to someone in Omaha, they arranged to meet at the T-Bone in part because the steer was there. They posed for pictures, looked around the truck stop (which has a small cafe but not a lot of souvenirs or other products like its larger corporate counterparts) and at Lehrs behest paged through a book that chronicled the flood that hit the T-Bone in the 1990s, a seminal event for the businessman. Lehr showed visitors the barriers he put up at the truck stop to ensure it never happens again and told stories about his tiff with the city of Columbus over the flooding. He said he had a full-service cafe at the truck stop for about nine years until the cafe took water, but scaled it back in flood repairs. It served steaks in its heyday but now serves breakfast items, burgers and other diner-type food. Though he really wanted the steer to fight cancer and honor his family legacy, Lehr set himself a limit in the auction. His main competitor was an executive from the corporate office of Fareway Stores Inc., in Boone, Iowa, who called to congratulate him after he won. We were getting close to the cutoff point, Lehr said. We were thinking twice about it. Luckily, time ran out in the auction when he had the winning bid, and he was able to honor members of his family: his son, who is currently fighting leukemia; and a brother who died from a different type of cancer. At 81, Lehr still is fairly spry. He works on the cattle farm most days, primarily checking the herd for illness and other problems. His grandson lives on the land and is the main caretaker for about 4,000 feeder cattle and 1,000 cows. Other family members drive semis full of cattle to stockyards in Nebraska and adjoining states. Lehr, admittedly, is also feisty, a lifelong trait. He and his brother inherited the cattle operation when their father and their older brother both died within a short time. It came with a $4.3 million dollar debt. Hes proud of the fact that it didnt fail especially in the 1980s, a notoriously grim time for family farms and that it remains successful today along with the familys four T-Bone properties (including three other Columbus-Duncan area gas stations) now primarily run by the women in the family. I am a stubborn son of a buck, he said. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Dive into hometown history With a weekly newsletter looking back at local history. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy DES MOINES Women who have an abortion should not be prosecuted if the procedure is outlawed, but physicians who violate a state law by administering an abortion should, Iowa Republican U.S. Rep Ashley Hinson said Friday. Hinson did not directly say whether she believes anyone who assists a pregnant woman who has an abortion should be prosecuted. In Congress, she voted against it, but earlier as a state lawmaker, supported an abortion bill that was silent on the issue. First and foremost, I do not support prosecuting women for having an abortion, Hinson said during her weekly conference call with Iowa reporters. I want to make sure women have access to maternal health care and other resources for alternatives to abortion. But I firmly also believe medical providers should follow the law and should be accountable to the law. Hinson said she does not support criminal charges for anyone who receives an abortion, including those who may travel out of one state where abortion is illegal to have an abortion in another state where it remains legal. She does support prosecuting physicians who administer abortions in states where it is illegal. Hinson, during the conference call, did not directly answer whether she supports prosecuting other individuals who assist a person who is receiving an abortion. While Hinson has yet to comment on the question, her staff said she has been consistent on the matter and pointed to a recent vote Hinson cast in the U.S. House. On June 28, according to congressional records online, Hinson voted in support of an amendment to a federal budget bill that says the federal justice department shall not use funding in the bill to investigate or prosecute any individual that crosses state lines to access abortion services or provides assistance to another individual to obtain abortion services. Hinson was the only Republican to support the amendment, which passed. However, Hinson as an Iowa legislator voted for state abortion restrictions that do not include protections for other individuals who assist a person who is receiving an abortion. That legislation could soon become state law, as Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds plans to ask the state courts to lift their injunction on the measure. Iowa Senate File 359 known as the fetal heartbeat bill would ban abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy, which often is before the woman knows she is pregnant. The bill contains exceptions for pregnancies that are the result of rape or incest or where a pregnancy threatens a womans health. It also states a woman should not be prosecuted for having an abortion. However, the bill is silent on protections for other people who may help a pregnant woman who has an abortion in violation of the law. The measure was halted by the courts after it was signed into law by Reynolds in 2018. But in the wake of recent U.S. and Iowa Supreme Court rulings, Reynolds said she plans to ask the state courts to lift that injunction and allow the law to go into effect. Weather Alert ...Another Round of Thunderstorms This Week... * Another surge of monsoon moisture will bring back thunderstorms to the region this week, with the best chances being today, Wednesday, and Thursday. * Each day today through Thursday, most areas will have a 20 to 40 percent chance of seeing a storm in the afternoon and early evening hours. Nocturnal showers and thunderstorms are possible tonight and again Wednesday night. * Impacts will range from lightning, new fire starts, and strong outflow winds with blowing dust, to periods of heavy rainfall and flash flooding. * Ensure you have a way of receiving weather alerts or monitoring radar on your phone. If you live in a flash flood prone area, especially near a burn scar, be ready to act quickly if heavy rainfall occurs. Diana Camacho with Southwest Creations Collaborative works on cutting fabric at the Social Enterprise Center, run by the Partnership for Community Action, on Tuesday. (Chancey Bush/Journal) From left, Nichelle Gilbert, associate director for Partnership for Community Action; Javier Martinez, executive director for Partnership for Community Action, and Susan Matteucci, executive director for Southwest Creations Collaborative. (Chancey Bush/Journal) Abigail Salas, a seamstress with Southwest Creations Collaborative, works on making cylinder pillows for Sachi Organics July 12 at the Social Enterprise Center, which is run by the Partnership for Community Action. (Chancey Bush/Journal) Blanca Ramos, with the Agri-Cultura Network, washes carrots inside the commercial kitchen at the South Valley Economic Development Center on July 12. (Chancey Bush/Journal) From left, Sean Humphrey, manager of Delicious New Mexico; Camille Vasquez, South Valley Economic Development Center program manager; Jayme Chester, director of operations at Rio Grande Community Development Corp., and Josue Olivares, executive director at Rio Grande Community Development Corp. (Chancey Bush/Journal) The South Valley Economic Development Center at 318 Isleta SW. The center acts as a business incubation area for small businesses, most of which are from the South Valley. (Chancey Bush/Journal) A seamstress with Southwest Creations Collaborative works on making products at the Social Enterprise Center in mid-July. (Chancey Bush/Journal) Prev 1 of 7 Next Its a weekday in mid-July and small businesses are using the kitchen and freezers at the South Valley Economic Development Center, readying their business for sales later in the week. Workers at the Agri-Cultura Network, a farm-to-table cooperative that brings produce from South Valley growers to local supermarkets, are hard at work washing vegetables before they hit store shelves. The cooperative has a long-standing partnership with the Rio Grande Community Development Corp. the organization that oversees SVEDC and other initiatives focused on food insecurity and business incubation. Just down the street, organizers with a group focused on getting underserved communities to vote is holding a meeting in one of the spaces at the Social Enterprise Center, a building that is privately owned and run by Partnership for Community Action. PCA has a focus on education, economic sustainability, health equity and immigrant rights. The organization does a little bit of everything that helps residents in this area succeed. The center has a main tenant Southwest Creations Collaborative, an industrial sewing manufacturer that leases space in the building, providing jobs for many Spanish-speaking residents in the area. When the center opened in June, PCA said it would directly support 77 jobs over the next nine years. PCA and RGCDC are just two of a few organizations in the area looking to change the negative perception of the South Valley as an area with low economic potential, and are providing residents in this area with jobs and an opportunity to bring their ideas to fruition. At the end of the day RGCDC was created for the community to have a voice and have a way to make change, said Josue Olivares, executive director of RGCDC. And thats something that we need to make sure that continues to happen. Incubating business, providing opportunity RGCDC was founded in 1986. The organizations original focus was to serve the needs of residents and businesses in the area. That mission has continued in recent years, with a primary emphasis on incubation of small businesses that focus on food. The organization does that through the SVEDC, which offers a commercial-grade kitchen for businesses to test and create their products. Theres the Semilla program that introduces prospective or early-stage small business owners to a wealth of information to determine whether their business model or food product is viable for long-term success. There is also the Mixing Bowl program, which allows small business owners to take advantage of the commercial-grade kitchen to produce their food products in larger quantities with the hopes of eventually getting those products into stores. But RGCDCs initiatives arent necessarily limited to incubating businesses, however. The organization also has another initiative, Delicious New Mexico, that focuses on small- to medium-volume distribution services for local farmers and food producers in the South Valley. Delicious New Mexico has developed relationships with stores across the state. We found a lot of gaps within small markets being able to get into retail, along with distribution issues and making connections throughout the state of New Mexico, said Sean Humphrey, the manager for Delicious New Mexico. Another side of it also is looking at food deserts within the state (and) getting enough food access to those areas as well through the distribution. Olivares said RGCDC is always looking for new opportunities to serve the community, whether thats partnering with other local organizations to make that happen or even finding new programs and initiatives to offer. In fact, the SVEDC is expanding with an additional 16,000 square feet of space for cold storage and production paving the way for the organization to serve an even larger array of entrepreneurs in the future. Enterprise center Southwest Creations Collaborative operates as the main tenant down the street at the newly opened Social Enterprise Center. SCC fills about half the space at the 14,000-square-foot facility. Women who work at the facility are offered child care that costs just 25 cents an hour, making it easier for them to support their families. More than 40 people currently employed by SCC mostly Hispanic women sew a variety of products from dog collars to tote bags and everything in between for both local and non-local companies. SCC Executive Director Susan Matteucci said the sewing business which is registered as a nonprofit is more like a family than a typical job where you come in from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. I think what the Social Enterprise Center does is build on the strengths of the community, not the weaknesses, she said. And why I say that is a lot of nonprofits and social enterprise (centers) focus only where people think the employment sector would be. Its not based on the fact that people need access to good jobs that are consistent, that are well paying, that value them as a person, that value their families, that value what attitudes they could add. PCAs associate director Nichelle Gilbert, the organization that runs the Social Enterprise Center, said they also have a focus on helping small businesses in the community, pointing toward the help they provide in the child care sector. Gilbert said the organization helps these people with understanding licensing and connecting them to resources to get their business going. Being able to act as a resource for that group to make the business side more accessible to help to invest in a structure as they go from serving six children to 12 children, or they grow from needing to modify their house or their background for a playground thats this idea of incubation, Gilbert said. Overcoming stereotypes The South Valley is known for many things, but crime and poverty have often overshadowed the areas rich history. Words like deficient and struggle are how outsiders tend to view the South Valley. But local leaders say the residents of the South Valley are better described as passionate, creative, vibrant and committed, said Javier Martinez, executive director for PCA and a Democratic lawmaker in the New Mexico House of Representatives. These are people that dont give up, Martinez said. Regardless of how other communities or other politicians might view us, we are relentless and we are powerful. For all the perceptions about us, were proving them wrong. Editors note: An earlier version of this story misstated the nature of the Social Enterprise Center. The center is privately owned. BELEN With more money coming into the citys coffers via its lodgers tax, Belen will now be able to improve upon its city-held events and increase advertising for them. The Belen City Council unanimously approved amending its lodgers tax ordinance last month by increasing the lodgers tax from 4% to 5%. The tax is placed on visitors staying at local motels, hotels and in short-term rentals, such as Airbnbs. This tax provides revenue to use in promoting tourist-related events and other activities, including advertising for promotion of events that support tourist-related facilities. Josh Kerns, the citys parks and recreation director, told the council at its June 20 meeting the amendment to the ordinance was recommended by the New Mexico Hospitality Association. The city of Carlsbad has made these changes to its ordinance and were looking to increase the lodgers tax from 4% to 5%, and also adding an occupancy tax for buildings with three rooms or less, Kerns said. Also, temporary or short-term housing is not excluded anymore. Kerns explained two of the local hotels on Camino del Llano that cater only to the BNSF railroad will now have to pay the citys lodgers tax, which they didnt prior to the passage of the amended ordinance. The (amended) ordinance is going toward these hotels, and they will be obligated to pay the lodgers tax, Kerns said. I met with the secretary of tourism, and a lot of municipalities are having the same problem. Kerns said Carlsbad couldnt collect lodgers tax from hotels renting to the oil and gas industry, much like the railroad in Belen. They changed the state statute two years ago, and municipalities are now starting to incorporate this, he said. Carlsbad was one of the first cities to do this. Kerns told the council the city will see extra funding to support city-held events throughout the year. With the cost of everything going up, such as fireworks, it will help, Kerns said. It will also help with the cost of event staff, fire and police. It also helps with the cost of marketing. Kerns said the funding will also be used for branding and beautification projects. When asked how much extra funding the city will experience with the change in law, Kerns said its hard to say but estimated it could double or even triple what the city is now receiving. He said Belen currently brings in an average of $32,000 to $35,000 in lodgers tax a year. Abrazos, no balazos (hugs, not bullets) was a catchphrase that Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) used during his presidential election campaign in 2018. He explained it was his administrations strategy not to attack or confront drug cartels, but rather to enact social and educational programs that would steer the countrys youth from the illegal drug trade. This strategy was controversial during his campaign, and it remains so today. On June 29, reporter Antonio de la Cruz was gunned down in Ciudad Victoria, the capital of the Mexican border state of Tamaulipas. This was the 12th murder of a reporter in Mexico this year. Since AMLO took office in 2018, more than 40 print and radio reporters have been murdered. Many of these were murdered by drug cartels, while others are suspected to have been murdered by government officials. Mexico continues to have one of the highest murder rates in the world for reporters. So far this year, 12 Mexican reporters have been murdered. Meanwhile, drug cartels continue to operate with impunity in strategic parts of Mexico, shaking down business owners and politicians and killing people who wont cooperate. It is estimated that 98% of all violent crimes in Mexico go unsolved. These crimes are the result of what AMLO called during his campaign one of the most serious issues facing Mexico corruption at levels from the federal government to the smallest villages. I had the opportunity to hear AMLO speak in El Paso, Texas, on a campaign stop and was impressed by how openly he spoke about corruption and the negative effects it has on the overall Mexican economy. I have heard other Mexican presidential candidates speak frankly about attacking corruption in their country, but AMLO seemed especially passionate that this would be a key objective of his administration. Sadly, this objective remains unachieved. People continue to disappear in Mexico estimates are more than 100,000 in the past 15 to 20 years. These disappearances are thought to be the work of drug cartels and/or government officials working with the cartels to silence people who are opposed to them. Other cases of corruption are beyond the pale. Such was the case of former Mexican federal official Roberto Cabrera, who was recently convicted of sharing genetic information with the private biotech company ADN Mexico, which gets paid to use genetic testing by people searching for missing family members. In this case, having access to vast genetic material obtained illegally, provided by the very person who is supposed to be helping these people, allowed ADN to get paid by family members of victims. It is not known how much Cabrera was paid or how much ADN made off of this illicit arrangement, but it was unconscionable. And why should the U.S. care about the corruption problem in Mexico, especially when we are fighting our own corruption scandals here at home? Mexico is our neighbor and partner in trade. It is in an excellent position to recruit businesses from Asia that are caught in the middle of the U.S.-China trade war, due to Chinese aggression against Taiwan and supply chain security issues. Keeping the Mexican economy healthy and Mexicans employed in good-paying jobs helps the U.S. in areas such as illegal immigration and the ability of U.S. suppliers to ship products to Mexico-based manufacturers. Indeed, industrialized cities such as Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, are benefiting from foreign companies locating within their boundaries. However, I believe that there are many that would follow suit, but are scared away by violence and corruption. It is true that not an inordinate amount of crime is wrought onto foreign companies operating in Mexico. However, perception is a huge factor in making a site selection decision. On July 7, the anti-money laundering agency of Mexicos federal government accused Enrique Pena Nieto, AMLOs predecessor, of corruption while in office, by having two family companies awarded approximately $500 million in government contracts. Pena Nieto was dogged by various corruption accusations while in office. Upon succeeding him, many Mexicans were hopeful that AMLO would act quickly and decisively to investigate these accusations, but were disappointed by his inaction. Many speculated that AMLO didnt want to create more problems for his government by digging into the past, or he didnt want his successor to do the same thing to him or members of his administration. The very fact that the federal government is going public with the Pena Nieto corruption accusations is a good sign, albeit better late than never. There is corruption in both Mexico and the U.S. However, if we are going to be good neighbors and strong trading partners, we have to have governments, at all levels, that instill trust among its citizens and foreign investors who are searching for new places to invest their money. Rooting out corruption and prosecuting corruption is a move by the government to build this trust. Jerry Pacheco is the executive director of the International Business Accelerator, a nonprofit trade counseling program of the New Mexico Small Business Development Centers Network. He can be reached at 575-589-2200 or at jerry@nmiba.com. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal Detectives say a man paid two people $15,000 in drugs and cash to fatally shoot a former associate in Northeast Albuquerque over a previous alleged robbery. Martin Trujillo, 55, Freddy Granger, 41, and Cassandra Dominguez, 37, are each charged with an open count of murder in the May 1 death of 46-year-old Gary Escareno. Detectives allege that Trujillo hired Granger and Dominguez to kill Escareno a man Trujillo ran a rental assistance scam with after Escareno allegedly robbed him. Granger and Dominguez were already wanted in a June 13 incident in which they allegedly fled from a traffic stop in Carlsbad, got into a crash and carjacked a man at gunpoint. Federal agents arrested the pair on July 8 in Albuquerque, less than a mile from where the homicide occurred, according to police. Arresting agents found a gun on Granger. Granger has been booked into the Central New Mexico Correctional Facility and Dominguez is behind bars at the Eddy County Detention Center. Trujillo has a warrant for his arrest in the homicide. Dominguezs criminal history includes mostly nonviolent arrests for drug-related offenses, according to court records. Granger, also known as Snoop, has battled substance abuse and been in and out of jail on charges including involuntary manslaughter, kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent felonies, according to court records. Court records show he was sentenced in 2015 to 10 years after taking a plea deal in the nonfatal stabbing of a woman outside an East Central motel. Police responded around 10:30 p.m. May 1 to the area of Candelaria and Juan Tabo NE, after a car crashed into a pole, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. They found Escareno in the drivers seat with a gunshot wound to the head. Witnesses told police they heard gunfire and saw a man and a woman fleeing the scene. Data from the car showed a large occupant was in the passenger seat when the crash occurred. Police said they found messages in Escarenos phone from a woman who asked him to pick up a woman and her boyfriend at the Taco Bell at Lomas and San Mateo. Security footage from the Taco Bell showed Escareno pick up a pair who matched the description of those seen fleeing the shooting. Detectives found calls from the woman to Trujillo in the hours leading up to and following Escarenos death, according to the complaint. Escarenos friend told police Escareno had robbed J Money, identified as Trujillo, after he didnt split the profits of a rental assistance scam. The complaint does not elaborate on the alleged rental scheme the men were involved in. Police said they found messages from a phone to Trujillo telling him they were going to the Taco Bell and to ask what he is driving. Trujillo responded hes there and, after the shooting, Trujillo received the message: Done deed. Trujillo sent a message asking for their Cash App and, the next day, said, Money landed TY, according to the complaint. Police said they were able to trace the phone, linked to Dominguez and Granger, to the Taco Bell and the scene of the homicide. Then, police said an inmate at the Los Lunas prison asked to speak with police, telling them Trujillo initially asked him to kill Escareno. The man told police he saw Trujillo pay Granger for the homicide with $15,000 worth of methamphetamine, fentanyl, a vehicle and cash. Kevin Folk has been hired as regional vice president of Vexus Fibers New Mexico operations. Folk began his career in the telecommunications industry in the early 90s by taking on various levels of responsibility in the communications field of the U.S. Air Force. Before joining Vexus, Folk spent 17 years at Shentel, a telecommunications company, starting as a field operations manager and ending as the vice president of wireless network operations. Folk obtained his bachelors degree in criminal justice from the University of Maryland and received his masters degree in information technology management from Colorado Tech University. JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia Before stepping foot in Saudi Arabia, President Joe Biden knew there would be trouble. Biden was risking criticism by visiting a country he had vowed to make a pariah for human rights abuses, and there was no guarantee the visit would immediately yield higher oil production to offset rising gas prices. He decided to face the blowback anyway, hoping to use the visit to repair strained ties and make clear to wary Arab leaders that the United States remains committed to their security and the regions stability. His visit to Saudi Arabia was occasionally uncomfortable but, in Bidens view, ultimately necessary. Although hes been focused on confronting Russias invasion of Ukraine and limiting Chinas expanding influence in Asia, those goals become far more difficult without the partnerships that he was tending to here. It is only becoming clearer to me how closely interwoven Americas interests are with the successes of the Middle East, the president said Saturday at a summit in the Red Sea city of Jeddah. It was a belated recognition of geopolitical reality that, for nearly a century, has kept the United States deeply invested in the energy-rich region, most recently with ruinous wars that stretched over two decades. Biden tried to turn the page on those conflicts while insisting that the U.S. would remain engaged. We will not walk away and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia or Iran, Biden said. We will seek to build on this moment with active, principled, American leadership. The summit, where Biden announced $1 billion in U.S. funding to alleviate hunger in the region, was the final destination on Bidens four-day trip, which included stops in Israel and the West Bank. His travels were shadowed by a steady stream of grim news from Washington, where Democratic plans to address climate change floundered on Capitol Hill and there was fresh evidence that inflation had reached historic levels. And at every step along the way, Biden confronted a far different region than existed when he served as vice president. President Donald Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal reached under President Barack Obama, and Tehran is believed to be closer than ever to building a nuclear weapon. The threat, which Biden has struggled to address through renewed negotiations, has deepened coordination between Israel and its Arab neighbors, who have found common cause in confronting Iran. The budding ties have also opened the door to greater economic and security integration, recasting the Middle Easts fractious politics at the same time that Arab leaders were fearing the U.S. had become a less reliable ally. They distrusted Obamas outreach to Iran and Trumps erratic behavior, then viewed Biden as neglectful toward the region once he took office. Bidens challenge has been to recognize the shifting landscape and persuade leaders in the Middle East to remain aligned with U.S. interests without being dragged back into a corner of the world that the American public has largely turned away from after the end of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Although Biden expressed a renewed commitment to the region by saying the United States is not going anywhere, he also seemed to acknowledge its limitations. The United States is clear-eyed about the challenges in the Middle East and about where we have the greatest capacity to help drive positive outcomes, he said. Besides announcing the new funding for hunger relief, he met individually with several of his counterparts, some for the first time since he became president. He also invited Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who recently became president of the United Arab Emirates, formalizing his role at the helm of major policy decisions, to visit the White House in the coming months. It was another effort to smooth ties that have become strained, in part because of Bidens actions. For example, although the U.S. has played a key role in encouraging a monthslong cease-fire in Yemen, the Emiratis have criticized his decision to reverse a Trump-era move that had listed the Iran-backed Houthis as a terrorist group. The centerpiece of Bidens outreach in the Middle East was his first meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia and heir to the throne held by his father, King Salman. The encounter began Friday with a fist bump outside the royal palace in Jeddah, a chummy gesture that was swiftly criticized because of Prince Mohammeds history of human rights abuses. In addition to cracking down on his critics in Saudi Arabia, the prince, according to U.S. intelligence, likely approved the killing of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi nearly four years ago. Biden rejected the notion that he was abandoning human rights by meeting with the crown prince, and said he brought up Khashoggis murder during their conversation. The topic created a frosty start to the meeting, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to discuss the private meeting and insisted on anonymity. The Saudi-owned Al Arabiya news network, citing an unnamed Saudi source, reported that Prince Mohammed responded to Bidens mention of Khashoggi by saying that attempts to impose a set of values can backfire. He also said the U.S. had committed mistakes at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, where detainees were tortured, and pressed Biden on the killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh during a recent Israeli raid on the West Bank city of Jenin. The atmosphere between the two eventually became more relaxed, the U.S. official said, as they spoke about energy security, expanding high-speed internet access in the Middle East and other issues. The regional summit in Jeddah and Bidens visit provided Prince Mohammed with the opportunity to showcase his countrys heavyweight role in the Middle East, and his position at the helm of the worlds largest oil exporter. He hinted that the kingdom could pump more oil than it currently does, something Biden wants to see when existing production quotas among OPEC+ member countries, which include Russia, expire in September. Im doing all I can to increase the supply for the United States of America, which I expect to happen, Biden said Friday. The Saudis share that urgency, and based on our discussions today, I expect well see further steps in the coming weeks. He also tried to draw Arab nations onto his side over the invasion of Ukraine by releasing satellite imagery indicating that Russian officials visited Iran in June and July to see weapons-capable drones that it could acquire. The disclosure appeared aimed at drawing a connection between the war in Europe and Arab leaders own concerns about Iran. So far, none of the countries represented at the summit has moved in lockstep with the U.S. to sanction Russia, a foreign policy priority for the Biden administration. If anything, the UAE has emerged as a sort of financial haven for Russian billionaires and their multimillion-dollar yachts. Egypt remains open to Russian tourists. Meantime, there are sharp divisions on regional foreign policy among the heads of state who attended the summit. For example, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE are trying to isolate and squeeze Iran over its regional reach and proxies. Oman and Qatar have solid diplomatic ties with Iran and have acted as intermediaries for talks between Washington and Tehran. But before ending his speech at the summit, Biden expressed hopes for a new era of cooperation. This is a table full of problem solvers, he said. Theres a lot of good we can do if we do it together. ___ Batrawy reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Megerian and Miller reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE State Rep. Rebecca Dow has agreed to pay a $500 civil penalty for violations of the Governmental Conduct Act under a tentative settlement with the State Ethics Commission, potentially ending a case she fought fiercely for almost two years. The settlement isnt final yet. A retired judge serving as a hearing officer is set to consider approval of the agreement Wednesday. If granted, it would end the highest-profile ethics case since voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2018 establishing New Mexicos independent ethics agency. Dow, who lost a bid this year to become the Republican nominee for governor, said Friday that she couldnt comment on the settlement until its final. But public records show she accepted a settlement in late June agreeing to pay $500 for two violations of the state law that restricts when legislators may represent a client before a state agency. The Governmental Conduct Act prohibits state lawmakers from helping someone before a state agency unless the lawmaker is unpaid or working on behalf of a constituent. The law also includes an exception for legislators who deal with state agencies while engaged in the conduct of their professions. But in those cases, the lawmakers cannot make reference to their role as a legislator. The ethics case against Dow centered, in part, on allegations that she had violated the law by representing an early childhood center she founded. Dow is the founder and a former CEO of AppleTree, a nonprofit that serves children and families in Sierra County. It receives most of its revenue from state grants and contracts, according to documents in the case. In pursuing the complaint against Dow, Walker Boyd, the general counsel of the State Ethics Commission, said Dow had sent emails on behalf of AppleTree to the Public Education Department and had submitted an invoice to AppleTree for services that included meeting with Cabinet secretaries to promote AppleTree evidence, Boyd said, that she had violated the restrictions on when a legislator may represent a client before state agencies. He also said Dow had, in some cases, made reference to her capacity as a legislator by signing an email Rep Dow or using her legislative email address. Dow, in turn, has vigorously denied the allegations. In her own filings, she contends she was just representing a constituent AppleTree the same way any legislator is permitted to represent people in their district. She described herself as volunteering her time for the group in recent years rather than accepting payment and contends she not only complied with state law but also consulted with legislative staff on how to properly disclose her role with AppleTree. Even so, she said, she voluntarily amended financial disclosure documents to address concerns raised by the ethics staff. In January, Dow described the ethics staff as way out of bounds and said the agency continues to invent new claims of violations as old ones are abandoned. Also that month, she said: I have publicly disclosed overdisclosed all the details of my work and very modest payment for an important nonprofit in my district. Dow said Friday that she couldnt comment. Until the settlement is approved and final, it is not appropriate to respond to the substance of your questions, she told the Journal. The case played out as Dow sought reelection to the House in 2020 when she soundly defeated her Democratic opponent and throughout this year as she campaigned for governor. In the June primary, she finished second in a five-way race for the GOP nomination, with 15% of the vote. Dow, a six-year legislator from Truth or Consequences, is set to leave the state House when her term expires before next years regular legislative session. The ethics complaint was filed in September 2020 by Dows Democratic opponent that year, Karen Whitlock. But Boyd, the general counsel, took on a role akin to a prosecutor after investigating the allegations and finding probable cause to support some of them. The settlement would bring the case to a close. As part of the agreement, Dow would abandon some pending court challenges she filed as she fought the allegations. Before the settlement, Dow had been scheduled for a three-day public hearing next week in front of retired U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan C. Torgerson, who is serving as a hearing officer. Torgerson is now to consider approval of the settlement Wednesday morning. The State Ethics Commission is empowered to enforce state laws on campaign reporting, financial disclosures, lobbyists and other matters. Voters authorized its creation in 2018, and lawmakers subsequently passed a bill outlining more specifically how it would operate. The seven-member commission began accepting ethics complaints in 2020 and makes them public only upon a finding of probable cause. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal Jessica Kelley said Friday that her plan shifted from concealing the body of 10-year-old Victoria Martens to murdering her two co-defendants for reasons that made little sense even to her. Kelley made the admission while testifying in the trial of Fabian Gonzales, 37, for his role in Victorias 2016 strangling death and dismemberment in her mothers Northwest Albuquerque apartment. Gonzales faces charges including child abuse, recklessly caused, resulting in the death of a child under 12, and seven counts of tampering with evidence. Kelley said she entered the master bedroom with an iron hours after Victorias Aug. 23, 2016, murder and confronted Gonzales and Victorias mother, Michelle Martens. Then she struck Martens in the face with the iron, she testified. Under questioning from Deputy District Attorney Greer Staley, Kelley said she was under the influence of methamphetamine and not thinking clearly. It doesnt make sense, Kelley said of her decision to kill Martens and Gonzales. I wasnt in my right mind. I could not kill them. It wasnt in me to do it. Kelley also demanded that Martens and Gonzales hand over their cellphones before the attack, and the two complied. Kelley said she fought briefly with Martens, then broke off the fight. I couldnt think straight, she said. I got so tired I couldnt fight no more. Jurors viewed a photo taken by police the night of Victorias death showing Martens with a severe injury in the center of her forehead. Gonzales took the iron away from Kelley and threw it off the second-floor balcony, Gonzales attorney, Stephen Aarons, said in his opening statement this week. Gonzales then jumped off the balcony and ran to a neighbors apartment to call 911, Aarons said. Police arrived shortly after 4 a.m. Aug. 24, 2016, in response to a reported assault and arrested Kelley, Gonzales and Martens. Officers entered Martens apartment and found Victorias burning and dismembered body in a bathtub. Paramedic Elizabeth Hesley testified Friday that she began weeping as she tried to attach cardiac leads to Victorias body and instead found missing limbs and gaping wounds, making it impossible to do so. When I saw the intestines, I started to tear up, Hesley testified. She said she also treated Martens for her head wound as she sat in the back of a police car. Victorias mother appeared to show no emotion and didnt ask about her daughters condition, she said. She had a really flat affect, Hesley said of Martens. She never asked me anything. In about 12 hours of testimony, spread over three days, Kelley said that she had smoked methamphetamine for hours and had become increasingly paranoid in the hours before Victorias death. While she and Victoria were alone in the apartment, Kelley said, an unidentified man entered, asked for Gonzales by his street name, Favo, then strangled Victoria in her bedroom. The unidentified man, who had a Mexican accent, then threatened Kelley and her children and warned that she and Gonzales needed to dispose of the body, Kelley testified. Prosecutors have built much of their case around Kelleys testimony, alleging that she and Gonzales worked together to dismember Victorias body and destroy evidence of the murder. Aarons countered that Kelley alone killed and dismembered Victoria because she was too heavy to carry. All the while, she concealed her actions from Gonzales and Martens, he said. Aarons asked Kelley why she decided to kill Gonzales after he had agreed to help her dispose of Victorias body. I tripped out, Kelley responded. It was just the situation at hand. A neighbor who lived in an apartment downstairs from Martens testified Friday that she heard a loud banging sound followed by screaming and scuffling from the apartment upstairs about 4 a.m. the morning after Victorias death. Sabrina Padilla said she heard a woman screaming no, no, stop, and what sounded like someone being dragged from the bedroom into the kitchen. She also heard a man on the porch say, why are you tripping on me, Jessica. Padilla also teared up as she described how excited Victoria had been the evening before about a planned party to celebrate her 10th birthday, and about her new kitten. Victoria went inside to get her kitten and never came back out, Padilla testified. Aarons also contends that prosecutors offered Kelley a generous plea deal in exchange for her testimony in Gonzales trial. Aarons questioned Kelley about her 2019 plea agreement to a charge of child abuse, recklessly caused, resulting in the death of a child under 12 and other charges. She was sentenced in April to 44 years in prison. Kelley acknowledged that prosecutors agreed to drop murder charges in exchange for her plea of no contest. Aarons noted that a key part of the plea agreement required Kelley to testify in Gonzales trial. Kelley responded, I wanted an opportunity for the truth to come out. Aarons also said that Kelleys plea deal allows her to earn 50% good time, meaning she could get out of prison after serving half her 44-year sentence. She also received credit for several years she has already served in jail, he said. If you get your good behavior time, you can be out in 17 years. Aarons said. Thats a pretty good deal. Kelley responded, It was a pretty good deal, but they couldnt get me for murder because I didnt murder anybody. The unknown man did. Martens, Gonzales and Kelley each were charged in 2016 with first-degree murder in Victorias killing based largely on Martens confession. But in June 2018, 2nd Judicial District Attorney Raul Torrez announced at a news conference that the allegations were based on Martens false admissions. Cellphone records showed that Gonzales and Martens were not in the apartment at the time Victoria was killed, he announced. And at least one DNA profile found on Victorias body belonged to an unidentified man. Based on that evidence, prosecutors filed a fourth indictment charging John Doe with murder, rape, child abuse and other charges. At the 2018 news conference, Torrez also announced that Martens, 40, had pleaded guilty to child abuse, recklessly caused, resulting in the death of a child under 12. She faces 12 to 15 years in prison. No sentencing hearing has been scheduled. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE New Mexico would provide electric vehicle charging stations at 50-mile intervals if not closer along its three interstate roadways, under a plan released Friday by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams administration. Specifically, the plan awaiting federal approval lays out how the state intends to spend roughly $38 million in federal funds over a five-year period in order to make it easier for electric vehicle owners to keep fully charged in the nations fifth-largest state. Lujan Grisham said Friday the expansion of electric vehicle charging stations would reduce New Mexicos greenhouse gas emissions, while also bolstering state tourism efforts. New Mexico is leading the nation in driving the future of greener transportation forward, the governor said in a statement. Whether its a trip across town or across the state, we are using every available tool to ensure that everyone in New Mexico can benefit from electric vehicles. Only a fraction of the cars on New Mexico roads are electric vehicles, but the number has increased by five times since 2016, according to the state Department of Transportation. As of this spring, there were just over 5,000 registered electric vehicles around the state, with most of them owned by residents of Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Cruces. While some electric vehicle owners can charge their cars at home, options have been limited along New Mexico roadways. There are currently 189 publicly available charging stations for electric vehicles statewide, but only eight of those stations meet the basic requirements of a federal program, according to DOT. Those requirements include proximity to an interstate highway and at least four charging connections per station. Meanwhile, at least 11 areas would need to have charging stations installed including around Deming, Hatch and Cimarron to meet the state plans goal of having stations available every 50 miles along the states three interstate roadways. The plan does not cite specific locations for the stations, however, as that would be left up to DOT and utility providers to determine. Meanwhile, questions remain about the capacity of New Mexicos electrical grid to support a broad future expansion of charging stations, especially in rural and economically disadvantaged parts of the state. Based on feedback received while crafting the plan, electric utilities are generally confident in the grids capacity to support near-term electric vehicle charging station deployment, but capacity will become a concern in future years as charging infrastructure and electric vehicles become more ubiquitous, the plan says. In addition, some critics have taken aim at Lujan Grishams recent announcement of $10 million in state funds from a bill approved by the Democratic-controlled Legislature to install more electric vehicle charging stations around New Mexico. Larry Behrens, the communications director for Power the Future, a group that backs extractive industries, described the spending as a green gimmick and said most New Mexicans do not have the money to buy electric vehicles. JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia Russian officials visited an airfield in central Iran at least twice in recent weeks to view weapons-capable drones it is looking to acquire to use in its war against Ukraine, the White House said. The Biden administration released the intelligence as President Joe Biden met Saturday with leaders of six Arab Gulf countries, plus Egypt, Jordan and Iraq for a regional summit. Biden told fellow heads of state at the summit that the United States was committed to the Middle East and will not walk away and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia or Iran. Biden sought to use his appearance at the summit, closing out a four-day trip to the region, to bolster U.S. positioning in the Middle East and knit the region closer together against Iran. Hours before the Gulf Cooperation Council summit, the White House released satellite imagery that indicates Russian officials have twice visited Iran in recent weeks for a showcase of weapons-capable drones it is looking to acquire to use in its war in Ukraine. None of the countries represented at the summit have moved in lockstep with the U.S. to sanction Russia, a key foreign policy priority for the Biden administration. If anything, the United Arab Emirates has emerged as a sort of financial haven for Russian billionaires and their multimillion-dollar yachts. Egypt remains open to Russian tourists. Release of the satellite imagery showing that Russian officials visited Kashan Airfield on June 8 and July 5 to examine the drones could help the administration better tie the relevance of the war to many Arab nations own concerns about Irans nuclear ambitions and other malign activity in the region. A senior Biden administration official, who briefed reporters before the summit, said Moscows efforts to acquire drones from Tehran show that Russia is effectively making a bet on Iran. The administration also released satellite imagery of Shahed-191 and Shahed-129 drones being displayed and in flight on the airfield, while a Russian delegation transport plane was on the ground. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement that the administration has information that the Iranian government is preparing to provide Russia with several hundred UAVs. UAVs are unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones. We assess an official Russian delegation recently received a showcase of Iranian attack-capable UAVs. We are releasing these images captured in June showing Iranian UAVs that the Russian government delegation saw that day, Sullivan added. This suggests ongoing Russian interest in acquiring Iranian attack-capable UAVs. Sullivan said U.S. officials believe the June visit was the first time a Russian delegation has visited this airfield for such a showcase. Irans mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment early Saturday regarding the White Houses assertion. On Friday, Irans Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, in a phone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba, rejected reports on exporting Iranian drones to Russia, calling them baseless. This sort of claims parallel with Bidens visit to occupied Palestine, or Israel, are in direction of political intentions and purposes, the website of Irans Foreign Ministry quoted Amirabdollahian as saying. We oppose any move that could lead to continuation and intensifying conflicts. Biden is looking to strengthen coordination among Middle East allies response to Russias invasion of Ukraine, and what the ongoing conflict means to the region. Many of the Gulf nations Saudi Arabia, in particular have grave concerns about Irans malign activity in the region. Sullivan told reporters earlier this week, before Biden arrived in the region. that the U.S. had determined that Iran was preparing to train Russian forces to use the drones as soon as this month. He argued that Russias deepening an alliance with Iran to kill Ukrainians is something that the whole world should look at. The UAVs that the administration believes Iran is preparing to transfer to Russia are the same weapons that Iran has provided to Houthis in Yemen. Kashan Air Base, located some 190 kilometers (120 miles) south of Tehran, is one of Irans oldest airfields. Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz in 2021 linked Kashan to Irans drone program, alleging that Iran trained militants from Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen to fly drones at the facility. The U.S. intelligence assessment was first reported by CNN. Gambrell reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Associated Press writer Zeke Miller in Washington contributed reporting. Things sure have changed since they were the headliners on Breaking Bad nearly a decade ago. While the cat has been out of the bag awhile now about Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul reprising their iconic characters of Walter White and Jesse Pinkman on an upcoming episode of Better Call Saul, the hit AMC prequel to Breaking Bad, the pair revealed some details about just how secretive their last trip back to Albuquerque was more than a year ago to film their parts for the show, which has just five episodes remaining. The two joked that friend and former castmate Bob Odenkirk, who played their attorney on Breaking Bad and is now the lead character Jimmy McGill, a.k.a. Saul Goodman, on Better Call Saul, has become far more demanding than when they were working so closely with him nearly a decade ago. Odenkirk insisted, Bryan Cranston explained, tongue in cheek. He said, This is my show. This is what you will do. I was like, Wow. Hes really changed. In a wide-ranging interview this past week with the Journal, Cranston and Paul were talking about their planned upcoming visit later this month to Albuquerque the home base for filming and the setting for the past 15 years for both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. The two were complimentary as ever about the city and how it became such a valued and vital character itself in both shows. While Cranston and Paul didnt reveal details of just how their characters might work into the Saul storyline as it wraps up its sixth, and final season, IMDB.com has already updated both actors filmography pages showing they will appear in episode 10 on July 25. That is four days before the pair will have bronze statues installed at the Albuquerque Convention Center (the statues were commissioned in 2019 by show creator Vince Gilligan and donated to the city), and on July 30 the two will be appearing at Isotopes Park to, among other things, host a silent auction of personally donated items from the show with proceeds going to two New Mexico-based charities: the New Mexico Veterans Integration Centers and the Childrens Cancer Fund of New Mexico. Were excited to be back (in Albuquerque). We really are, Paul said. Because the last time we were back, we had to keep it secret, you know? We were locked inside of our rentals. Cranston added details about just how top secret the mission was for their filming of their parts in the show secrets the show later decided to unveil in the spring ahead of the start of the final season. We were asked to keep it a secret forever, Cranston said. We were flown in under the darkness of night. We took this plane and they went to a certain private section of the airport there. And then we took like two steps out of the tarmac and into an SUV. They move us to an Airbnb a duplex. He had the top floor. I had the bottom floor and we were told you cant leave. They were there four days, the duo said, adding all wardrobe checks were done in the home they stayed in and they only left to show up to the site of filming and went straight back when done, even walking laps around the living room for exercise. Its so funny that because this was supposed to be a big surprise, a big secret, Paul said, as he and Cranston chuckled. Then all of a sudden they announced that we were doing it, so why did they keep us in a prison? Seriously, they were just messing with us. In September 2016, coincidentally at an appearance of his own at Isotopes Park on a night the team held a Better Call Saul Night promotion with a jersey featuring Odenkirks face, as the TV attorney, on the front, Odenkirk was asked if he thought Cranston and Paul would ever make an appearance on the prequel. See, I think youre going to see Jesse, Odenkirk said, then reaching back to the characters interactions on Breaking Bad for reference. Jesse knew about Saul. He saw him on a TV commercial, but honestly, it felt like he had somewhat of an understanding of Saul. So, I think theres a better chance wed see Jesse. On the other hand, Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould, the guys who run this show and write it, they go wherever the story want to take them, so if they decide they want to see a scene during the years or story of Breaking Bad, I think they might do such a thing. And then wed see Walter. I think Bryan would be game for that. Noise, Indias leading connected lifestyle tech brand, has today announced the appointment of four senior leaders to accelerate the development of its core brand and business verticals. Rini Goel, Nimisha Prasad, Himanshu Chopra and Kavita Agarwal have been appointed to lead the Brand Marketing, PR & Communication, Technology - Product and Finance domains respectively at Noise. These appointments come as a part of the brand's strategic effort to build a pool of progressive workforce adding to the significant growth to its employee strength. Rini Goel has been appointed as the Brand Marketing Head at Noise, where she will be responsible for spearheading the brand's overall brand marketing strategy across all touchpoints, including digital media and offline. Her role entails communications development , media planning, campaign planning and execution, brand collaborations etc. 2015 MICA pass-out Rini has 7+ years of experience in new product development, communication & brand strategy, sales and profitability with iconic brands like Fastrack and Skybags. Nimisha Prasad has been onboarded as PR & Communication Manager to lead communication strategies for Noise, where she will be responsible for driving advocacy across the brand, product, corporate and leadership communication. With 7 years of experience in the industry, Nimisha specializes in creative product storytelling, brand awareness campaigns, corporate reputation management, and advocacy work. To further strengthen the tech vertical at Noise, Himanshu Chopra has been appointed as the Principal Product Manager who will be working towards making the Noise fit app the go-to app for everything health and fitness. A Computer Science Engineer with an MBA in Marketing from IMT Ghaziabad, Himanshu brings a strong 10+ years of experience in product management and development. Additionally, Kavita Agarwal has been onboarded to head the Financial Planning and Analysis at Noise. With 11 years of experience, Kavita is a qualified Chartered Accountant who will be responsible for developing and defining future financial strategies to generate long-term growth for the organization. Amit Khatri, Co-Founder, Noise, said, "As a brand we always aim at creating a progressive and innovative workplace and onboarding the right people who share our vision and help us grow as a brand is a robust step in this direction. I welcome our new Noisemakers - Rini, Nimisha, Kavita, and Himanshu and congratulate them on their new position. Given their remarkable experience, I'm confident that together, we will make new milestones and touch billions of lives through our innovation. Satyam Joon Head of HR, Noise said I am thrilled to welcome seasoned professionals like Rini, Nimisha, Kavita and Himanshu, who vibe in perfectly with the brands culture, to the Noise family. Their intuitive understanding and domain knowledge will help us propel towards success and grow as an organization.. In the last two quarters, the company has seen significant growth in its employee strength and is expecting it to further increase by 80% by the end of 2022. With the major workforce being millennials and Gen Z, the brand aims at creating an open, progressive, and new-age workplace environment, paving the way for fresh and new-age ideas to flow in. It provides interesting facilities, including recreational areas for employees to de-stress and unwind through the day. Roundup: Difference remain about Iranian nuclear issue as Biden concludes visit to Israel Xinhua) 11:55, July 16, 2022 JERUSALEM, July 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden concluded his visit to Israel on Friday after pledging to curb Iran's nuclear program, but had disagreements with his host, Israel's caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid, about the ways to do so. Biden arrived in Israel on Wednesday, starting his first visit to the Middle East as U.S. president, which also included trips to the West Bank city of Bethlehem and Saudi Arabia on Friday. He was welcomed in Israel, where the Israeli government leaders called on him to take military action against Iran. On Thursday, Biden and Lapid signed the so-called "Jerusalem Declaration," in which the U.S. pledges not to allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon even at the cost of using "all elements of its national power." Under the declaration, Washington affirmed its commitment to work together with allies "to confront Iran's aggression and destabilizing activities, whether advanced directly or through proxies." At a joint press conference after a one-on-one meeting, Lapid expressed growing concerns over Iran's nuclear ambitions and called for stronger U.S. action against it, stressing "in order to protect freedom, sometimes force must be used." For his part, Biden said that he still wishes to give diplomacy a chance to halt Iran's nuclear program, saying a military action would be a "last resort." While acknowledging that Israel is facing "threats," Biden reaffirmed the U.S. "ironclad commitment" to Israel's security. Also on Thursday, Biden convened in Jerusalem a multilateral conference alongside Lapid, with the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi joining remotely. During the conference, the leaders decided to establish a 2-billion-U.S. dollar food corridor between India and the UAE using Israeli technology and capabilities. They also decided to start a 300-megawatt wind and solar energy storage project in India using Israeli, Emirati and U.S. technologies. The virtual meeting marked the first of its kind of the I2U2 forum, which was established in 2021 following the implementation of the Abraham Accords, a series of U.S.-brokered normalization deals that Israel signed in 2020 with the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco. On Friday, Biden traveled to the West Bank to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. In joint statements after the meeting, Biden reaffirmed his support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the afternoon, hours after the Saudi Arabia announced new rules that will allow Israeli commercial planes to fly over the kingdom, Biden departed to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for talks with Saudi officials. He will also participate in a conference with officials from regional countries. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji) President Biden's recent comment at a Palestinian hospital in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel where he compared the Palestinians' situation to the Irish under British rule could be dismissed as a simple gaffe, except that the false analogy (the technical terms is casuistry) is gaining ground in Europe for all the wrong reasons. In simple terms, the Irish have almost nothing in common with the Palestinians not in their history, not in their culture, not in their situation. Yes, the Irish were oppressed by the British, but that does not make them similar to the Palestinians, as if severe oppression were unique to the Palestinians. It makes the Irish similar to much of humanity. Let's go over some facts: 1. The Irish are indigenous to Ireland. They have roots going back thousands of years in Eire. While I am not one to dismiss Palestinian nationality, it does not go back thousands of years. In fact, it is the Jews who go back thousands of years in the Holy Land. In the matter of indigeneity, the Irish are closer to the Jews. 2. The Irish indeed, all of the Celts in general are famous for strong women. The Irish produced Grace O'Malley, the Pirate Queen. The pre-English, indigenous British Celts produced Boudica, the queen who nearly drove the Romans out of Celtic Britain. And the Muslim Arabs? The Muslims mutilate their women with FGM and honor-kill them to keep them terrified and weak. The Jews, on the other hand, honor Deborah, one of their prophetesses, who showed more courage than the warrior Barak. In the case of women, the Irish are closer to the Jews. Jews and Celts produce strong women, while Muslims kill them. 3. And this is a biggie: the Irish really do drink. Jews will drink, albeit moderately. Observant Muslims don't at all. By inspection, the Irish and Jews are closer. This is not laughable. It indicates that the Irish and the Muslim Palestinians have genuinely different worldviews on basic levels. 4. The death tolls are not even close. The Irish have come close to national destruction at the hands of the British twice the first by Oliver Cromwell, the second time by the consequences of British land and economic policies in Ireland during the potato famine. The figures are even more horrific for Ireland, however: a total of 618,000 deaths from fighting and disease out of a total pre-war population of c. 1.5 million, or 41 per cent of the population. No figures are given for transportation to Barbados. Further confirmation of the above figures can be obtained from The Civil War 16421651 by Michael St John Parker[.] The Palestinian death toll from the 194749 war was at a high estimate at most 13,000, almost certainly less essentially less than 1% of the population. Compare that to Ireland's 41% (see above). The Arabs are not even in the same ballpark. On the other hand, the British exclusionary White Paper of 1939 all but stopped immigration into Israel, just when the Jews needed it the most, during World War II. Hitler initially just wanted to deport the Jews. As a result, millions of Jews died. The death of Jews as an indirect result of this British policy exceeded even the levels of devastation to the Irish in numbers (6 million Jews, 618,000 Irish) and approximate the percentages (33% of Jews worldwide/66% of European Jews, 41% of Irish). In death tolls, the Jews and Irish are far more similar, though even the Irish devastation was less. 5. The interference with food was not the same. [The British government] also rejected another boatload of Indian corn already headed for Ireland. Even if one alleges only for argument's sake that Israel committed ethnic cleansing in 194749, that is a far cry from the bloodshed inflicted on the Irish by England, or England's interference with aid during the famine. Contrariwise, Israel does not stop the flow of food into Gaza, as evinced by Gaza's continued population growth. 6. While the British did persecute Catholics, that officially ended in 1829, though severe social discrimination continued. Israel's record may be mixed, but nowhere did Israel treat the Muslims as badly as the English treated the Irish. And frankly, Islam is the most intolerant religion of all. North Africa was once totally Christian. So much for Islamic tolerance. 7. While not diminishing the horrors inflicted on the Irish, their wars were often part of larger struggles. This is not quite as well known, though it should be. The English (who ran the British government) went after not only the Irish, but also the Highland Scots (who were also Gaelic Celts, but Protestant). Almost three quarters of the Highlanders were driven out during the Highland Clearances. The English like to claim it was merely economics, but not when three quarters were driven off. Those who doubt can attend a Highland Games rally in North Carolina and ask about the history. The only thing that the Irish and Palestinians have in common is that both feel persecuted. Every other metric shows more similarity between the Jews and the Irish. Whatever side one takes in the English/Irish debate, or the Israeli/Palestinian debate, the Celts are in no way similar to the Palestinians. Ah! But didn't Ronald Storrs, the first military governor of Palestine, predict that a Jewish state would form "for England a little loyal Jewish Ulster in a sea of potentially hostile Arabism"? It was a stupid statement when it was made. The pro-British Orangemen who garrisoned the northeast of Ireland for Britain were chiefly Lowland (not Highland) Scots. These Lowlanders were themselves chiefly of English, Norman, and Viking ancestry not so much Celtic like the Highlanders and all but indistinguishable from the English. Their loyalty was to be expected. The Jews who settled the Holy Land had no blood connection to England, as the Irgun guerrilla war against the British would later prove. The Balfour Declaration's purpose was to form a "little loyal Jewish Ulster in a sea of potentially hostile Arabism", according to Ronald Storrs, "the first military governor of Palestine since Pontius Pilate" (his words). Not everything went to plan: the Zionist movement fell out with and, in the case of two groups, waged a campaign of guerilla warfare against Britain in the 1940s. Bad analogies produce bad consequences. Just as bad are those who take the bad analogy comparing the Jewish state to Ulster Orangemen and then twist the consequential conclusion to the other extreme. If the Zionists are like Orangemen, then the Irish are like Palestinians. The first premise was false. The conclusion is even worse. A more accurate statement might be: Menachim Begin, a Zionist, fought the British; therefore, comparisons of the Palestinian dynamic to anything in England or Ireland are out of order. This idiocy has taken off among the Palestinians, and even among many of the Irish, who should know better. Some Irish politicians have picked it up. Counter-but-still-erroneous has been taken up by pro-British Orangemen, who might support Israel, but often for the wrong reasons. Thankfully, there are a few Irish people who have emerged out of the propaganda matrix. This site, below, points out the critical major difference between the IRA and the Palestinian cause. [A]t no point [during the campaign against English rule in Northern Ireland] was there a desire to wipe out the United Kingdom. Nor was there ever a stated desire to commit genocide against British people. By contrast, Hamas and Fatah regularly try to outdo each in other in calling for Israel to be wiped off the map. That is it in a nutshell. The Irish wanted freedom and independence from England, not the destruction of England. All analogies of Palestine to Ireland collapse on that critical point. All of this nonsense has been picked up by President Biden. It is horribly adolescent and off base, and superficial at best. Dishonest at worst. No competent historian would buy in to it. Image via Pxhere. Much of the growth in military ethics education and training stems from the flagrant illegal orders and unethical medical conduct brought out during the Nuremberg trials. "Just following orders" would not exonerate a soldier or an officer for complying with direct or tangentially illegal or unethical orders. It was the crimes of Dr. Josef Mengele that galvanized the war crimes tribunal to lay down ten standards with which future physicians must conform when carrying out experiments on human subjects. The principle of voluntary informed consent is to protect the right of the individual to control his own body, be he a prisoner or a front-line soldier. Immunizations required for military service are governed by military regulations. For decades, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)approved immunizations are required for military service boot camp, officer candidate schools, service academies. FDA-approved immunizations or prophylaxes are required when deployment is to a biologically hazardous region (against malaria, parasitic infested waters, etc.) or when conditions of imminent threat exist, such as when an enemy is reported to have deployed anthrax in a combat zone. You can check all of them out here. The president declared: "It is the policy of my administration to halt the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19] ... by relying on the best available data and science-based public health measures." Specifically: As of the date of this order, one of the COVID-19 vaccines, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, also known as Comirnaty, has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and two others, the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine, have been authorized by the FDA for emergency use. Sec. 2 of the executive order mandated coronavirus vaccination for federal employees, negating voluntary informed consent, without explaining the difference between the terms "FDA-approved" and "Emergency Use Authorization." "FDA approval" from the Food and Drug Administration is an independent, scientifically reviewed approval for medical products, drugs, and vaccines. Approval is based on substantial clinical data and evidence; the product is deemed safe, effective, and able to be produced within federal quality standards. Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) is a mechanism used by the FDA to facilitate making products available quickly during a public health emergency, when there is no other adequate and approved medical product available. Did the secretary of defense inform his service members of the difference between FDA approval and EUA? Were service members informed that the FDA suddenly proscribed coronavirus therapeutics, curatives, and prophylaxes before any EUA "vaccines" were released? The secretary of defense memo stated, "Mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 will only use COVID-19 vaccines that receive full licensure from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in accordance with FDA-approved labeling and guidance." The president and DOD knew that only FDA-approved vaccines, therapeutics, curatives, and prophylaxes can be prescribed to service members. They knew that this was the law, but that did not stop them from coercing the men and women of DOD with unproven, untested, and unnecessary EUA "vaccines" when there was an FDA-approved vaccine. In a clear abuse of power, the president also tried to usurp the Constitution and went around the law, declaring that an emergency existed when it did not, and issued bogus OSHA mandates. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the obvious illegal and unethical presidential directive and OSHA workarounds. The DOD mandate, like the OSHA mandate, was an illegal order and worse, to sell an experimental product against their consent, SECDEF Austin "quibbled" with the facts and deceived his service members and, under penalty of loss of job, implied that the EUA gene therapy test inoculation was the biological equivalent of the FDA-approved Comirnaty vaccine. There are no documents to attest that the EUA concoctions are the biological equivalent of the FDA-approved vaccine. In fact, the pharmaceutical companies have been unwilling to reveal the contents of their mRNA EUA "vaccines." The SECDEF pulled a despicable bait-and-switch on all service members and civilian employees. Read carefully how the SECDEF memo quibbled: "Service members voluntarily immunized with a COVID-19 vaccine under FDA Emergency Use Authorization or World Health Organization Emergency Use Listing in accordance with applicable dose requirements prior to, or after, the establishment of this policy are considered fully vaccinated." The implication is the EUA vaccines are the same as the FDA-approved vaccines. If they voluntarily get injected with some COVID-19 EUA vaccine or something not FDA-approved, the DOD will not punish service members for defying the President's executive order. It shouldn't take hours in a lawyer's office to get an approved immunization. Voluntary informed consent required troops to be aware of the legal difference between FDA approval and EUA. DOD took advantage of this discrepancy. This is the responsibility of the secretary of defense. If the White House mandated an FDA-approved vaccine, where is it? Like all FDA-approved medicines necessary for military service, the troops would take that, but not the Wuhan wet market sewer water science experiment the FDA called an EUA vaccine. General Austin should have learned that telling half-truths to gain personal advantage prompted the Air Force Academy to equate quibbling with lying. Quibbling is the unfair and plain evasion of the truth through ambiguous terms. It is the creation of a false impression in the mind of the listener or reader by cleverly wording what is said or written, omitting relevant facts, or telling a partial truth with the intent to deceive or mislead. The White House and DOD documents were cleverly worded, they omitted relevant facts (there is no FDA-approved vaccine in the U.S.), and they told a partial truth ("vaccines" are available under an EUA). Their intention was to deceive or mislead (FDA-approved vaccines are equivalent to EUA vaccines). Service members were not given a choice (wait until the FDA-approved vaccines became available in the U.S.). The president and SECDEF broke the standard of voluntary informed consent. They lied; they didn't have the FDA-approved vaccines, and instead of telling the troops what an EUA "vaccine" is, they coerced service members to take an experimental treatment with erroneous or misleading information with which to make an informed decision. The implication was clear: since the FDA inexplicably prohibited coronavirus therapeutics, curatives, and prophylaxes during the pandemic, service members were forced to take the experimental EUA vaccines with which there was no information or data sheet. The White House and the SECDEF were aware but maliciously violated the service members' voluntary informed consent for political purposes. Noteworthy, coronavirus is not listed or defined in the U.S. Army Field Manual 3-11.9. How could something "so lethal" as a coronavirus, like SARS or MERS or COVID-19, not be a biological agent? Monkeypox is listed, as is anthrax. But not coronavirus. Also, a fact that hardly received any news coverage: "Navy officer used COVID vaccine facts to beat discharge for resisting Biden mandate." Secretary of defense Austin, the service secretaries, and the service chiefs should be impeached for their illegal orders and unethical conduct, misrepresenting unapproved EUA vaccines as the biological equivalent of an FDA-approved vaccine and coercing the troops to get the jab. They violated the whole concept of voluntary informed consent for political purposes. At Nuremberg in 1946, this would have been a war crime. Mark is a retired Marine Corps officer. Image via Pixabay. Most days I like to take a walk around my neighborhood. One day, while going along an unpaved and rather hilly street, I encountered a well dressed woman, who looked up at a house that had four flights of stairs to the front door. She turned to me and said, "The people who live up there must be in really good shape." I replied that maybe they really didn't go out all that often, but they at least had a terrific view of the bay. She then handed me a campaign flyer. She was running for Alameda County superintendent of schools and leafleting the neighborhood. Right off the bat, she told me she was against school closures. I suggested that the problem is that the public schools are hemorrhaging enrollees. And she said that's because of those nasty charter schools. I told her that I was a staunch supporter of vouchers and that the K12 education system would benefit tremendously from an infusion of competition. She replied that many parents are just not sufficiently competent to choose the right school for their children. I thought that unaccountable bureaucrats, who got their jobs mostly because they had otherwise useless social science degrees, were the last people on Earth I would want to decide where a child of mine went to school. After we parted, I realized that this woman was a typical clone of the local political establishment. Her operating concept was that the general public is too stupid to make its own decisions, and so people need enlightened petty tyrants to show them the way. Her flyer said that the teachers' unions were staunchly behind her...and she ultimately won the election. And thus, a whole bunch of union-thug teachers will get to hold onto their jobs...even after they no longer have any students left to teach. What a county! The incumbent, whom my chance encounter defeated, was mostly politically indistinguishable from her but, apparently, was not as favored by the unions. Why? I suppose the degree of opposition to closing nearly empty schools was the deciding factor. Previously, some Oakland teachers went on a hunger strike to keep the nearly empty schools open. Again, why? Writ large here is the "blue city" political culture of professional paternalists. It remains electorally advantageous to assume the public to be so feeble-minded that they need elected "experts" to guide them through the challenges of life. To the non-feeble-minded, however, these elected officials appear to be particularly inept at problem-solving. Heaps of taxpayer money are constantly being thrown at various problems without showing any significant progress. After all, it has become part of the discussion that politicians are averse to solving problems, since persistent public-sector problems are relied on as useful tools with which to control public opinion. In broader perspective, the lady I encountered is a political dinosaur. Things are changing. It is no longer possible for one point of view to dominate the flow of information. Next up, government is being outed as the cause of many of our most familiar problems. However, the blue inner cities remain the last bastion of the "old" way of ward-heeling and poverty-pimping. Hereabouts, even educated middle-class folks still buy in to the "woke" agenda. Fault lines, however, are starting to appear. Current buzz has a lot to do with the left's loss of its demographic edge, most conspicuously demonstrated by the Hispanic shift to the right that seems to have been triggered by the Trump presidency. Add to this the broad disaffection by all kinds of blue-collar "working class" folks that has left the Democrats to be dominated by a white elite, mostly by default. This was actually noticed years ago by the late Democrat polling guru Pat Caddell, who referred to an "elite gentry" when discussing the emerging dominance of environmental issues in the Democrat agenda. Meanwhile, the blue-city ruling clique remains propped up by an engineered culture of dependency. Beyond "free" schools and welfare programs, there are the swarms of arson-prone vagrants encamped in parks and under freeways. They didn't just happen to be there; they were "recruited" by the purposeful creation of a friendly environment. Although the entrenched political establishment still finds these folks useful, the taxpayers are now seething with resentment. Image: tom.arthur via Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. We continually see that people think the problem with old politicians like Biden is their age instead of their policies. More than half of Americans support a maximum age limit for elected officials Biden's main problem is not his age. Biden is a terrible president because he has acquiesced to leftist policies. Robert Gates said Biden has been wrong on all foreign policy decisions throughout his life, so the fact that his decisions are still so wrong is nothing new. His age is not the problem. He has always had trouble making good decisions. Biden has been wrong on every major foreign policy decision in last 4 decades The following are bad policies, no matter what age, sex, or race the politicians are: No one in his right mind would trust Iran and give the Iranians hundreds of billions of dollars, since they are the biggest sponsor of terrorism and pledge death to America and Israel. Obama, Blinken, Ben Rhodes, and Obama weren't old when they lied to America to do that deal. No matter what Iran does, the Biden team seems to want to enrich the tyrants again. It is never a good idea to appease Russia, and Obama repeatedly did just that, and he was young. His policies were bad. On his first year in office, Obama backed out of a deal to put missile shields in Poland and the Czech Republic: President Obama's decision to abandon the missile defense systems in Poland and Czech Republic agreed to by his predecessor has created a firestorm of controversy, with quite different reactions in Russia, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and domestically. The Russians, for one, are quite pleased. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said, "I very much hope that this correct and brave decision will be followed by others." In 2012, as he was running for re-election, he told Russia he would be more flexible if he won. President Barack Obama was caught on camera on Monday assuring outgoing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that he will have "more flexibility" to deal with contentious issues like missile defense after the U.S. presidential election. In 2014, when Russia invaded Ukraine, Obama refused to give the Ukrainians lethal weapons. That certainly pleased Putin but left Ukraine vulnerable. As a U.S. senator, Obama had sponsored aid to cause Ukraine to disarm. Did that make Ukraine safer or more vulnerable? When Obama Left Ukraine Defenseless "The American government official who was at the forefront of disarming Ukraine was none other than Senator Barack Obama. The Daily Mail had the report back in March: As a U.S. senator, Barack Obama won $48 million in federal funding to help Ukraine destroy thousands of tons of guns and ammunition weapons which are now unavailable to the Ukrainian army as it faces down Russian President Vladimir Putin during his invasion of Crimea If anyone wants to see a tremendously stupid policy, it is when Obama and Kerry worked out a deal for Russia to monitor Syria's chemical weapons. That is like the fox guarding the henhouse. Young or old presidents, bad policy is what is important. That is as stupid as the Biden administration using Russia to negotiate the deal with Iran. Having open borders is bad policy. Letting career criminals roam the streets and having no cash bail laws are bad policy. Lawless sanctuary cities and states are bad policy. Ballot-harvesting is bad policy. Blocking voter IDs and calling voter ID racist are bad policy. Destroying the fossil fuel industry and making the U.S. dependent on other countries are bad policy. Asking Saudi Arabia and other countries for oil, when we have so much available, is as stupid and dangerous as if we asked them to defend us from enemies. Energy independence and reasonably priced energy are national security policy. Obamacare was not bad because Democrats wanted everyone to have health insurance. It was bad because it dictatorially ordered Americans to have a certain type of insurance policy. It took away choice and competition and made prices soar. Depending on China for rare earth minerals and for so many of our goods is bad policy, whether you are a Republican or a Democrat. The Great Society and anti-poverty programs of the past fifty years are not bad because they want to help the poor. They are bad because they essentially encouraged the breakup of the family and caused generations to remain dependent on the government. Contrast Trump's policies of smaller government and lower tax rates that were lifting all boats and where poverty rates hit a record low before the pandemic hit. Incomes Hit a Record High and Poverty Reached a Record Low in 2019 It is bad policy to teach that all whites are racists and all other races are oppressed. The purpose is clearly to gin up racial hate and division instead of trying to unite the country. It is bad policy to block school choice and vouchers, which give poor children of all races a better chance to move up. It is bad policy for women to allow men to compete with them and to allow males to expose themselves to them. Women deserve fairness and privacy. Abortion on demand at all stages of pregnancy and refusing to give health care to babies born in botched abortion is bad policy. Moving toward socialism and government control of our lives is bad policy. Paying off student loans for borrowers is bad policy. It punishes those who didn't benefit from the borrowing and essentially rewards higher education institutions that have never had any reason to control their costs. Raising tax rates when lower tax rates generate more growth and more money is bad policy. It is always bad policy to elect or support people like the Bidens or the Clintons, who we know are corrupt and take kickbacks. Their age has nothing to do with their corruption. They were corrupt when they were young, and they are corrupt when they are old. Obama was young, and I believe he was a bad president because his policies were all for bigger government. My opinion of him had nothing to do with his race or anything personal. His stated goal was to remake America. Trump and Reagan were relatively old, and I believe they were the best presidents in my lifetime because they believed in capitalism and the people instead of striving for more power for the government. It would not help the United States to replace old people like Biden, Schumer, and Pelosi with young people like AOC, Beto, Harris, or Mayor Pete because their policies are exactly the same. The media and other Democrats call themselves progressive, but there is nothing progressive about moving toward bigger government and making more people dependent on the government. Those are regressive, oppressive, and depressive policies. The reason they use the term "progressive" to describe themselves is to intentionally mislead the public. Photo credit: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0 license. "Mr. Magoo (known by his full name: J. Quincy Magoo) is a fictional cartoon character created at the UPA animation studio in 1949. Voiced by Jim Backus, Mr. Magoo is an elderly, wealthy, short-statured retiree who gets into a series of comical situations as a result of his extreme near-sightedness, compounded by his stubborn refusal to admit the problem." Poseur Biden (D-Geritol) aptly fits the above description when "extreme near-sightedness" is replaced with "extreme short-sightedness." Also, he's old, a wealthy crook, doesn't work much...and he is unwilling to admit the problems he faces. The comical nature of his situations, and they are to some degree, is tempered by the fact that he holds the presidency of the U.S., however unjustifiably. The Magoo cartoons were high-quality works thrice nominated for Academy Awards and winner of two. Biden's presidency can be described by substituting "high-quality" with "low-quality." "Cartoonish" may be an apt descriptor. Donald J. Trump (R-emarkably great president) had a vision for America. In his Inaugural Address, he said the following: From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this moment on, it's going to be America First. Trump's vision is simple, elegant, and unambiguous. Deaf to the suffering of American citizens, dumberer, and blind to reality, Biden lives in a strange, distorted vision land. Joe sees things differently from the real winner of the 2020 presidential election. The following is from joebiden.com, a page entitled "Highlights from Joe Biden's Vision for America." The web page contains more. We will cover only a couple, as doing all would belabor the point of his visual distortion. I'm a practicing Catholic. I believe faith is a gift. And the first obligation we all have is, "Love your God," the second one is, "Love your neighbor as yourself." ... "Treat people with dignity." Everyone's entitled to dignity, that's a basic tenet in my household. Vice President Joe Biden believes that in America, no matter where you start in life, everyone should be able to live up to their God-given potential. He knows that we need to rebuild the middle class, and this time make sure everybody comes along regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. Treating people with dignity? These are examples of the Biden household's basic-tenet vision of dignity: Labeling a voter, "fat." Calling a woman a "lying, dog-faced" person. Telling a factory worker he is "full of s---." On the same page, under "Respect the dignity of work," Joe also envisions a world where "workers are treated with dignity." Uh-huh. Apparently, he would delegate that to someone else. Cursing a reporter as being a "a stupid son of a b----." Showering with his daughter and screwing her up sexually. Living up to "their God-given potential," eh? As a "practicing Catholic," one would expect that Poseur Magoo would know that "where you start in life" is at a moment called "conception." Apparently, for some in Joe's Vision World, God-given potential equals potential to be aborted to death in and possibly ex utero. Not much of a "start in life." Not a very long period for potential. Build an economy where everyone comes along and we protect the "least of these": Joe is running for President to rebuild the backbone of Americathe middle classand this time to make sure everyone comes along. Joe knows that the middle class isn't a numberit's a set of values. Owning your home. Sending your kids to college. Being able to save and get ahead. It is an interesting vision of the middle class that "everyone comes along." If everyone is middle-class, then, by definition, there are no other classes to sandwich a middle. No one ever said that cognitive skills were Joe's forte. In fact, one professionally and personally in the know says otherwise. Still, Joe's vision remains consistently distorted. Home ownership is dropping. Home affordability is, too. Parents are not sending their kids to college, taxpayers are sending them via so-called "debt forgiveness." And savings are dropping across the board. To his credit, Joe's vision of "making sure everyone comes along" is coming true. Unfortunately, the direction is south, and everyone is being dragged down. The "least of these" appear to be legal American citizens, and Joe has "protected" them with the economic policy equivalent of a colander condom. In Mr. Magoo's cartoon world, "through uncanny streaks of luck, the situation always seems to work itself out for him, leaving him no worse than before." In Poseur Magoo's world i.e., the real world, he is not so lucky. Neither are the American people. Polls consistently show that Joe is like his cognition, like worker income, like Democrat-run cities in decline. And we, American citizens, are worse off, too. Which is the better Vision Thing for the USA: MAGA (Make America Great Again), or MAGOO (Make America Grieve Over and Over)? Image: Marc Nozell via Flickr, CC BY 2.0. According to the House speaker's disclosure report published a few days back, House speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul invested $5 million in 20,000 shares of NVIDIA. NVIDIA is one of the world's leading manufacturers of advanced computer processors, which are highly dependent on semiconductors. Paul was recently in the news for being charged with misdemeanor driving under the influence in connection to a car crash in Northern California. Like every other citizen, Paul Pelosi is allowed to invest his money where he desires. It should be none of anybody's concern. However, in this particular case, there is an obvious problem. The Daily Caller reported that Paul Pelosi's stock purchase occurred prior to a vote on a bill next week that would grant massive subsidies to chip manufacturing. The Senate is scheduled to convene next Tuesday to vote on a bipartisan competition bill that includes $52 billion in grants and subsidies for semiconductor manufacturers and $45 billion to strengthen their supply chain for high-tech products. The bill would also provide chip manufacturers with tax credits for production. The House passed this bill in February. In June, chip manufacturing companies, including NVIDIA, had dispatched a letter to Washington requesting that lawmakers expedite the passage of the bill. The obvious issue is that only a select few, such as Speaker Pelosi, were aware of the contents of the bill and the fact that the bill was heading for a vote in the Senate next week. Her husband purchasing seven figures' worth of stock in a company that stands to gain from the bill seems too much of a coincidence. It most certainly presents a case of conflict of interest for Pelosi, who stands to profit through her husband. Paul Pelosi is known to be an avid investor in the stock market. Both Nancy and Paul Pelosi are believed to be worth at least $46,123,051. This places the House speaker among the 25 richest members of Congress. The vast majority of the couple's wealth is from stocks, options, and investments made by Paul. Last year, Paul Pelosi was in the news for earning more than $5 million after trading stocks in Google parent company Alphabet Inc, Amazon, and Apple, ahead of the House Judiciary Committee's vote to advance five antitrust bills targeting major tech giants. But Paul is far from the only offender. Back in April 2021, a study by the Campaign Legal Center revealed that lawmakers from both parties traded stocks hundreds of times throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Lawmakers invested in sectors whose relevance was elevated owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. They also sold investments from sectors adversely affected by the lockdowns following the pandemic. Another investigation by Business Insider's "Conflicted Congress" project revealed that "49 members of Congress and 182 senior congressional staffers violated laws aimed at preventing insider trading." Nancy Pelosi, who stands to gain through her husband's investments obviously supported the idea of lawmakers trading in stocks. She said, "We are a free market economy. They should be able to participate in that." The leader of the far-left congressional group known as "The Squad," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, rightly condemned the practice. It is absolutely ludicrous that members of Congress can hold and trade individual stock while in office. The access and influence we have should be exercised for the public interest, not our profit. It shouldnt be legal for us to trade individual stock with the info we have. https://t.co/Z3UZej2eC2 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 8, 2021 Sen. Elizabeth Warren suggested passing a law that would ban members of Congress from trading or owning stocks to "clean up the filth on the floor." Pelosi ultimately acquiesced, in words, at least, following intense backlash from her colleagues, some sections of the media, and the general public. Pelosi allowed bipartisan groups of lawmakers to draft bills and hold public hearings. Lawmakers are currently deliberating on several congressional stock-trade bills. No vote on any of the bills has yet to be scheduled. The rules for regular citizens are very different. The former top corporate attorney at Apple Inc pleaded guilty to insider trading charges for what prosecutors called a five-year scheme to trade ahead of the iPhone maker's quarterly earnings announcements. A former corporate communications chief for a New Jersey biotechnology company pleaded guilty to illegal trading based on tips from the company's chief financial officer, who was her boyfriend at the time. Both face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty. Recently, a former Netflix employee was sentenced to 14 months in prison and $10,000 in fines for insider trading. We all know what happened to Martha Stewart when she was accused of charges related to insider trading in 2004. Free-market principles in stock trading work only when everyone has identical access to information. The lawmaker has access to information that the citizen doesn't, which obviously gives him an unfair advantage. It therefore makes sense for all public servants to not to misuse their office to reap profits in the stock market. For those lawmakers who complain that it is unfair to prevent them from stock trading when citizens are permitted to do so, well, this could be a case for term limits. An elected official can serve his tenure of 12 years two terms for senators and six terms for House members. Following their public service, they are free to engage in the trading of stocks. If profit is the sole motivation, they must work in the private sector, where they can invest in stocks without insider privileges and reap profits. These rules must also apply to all government officials in Washington. Last September, during her visit to the U.K., Nancy Pelosi said that in America, capitalism "has not served the economy as well as it should" because "the success of some springs from the exploitation of the workers and springs from the exploitation of the environment and the rest." Pelosi was unknowingly describing her circumstances, where her husband could be exploiting his access to information to reap profits. But the self-righteous seldom notice the irony. Will the GOP, when they have control of the House and the Senate, pass laws that would ban members of the government, including lawmakers, from trading or owning stocks? We know there are many GOP congressional members who also do this, as it is legal, and some may not be taking insider trading benefits. But the ones who do often are loudly against these regulations. We can live in hope. Image: Peggy Marco, Pixabay, Pixabay License. Over the last century, American education has continued to decline, both in academic achievement and moral quality. Probably one of the first to point out this obvious decline was Rudolph Flesch, who, in 1955, wrote Why Johnny Can't Read and What You Can Do about It. Some years later (1981), he wrote a follow-up, Why Johnny Still Can't Read. From that day to this one, many authors have written numerous great books about our educational system. While most of these books have been strong on criticism, few have offered workable solutions. One of the best books on the subject is Crimes of Our Educators: How Utopians Are Using Schools to Destroy America's Children: Utopian dictators like Stalin, Hitler, Pol Pot, and Mao are criminals genocidal psychopaths who have killed more human beings in the last hundred years than any other ideologues in history. In the United States another form of utopians, the "progressives," have tried to destroy traditional America by strategically dumbing down her people. America's future is being crippled on purpose in order to fundamentally transform the nation, its values, and its system of government. American author and veteran educator Samuel Blumenfeld and journalist Alex Newman have taken on the public education establishment as never before and exposed it for the de facto criminal enterprise it is. Dr. James Dobson has suggested that the public education system cannot be saved and that children must be removed from the system and either enrolled in a private school or homeschooled. For many, homeschooling appears to be the better solution, as even many private schools have continued to follow the lead of the government schools. During the past two years, because of the pandemic, many children were locked out of schools and taught at home, forced to learn through distance learning. Parents, who became the teachers at that point, saw what was being taught to their children. Many parents were seriously alarmed. For most of our history as a nation, America has been the greatest nation on the Earth. There is more freedom here than anywhere else. Thousands continue to risk their lives to come here. Historically, many foreigners came here with nothing, only to personally experience the American dream and become very successful. They soon learned that in America, anyone who works hard and saves for the future can be successful. Unfortunately, our kids are being taught that America is an evil place and it is all the fault of the white race. Education is no longer a place of training, but a place of indoctrination. Is it any wonder? Most education in universities, and especially in teacher colleges, has a socialist, America-last philosophy. Teacher candidates who love children and really want to succeed graduate believing that the government is the answer to every problem. Not only that, but our very cultural system, our system of free enterprise, is put down and made to look evil. Four, or even five years is a long time to be in training to be a teacher. Students in those institutions are constantly bombarded with the message that there is something wrong with the American political/economic system. This theme is supported by the textbook publishers, as well as such groups as the National Education Association. Truth: Poor education requires more remedial teachers, which means more union members. There have been many great programs designed to help improve education. In 1984, "A Nation at Risk" was published. What that study basically said is that if a foreign power had done what we have done to ourselves, we would have considered it an act of war. Then there were Goals 2000, No Child Left Behind, and Race to the Top. There were also other studies made of our educational system by private industries. Most of them were able to define the problem, but few offered good solutions. Most conservative commentators have pointed out that spending more money, while it makes teachers and administrators richer, usually does not improve academic achievement. The claims of these commentators have been vocal and loud. However, someone pointed out that spending a lot more money on education has never really been tried. So a judge in Kansas City, Missouri gave the school district the ability to spend all on whatever they deemed to be beneficial. He would see that it was paid for with more taxes. They built an Olympic-size swimming pool, a petting zoo, and other "worthy" projects. Still, the achievement of the students did not improve, and after ten years, the judge just gave up. We are told that these new expensive programs are "for the children," but any thinking person has to recognize that most of the benefit goes to the teachers and administrators and not to the students. In fact, private schools educate children successfully for far less money. All it takes to be successful is a teacher who is grounded in what made America great and who truly loves children and wants to see them succeed. For many years, we worked with Christian schools. We took mothers, who often had little academic training, but who loved children, and most of whom had raised a family, and gave them one week of training and then put them into the classroom. Our children tested far above those in the government schools. Several education commentators have pointed out that many of our young people, who were locked out of their school for almost two years, will never catch up. These are just lost years, almost like being in a coma for that period of time. If the goal of our government schools is to train our young people in our great history and help them be successful as they enter the world of life, then they have been a dismal failure. However, if the goal of these schools is to prepare children to accept more government control and even government tyranny, then these schools have been great successes. Those who serve on local school boards have found that they have little control over either the curricula or the staff. Most of these standards are set by the state Board of Education or the state Department of Education. The solution, then, is for the various state legislatures to take back control of both the academic standards and the standards for those who are to be our teachers. If America is to continue to be the light for the rest of the world, then we must once again regain control of our educational system. Jim Hollingsworth is a graduate of Pensacola Christian College, with a Masters in biblical studies. He has written four books: Climate Change: A Convenient Truth (Second Edition: a book especially for children); Cortez: A Biography (The Conquest of Mexico by Hernando Cortez); The Ancient Culture of the Aztec Empire (the Conquest from the viewpoint of the natives); and Abortion Compassion (a pro-life book on abortion). Image: Pixabay, Pixabay License. There are several entities that saw a benefit in declaring war on fossil fuel: the environmentalists who are so historically illiterate that they believe that a world without fossil fuels will be a bucolic paradise rather than a Hobbesian nightmare; the leftists who want to break the West to rebuild it as a socialist paradise; the Great Reset/New World Order crowd, which envisions happy, possession-free serfs; and the Chinese, who foresee a bloodless conquest of the West, which, believe me, will not be anybody's paradise. While the winner among these groups isn't clear, the loser is coming into focus: ordinary people across the Western world. The latest example comes from Germany. In 2018, President Trump warned Germany, which was proudly shutting down its own coal production and refineries, not to become dependent on Russia's oil and gas: Reliance on a single foreign supplier can leave a nation vulnerable to extortion and intimidation. That is why we congratulate European states, such as Poland, for leading the construction of a Baltic pipeline so that nations are not dependent on Russia to meet their energy needs. Germany will become totally dependent on Russian energy if it does not immediately change course. Germany and other European countries, basking in Greta Thunberg's approval and wallowing in their virtue, sneered at Trump's words and went their own way. And then, in 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. There is no "I told you so" big enough to encompass Trump's prescience. Image: What the Green New Deal will really look like (Van Gogh's Peasant woman cooking by fireplace). In Germany, reports ZeroHedge, a disaster is unfolding: German energy giant and distressed nat gas utility Uniper, which is among the companies most exposed to Russian natural gas, has started using gas it was storing for the winter after Russia cut deliveries to Europe, increasing pressure on Berlin as the German energy giant needs to be rescued "in a few days." The country's top buyer of Russian gas started withdrawing fuel from storage sites to supply its customers, the company said in a statement to Bloomberg on Friday. The drawdowns, which began on Monday, will also help the company to save some cash as it has been forced to pay up for gas in the spot market. Meanwhile, flows through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline remain shut for maintenance. Harald Seegatz, deputy chairman of the supervisory board, said that Uniper needs urgent help, risking insolvency within days. "We are currently reducing our own gas volumes in our storage facilities in order to supply our customers with gas and to secure Uniper's liquidity," the company said. And judging by the flatlining of German gas storage in inventory, Uniper is not alone in draining reserves. "We cannot wait for weeks to do something," Seegatz told Bloomberg in a phone interview. "That would have a huge impact on the company and also on the employees. The government said it wants to avoid this situation, but the fact is that we cannot lose time." In other words, Germany is facing a total industrial collapse; meanwhile, the media continues to repeat the increasingly more laughable propaganda that Putin is losing the war. (Go to the link to see the stunning charts.) My friend Wolf Howling has put together a list of the disasters unfolding across the world Holland, Sri Lanka, Ghana thanks to naive governments or opportunistic elites who threw all their eggs into the green energy basket. Obama was willing to do that to America, but Trump gave us a four-year respite. Now the Democrats are again trying to suck us back into a pre-modern time, although it's unclear whether our ultimate overlords will be homegrown socialists, New World Order elites, or the Chinese. (The environmentalists are useless; they're part of the wrecking ball, not part of the next phase.) Even though Congress refused to sign on to the madness of the Green New Deal, Biden's rogue administrative state is going full speed ahead. If you want to understand the massive fraud that's being foisted upon us by multiple groups, all anxious to end the West's centuries of dominance and, especially, the prosperous Pax Americana, take the time to read the too-little-heralded testimony that William Happer and Richard Lindzen gave in Congress last month. We are the victims of an enormous con that threatens to throw the world into darkness and we're currently beginning the very last battle in this sustained war. Mental health in the U.S. is demonstrably degenerating. We older adults clearly see the country being torn apart. Our youths, "educated" by a broken system, over-reliant on social media, prescribed psych drugs, ingesting cannabis, and immersed in a fake new "reality" don't even know it's happening. Those in charge promote and magnify the basest of human instincts. We are becoming inured to an ugly, nightmare-like "normal" that barely resembles its actually normal predecessor. We glorify racial division and hate through "equity," grungy homeless encampments are ubiquitous, sexual deviance is encouraged, and climate change and COVID are excuses for shuttering freedom. Our government and the media are taking us for a ride. There is intention in this rending of our country's values, with the goal, I think, being to destroy a free society. This travesty is being ruthlessly enacted by those in power, both at home and among the "global elite" cadre. They seek ultimate power and lots of money. Our elites blithely erase historical achievements to further their nefarious goals. They elevate the bizarre and denigrate or tear down all else. There are myriad examples. Recasting historical heroes as pariahs. Intentionally destroying our energy grid and paralyzing trade and freedom of movement. The heavy boot of COVID mismanagement, taking liberty, destroying health, and rendering small businesspeople penniless. Borders open to a drug-running, uneducated, immoral horde, all shuttled to our cities and countryside. Denying immutable genetic realities by pretending that male and female are meaningless constructs. There are examples everywhere in our society. Each aberrance hastens chaos. If the next generation is taught to believe all it is fed, it will be lost. Let me say that another way: I believe that the systematic destruction of childhood norms is the most destabilizing and dangerous manifestation of a wanton power-grab. It is proving very effective. Young human minds are malleable and impressionable, and stable, commonsense parental and societal values should anchor children as they navigate the obstacle courses of childhood and puberty to become self-respecting, productive adults. With our current extreme values shift, a developing mind can hold on to nothing. We are casting our children adrift in a sea of deliberately constructed psy-ops garbage meant to unmoor them, the better to recast and manipulate their minds. It's a more sophisticated, but no less deadly in the long run, version of the type of "training" Boko Haram used with African youths, turning them into murder machines. Image: An Oregon classroom (cropped). Libs of TikTok screen grab. The first step has been to wipe away all previously held concepts of ethics and morality. How is an unformed mind, a child just figuring out who he is, expected to winnow truth from the sludge he's being fed, that he's seeing all around him? Now it's expected, for example, that if Jimmy likes to play with girls, he must secretly be a girl, trapped in the "wrong" body. Instead of simply enjoying a childhood of self-discovery, most likely to grow out of that phase naturally, Jimmy, following the examples before him, so decides at age 8 that he must become Jenny. Parents and pediatricians are encouraging this. The damage then spreads further. The other parents at this child's school must explain to their inquisitive children that what is happening is "normal" and that their friend was "misgendered." Suddenly, you have a rash of vulnerable children taking puberty-blockers, denying their own developing bodies, and proceeding on to horrendous surgical interventions that will destroy, rather than enhance, their lives. How many parents know at least one child in their kids' elementary or secondary school who exemplifies this new trend, opening the pathway for others to follow? Destabilized children become tortured adults. Add the current "norm" of psych drugs and cannabis, videogame immersion, and social media rather than play dates and outdoor activity, and you create trouble. Every school shooting has been perpetrated by a "misfit" child. Each shooting was an extreme cry for help from a lost, angry soul. It had nothing to do with the gun, but, instead, manifests horribly the mental anguish brought about by our societal abdication of simple, commonsense rules for raising healthy children. As for solutions, there are no easy ones, but there's a great unraveling that must take place. We must start by pulling the threads of the fabric of this new society so that we can re-weave them into something more stable. We need the bravery to follow the great examples presented at some school board meetings, loudly saying "no" to what we know is wrong. A multitude of us, not just a few. We need a return to God not necessarily religion as it is now practiced, because increasingly, religious bodies have espoused, and are preaching, the same woke drivel. We need to remember reality, to teach our children the beauty of nature, music, art, and the richness of history. Parents need to move forcefully to reconnect their children's schools with real education and vote out the monsters. We cannot just "go along." It will doom us all. Today in history, on July 16, 1212, an epic battle which the Islamic State still vows vengeance for took place between Christians and Muslims, and presaged the demise of Islam in Spain, five hundred years after Muhammad's followers first invaded and subjugated that nation beginning in 711. From the start, a small pocket of Christian resistance remained in the northwest of Spain; from this "mustard seed" the Reconquistathe Christian reconquest of Spain from Islamspread out. Century after century, the Christians made slow advances south, until they had reclaimed nearly the northern half of Spain. By the early thirteenth century, the Muslims, under Almohad caliph Muhammad al-Nasir, decided enough was enough. They marshalled one of the largest armies ever to march on Spanish soil, intent on extirpating Christianity by fire and sword. In a widely circulated letter attributed to the caliph himself, Muhammad declared that all Christians must "submit to our empire and convert to our [sharia] law." Otherwise, "all those who adore the sign of the cross ... will feel our scimitars." Pope Innocent III responded by proclaiming a crusade and calling on the Christians of Spain to unite and fight "against the enemies of the cross of the Lord who not only aspire to the destruction of the Spains, but also threatened to vent their rage on Christ's faithful in other lands and, if they can which God forbid oppress the Christian name." Troubadours everywhere sought to rile Christians: "Saladin took Jerusalem," they sang in verse, and "now the king of Morocco announces that he will fight against all the kings of the Christians with his treacherous Andalusians and Arabs," who "in their pride think the world belongs to them." The religious divide was heightened by a racial one: "Firm in the faith, let us not abandon our heritage to the black dogs from oversea." On July 14, the Christian and Muslim armies finally reached and camped at Las Navas de Tolosa, where the fate of Spain would be decided. The army Caliph Muhammad headed "was a very large, heterogeneous force," writes Dario Fernandez-Morera, "made up of Berbers, tough black slave warriors (the imesebelen, who were chained together as an unbreakable guard around the Almohad caliph's tent), Arabs, Turkic mounted archers, Andalusian Muslim levies ... mujahidin (volunteer religious fighters jihadists from all over the Islamic world), and even Christian mercenaries and defectors." The two forces could not have looked any more different: most of the approximately twelve thousand Spaniards were heavily armored; knights carried three-foot-long double-sided swords. In comparison, most of the African Muslims were near naked, their shields made of hippo hides. But the Muslims' numbers thirty thousand and unbridled ferocity made up for it. The Christians spent July 15, a Sunday, recuperating and preparing, including spiritually. On their knees, tearful men beat their chests and implored God for strength. Militant clergymen all of whom were determined "to rip from the hands of the Muslims the land they held to the injury of the Christian name" roamed the camp, administered the Eucharist, heard the confessions of and exhorted the crusaders to fight with all their might. Then, about midnight, "the voice of exultation and confession," wrote a participant, "sounded in the Christian tents and the voice of the herald summoned all to arm themselves for the Lord's battle." Looking on the enemy hordes arrayed against them, Alfonso VIII of Castile, the supreme leader of the Christian coalition, grew dismal: "Archbishop," he addressed Rodrigo of Toledo, who stood beside him, "here we will die," though a "death in such circumstances is not unworthy." "If it please God," Rodrigo responded, "let it not be death, but the crown of victory; but if it should please God otherwise, we are all prepared to die together with you." With the crack of dawn, battle commenced on July 16. For long it was something of a stalemate. "Those lined up in the first ranks discovered that the Moors were ready for battle," writes an eyewitness: They attacked, fighting against one another, hand-to-hand, with lances, swords, and battle-axes; there was no room for archers. The Christians pressed on; the Moors repelled them; the crashing and tumult of arms was heard. The battle was joined, but neither side was overcome, although at times they pushed back the enemy, and at other times they were driven back by the enemy. For every Muslim line the Christians broke through, others instantly formed, so great were the ranks of Islam. "At one point certain wretched Christians who were retreating and fleeing cried out that the Christians were overcome." When King Alfonso "heard that cry of doom," he and his knights "hastened quickly up the hill where the force of the battle was." "Then we," Alfonso continues, "realizing that the fighting was becoming impossible for them [retreating Spaniards], started a cavalry charge, the cross of the Lord going before [us] and our banner with its image of the holy Virgin and her Son imposed upon our device." They fought valiantly, but the Africans continued to close in on them. Undeterred and now fighting like berserkers, the native sons of Spain finally broke through the Muslim center, slaughtering "a great multitude of them with the sword of the cross." Sancho VII, the nearly seven-foot-tall giant king of Navarre, followed by his men, was first to bulldoze through and rout the African slave soldiers chained around the caliph's tent. Instantly mounting a horse, Muhammad "turned tail and fled. His men were killed and slaughtered in droves, and the site of the camp and the tents of the Moors became the tombs of the fallen. ... In this way the battle of the Lord was triumphantly won, by God alone and through God alone," concluded the victorious king, Alfonso VIII of Castile. Las Navas de Tolosa was seen as a miracle by pope and peasant. Not only was the full might of the hitherto unbeatable Almohad caliphate decimated, but whereas tens of thousands of Muslims died, only some two thousand Christians mostly the warrior-monks of the military orders who were always wherever fighting was thickest perished. More importantly, it ushered in the liberation of Spain from Islam, as Muslim kingdoms in southern Spain came to fall one by one to the sword of the Reconquista, particularly at the hands of Alfonso's grandson, Saint Ferdinand, so that, by 1248, only the remote kingdom of Granada, at the southernmost tip of Spain, remained to Islam and it was a tributary of Castile. Indeed, as an indicator of the importance of the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, for centuries thereafter, today, July 16, was celebrated as the "Triumph of the Holy Cross" in the Spanish calendar, until the reforms following the Second Vatican Council abolished it in keeping with the spirit of the new age of historical amnesia. The above account was excerpted from the author's book, Sword and Scimitar: Fourteen Centuries of War between Islam and the West. Image via Max Pixel. (ANSA) - ROME, JUL 15 - The Bank of Italy said Friday that it expects Italy's GDP to increase by 3.2% this year. It said that the economy grew by about 0.5% in the second quarter of this year after just making it into positive territory in the first. The central bank said consumer spending had been boosted by the relaxation of Italy's COVID-19-prevention measures. But it added that the growth forecast would be under 1% for 2022 if Russia cut off gas supplies to Italy and would fall by almost two percentage points next year before expanding again in 2024. (ANSA). A group of university students have launched a rocket 16,000ft into the air from a moor in Scotland, as they attempt to one day cross the boundary of space. On Saturday evening, a rocket named Nebula blasted off from Fairlie Moore in North Ayrshire after a nerve-wracking effort to prepare it as a launch deadline approached. It was a test flight for parts which will one day leave the Earths atmosphere and bring the rocket back down to the ground. Imperial College Londons Karman Space Programme hopes to become the first university team to launch a reusable rocket into space. Remember how #OurImperial students are hoping to be the worlds first university team to launch a reusable rocket into space? Well, the first test rocket launch is TODAY in Scotland! Good luck to the Karman Space Programme team and follow us for updates! pic.twitter.com/wYUL1O47Kg Imperial College London (@imperialcollege) July 16, 2022 The project is named after the Karman line, the internationally recognised boundary to space, roughly 100km above sea level. Powered by solid rocket propellant, the 2.2m long Nebula rocket was designed and built by the university team. However, they had to fight against time as they tried to assemble their rocket on the remote moor. Difficulties in preparing it for flight meant their plans to launch were delayed for several hours. Students from Imperial College Londons Karman Space Programme (Fraser Cameron/Imperial College London) With minutes to go until the officially-approved launch window closed, it finally took off from the moor to cheers of joy from dozens of students. Nebula tested avionics and telemetry systems which the team aim to use on future rockets which will go beyond the Earths atmosphere. The student-led team ultimately hope to build a nine metre-long rocket which will be powered by ethanol and nitrous oxide. Nebulas nosecone separated earlier than planned and the parachutes which were meant to bring it down to ground gently did not deploy properly. The operations lead for the Nebula launch was Dyuti Chakraborty, 19, who said they still gathered important data about how the rocket functioned. The rocket taking off (Fraser Cameron/Imperial College London) After the launch, she said: I think everyone is ecstatic and just so relieved that we could do it. Weve been on this rocket for a very long time and for many of us its our first rocket that weve ever designed or made. She added: Its been quite a nerve-wracking couple of days really. Travelling all the way up to Scotland from London, doing all the tests, coming down to launch today. Its been one of those days where every minute could change what we were going to do. So it doesnt surprise me that we had five minutes left of the launch window, and launched. Ahead of the launch, the projects deputy leader Sachin Solanki said: There is a bit of nerves going around but theres more a sense of confidence. Weve been working on this project for just under a year. There have been a lot of hours put in, a lot of late nights. Everyones confident in the technology weve developed, confident in our rocket, confident in our engineering. But everyones got the butterflies in their stomach. Mr Solanki added: I think if you start something you should finish it. What were trying to do is very ambitious. If everyone is determined they should be able to achieve that goal. Around 50 students are involved in the project and they plan to cross the Karman line with future versions of their rocket by 2024. Sir Tony Blair has issued a rallying call to Western nations to come together to develop a coherent strategy to counter the rise of China as the worlds second superpower. Delivering the annual Ditchley lecture the former prime minister called for a policy towards Beijing of strength plus engagement as he warned the era of Western political and economic dominance was coming to an end. He said Western powers needed to increase their defence spending in order to maintain their military superiority while extending their soft power by building ties with developing nations. At the same time they needed urgently to end the craziness in their domestic politics and to restore reason and strategy. How did Britain ever reach a point where Nigel Farage and Jeremy Corbyn came for a short but consequential time to shape our politics? Or America to a place where whether you got vaccinated denoted political allegiance? he said. The craziness in our own politics has to stop. We cant afford the luxury of indulging fantasy. We need to put reason and strategy back in the saddle. And we need to do so with urgency. On China, Sir Tony said that it had already caught up with the United States in many fields of technology, while President Xi Jinping had made no secret of his ambition to return Taiwan to Beijings rule. At the same time, President Vladimir Putins brutal and unjustified invasion of Ukraine showed they could no longer automatically expect major world powers to abide by accepted international norms. As a result of the actions of Putin, we cannot rely on the Chinese leadership to behave in the way we would consider rational, he said. Dont misunderstand me. I am not saying in the near term, that China would attempt to take Taiwan by force. But we cant base our policy on the certainty that it wouldnt. And even leaving to the side Taiwan, the reality is China under Xis leadership is competing for influence and doing so aggressively. He said Beijing would compete not just for power but against our system, our way of governing and living and that the West needed to be strong enough to defend its systems and values. The biggest geo-political change of this century will come from China not Russia, he said. We are coming to the end of Western political and economic dominance. The world is going to be at least bi-polar and possibly multi-polar. It is the first time in modern history that the East can be on equal terms with the West. With China as well as countries such as Russia, Turkey and Iran pouring resources into the developing world while building strong defence and political links, Sir Tony said it was essential the West did not forget the importance of soft power. We have a great opportunity. Developing countries prefer Western business. Theyre much more sceptical now of Chinese contracting than a decade ago. They admire the Western system more than we realise, he said. Elon Musk recently said that a special election in Texas this year was the first time I ever voted Republican. But his political evolution, according to a Yahoo Finance review, isn't quite so simple. The Tesla (TSLA) CEO's political views and allegiances have moved back and forth across the political spectrum in seemingly haphazard ways many, many times over the years. While 2022 may be the first time Musk says he marked his ballot for a Republican, he recorded his first federal political donation back in 2003. That $2,000 check went to Republican George W. Bush, according to Federal Election Commission records. In the intervening years, Musk has signaled support for a dizzying array of figures ranging from Barack Obama to Marco Rubio to Andrew Yang to Margaret Thatcher to even Kanye West. Musks history suggests that while he may have currently allied himself with Republicans, that could change again in a hurry. Its a point underscored by Musk himself in recent days when even as he allies with the GOP he is feuding with Donald Trump and recently asked the former president to hang up his hat & sail into the sunset. Musk is also of course gearing up for a court fight with Twitter (TWTR) as the social media company prepares to go to a Delaware court to force Musk to stick to his agreement to buy it for $44 billion. Musk's political leanings have become a flashpoint in the saga, especially after Musk suggested he might let Trump reinstate his account if the deal went through. Half Republican, half Democrat, if you will Musk's 2003 check to Bush came after a few donations to local politicians in California who represented both parties. As the SpaceX CEO became more interested in national politics, he was soon taking the same approach. In 2004 he sent along some money to John Kerry, Bushs opponent. It was also in 2004 that Musk become involved with Tesla, rising to become the electric car-makers CEO and a prominent face for clean energy. Musk's political positions have belied any easy categorization. At various points over the years, Musk has called himself a socialist (jokingly, he says), while he also says that he opposes government subsidies (after his company benefited handsomely from them). In 2020, he waded into social issues by tweeting that pronouns suck, which his then-partner said represented hate. No more political comments for me now that I've shot off both my feet. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 9, 2013 Perhaps the only constant over the years is Musks desire not to ally himself permanently with any political ideology. He described himself as "half Republican, half Democrat, if you will" in 2014 and. In 2021 he claimed "I would prefer to stay out of politics," especially when it came to hot-button social issues. For many years, largely due to his position atop the country largest EV marker, Musk was seen as more of an ally of Democrats even as he and Tesla's own political action committee continued to fund politicians in both parties. "In order to have your voice be heard in Washington, you have to make some little contribution," Musk told HuffPost in 2013. Then-president Barack Obama speaks to Elon Musk during a tour of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida in 2010. (REUTERS/Jim Young) Musk continued to insist he was a moderate even as he publicly endorsed Hillary Clinton in 2016, saying that Trump "doesnt seem to have the sort of character that reflects well on the United States. A 'registered independent' After Trump's election, Musk's relationship with the White House was hot and cold. Musk visited Trump Tower after Trump's victory and then become one of the first visitors to see the newly inaugurated president at the White House. He was there on Jan. 23, 2017 for a meeting of manufacturing executives. Musk was back for a second visit just a few days later. President Donald Trump greets Elon Musk before a policy and strategy forum at the White House on February 3, 2017 as Trump advisors Steve Bannon (L) and Jared Kushner (R) look on. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) But by June, Musk cut many of his ties after Trump pulled the U.S. from the Paris climate deal. That led to a few years where Musk mused about being a socialist and seemed to endorse high taxes in addition to his tweeted support of Andrew Yang. Things appeared to shift again during the COVID-19 pandemic as Musk became an increasingly outspoken critic of pandemic lockdowns. He publicly thanked Trump for saying that a Tesla factory should re-open, and he moved himself and Tesla to Texas in 2021. It was also that year that Musk took to sending juvenile and often incredibly crude tweets to mock Democratic politicians from President Biden and his family to Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. The barrage continued earlier this week with a much-criticized tweet attacking Bidens son, Hunter. Musk has also been critical of$ Biden on policy as the president has touted a range of companies for their green efforts but rarely mentions Tesla. It has now been over 20 months since the FEC last recorded a donation from Musk to a Democrat and, for now at least, Musk says he is leaning towards supporting Ron DeSantis in 2024. Ben Werschkul is a writer and producer for Yahoo Finance in Washington, DC. Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, LinkedIn, YouTube, and reddit. Sunday is National Ice Cream Day and just in time, Google Maps has come out with the best-rated ice cream shops in South Carolina. And none are in the Midlands! Fans of IceCream Taco in Lexington might have a thing or two to say about that, since the newly opened shop was named winner of The States 2022 Ice Cream Poll from a cast of 21 competitors. But Google said its data shows two shops on opposite side of the state share the title Stellas Homemade Ice Cream in Murrells Inlet and Mama Raes Ice Cream Shoppe in Pendleton. Stellas was drawn into a legal battle involving another Myrtle Beach ice cream shop owned by the same person but that truly has nothing to do with how much people love Stellas homemade ice cream. On Saturday, Stellas is having a special for pets. The announcement on Facebook says, Dont fur-get about the Paw-some Stella-bration THIS Saturday from 3-6! Games, music, TREATS and more! And earlier this month, they announced a new flavor, which they say is sponsored by Horry Countys finest!: Horry County Police Department, Ahem, its coffee and donuts ice cream. Mama Raes, meanwhile, about 26 miles southwest of Greenville, is run by Mama Rae, supported by Baby Rae and Mini Rae, according to its website, plus 10 or so others not named Rae. Its tagline is Tiny Building...Big Scoop! and its Facebook page shows huge lines of people waiting outside for that big scoop. They also have a feature where they pick a name and if its yours you get a free scoop. Friday was Samuel. The announcement said, if you see this name is a repeat, its all good! These names are not generated by a machine, just a middle aged woman who can rap Ice Ice Baby word for word yet cant remember why she walked into a room. Stellas garnered 148 reviews, Mama Rae 238, and both had an average rating of 4.92. This ice cream business is tough competition the 10th place shop N the Midst Ice Cream in Seneca had an average rating of 4.8. Two attracted a huge number of reviews No. 6 Meyers Ice Cream Parlor in Surfside Beach with 1,894 reviews and a 4.83 rating and No. 8 Ice Cream Station in Simpsonville, 1,265 reviews, 4.82 rating. Others in the top 10 were 3 Hounis Ice Cream in Greenville, 4 Good Karma Ice Cream in Easley, 5 Clares Creamery in Greenville, tied with Meyers at 6th Ellas in North Myrtle Beach and tied with Ice Cream Station at 8 55 Exchange in Clemson. Google Maps found the most searched local ice cream parlor were Off Track Ice Cream in Charleston followed by Hilton Head Ice Cream and Nonna Maries Gelato & Coffee Bar, both in Hilton Head. WASHINGTON President Joe Biden is abandoning plans to nominate a conservative, anti-abortion attorney as a federal judge in Kentucky, with the White House citing opposition from a surprising source: Republican Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. The White House's retreat from its planned nomination of attorney Chad Meredith in what was a purported deal with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell follows a strong backlash from Democrats and progressives furious that Biden would choose a Federalist Society member who has argued against abortion access to fill a vacancy on the bench. In considering potential District Court nominees, the White House learned that Sen. Rand Paul will not return a blue slip on Chad Meredith," Andrew Bates, White House deputy press secretary, said Friday. "Therefore, the White House will not nominate Mr. Meredith. More: 'It wouldnt be my choice for judge': Senate Democrats slam Biden's planned anti-abortion pick President Joe Biden abandoned plans Friday to nominate Chad Meredith, a conservative anti-abortion attorney, to fill a federal court vacancy in Kentucky. Paul could not be immediately reached for comment. Traditionally, home-state senators return what's known as a "blue slip" to indicate support for federal nominees for district judges. Republicans abandoned the "blue slip" practice for appeals court judges during the Trump administration but kept it for district court judges. Democrats have kept the same practice. Chad Meredith Were pleased that the Biden administration made this decision its the right call, NARAL Pro-Choice America President Mini Timmaraju said in a statement. With abortion rights and access on the line in Kentucky and across the country, it is absolutely essential that all judges defend and uphold our fundamental rights and freedoms, including reproductive freedom. As first reported exclusively by The Courier Journal, a White House official informed Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's office in a June 23 email that it planned to nominate Meredith the next day to a U.S. District Court judgeship in Kentucky's Eastern District. The next morning, however, the U.S. Supreme Court released its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to abortion and sending shock waves across the nation. Meredith's intended nomination was not announced or submitted. U.S. District Judge Karen K. Caldwell of Kentucky Eastern District notified the White House on June 22 that she was taking senior status and would vacate her seat but her intended vacancy was not published online until July 1. Abortion-rights groups called the potential nomination "unacceptable" and demanded Biden not move ahead with it. Several Senate Democrats this week said they would vote against a Meredith nomination, raising the prospects of the presidents own party blocking the pick if he moved forward. The New York Times first reported on the White House abandoning the Meredith nomination. McConnell told the New York Times "there was no deal" with Biden to trade a Meredith nomination for other considerations in the chamber, calling the president's willingness to nominate his favored conservative judge the kind of collegiality senators used to display. "This was a personal friendship gesture," McConnell added. McConnell also said he was "very surprised" that Paul expressed his opposition to a Meredith nomination. Since the June 23 email, Biden has formally nominated 21 individuals for federal judicial vacancies but none of them Meredith in a rush to get more judges confirmed before the November midterm elections when Democrats risk losing control of the Senate. More: Exclusive: Email shows Biden was set to nominate anti-abortion GOP judge on day of Supreme Court Roe ruling Criticism from the left over the Meredith pick came as Biden faced outcries from progressives demanding bolder action to ensure abortion access after the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe. Beshear, a Democrat, called on Biden to rescind Meredith's name. U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Ky., expressed outrage with the pick, saying that Biden must have worked a deal with McConnell so he wouldn't hold up future White House nominations. Over the past three weeks, the White House repeatedly declined to discuss the status of the Meredith nomination or whether Biden had a deal with McConnell. "We have not received any update from the White House about a nomination that, if made, would be indefensible," Beshear said Thursday. McConnell had refused to talk about Meredith's potential nomination, but a spokesman dismissed talk of a deal as "false information." Meredith, 40, served as counsel to former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin and solicitor general for Attorney General Daniel Cameron. Meredith defended a 2017 Kentucky abortion law requiring doctors who perform abortions to first perform an ultrasound and describe the image to the patient. He lost at a trial in federal court but the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals later upheld the statute. Bevin administration documents showed Meredith was one of Bevin's general counsel staff to give recommendations to the governor on whether certain applicants deserve clemency, with one suggesting he worked on one of the most controversial applicants, Patrick Baker, pardoned for killing a man and later retried and convicted in a federal murder charge, then sentenced to 39 years in prison. But McConnell told the New York Times the FBI background check done in preparation for the nomination "confirmed he had nothing to do with it," he said of the pardons. "He would not have cleared the background check if that had been a problem," Robert Steurer, McConnell's spokesman, told The Courier Journal Saturday. Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden abandons plan to nominate anti-abortion federal judge President Joe Biden will not nominate conservative Western Kentucky attorney Chad Meredith for a federal judicial post, the White House said Friday. In considering potential District Court nominees, the White House learned that Senator Rand Paul will not return a blue slip on Chad Meredith. Therefore, the White House will not nominate Mr. Meredith, White House spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement. Word spread a few weeks ago that Biden planned to nominate Meredith for the U.S. district judges position for the Eastern District of Kentucky that would be created by Judge Karen Caldwells decision to take senior status. Pauls office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Sen. Mitch McConnell told the New York Times in an interview published Friday evening that he had asked Biden to nominate Meredith as a personal favor and said Pauls position on the nomination was utterly pointless. The net result of this is it has prevented me from getting my kind of judge out of a liberal Democratic president, he was quoted as saying. McConnell reportedly told the newspaper that he had not offered anything to Biden in exchange for the nomination and said that Bidens agreement to it would have represented a personal friendship gesture. Merediths potential nomination had roiled Democrats including Gov. Andy Beshear, who called the potential nomination indefensible, in light of his possible involvement in a series of pardons granted by former Gov. Matt Bevin. McConnell said in the New York Times interview that an FBI background check conducted as part of the nomination process showed that Meredith had nothing to do with the pardons. Meredith is a native of Leitchfield and a graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Law who has clerked for a district and circuit judge and is a member of the Federalist Society. His father is state Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield. BREAKING: Chad Meredith wont be a federal judge. We spoke up, and made everyone listen. But lets be clear, the ONLY reason Rand Paul opposed McConnells anti-humanity, anti-abortion judge was so he could appoint his own. This is a petty power game. Both of them need to go. Charles Booker (@Booker4KY) July 15, 2022 In alleged deal with McConnell on Ky. judgeship, Joe Biden is our Charlie Brown president If retired conductor Doug Meyer has his way, a gleaming five-story performing arts center complete with a rooftop terrace, retail spaces and two theaters could one day greet visitors in downtown State College in an effort to further revitalize the arts. The Nittany Performing Arts Centre remains in its early stages, something that began as an idea in 2016 before slowly progressing into something more. Meyer formed a nonprofit organization focused on the performing arts center in 2017, hired an architect in 2021 for a conceptual design and has partnered with various groups to move this closer to reality in 2022. State College Borough has nothing like this facility downtown, said Meyer, executive director of the nonprofit. It would benefit the borough, it would benefit us and bring us audiences, and it would pool together a whole lot of groups that actually want to perform downtown. If everything goes according to plan, Meyer who served 24 years as the conductor of the Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra would like to see construction start sometime before 2030. But hes quick to acknowledge a lot of work and obstacles, such as funding, remain. At this early point, no accurate price estimates exist but, based on recent construction elsewhere, such a project would likely cost in the tens of millions. Also, although consultants pinpointed the ideal location as the site of the aging Pugh Street Parking Garage, which is expected to be demolished in the coming years, the borough has not yet agreed to hand over the property and a non-borough building is also included in the centers tentative footprint despite early support from the borough and Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Anytime there is an opportunity to enhance downtown, and the arts and environment downtown, its something we always want to be part of the conversation about, borough planning director Ed LeClear said. A rendering of the conceptual design of the facade from the Nittany Performing Arts Centre, which organizers would like to see in downtown State College. The view is from the corner of Beaver Avenue and Pugh Street. The project is a lofty undertaking but something that could have an indelible impact on both the arts music, theater and dance and the local economy. If it continues to progress. Every year, nothing has moved backward, Meyer added. Its always moved forward. Why build this? Meyer knows what youre probably thinking because he fields the same question just about every day. Why does State College need this if it already has The State Theatre? For Meyer and other arts-minded people in the region, the answer is easy: The community theater is designed for other uses and simply isnt big enough. While offering plenty of value to the community, The State Theatre isnt built to host simultaneous rehearsals. With a 29-foot stage, it also isnt large enough to hold musical performances such as symphony orchestras, which require 60-foot stages. Factor in other missing elements such as orchestra pits for ballets/musicals and Meyer believes a performing arts center would be a strong downtown addition, and not something redundant. Hes not alone in his thinking. One of the main reasons Meyer started his journey with the creation of the Nittany Performing Arts Centre, or NPAC for short, is the same reason a number of others agreed to join his nonprofits board of directors. Tom Penkala, general manager for the State College Choral Society, and Jim Latten, founder of the State College Concert Percussion Academy, always struggled in finding dependable places to rehearse. Renders and a model of the proposed Nittany Performing Arts Centre in the State College Municipal building on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. Sure, local schools and churches often opened their doors. But Latten, Meyer and Penkala all independently traded stories about how they might show up at one venue with their students or musicians, only to learn the venue had accidentally booked someone else. In one case, the floors were waxed and the musicians couldnt reach the venue. In others, simultaneous events would be going on in the venue, making practice and direction difficult. Even when practice did operate smoothly, it was virtually impossible to find weekly times and dates that the venues could set aside for the local, professional organizations. When people come to these concerts, they dont realize how difficult it was to find space and their mindset might be, Well, why dont you just use the public schools or Penn State? said Latten, Director of Instrumental Music at Juniata College. And, no, those public institutions need those spaces for their own activities. With the NPAC, about 10 groups have so far expressed interest in using the potential venue including the Central PA Theatre and Dance Fest, Next Stage Theatre, Nittany Ballet, Nittany Knights Chorus, Nittany Valley Symphony, Performing Arts School of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra, State College Area Municipal Band, State College Choral Society and State College Concert Percussion Academy. In addition to two theaters, the early conceptual plans of the NPAC include six dance studios, three drama studios and three music studios. A rendering of the 782-seat multipurpose theater from the conceptual design of the Nittany Performing Arts Centre, which organizers would like to see in downtown State College. This will give them a place to refine and rehearse their performances so theyre competitive with some of the finer performing symphonies and orchestras on the East Coast, said Fritz Smith, president of the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. He added: The bottom line is its time for this. Weve reached a point in this community where we need to have this venue. What it would look like The crown jewel of the performing arts center, or at least the starting point, remains the 782-seat multipurpose theater. Some 500 seats would appear at stage level, with an additional 266 balcony seats and 16 box seats. Colored LEDs would would allow for different palettes, perforated wall panels would help with acoustics, and deployable curtains would further aid with noise absorption. The multipurpose theater would be flexible enough to allow for music, drama or dance with an 86-foot wide stage and space for more than 30 musicians under the stage apron. Thats actually where we started because we didnt have a place with good acoustics and was the right size for the groups, Meyer said. We spent, I would say, two years working on the sizing of this theater. A new parking garage with more levels would take up about half the size of the 54,614-square-foot lot, with the performing arts center taking up the other half, with about 335 parking spaces compared to the Pugh Street Garages current total of 491. (The McAllister Street Parking Deck could potentially see a future expansion.) Other features of the conceptual design, which was created by Boston-based Wilson Butler Architects, include but are not limited to: 200-seat studio theater 6 dance studios (1 large, 3 medium, 2 small) 3 drama studios (1 large, 2 practice) 3 acoustically isolated music studios (1 large, 1 ensemble, 1 percussion) Recording suite 2 retail spaces of 1,000 square feet apiece 5 meeting spaces Various offices and storage spaces Restrooms with lockers Rooftop terrace with bar and catering kitchen We want to work collaboratively with other theaters in the downtown area, Penkala said. But bringing everything together under one roof it would just be great. A rendering of the rooftop terrace from the conceptual design of the Nittany Performing Arts Centre, which organizers would like to see in downtown State College. Whats next A 3D model fashioned after the conceptual design will be on display in the lobby of the State College Municipal Building through Sunday, to show off the building during the Central PA Festival of the Arts. A model and renders of proposed Nittany Performing Arts Centre in the State College Municipal building on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. The design which was supported by grants involving both the adventure bureau and the boroughs Redevelopment Authority is an important step in the creation of a performing arts center, but a long road remains. According to Meyer, his organizations next step will include extending the services of Webb Management, a New York-based company thats already done market research on the project, to construct a business plan for the NPAC. Webb Management is expected to answer crucial questions about the project, from how to best generate income to the ideal number of employees to how to best schedule everything. Meyer also wants to expand fundraising efforts. Part of Meyers tentative timeline also hinges on when the location at Pugh Street and Beaver Avenue becomes available. Its going to depend, first of all, on when the Pugh Garage comes down, Meyer said. And so thats what we have in the back of our minds right now. And were trying to plan for that. Meyer noted that the $55 million Patricia Reser Center for the Arts in Beaverton, Oregon which opened earlier this year took about 15 years in total from idea to reality. And he and other community members hope the NPAC one day follows a similar path in seeing their vision realized. The prospect of a performing arts center in the Centre Region is long overdue, Penkala said. Itll bring together musical and theatrical organizations under one roof and its extremely exciting. Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascon has asked the California Supreme Court to review the decisions by a trial and an appellate court to knock down one of his most controversial policies: an order barring his prosecutors from seeking harsher punishment for repeat offenders. Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascon wants the California Supreme Court to decide whether he has the authority to bar his prosecutors from seeking harsher punishment for repeat offenders. After being elected in 2020 on a pledge to radically change how the countrys largest prosecutorial office addresses crime, Gascon issued a special directive forbidding his deputies from using a defendant's prior convictions for serious or violent felonies to obtain longer prison sentences. Under Californias Three Strikes law, enacted in 1994, people convicted of repeated felonies are subject to longer prison terms, as much as 25 years to life for so-called third strikers. Gascon also required his deputies to withdraw strike allegations in cases brought under his predecessor, Jackie Lacey. Saying the policy was in the interests of justice and public safety, Gascon argued strikes and other sentencing enhancements did not deter crime. The union representing some 800 deputy district attorneys working under Gascon sued, claiming his directives forced prosecutors to violate their obligations under the Three Strikes law. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant sided with the union. He ordered Gascon to instruct his deputies to charge prior strikes in new cases, as required under state law. Strikes in older cases had to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, the judge said. Gascon appealed the decision. His lawyers argued that, as district attorney, it was within his discretion to allege or forgo strikes and to withdraw them in cases brought under his predecessors. An appeals court disagreed. The district attorney overstates his authority, a panel of three justices wrote in an opinion published in June. He is an elected official who must comply with the law, not a sovereign with absolute, unreviewable discretion. In creating the Three Strikes law, the justices wrote, California voters and the state Legislature charged prosecutors with the duty to prescribe more severe punishment for certain recidivists. The laws effects on society which left-wing prosecutors, conservative district attorneys, civil liberties groups and the Los Angeles County public defenders office all debated in amicus briefs is beside the point, the justices ruled. Changes to the Three Strikes law must come through the voters or the Legislature, the panel said, and it is neither for us nor the district attorney to rewrite it. Gascon on Tuesday petitioned the California Supreme Court to review the previous decisions. In a statement, Gascon framed his position as the fight for fairness and rationality and said the state constitution gives district attorneys the power to choose whom to charge, what crimes to charge them with and what enhancements to allege. Courts cannot take that power away, he said. In seeking a reversal, Gascon is hoping the state's high court will be more receptive to his views. The appeals court rejected his argument that the trial courts ruling had violated the states separation of powers. The Legislature, which defines crimes and prescribes punishment, has always had the authority to limit a prosecutors discretion in bringing charges and a judges discretion at sentencing, the justices wrote. Giving a prosecutor the discretion to decide whether to allege prior serious or violent felony convictions, in light of the Legislatures and the voters clear intent to eliminate any such discretion, would violate the separation of powers doctrine, not honor it, they added. In their petition to the Supreme Court, Gascons lawyers argued that the appellate courts reasoning, if upheld, would so constrain a district attorneys discretion as to render the Three Strikes law unconstitutional. "Put simply, they wrote, courts will be forced to unlawfully mandate prosecutors to comply with an unconstitutional law, and then relying on that information will be called on to impose unconstitutional sentences on scores of criminal defendants. That is a constitutional crisis in the making. Put into practice, the appellate decision would require every prosecutor in the state to charge every eligible strike, causing the number of people sentenced under the Three Strikes law to skyrocket, Gascons attorneys claimed. Nathan Hochman, an attorney who represents the union suing Gascon, called it shocking and perhaps unprecedented for a district attorney to argue, on behalf of the people of California, that a criminal statute was unconstitutional. Such a crusade is the work of a defense attorney, he said. Hochman, who is running as a Republican to unseat California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta, said the trial court and the appellate panel after them got it right. The courts basically ended the reign of King George Gascon, he said, the absolute sovereign who didnt have to follow the rule of law like everyone else. Gascon's appeal to the state's Supreme Court came as the L.A. County registrar continued its review of signatures submitted in support of a campaign to recall the district attorney. An examination of a small sample of the more than 715,000 signatures found about 22% of them were invalid, triggering a review of all the signatures, the registrar announced Thursday. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Gun violence left a mark on me. Just imagine what its doing to our kids. If youre like me, you run and hide whenever you hear someone claiming theyre doing it for the children. It doesnt help that, most recently, this was the rallying cry of cynical candidates endeavoring to banish books they find objectionable. Think Im jiving? Virginia recently elected a governor whose main campaign plank seemed to be protecting children from Toni Morrison novels. Egads! Dont you run away, but here is one instance in which we really do need to think about the children: violence. The survivors of Uvalde, Parkland, Sandy Hook, et al will likely be tormented by the experience forever. Thats why school districts provide counselors to help them deal with school shootings. But what about the hundreds of thousands of children who are not in those classrooms, in those schools, but who are traumatized from afar by school shootings? Where are their counselors? During my childhood in Rockingham, there were four violent deaths in our community two shootings, two stabbings and each was unforgettable and traumatic in a way we didnt even understand at the time. After one slightly older teenage friend was shot and killed on a block known as the Be-Mo because you had to be mo careful while you were there the next days newspaper had a picture of the scene on its front page. In the foreground of the crowd, as police investigated, was our friend Michael. He was 11 or 12. Now, we, his peers, thought Gee, how lucky he was to be out that late at night, to be right there to see that and to get his picture in the paper! We never considered what psychological toll that incident had on our friend. Thirteen-year-olds are not generally inclined to talk about feelings, and our folks were too busy providing and surviving to ask about them. So we kept it in. The next day, en route to junior high school, I walked past the scene and saw the blood-stained sidewalk and the chalk outline drawn by police. I was sleepless in Rockingham for a long time and my heart was heavy for far longer. I was in the funkiest funk thats ever been. More than three decades later, when Michael and I talked about that incident, he told me it had the same impact on him. You would have never known because he was delightfully, sometimes irritatingly, silly and cheerful in all weathers. As we discussed it as adults, I regretted that we hadnt done so as kids. Dr. Anthony Smith, a Triangle psychologist, said living through daily carnage such as were seeing now is creating a fear response in children. They see so much of it that it becomes the norm. Like it did for me. You see, in contrast to my relatively genteel Rockingham raisin, as a cop reporter in Gary, Ind. during the 80s and 90s I saw many dead bodies. At first, I thought there was nothing worse than lying awake all night with the lights on because I was bothered by the sight of bloodied, bullet-riddled remains Id seen while working. I soon discovered something worse: Not lying awake all night with the lights on because I was no longer bothered by the sight of bloodied, bullet-riddled remains Id seen while working. By that time, though, I was a full-grown man and I knew through life experiences how to process what Id been exposed to. Children dont have that experience, Smith said. Its not natural to always be afraid, he said. We used to have drills in school telling us how to survive a hurricane or tornado... They have drills now telling them how to survive a school shooter because a gunman might come into your classroom. Youre teaching the child to be afraid of something that might happen and preparing their impulse to operate in that manner. Thats very unnatural. Smith didnt even mention how unnatural it is to have to outfit your kids with bulletproof backpacks and what that must do to their psyches. And ours. Editorial Board member Barry Saunders is founder of theSaundersReport.com. Republican delegates gather in an auditorium at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls for the GOP State Convention on Friday, July 15, 2022. Delegates supported a proposed rule change that would block voters who recently supported non-Republicans from joining the party. (Ryan Suppe) Idaho voters who have supported Constitution, Democratic or Libertarian candidates in the last two years may have a probationary period before they can vote in a Republican primary election. A proposed Idaho GOP Party rule would block voters from registering as Republicans if they were affiliated with, or donated to, a party other than the GOP 25 months before a primary election. It would also disqualify unaffiliated voters from participating in the GOP primary if they havent registered as Republicans within a year of becoming eligible voters. About 60% of more than 600 Republican delegates supported the proposal at the GOP State Convention on Friday in Twin Falls. The rule would disqualify voters who have donated to two or more non-GOP candidates in the roughly two years before the primary. That includes Constitution and Libertarian candidates, but the proposal is aimed primarily at Democrats. We have a problem. They want to come into our party, Branden Durst, the sponsor of the proposal and a former Democrat, told the delegates Friday. What we need is the dedicated folks of the Republican Party, the people who are dedicated to staying Republican not just choosing to be Republican every two years. Durst and other Republicans who lost primary election bids in May blamed their defeats on Democrats switching their party affiliation to vote in the GOP primary. Durst unsuccessfully ran for superintendent of public instruction. Fewer than 3,800 Democrats switched their party affiliation to Republican in the month before the deadline, the Idaho Statesman previously reported. The Idaho GOP closed its primary election in 2012, so only registered Republicans qualify to vote. There was little debate on the proposal, which does not specify how it would be enforced. One delegate who opposed the rule said it would be a public relations disaster that would shut out potential voters who are trending conservative, such as single moms and Hispanic voters. The Idaho GOP state central committee will likely vote on the rule change in January. The state convention wraps up Saturday with party leadership elections. A man was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for shooting a man to death outside a motel on Pacific Highway in Fife. Tamau Tauala, 31, was convicted by a jury in May of first-degree manslaughter. He originally was charged in Pierce County Superior Court with second-degree murder in the Aug. 2, 2020 killing of 32-year-old Tupo Fuaau. Superior Court Judge Susan Adams on Friday ordered Tauala to spend 11 years, six months in prison. That term is the low end of the standard sentencing range, one year less than prosecutors requested. Tauala has one prior felony conviction in Oregon, but he does not have felony convictions in Washington state, court records show. Prosecutors requested a mid-range sentence, arguing that while the jury could not decide that the defendants actions amounted to intentional murder, their conclusion was that he acted recklessly and not in self-defense. Witnesses told detectives the shooting occurred after a confrontation between the two men on the morning of the shooting, according to court records. Fuaau kicked in the defendants motel room door while armed with a gun and looking for a woman who had allegedly robbed him the week before. The prosecutions trial brief states that a person inside the room saw Tauala wrestle the gun away from the man, and Fuaau left and drove away. At about 9 a.m., surveillance footage from the motel shows Fuaau arrive back at the parking lot in a white Chrysler and pull into a parking spot in front of rooms 109 and 110, where a man is standing outside. As it pulls into the spot, the mans arm is raised toward the vehicle. After a few seconds, the Chrysler suddenly reverses in a half-circle, crashing backward into a car and hitting the front of room 106. At trial, Tauala testified that he fired the first gunshot at Fuaau because he thought the man was going to run him and another woman over, according to the defenses sentencing memorandum. Tauala said he fired a second shot because he thought the other man was reaching for a gun. Prosecutors said evidence at trial suggested that Fuaau was unarmed when he returned to the hotel. Multiple people called 911, and Fife Police Department officers arrived in minutes, according to the trial brief. Inside the crashed Chrysler, police found Fuaau slumped over the passenger seat. He was removed from the car and taken to St. Joseph Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy found that Fuaau was shot in the left thigh and the head. The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide. More than a week after the shooting, detectives located Tauala while conducting surveillance outside a residence in Tacoma. After being taken into custody, the defendant told detectives that he gave the gun used in the shooting to an unknown man who gave him a ride at a gas station. The defendants attorney, Lisa Carnell, with the Department of Assigned Counsel, asked the court to sentence Tauala to 10 years in prison. In a sentencing memorandum, Carnell argued the victim in this case was an aggressor or provoker of the incident to a significant degree. She pointed to the fact that the victim was armed during the mens initial confrontation and that Fuaau returned to the motel on his own accord. While the jury did not find that Mr. Taualas actions were reasonable, his actions were preceded by what he observed to be a threat on his life by Mr. Fuaau, Carnell wrote. Prosecutors disagreed, saying that the defense was asking the court to speculate as to why the victim returned to the motel, and that there was no evidence showing Fuaau was an aggressor in the moments leading up to the fatal gunshots. The surveillance footage shows Mr. Fuaau pulling up as if he is going to park his car, the states sentencing memorandum says. Mr. Tauala testified that Mr. Fuaau was not holding a gun, that the passenger was not holding a gun, and that no one else was shooting. The Biden administration has announced more vaccine doses and testing capacity in efforts to combat the continuing spread of monkeypox in the U.S. The CDC reports nearly 1,500 cases across dozens of states. On Friday, the Alabama Department of Public Health announced it identified the first two infections in Alabama. Health officials expect numbers to increase over the coming weeks. Thats in part due to easier reporting, more testing capacity and the resulting exposure from more cases with symptoms usually starting within three weeks of exposure, CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky explained Friday. The CDC said four laboratories are now able to test for the virus, with additional capacity expected next week. Dr. Walensky said there is now capacity for up to 70,000 samples a week, though noted they have not received the demand of tests as capacity permits. However when it comes to vaccines, the CDC director acknowledged the demand is higher than the current supply. We continue to prioritize both jurisdictions seeing the greatest number of cases and communities at highest risk," Dr. Walensky said. "However the updated strategy will now prioritize vaccine allocation to areas with increase in case burden while still providing vaccine to all jurisdictions with individuals at increased risk for disease." HHS announced 131,000 doses of Bavarian Nordics JYNNEOS vaccine in the strategic national stockpile would be immediately available to states to order, with delivery as early as next week. The agency said it also ordered 2.5 million doses expected to arrive next year, bringing the total expected supply to nearly seven million doses by mid-2023. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said its finished an inspection of a vaccine manufacturing facility in Denmark. HHS said its working to pre-position doses pending FDA clearance. Doses could potentially be approved by the end of the month, which the agency said could open up more than 700,000 additional doses. Dr. Walensky anticipated more supply for New York, which has the highest case count by state according to the CDCs data. In Georgia, health officials said they had received enough doses for about 1,500 people to date. And in Florida, some people received shots this week at The Pride Center at Equality Park, near Fort Lauderdale. If we can prevent it and just keep the bubble around, then that's what we're striving to do to keep our community safe, said the centers CEO, Robert Boo. The appointment slots quickly filled up. We wanted to make sure that everyone, we didn't waste a single job, and get the jabs in arms," Boo said. "So it also told me that the community was listening. Theyre aware theyre attentive." The CDC said the virus can spread through direct contact with an infectious rash or bodily fluids, during face to face contact or intimate physical contact and touching items that have touched the infectious rash or body fluids. Dr. Kim is a physician at Tampa General Hospital, the director of clinical research at the TGH Global Emerging Diseases Institute and the director of infectious disease and international medicine at USF Health. Luckily, it's not as severe as some other, you know, diseases that we've seen, like prior outbreak, a monkeypox and things like that," Dr. Kami Kim said. "Because it's got a slightly milder and less typical presentation, people might get it and not realize what it is." She says people should get appropriate healthcare advice; providers need to be educated and people should be vigilant, but that its not a time to panic. It's increased, but it's not exploding," Dr. Kim said. "So we've had enough time to get the infrastructure in place, disseminate the information to all the places where patients affected are most likely to present. The good news is, like I said, it's clinically milder, and it seems to be less infectious than we had potentially feared." With South Florida the epicenter of the national housing crisis, Florida International University recently hired a real estate expert to lead its business school. William Hardin, 61, became dean of the FIU College of Business in early June, after a year as interim dean. His predecessor, Joanne Li, left to become chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Im feeling pretty good. I already have a good feel for what the job is, but being appointed the permanent dean makes it a little bit more real, said Hardin, who was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, and spent about half of his life in Atlanta before moving to Florida. Hardin said FIU Business will try to meet rising demand for programs in areas like data analytics and cybersecurity and logistics and supply chain management, which everyone understands now because of the pandemic, he said. RELATED: FIU launches national search for its new president, Mark Rosenbergs permanent successor Still, the main challenge for FIU Business, Hardin said, remains figuring out how to engage students in a post-pandemic world. Technology changed how people, especially young people, view the world. People got used to all sorts of opportunities for how to meet or not meet people. But we want to get people back to engaging one-on-one in person, because I think in person is how we best develop relationships, he said. Hardin has worked at FIU for about 16 years. He first joined in 2006 as a finance and real estate professor, as well as the director of its real estate programs. He held multiple roles since, including director of FIUs Jerome Bain Real Estate Institute, which offers courses and conferences in the industry, and founding director of the Hollo School of Real Estate. In 2018, he became the associate dean of the Chapman Graduate School of Business. RELATED: The world has lost an icon: Beloved FIU professor, dean dies. There from early days Throughout his career, he has authored or co-authored at least 70 papers on topics like foreclosures and corporate governance. In 2018, he received the Ricardo Medal from the American Real Estate Society its highest scholarship honor for his published research. FIU President Kenneth Jessell touted Hardins experience. Dean Hardins scholarly work and nationally recognized expertise in real estate makes him a particularly important and relevant business leader in South Florida at this time, Jessell said. Florida International University Interim President Kenneth A. Jessell speaks during a graduation ceremony inside FIUs Riccardo Silva Stadium in Miami, Florida on Saturday, April 30, 2022. Before transitioning to FIU, Hardin taught at Mississippi State University for eight years, Morehouse College for three years and Georgia State University for two years. Before delving into academia, Hardin spent about seven years at NationsBank in Charlotte, now Bank of America. He graduated from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill with a bachelors in economics. He has a masters in international business from the University of South Carolina and a masters in real estate from Georgia State University. He holds a doctorate in business administration from Georgia State University. Three things you may not know about Hardin An Olympic medal He lived in Rio de Janeiro for a year in the 1980s, because his masters program in international business at the University of South Carolina required it. He speaks Portuguese. That language skill allowed him to volunteer as an envoy for the Portugal Olympics team during the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. Everyone who does the Olympics gets a participation medal, all of the athletes. That year apparently they had some leftover, I guess, so as an envoy, I got one, Hardin said. That was a good time for me. He loves Miami I like being in a place where diversity is champion. It really is a global city, Hardin said. I think thats fun; its attractive. And its the future. The future is people from everywhere coming together to advance humanity. Ive been to a lot of locations and talk to a lot of deans in different places, and in Florida and Miami, we really benefit from our willingness to be inclusive and our cultural awareness. A husband, dad He met his wife when they both worked in the same international division of a bank; theyve been married for 35 years. They have a daughter; she attends the Emory University School of Law in Atlanta. Ghost guns on display at San Francisco Police Department headquarters. (Haven Daley / Associated Press) Two Southern California men who operated an unlicensed business that made and sold ghost guns have pleaded guilty to a federal charge, authorities said Friday. Travis Schlotterbeck, 37, of Fountain Valley and James Bradley Vlha, 29, of Norco admitted that they took custom orders for AR-15-type firearms in pistol and rifle variants, according to the U.S. attorney's office for the Central District of California. The privately made firearms lack serial numbers and cannot be traced. "The scheme was based at two Bellflower businesses controlled by Schlotterbeck called Sign Imaging and Live Fire Coatings," prosecutors said. "Neither the businesses nor the defendants had a federal firearms license to engage in the manufacture or sale of firearms." The men, who had been scheduled to go on trial next week, each pleaded guilty Thursday to a charge of conspiracy to engage in the business of manufacturing and dealing in firearms without a license, prosecutors said. Schlotterbeck also pleaded guilty to one count of selling a firearm to a convicted felon after he sold an AR-15-type rifle to a confidential informant while being aware that the person was previously convicted of a felony, prosecutors said. According to court documents, Schlotterbeck and Vlha manufactured and sold the guns, which were capable of accepting high-capacity magazines, to undercover agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. "The defendants obtained the firearm parts, arranged for certain parts including unfinished lower receivers often called 80% lowers' to be machined for use in building completed firearms, and assembled and finished the firearms for sale without any serial numbers or manufacturer markings," prosecutors said. The scheme lasted from 2015 through 2017. Schlotterbeck and Vhla sold six of the ghost guns to ATF undercover agents and a confidential informant, prosecutors said. They charged $1,500 to $2,000 per gun. Both men were charged in a federal grand jury indictment filed in 2019, prosecutors said. They are scheduled for sentencing Nov. 17. Schlotterbeck and Vhla each face up to five years in federal prison on the conspiracy count, and Schlotterbeck faces up to 10 years in prison for selling a firearm to a convicted felon, prosecutors said. Attorneys for the two men could not be reached for comment Friday. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill has said she will brief senior US politicians on the need to restore powersharing at Stormont during a visit to Washington. Ms ONeill will travel to the US on Monday for a series of meetings with Congressional members and Irish American leaders. She said the US remained a critical partner for peace and progress in Northern Ireland but added that the Conservative Government had proved it was an untrustworthy partner. Powersharing in Northern Ireland is in limbo after the DUP blocked the formation of a devolved executive following Mays election in protest at the Northern Ireland Protocol. Unionists and loyalists are enraged at trade arrangements that have resulted in new checks on goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and have demanded that the UK Government introduce changes. A contentious Bill that would empower ministers to override aspects of the arrangements is currently moving through its stages at Westminster. Sinn Fein emerged as the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly elections and Ms ONeill would be in line to become First Minister if the DUP dropped its boycott of the devolved institutions. Speaking ahead of her trip to Washington, she said: Having travelled to Brussels, Dublin and London since our historic election in May, this is my first visit to Washington where I will emphasise the value of the relationship with the United States who remain a critical partner for peace and progress. I will tell politicians, diplomats and business leaders that the majority of people voted for change, and there is a strong commitment from a majority of newly elected MLAs and Assembly parties to work together and make politics work so we can deliver for the whole community. The continued stand-off by the DUP who are denying the public the democratic representation and leadership they are entitled to cannot continue. The political cover by the Tories must be robustly challenged. The Good Friday Agreement must be both applied and upheld in full. Unionists object to checks on goods entering Northern Ireland required as part of the Northern Ireland Protocol (Liam McBurney/PA) Ms ONeill said a devolved Government was needed to set a budget to assist families and workers struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. She also sharply criticised the Conservative Government over its controversial Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill. The Bill aims to provide the promise of immunity from prosecution for perpetrators of Troubles offences who agree to provide information to a new truth body and move to end conflict-related civil cases and inquests. The legislation has been criticised by all political parties in Northern Ireland as well as victims and survivors groups and the Irish Government. Ms ONeill said: It is important that all those in the US who value the close political, economic and cultural bonds with the island of Ireland understand what is now at stake after a quarter century of peace and stability. It is vital that we underscore the reckless actions of the British government who are trying to sabotage our political agreements through their anti-Good Friday Agreement agenda which is disingenuously dressed up in a pro-agreement rhetoric. They have abandoned victims and survivors and taken a fundamental departure away from the Stormont House Agreement by legislating unilaterally in order to protect the interests of the British State itself. They are legislating to breach international law and denounce the protocol which limits the impact of their hard Brexit on society and business here, and prevents a hard border. The protocol is supported by a majority of MLAs because it is working, and gives us access to the EU single market which is helping business export (and) create more jobs and economic success. They do this at a time of major conflict in Europe. The actions of the Tory party in Westminster have demonstrated they are an untrustworthy partner in Ireland and internationally. Their actions remain a challenge to all who value our agreements. Now is the time to assert the primacy of politics, the honouring of agreements, and respect for international law which protects the all-island economy and prevents a hard border on the island of Ireland. The 24th China Textile and Apparel Fair Paris (CTAF) was held at the Le Bourget Exhibition Center in Paris, France from July 4 to 6, during which an exhibition was included to feature products from Guangzhou, capital city of South Chinas Guangdong province. China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Guangzhou Committee (CCPIT Guangzhou) organized 21 textile and garment enterprises to attend the exhibition. According to CCPIT Guangzhou, they actively feed the demand of local enterprises and organize exhibitions in online or offline formats worldwide since the pandemic continues in 2022. The Paris exhibition is the first overseas exhibition organized by CCPIT Guangzhou after the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020. Its also the first time for CCPIT Guangzhou to support the exhibition representative service and better their services for enterprises under the pandemic. (The exhibition was crowded with people) In addition, the exhibition allowed Guangzhou exhibitors to negotiate with overseas buyers online while presenting Guangzhou products in Paris offline, which is a new exhibition model introduced since the pandemic. A participated exhibitor, Guangzhou Karen International Clothing Company, received 25 inquiries from customers during with an intended order worth 130 thousand USD. (The audience scanned the code to obtain exhibit information) (Guangzhou enterprise exhibition site) Zheng Shaoxia, staff member of Guangzhou Karen International Clothing Company, said the company expanded overseas markets mainly through exhibitions before the pandemic, and now they are of urgent need to explore new markets as the demand of previous customers shrank due to the pandemic. She praised the exhibition highly and considered it as an effective way to build connection with new buyers. Author: Lanting (intern) There were more electives There were better teachers There were less tests There were more exciting ways to learn Other Vote View Results YEREVAN, JULY 15, ARMENPRESS. The statement spread by the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan that allegedly on the night of July 15-16 the units of the Armenian Armed Forces opened fire in the direction of the Azerbaijani military positions located in the eastern part of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is misinformation, ARMENPRESS was informed from MoD Armenia. At the same time, the units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces opened fire from various, including large-caliber firearms, in the direction of the Armenian military positions located in the mentioned section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. The fire of the Azerbaijani units was silenced by the retaliatory actions of the Armenian side. The race for the coveted post is mainly between two state governors West Bengals Jagdeep Dhankhar and Keralas Arif Mohammed Khan Jagdeep Dhankhar who has emerged as the 'front-runner', is a Jat leader from Rajasthan and was a Lok Sabha MP from Jhunjhunu. (PTI) New Delhi: The BJP parliamentary board is scheduled to meet over this weekend to decide the partys vice-presidential candidate. The race for the coveted post is mainly between two state governors West Bengals Jagdeep Dhankhar and Keralas Arif Mohammed Khan. Lurking somewhere in the shadows is former Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. Sources claimed Dhankhar emerged a frontrunner, but close on his heels is the Kerala governor. The victory of the NDA candidate is a foregone conclusion as the ruling alliance has a clear majority in the electoral college. After the BJP fixes on a name, it is likely to reach out to the Opposition parties and its allies to seek a consensus. The voting to elect Indias 16th vice-president will be held on August 6 as the tenure of incumbent M. Venkaiah Naidu ends on August 10. The results will be announced the same day (August 6), while the new V-P will be sworn in on August 11. The last day to file nominations is July 19. Besides these three figures, two Sikh leaders are also said to be in the reckoning former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh and Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri. While sources say the BJP is zeroing on Dhankhar and Khan, the Opposition is still in a dilemma on selecting a joint candidate. Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has called a meeting of the Opposition to discuss the vice-presidential polls on July 17. Dhankhar, who has emerged as the front-runner, is a Jat leader from Rajasthan and was a Lok Sabha MP from Jhunjhunu. He was named West Bengal governor in 2019. Since taking office, there has been a running feud between him and chief minister Mamata Banerjee. However, eyebrows were raised after a recent meeting of Ms Banerjee and Mr Dhankhar in Darjeeling. The other guest present was Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. While Ms Banerjee said it was a courtesy call, sources said it was to seek her support for both the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the NDA. The presidential election will be held on Monday, July 18. While Droupadi Murmu is the NDAs candidate, the Opposition has fielded Union minister Yashwant Sinha for the top post. Speculation has been rife in BJP circles of late about Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khan being the NDAs vice-presidential post. With Ms Murmu, a tribal leader, as President, and Khan, a Muslim, as vice-president, the BJP is hoping to tick all the right boxes. At a time when the Opposition parties are trying to paint Modi 2.0 as aggressively high on the Hindutva agenda, making a Muslim as vice-president will be sending a positive signal to the community, a party leader said. Khan, who was appointed Kerala governor in 2019 was the civil aviation minister in the then V.P. Singh government in the 1990s. Mr Khan, who was earlier in the Congress, had quit the party over the Muslim Personal Law Bill that was brought in by the Rajiv Gandhi government after the Supreme Courts Shah Bano ruling in the 1980s. He joined the BJP in 2004. The other Muslim face, whose name has been there for quite some time, is that of former minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. When the BJP didnt renominate Mr Naqvi for his Rajya Sabha seat, even party insiders were somewhat taken aback. However, sources close to him then started talking about a higher role for Mr Naqvi. The 64-year-old leader was recently sent to campaign for the Lok Sabha byelection in Rampur, a Muslim-dominated constituency in Uttar Pradesh, that the BJP succeeded in wresting from the Samajwadi Party. While some believe Mr Naqvi has been left out in the cold, others in the BJP continue to root for him. Modi asserted that those with freebies culture will never build new expressways, new airports or defence corridors New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called freebies "rewari" and said people have to be watchful against this culture. He asserted that those with freebies culture will never build new expressways, new airports or defence corridors. He gave a call to collectively defeat this thinking and remove freebies culture from the politics of the country. He added the government is working on projects to provide amenities like pucca houses, railway lines, roads and infrastructure, irrigation and electricity projects away from this rewari culture. Speaking after inaugurating the Bundelkhand Expressway in Uttar Pradesh, the PM said such expressways will help connect neglected areas of the state. He emphasised that such great infrastructure and facilities are no longer limited to large cities and selected areas of the countries. Now even the remote and neglected areas are witnessing unprecedented connectivity. He added that because of the expressway, the region will see many opportunities of development and employment. "Every corner of Uttar Pradesh is ready to move forward with new dreams and new resolutions. UP's identity is changing across the country as it is outperforming many advanced states. By delivering the projects before time, we are respecting peoples mandate and their confidence," PM said during the inauguration ceremony at Kaitheri village in Orai tehsil of Jalaun district. Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, state ministers, MPs and MLAs were among those present on the occasion. The foundation stone for the construction of the Bundelkhand Expressway was laid by the Prime Minister on February 29, 2020 and the work was completed within 28 months. The 296 km, the four-lane expressway has been constructed at a cost of around Rs 14,850 crores and can later be expanded up to six lanes. It passes through seven districts -- Chitrakoot, Banda, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Auraiya and Etawah. Speaking about the difference that the new expressway will usher in Mr Modi said, "The distance from Chitrakoot to Delhi has been reduced by 3-4 hours by the Bundelkhand Expressway, but its benefit is much more than that. This expressway will not only give speed to vehicles here, but it will accelerate the industrial progress of the entire Bundelkhand." Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the PM asked the chief minister to develop a tourism circuit around the forts in the region. He added that infrastructure projects in Uttar Pradesh are connecting many areas that have been ignored in the past. But now the "double-engine government" is working with renewed vigour. "Double-engine governments are not adopting the short-cut of freebies and delivering through hard work," he said. The Prime Minister said the larger thinking behind taking a decision and making a policy should be to further accelerate the development of the country. "Everything that harms the country, affects the development of the country, has to be kept away," he asserted. He drew attention to the culture of seeking votes by distributing freebies and warned that this "freebies culture is very dangerous" for the development of the country. The plan, which also calls for a high-speed railway, suggests that Beijing is convinced that it will have taken back the island by that date. For the Taiwanese, the plan is pure "science fiction". Meanwhile, the US announces new military aid to Taiwan and does not exclude letting it participate in RIMPAC military exercises. Taipei (AsiaNews) China is revamping a plan to build expressways and a high-speed railway connecting Beijing to Taiwan, passing through Fuzhou, in the southeastern province of Fujian. The whole project should be completed by 2035. In view of Taiwanese opposition to the initiative, its implementation implies that the Chinese think that the island will be reunified with the mainland by that date by force or peacefully. On Tuesday, China's State Council (cabinet) released its National Highway Network Plan with the relevant information about the huge project; however, much of it was already in the governments Guidelines on the National Comprehensive Transportation Network Plan presented in February 2021. The plans include two more expressways connecting Quanzhou and Kinmen, the Taipei-administered archipelago opposite Fujian. According to the Taiwanese government, the Chinese road plan is propaganda, a "science fiction novel," Taiwan News reported., not only because of the implications for Taiwan's sovereignty, but also because of the logistical and therefore economic challenges the project represents. The two connections envisioned by Beijing have to cross the Taiwan Strait the shortest sea distance between Fujian and the Taiwanese coast is 68 nautical miles (126 kilometers). China considers Taiwan a rebel province and has never ruled out seizing it by force. The island has been de facto independent from the mainland since 1949 when Chiang Kai-shek's nationalists fled after losing the civil war against the Communists. Since then, it has been the heir to the Republic of China founded in 1912. With the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, the United States has promised to defend the island, especially with military supplies. Adopted after recognising Communist China, the law does not however clearly say whether Washington will respond to a Chinese aggression against Taiwan. Meanwhile, the Biden administration announced yesterday that it had given the green light to a new military aid package for Taiwan, the fourth this year. Totalling US$ 108 million, it involves the sale of equipment and spare parts for tanks and combat vehicles, with relative technical assistance. On Thursday, the US House of Representatives passed its version of the Taiwan Peace and Stability Act, which includes an amendment to the 2023 military spending bill. Once adopted by the Senate and signed by President Biden, the law will require the US government to invite Taiwan to the 2024 RIMPAC military exercises, the most important carried out by US forces in the Pacific. The news of the day: Xi Jinping visits Xinjiang and praises the iron fist policy against the Uyghurs. India asked the WTO to let it export grains from its public stocks to countries facing food crisis. Demining has begun on the Turkish-Armenian border. Kazakhstan wants to attract foreign businesses that left the Russian market. ISRAEL GAZA Just as US President Joe Biden was leaving Israel and Palestine to travel to Saudi Arabia, the skies over Gaza heated up once again. Overnight two rockets launched from the Strip towards Ashkelon were intercepted. No damage was reported. Israels Air Force responded at dawn with a raid against Hamas positions, which was followed by more rockets fired from Gaza. CHINA Chinese President Xi Jinping this week visited Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, state media reported. The city was the scene of a harsh crackdown against Uyghurs. This is Xis second visit in eight years to Xinjiang. According to the Xinhua news agency, the Chinese leader praised the Communist Party's rule in the province, highlighting social stability and lasting security as the overarching goal. INDIA India has officially asked the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to be allowed to export grains from its public stocks to countries facing a food crisis. Under WTO rules, countries cannot export food grains from their public stocks because they are purchased at subsidised prices. JAPAN The investigation into the murder of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe continues to reveal details about the huge amount of money the mother of the killer, Tetsuya Yamagami, turned over to Unification Church, founded by the late Rev Sun Myung Moon. The mans uncle said that the mother gave the Church insurance money following her husbands death in 1984 and sold off land she inherited after her fathers death in 1998 and donated the proceeds. Donations continued even after she filed for personal bankruptcy in 2002. TURKEY ARMENIA According to Turkish newspaper GazeteKars, Turkey and Armenia have agreed to demine the border between the two countries. The operation is being carried out by an Israeli firm. Meanwhile, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Turkish President Recep Erdogan spoke on the phone last Monday exchanging greetings for their respective religious holidays: Vardavar (Feast of the Transfiguration) and Kurban-Bayram (Eid al-Adha). KAZAKHSTAN Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev instructed his government to prepare favourable conditions for foreign businesses to relocate to Kazakhstan after they left Russia following the war in Ukraine. Were witnessing a global struggle for investment capital, he said referring to nearly 1,500 businesses that left the Russian market. The Best Unknown Vacation Spot in Iceland Visiting Iceland? Consider Trendy and Wellness-Focused Reykjanes Its no surprise that Iceland continues to top travelers must-visit bucket lists, especially in summer months where hiking and camping are less grueling without snow and with a forgiving sun. The country is stunning with Mars-like volcanic rock formations, black sand beaches, and a happiness index ranking that proves its still one of the most stress-free places on earth. But so much attention has been placed on The Golden Circle (a scenic road that borders the entire country) and Icelands capital of Reykjavik that tourists may ignore the gems of off-the-beaten-path destinations that are more than deserving of a spot on vacation itineraries. RELATED: The Best Wellness Hotels and Resorts in the U.S. Nearby Reykjanes, Reykjaviks little sister, captures Iceland's other-wordly charm and landscape, but with less of the hustle and bustle found in a touristy city. In fact, you can spend an entire week in the town with an agenda customized for any type of traveler, like riding Icelands famous horses for the adventure-seeker or enjoying Blue Lagoon spa treatments for the guy who appreciates a little pampering. Here are five reasons why you shouldnt rule out Reykjanes during your next trip to Iceland, which is quickly emerging as one of the country's most wellness-minded regions (and only a short flight from the East Coast through budget airlines like Play or Icelandair). The Traditional Pool Culture One of Icelands most beloved traditions is gathering around the town swimming pools for a dip to converse with locals before starting your day. Whether you like your water hot, cold, or somewhere in between (a dunk in each type is said to strengthen your immune system), there is a body of water for everyone and its brimming with all of the juicy gossip. Hitting up the YMCA-like pools is a custom that will make you not feel like a tourist, but be sure to shower before entering if you want to avoid the looks of scorn and disgust from fellow bathers. The Diversity of Outdoor Activities Traveling during the summer will sacrifice a view of Icelands famous Northern Lights, but outdoor activities in Reykjanes will showcase its surrounding beauty with mild temperatures and a light sea breeze as the backdrop. Check out historical sites like the Bridge Between Two Continents, a footbridge over a major fissure that illustrates the diverging plate that likely connected Europe and North America. Its also a short trip from the steaming and active Gunnuhver geothermal area, which makes Yellowstones Old Faithful look like amateur hour compared to its impressive geysers. For travelers who are a bit more adventurous, a volcano hike at Fagradalsfjall is an absolute must to survey the jagged rock formations from lava that spewed and cooled a little over a year ago. And if you have water on the brain, you can snorkel at nearby Lake Kleifarvatn to observe bubbly geothermal activity that resembles a poured glass of Champagne. The One-of-a-Kind Spa Experiences Iceland has quietly surfaced as an international beauty destination, joining the ranks of Korea, Italy, France, and the United States in offering treatments and locally sourced products to encourage relaxation and youthfulness. Since we take our beauty routines seriously at AskMen (check out our 2022 Grooming Awards, which feature two products from the island), wed be remiss to not recommend a stop at the famous Blue Lagoon. Lather your face with its award-winning Silica Mud Mask, which deep-cleanses and strengthens skin as you soak. You can also book a floating massage session at The Retreat Spa where therapists will scrub your body as they gently drift you through a private pool. Its an experience unlike anything youve felt before as you embrace your inner mermaid and let nature be your primary guide. The Locally-Foraged Cuisine Depending on who you ask, perception of Icelandic food may vary. But the restaurants in Reykjanes thrive with local, typically ocean-derived ingredients that arrive from source to plate in mere hours. A few highlights include a stop at Villabar (formally known as Pulsubarinn) for a famous Icelandic hot dog crunchy, comically long, and topped with a sweet brown mustard called pylsusinnep. Wash it down with a creatively brewed beer from Litla Brugghusi and book dinner at lighthouse-adjacent El Faro, which shines in its own way through Mediterranean-inspired dishes like a croqueta platter and patatas bravas, both fried to golden perfection. For a traditional and decadently creamy and surprisingly herbaceous lobster soup (said to be Sigourney Weavers favorite!), hit up harbourside Bryggjan Grindavik or nosh at health-minded Hja Hollu for the islands best cod served with a savory peanut salsa and miso soy butter. Of course, you should also treat yourself to more luxurious dining experiences at KEF Restaurant with a fiery wasabi mayo-topped beef carpaccio that sets the tone, or wander towards Blue Lagoons The Retreat for a reservation at Moss or Lava. The former boasts a tasting menu that presents Icelands cuisine at its best, from green curry scallops to tender Icelandic lamb with peas. The Astonishingly Luxurious Accommodations With so much to do and nearly 21 hours of daylight during summer months, sleep is of the utmost importance. Hotel Berg, only a short drive away from Icelands Keflavik Airport, offers modern, spacious rooms and is situated next to a picturesque and sleepy marina. Its an ideal place to start and end your trip, especially with a rooftop jacuzzi to ease any aches and pains. Blue Lagoons Silica Hotel and The Retreat provide more luxe options with ice blue pools and rooms that back up directly to them. These private oases allow guests to get a more personalized experience with the hot springs by not having to wade through hordes of other tourists. The attention to detail, both in simplistic design and construction, has also attracted A-list celebrities from all over the world to relish the sensation of escapism and being on a different planet. And with the world in the state that it is in right now, we could all use a little respite. Consider Reykjanes. You Might Also Dig: Best Mens Sandals for Summer Beat the Heat With This Selection of Cool Summer Sandals The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. With temperatures soaring across the country, youll do anything and everything you can to beat the heat. But that shouldnt stop you from going out to dinner, lounging in the park or going hiking. You might want to continue as normal, but your wardrobe might be telling you to stay inside if you dont have the proper shoes to help get you there. Thats where your favorite hot-weather friend, the sandal, comes in. Since feet are the extremities of your body, they help you feel cooler faster. So wearing sandals instead of sneakers provides much more air flow, helping your body circulate heat and feel cooler in hot weather. Its the same concept as sticking out your foot from under the covers at night when youre feeling warm. RELATED: The Best Flip Flops for Men So we know sandals help cool you, but what sandals should you be wearing? It depends on your activity and occasion: If youre going to be on your feet either going for a walk or for a hike, pick a sportier sandal thats more durable and has a chunkier sole. If its a more rigorous activity, go with one that has a back strap so it wont slip off and soles with extra grip so you dont lose traction. For a comfortable at-home sandal or one to chill at the beach, pool or park, go with a more casual slide or strap sandal. If youre worried about sand, pick one thats easy to wash off so something thats made from plastic or a similarly resistant material. Headed to a nicer event, dinner or the office? Choose a high-quality sandal, preferably one made from leather, faux leather or suede. A two-strap sandal is a great choice, as is a closed sandal like the fisherman or huarache style. Stay away from flip flops and slides unless its for a relaxed situation. Alex Crane Primo Sandals Alex Crane These stunning Alex Crane sandals are made with raw leather from Leon (Mexico) by a third generation family business. The leather actually tans and turns dark brown when exposed to the sun, so they age beautifully over time, and the soles are made from recycled bus tires, repurposing a product that would otherwise end up in a landfill. The criss-cross upper design is more unique than other sandals while also being extremely simple and chic. Expect to be asked where you bought these every time you wear them. $85 at AlexCrane.com All-Weather Outpost Sandal All-Weather Outpost This sandal from All-Weather is a perfect city/outdoor hybrid for someone looking to go from the street to rockier terrain. The Tough CORDURA ballistic upper provides superior strength and tear resistance, the flexible Vibram XS Trek outsole gives you traction on wet and rugged surfaces and the cushioned EVA midsole offers sneaker-like comfort. It doesnt have a back strap, so it may not be ideal for really hard hiking, but the velcro straps are adjustable for anytime you need a more secure fit. $125 at Huckberry.com Vagabond Seth Sandals Vagabond Call this a sophisticated slide: the Vagabond sandal has this gorgeous black or brown cow leather upper that feels and looks luxurious. The clean sole leans into the chunky shoe trend but also provides comfortable support. With a slip-on design and hook and loop straps, you wont find an easier way to make a summer outfit a little more elegant. $120 at Vagabond.com Dandy Del Mar Sayulita Slides Dandy Del Mar If youre not a fan of having your toes out on display or need a little more coverage for protection from sand, the Sayulita Slides from Dandy Del Mar are for you. Theyre mules, combining the closed-toe shoe front with the open sandal back. These provide more coverage while also letting your feet breathe. These slides are simple with a braided design around the upper for some more flair. And being made from top-grain natural leather, theyll only get better with age. Theyre perfect for a sea-side dinner, backyard bbq or anywhere you want to just look good. $99 at DandyDelMar.com Naot Maldive Slide Naot The Maldive slide from Naot combines a sporty and dressier design for a sandal that can be worn with athleisure or more formal clothes. The sandal contains double hook and loop straps to allow adjustability. Suede lining provides extra comfort while the insole is constructed of cork, rubber and latex covered in leather for ultimate, smooth comfort. This slide is perfect if youre looking for a truly versatile sandal that can transition from running around town to a nice dinner while providing comfort the entire time. $175 at Naot.com Merrell Breakwater Hiking Sandals Merrell Looking for a sandal thats truly ready for the outdoors? Look no further than these Merrell hiking sandals. Theyll provide the support and comfort you need with a molded EVA footbed, an EVA foam midsole and a Vibram rubber sole with grips for traction for hiking rocky terrain. Designed with quick-drying and water-friendly recycled nylon webbing, this quarter strap sandal ensures your feet stay dry and healthy at all times. Try the cobalt color for a really striking visual that adds a stylish touch to your next adventure. And while these are quite stylish looking, they are made for the outdoors, so wed skip wearing them to a nice dinner out. $95 at DSW.com Abercrombie Faux Leather Slides Abercrombie A simple and refined slide, this faux leather sandal from Abercrombie takes up little space in your closet while having a large impact on style. Made of faux leather for a classier look, these slides are fairly durable and feature a double strap design thats simple and stylish. Its an easy slip away to add that last, elevated touch to your look before youre out the door. $50 at Abercrombie.com Nisolo Huarache Sandals Nisolo If you want sandals that are more shoe-like, consider these Nisolo huarache sandals. Huaraches originated in Mexico many years ago and have since gained popularity around the world for sturdy and breathable properties thanks to a lower profile upper thats made of multiple leather straps. These sandals are hand-woven with a beautifully intricate design that can be dressed down or up depending on the occasion. And you can feel good about these under your feet since theyre made with zero net carbon and 100% living wages. $120 at Nisolo.com BRONAX Cloud Slides BRONAX Maybe social medias favorite sandal, the cloud slides have been gaining popularity for how comfortable they are. Reviews rave about the cushy sole made from EVA, some saying they feel like marshmallows on your feet. The large sole may not be everyones favorite look, but theres no doubting their functionality. Theyre perfect for wearing around the house, standing while cooking, cleaning and doing other house chores, and of course theyre wonderful for the pool or beach since theyre easy to rinse off. A chore/pool/beach/lounge sandal is something to keep in your closet, and youll probably use them more than you think. $24 at Amazon.com Island Slipper Suede Sanders Island Slipper These authentic Hawaiian slippers from Island Slippers are basically the official shoes of the state, one of the most laid-back and relaxing places on Earth. Thanks to their airy, open design and top-quality suede leather and EVA foam footbed, your feet will thank you for the cool comfort. Some people may not love the thong design, but it provides maximum breathability on those intense, sunny days. Wear these for your next beach getaway or any time you want to feel like youre in paradise. $63 at Huckberry.com You Might Also Dig: AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. To find out more, please read our complete terms of use. BookTribs Bites: Four Great Reads to Take You Through the Summer The T Line, launched a few months back, features an ultralight titanium frame that Brompton claims to make the bike comparable to carbon road bikes. It is the titanium construction that makes the T Line tip the scales at just 7.4 kg (16 lb). But this model has got one shortcoming: its not electric. It is a problem that has now been fixed with the recently launched Electric P Line.Bromptons new bike is available in two models, Urban and Urban with Roller Rack. They are identical in everything except their weight, as the latter features a 341 g (12 oz) rack designed around the center of gravity, which makes it feel like a light suitcase. The roller rack has a luggage capacity of 10 kg (22 lb).The Electric P Line keeps the same folding design that made Brompton famous. When folded, the bike measures just 645 mm (25.3) in height, 565 mm (23) in width, and 270 mm (10.6) in depth.As for the frame of the bike, the main one uses heat-treated steel tubing and the rear frame is once again made from Titanium. Bromptons lightest folding e-bike weighs 15.6 kg (34.3 lb). The Urban Roller Rack version tips the scales at 15.9 kg (35 pounds).Both bikes feature a 4-speed drivetrain and 349 x 35C Continental tires. They pack a 250W brushless motor that provides assistance up to 25 kph (15.5 mph) and a 300Wh battery that offers ranges from 20 to 45 miles (30 to 70 km) per charge. The battery comes with a USB port to charge portable devices such as your phone, etc. A full charge of the battery takes four hours with a 2A charger.Bromptons Electric P Line is not your best option on the budget. The Urban version starts at 3,695 (approximately $4,400), while the Urban with Roller Rack has a starting price of 3,775 ($4,500). This not only is more convenient but also reduces the likelihood of connectivity issues, as many of the Android Auto errors are caused by bad cables.However, it looks like the wireless version of Android Auto isnt immune to connectivity problems as well, as users have discovered that a recent update is causing similar trouble as well.More specifically, users have been reporting on Googles forums that the wireless version of Android Auto no longer works after installing an early July update for the app. Some say the app fails to load, while others claim Android Auto actually launches but ends up getting stuck with a black screen.Its not yet clear whats causing the whole thing, but in the last few days, the number of people reporting the same glitch has increased substantially, most likely as more users have been offered the update through the Google Play Store the rollout of new Android Auto versions takes place in stages, so at this point, it has probably reached a more advanced phase.The good news is that Google has recently started looking into reports, but for now, the company itself cant figure out whats going wrong. Thats why the search giant needs additional information from users who are experiencing the problem, with the company requesting phone logs to determine the cause of the error.For the time being, theres no ETA as to when a full fix could land, but given the investigation is still in the very early stages, youd better not hold your breath for an early launch. On the other hand, given the error was introduced in early July, theres a chance the latest Android Auto update is the one to blame, so downgrading to an earlier release could actually be a good idea. Palmdale, CA (93550) Today Mainly sunny to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High 104F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph, becoming SW and increasing to 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight Clear skies. Low near 75F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. According to the Armenian Foreign Ministry, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan discussed with his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov the fulfillment of previously undertaken commitments and possible further steps in the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace process. A ministry statement cited Mirzoyan as telling Bayramov that a political settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is essential for achieving a lasting peace in the region. He stressed the importance of using the mandate and experience of the OSCE Minsk Group to that end. Baku has repeatedly questioned the need for continued existence of the mediating group co-headed by the United States, France and Russia. It says that Azerbaijans victory in the 2020 war with Armenia put an end to the Karabakh conflict. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry also reported few details of the Tbilisi talks which lasted for about three hours. It said Bayramov called for a full implementation of Armenian-Azerbaijani agreements brokered by Moscow during and after the war. He singled out the withdrawal of Armenian forces from Azerbaijani territory. The talks followed fresh recriminations traded by the two sides in recent weeks. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev again threatened military action against Armenia last month, saying that Yerevan remains reluctant to open a land corridor connecting Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan exclave. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian claimed, for his part, that Baku is torpedoing peace talks and preparing the ground for another war. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Save Our Children's motto states that "we're saving our future with a hand up, not a hand out." Wednesday, hundreds of Jefferson County children got a little of both during the organization's 10th annual Get to Know Your County Courthouse event. The day-long program started 10 years ago when judges Lupe Flores and John Paul Davis approached Save Our Children founder Rev. J. D. Roberts about doing something with kids at the courthouse. "They said, 'You could make a difference,'" Roberts recalled. He had 11 children attend the first year -- a number that's grown exponentially through the years. "We've had as many as 850 kids at one point," Roberts said. Related: Remembering Judge Lupe Flores The difference he's making is simple -- exposing children to the job possibilities that exist within the county judicial system and "give them the opportunity to learn about all the different parts of Jefferson County government," Roberts explained, noting that there are 348 jobs at the courthouse. Those are jobs they could have in the future and help ensure that they remain on the good side of the courthouse. Save Our Children's Kenny Grimes has straddled both sides of that line and shared his story with the more than 300 children ages 6 to 17 that attended this year's event. Grimes said he'd gone down the wrong path early in life. It landed him in a DWI crash that cost him not only in punitive damages and jail time, but also the loss of his right eye. After, Grimes turned his life around. He got a second chance to do the right thing and took it, but it isn't a path he'd recommend. "There are always second chances, but I'd rather see you choose the ounce of prevention than the pound of pain," Grimes cautioned. Roberts and Grimes are hopeful that organizations like Save our Children and programs like the annual courthouse tour open young eyes to the opportunities that exist beyond what they may see in their own homes or neighborhoods. Those are options like becoming a judge, lawyer, sheriff's deputy, clerk or a member of support staff in county government. "I always tell kids whenever you meet someone, pick their brain; find out what it took to get the job that they have," Roberts said. Wednesday, that's exactly what they did. Throughout the day, groups made their way through the courthouse, getting the opportunity to talk to workers in a variety of professions and find out what they do and how they got there. Judge Mitch Templeton talked about his role as a judge -- a position to which he was elected after years working as a lawyer. The courtroom experience is one children got to observe first-hand as they sat in on live court hearings. They also toured the county clerk's office, taking in the walls of files and thick volumes filling shelves throughout the office. They contain records and documentation dating back to the county's founding in 1835, when it was first a municipality of Mexico. Related: Look inside the Jefferson County Museum In between tours, they took in additional speakers, who talked about the history of the county and their roles in serving Jefferson County citizens today. The rewards for participants weren't merely educational. Every child received a backpack filled with school supplies, and tables filled with prizes for all ages lined the walls of the jury impaneling room -- all items were purchased by the organization. They had everything from toy cars and stuffed animals to games and laptops. And when there's a free laptop on the line, kids will pay attention, some even consulting notes they'd taken throughout the day to increase the odds of getting the answer right. Elijah Jackson was the first to shoot his hand in the air when Roberts asked the crowd when the historic courthouse was built, and was called up front after answering correctly with the year 1931. Related: Jefferson County courthouse architectural plans discovered He was hoping for a laptop and looked to friends when Roberts presented him with choices of gifts. Jackson balked again when given the option to start over or simply accept the gift he was given. It was the opportunity for Roberts to give a life lesson. "You should have listened to what your heart was telling you to do instead of your friends," Roberts said. "I'm not going to give you what you want, I'm going to give you what you need." He presented Jackson with a framed plaque bearing three words - dream, achieve, succeed. "I want you to think about this," Roberts told him. "After lunch come see me. Maybe you can get that laptop after all." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate On Thursday, online travel site onlyinyourtstate.com released a map detailing what it described as the "most affordable" Lone Star road trip and the route runs right through Jefferson County. As for the affordability factor, the site notes that a family of four could spend less than $100 in total on the road trip through Southeast Texas. Here's what's on the road trip hit list. The endpoints of the route are located in Sea Rim State Park and Galveston Island State Park, depending on where road trippers decide to start their journey. Starting point aside, the somewhat meandering route traverses 135 miles of Southeast Texas roadways with an estimated trip time of about three hours and nine minutes, according to Google Maps. Starting in Galveston Island State Park, road trippers will next head northeast for approximately 25 minutes (13 miles) to hit the next stop on the list, the Galveston Railroad Museum located at 2602 Santa Fe Place in Galveston, Texas. The next legs continue along the Ferry Rd. for approximately three miles and adventures will need to take the Port Bolivar - Galveston Ferry, a 2.6-mile journey with an estimated travel time of 30 minutes before continuing along White Ranch Rd, a spur of sorts along the road trip, en route to the third pit stop: Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. Next, the road trippers will follow Texas Highway124 North, Texas Highway 73 and Texas Highway 87 through Winnie and Port Arthur en route to the last stop at Sea Rim State Park in Sabine Pass, Texas. Most affordable Texas road trip itinerary Estimated travel time: 3 hours, 9 minutes Trip distance: 135 miles Refueling info: While the road trip has no shortage of refueling options, it's important to note that most of these stations are located on Galveston Island, Goat Island and Bolivar Peninsula with limited options en route to Beaumont until travelers hit Winnie. Road trip pit stops: EVA MARIE UZCATEGUI/AFP via Getty Images On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett ordered corporate representatives Gary Monteau and Brant Charpiot with Anahuac Transport Inc. to serve three years on probation and pay an additional $275,000 fine, stated a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice. The Texas company admitted to falsifying its records and delivering potentially tainted rocket fuel for NASA and Department of Defense rocket launches, the release states, adding that Monteau and Charpiot admitted their guilt in February, and, on behalf of the company, agreed to forfeit the $251,401 it received in gross proceeds from the "criminal scheme" and will pay the additional fine ordered by the DOJ. Victims of a shooting attack in Nduga regency receive medical treatment before being evacuated to Timika, in Papua, Indonesia, July 16, 2022. Suspected separatist rebels gunned down 10 civilians and wounded two others on Saturday in Indonesias Papua region, in one of the deadliest attacks in the area since 2018, police said. The attack in Nduga regency came a little over two weeks after legislators voted to create three new provinces in Papua amid opposition from indigenous people and rebel groups. Gunmen, some armed with rifles and handguns, ambushed the victims who were traveling in a truck at around 9 a.m., said Papua police spokesman Ahmad Musthofa Kamal. When the truck stopped, they fired shots at the vehicle, he said. Faizal Ramadhani, chief criminal investigator at the Papua police, blamed the attack on the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), the military wing of the separatist Free Papua Movement. Regarding the motive and chronology of the incident, we are still investigating, Faizal said. However, Sebby Sambom, a spokesman for the TPNPB, said he had no information on the attack. Still, he said that non-indigenous Papuans had been warned to leave conflict zones. We have warned Indonesians who are in war zones, including Nduga, to leave these areas immediately because given the development of the conflict, the intensity of fighting will increase, Sambom told BenarNews. Papua, on the western side of New Guinea Island, has been the scene of a low-level separatist insurgency since the mainly Melanesian region was incorporated into Indonesia in a United Nations-administered ballot in the late 1960s. Usman Hamid, director of Amnesty International Indonesia, said Saturdays attack was one of the deadliest in recent years. In December 2018, the rebels attacked workers who were building roads and bridges in Nduga regency as part of the Trans-Papua Highway project. They killed 20 people, including an Indonesian soldier. In March this year, insurgents killed eight workers who were repairing a telecommunications tower in Beoga, a district of Puncak regency, The security approach has proven to have failed to defuse the conflicts escalation, Usman told BenarNews, referring to government policy to deploy more security forces since 2018 instead of negotiating with the separatists. The latest attack occurred about two weeks after the House of Representatives passed three bills on the creation of three new provinces in Papua which many indigenous people oppose as a divisive tactic. The New Autonomous Region laws pave the way for the formation of the provinces of South Papua, Central Papua, and Papua Highlands, in addition to the existing provinces of Papua and West Papua. Thousands of Papuans have taken take to the streets against the establishment of the new provinces, which they said will marginalize indigenous people because an expected influx of migrants from other parts of Indonesia. Papua has been home to a separatist insurgency since the 1960s. In 1963, Indonesian forces invaded Papua like Indonesia, a former Dutch colony and annexed the region. Papua was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969 after a United Nations-sponsored vote, which locals and activists said was a sham because it involved only about 1,000 people. However, the United Nations accepted the result, essentially endorsing Jakartas rule.